“`
“Boom!”
In the next moment, the surface of the icy pool exploded, and a man with black fish scales covering his entire body and long black hair cascading like a waterfall rose from the water, standing on the waves.
Although his body had grown a foot or two taller and his features had become more chiseled, there was no doubt from his demeanor and aura that this was Qingyu.
However, the spiritual energy around him had transformed into a swirling demonic aura, filled with a sinister, destructive force that brought a heavy pressure, causing the entire Ice Crystal Cave to tremble.
“We demonic cultivators possess the strongest physiques in this world.”
Qingyu cast a cold glance at Xu Taiping, then stepped on the water and threw a punch at him.
As his fist swung out, the water from the icy pool gathered in front of him, forming giant fists that surged towards Xu Taiping along with his punch.
Xu Taiping, with a physique as formidable as a beast, leaped up with a lion’s roar, his fist smashing towards the water-formed fists.
Unlike his previous punch, this one revealed a faint bull demon shadow behind him, and golden runes began to appear on his fist.
“Bang!”
With a loud crash, the giant fist formed from the icy pool water was pierced through by Xu Taiping’s punch, then collided heavily with Qingyu’s fist.
“Boom!”
In a thunderous collision, Qingyu’s fist, covered in black fish scales, was shattered by Xu Taiping’s punch.
But it wasn’t over yet.
After shattering Qingyu’s arm with one punch, Xu Taiping’s other fist followed, the sound of its impact like galloping thunder, echoing through the Ice Crystal Cave.
This was the Charging Bull Formation of the Green Bull Fist.
Under Xu Taiping’s execution, the Charging Bull Formation seemed like an entirely new technique, its power exponentially increased.
“Boom!”
With the final punch of the Charging Bull Formation, the entire Ice Crystal Cave trembled as Xu Taiping’s fist, like a giant hand, firmly grasped the struggling Qingyu and smashed down.
“Bang!”
With one punch, the entire Ice Crystal Cave shuddered.
Qingyu’s demonic body was shattered into a mass of flesh and blood, retreating back into the icy pool.
From a distance, Duan Xiaoyu initially felt a sense of satisfaction, but her expression gradually turned to one of shock.
As a fellow cultivator, she could sense that Xu Taiping had used the strength of a warrior’s physique and blood energy in that punch.
Could a warrior’s physique truly surpass that of a demonic cultivator?
She even began to doubt her own eyes.
“Boom!” At that moment, a violent tremor erupted from the bottom of the icy pool.
Immediately, a monstrous figure with a human body and fish tail, standing two to three meters tall, leaped out from the pool, wielding two long swords shaped like fish spines.
Undoubtedly, this was Qingyu’s true demonic form.
In his true form, Qingyu’s demonic aura was purer, and the fluctuations of his energy more intense.
“No matter what, you are still just a mortal.”
Qingyu raised his long, slender sword, his vertical pupils coldly staring at Xu Taiping.
Having encountered demonic cultivators before, Xu Taiping was not surprised by this scene; in fact, he had intended to force Qingyu to reveal his true form.
“As long as you are a mortal, you are bound by this world, unable to be free.”
Qingyu’s face twisted as he spoke, assuming a stance to strike amidst the rolling blood waves at his feet.
“This blade of mine, named Sudden Rain, is the first technique I comprehended after shedding my mortal body.”
“It was also the first time I truly felt the power of breaking free from the constraints of this world.”
As he spoke, the demonic aura around him began to transform into blade energy, and a twisted, frenzied blade intent spread throughout the Ice Crystal Cave.
Water vapor rose from the surface around him, merging with the blade energy to form countless small ice crystal blades, suspended above the lake around Qingyu.
“You talk so much.”
Hearing this, Xu Taiping released his fist, placing his hand on the hilt of Spring Tiger at his waist. He began to pace around the icy pool, staring at Qingyu as he continued, “Is it because you’re afraid?”
Qingyu’s eyes turned cold, and a twisted killing intent surged from him.
The blood-colored ice crystal blades around him began to whirl.
A terrifying blade force swept through the Ice Crystal Cave like a tidal wave.
In the face of this blade force, Xu Taiping simply took a deep breath, then stepped forward with his hand on the hilt.
With just one step, the Ice Crystal Cave trembled, and the momentum Qingyu had gathered was suddenly transferred to Xu Taiping.
Demonic Severing Blade.
Seizing the momentum.
Seeing his blade force taken away, Qingyu’s twisted killing intent could no longer be contained.
“Swish!”
His body transformed into a blood mist, and with a fierce shout, he flew towards Xu Taiping like a gust of wind, his twin blades slashing down with a roar.
As the twin blades slashed, the small ice crystal blades formed from true qi and water droplets around him shot out.
It was like a sudden summer rainstorm, enveloping Xu Taiping completely.
Facing this sudden “rainstorm,” Xu Taiping did not rush to draw his blade.
Only when the first drop of “rain” hit his protective true qi with a “plop” did he draw Spring Tiger with a “swish.”
“Zhi!—”
In an instant, the Ice Crystal Cave echoed with the cries of a hundred cicadas.
Behind Xu Taiping, hundreds of cicada wings formed from blade shadows appeared.
From Qingyu’s perspective, it looked as if hundreds of autumn cicadas were flapping their wings against the storm.
“`