Time and circumstances shifted in the storm. Countless streaks of light flashed within the tempest, but most Golden Core cultivators’ attacks bounced harmlessly off the flood dragon’s massive body. Only the two Nascent Soul cultivators managed to cause it some trouble.
A flicker of disdain flashed in the Yinglong’s eyes. It swung its claws, wielding the Divine Tree, and the resulting shockwave sent the ants on the sea surface coughing blood and stumbling backward.
The Sea-Severing Alliance’s flagship was sliced in two on the spot. A large number of spirit boats sank into the sea. Even before they could venture deep into the Great Whirlpool, their casualties were already severe.
Whether it was out of caution or not, the Chain Docks bore the brunt of the lightning strikes. Yet the Yinglong refrained from destroying the Fang Family’s warships, careful not to harm its precious sacrifice.
If the Fortune Fruit were to fall into the Great Whirlpool, scouring the entire Wulang Sea to retrieve it would be a nightmare. A century’s worth of effort would be wasted for someone else’s gain. This forced the Yinglong to leave its nest and chase after its wife for ten thousand miles.
Ji Shiyu and Li Su narrowly avoided being struck by Dragon Qi. Fortunately, Ao Tian grabbed the two masters in time and flew into the air, distancing them from the fleet and landing on a nearby isolated island.
Who would have guessed? That fat bird, despite its small size, had pretty strong claws.
“Hold tight, Shiyu. It’s not our time to shine yet.”
Ao Tian transformed into a streak of golden light, liquefied, and merged into Ji Shiyu’s body, unfolding two wings of light behind her.
As the familiar warmth surged into her body, the “young man” radiated starlight all around, activating the Xuantian Nine Transformations. Her Spirit Breath leaped directly into the Golden Core realm.
“…Wait, what did you call me!?”
“Phew, good thing I have my brother-in-law’s chicken. You’re way more reliable than Ao Tian.”
“Don’t sweat the small details. You’re the protagonist Mr. Yun has chosen for tonight, and protagonists always show up last.”
“How can I not care about that!”
“Weren’t you pretty bold when you secretly promised yourself to someone?”
“You, you, you, you, you… You’re Ao Tian? Then what about my brother-in-law? Don’t tell me…”
“Took you long enough to catch on. You unilaterally…”
“I’m out!”
Ji Shiyu’s face turned beet red in an instant. Recalling the embarrassing speech she had made right in front of the person involved, her vision went dark, and she clutched her head, wailing.
“I feel like I’ve been played, sob sob. That kid tricked me again!”
Just as the cultivators from the Sea-Severing Alliance and the Chain Docks were being pushed back, locked in a fierce battle, a piercing roar suddenly erupted from the depths of the Great Whirlpool. It sounded like a massive creature lurking at the bottom of the sea was roaring in fury.
“Caw——!”
Boom!
A colossal figure burst through the waves, leaping out of the water like a whale, flying from the seabed into the sky.
A terrifying shadow loomed overhead, leaving the cultivators present stunned and gaping, marveling at the Great Whirlpool’s true form. Compared to the Holy Spirit of an entire province, mortals were truly as insignificant as ants.
The giant Kun had a hammerhead shark’s tail, a single horn on its forehead, and a body as stout as a turtle’s, as if carrying a mountain of reefs on its back. Its four black fins were like wings, transforming into a Peng as it soared, fish and dragon dancing together. With a powerful charge, it slammed headfirst into the Yinglong.
“Oww——!”
The Yinglong roared in pain, caught off guard as its neck was pierced by the giant horn. The Divine Wood Sword Branch in its hand was also shaken loose by the runaway truck, plunging into the sea. Splashing blood turned into Sakura Thorns, scattering across the swirling currents.
The survivors’ faces lit up with joy. The manifestation of the Kun Spirit brought blessings. How could they allow an alien evil to run wild in the Wulang Sea?
The Yinglong retreated in shock and fury, struggling to break free from the Kunpeng’s massive form, and flew clumsily to a higher altitude. It cast a reluctant glance at the sacrifice beneath its feet, then gathered heavy clouds and fled with a low roar.
It’s not dead?
That beast recovered faster than expected.
Seeing that the plot armor kill failed to take down the evil dragon, Yun Liu gritted his teeth.
“It can’t run far. Chase it!”
Yan Bingling and Ge Lan nodded. The four of them boarded a spirit boat and sped off, chasing after the storm’s eye. This time, the tables had turned.
