The endless dark waters of the Malevolent Sea stretched as far as the eye could see. Even when violent winds swept over the surface, the sea remained eerily calm, without the slightest ripple. The oppressive waters were as heavy as a black iron plate. Above, dark clouds loomed, blending with the horizon, leaving the world devoid of light.
Over the boundary of the Malevolent Sea, ten blazing suns rotated forward, surrounded by immense hurricanes swirling in their wake. The violent storms seemed to dance with the suns, driving back the black clouds. The distant coastline became faintly visible as the darkness receded, revealing a line of light formed by twenty-four Seasonal Qi Commands, aligned in a perfect row.
A golden dragon emerged from beyond this line, carrying a pale golden stone tablet on its back. Behind it, a second dragon appeared, adorned with a banner embroidered with the Eastern Emperor's Glyph.
More dragon ships and colossal dragons materialized at the edges of the Malevolent Sea, accelerating the dispersal of the black clouds. The stagnant waters began to stir, faint waves rippling across the surface. Other than the sound of water, an eerie silence dominated the skies.
The imposing Dragon Clan's battle formation stood silent yet terrifyingly orderly, radiating an overwhelming sense of pressure, far surpassing that of the Malevolent Sea's Dao Field.
Suddenly, a small projection of a Dragon Spirit descended onto the foremost dragon ship. Its ethereal voice reverberated across the fleet.
"Great Dragon Emperor, we have cleared one-fifth of the Reverse Dragon Domain. The 'Great Dragon King Nan' is currently engaging the Reverse Dragons in the western Malevolent Sea."
"The 108 Sea-Stabilizing Divine Spikes carried by the Great Dragon King Fu have already been delivered to their designated positions."
"The Great Dragon King Hog has successfully occupied Thunder Dragon Island in the Malevolent Sea and is en route to rendezvous with Your Majesty. Once he and the Great Dragon King Xuanji arrive, all thirty-six Dragon-Slaying Platforms will be fully assembled."
"Additionally, the preparations for the Fuming Myriad Dragons Formation are complete."
Yin Xiu's report was meticulous and precise. Even though many powerful Great Dragon Kings now served under Zhao Xing, Yin Xiu's position as the Dragon Emperor's foremost general remained unshakable.
Not only was Yin Xiu a master of combat, but he was also highly adept at commanding troops, devising strategies, and wielding the Dragon Clan's various artifacts with exceptional proficiency.
"Yin Xiu, what do you think are the remaining trump cards of the Purple Dragon God?" Zhao Xing, now in his human form, stood on the deck, gazing toward the dark horizon.
"Each of the Ten Kingdoms possesses a National Divine Artifact, each with unique abilities. However, apart from the artifacts of the Heavenly Sea Kingdom and the Longyuan Kingdom, which we have yet to acquire, the remaining eight artifacts are already in our possession."
"With eight out of the ten Divine Artifacts in hand, what other cards could the Purple Dragon God have besides the tainted Codex and the Transcendent Artifact?" Zhao Xing's voice carried a tone of curiosity.
Yin Xiu pondered for a moment before replying, "During the Primordial Qi Era's Dragon Court period, there were records of many Demon Clan Divine Artifacts, some of which rivaled, or even surpassed, the Dragon Clan's treasures."
"It's possible he has obtained some of the rumored Demon Clan artifacts."
Zhao Xing nodded slightly. The so-called Demon Clan artifacts were items forged by the Asura Clan, a race known for their expertise in crafting celestial-grade treasures.
He speculated that the Purple Dragon God might possess several powerful Star-Tier Dao Weapons—referred to as Peerless Treasures in the Xuanhuang Realm. However, it was unlikely he had a World Star Dao Weapon.
Among the treasures Zhao Xing had inherited from Qingyuzi, the only true World Star Dao Weapon was the Star Fortune Codex. Even the Cangwu Apex Leaf, while comparable in value, was not a weapon but an invaluable relic.
Star-Tier Dao Weapons, known as Peerless Treasures, were already immensely powerful, but World Star Dao Weapons stood in a league of their own. If the Purple Dragon God had a weapon of this caliber, he wouldn't have waited so long to act, nor would he need to rely on schemes.
There was no doubt that in the Xuanhuang Realm, World Star Dao Weapons represented the pinnacle of divine weaponry.
When Ji Si acquired the Star Fortune Codex, it enabled him to compete with figures like the Moon God of Sorcery and Emperor Wu, powers at the very peak. Without the Codex, Ji Si wouldn't have stood a chance, even with nine lives to spare.
True World Star Dao Weapons required materials equivalent to the core of an entire world or a planet. These weapons were often sealed with Spell Encapsulation, as their immense power could wreak havoc even on their wielder's homeworld.
The fundamental purpose of a weapon was to injure and destroy, but the destructive potential of a World Star Dao Weapon was so great that without proper containment, even the wielder could fall victim to its might.
"However, unleashing the full power of a World Star Dao Weapon is no easy task. The Rule Stage may suffice to wield a Star-Tier Dao Weapon like a Peerless Treasure, but even at this level, handling a World Star Dao Weapon is nearly impossible."
"The Purple Dragon God definitely can't fully utilize such a weapon. He's better off with a high-quality Star-Tier Dao Weapon," Zhao Xing concluded internally.
Even with a generous estimation, Zhao Xing believed that if the Purple Dragon God possessed an offensive Star-Tier Dao Weapon of superior quality, it still wouldn't be enough to turn the tide. After conquering the Nine Kingdoms, Zhao Xing himself had acquired numerous such weapons, including the Dragon-Slaying Platforms, the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Spikes, the Fuming Flame Palace, and the Mysterious Water Dragon Banner.
Additionally, he had trump cards like the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine and the Icy Soul Divine Tree. And if things truly went south, the Moyun Vine could serve as his final fallback.
Even if the Purple Dragon God had a World Star Dao Weapon, Zhao Xing felt confident.
One critical reason for Zhao Xing's confidence was that he himself possessed an offensive World Star Dao Weapon.
With a flip of his palm, a slim, dark purple sword appeared in his hand—the Thunder Law Sword.
