Chapter 69: Chapter 61: Dragon Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme Activated, The Dragon-Riding Divine Youth

Zhong Ming was unaware of the outsiders’ shock, nor did he have the mind to care.

He just frantically scanned his surroundings, trying to find any trace of Shi Yun.

Unfortunately, the latter’s mastery of the Spirit Stream Finger: Water Dragon Technique was profound, having reached the ’Living’ stage of the Fourth Realm.

He was also incredibly adept at using the flow of water to obscure his presence.

He might have even comprehended some unique ultimate techniques of his own.

This made it impossible for Zhong Ming to detect his trail or spot any anomalies in the surroundings with his eyes alone.

Fortunately, he had a sensory Magic Technique.

DING DONG!

As a Thought formed in Zhong Ming’s mind, the sound of a water droplet echoed in his Sea of Consciousness.

HUM!

When the droplet formed from his Power of the Mind fell upon the Clear Sound Spring Stone, the condensed Power of the Mind instantly rippled outward in all directions.

[Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples]

The spreading Power of the Mind caused the breaths and rhythms of all things in the vicinity to be reflected in the lake of Zhong Ming’s mind.

And this time, the range Zhong Ming could sense was ninety-nine meters, a threefold increase from before—this was the bonus from the Dao Rhyme - Flow of Water.

He had always said that comprehending a Dao Rhyme would cause his strength to skyrocket, and he wasn’t joking.

As a characteristic of the Fifth Realm, and even the Sixth Realm, the Dao Rhyme’s enhancement to Zhong Ming was all-encompassing.

...

"Found him!"

This special form of vision allowed Zhong Ming to quickly detect Shi Yun’s location.

Zhong Ming’s pupils contracted. Shi Yun was only a few meters away from him!

’He managed to sneak up on me so silently. Is this what a veteran of life-and-death battles is like...?’

As Zhong Ming marveled at this, Shi Yun caught the subtle fluctuation in his aura.

Realizing he had been discovered, Shi Yun immediately stopped his slow approach and launched a sudden, violent assault.

RUMBLE!

He slammed a tail condensed from water onto the ground. Amidst a deafening roar, his entire body shot toward Zhong Ming like an arrow.

"Mantuo King Snake!"

While still in mid-air, the black longsword in his hand shot out toward Zhong Ming’s chest like a venomous snake.

But since Shi Yun considered the Mantuo King Snake his killing move, it naturally wouldn’t be so simple.

SPLASH...

As Shi Yun brandished his sword, the water around him condensed into the shape of a snake.

The massive serpent was a full ten meters long, making his charge fiercer and his assault more urgent.

SWISH!

The instant the Mantuo King Snake charged forward, shaking its head and tail, Zhong Ming pushed off one foot and flew backward.

[Wave-Surging Dragon Stream Step]

However, though Zhong Ming’s movements were fast enough, Shi Yun’s surprise attack was even swifter.

Before Zhong Ming could get completely clear, the ferocious King Snake had already lunged, jaws snapping at him.

SPLASH...

Fortunately, Zhong Ming had been on guard. The water flowing around him wasn’t just for show or to accentuate his powerful presence.

Possessing the Water Dao Rhyme, this water was both Zhong Ming’s weapon and his shield.

At this moment, the water transformed into a wall, blocking the attack.

"It’s useless! I’m in the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation now!"

Amidst Shi Yun’s furious roar, the Mantuo King Snake tore through the air and slammed violently into the Water Barrier Zhong Ming had created.

BAM!

With a deafening crash, the ferocious impact shattered Zhong Ming’s Water Barrier, sending water splashing everywhere. The scattered droplets even shot out in all directions like bullets.

THWACK THWACK THWACK...

The sheer force behind the droplets riddled the surrounding bamboo forest and ground with honeycomb-like pits.

However, this scene brought no joy to Shi Yun. Instead, his expression turned incredibly grim.

"You dispersed my attack into the water!"

"Correct, but too late."

By integrating the Dao Rhyme - Flow of Water, Zhong Ming could do more than just infuse his own attacks into water droplets.

He could also use flowing water to carry and redirect the attacks of others.

Of course, the force is only redirected, not nullified.

The water droplets carrying the impact would, due to the immense force, no longer be under Zhong Ming’s control.

If he tried to force it, he would have to bear that terrifying power with his own body.

Fortunately, Zhong Ming wasn’t a fool, and the world was a big place.

’If I can’t control it, then I won’t!’

Zhong Ming let the water droplets carrying his enemy’s power fly everywhere, allowing them to release their force into the natural surroundings.

Moreover, while Zhong Ming couldn’t manipulate the enemy’s attack itself, he had some say in where the water droplets shot off. Redirecting them all back at the enemy was a bit of a fantasy—after all, he couldn’t completely control this force—but avoiding them himself was easy enough.

Secondly, water is inherently formless. There is a saying that if you try to cut water with a blade, it will only flow on.

After the scattered droplets expended their force, they were still just water, and Zhong Ming could recall them.

Thus, Shi Yun’s attack was rendered completely ineffective.

Of course, this move of Zhong Ming’s wasn’t invincible.

If an enemy’s attack was extremely condensed and sharp, he wouldn’t be able to make its force flow away.

Additionally, it was extremely difficult for Zhong Ming to redirect attacks imbued with certain attributes, such as Thunderbolt or Flame.

However, despite its limitations, it was still an extremely useful technique. It instantly raised Zhong Ming’s defensive capabilities to the level of a mid-stage Qi Cultivation practitioner.

One could only say that a Dao Rhyme was a Dao Rhyme. Even an incomplete one possessed the power to let a person fight above their realm.

The flowing water had borne the brunt of Shi Yun’s attack, and Zhong Ming, still flying backward, took the opportunity to catch his breath.

While recovering, he also rapidly circulated his Magical Power, re-forming the ’bullets’ and loading them into the ’chamber’.