SWNOVELXO Chapter 36: Chapter 36
"Zzz... zzz!"
The flames continuously evaporated the moisture from the petals, creating plumes of steam, but they were far from burning the petals to ash.
The fiery dragon kept spewing flames, attempting to overwhelm the incoming petals with sheer heat. However, these moisture-rich petals had clearly been crafted as a countermeasure to fire-type attacks. They possessed exceptional fire resistance, even suppressing the flames. Water conquers fire, after all.
Under Chrysanthemum Douluo's control, the moist petals encircled the fiery dragon, their touch sizzling against its fiery form and generating even more steam.
"Extinguish!"
With Chrysanthemum Douluo's command, the moist petals surged with a burst of moisture. The deluge was too much for the fiery dragon, whose flame-based form was quickly extinguished, leaving behind only a misty haze dissipating into the air.
Seeing his fire dragon snuffed out so effortlessly, Yun Chuan remained composed. The fiery figure of the immovable king behind him continued its relentless assault, hurling flames that morphed into various forms—phoenixes, dragons, and nimble little firebirds flitting about, trying to divert Chrysanthemum Douluo's attention.
The fire dragon spewed fire, the phoenix shot fiery feathers, and the small firebirds darted in erratic patterns, aiming to latch their flames onto Chrysanthemum Douluo.
Faced with these incessant fiery assaults, Chrysanthemum Douluo adopted a more cautious approach. A soul power barrier enveloped him—a defensive measure that, while simple, was highly effective at his level. This barrier easily withstood the attacks of ordinary Soul Sages and could fend off even higher-tier threats in certain scenarios.
The nimble firebirds, though persistent, found their efforts thwarted by the barrier.
Chrysanthemum Douluo waved his hand, summoning his familiar petals imbued with icy power. This time, the petals radiated a chilling aura, transforming into crystalline ice flowers. As they swept forth, they neutralized Yun Chuan's fiery creations with ease.
"Hmm? Knowing your fire constructs are ineffective, why persist? Are you trying to drain my soul power or merely bide your time?" Chrysanthemum Douluo murmured, a hint of puzzlement crossing his face.
Not far from the battlefield, safely out of harm's way, the Pope observed silently.
Bibi Dong was not surprised by what she saw. Yun Chuan's current abilities far exceeded an ordinary Soul Sage. His physical strength alone rivaled, or even surpassed, that of Chrysanthemum Douluo, and his soul power reservoir and quality were on par with a lower-tier Titled Douluo.
However, Yun Chuan had a glaring limitation: his rank.
No matter how vast his soul power was, his current level restricted the potency of his techniques. His immense reservoir was akin to a vast lake, but the tap controlling its flow was small. Thus, no matter how abundant the water, the output was capped.
In essence, Yun Chuan's level constrained his combat potential. Though his raw strength was formidable, his attacks were bound by the framework of his current rank.
Watching the duel unfold, Bibi Dong discerned that Chrysanthemum Douluo was deliberately holding back, opting for a defensive strategy. The purpose was clear: to preserve Yun Chuan's confidence and avoid demoralizing him with an overwhelming defeat. The battle was being drawn out, with Chrysanthemum Douluo waiting for the right moment to end it decisively.
Yet Yun Chuan understood this perfectly. He played along, pretending to be unaware while secretly preparing his ultimate move, waiting for the ideal opportunity to unleash it in a decisive strike.
"Boom! Boom! Boom-boom!"
Fire dragons, phoenixes, birds, lions, and even tigers—all manner of fiery creatures were conjured by Yun Chuan in succession. Though they were repeatedly neutralized, he continued creating them with unwavering persistence.
"If you're hoping to drain my soul power or stall for time, Yun Chuan, you are sorely mistaken," Chrysanthemum Douluo called out. Another wave of icy petals dissipated the fire constructs with ease. "You are merely a Soul Sage, even if your soul power matches a low-tier Titled Douluo. But I am a Rank 95 Titled Douluo. At this level, each rank brings exponential increases in power. My reserves far exceed your imagination."
"Enough warm-up."
"It's time to get serious!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's previously relaxed demeanor grew solemn. For the first time, he treated the battle as a true confrontation, ready to end it swiftly and decisively.