This treasure, drawn from the Emperor Wu's Vault, was undeniably a World Star Dao Weapon.
"When I discovered this sword in the treasure hall, it required Primordial Qi to activate, so I brought it back for research," Zhao Xing recalled. "I never expected it to possess Spell Encapsulation!"
"After unlocking the first layer, I realized its rank was that of a World Star Dao Weapon."
Zhao Xing reminisced about the moment of discovery. The presence of Spell Encapsulation was definitive proof of its rank as a World Star Dao Weapon. Unlocking just the first layer of its seal revealed power equivalent to that of a superior Star-Tier Dao Weapon. Yet, the second layer remained completely sealed, beyond Zhao Xing's current ability to unlock.
This limitation underscored the reality: wielding a World Star Dao Weapon required a significantly higher realm of cultivation. "The true core of the Thunder Law Sword lies in its hilt," Zhao Xing thought.
The unassuming hilt revealed no visible formation marks, yet it contained and compressed lightning power equivalent to that of an entire planet.
Injecting his spiritual energy into the sword, Zhao Xing watched as the slender blade expanded in size. From the outside, it appeared to be an ordinary sword, with no sign of its immense thunder power—an effect of its extreme compression and containment.
"Expand!"
Initially half a meter long, the blade grew until lightning arcs began to flicker along its surface.
Zhao Xing pushed the sword's size to ten meters before feeling the strain. Finally, at thirty meters, he reached his limit.
"At full power, I can only expand it to thirty meters," Zhao Xing remarked, his tone calm yet resolute. At this size, his own form expanded to a towering hundred meters, reaching his peak state.
"Even after unlocking the first layer of the seal, I can wield it effortlessly. Yet, once I set it down, no one else could pick it up."
"Thankfully, it won't crush the dragon ship under its weight," Zhao Xing muttered with a smirk.
Contemplating the Thunder Law Sword, Zhao Xing couldn't help but think of a certain legendary hammer. "I'll need to find a master craftsman to modify the method for channeling spiritual energy through the first layer's Spell Encapsulation."
"Anyone who wields this sword, if acknowledged by it, will possess the power of thunder."
As Zhao Xing cautiously advanced, in the heart of Niewang Sea, a vast island loomed.
The Purple Dragon God sat deep in thought. On his forehead, a lightning-shaped mark adorned his dragon scales. Surrounding him were a broken blade, a pearl, and a stone tablet, rotating rhythmically.
"The plan has reached this stage, and this man named Zhao Xing truly has some capability."
"He broke through to the Rule Stage in the Dragon Court, subdued two divine trees, and even went to the Abyss of Heaven, successfully retrieving the chapter of Divine Power."
"But that's all there is to him. Why is the Moon Shaman being so cautious?" The Purple Dragon God didn't regard Zhao Xing highly.
When Zhao Xing first entered the Dragon Court, he had only reached the Destiny Palace Stage. Even when his soul reached the Rule Stage, it was merely at the mid-tier.
From the numbers on paper, he was thoroughly inferior.
The Purple Dragon God had already reached Rule Stage Perfection. In theory, within the ancient land of the Dragon Court, he could easily overwhelm Zhao Xing. However, the situation had shifted dramatically over the decades.
Numerous Great Dragon Kings emerged, and the long-lost dragon artifacts resurfaced one after another. Treasures such as the Dragon Execution Platform, Xuan Shui Dragon Banner, and Fuming Flame Palace, all of them powerful state-protecting artifacts, had come to light.
Moreover, under Zhao Xing's leadership, the dragon forces rapidly grew in power. Initially, the only notable Great Dragon King among them was someone named Yin Xiu.
Gradually, more dragons entered his view, and with the aid of these artifacts, their collective growth reached a level capable of threatening him.
"Could the Moon Shaman have miscalculated?" The Purple Dragon God reflected on this Dragon Court expedition, his heart filled with doubt.
"If I had carried out a decapitation strike as soon as I entered the Dragon Court, perhaps I could have captured Zhao Xing and killed him. Why drag things out until now and choose this battlefield at Qinghai?"
Currently, those Great Dragon Kings, united, posed him trouble. Their combined forces, enhanced by formations and dragon artifacts, were a significant obstacle. Yet initially, even the Great Dragon Kings could have been easily crushed by him.
"I've already reached Rule Stage Perfection, wielding a top-tier Star Dao Weapon as my divine pearl, and even obtained one part of the Dragon Emperor Codex."
"The Moon Shaman even granted me an 'Abyssal Talisman,' instructing me to retreat to this location in Niewang Sea to attempt the kill, strictly forbidding any action outside the plan. Otherwise, all efforts would be futile."
What was the reason for such caution? What other hidden cards did Zhao Xing have? The Purple Dragon God was perplexed.
Even if Zhao Xing had obtained the Boundary Star Dao Weapon from Qing Yuzi, he would be unable to unleash its full power with his current strength. Even the Purple Dragon God himself couldn't fully utilize such a weapon.
After much deliberation, the Purple Dragon God could only conclude that the Moon Shaman's arrangements were tailored specifically for a successful assassination. Any deviation might lead to Zhao Xing's escape.
"Still, I have to admit, he is quite remarkable," the Purple Dragon God muttered, reflecting on the past few years. "At least in terms of understanding dragons, no human surpasses him. His orchestration of Yin Xiu's campaigns shows foresight that outshines even the prophets."
"Even I didn't know that the Dragon Court still harbored treasures like the Xuan Shui Dragon Banner. Not only did he know, but he also managed to locate and retrieve them."
"He even reconstructed the long-lost Fuming Square Dragon Formation. Thirty-six Dragon Execution Platforms? Of course, from the Primordial Qi Era until now, with thirty-six generations of Dragon Emperors, there should indeed be thirty-six platforms."
Initially dismissive of Zhao Xing when entering the Dragon Court, the Purple Dragon God's impression had undergone a profound transformation over the decades. However, this change wasn't regarding strength.
"Cautious, knowledgeable, intelligent, and patient. Though his strength is inferior to mine," the Purple Dragon God thought, both he and Zhao Xing firmly believing they could overpower the other.