Meanwhile, the Kunpeng tumbled across the sky, slapping its belly joyfully and crying out.
“Giggling——”
Having dealt a heavy blow to the foreign enemy, it did not pursue. Its heart was like that of a child, leisurely flapping its wings, disappearing into the unknown. Waking only once every century, it would let nothing disturb its vacation.
The cultivators of the Chaotic Sea bowed in worship, grateful for the Great Whirlpool Lord’s life-saving grace. Then they turned their gazes to the bottomless end of the swirling vortex.
The Great Whirlpool had formed, and the anomaly would persist for a long time. Nothing could stop them from entering Mirage City now!
Amid the chaos, both the Chain Docks and the Sea-Severing Alliance had lost over half their forces. The cultivators who had turned into withered trees barely escaped with their lives, and most wisely withdrew.
No one noticed that the instigators had disappeared. Mr. Yun and the White Whale Island Master were nowhere to be found. As for the demon dragon that had come and gone in a hurry, it was most likely after the rare treasures of Mirage City.
On the other side, the Yinglong fled for its life toward the Outer Sea. Yun Liu could sense that the tornado wind and waves were growing weaker. It wouldn’t last much longer.
The Yinglong had a subtle connection with A Lian. The Divine Servant Maiden could similarly sense the divine dragon’s location, occasionally pointing the way for the group.
Once they left the vacuum zone of the Great Whirlpool, Ge Lan and Yan Bingling’s pursuit became even more unrestrained. They soared into the air on their swords, chasing straight ahead.
“Ten Directions! Hundred Calamities! Thousand Years Ten Thousand Thoughts!”
Swoosh!
The twelve flying swords in the sword case unsheathed one after another, rushing forth, piercing through the clouds and storms. The cold moonlight froze the air.
The Demon Fallen Little Martial Aunt was ruthless and decisive. The moment she struck, it was the Celestial Full Moon. Old and new grudges were settled together. Soon, only agonizing howls echoed from high above. The giant beast fell from the clouds, crashing with a thunderous roar onto a distant isolated island.
By the time Yun Liu rushed over to the beach, frantically carrying little A Lian in his arms, it was already dawn. Seeing that victory was assured, he relaxed slightly.
The Yinglong lay dying on the sand. Its blood soaked the ground, giving rise to a large grove of cherry blossoms. Its body gradually shrunk, resembling a beached young flood dragon.
Ge Lan and Yan Bingling stood guard on either side, swords at the ready, not letting their guard down. The relentless pursuit had also taken a toll on them.
The demon dragon’s intelligence was no less than a human’s. Its gaze was calm, without sorrow or despair. It merely stared coldly at these ants.
Whether mortal or beast, all cultivated by seizing the momentum of heaven and earth, vainly attempting to learn the way of ascension to immortality. Yet, when on the verge of crossing its tribulation, it had fallen short at the last moment.
It resented wasting a century’s efforts just to delay its ascension, taking the risk of leaving the Divine Tree of Yingzhou, only to fall into an ambush.
It seemed these insects were not just thieves but robbers, fully prepared.
The Yinglong struggled to stand, slowly opened its mouth, and spoke in human tongue.
“People from the Sword Sect again? Ridiculous. Yushen Longyi once tried to borrow my wife’s imprint to extract the Extreme Dao Fire Seed. I never expected to fall into your hands in the end…
“But if I die, so will she. Can you bear that?”
As the Yinglong grew weaker, Yushen Yinglian’s body, connected by fortune, sprouted blooming branches and leaves. She was entangled by thorns, her face pained as she fell unconscious.
Yun Liu said calmly,
“That’s not necessarily true.”
The Minghuang Divine Art activated, revealing a white-glazed flame aura. When the blood energy dissipated, it was a completely different face.
The Sacred Fire blazed fiercely, enveloping the two, blocking the Wood Spirit Erosion.
“Liu’er, you!?”
Ge Lan’s face changed in shock. Her mind trembled, and a chill ran through her body. How could she not recognize the Mingzun Holy Fire? It was the first time she had seen the young man reveal a demonic cultivation technique.
The child she had watched grow up was actually a demonic sect fiend. This was undoubtedly a shock to her. Coupled with the increasingly skilled dual cultivation methods she recalled in the young man, it was terrifying.
“Interesting, interesting. It seems I lost without injustice.”
The Yinglong gave a bitter smile.
“The Divine Radiance Sect prides itself on being a proper, orthodox school. Yet behind the scenes, it colludes with the Demon Sect…
“It seems I lost without injustice.”