I Am Unaware That I Am the Peerless Martial God Chapter 1369: The Master Behind the Scenes
Previously on I Am Unaware That I Am the Peerless Martial God...
"Boom!"
The air erupted with a sound like crashing thunder, while the water surged in a chaotic, tempestuous tide!
Their small vessel lurched violently, tossed to and fro. A wave of terror washed over the group, causing them to shudder instinctively; they clutched their ears and recoiled in pure fright.
As they tentatively glanced upwards, they beheld a massive spiritual beast bursting from the lake's depths, soaring toward the heavens. It stretched over a hundred meters in length, its form reminiscent of an enormous python, yet it possessed regal antlers and four razor-sharp claws that sliced through the ether. It coiled high above, looking down upon them with eyes that glittered with the piercing radiance of the sun and moon!
"Roar!!!"
A deafening bellow rocked both the firmament and the solid earth!
Witnessing the creature coil above them, the color bled from everyone's faces. They collapsed onto the deck in a state of tremors, utterly paralyzed by dread and unable to stir a limb.
Li Weiwei, only moments prior full of fire and indignation, had turned deathly pale. She clamped her hands over her mouth, paralyzed by the fear that the monster might detect her presence.
Only Xu Rong stood her ground, though her limbs were stiff as stone, her expression painted with rare, utter astonishment.
"Is that..."
"Is that a real dragon?!"
Her question sent an icy shiver down the spines of all who heard it.
They fixed their gazes upon the monstrosity, finally grasping the true nature of the entity before them. Though the silhouette was terrifying, its classic shifting serpent body and antlered crown were identical to the dragons of ancient myth.
Could they truly be gazing upon a living dragon?
Having incited such a legendary beast, what prospect did they have for survival?
In a heartbeat, the faces of those present turned drained and ashen.
The beast’s furious roars resonated through the sky like early spring thunder, a clear display of its deep-seated fury. It soared through the cloud cover, glaring down as if ready to dive and crush the entire lake into oblivion!
Were all the spirits of the era gathered before it, they would still be forced to bow in reverence!
Wreathed in crackling lightning, the behemoth appeared quite majestic. Observing it, a slight curve formed on Wu Tao's lips; it seemed his interest had finally been piqued.
"Hmph."
"A mere wyrm dares to mimic a true dragon ascending to the heavens just to intimidate me?"
With a faint, icy snort, Wu Tao tapped his foot against the deck.
His stature seemed tiny as he shot toward the firmament. Contrasted against the thousand-foot dragon, he appeared insignificant, as if the creature’s mere breath could pulverize him into dust.
The world fell deathly silent at that moment.
As they watched his back vanish into the skies, the crowd’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief!
They could not even track Wu Tao's movement. They saw only a streak of brilliant light carving through the clouds, followed by muffled thuds—much like distant thunder. This streak of light repeatedly pierced the giant dragon, forcing its massive head to thrash in pain!
"Boom! Boom!"
Following several earth-shattering collisions, the dragon plummeted into the lake like a sack of dead weight, generating waves so massive they tossed the boat like a leaf in a tempest!
The witnesses were left dumbfounded. Though they gripped the sides of the boat desperately, they found that they felt not a single sway. The vessel remained as stable as a mountain, seemingly detached from the surrounding chaos.
As the crowd stared at the sky-high waves, a storm gathered in their own minds. It was as if they were trapped in an surreal, high-stakes cinematic experience, their thoughts spiraling and roaring!
Time became irrelevant.
Eventually, the waves retreated.
The dragon's body had sunk beneath the surface. Only its head remained visible, its hazy eyes drifting shut, while Wu Tao stood calmly atop the water, gripping one of its whiskers.
"Speak. Who sent you?"
The dragon’s giant eyes widened in stark terror. It struggled, opening its maw to speak.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning descended from the clear sky!
"Crack!"
A stunning pillar of radiance crashed down, instantly reducing the dragon to charred remains!
Witnessing this familiar tactic of silencing, Wu Tao’s eyes remained indifferent. Ignoring the spray of wind and sea, he stood as steady as an ancient pine, staring into the distance.
Without a word to the stunned onlookers, he delivered one single sentence before dissolving into thin air.
"Remain here. I will return momentarily."
Upon the boat, those who had seen the ordeal were entirely petrified, lacking the capacity to even utter a sound.
Meanwhile.
