Word Count: 2,957 Words
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For magical beasts, bloodline was both the source of their power and the chain that bound them. Breaking free from bloodline constraints required immense sacrifice. Take Cai Lin, for instance. When she sought to escape her limitations, she had no choice but to 'draw fire to burn herself,' risking everything for a single thread of survival. Only through such desperate measures had she gained all she now possessed.
The three Dragon Kings were, ultimately, merely Dragon Kings. Zi Yan might still be very young, but with a bloodline ranked higher than theirs, she possessed an ultimate move that guaranteed victory!
The sword in her hand was neither a Dou Technique nor a physical weapon in the conventional sense. Rather, it was a construct condensed purely from Zi Yan's bloodline strength, much like how Xiao Yan could condense swords from Heavenly Flames or Spiritual Strength. Once one's control reached a certain threshold, such feats became possible.
Yet controlling bloodline strength proved far more challenging than manipulating flames or Spiritual Strength. Only an Ancient Dragon possessing the purest royal blood could manifest such a thing. Even if the current three Dragon Kings joined forces, they still could not call it forth.
Zi Yan was no ordinary Dragon Emperor of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe; she also carried the Dragon Phoenix bloodline. In terms of bloodline purity, she undoubtedly surpassed the previous Dragon Emperor, Zhu Kun!
Even the former Dragon Emperor had barely managed to summon the Dragon Slaying Sword only after reaching 6-star Dou Saint. Zi Yan, by contrast, had done so while merely at early-stage 4-star Dou Saint!
"Dragon Slaying Sword..."
Across Eastern Dragon Island, every Ancient Dragon warrior dropped to one knee, heads held high and chests thrust out as they performed their tribe's highest ceremonial salute!
Every dragon warrior gazed up at the graceful figure standing in the void, reverence and fear flooding their eyes. Even the elite Dou Saints from the Southern, Western, and Northern Dragon Islands couldn't suppress the involuntary trembling of their bodies. This was terror born from the depths of their bloodlines. The Dragon Slaying Sword was the thing every Ancient Void Dragon feared most in their hearts.
"Her Majesty the Dragon Emperor has summoned the Dragon Slaying Sword!"
Generally speaking, one could only become Dragon Emperor by successfully summoning the Dragon Sword. This weapon represented the supreme authority of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe!
Xiao Yan studied the Dragon Sword in Zi Yan's hand. If that blade descended, its destructive power would likely rival a High Tian Class Dou Technique. Yet the sword's greatest strength wasn't its raw power but its ability to completely bypass the bloodline strength of every Ancient Void Dragon.
A magical beast's Beast Techniques all stemmed from its bloodline. Their cultivation differed from humans; they fused Dou Qi and bloodline strength together, which was why their techniques were called Beast Techniques rather than Dou Techniques. The Dragon Slaying Sword could sever the bloodline strength of all Ancient Void Dragons.
No defense. No counterattack.
Absolute suppression!
The Elders of Eastern Dragon Island trembled as they stared skyward, tears of joy streaming unashamedly down their wrinkled faces. A Dragon Emperor who could summon the Dragon Slaying Sword was a true Dragon Emperor. From this moment forward, Zi Yan alone possessed the authority to command the entire Ancient Dragon race!
"The Dragon Slaying Sword has appeared! Who is the true Dragon Emperor? Do you still cling to your delusions?" The First Elder of Eastern Dragon Island hovered in midair, leaning on his dragon-headed cane as his thunderous roar split the air. "Beware, lest one day the Dragon Slaying Sword falls upon your own heads, leaving you beyond redemption!"
His words sent unease rippling through the expressions of many warriors from the three islands. Even the three commanders, Xuan Mo and the others, dared not utter a single word. The Dragon Slaying Sword's pressure spread outward from the void, giving them the sensation of thorns raking across their backs, as if that terrifying weapon which slaughtered dragons as easily as chickens might suddenly descend and split their skulls at any moment.
Bang! Bang!
