All reckless judgments will come at a cost.

Chu Xingchen frowned slightly, feeling the pure sense of suppression continuously coming from Xu Linglong. If Wanban wasn't, in a sense, an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao's authority and able to directly resist the power of Xu Linglong's authority, he probably wouldn't have been able to block the sword strike Xu Linglong just delivered.

Once his own spiritual energy and power left his body, or even left Wanban's blade, they would be affected by the power of Xu Linglong's authority. The feeling this authority gave Chu Xingchen was also extremely strange.

It was as if time was flowing backward, smoothing out the energy Chu Xingchen released back to its original state.

During their clash, the spiritual energy released by Chu Xingchen was simplified back into basic spiritual energy, scattering in all directions with the shockwaves.

Fortunately, this authority could not affect Chu Xingchen himself or Wanban.

It was nothing more than his externalized abilities being reverted to their primal state. Although he didn't understand the specific situation, sometimes just treating the symptoms was enough.

Chu Xingchen's method of dealing with it was also extremely simple—a pure, hearty, and exhilarating close-quarters physical brawl!

Wanban's spiritual energy was drawn inward.

The strength in Chu Xingchen's hands instantly increased. All his spiritual energy was injected into every inch of his body. As long as he treated his own flesh and blood as a flawless spiritual treasure, he too possessed the offensive power of the Tribulation Transcendence realm!

Furthermore, could Xu Linglong really use such a killing move without any backlash? If so, it should have been used back when fighting Bai Xuanling.

Back then, when the Heavenly Demons' siege pushed them to a desperate situation, Xu Linglong had kept it hidden and unused.

Aside from keeping it as a final trump card, the price of using this move was probably immense.

Especially since Chu Xingchen had used the Innate Primordial Dao-Fixing Dual-Qi Pearl, a magical treasure with an extremely heavy burden—it was strong, yes! But at what cost?!

The muscles on Chu Xingchen's arms instantly bulged, and spiritual light continuously spilled from his pores.

The white light slashed down.

Xu Linglong's condition was exactly as Chu Xingchen had guessed.

The strength in its hands was no longer as tyrannical as before.

Under a forceful slash, Xu Linglong was struck down into the seabed by a single sword strike.

Chu Xingchen soared upward, aiming Wanban right at Xu Linglong's head and slashing down.

Xu Linglong's golden eyes stared intently at Chu Xingchen's figure. A hint of confusion appeared in its expression, but it still understood its current advantage.

The longsword in its hand transformed into a longbow. The moment the bow was drawn, thousands of rainbow lights sped toward Chu Xingchen in a fierce attack.

Xu Linglong flipped its body, using this moment of flight to pull away and create distance.

Chu Xingchen could currently only rely on his physical body to fight.

Xu Linglong's head was fine, so it naturally understood that the most important thing when fighting a melee fighter was to open up the distance.

Sword intent burst forth from Chu Xingchen's hand, sweeping away the incoming rainbow lights before he closely pursued Xu Linglong.

Xu Linglong slightly raised its hand, and a giant dragon formed of seawater surged up from the ocean surface, directly swallowing the airborne Chu Xingchen.

However, in the very next moment, this water dragon was cleaved apart by Chu Xingchen's sword.

Xu Linglong naturally understood that these petty tricks couldn't cause any real damage to Chu Xingchen; they could only annoy him and hinder his movements.

But... that was enough.

If you are going to fight a life-and-death battle, then do not bring people you care about to be a burden.

Because that is a fatal flaw!

The corners of Xu Linglong's mouth curled into a slight smile. Countless water dragons bit toward Chu Xingchen from the sea surface. Even if Chu Xingchen could completely resolve these water dragons in the next moment.

Just this split second of time.

It was enough for Xu Linglong to draw its bow and aim at Xie Lingyu.

Even separated by a considerable distance, an arrow from a Tribulation Transcendence realm expert was not something a Body Integration cultivator could easily withstand.

And if Xu Linglong had time for one arrow, it certainly had time for a second.

Xu Linglong had accepted that the power of its authority could not affect Wanban in Chu Xingchen's hands. However, the power of its authority seemed completely ineffective against Chu Xingchen himself. There was no reaction at all, and he appeared entirely unaffected.