Despite this, he fully trusted the Moon Shaman's judgment, which compelled him to follow the plan and retreat to Niewang Sea. "The key to unifying the Dragon Court lies in killing Zhao Xing."
"If I kill him, the current Ten Nations will fall into my hands."
History is written by the victors. If he succeeded, he would no longer be an inverse dragon but the true Dragon Emperor.
"Your Majesty, the enemy forces have begun their assault on the sea. The Inverse Dragon Domain is slowly being eroded," reported a Great Dragon King named Chen, who appeared on the Dragon Island to address the Purple Dragon God.
The Inverse Dragon Domain was a fortified field established by generations of inverse dragons, extending its duration, scope, or strength. Over countless generations, their reinforcements had turned Niewang Sea into something akin to a Dao Field.
Of course, it wasn't a true Dao Field. Now that Zhao Xing had unified the Ten Nations' forces, his advance was quickly erasing its influence. The Great Dragon King estimated that at this rate, the Inverse Dragon Domain in Qinghai would vanish entirely within half a year, leaving the inverse dragons' defenses vulnerable.
"Retreat to the Dragon Island," the Purple Dragon God ordered.
"But Your Majesty, such a move will result in significant casualties among our kin," Chen protested.
"Execute the order!"
The Purple Dragon God's gaze was icy. He cared little for the other dragons. To him, his identity as the Southern Savage Purple Dragon God took precedence over the Dragon Court. "Understood," Chen replied reluctantly, forced to comply.
Three months later, in the inner sea of Niewang, near the central region, the inverse Great Dragon King Dian roared furiously in the skies.
Surrounding him were over three hundred Dragon Kings, swimming frantically in the air as if fleeing, yet unable to escape this confined space.
The water curtain in the sky resembled an indestructible prison, trapping them completely.
"Your Majesty, Chen is a water-born dragon. His innate secret technique rivals a peak Seventh Transformation spell."
"Yet even he cannot escape the restraints of the Xuan Shui Dragon Banner," Yin Xiu said, standing beside Zhao Xing. "A hundred Ji Meng Dragon Kings wielding the banner are enough to kill Dian, this inverse Great Dragon King."
The Xuan Shui Dragon Banner wasn't a single artifact. Its main flag was controlled by the Green Leaf Dragon King, while the hundred Ji Meng Dragon Kings wielded the sub-flags at various positions.
The Ji Meng dragons, with dragon heads and human bodies, were also water experts. By wielding the banners, they created a water domain that trapped Dian and his subordinates entirely. The inverse dragons had no chance of forming a unified front, leaving only the Purple Dragon God as a threat.
Zhao Xing gazed at a Dragon Island in the distance.
With the power of the Ten Nations behind him, Zhao Xing held a massive advantage. The Purple Dragon God's ruthless slaying of Great Dragon King Ji and seizing control of the two nations, Longyuan and Tianhai, left him little time to prepare for war. Furthermore, not all dragons were willing to submit to the rule of inverse dragons.
Thus, in terms of troop strength, Zhao Xing, as the rightful Dragon Emperor, enjoyed far greater support than the Purple Dragon God could muster.
Zhao Xing's growth, while not a hundredfold over the Purple Dragon God's, still surpassed him by tenfold. "The only variable now is the Purple Dragon God."
"If he escapes with the remaining fragments of the codex, I won't be able to lift the restrictions on the ancient Dragon Court. Without doing so, I can't bring the dragons of the Dragon Court out to integrate them into the fortunes of Great Zhou."
In Zhao Xing's plans, acquiring the remaining codex fragments was his primary goal. Of course, killing the Purple Dragon God would be ideal. Taking a deep breath, Zhao Xing unfolded the Dragon Court Codex and issued orders to the dragon army.
"Activate the Fuming Myriad Dragon Formation!"
"Deploy the Calming Sea Divine Needles!"
"Operate the Fuming Flame Palace!"
"Merge the Dragon Execution Platforms!"
One after another, his commands echoed. Centered on Sea Dragon Island, the heavens and earth within a hundred-mile radius seemed to tremble and shift.
The waters of the Sea of Calamity receded rapidly, as if retreating tides, and in less than a day, the seabed was exposed, turning Niewang Dragon Island into a towering mountain peak!
The Fuming Dragon Formation was a set of ship formations, consisting of dozens of treasure-class dragon ships. Each dragon ship housed a group of city lord-level figures and hundreds of lord-level experts. For every ten ships, one Great Dragon King presided over them.
Thirty-six Great Dragon Kings worked together to lift the mountain-like Dragon Execution Platform into view. The thirty-six Dragon Execution Platforms merged into one, ultimately forming a complete Dragon Execution Assembly, reaching the level of a top-tier Star-tier Dao Weapon upon fusion.
Each Great Dragon King occupied one side, and pieces of dragon scales rose from their bodies, forming a massive blade above the Dragon Execution Platform.
All remaining inverse dragons within the range of the platform were irresistibly pulled onto it and executed. Meanwhile, the Fuming Flame Palace served as another defensive line for the dragon formation.
At this moment, the Sea of Calamity transformed into a sea of flames. No dragon could escape its fiery grasp. Yet, just then—
From within the sea, Dragon Island suddenly emitted a brilliant seven-colored radiance. "Boom!!"
"Boom—"
The heavens and earth shifted, and the seven-colored radiance spread outward. Soon, the faint outline of a Dragon City appeared in the light.
The Fuming Flame Palace, the Xuan Shui Dragon Banner, and the Dragon Execution Platform resonated from afar. The flames formed walls for the city, divine needles parted the sea to construct the foundation, while the banner and platform projected light onto the ground, creating intricate mystical patterns.
At the center of these patterns, a massive dragon statue emerged from the earth. For the dragons, this was no ordinary statue—it was the representation of the Ancestral Dragon.
"The Grand Dragon Arena?!" Yin Xiu's heart trembled with shock.
To witness its reappearance in this lifetime was beyond his imagination. As the inheritor of the Eastern Emperor's Golden Texts, he knew many ancient secrets. At this moment, the legendary Grand Dragon Arena had reappeared.