Silence blanketed Eastern Dragon Island. After a few moments, more and more warriors from the three islands finally broke under that pressure welling up from their bloodlines. One after another, they dropped to their knees and bowed toward the distant void.
Once the first batch knelt, hesitation across the ranks rapidly crumbled. Soon, increasing numbers of Ancient Dragons made their choice amidst inner struggle and submitted.
"Go!!"
The Western Dragon King barked the order and tore open the void, moving to flee.
The Northern Dragon King ground his teeth, his draconic features twisted with unwilling rage. He had originally held the greatest hope of unifying the Dragon Islands; the assault on Eastern Dragon Island had been his plan from the start. He had launched this siege precisely because Zi Yan's cultivation was still weak and she should not have been able to summon the Dragon Slaying Sword. He had never imagined the Dragon Phoenix bloodline would prove so powerful that Zi Yan could call forth the sword at a mere 4-star Dou Saint!
Though bitterly unwilling, the Northern Dragon King's speed in escaping was anything but slow.
A cruel glint flashed through Zi Yan's eyes as she watched the three Dragon Kings tear open space to flee.
"Dragons who betray the tribe shall be cut down by the Dragon Slaying Sword!"
Her purple eyes remained ice-cold as she watched the three Dragon Kings retreat at full speed. Her voice came out bone-freezingly cold. She slowly raised the Dragon Slaying Sword and swept it through the air toward the distant void.
As the blade descended, a mysterious fluctuation rippled outward from its tip, spreading like lightning.
The three Dragon Kings sensed it the instant that sword fell. Terror intensified in their eyes as they frantically burned the bloodline strength within their bodies. Dragon scales across their colossal forms gleamed with an uncanny luster, as if rendered indestructible.
Yet this seemingly impregnable defense collapsed and disintegrated in the span of a single breath. The strange energy transmitted from the Dragon Slaying Sword passed through the void and brushed lightly across the three dragons.
Chi la!
The faces of the three Dragon Kings turned ghost-white the instant the ripple swept past. Blood gushed wildly from their mouths. They jerked their gazes downward in horror to find hideous, gaping wounds slanting across each vast frame. The tough dragon scales that had armored those areas split apart like tofu, shearing into two halves. Blood rolled out in streams, and deep within one could glimpse the frantic beating of internal organs.
The three Dragon Kings had already been injured. Now it was truly frost piled atop snow, wound compounded upon wound.
The Dragon Emperor had cut three dragons with one sword!
Xiao Yan had struggled bitterly, going all out with the Flame God Seal just to punch a hole through the Northern Dragon King's body. Zi Yan, on the other hand, had simply slashed once through empty space and carved bloody trenches across all three kings at once! Her single casual stroke had sliced chunks of flesh directly off their bodies!
The last time the three Dragon Kings had suffered wounds this severe was likely ten thousand years ago!
Pain that sank deep into the marrow made their colossal bodies convulse uncontrollably. Wave after wave of vertigo crashed through their minds, hammering at their consciousness.
The instant Zi Yan's sword cut down, Xiao Yan's pupils suddenly contracted. He caught sight of something amidst Zi Yan's flowing purple hair: a small lock had silently turned gray-white.
'Zi Yan is burning her life force!'
His heart jolted violently. No wonder she could skip two entire ranks to wield the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe's most powerful Dragon Slaying Sword! She was fiercely consuming her own life force!
"Zi Yan! Stop this instant!" Xiao Yan shouted. Consuming life force to unleash bloodline strength would have a real impact on the very foundation of her cultivation!
Zi Yan acted as if she hadn't heard a word. Her gaze sharpened, and she swung the Dragon Slaying Sword once more toward the direction the three Dragon Kings were fleeing. This strike was even stronger than the last. As the blade slashed out, the entire void shuddered.
"AHHH!!"
A sickening splat echoed through the void. Even burning their dragon blood to cast their most powerful defensive Beast Techniques proved utterly useless. Wretched, agonized screams tore out from the depths of the fractured space.
