"Phew... that was a close one."
Su Ming appeared in front of Cloud Retainer before anyone realized he had moved.
Turning around, he asked, "Master, are you alright?"
"This Adeptus is unharmed." Cloud Retainer shook her head, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. "I never imagined the day would come where I would require your rescue. Truly, the tables have turned."
Su Ming grinned. "Why does that sound so awkward? Shouldn't a master be proud when their disciple is this strong?"
He then turned his gaze toward the remaining three Adepti. "Uncle Moon Carver, Uncle Mountain Shaper, and you are..."
"My Adeptus name is Streetward Rambler," Madame Ping replied with a gentle nod and a faint smile.
"Understood. Seniors, please withdraw for now. This isn't over yet." Su Ming looked back at Xiao, who seemed to have been frozen solid by his previous attack. "Leave the rest to me."
The Adepti didn't move. Su Ming knew exactly what they were thinking without even asking.
"Please, feel free to leave, Master. You too," Su Ming said. "It might sound arrogant, but... your presence here will only hinder my performance."
With that, Su Ming released his strength without further reservation.
The high concentration of the Dragon Factor within him granted him another draconic traitDragon's Pressure!
The atmosphere shifted instantly. A heavy blizzard began to swirl, and thick snow fell from the sky, dusting the shoulders of the Adepti.
Moon Carver was the first to let out a loud, hearty laugh. "Hahahaha! Incredible! Truly, the youth are to be feared! We shall leave the rest to you then."
"If you can, do not harm the Conqueror of Demons," Moon Carver added. "He has... served Liyue with great merit. The Yaksha clan fought and bled for a thousand years, and he is the only one left. If he were to fall... I doubt Rex Lapis's spirit would wish to reunite with him so soon. There are already enough Yaksha spirits in the heavens."
Su Ming bowed slightly. "Rest assured, Uncle Moon Carver. I know where to draw the line."
The Adepti said no more. Before leaving, Cloud Retainer leaned in and whispered, "This Adeptus knows you are extraordinary, but... exercise caution. Do not underestimate your opponent."
"Though the Conqueror of Demons has fallen into a demonic state, blinded by Karmic Debt and his mind clouded by dust, leaving him with only instinct... the Yaksha were always known for their unparalleled prowess in battle. You must not be careless!"
Su Ming simply smiled at her warning. "One should always face any enemy with a hundred percent focus. Your disciple has always believed that."
Cloud Retainer sighed and nodded. "Very well. You, Shenhe, Ganyu... one after another, you all use the same excuses to brush me off. Regardless, do not be careless."
After repeating the warning several more times, Cloud Retainer finally resolved to leave.
In truth, she, Moon Carver, and Mountain Shaper were already exhausted. Facing a powerhouse who far outmatched them while being forced to hold back to ensure his life was an impossible task.
Their energy consumption had been far beyond normal. Even if Su Ming had asked them to stay and assist, only Madame Ping, who had joined the fray late, could have offered any real help.
Once the Adepti had fully withdrawn, Su Ming turned his eyes toward the ice sculpture.
He looked at Xiao, trapped within.
"Sigh... if only I had realized the Abyss's intentions sooner. Those rats hide so deep; it's never easy to find a trail. If I had noticed earlier, I would have gone with you. Now I'm stuck here cleaning up the mess."
Su Ming complained for a moment before speaking up. "Stop pretending. The ice I made this time isn't that hard. It won't hold you."
Bang!
As soon as he finished speaking, a bolt of black and green lightning shot out, aimed straight for Su Ming's face.
Su Ming tilted his head to dodge, his lips moving as he whispered an incantation.
"The profound origin of Heaven and Earth, the root of all Qi."
"Through a billion eons of cultivation, I bear witness to my divine power."
A blinding golden light enveloped Su Ming's body.
With the protection of the Golden Light Armor, Su Ming reached out and snatched the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear out of the air as it whistled past him, slamming it into the ground beside him.
"Discarding your weapon so carelessly... you really have lost your mind, haven't you? I hope this Heart-Purifying Incantation works. Otherwise... I'll have to knock you unconscious and drag you to see Zhongli."
Su Ming felt a bit frustrated. "What a shame... I have to make sure Xiao doesn't sustain any fatal injuries. If you were a real enemy, I could just use my sword and finish this quickly. Since I can't, I'll have to stick to basic freezing, the Golden Light Incantation, and Baji Quan."
"Subdue him first, then try the Heart-Purifying Incantation."
After a split second of mental drafting, Su Ming had his battle plan.
He stomped a foot forward. Dozens of thick, towering peaks of ink-black ice erupted from the ruins of the dock. Immediately after, the golden light on Su Ming's body flared. The Golden Light Armor transformed into long, golden whips that lashed out, coiling around the ice peaks.
Xiao, his vision obscured by the ice and his sanity lost to madness, failed to notice the true danger closing in.
Boom!
A sound like a sudden clap of thunder echoed across the harbor. The onlookers held their breath as they saw Su Ming and Xiao clash in close quarters.
Su Ming met Xiao's fist with his elbow, blocking the surprise attack with zero effort.
With his physical toughness bolstered by both the Golden Light Armor and Mana Burst, his defense and strength had long since reached a level incomprehensible to ordinary men.
That one punch from Xiao resulted in his own hand being shattered. All five fingers were broken, hanging limply.
The pain of broken fingers is said to pierce the heart. Even in his mindless state, such agony caused the maddened Xiao to tremble uncontrollably.
Su Ming shook his head. "Great Immortal Xiao, don't blame me for this. You're the one who swung at me; I was just defending myself. Well, it's over now. You won't be hitting me again."
Su Ming smiled. The golden whips dancing in the air suddenly surged forward, binding Xiao's limbs and pinning him against a massive ice peak, rendering him unable to move.
Seeing this scene, the crowd watching from the Jade Chamber were left completely speechless.
What? The battle was settled just like that?!
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