The current layout was an exact replica of the ancient Dragon Emperor's Grand Arena, personally established by the Ancestral Dragon. At this moment, all dragons fell silent.
Whether it was the legitimate dragons of the Ten Nations or the remnants of the inverse dragons, everyone ceased fighting.
Even the Great Dragon Kings—Yin Xiu, Yin Li, Hog, and others—instinctively backed away and prostrated themselves. "We pay homage to the Dragon God!"
Countless voices rang out as they knelt before the dragon god's shadow in the sky.
At the same time, the Purple Dragon God flew out from the island. From afar, his gaze locked onto Zhao Xing.
"Zhao Xing, in ancient times, the Dragon Emperor was born from the Grand Arena. This is the final step to becoming the Dragon Emperor," the Purple Dragon God declared, staring intently at Zhao Xing.
"I used the last drop of true blood left by the Ancestral Dragon in the Xuanhuang Realm and, with the codex fragment in my possession, drew out the remaining power of the Dragon God's Dao Body to create this Grand Dragon Arena."
"Now, within this arena, only you and I are qualified to fight. The rest of the dragons can only watch."
Upon seeing this, Zhao Xing felt a sense of relief. So, this was the Purple Dragon God's trump card?
"Originally, Yin Xiu and the other Great Dragon Kings, combined with their dragon artifacts and formations, could have posed a significant threat to him."
"But now, he has summoned the Ancestral Dragon's Dao Body and recreated the Ancestral Dragon's Dao Field, what is known as the 'Grand Dragon Arena.'"
"In this place, only he and I have the right to engage in battle."
"The victor becomes emperor, and the defeated eats dust!"
Without hesitation, Zhao Xing flew into the arena.
High above, the massive figure of the Purple Dragon God hovered, his cold eyes surveying the ground below.
In comparison, Zhao Xing appeared minuscule. Against the towering form of the Purple Dragon God, he looked like an ant standing before an elephant.
After a moment of silence, the Purple Dragon God suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha, how ridiculous. A mere human wants to become the Dragon Emperor?"
"I deliberately revealed a weakness to lure you in, and you actually dared to take the bait."
"The greed of humanity truly knows no bounds."
The Purple Dragon God spat out the codex fragment and taunted, "The item is right here. Come and take it. I'll give you the opportunity to try your best."
"You talk too much," Zhao Xing said coldly. His body began to shake, rapidly expanding to a height of one hundred meters. This was the maximum size of his Golden God Form, the optimal state for unleashing his full strength.
"Pure Essence Projection."
"—"
From the eastern Spring God Position, the Dragon Spirit Bamboo rose from the ground. "—"
From the southern Summer God Position, the Fiery Lotus of Departure quietly bloomed.
Seeing these two plants, the Purple Dragon God remained indifferent. They posed no real threat to him. However, when the Ice Soul Divine Tree appeared in the northern Winter God Position, the Purple Dragon God began to sense an ominous feeling. He attempted to lock onto Zhao Xing, only to find that Zhao Xing had vanished into a cloud of mist.
When the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine emerged from the western Autumn God Position, the Purple Dragon God's composure shattered. "Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine?!"
"How is it possible for the Dragon Court to still have a Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine?"
For the first time, the Purple Dragon God felt a surge of fear. As an inverse dragon, he instinctively feared the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine, a plant with a history of devouring Dragon Emperors.
This particular vine had already reached its peak, just one step away from establishing its Dao.
Plant life required significant time to grow, but once matured, they were unbeatable at the same stage. This was especially true for the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine, whose specialty was suppressing dragons.
"Four Seasons Divine Splendor, Annihilation!"
Zhao Xing's Pure Essence Projection moved swiftly, adjusting the positions of the plant soldiers to target the Purple Dragon God in the sky.
He unleashed his ultimate technique right from the start. Anything less than a peak Seventh Transformation spell would hardly threaten the Purple Dragon God, who had reached Rule Stage Perfection.
Only the unique techniques of the Self School, relying on the extraordinary power of plant soldiers, could prove effective under such circumstances.
From the position of the Ice Soul Divine Tree, a surge of cold blue light swept forward like a tidal wave. The Purple Dragon God felt his blood freeze as though it had turned to ice.
"Transmitting Divine Pearl!"
The Purple Dragon God quickly spat out a magic pearl. The pearl radiated warm light, dispelling the cold enveloping his body.
Zhao Xing's focus shifted entirely to the direction of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine. The Purple Dragon God urgently commanded the Divine Clan to release two beams of black light, which shot toward the west and the north.
The radiance of the two divine trees posed the greatest threat to him. As for the Geng Metal Breath expelled from the Dragon Spirit Bamboo and the fiery divine brilliance emitted by the Lihuo Divine Lotus, he disregarded them entirely, intending to endure these attacks with his dragon body.
"!"
The Geng Metal Breath was deflected off his scales, but the Lihuo flames, once they landed, couldn't be extinguished. Instead, they seeped through his scales, corroding his flesh and even penetrating his bones.
"This is troublesome. How did he find this Lihuo Lotus?" The Purple Dragon God was momentarily startled. He possessed the supreme bloodline of the Divine Dragon, rendering his body nearly impervious to water and fire, and most methods simply couldn't harm him.
Attacks below the seventh stage of the Rule Domain or those involving techniques and martial arts below the seventh ultimate turn could be ignored by him entirely.
However, the Lihuo Divine Lotus had already reached the mid-stage of the Rule Domain. With its inherent seventh-stage domain and its signature ability, Nine-Leaf Lihuo, it could rival the seventh turn of ultimate techniques.
The Nanming Lihuo was the pinnacle of fire within the Xuanyuan Realm. Its flames were intangible and formless, making it incredibly difficult to block.
"Hss—"
As the flames licked his body, a broken blade appeared in the Purple Dragon God's grasp. Its golden aura swept back and forth like a bone-scraping tool, removing the Lihuo flames as though conducting surgery. The flames were scraped away and hurled toward the edge of the Great Arena.
"A high-grade Star-tier Dao Weapon? It seems to be a Dao Weapon capable of countering fire," Zhao Xing noted internally.
