Chapter 107: The White Shark Asura (Part II)

Duan Xingyun’s thunderous roar suddenly silenced the riotous White Shark Shura. However, these were, after all, savage beasts devoid of higher consciousness. Seeing a human—the very person who had dared to strike at them first—their ferocity flared instantly. They began to hiss and shriek, and as Duan Xingyun’s figure came into view, their necks turned blood-red, veins bulging violently. Even their snowy-white fur began to glow with a crimson hue!

In the palm of Duan Xingyun’s raised hand, star-sand converged rapidly, compressing continuously until it formed a spear shimmering with an intense, vibrant azure. Countless strands of killing intent surged into the spear like a tide rushing backward, and in that instant, Duan Xingyun began a contest of wills, vying with the White Shark Shura for the very essence of slaughter.

Fine, yet visible, wisps of murderous energy drifted like schools of fish, converging toward a single point: Duan Xingyun, standing firm with his spear held aloft.

The azure, star-like sand gathered around his palm like tiny blue serpents. In the blink of an eye, Duan Xingyun seemed enveloped by these serpentine grains, his body wreathed in blue mist, his form obscured. For the first time, Duan Xingyun felt the sensation of his body being on the verge of bursting. Surging power churned within him, threatening to tear him apart, while pure, intense killing intent battered his mental defenses like crashing waves.

Accompanied by this cold, sinister intent, his vision darkened, and an overwhelming urge to slaughter welled up within him—a primal impulse to destroy everything in his path.

Yet, in a fleeting moment, Duan Xingyun regained his clarity.

It felt as though the entire world had flickered and shuddered before his eyes for a split second. A cold sweat broke out in his heart; the situation had been perilous in the extreme. During his training, his master had always warned him to control his killing intent and never lose himself within it. To be consumed by such malice was to become nothing more than a monster driven solely by the instinct to kill.

And what difference would such a monster be from the mountain-like White Shark Shura before him?

Having clawed his way up from the Langya Chamber of Commerce in Jiu Yan Town, Duan Xingyun possessed not only exceptional talent but a strength of will that surpassed most, which was the absolute reason he had surpassed Xue Qiming to remain the undisputed senior disciple of the Chamber. He had never encountered such a situation in his usual training. Yet, the killing intent that had just surged into him was simply too powerful; it had nearly swallowed him whole.

Terrified by the close call, Duan Xingyun became increasingly cautious. He soon realized that controlling this murderous aura was far from as simple as he had imagined. The strongest technique left to him by his master, the "Star-Sand Funeral," was one he had yet to master.

Damn it!

Jiang Feng’s face was grim, his heart heavy with self-reproach. The battles of these past days had made his temperament increasingly ruthless. In the initial verbal clash, he had almost subconsciously intended to pull Duan Xingyun into his orbit, only to realize too late that he was actually putting Duan in harm's way.

Catching a glimpse of Duan Xingyun, who had just narrowly avoided going mad, Jiang Feng kept shouting in his mind, his face twisted in a fierce grimace. Since the choice had been made, he had to help Duan, if only for his own sake, and destroy this creature along with its ten White Shark Shura!

Jiang Feng’s speed was immense; fueled by his Nether Force, he moved like lightning.

The two White Shark Shura entangling him suddenly performed a strange maneuver, each extending a single finger. Jiang Feng felt a sudden flash of light, and his vision was instantly flooded with water vapor. A profound sense of danger made every inch of his skin tremble involuntarily!

The swirling mist seemed to gain a life of its own, slowing down until it appeared frozen in mid-air. This aura was not overpowering; compared to the fierce appearance and massive physique of the White Shark Shura, it felt strangely discordant. It lacked a world-conquering dominance; instead, it was gentle and understated, yet unimaginably dense—like an endless ocean, vast enough to inspire awe. Within this gentle, expansive aura, a trace of vibrant vitality, like the rising sun, seemed to be slowly ascending from the horizon.

The moment this aura appeared, it severed Jiang Feng’s train of thought, enveloping every inch of the space he occupied.

"Hmph, taste the Water Breath of the White Shark Shura!" Cang Bai’s voice echoed in his ears, sounding like a hunter in the midst of a stalk.

Seeing the appearance of the Water Breath, all the White Shark Shura became agitated, unwittingly spreading their arms as if performing a prayer ritual.

The Water Breath was a highly difficult Nether Art to comprehend, even among Nether practitioners. It was not an offensive technique, but an auxiliary one used to amplify the power of other Nether Arts. Everyone who trained in water-based Nether Arts, whether they were Nether beasts or practitioners, had the possibility of comprehending it, though the quality of the "Water Breath" varied from person to person, resulting in vastly different outcomes.