When the second sword fell, another lock of Zi Yan's hair turned gray-white. This time, even the First Elder and the others saw it clearly. Among Zi Yan's beautiful purple hair, a streak now hung like a ribbon of gray-white dye.
Just as she prepared to continue burning her life force for a third strike, a warm, callused hand closed around her jade-like fingers. A helpless voice drifted from just behind her. "Even as a 9th-tier alchemist, recovering your depleted life force isn't exactly an easy task, you know."
The moment Xiao Yan gently wrapped his hand around hers, still clenched in a death grip around the Dragon Slaying Sword, the icy coldness in her eyes finally began to melt.
Zi Yan continued to stare at the ragged tear in the void, her voice edged with lethal frost. "They dared to hurt you!"
Xiao Yan's large hand ruffled her head lightly. He understood she wanted to avenge him. His tone came out unhurried. "There's no such thing as a battle without injuries. Besides, the three of them are hurt far worse than I am. After taking two of your sword strikes, even if they survive, their cultivation will probably regress. They won't pose much of a threat afterward."
"And have you forgotten? I have your Ancient Void Dragon Tribe's Three Thousand Burning Flame. Give me a little rest, and all my wounds will heal on their own."
Roar, roar~~
The Three Thousand Burning Flame coiling around Xiao Yan's body transformed into a tiny Ancient Void Dragon. It coiled proudly in the air and let out two triumphant cries, as if declaring: Dragon Emperor, please quell your anger. This little injury really isn't a problem.
Zi Yan's beautiful eyes turned to the miniature flame dragon. Seeing the wounds on Xiao Yan's body slowly knitting together, her fury gradually ebbed. At last, she recalled the Dragon Slaying Sword.
Sensing that the Dragon Emperor's anger had subsided, the dragon warriors and Elders of Eastern Dragon Island who had been kneeling on one knee all this time finally dared to straighten and rise.
"The old Dragon Emperor has been missing for a thousand years... I'd almost forgotten what this pressure felt like."
"Indeed... this is the true wrath of a Dragon Emperor."
The Elders traded glances, all wearing peculiar expressions. Had Xiao Yan really soothed the Dragon Emperor's fury with just a few words? And it didn't even seem to be anger over the three Dragon Kings betraying the tribe, but because Xiao Yan was injured???
Their Ancient Void Dragon Tribe wasn't as important as one of Xiao Yan's wounds???
For a moment, each Elder's heart felt strangely sour. They truly wished the Dragon Emperor would pay a little more attention to them, her loyal subjects!
The instant Zi Yan relaxed her body, she deflated like a punctured ball. Her legs gave out and she collapsed straight into Xiao Yan's arms.
He hastily wrapped an arm around her slender waist and pulled her tight against him. His breath quickened the moment he looked at that deathly pale face and caught the faint, uneven rhythm of her breathing. A sting of pain pricked his heart.
Unleashing that so-called Dragon Slaying Sword cost far too much for Zi Yan at her current level. And this expenditure was clearly not merely Dou Qi; it was burning away her life force.
"I'm fine. I'll be alright after a short rest," Zi Yan murmured, nestled against his chest. She looked up at him with her purple eyes, forcing a bright smile onto her pale cheeks.
"I'm a 9th-tier alchemist. Do you really think you can fool me?" Xiao Yan's voice carried an edge of reproach he couldn't quite suppress. "You burned life force. Ordinary rest can't possibly replenish that."
The Zi Yan of the past had bounced around like a little monkey, always laughing. After inheriting the Dragon Emperor's throne, her smiles had grown far rarer.
"Hehe, then refine pills for me again~ This time I want a Tier 9 Golden Pill." Zi Yan giggled and rubbed her head against his chest, nuzzling closer as if trying to burrow into him completely.
"A Tier 9 Golden Pill? There isn't a single alchemist on the entire Dou Qi Continent right now who can single-handedly refine one of those." Xiao Yan scoffed lightly. He fished a jade bottle from his storage ring and shook out a round, crystal-clear pill that exuded a gentle fragrance. Dangling it before her eyes with a grin, he said, "Here. This is a healing pill that attracted seven-colored Pill Lightning. Make do with this for now. You love eating pills more than anyone, don't you?"