But in that brief moment, the Ice Soul Divine Tree's attack had arrived.
"Swish, swish, swish—"
The Ice Soul Domain enveloped the Purple Dragon God's massive body, turning his dragon scales a shade of deep azure.
"Blizzard of Endless Snow!" "Frozen Frost Radiance!"
The snowflakes clinging to his scales formed a vivid image—a depiction of the Ice Soul Divine Tree itself. The Frozen Frost Radiance blossomed across his body, causing the Purple Dragon God to startle in alarm. Just as he had managed to dispel the fire, the ice arrived. His movements slowed drastically under its chilling effects.
"True Transmission Orb! Dispel the water and fire!"
The Purple Dragon God activated his second treasure, the True Transmission Orb, which suddenly shifted from black to blue, dispersing the frost entirely.
"Another high-grade Star-tier Dao Weapon," Zhao Xing murmured as he glanced at the orb that had turned blue. "It actually blocked a negative two-hundred-eight-degree chill and dispelled the frost instantly."
"That True Transmission Orb is clearly a water-countering high-grade Star-tier Dao Weapon."
Being able to dispel the frost from the Ice Soul Divine Tree and eliminate the cold from his body instantaneously was no trivial feat. Only a high-grade Star-tier Dao Weapon could achieve this. A mid-grade one would struggle to produce such swift results.
However, just as the Purple Dragon God resolved two consecutive threats, the attack from the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine arrived—this was the true killing blow!
Thirty-six main vines, glowing with a faint red hue, lashed out simultaneously.
"Shadow Shift!"
A mist spread from the Purple Dragon God's body. Despite his massive form, he transformed into something intangible, resembling a dragon formed entirely of mist.
"Whoosh—swish—"
Thirty-six main vines struck, but thirty-five of them missed, merely scattering the golden-purple mist. Only the last vine landed, viciously whipping the Purple Dragon God's body.
"!"
Although he was struck on the western edge of the Great Arena, his true form appeared in the southern section, maintaining the posture of being struck and flying backward for a short distance.
"For such a massive body, he can actually perform spatial transposition?" Zhao Xing exclaimed in surprise. "Shadow Shift and Golden Cicada Shedding Shell—these are prerequisites for the divine ability Starshifting Steps."
However, Shadow Shift was an ultimate technique, while Golden Cicada Shedding Shell was an ultimate martial skill. The Purple Dragon God was evidently proficient in both magic and martial arts.
His physical body was exceptionally tough, yet he also possessed ultimate techniques. These weren't innate talents but abilities painstakingly cultivated later.
"That really hurt," the Purple Dragon God muttered. A blood-red mist began to emanate from his entire body. The Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine's life-corroding properties caused him to lose a portion of his vitality and blood.
Although his dragon scales remained intact, his life essence was visibly shaken out, defying reason.
"The innate secret technique Nemesis of Dragons is no joke," Zhao Xing observed with a laugh.
In his perception, the Lihuo Divine Lotus and the Ice Soul Divine Tree barely scratched the Purple Dragon God, causing minimal blood loss and leaving his life force largely unaffected.
However, the strike from the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine directly reduced his life force by a twentieth.
The Purple Dragon God felt the impact as well, his heart filled with shock. "If I get hit twenty times, I'll die?"
The legendary Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine—he was genuinely terrified.
At this moment, he finally understood why the God of the Moon arranged things this way.
If not for the Great Arena's constraints, he would have faced not only Zhao Xing but also the siege of the other Great Dragon Kings like Yin Xiu.
"I must suppress the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine!" the Purple Dragon God declared as he spat out a globule of earthy yellow light.
"Earth Seal Talisman?!" Zhao Xing's expression shifted slightly.
"Hahaha, you've got sharp eyes," the Purple Dragon God sneered, swiftly driving the Earth Seal Talisman into the ground.
What was an Earth Seal Talisman?
It was a type of Lesser Divine Talisman, created based on the supreme divine ability Heaven-Earth Severance. As the Earth Seal Talisman emerged, Zhao Xing immediately understood.
This was the trump card bestowed upon the Purple Dragon God by the God of the Moon. It was specifically tailored to counter him.
The Earth Seal Talisman could prohibit all earth-based techniques, including suppressing pure essence soil.
While the Purple Dragon God's other treasures were high-grade, the Earth Seal Talisman was a one-time consumable item. If sold in the cosmos, it could fetch a price comparable to a low-grade Realm-Star Dao Weapon, placing it on par with the Snow Cangwu Apex Leaf in terms of value.
To use it in the Xuanyuan Realm against someone like Zhao Xing, who was merely at the early stage of the Rule Domain? The God of the Moon clearly considered Zhao Xing a significant threat.
"Within the Earth Seal Talisman's domain, all earth-based techniques are nullified, including Pure Essence Projections. Without the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine, Zhao Xing is nothing more than a weakling at the early stage of the Rule Domain!" The Purple Dragon God's gaze turned icy as he focused entirely on the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine.
He failed to notice that Zhao Xing now held a sword in his hand.
"You've got some decent tricks," Zhao Xing remarked, his eyes fixed on the southern side where the Purple Dragon God stood. "But do you think you're the only one with treasures?"
With a wave of his hand, a slender purple-black sword materialized in Zhao Xing's grasp.
"Grow, grow, grow!"
At his command, Zhao Xing, now standing at a towering hundred meters tall, wielded the purple-black sword, which extended to a length of thirty-three meters. Its slender blade radiated an aura of terrifying thunder, instantly drawing the Purple Dragon God's attention.
"What kind of treasure is this?!"
"Take this!"
Zhao Xing immediately threw the Thunder Sword at the Earth Seal Talisman.
"Swish!"
The lightning flashed as the Thunder Sword hurtled toward the talisman. Before the Earth Seal Talisman could hit the ground, the sword's tip managed to touch it.
"Boom! Boom!"
What appeared to be a fragile sheet of paper couldn't be pierced by the sword. The two forces clashed, caught in a stalemate.
"What?!"
The Purple Dragon God was shocked. The Earth Seal Talisman was actually being blocked?
