Martial Arts Genius with Proficiency System Chapter 966 - 428: Jia Xun’s Skull, the Cause and Effect of Becoming a God

With a chilling, majestic glint, the obsidian scales were adorned with intricate, ancient patterns that drew the eye instantly. It was neither a true dragon nor a snake, yet its form was strangely fitting, exuding a unique and innate aura. Its presence felt ancient, more sacred than any deity. The word "mighty" fell short in describing this being. Merely witnessing a fraction of its form compelled Lin Long to relinquish all thoughts of resistance. An overwhelming bloodline pressure bore down on his heart, spirit, and soul, making him envious of those prodigies who met a swift end with a single scream. At least they were spared this agonizing sensation. It was a pure, crushing oppression, akin to Mount Tai bearing down on an ant. Yet, this ant, by some power, was not immediately crushed but forced to endure the continuous, agonizing descent of the mountain, moment by moment, feeling the despair of imminent annihilation. In that instant, Lin Long truly believed himself to be that ant beneath Mount Tai. His mind fractured, bereft of any survival strategy. Then... a dry, chilling chuckle escaped Lin Long’s lips. His gaze, after sweeping over the ancient creature that had materialized from nowhere, settled upon the composed Su Tu. "Meeting you in this life truly brings despair," he declared. As the words left his mouth, Lin Long exploded with power. His body became enshrouded in blue-gold scales, and a starlight-like force surged within him. Buzz buzz buzz!! The radiant starlight erupted, instantly shattering the "Mount Tai" in his heart. He intended to charge past the creature before him and attack Su Tu directly! This is the clash of an era, the path to godhood. I am the Divine Son forged by my race’s power. I may falter in skill and might, I can perish, I can be defeated. But I will not await death! I shall fight until my last breath! If I cannot reach the summit, then let me witness the terrifying strength of this Human Race, the one most likely to stand at that peak! Lin Long roared internally. In this moment, all else faded; even the prospect of death was secondary to knowing the true gap between himself and those who stood at the pinnacle. The starlight power surrounding him, its origin unknown even to himself, was undeniably potent. It propelled him beyond the dragon-snake creature, directly towards Su Tu, and in a blink, he stood before him. A flicker of surprise crossed Su Tu’s eyes as Lin Long’s fist already hurtled forward. "So!! Even a monster like you can be astonished by my power!" Lin Long bellowed, his fist now a vortex of swirling star seas, as if countless celestial bodies were plummeting from the heavens, plunging the surrounding space into a primordial, chaotic expanse of starlight. The sheer force of this punch was immense, terrifyingly swift, aimed directly at Su Tu's head. Yet, Su Tu remained motionless, as if unreacting, allowing the blow to descend. A fierce resolve ignited in Lin Long’s eyes. Confronting that monstrous creature, survival was impossible. This punch, imbued with a desperate, do-or-die spirit, might not fell Su Tu, but injuring him would be a victory. However, just as this devastating blow was about to connect... Roar!!! A dragon’s roar erupted, and time seemed to momentarily falter before space itself warped. Boom!!! The entire dimension felt as if it had imploded, an unimaginable gravitational force bearing down. Lin Long frantically channeled all his strength, barely preventing himself from being pulverized. He was utterly immobilized, frozen in the exact posture he’d held while throwing the punch. His fist hovered mere inches from Su Tu’s face. Su Tu tilted his head slightly, regarding Lin Long with a pensive expression, while a wry smile touched Lin Long’s lips. It turned out Su Tu had not been slow to react; rather, the mysterious power within Lin Long had piqued his interest, prompting him to observe its potential. He hadn’t dodged because he knew, with absolute certainty, that he could not be harmed. "Failure to the dragon! Failure to the dragon! To have my debut reflection embarrass me so before Big Brother!!" the dragon-snake creature roared, launching itself forward. Its obsidian tail swept down with immense power, accompanied by rumbling black thunder. Frost formed in the air, poised to crush Lin Long. But before its tail could strike. Swoosh~

Lin Long's surrounding aura rapidly diminished, his vibrant, youthful countenance replaced by deepening wrinkles and sagging skin. His essence grew ancient before his figure stooped, the 'Life Fire' within extinguished, his lifespan utterly depleted.

In mere moments, his body crumbled, transforming into a petite stone fish sculpture that then tumbled to the earth.

This peculiar transformation is an inherent trait of their lineage; upon reaching the end of their natural lives, they are reborn as stone fish sculptures, giving their race its distinctive name: the Stone Fish Race.

"What!! Died just like that?? Where does that leave my dignity? Unacceptable! I was going to revive you, only for you to perish once more!!"

The dragon-snake entity gazed at the stone fish sculpture resting on the ground, its breath heavy with indignation.

Several scales adorning its neck started to emit a radiant glow, pulsing with an aura of profound mystique, intertwined with a palpable current of time.

"Celestial Extremes, cease this foolishness."