The Azure Guardian took its first step.
Boom!
The entire plaza shook violently.
Ancient stone buildings collapsed under the pressure, while countless cracks spread across the ground.
Blue flames burned inside the giant's empty eye sockets.
Its enormous sword slowly rose into the air.
Lin Chen's expression became serious.
Level 80.
Even after surviving the Monster Tide and obtaining the Sea God Inheritance fragments, this was still one of the strongest enemies he had encountered.
Beside him, Su Yao closed her eyes.
Golden light flickered around her pupils.
Her Treasure Goddess Talent had activated.
A moment later, she opened her eyes.
"I found its weakness."
Lin Chen smiled.
"Where?"
"The crystal."
She pointed toward the guardian's chest.
"There's an Azure Core hidden inside. Destroy it, and the guardian will stop moving."
Lin Chen tightened his grip on the Ocean Emperor's Trident.
"Leave the opening to me."
The Azure Guardian suddenly disappeared.
"No..."
Lin Chen's eyes widened.
"It moved!"
Despite its enormous size, the guardian's speed was astonishing.
Its sword descended from above.
Boom!
The attack split the plaza in two.
Lin Chen and Su Yao leaped in opposite directions.
The shockwave shattered nearby statues.
Without hesitation, Lin Chen counterattacked.
"Mythic Skill!"
"Ocean Sovereign's Command!"
Water burst from the nearby canals surrounding the ancient city.
A massive dragon of water wrapped itself around the guardian.
For a brief moment...
Its movements slowed.
"Now!"
Su Yao raised her hand.
A golden arrow of light appeared above the guardian's chest.
"There!"
Lin Chen charged.
The Ocean Emperor's Trident released dazzling blue lightning.
Just before the attack landed—
The guardian raised its left arm.
Clang!
The trident struck an enormous stone shield hidden beneath its armor.
The impact echoed throughout the city.
Lin Chen was forced backward several meters.
"So it can protect its core..."
The guardian wasn't a mindless monster.
It possessed battle instincts.
Blue flames intensified.
The giant swung its sword horizontally.
Lin Chen ducked beneath the attack.
Entire buildings behind him collapsed.
Stone debris filled the air.
Su Yao suddenly shouted,
"Above!"
Lin Chen reacted instinctively.
A second stone sword had formed from the guardian's shoulder.
The hidden weapon narrowly missed him.
Boom!
The ground exploded.
Lin Chen immediately retreated.
"This thing keeps adapting."
Su Yao nodded.
"The longer the battle lasts..."
"...the stronger it becomes."
That wasn't good.
Not good at all.
The battle had to end quickly.
Lin Chen activated Abyss Sight.
The world transformed.
Blue energy covered everything.
The guardian's Azure Core glowed brightly inside its chest.
But something else caught his attention.
Several blue energy lines connected the guardian to four ancient stone pillars surrounding the plaza.
His eyes narrowed.
"So that's how it regenerates."
The pillars were supplying energy.
Destroy them first...
Then the guardian would weaken.
"Su Yao!"
"I know."
She had already noticed.
The two immediately split up.
Lin Chen rushed toward the first pillar.
The guardian tried to stop him.
Unfortunately, Su Yao deliberately attracted its attention.
Golden light continuously struck the giant's face.
The attacks caused little damage...
But they were enough to annoy it.
Boom!
The guardian turned toward Su Yao.
At that exact moment—
Lin Chen destroyed the first pillar.
Crack!
The blue crystal shattered.
The guardian staggered slightly.
"It worked!"
Without wasting time, he rushed toward the second.
Boom!
Second pillar destroyed.
Then the third.
The guardian's movements became noticeably slower.
Its blue flames flickered.
Only one pillar remained.
The giant suddenly roared.
Blue energy erupted throughout the plaza.
Dozens of stone warriors climbed out of the ground.
Each one carried ancient weapons.
Azure Soldiers
Level: 60
Elite Monsters
"They're trying to protect the last pillar!"
Lin Chen smiled.
"Too late."
He raised the Ocean Emperor's Trident high above his head.
Dark clouds gathered.
Lightning roared across the sky.
"Mythic Skill!"
"Ocean God's Domain!"
A gigantic sphere of blue water spread across the battlefield.
Within the domain...
Every drop of water obeyed Lin Chen.
Hundreds of water spears formed simultaneously.
"Go!"
The spears descended like rain.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The Azure Soldiers exploded one after another.
The final pillar shattered beneath the endless barrage.
Crack!
The moment it broke...
The guardian froze.
The blue flames inside its eyes weakened dramatically.
"The core!"
Su Yao shouted.
Lin Chen had already moved.
He leaped into the air.
The Ocean Emperor's Trident released all of its accumulated power.
The guardian raised its sword one final time.
Too slow.
The trident pierced directly through its chest.
Crack!
The Azure Core shattered.
Silence filled the plaza.
The enormous guardian remained standing for several seconds.
Then...
Its body slowly crumbled into countless pieces.
Boom!
The giant collapsed.
A brilliant golden light erupted from the center of the ruins.
Several notifications appeared before Lin Chen.
Azure Guardian Defeated
Experience +8,000
Level Up
Level 10 Reached
Special Reward Granted
A treasure chest slowly rose from the guardian's remains.
Its surface was covered with golden patterns.
A notification appeared.
Legendary Treasure Chest
Lin Chen looked at Su Yao.
She smiled.
"I told you there was treasure."
Lin Chen laughed.
"You always do."
Just as he prepared to open the chest, another notification interrupted him.
Guild Invitation Received
Guild: Azure Crown
Rank: Regional First Guild
Invitation:
The Guild Master wishes to meet you. Join us and explore the Azure Continent together.
Lin Chen glanced at the invitation before closing it.
"I'm not interested."
Su Yao smiled knowingly.
"I guessed as much."
Just then, Abyss Sight activated again.
Lin Chen suddenly looked toward the roof of a ruined tower.
A black-cloaked figure stood silently there.
The moment their eyes met...
The stranger smiled.
Then disappeared into the shadows.
Lin Chen frowned.
"Someone was watching us."
Su Yao's expression also became serious.
"I couldn't sense them."
"If they could hide from your Talent..."
"They're dangerous."
Lin Chen looked toward the dark tower one last time before turning back to the Legendary Treasure Chest.
Whoever the mysterious observer was...
They would undoubtedly meet again.
But for now...
The rewards of the Ancient Azure City awaited.
To Be Continued...