The White Shark Shura possessed an innate mastery over water-based Nether Arts, and the characteristics of their Water Breath left even Jiang Feng—and Jue—feeling a sense of reverence.

Vastness and vitality!

Jue was a master of Nether Arts, and his attainments in water-based techniques were by no means shallow. When he felt this aura, his heart skipped a beat! He was very familiar with water-based arts; though the ones he knew were ancient, the essence of water remained unchanged. This aura held no hint of aggression, yet it was incredibly pure. Any nature of energy, when honed to its extreme, became a lethal weapon! For instance, even vitality, when taken to the extreme, could be used as an instrument of death!

An unprecedented sense of crisis enveloped every pore of Jiang Feng’s body! He was no longer the helpless boy he once was; at a single glance, he realized the terrifying power hidden beneath this gentle, peaceful facade.

Such lingering, gentle warmth was truly at odds with the appearance of the White Shark Shura!

Left with no choice, Jiang Feng let out a desperate shout and employed the "Wood Emperor’s Divine Needle" once more. Simultaneously, he utilized the long-unused "Twenty-Five Styles of the Shadow Dance Soul-Breaking Step." His figure moved like lightning, vanishing into thin air only to reappear unexpectedly. To his surprise, when the Wood Emperor’s Divine Needle pierced into the water-based aura, it actually sparked, as if striking metal.

However, the majority of the water-based aura crumbled away!

Sparks fell like rain, scattering everywhere. Jiang Feng widened his eyes, scanning his surroundings vigilantly. The scenery remained unchanged, but the dangerous aura had not diminished; instead, it grew even more intense.

***

Had that just been a warm-up?

Jiang Feng felt no fear; on the contrary, an exhilarating battle intent permeated his entire body, and he only wished the ensuing combat would be even more intense!

The Nether Force within the Jiangshan Bottle had been cleverly combined to instantly dismantle the opponent’s fireball. What really excited him, however, was the Shadow Dance Soul-Breaking Step he had used in his desperation.

The Shadow Dance Soul-Breaking Step focused on speed—lightning-fast speed—and it was the first technique Jiang Feng had learned. In that moment, a flash of inspiration struck him. Instead of suppressing the destructive energy within his footsteps, he channeled that power through his legs, unexpectedly creating a teleportation-like effect.

So that’s how the Shadow Dance Soul-Breaking Step could be used!

Jiang Feng felt a sudden clarity, deeply inspired. If the power of the step could be channeled through his legs, what if he channeled it through his arms? Or elsewhere? He even began to wonder if the subsequent five variations could be performed in a similar manner.

He was eager to try, his fighting spirit soaring.

Today was a massive gain!

He was completely unaware that Jue, hidden within his consciousness, had nearly dropped his jaw in shock. In Jue's eyes, while the new variation of the Shadow Dance Soul-Breaking Step was indeed ingenious, it was not enough to shock a mighty Nether Saint. What he found truly unbelievable was that Jiang Feng could have such thoughts at a moment like this!

This was madness!

Jue nearly gasped out loud. For some reason, a trace of genuine shock welled up in the depths of his heart.

Jiang Feng was unaware of the shock Jue felt, but even if he had known, he would only have scoffed and mocked him for it. His training was incredibly eclectic; he held no biases toward any form of power, but was instead filled with curiosity.

Moreover, he had no time to chat with Jue. Although the aura had been dispersed, the dangerous energy filling the void had not weakened in the slightest; it had grown even more potent.

As the last spark faded, a sudden shift occurred.

In the void, faint phantoms appeared, and a heavy force of water began to permeate the air. A crystal-clear, transparent river appeared, crisscrossing around him; some parts were turbulent, others gentle, some transparent as jewels, others murky as mud.

It seemed as if things had returned to their normal state.

Jiang Feng did not dare to hold back his consciousness and released it fully. Suddenly, a water arrow shot out from a river in front of him. This transparent arrow signaled the start of the battle.

Blue light erupted with a roar!

Countless water-based Nether Arts flew from the crisscrossing rivers, covering the sky like a torrential downpour! This barrage included everything from the simplest water arrows and water bullets to complex constructs like water birds and butterflies, all the way to high-level water dragons and beasts. What was even more astonishing was that every water bird was lifelike, their transparent feathers crafted with exquisite detail.

Only now did Jiang Feng realize that the White Shark Shura’s water-based Nether Arts had reached such a terrifying level!

The White Shark Shura were truly fearsome!

Amidst his shock, a look of intoxication appeared on Jiang Feng’s face. Such exquisite water-based Nether Arts were rare and unparalleled. Perhaps his talent was astonishing, or perhaps he inherited some mysterious power, but in front of the White Shark Shura, he was destined to lose his luster, destined to be as insignificant as a speck of dust.

The next moment, Jiang Feng’s face changed drastically.