"Hehe, you'll definitely be able to refine a Tier 9 Golden Pill someday." Zi Yan's eyes curved into crescents. She obediently parted her lips, and her soft red mouth brushed lightly across the pad of his fingertip. In an instant, a sensation like an electric current shot from his finger straight into Xiao Yan's brain. The tingling jolt made his heart give a violent shudder.
He hurriedly reined in his thoughts and gently slipped the pill into Zi Yan's mouth.
Their sibling bond had nearly crossed the line!
"Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor!"
Down below, the First Elder of Eastern Dragon Island and the others swiftly flew over and stopped at a respectful distance before Zi Yan. They bowed deeply and spoke in unison. They were sensible enough; after just a brief glance at the pair, they promptly dropped their gazes.
"First Elder, is Eastern Dragon Island safe now?"
A faint flush crept across Zi Yan's pale cheeks at the sight of them. It vanished a breath later as composure reasserted itself. Without betraying any emotion, she wriggled free from Xiao Yan's embrace and stood on her own, though a trace of weakness still clung to her voice. Beneath it, however, the returning weight of her Dragon Emperor's might pressed outward once more.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Dragon Island is unharmed. The forces from the three Dragon Islands have all fled, though a considerable number of Ancient Dragon tribesmen chose to remain here on Eastern Dragon Island," the First Elder replied respectfully. The ones he mentioned were naturally those warriors who had knelt in submission earlier.
"Mm. Detain them in Dragon Prison for now and maintain strict watch. We cannot rule out spies from the three islands," Zi Yan said with a slight nod. "When the four Dragon Islands converge in the void, we shall reclaim them completely!"
"Understood, Your Majesty!" The Elders departed in separate directions and set about clearing the battlefield.
Watching Zi Yan maintain this imposing front, Xiao Yan couldn't resist teasing her. "Ah, Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor. You really are something now, aren't you? So majestic."
"I'm not putting on airs in front of you!" Zi Yan puffed out her cheeks and shot him a glare. A mischievous glint suddenly flashed through her purple eyes. She sidled closer, her delicate face curving into a sly grin. "I heard human males all like this kind of look. Don't you like it too? Back in the day, I always caught your eyes lingering on Sister Cai Lin, sneaking peeks at her."
She straightened her back and thrust out her chest without the slightest hint of shyness or restraint. Her proud, full curves strained against the fabric of her battle attire, the generous swell rising and falling with each breath. For magical beasts like her, it was simple. They could be big or small at will.
"Cough. Nonsense." Xiao Yan's face flushed red as he hurried to refute her. "It's not like everyone prefers them big. I thought you looked perfectly fine before... and you're quite nice like this too."
"Hehe." Zi Yan covered her mouth and laughed melodiously. Then her expression grew serious as she gazed at him. "Thank you for this time, truly. Without you here, the consequences would have been unthinkable."
Xiao Yan ruffled her hair again. "It was nothing. I helped you this time; next time you help me. Besides, once you unify the Dragon Islands, maybe you can toss a few inheritances and secret realms my way."
He sighed theatrically. "I'm not like you, sitting atop a massive domain. Every time I go hunting for some inheritance or secret realm, I have to fight tooth and nail for it."
Zi Yan slung an arm around his shoulder, just like she used to back at Jia Nan Academy. She thumped her chest decisively. "Relax. I've got your back!"
As for the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, they had truly placed their bet correctly this time. Zi Yan agreed that once she unified the Dragon Islands, she would grant them Ancient Heaven Serpent essence blood. Yao Ming and the others bowed repeatedly to the Dragon Emperor in gratitude before taking their leave.
In the days that followed, Eastern Dragon Island buzzed with activity as it worked to stabilize and consolidate. Xiao Yan, meanwhile, finally sat down to focus on healing. Attacks at the Dou Saint level were not so easily repaired; even the Three Thousand Burning Flame would struggle to fully mend those wounds.