The Dryland Earth Dragon, thick-skinned and tough, is not easy to convert into a puppet using ordinary puppeteering methods. The concoction required for its transformation is both rare and extraordinarily potent, beyond the reach of most fifth-tier cultivation sects. With such valuable resources, one might typically prefer to use them for personal cultivation enhancements.


    Shi Juntian could ascertain that Zhao Kai himself lacked the puppeteering skills necessary for such a feat; the puppet must have been a gift from the Reincarnation Divine Sect. "No wonder he''s so confident; he had this up his sleeve," Shi Juntian thought darkly.


    Zhao Kai, with a burst of spiritual qi, repelled the bloodied hands grasping at him and scoffed, "Shi Juntian, you are among the best of the Nascent Soul cultivators in the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. I''ve heard your name long before today. But can you withstand this Dryland Earth Dragon puppet?"


    With a grand gesture, Zhao Kai commanded the dragon puppet to open its maw and unleash a torrent of flames towards Shi Juntian. The next moment, rolling flames surged out.


    Sensing immediate danger, Shi Juntian didn''t dare to face it head-on and swiftly used a burst of Nascent Soul essence to teleport away. When he reappeared, he turned just in time to see the ground he had just vacated swallowed by the relentless fire, which burned without any sign of extinguishing.


    Shi Juntian''s heart raced as he saw the puppet dragon open its mouth again. He had no choice but to use another burst of Nascent Soul essence to teleport once more.


    However, the flames spread too wide. Barely landing, he found his robes catching the fierce fire. Despite his frantic efforts to extinguish them, the flames clung stubbornly, leaving him in a dire and disheveled state.


    Zhao Kai laughed heartily at the sight. The fire from the Dryland Earth Dragon was formidable; once it latched onto something, even Nascent Soul cultivators struggled to extinguish it promptly, especially given its extensive reach.


    Many cultivators couldn''t teleport out of its range fast enough, which was precisely why Zhao Kai was so confident.


    He knew well that once he deployed the Dryland Earth Dragon puppet, it could decisively end the battle. "Shi Juntian, it''s time for you to depart!" Zhao Kai sneered, commanding the puppet with a fierce command.


    The Dryland Earth Dragon''s speed was astonishing. In one breath, it remained stationary, and in the next, it was already before Shi Juntian. Its massive, fearsome claws swooped down. If the blow landed, it would surely deal a devastating blow to Shi Juntian!


    Shi Juntian, overwhelmed, was forced to channel most of his spiritual qi into powering the four golden shields around him to ward off the relentless flames. His reserves drained rapidly, leaving him scrambling for additional protective magic treasures.


    He activated a water-blue orb, which instantly enveloped him in layers of shimmering light just as the Dryland Earth Dragon''s massive claw came crashing down. The impact shattered the outermost water-blue shield with a crisp crack, dimming the orb and flinging it away. The golden shields, too, cracked under the strike.


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    Shi Juntian''s expression turned grave as he quickly summoned another defensive treasure, an ancient and heavy bell, which flew towards the attacking claw. With a resonant clang, the bell was smacked away, sending Shi Juntian tumbling through the air, blood spraying from his mouth as his energy rapidly declined.


    Zhao Kai, sneering triumphantly, urged the Dryland Earth Dragon puppet forward for another attack. "Time to die!"


    Desperate, Shi Juntian glanced towards Goden Thunder Mountain and yelled for help, "Fellow daoist, save me!"


    Zhao Kai paused, briefly confused—were there still Nascent Soul cultivators hidden on Goden Thunder Mountain?


    Just as he turned, a sense of danger surged. Not from behind or beside him but from below. A fist as large as a cauldron smashed upward, aimed viciously at an unsuspecting spot. Zhao Kai was shocked to his core, instinctively teleporting away.


    Yet, no sooner had he landed than the hulking shadow lunged again. Fist after fist rained down, each blow like a hammer strike.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Caught off guard, Zhao Kai took four heavy hits, each accompanied by the sickening sound of breaking bones. Screaming in agony, he fell toward the ground. The dark figure, incredibly fast, pursued him relentlessly.


    Gritting his teeth, Zhao Kai summoned the Dryland Earth Dragon puppet to shield himself. Only then did he manage to fend off the relentless assault. Finally getting a clear look, he realized his assailant was a massive, pitch-black corpse king. Its skin was like forged steel, its muscles sharply defined, and hard bone armor grew over its vulnerable joints—a veritable humanoid magic treasure!


    The corpse king was swift and agile, exploiting every opening to strike ferocious blows on the Dryland Earth Dragon, leaving dents with each punch. The dragon, though large and cumbersome, seized a chance to retaliate, lashing its tail fiercely and sending the corpse king flying dozens of yards away.


    "I had thought him some formidable Corpse King, yet he seems no more than a mere fourth level."


    Zhao Kai''s heart steadied a moment.


    When this Corpse King had first appeared, he feared it was of the sixth level. Now, it appeared merely troublesome. Given time, his earthen dragon puppet would surely dispatch it. This thought had scarcely arisen when another blue figure burst forth, rushing toward him. This blue figure, though less robust than the Corpse King, moved with even greater swiftness.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Zhao Kai barely caught sight of the blur. In the next moment, it was already before him.


    Thud!


    A fist smashed forward, striking directly at Zhao Kai''s face. With a splatter, blood sprayed wildly as his nose was brutally broken. His brain seemed to turn to mush under the tremendous blow. He fell toward the ground, and only after a moment did he instinctively summon a shield, large as a gate, to guard himself.


    But no sooner had this shield materialized than a mass of blue threads burst from within the figure, bypassing the shield and wrapping around him! Zhao Kai''s eyes widened.


    Was this not a Corpse King? How then did it possess such techniques?


    Splurt!


    In the blink of an eye, Zhao Kai''s body was pierced by blue threads, which instantly drew forth copious amounts of blood. The blue threads turned almost red. Zhao Kai roared as his sword formation returned to his side and snapped the threads with a few crisp sounds.


    However, the threads that remained inside him still retained their vitality. He could feel them burrowing deeper into his flesh, exploring new territories as if to make it their new home.


    "Damn it! Gu insects!"


    Zhao Kai roared again, without hesitation expelling the essence of his Nascent Soul, flames erupting from within him, encompassing even his eyes, nose, tongue, and viscera— a technique specifically designed to destroy poisons and Gu insects that invade the body, harming both enemy and self alike.


    Squeaks!


    He immediately heard the pitiful screams of numerous Gu insects within him, clearly perishing in the flames. It took a while before the flames subsided. Zhao Kai was charred all over, his vitality severely diminished.


    "Who... who is controlling these two Corpse Kings?"


    Zhao Kai instinctively swallowed several healing pills, his gaze fixated on the tumultuous dark qi of Mount Golden Thunder.


    "Stop looking; I am right behind you."


    A calm voice arose behind him.