In his field of vision, he saw a surging blue sea—the combined radiance of countless water-based Nether Arts. These crystalline, beautiful techniques varied in shape, some fast, some slow, but all radiated a fatal scent.

Every hair on Jiang Feng’s body stood on end. He was instantly plunged into a desperate situation; he didn't even have room to dodge!

An unfathomable water-based Nether Art!

The scent of death was so close that his cheeks felt cold, as if the rotten, grinning face of the Grim Reaper had pressed against his own. His mind went blank, his limbs numbed. All his battle intent and will crumbled like fragile glass in the face of such a shocking strike.

Jiang Feng’s body froze; he couldn't move a single finger. He could only stare blankly at the sea of blue light, drawing ever closer. The tangible force of the water pressed against his very eyelashes; it seemed he was about to be swallowed by the oceanic blue light.

Damn it!

Jiang Feng suddenly jolted, snapping out of his stupor. What followed was a wave of deep, inner shame! He had actually been terrified by the enemy’s attack, so terrified that he had lost the will to resist!

Damn it!

Jiang Feng’s eyes suddenly turned blood-red, burning like two flames. His ice-cold blood boiled instantly, and an intense fury filled every corner of his chest! He was furious at his own cowardice, furious that he had lost his will to fight!

Breaking through the ice, the surging battle intent merged with his anger and shame!

Jiang Feng instantly fell into a berserk state.

With eyes blazing red, the frenzied Jiang Feng slammed his hands together and pulled them apart. *Zzzzt!* A dazzling electric net appeared between his hands. Fine, serpentine bolts of electricity wove through the net, while thirty thumb-sized "Profound Killing Thunderbolts" floated within.

"Profound Heaven Secret Art: Profound Killing Thunderbolts!"

If Jiang Feng were clear-headed, he would have been surprised by his own progress in Nether Arts. The "Profound Killing Thunderbolts" was a highly difficult technique of the Profound Heaven Secret Art; using it now, the momentum was completely different—compact, yet filled with a stern and majestic atmosphere. Both his increased consciousness and his deepening understanding of arcane arts were vividly reflected in this "Profound Killing Thunderbolts" technique, which he had used many times before.

"Die!"

A roar filled with fury suddenly erupted from within the sea of blue light.

Immediately after, a point of silver radiance appeared within the blue glow, and then, this silver light grew brighter and larger!

*Boom, boom, boom...*

Within the dense blue light, muffled explosions continued to sound, like thunder echoing underwater. But soon, the observant Cang Bai noticed something wrong; he was astonished to find that from the tenth explosion onward, the sounds changed—they were no longer muffled, but grew increasingly loud.

Could it be...

A look of horror couldn't help but appear in his eyes.

The explosions rumbled like thunder. Just as he was filled with doubt, a massive explosion erupted. He felt a sudden, blinding flash of silver light before him, and his vision turned into a vast, white void.

When the light dissipated and his eyes regained their clarity, he saw the scene before him and was met with a roar of disbelief.

How... how is this possible...

On the field, Jiang Feng was scorched and battered, looking quite wretched. Yet, no one laughed at him. They stared at Jiang Feng in disbelief, unconsciously emitting gasps of shock they didn't even realize they were making.

Jue was struck dumb. Just a moment ago, he too had been lost in the White Shark Shura’s water-based techniques and had concluded that Jiang Feng could not win. But seeing Jiang Feng standing stubbornly in the field, he couldn't help but sigh softly, despite his shock.

Just as Cang Bai and Jue were stunned, Jiang Feng in the field opened his eyes.

His blood-red eyes had not faded in the slightest.

Still in a berserk state, Jiang Feng turned his gaze, looking around like a savage beast. The scorched Jiang Feng scanned the area, seemingly searching for his prey. Soon, filled with murderous intent, he charged straight toward one of the rivers. The commotion immediately drew Jue’s attention.

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Feng reached the river.

The next action Jiang Feng took made the hearts of both Cang Bai and Jue nearly stop. Outside the field, there was not a sound; it was deathly silent.

—He plunged his hand into the river in front of him.

This guy... what is he trying to do?

A cold sneer appeared on the corner of Jiang Feng’s lips. Suddenly, Cang Bai felt a sense of horror, but before he could even react, Jiang Feng released the Profound Killing Thunderbolts.

As it turned out, the White Shark Shura had been hiding within the river. Jiang Feng’s move, though seemingly nonsensical, was incredibly practical.

Water conducts electricity.

Along the river, all the White Shark Shura shrieked in agony, and an instant later, their bodies floated to the surface.

"You!" Cang Bai’s face turned pale, his voice trembling in disbelief.

Jiang Feng, his eyes still blood-red, looked at Cang Bai with a cold, mocking grin.