"Divine Soldier Art, Infinite Divine Radiance!" Zhao Xing swiftly changed tactics.
Suddenly, the Ice Soul Divine Tree, Dragon Spirit Bamboo, and Lihuo Divine Lotus seemed to go berserk, firing without any cooldown or pause. Geng Metal Breath, Nine-Leaf Lihuo, and Frozen Frost Radiance launched one after another.
It was as if their innate abilities were being used without restraint, relentlessly bombarding the Purple Dragon God.
After mastering the second stage of the Divine Soldier Art, Zhao Xing's control over plant-based life had greatly advanced.
Following the cultivation of the Four Seasons Divine Radiance Dao Field, he could force plant life to override their survival instincts, enabling them to launch self-damaging attacks. If he could reach the third stage, Heavenly Fall of Divine Radiance, the technique would evolve further.
At its peak, plant life would not merely override survival instincts for self-damaging attacks but would instead execute outright suicidal assaults.
For now, Zhao Xing could only achieve the stage of Infinite Divine Radiance, which allowed him to ignore the innate ability cooldown period. By sacrificing the plants' lifespan, he could chain together their innate abilities seamlessly in rapid succession.
And so, the Purple Dragon God witnessed an utterly bizarre scene.
The nine petals of the Lihuo Divine Lotus closed and erupted repeatedly in an instant.
The Dragon Spirit Bamboo's nodes glowed continuously, lighting up section by section from the base to the tip, unleashing Geng Metal Breath.
The Ice Soul Divine Tree shook violently, its leaves falling off in large swathes as if it intended to strip itself bare.
"What...?"
The Purple Dragon God was utterly dumbfounded by this sudden escalation in attack intensity. Plant-based life risking everything?
He had never seen such a situation before.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Dragon scales shattered, blood and flesh splattered, and flames ignited on his wounds. His body alternated between ice-blue and fiery red.
One side was frozen numb, while the other burned with searing pain, piercing to the bone.
"Arghhhh!"
Even with the True Transmission Orb and Purple Gold Blade, two divine weapons, protecting him, the Purple Dragon God was injured.
At this moment, he deeply realized the sheer strength of Zhao Xing's self-cultivated techniques.
This was the power of the upgraded Self School Shennong Priest—with just three plants, Zhao Xing was able to suppress the Purple Dragon God to such an extent.
"Shadow Shift!"
The Purple Dragon God roared, his eyes flashing red as he locked onto Zhao Xing's position. This time, he intended to teleport directly next to Zhao Xing and use his innate secret technique to finish him off.
However, the three plants were merely a distraction, buying time for the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine to activate Infinite Extension.
By the time the Purple Dragon God realized he was being suppressed, the thirty-six tendrils of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine had already wrapped around him entirely.
"Death Cage!"
The tendrils formed a dome of blood-red vines, completely enclosing the Purple Dragon God.
The surrounding dragons could no longer see his figure. The Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine had fully encapsulated him. The hemispherical blood-red cage suddenly contracted!
Massive blood mist erupted but was immediately absorbed by the countless tiny holes on the tendrils of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine.
"What... what is that monster...?"
"This is terrifying. Even the supreme Divine Dragon bloodline is being torn apart like this?"
"I feel my body trembling as if facing an overwhelming terror."
"What is it exactly?!"
"Roar!"
Countless dragons instinctively felt fear.
The Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine had inflicted devastating losses on the dragon race in a past era. As a Nemesis of Dragons, this fear was engraved in their bloodline.
Just as humans instinctively fear venomous snakes, even a mere picture could evoke terror and shivers. Such fears were lessons imprinted into their lineage over countless generations.
"Big brother, w-what is that?" Yin Li's dragon scales trembled as he spoke, clearly terrified. The Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine evoked fear in all dragons, friend or foe.
"It... it's the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine," Yin Xiu replied, his voice also trembling. "I didn't expect it to still exist and to be under the control of the Dragon Emperor."
"What?! It's that...?" Yin Li suddenly felt that Zhao Xing resembled more of a villain than the orthodox Dragon Emperor.
He's raising the dragon race's nemesis!
"Rumble... rumble..."
The thirty-six main tendrils of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine created strange sounds as the red dome began to contract further, as if devouring something.
At this moment, all the dragons held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
It was too terrifying!
As the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine devoured, the Purple Dragon God's dragon spirit struggled to poke its head out of a gap, its body bloodied and torn, reduced to a blood-colored dragon.
However, before he could cry out, the tendrils slapped him back inside.
"Crunch, crack..."
"Nom, nom..."
It seemed the vine had finished consuming the flesh and was now gnawing on the bones.
"Roar!"
Some rebellious dragons broke down completely, attempting to flee.
"Plop—"
At that moment, Zhao Xing suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Turning his head, he realized the source of the backlash—it was the battlefield between the Thunder Sword and the Earth Seal Talisman.
The Thunder Sword had fallen into a disadvantageous position, being suppressed by the terrifying Earth Seal Talisman and pinned to the ground.
Although Zhao Xing had only unlocked the first seal of the Thunder Sword, rendering it incapable of exerting its full power, the Earth Seal Talisman, as a one-time consumable, unleashed its full might.
"Thud!"
It was as if a stone fell to the ground, and Zhao Xing felt his heart tremble.
The intense backlash caused blood to flow from his seven orifices. Not only was the Pure Essence Projection forcibly retracted, but even his hundred-meter golden body could no longer be maintained.
The Thunder Sword was pinned to the ground by the Earth Seal Talisman, leaving only the hilt exposed, trembling uncontrollably.
"Swish—"
As the Pure Essence Projection was forcibly suppressed back into his body, the Bloodthirsty Dragon Vine, Dragon Spirit Bamboo, Lihuo Divine Lotus, and Ice Soul Divine Tree were all retracted with it.
"Boom!"
A skeletal frame fell from the sky.
Since the projection was not properly retrieved, the shell of the Purple Dragon God didn't return alongside it. Instead, it crashed violently onto the ground. Zhao Xing, struggling to stabilize his injuries, focused his gaze and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The Purple Dragon God was dead. Its bones had been reduced to barely half their original state, with no flesh or blood remaining—it had been completely consumed. Even its dragon spirit was gone.
