The Elven Cultivator

High above the center of the battlefield, the fight between the Green Abyss Dragon Yilad and Valin had reached a fever pitch.

The two peak Legendary Powerhouses were like two moving mountains. Every clash sent out shockwaves visible to the naked eye, causing the ground below to crack and churn.

Valin was wreathed in scorching lava, as if wearing a suit of flowing magma armor that burned the surrounding air until it warped and distorted.

Every swing of the warhammer in his hand carried the terrifying might to burn mountains and boil seas, the tail of flames trailing from the hammer’s face leaving scorch marks that lingered in the air.

Just watching from a distance, one could feel an oppressive pressure, as if facing a volcano on the verge of eruption.

However, upon closer inspection, it was clear that Valin was actually at a disadvantage.

Though his attacks were ferocious, they were always neutralized and dissipated the moment they touched the deep blue Water Curtain surrounding Irad.

The scorching lava crashed into the Water Curtain like a red-hot piece of iron sinking into a deep pool, kicking up clouds of billowing steam but ultimately failing to penetrate it.

The lava, hot enough to melt refined metal, was rapidly cooled and solidified by the enveloping Elemental Power of Water, turning into gray-black volcanic gravel that rained down with a soft patter.

Water counters fire. This was a fundamental principle of the world.

But which side was countered depended on the difference in the tiers of their respective Laws.

Valin’s Law of Lava was merely a lower-tier derivative of the Fire Element’s power, while the Azure Abyss Dragon’s Elemental Power of Water was one of the four great upper-tier Laws that formed the world’s very foundation.

There was a gap of two full tiers between them.

Not to mention, Irad was in a Subspace, where the power of the Dragon Race received an additional boost.

Given these circumstances, the fact that Valin had held on this long without being defeated was a testament to the formidable combat instincts and rich experience he had honed over centuries.

But victory was next to impossible.

Irad, in contrast, was surrounded by a tidal surge of Water Element’s power. The aquatic patterns on his scales glowed brightly as he steadily blocked every one of Valin’s attacks.

He didn’t counterattack often, but each strike was precise and fierce, forcing Valin to retreat and disperse the force.

Yet the Azure Abyss Dragon, despite holding the upper hand, felt not a shred of joy. Instead, his heart was filled with a mixture of shock and fury.

Sixty-three Giant Dragons.

Two hundred and sixty-seven members of the Pure-blooded Dragon Race.

Such an immense force had been slaughtered to the last in less than half a day.

’And the culprit behind it all is that damned Elf!’

Irad’s gaze swept across the battlefield, lingering for a moment on Anton. The killing intent in his vertical pupils was so intense it almost solidified.

He wished he could tear that so-called Fallen Dragon Sword Saint to shreds, then use his Dragon Breath to annihilate his soul and make that lowly Elf disappear from the world completely.

’Unfortunately, he could no longer achieve that goal.’

’Things have come to this. Defeat is certain.’

’This spatial node cannot be saved.’

’The only thing he could do now was wait for the exit to open, and then retreat.’

The thought of the blame and criticism he would face upon returning, along with the cold stares and questioning from his kin, made Irad burn with vexation.

”Everyone!”

Just then, someone from the allied forces’ camp suddenly shouted.

”Only this beast is left!”

”Let’s attack together! Take him down, don’t let him escape!”

At these words, many of the allied powerhouses were tempted.

Killing a royal Giant Dragon of the peak Legendary tier, even as part of a group, was a significant accomplishment.

Afterward, they would surely receive a handsome amount of Contribution Points, enough to exchange for a vast quantity of resources from Ranfeng Hall’s list.

At this thought, many of the Legendary Powerhouses present were swayed.

After a brief moment of hesitation, more than a dozen Legendary Powerhouses could no longer hold back and attacked almost simultaneously.

The brilliant glows of various Powers of Law suddenly bloomed in the dim space like fireworks exploding in the night sky, pouring down on Irad from all directions.

”Careful!”

Seeing this, Valin was not pleased but alarmed. His expression changed slightly as he shouted a warning in a deep voice.

But it was too late.

Irad, who was already seething with rage, saw these lowly races daring to attack him. The killing intent in his vertical pupils instantly blazed to its absolute peak.

”You’re courting death!”

He roared and pressed a claw down into the void.

In the next instant, the air within a thousand-meter radius suddenly became damp and viscous.

A deep blue watery light emerged from the void. It was silent but astonishingly fast, like an immense net blotting out the sky as it enveloped the three Legendary Powerhouses at the very front.

They had no time to react before they were swallowed by the deep blue light.

Their bodies froze instantly, their expressions locked in a mixture of shock and terror.

Then, their bodies were squeezed and crushed inward, as if grabbed by an invisible giant hand.

The muffled crack of shattering bones exploded outward as their flesh and blood were ground to dust under the immense pressure. Their armor, their weapons—everything was compressed by that irresistible force into murky, fist-sized spheres.

Irad retracted his claw. The three murky spheres fell from the air and shattered into splashing droplets upon hitting the ground.

The battlefield fell into a sudden, deathly silence.

The allied powerhouses watched Irad slowly retract his claw, their pupils filled with utter horror.

One strike.

Just a single strike.

Three Legendary Powerhouses, one of them even a Pillarstone Legend, had been crushed to death with no power to resist.

They hadn’t truly grasped it while watching Irad fight Valin, but now, seeing him brazenly crush three Legendary Powerhouses with their own eyes, they finally understood just how terrifying his power was.

His strength and theirs were on completely different levels.

The color drained from the faces of the Legendary Powerhouses who had been eager to attack. They froze in place, all thoughts of fighting completely extinguished.

