With that punch, the surrounding space shattered completely. Greenish-blue blood sprayed several meters into the air.
The ground below cracked in all directions like a spider web.
Jiang Changsheng looked over and saw the flood dragon lying there, its body torn and bloody. Its armored head was split open, flesh ripped apart.
“Senior Brother… that’s a Fusion Heaven-level beast,” Jiang Changsheng said, trembling.
“Isn’t it already dead?” Xu Zimo replied calmly. “You’ve still got a lot to learn, Changsheng.”
“Senior Brother, you’ve been hiding your strength all along!” Jiang Changsheng looked at Xu Zimo in awe.
“You’re the one who said not to judge things by appearances,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head.
He took Jiang Changsheng’s sword and began cutting into the flood dragon.
The dragon’s back bone, also called the ‘wisdom bone’, was located near the back of its head and was the most valuable part.
“Senior Brother, the blood of a Fusion Heaven-level beast is incredibly precious. Don’t waste it,” Jiang Changsheng said, hurriedly collecting the blood.
“If you want it, take it,” Xu Zimo replied.
Just as he was removing the wisdom bone, footsteps echoed from nearby.
Xu Zimo frowned slightly. This area around Blue Moon Pool was usually deserted. People wouldn’t be wandering here unless, like them, they were specifically hunting the dragon.
He looked up and saw two people approaching, one man and one young woman.
As they got closer, he saw the man was dressed in a gray-white robe, with black hair streaked with white at the temples. He had a refined look, with neatly tied hair and a silver sword at his waist.
The young woman looked about Xu Zimo’s age. She wore a blue dress, elegant and slim-waisted, tied with a blue sash. Her slightly wavy hair fell over her left shoulder, bound by a pink ribbon. She had the soft, graceful air of a Jiangnan beauty.
“Master, someone beat us to it,” the girl in blue frowned as she saw Xu Zimo.
“It’s fine,” the refined man said with a smile, shaking his head.
“Who are you two?” Jiang Changsheng asked cautiously.
“We came for the flood dragon. But since it’s already dead, perhaps we can make a deal?” the refined man asked, smiling.
“What deal?” Xu Zimo replied.
“We’d like the dragon’s tendons. Name your price,” the man said.
“Not for sale. I don’t lack anything, and you definitely don’t have what I want,” Xu Zimo replied, refusing immediately.
“Master,” the girl in blue frowned, then took out an umbrella from her storage ring.
“This is a Paragon-level weapon. It has both offensive and defensive modes. It should be more than enough for you.”
She assumed Jiang Changsheng was a mere meridian cultivator and Xu Zimo didn’t even seem to have spiritforce. She figured someone else must have killed the dragon, and these two were just looting the leftovers.
“This is useless to me. No deal,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head as he continued butchering the dragon.
The refined man chuckled and, with a clang, drew his sword from his waist.
The sword gleamed as it cut through the air and landed in front of Xu Zimo.
“This dragon’s body is tough. Your sword won’t cut it. Use mine,” the man said with a friendly smile.
Xu Zimo didn’t hesitate. He picked up the sword and started cutting.
It sliced like butter, and within moments, Xu Zimo had opened the dragon’s body.
He quickly removed the wisdom bone, the dragon gallbladder, and the tendons.
Only the full corpse was left. Jiang Changsheng busily cut meat from it, saying flood dragon meat was extremely nourishing.
Xu Zimo returned the sword to the man and tossed him the dragon tendon.
“Just returning the favor,” Xu Zimo said, then left with Jiang Changsheng.
“What a strange guy,” the girl in blue wrinkled her nose, watching them go.
“He’s interesting,” the refined man said, smiling as he looked at the tendon in his hand.
“Senior Brother, with that kind of strength, why keep it hidden?” Jiang Changsheng asked on the way back.
“Ever heard of not showing off your wealth?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Oh, then doesn’t that mean we’ve already secured the win at the upcoming Nine Heavens Tournament?” Jiang Changsheng said excitedly.
“Think bigger. What’s a Nine Heavens Tournament? Even the Nine Heavens Empyrean Sect itself doesn’t impress me,” Xu Zimo said calmly.
“Senior Brother, don’t say things like that. The Empyrean Sect has Grand Empyreans. Those aren’t to be messed with,” Jiang Changsheng quickly warned, looking around nervously.
Xu Zimo just smiled and didn’t explain further.
They returned to Bright Flame City with the wisdom bone.
Bright Flame was the largest and most prosperous city in the region. Because of an upcoming auction, the city was even busier than usual.
Everyone with any influence was coming to try their luck at the auction.
Xu Zimo and Jiang Changsheng went straight to the First Eternal Shop.
Inside, there were five other customers: two servants, a middle-aged man, and his son and daughter.
“Dad, there are so many treasures here,” the girl said in amazement.
“Of course. With a name like ‘First Eternal Shop,’ how could it not have treasures?” the man laughed.
Xu Zimo walked straight in and placed the wisdom bone on the counter.
“Check the task merit points,” he said.
“One hundred points,” the puppet behind the counter replied, handing him a bronze token.
“Just give me the Heaven Demon Bow. No need for the token,” Xu Zimo said, waving his hand.
The puppet raised his arm, and the transparent display case opened. The Heaven Demon Bow rose up from inside.
Dark Infernal Force swirled around it. As it appeared, whispers of ancient demonic chants echoed faintly.
The energy twisted and surged, forming ferocious, man-eating faces in the air.