Seeing this, Zhao Xing could no longer hold on. His entire body collapsed to the ground. "The power of the Absolute Desolation Talisman... damn, it's insanely strong!"
Zhao Xing gasped heavily, his breath ragged and labored. At this moment, he couldn't even fly. One could only imagine the extent of his injuries. "Ahhh—"
Just as Yin Xiu and the others rushed forward to tend to Zhao Xing, a massive shadow of the Dragon God in the sky suddenly dived down. Simultaneously, it expelled every dragon that tried to enter the grand arena.
Thud—
The Dragon God's shadow hit the ground and transformed into a single drop of blood, which immediately merged into Zhao Xing's body.
Golden light shimmered as all remnants of the Dragon God's shadow condensed into a single golden point. After a brief pause, the light suddenly burst outward, radiating brilliance. Aooong!
From within the golden radiance, a massive golden dragon soared upward. It was none other than Zhao Xing, now activating the Hou Transformation Technique!
His body continued to expand, growing rapidly in size. Before long, his form far surpassed its original proportions. The Ultimate Hou Transformation Technique broke through from the sixth stage to the seventh, then to the eighth, and finally...
Zhao Xing's [Ancestral Dragon Transformation] reached the stage of ultimate perfection!
"The effect of the Dragon God's essence blood is incredible," Zhao Xing remarked as he twisted his massive dragon form. At this moment, not only were his injuries completely healed, but the Hou Transformation Technique had also undergone a metamorphosis.
The essence blood contained not only the power of the Dao but also the life structure of the Ancestral Dragon itself. Cultivating the Hou Transformation Technique required a point of reference, and the essence blood provided exactly that.
Previously, Zhao Xing had believed that his [Ancestral Dragon Transformation] was capped at the sixth stage of ultimate transformation. After all, there was no second Ancestral Dragon in the entire Xuanhuang Realm, and he had no way to acquire the Ancestral Dragon's life structure.
But who would have thought that the Purple Dragon God had preserved a drop of the Ancestral Dragon's essence blood?
"Purple Dragon God, you truly delivered!" Zhao Xing wanted to burst out laughing in triumph, but he restrained himself due to the situation. After all, Yin Xiu had already bowed down before him.
"Welcome back, Dragon Emperor!"
"Welcome back, Dragon Emperor!"
"Welcome back, Dragon Emperor!"
Countless dragons prostrated themselves in reverence.
From this moment onward, the Dragon Court's ancient land finally had a true Dragon Emperor—one recognized by the Dragon God itself!
The "Dragon Emperor Era" recorded by the Guting Kingdom had now gained true legitimacy!
Zhao Xing let out a long and exuberant roar, releasing his full dominance and power.
At the same time, all the rebellious dragons exploded on the spot. Whether it was the Great Dragon Kings or the Dragon King-level renegades, their power was absorbed by Zhao Xing, the Dragon Emperor. Merge!
With a single thought, Zhao Xing summoned the third piece of the Dragon Emperor Codex, which flew to him immediately.
The polluted aura on it was purified as it merged seamlessly with the other two parts. Shuu—
Golden light illuminated the entirety of the Dragon Court.
In that instant, all life forms within the Dragon Court's ancient land witnessed a massive dragon roaring in the sky. And this phenomenon wasn't limited to the Dragon Court.
Even above the Heavenly Dragon Gate over the Eastern Sea, an extraordinary vision appeared—Zhao Xing roaring toward the heavens. Rumble—
King Luohou, Ji Anlan, Lu Ying, and Dong Ze all turned their gazes to the Heavenly Dragon Gate.
"The Dragon Emperor has been born," Ji Anlan muttered, her expression tense. "From now on, the Dragon Gate will no longer restrain the dragon race."
"Is it Zhao Xing or the Purple Dragon God?" asked King Luohou.
"I don't know," Ji Anlan shook her head. "I'm nervous precisely because I don't know."
Judging by appearances alone, it was impossible to discern the truth.
After his breakthrough, Zhao Xing's dragon form had undergone a significant transformation. It now bore a much closer resemblance to the Ancestral Dragon, exuding a sense of overwhelming power. Even its shadow radiated an oppressive aura.
Elsewhere, in the External Alliance, Tuoba Gong asked Da Gui, "Is it the Purple Dragon God or Zhao Xing?"
"I don't know," Da Gui shook his head. "But I can sense that the Absolute Desolation Talisman has been used. It should have been the Purple Dragon God who prevailed."
The Absolute Desolation Talisman was designed to either kill or utterly defeat its target. Therefore, the one to ascend as the Dragon Emperor should logically be the Purple Dragon God.
Meanwhile, back in the Dragon Court's ancient land, at the Sea of Calamity.
Zhao Xing gazed at the now-complete Dragon Emperor Codex, feeling a surge of emotions.
"The ultimate perfection of the Hou Transformation Technique... I am now a true Dragon Emperor," he murmured.
"Even though the Xuanhuang Realm has its limits, with the Dragon Court's ancient land and the dragon race's fortune supporting me, I can still achieve the Dao Ascension Realm," Zhao Xing noted to himself.
It was similar to how Ji Che, as an emperor, had reached the Dao Establishment Realm.
As the dragon race's emperor, Zhao Xing, if he so desired, could also use their power to complete the process of Dao Ascension.
"But if I do so, I'll be bound by limitations." He frowned. "I'd rather not establish the Dao through the dragon race's fortune."
By nature, Zhao Xing was human. If he used fortune-based methods to ascend the Dao, he would face limitations. It was unclear whether his lifespan would follow the calculations of Ji Che's model or those of a true Dragon Emperor.
Moreover, his cultivation of the [Three Divinities Destiny Palace] added another layer of uncertainty. The [Three Divinities Destiny Palace] was inherently detached from causality and existed beyond the cycle of the Five Elements.
But becoming an emperor meant reentering the cycle of karma tied to his race, effectively pulling him back into the Five Elements' reincarnation.
