Bai Zihe was truly stunned.
A Qilin...
That was a mythical divine beast, no weaker than the White Tiger encountered before. No wonder its control over water power was so formidable.
Without excessive flourishes or ostentatious displays of skill, it was pure strength, ultimate strength.
It was enough to suffocate one, and even Bai Zihe was caught off guard, nearly unable to break free. This demonstrated its immense power.
"You brat..."
The Water Qilin's gaze fell upon Bai Zihe. After a moment of appraisal, it shook its head in disappointment. "You possess a treasure mountain within you, yet know not how to excavate it. A true waste of heavenly gifts."
"A waste of heavenly gifts..."
The Water Qilin sighed, lamenting, when suddenly an ice arrow shot forth.
"Whoosh—"
Its speed was like a shooting meteor!
Its momentum was akin to a tiger descending from a mountain!
"Hiss..."
Although Bai Zihe listened to the Water Qilin's lengthy speech, he was unsure if it was friend or foe. Therefore, from the moment it appeared, he had been on high alert.
Seeing its sudden attack, he did not hesitate. Gripping the Zhu Tian Sword, he casually unleashed a powerful pure Yang karmic fire sword energy.
"Bang!"
In the next instant, the ice arrow and the sword energy collided.
Instead of the expected mutual annihilation, they froze in mid-air, like needle points meeting, locked in a stalemate.
Bai Zihe felt a biting chill wash over him, surging up the sword energy, along the Zhu Tian Sword, and into his palm, threatening to freeze his very veins.
It was terrifyingly potent.
"Break!"
With a sudden roar, Bai Zihe channeled a significant portion of his true essence into his right arm. Using pure karmic fire, he dispelled the chill and poured it into the Zhu Tian Sword.
"Whoosh..."
In the next moment, the ice arrow shattered, melting into a puddle of water on the ground.
"Some progress."
The Water Qilin remained three zhang away, its position unchanged. This indicated that the previous attack had been casual.
Its gaze towards Bai Zihe shifted from disdain to a hint of seriousness.
"Swish!"
Without further hesitation, Bai Zihe made his move.
This forbidden ground should be filled with adversaries.
He had to defeat these opponents to proceed deeper and uncover the mysteries of time and space manipulation.
Thus, Bai Zihe chose to initiate the attack.
His movement was like a meteor streaking across the sky, instantly igniting countless beams of light, the colors representing each of the Five Elements individually.
Sword energies erupted in rapid succession, charging directly towards the Water Qilin.
"Whoosh—"
"Swish—"
"Shing—"
Ten thousand sword lights, as brilliant as the stars in a clear night sky, carrying boundless momentum and supreme power, surged forward relentlessly towards the Water Qilin.
The pressure unleashed in that instant lent Bai Zihe a stern and resolute countenance, like an ancient war god, decisive and lethal.
"Crash!"
The Water Qilin did not budge, remaining steadfastly in its original spot.
Facing the myriad sword lights, it appeared remarkably calm, its eyes showing no trace of panic, as if they posed no threat.
Only when...
The sword lights reached within a foot of it, did it suddenly open its mouth.
"Whoosh—"
A stream of water vapor was exhaled from its mouth.
Like wisps of smoke.
Like a thin mist.
It seemed utterly devoid of any destructive power.
However...
As the water vapor was expelled, it immediately transformed into a water screen, condensing before the Water Qilin. It was impenetrable, leaving no gaps.
"Boom..."
"Crash..."
"Bang bang bang..."
In the next moment, Bai Zihe's ten thousand sword lights slammed into this thin water screen. Accompanied by the fury of wind and thunder, and the might of a god's prison, they struck.
Yet...
As each sword energy bombarded it, this seemingly thin water screen, where the flow of water could even be discerned, acted like the most indestructible artifact in the world, forming an absolute defense that blocked all the sword lights.
Without exception.
It proved impossible to breach.
The Water Qilin maintained an air of serene composure, clearly unconcerned by Bai Zihe's seemingly overwhelming attack, appearing utterly at ease.
"Crack!"
"Whoosh—"
But at this very moment, a crisp cracking sound was heard. The water screen suddenly developed a fissure, and then it all cascaded onto the ground.
The water screen vanished.
All that remained was an ordinary pool of water, unremarkable in any way.
"Hm?"
The Water Qilin's expression changed for the first time.
It instinctively focused its gaze on Bai Zihe's face, appearing profoundly surprised.
"Ultimate water power..."
Bai Zihe's lips curved into a slight smile, his brows regaining their former spirit.
Just now.
Initially, facing the Water Qilin's water screen defense, he had indeed been at a loss. Ordinary sword energies, even those imbued with the Five Elements and the might of karmic fire, were still insufficient to penetrate.
However, during the attack, Bai Zihe suddenly recalled the Wordless Heavenly Book.
After its fusion before the grand hall, the Wordless Heavenly Book had undergone further changes. Bai Zihe was unsure if it had reached its ultimate form, but the profundities it revealed were even greater than before.
Therefore.
He imitated the flame that emerged when Pangu, after creating heaven and earth, transformed into rivers, waterways, and mountains. He incorporated this into the myriad sword energies, holding it back as his final move.
Indeed, this sword energy did not disappoint him; it shattered the Water Qilin's defense in one fell swoop.
What delighted Bai Zihe was not merely gaining the upper hand in this exchange, but rather discovering something new and gaining further insight into the Wordless Heavenly Book!
This was what truly filled Bai Zihe with surprise.
"Hmph..."
The Water Qilin exhaled from its two massive nostrils, and the expelled breath instantly condensed into ice crystals, drifting in the air.
This spectacle was truly astonishing.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"Crack!"
In the next moment, without any discernible movement from the Water Qilin, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, blanketing the entire area without a single blind spot.
Simultaneously.
The ground beneath Bai Zihe's feet also began to frost over. Centered around the Water Qilin's position, it spread outwards in all directions with unparalleled speed—an enhanced version of the move he had first witnessed!
Not only that.
A frigid storm began to brew in the air, raging and rampant, sweeping outwards with maximum force, like a world-ending hurricane.
"Since you have such confidence..."
Amidst the howling winds and soaring snow, the Water Qilin gazed at Bai Zihe, frost forming around its eyes, and slowly declared, "Then you shall taste the ultimate power of water's extremity."
"Ice and Snow Dominion!"
As it spoke, the Water Qilin let out a long cry to the heavens.
The moment its voice fell, the icy wind roared, and the flying snow raged, unleashing the extreme power of water to its fullest extent!
"Brat."
"Taste the might of my move."
"If you can break through this Ice and Snow Dominion, then the Water Pass that I guard will be considered conquered!"