Chapter Fifty-three: Roar of the Sea Dragon

On the dock square, thunder still rolled across the sky. Two beams of light darted and flickered through the storm-tossed area, but now the dark beam finally drew near its target.

Money Zhouliang was within arm’s reach, yet He Yongde did not retreat even half a step, standing firm like the heart of thunder itself. He had chosen the best position before invoking the celestial lightning, and he knew that if he moved, Money Zhouliang would seize that moment of weakness and strike a fatal blow—a cautious approach was vital when facing such a cunning old fox.

"You brat from the He family! Out of tricks, aren’t you? If you’ve got nothing left, surrender and die!" Money Zhouliang snarled, his visage twisted with rage as he saw He Yongde so close yet so unperturbed. In the next instant, he gathered his strength as if draining every ounce of power from his body, unleashing an unprecedented aura. The Poison Dragon Arms seemed to grow larger; two colossal, monstrous hands surged forth, covering half the sky above the dock square, blotting out the sun and moon.

He Yongde remained calm, slowly closing his eyes, astonishing everyone present—especially Money Zhouliang. Had Money Zhouliang not possessed the wisdom of age, his suspicious nature would have forced him to defend himself, ruining his momentum.

A sudden, immense sound of rushing water echoed through the square. Everyone felt a moist, chilly wind sweep in from the South Sea, a coolness settling over their bodies. These cultivators had practiced for centuries, usually immune to ordinary weather, but now they sensed a genuine chill.

In that moment, they realized why He Yongde’s strength had never waned.

Around He Yongde, no longer lightning but massive water dragons coiled, drawing moisture from the air itself.

"Ocean and Sky as One," He Anjian remarked, recognizing the He family’s supreme technique. He gazed upon the scene, his eyes moist with emotion. "So this is what our ancestor intended—combining the power of the ocean and sky. I could never reach this realm and thought it unattainable. To witness it now—my life has no regrets!"

Wang Yongping frowned. "No wonder his strength never falters."

"That palace master is a true immortal!" Wang Weixue exclaimed with longing, then smiled. "This trip was not in vain—to witness such a scene." At their level, progress was exceedingly difficult, and witnessing such mastery could inspire breakthroughs. Many had once reached bottlenecks only to be enlightened by observing a great cultivator’s power and attain new heights.

Of course, there was danger in observing such battles—especially when a great power unleashed their full might. If they failed to hold back or lost control, the weaker might perish without even realizing what had happened.

Money Zhouliang, charging forward, saw He Yongde’s technique and sneered. "Ocean and Sky as One? It’s nothing compared to Divine Extinguishing Words. Prepare to die!"

He Yongde smiled gently without replying. In the next instant, he raised both hands in a gesture reminiscent of guiding waves.

A mighty crash of surf followed. All eyes turned toward the source, and this time they were truly speechless. The South Sea, previously shrouded in nighttime darkness, suddenly surged with a massive, clearly visible wave, three fathoms high, its grandeur rivaling even the great tides of Martial Emperor City in the West Sea. With a wave of his hand, He Yongde seemed to command the wave, directing its immense force toward himself.

As the towering wave swept over the dock square, darkness enveloped the plaza as if eternal night had fallen. In reality, the wave simply passed overhead, blocking the moonlight for a moment before restoring it. The giant wave hovered above He Yongde, suspended in midair as if held by an unseen force, its waters still rushing and turbulent, with smaller waves forming within.

Money Zhouliang hesitated briefly at the sight of He Yongde’s impressive display, then narrowed his eyes and charged forward with a ferocity that, while lacking the grandeur of He Yongde’s move, was no less overwhelming. His angry roar echoed across the square: "All show and no substance! Watch how I break your trick!"

"Sea Dragon’s Roar," He Yongde intoned softly, pointing to the sky and then toward Money Zhouliang.

The giant wave above him stirred, its currents growing stronger and more chaotic. Before long, under everyone’s gaze, a massive water-formed dragon head emerged from the wave, followed by a sinuous body that seemed endless. The dragon’s maw opened wide, fierce and formidable, and with breathtaking speed, it lunged toward Money Zhouliang.

The thick water dragon descended from above like an eagle swooping on a serpent, while the Poison Dragon Arms struck from below like venomous snakes.

In the air, the two forces collided.

In mere moments, the water dragon poured down upon the Poison Dragon Arms and the surging black torrent Money Zhouliang had unleashed. The dragon’s head dissolved into water upon contact, but its body persisted, sustained by the wave above He Yongde, continuously pouring water onto the black torrent, threatening to submerge it. Yet the black torrent pressed onward, undeterred, refusing to be overwhelmed or destroyed.

The sound of rushing water filled the sky. The wave above He Yongde grew smaller as its waters fed the attack, but the black torrent showed no signs of weakening. Money Zhouliang’s wild laughter rang out: "When I shatter your flashy trick, let’s see what else you can do!"

At last, the water dragon, carrying the last remnants of the wave, crashed heavily onto the black torrent. As its tail poured down, everyone witnessed the technique’s effect—but only for an instant. The black torrent, undiminished, surged rapidly toward He Yongde, who remained calm and composed.

Inside the torrent, Money Zhouliang frowned at the water, which should have fallen by now, but quickly relaxed, his expression turning scornful as he looked at He Yongde. "Still pretending to be profound? Watch how I deal with your arrogance!"

On the dock square, the onlookers wore varied expressions.

Wang Weixue seemed disappointed.

Wang Yongping grinned viciously.

Qian Jiashun wore a triumphant smile.

The brothers Chen Yuxuan and Chen Yulei were worried, but more than that, they felt unwilling.

He Anjian, anxious for He Yongde, called out, "Yongde, be careful!"

He Yongde did not respond. As the black torrent drew within inches of him, he revealed a playful smile under the gaze of all.

Then, he slowly began to bring his hands together.