The Unshackled King (by David Wu) novel Chapter 83

As the darts flew, Robert's true energy surged. His meridians were open—Peak Meridian Opening realm.

Even a cultivator with a single open meridian at Peak Meridian Opening could crush a secular Transformed Sect Grandmaster with ease. Someone with two meridians? Multiple? They could do it without breaking a sweat.

Robert had only one. But that still put him in rarefied air. True cultivators were rare. Most people never opened a single meridian in their entire lives.

In his estimation, Stefan—young, inexperienced—might be at Early Meridian Opening. Maybe.

Robert was Peak. Plus he had poison. The math was simple.

The darts flew. Robert's hand transformed into a claw, true energy coiling around his fingers, aimed at Stefan's throat.

Then, Stefan was gone.

Robert blinked. Stefan had dodged—not just dodged, but moved like a ghost, closing the distance impossibly fast.

How?

No time to think. His claw shot forward, aimed at Stefan's neck.

Stefan's fist came up to meet it.

The impact shook the air. Robert's fingers—three of them—bent the wrong way.

"AHHH—!"

Robert stumbled backward, clutching his ruined hand, his face contorted in agony and disbelief.

"Your true energy—how is it this powerful?! You're only at Meridian Opening!"

"Meridian Opening is not the same for everyone." Stefan's voice was calm, almost bored. He took a step forward.

Robert's mind raced. A terrible possibility surfaced. "How many meridians have you opened?"

"Not many." Stefan's voice was flat. "Just nine."

Stefan's voice stayed calm. Almost like he was stating the obvious. Like opening nine meridians was no big deal.

Nine meridians?

And he says that's not many?

Robert's left hand flicked open. A cloud of black powder erupted, engulfing Stefan completely.

Robert's laugh echoed through the clearing—nasty, triumphant.

"Strong true energy? Doesn't matter. You're dead." He retreated, putting distance between them. "That's Soul Severing Powder. Even cultivators can't purge it. Enjoy your last few moments."

Robert's laughter turned savage as he backpedaled, putting distance between them. He'd done this dance before. Soul Severing Powder was his ace—even cultivators couldn't purge it once it entered their system. And Stefan had taken a direct hit at close range.

It was over. Just a matter of seconds now.

But Stefan burst out of the poison cloud. Faster than anyone could believe. Energy swirled around him, stirring dust and leaves, golden light blazing from his skin.

"Dragon Transformation Fist."

Stefan's true energy erupted—a tidal wave of power that seemed to shake the very air. Golden light condensed around him, taking form, shaping itself into something that looked almost like armor. Almost like scales.

He struck. It was not just a punch, but a manifestation of will. Golden energy coiled around his knuckles, taking the clear shape of a dragon head—jaws gaping, eyes blazing with golden fire, scales shimmering, vivid and real. It descended on Robert like divine judgment.