Deep within an underground cavern in the southwest jungle. Where a damp, dreary atmosphere of underground rivers should have been, there existed unimaginable grandeur. The décor rivaled any royal court, and despite the shadows, sparkling treasures caught the faint light.
A figure sat upon an ornate throne, watching a projected image of the struggle at the lake.
He withdrew his finger, a smirk of victory gracing his lips.
"Hahaha..."
"While humans possess such meager intellect, this game of cat-and-mouse is truly entertaining. It grows on me with every passing moment. If you insist on tracking me, I shall accommodate you! Yet, explore as you might, you shall never uncover my true location!"
The laughter had barely faded.
The soft scuffling of slippers echoed through the dark den. Wu Tao, appearing as lazy as ever, drifted behind him, slowly closing the gap. A suffocating, oppressive aura instantly flooded the chamber!
Immediately!
The mysterious figure sprang to his feet. He whipped around in genuine shock. Seeing Wu Tao approaching, a note of authentic panic seeped into his tone!
"This is impossible!"
"How did you locate this place?!"
With hands buried deep in his pockets, Wu Tao continued his casual stroll, his features marked by profound disdain.
"I never operate without absolute certainty, nor am I prone to repeating my errors. I arrived fully prepared; did you honestly believe I would fall for your childish trick twice?"
"You didn't really think I was simply fishing to catch that defective excuse for a beast, did you?"
At these barbs, the face obscured under the stranger’s cloak twitched visibly.
He clenched his fists, and the temperature within the cavern skyrocketed into a searing blaze!
Yet, before he could mount a defense, Wu Tao had already arrived within striking distance. Without hesitation, he raised his leg and unleashed a brutal kick!
"Boom!"
The man was launched from the cavern, smashing through thick layers of stone before he could even stabilize!
After just one strike, blood began to trickle from his lips.
Terrified to linger for another second, he disintegrated into a streak of light and bolted toward the firmament. Like a desperate shooting star, he dashed toward the infinite sea of stars, seeking any path to survival!
Unfortunately for him.
Wu Tao never spared his foes, nor would he dream of allowing a tiger to return to its lair. The moment the man escaped into the cosmos, Wu Tao vanished as well, hot in pursuit!
Sensing he was within reach of his quarry, Wu Tao gathered his cultivation, preparing to deliver the fatal blow!
Precisely then.
Wu Tao felt a dangerous pressure encroaching upon him. Few entities exist that could threaten him; this was no pedestrian combatant. Acting with extreme caution, he held his strike, narrowing his eyes in wary calculation!
Indeed.
In the direction of the fleeing figure, the vast starlight began to swirl and congeal. Slowly, the silhouette of a massive figure manifested. Its entire form was wreathed in supreme Dao resonance, rendering its true features impossible to discern.
The mere presence it projected was heavy enough to force a grunt of exertion from Wu Tao.
He focused, starlight glinting in his eyes as he assessed the shadow for several breaths. He soon realized the entity was merely a projection. Nevertheless, even an image of this caliber was capable of triggering his instinctual sense of mortality.
The mysterious man who had been fleeing found his courage, bowing toward the shadow with submissive reverence.
The true master had revealed himself at last.
Gazing at the immense, hazy phantom from afar, Wu Tao let out a derisive sneer.
"Hmph."
"I wondered who was behind this. You finally couldn't sit still any longer. To think you would personally intervene to safeguard a mere lackey. It appears your reserves are truly thin. Your power has certainly waned over the years, hasn't it?"
His mocking words echoed across the starfield as his immense aura surged toward the phantom!
The phantom merely chortled in response. Without needing to move, it effortlessly dispelled Wu Tao’s crushing weight.
"Heh heh..."
"We certainly aren't what we were, but we remain a hundred times greater than you are today. With this Venerable One protecting the Curse Control Envoy, you shall not touch a single hair on their head! As for the World Heart of the Blue Star, you haven't the slightest chance of claiming it!"
A cold glint sharpened in Wu Tao's eyes.
Addressing an old rival, he knew that raw power was the only language spoken here. Now that he was within the Star Sea, he had no need for the suppression he maintained on the Blue Star.
He instantly unleashed his full cultivation, raising his palm to strike!
The Dao rhythm surged forward like a raging mountain stream, causing the light of a thousand stars to dim in that very moment!
Crash!!!
That devastating palm strike tore through millions of miles of the Star Sea. Everything in its wake vanished into nothingness, manifesting a strength far beyond the comprehension of any standard Star Master!