Xu Linglong did not believe Chu Xingchen could isolate the power of its authority.

It was highly likely that the Innate Primordial Dao-Fixing Dual-Qi Pearl was isolating the authority's power. The supreme treasure of the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect had already touched the boundaries of authority.

Xu Linglong understood in its heart that if it bore such a massive burden to manipulate the authority's power, yet the effect on Chu Xingchen was so minuscule, it would be better not to use it at all.

But without using the authority's power, it would most likely be dragged to death by Chu Xingchen here.

Therefore, the only way to break the stalemate was Xie Lingyu.

If Chu Xingchen truly wanted to protect Xie Lingyu, he would inevitably have to divert the Dao-Fixing Pearl's power to shield her.

As long as he did that, Chu Xingchen would have to accept the erosion of the authority.

If it was destined to die here, it would at least drag Chu Xingchen down to be buried alongside it.

Xu Linglong shooting an arrow at Xie Lingyu was naturally an extremely obvious declarative action.

Chu Xingchen's movements suddenly became much faster. He directly smashed through the water dragons with his body, the power tearing the dharma robes he wore, but he also seized this opportunity.

Wanban flashed with white light.

Xu Linglong's evasion was slightly too slow, and a massive chunk was chopped out of its left shoulder by Wanban.

Unaffected by this injury, Xu Linglong continued to pull away, drawing the bow to a full moon, its target still Xie Lingyu.

Take a guess. Will you hack me to death first, or will I kill your sweetheart first? Xu Linglong's tone was relaxed and casual. Bringing a weakness, this is the price you must accept. Today, what other tricks do you have left...

Before Xu Linglong could finish speaking.

It slightly turned its gaze and saw the Innate Primordial Dao-Fixing Dual-Qi Pearl transform into a streak of clear and turbid qi, flying straight toward Xie Lingyu.

The corners of Xu Linglong's mouth curled into a smile.

Deep affection and heavy righteousness were indeed wonderful things. Before it even finished speaking, Chu Xingchen directed the Dao-Fixing Pearl to protect Xie Lingyu.

Whether Xie Lingyu lived or died did not matter to Xu Linglong at all.

If it weren't for the Dao-Fixing Pearl protecting Chu Xingchen, it wouldn't have even entertained the thought of sparing a glance at Xie Lingyu.

Nothing was more important right now than killing Chu Xingchen.

The longbow in Xu Linglong's hand transformed back into a longsword.

Time was running out. It wouldn't be long before a group of Tribulation Transcendence cultivators arrived to provide backup.

Let the final life-and-death struggle begin!

Xu Linglong's pupils, originally glowing with pure golden light, began to gradually be tainted with streaks of red and... pure white.

Chu Xingchen looked at Xu Linglong, whose state was completely different now. Just by giving up the Dao-Fixing Pearl's protection, Xu Linglong began to display a posture ready for a desperate fight.

As if victory was already in its grasp.

But just a moment ago, the Dao-Fixing Pearl had been ground down by its authority until only a superficial layer of protection remained; it wasn't providing him much defense anyway.

If the situation was bizarre, there had to be a reason.

In an instant, Chu Xingchen understood the situation in his heart—under normal circumstances, this authority should have been effective on him. Xu Linglong had likely mistakenly believed that it was the Dao-Fixing Pearl protecting him, causing the authority to be ineffective against his body.

Since that was the case...

Facing Xu Linglong's approaching figure, Chu Xingchen's expression suddenly became extremely serious. His breathing quickened, and his spiritual energy began to spill and scatter uncontrollably.

His actions also changed from pursuit to retreat.

It was as if something had severely impacted Chu Xingchen, his movements visibly slowing down.

Xu Linglong didn't necessarily have to die by Chu Xingchen's hands; as long as Xu Linglong died, that was enough.

To prevent Xu Linglong from acting out of pure desperation and actually seeking out Xie Lingyu to self-destruct, it was best to avoid the risk altogether, even if she wouldn't necessarily succeed.

Just as Chu Xingchen had speculated.

A ferocious smile crept across Xu Linglong's face. Gripping her longsword, she charged at Chu Xingchen with murderous intent.

Chu Xingchen furrowed his brows tightly, but inwardly, he was laughing out loud.

Little Linglong.

Come and pay the price for your reckless judgment!