Anton took in this scene, his gaze hardening slightly.

The Peak Legend was the pinnacle of the Legendary Tier.

Their Power of Law was almost fully manifested, and they were even beginning to touch the threshold of a higher level of power.

With just one more step, they could ascend to the highest echelons of power on the Dawn Continent.

’Simply put, the power of a Peak Legend far surpassed the previous three minor tiers; they weren’t on the same order of magnitude at all.’

’Not to mention, the Azure Abyss Dragon was also boosted by the power of the Subspace.’

’If even he could kill an ordinary Legend in a single exchange, it would be ridiculously easy for the Azure Abyss Dragon.’

’Even a powerhouse like a Pillarstone Legend couldn’t survive a single exchange with the Azure Abyss Dragon.’

’To even participate in a battle involving a Peak Legend, one had to be at least a Senior Legend.’

But at this moment, the few Senior Legends present, including Alvin, all had flickering, uncertain gazes that betrayed their clear hesitation.

They certainly wanted the credit for helping to kill the Azure Abyss Dragon—a glorious achievement that would make the entire allied army look at them with new respect—but the risk was simply too high.

The fate of the three Legendary Powerhouses was right before their eyes, and no one wanted to be next.

’In any case, the overall situation was decided. The credit for destroying the spatial node was already theirs for the taking. There was no need to create unnecessary complications and get themselves killed.’

’Rather than take the risk, it was better to wait for the spatial node’s exit to open and let the Azure Abyss Dragon leave.’

Valin saw through their intentions and frowned, but he didn’t say anything.

After all, he wasn’t their leader and was in no position to order them to risk their lives besieging a royal Giant Dragon of the peak Legendary tier.

Irad, of course, also noticed the allied powerhouses cowering. Undisguised contempt and mockery appeared in his vertical pupils.

”Insolent ants.”

He withdrew his gaze, no longer paying them any mind.

But in the next instant, a beam of primordial yellow light shot toward him. It streaked above Irad’s head, rapidly expanding until it was like a mountain crashing down to suppress him.

BOOM!

A terrifying pressure assailed Irad from all sides, pinning him in place as if it were tangible.

”Damn you, Elf!”

The deafening roar echoed across the battlefield, and anyone could hear the towering rage contained within it.

The blazing killing intent in Irad’s chest was about to erupt.

’Did this damned Elf really think he could contend with him just because he’d killed a few ordinary Giant Dragons?’

’The sheer arrogance!’

He let out a low growl as Elemental Power erupted from his body, instantly shattering the formless suppressive force. He then raised a claw to meet the attack.

The Elemental Power of Water coalesced between his claws, forming a giant palm of pure water that carried immense force as it slammed toward the Heaven-Overturning Seal.

BOOM!

The two forces collided violently in the void, sending transparent, visible ripples spreading out in all directions.

Wherever the shockwave passed, the fragments of flesh and bone on the ground were peeled back in layers, as if tilled by an invisible giant plow, revealing deep furrows.

The Heaven-Overturning Seal was sent tumbling backward, the primordial yellow light on its surface flickering violently a few times before slowly stabilizing.

Irad’s claw was also jolted back. Fine cracks appeared on the surface of the giant palm of condensed Water Element before it disintegrated into a cloud of mist that slowly dissipated into the air.

Anton raised an eyebrow slightly.

’Peak Legends really are tough customers.’

’Even the Heaven-Overturning Seal was knocked back.’

After knocking back the Heaven-Overturning Seal, Irad’s assault continued without pause.

He raised his claw again and pressed it toward Anton through the air.

SPLASH!

A surging, deep-blue torrent appeared from thin air, carrying an invisible, crushing weight as it rolled down toward Anton like the entire deep sea overturning. The air was instantly compressed, letting out a sharp shriek.

Anton’s expression remained unchanged. Two hundred and fifty-six beams of sword light surged upward like a reverse waterfall, weaving an impenetrable curtain of blades before him.

In the next instant, the deep-blue torrent crashed against the sword curtain, creating a deafening roar.

The sword curtain trembled violently, its light flickering, but it forcefully cut and tore through the torrent of water.

The fragmented Elemental Power that penetrated the sword curtain turned into countless tiny water droplets that struck Anton, only to be easily blocked by his Primordial True Gang. Not even his robes were dampened.

The onlookers were stunned.

Just moments ago, three Legendary Powerhouses had been instantly killed by Irad’s claw with no chance to resist. Yet Anton had blocked Irad’s attack completely unharmed.

The difference in their abilities was immediately apparent.

What astonished them even more was the square seal.

In fact, they had already had their suspicions, but it wasn’t until they saw that last exchange that they were certain: the square seal in Anton’s hand was, without a doubt, a piece of Ancient Level Magic Equipment.

Moreover, its quality was exceptional, far surpassing most of the Ancient Level equipment they had ever seen.

Otherwise, it couldn’t have suppressed a Senior Legendary Giant Dragon to the point where it couldn’t escape, nor could it have taken a full-force blow from a peak Legendary royal Giant Dragon and remained unscathed.

”Anton Silver Moon!”

Irad stared death at Anton, the killing intent in his vertical pupils practically overflowing.

His voice was low and icy, like a cold wind blowing from the underworld.

”I will remember you.”

”The next time we meet, I will tear you to pieces with my own claws.”

Anton had rested for a while. Aided by a Pill, he had recovered a good deal of his Magical Power, enough to sustain another battle.

Faced with Irad’s threat, which was dripping with killing intent, he simply gave a disdainful smile.

”That’s assuming you can leave here today.”