"There's too much conflict. And if I establish the Dao this way, I won't be able to integrate into the Great Zhou's fortune anymore. My ultimate goal is ascension—I must rely on the human path to establish the Dao," Zhao Xing resolved inwardly.
"Rise!"
Zhao Xing descended, his claws reaching for the Absolute Desolation Talisman embedded in the ground. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunderous explosions erupted between his dragon claws and the Absolute Desolation Talisman. The terrifying blasts echoed continuously, confined to his claws, for a full three hours before finally subsiding.
"Terrifying. It took three whole hours to release all its power," Zhao Xing thought, his heart trembling. "Without the Thunder Law Sword, I might've needed my elder brother to save me."
Using the Void Seed Moyun Vine to absorb the Absolute Desolation Talisman would've been a better option, Zhao Xing speculated.
However, the Moyun Vine was his final trump card. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't expose it to the prying eyes of the Wu Yue God. After all, his battle with the Purple Dragon God was undoubtedly under Wu Yue God's observation.
Since Wu Yue God couldn't bypass the Three Divinities Destiny Palace's divine ability to calculate all aspects of Zhao Xing, the existence of the Purple Dragon God provided a strong medium. Even if Wu Yue God couldn't directly see Zhao Xing, it could observe the presence of the Mo Yun Vine through its connection.
"If it weren't for the Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood, the injuries I sustained earlier would have taken at least three to five years to recover, even with my Divine Splendor Golden Body," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "But if I had used the recovery effects of the Cangwu Apex Leaf, I could have fully healed in just three to five days."
"All things considered, this battle was risky, but the consequences weren't too severe," Zhao Xing concluded as he reviewed the events. Transforming back into his human form, he reached for the Thunder Law Sword.
"The Thunder Law Sword is peculiar. As a dragon, I couldn't draw it at all, but in my human form, it slides out effortlessly," Zhao Xing muttered. "Seal!"
He sealed the Thunder Law Sword once again, and the blade quickly shrank and transformed, becoming slender until it resembled an oversized embroidery needle, less than half a meter long.
"Yin Xiu," Zhao Xing called out, flying to Yin Xiu's side.
"Let's head back," he ordered.
"Understood," Yin Xiu replied.
In the 87th Year of Yuan Shuo, Zhao Xing ascended as the Dragon Emperor. However, he didn't immediately issue decrees or lift the restrictions on the Ancient Land of the Dragon Court. Instead, he spent another five years consolidating his power within the Dragon Court.
During this time, he purged all rebellious dragons from the Dragon Court, uniting the ten kingdoms into a single, cohesive entity.
"The strong among the Dragon Court can be gradually brought out, but as for the treasures, we should start clearing them out first," Zhao Xing strategized.
Afterward, he moved to the Central Dragon Court, where he officially began issuing decrees. The policies focused on two main objectives:
Collecting materials rich in spiritual energy.
Gathering rare treasures and exotic species from within the Dragon Court.
Three years later, Zhao Xing announced that a portion of the dragon race would begin migrating to the Xuanhuang Realm to live.
With this back-and-forth process, it wasn't until the 95th Year of Yuan Shuo that Zhao Xing finally emerged from the Dragon Court's Ancient Land.
By then, 53 years had passed since his fourth entry into the Dragon Court.
Boom!
The Heaven and Earth Dragon Gate began to tremble and expand.
Waves surged across the surface of the sea.
In the distance, observers watched nervously.
"The Heaven and Earth Dragon Gate has never grown larger or smaller before. Someone's coming out," one of them said.
"Will it be Zhao Xing or the Purple Dragon God?"
"It has to be Zhao Xing!"
"No, it's still possible that it's the Purple Dragon God. Didn't Wu Yue God issue a divine prophecy suggesting that the Purple Dragon God likely perished?"
"Don't speak nonsense! We still have hope!"
After a prolonged shake, the Heaven and Earth Dragon Gate revealed a dragon's head, followed by its body, the structures atop it, and finally its tail.
On the deck of the dragon ship stood a tall and imposing figure—it was Zhao Xing.
"Roar!"
The two groups of observers immediately reacted in drastically different ways. The powerful figures of the Great Zhou Dynasty rushed forward with smiles on their faces.
"Hahaha! It's Zhao Xing!"
"I knew it would be Zhao Xing!"
"King Zhao is incredible!"
"Shouldn't we be calling him Emperor Zhao now?"
"Ahem, Brother Ye, it's fine to say that abroad, but be careful not to mention it back home."
In contrast, the External Alliance's forces were retreating in despair.
"It's over. The Purple Dragon God has fallen!"
"After eight years of anticipation, there's still no miracle. The Purple Dragon Court has collapsed!"
"Their god is dead. What are we supposed to do now?"
"Quick, retreat while we still can!"
The Purple Scale King, who had once made a name for himself during the Western Extreme War, broke into tears, his voice choked with grief.
When the Purple Dragon God had first appeared, it had been akin to the descent of a divine totem for the royal families. The Purple Scale King himself had even received personal guidance from the god.
What was thought to be the start of a grand revival ended abruptly with the death of their god. The blow was too much to bear. The Purple Scale King could already imagine the chaos and collapse that awaited the Purple Dragon Court upon his return.
While the Purple Scale King wept, Ji Anlan smiled. "Congratulations, King Zhao, on successfully subjugating the dragon race."
"Congratulations to King Zhao!"
The rapid command envoy Dong Ze, the Northern Star King Qin Feng, Lu Ying, and even Lord Luohou all bowed to Zhao Xing in celebration.
The Zhao Lord who conquered the Dragon Court was no longer the same. His status and significance had fundamentally changed.
If Zhao Xing wished, he could now become the leader of the third superpower in the Xuanhuang Realm, and he wouldn't even have to worry about rebellion. After all, the dragon race's emphasis on bloodline superiority made them far easier to govern than humans, and their unity was on a whole different level.
"Please rise, my lords," Zhao Xing said with a smile, returning the gesture. "I know you all have many questions, but let's wait until we return to the court. Once I've compiled everything into a formal report, you'll have all the answers."
"That's only proper," replied Lord Luohou, nodding in agreement. Such a significant matter had to be reported to Ji Che and the court in Tianyong Prefecture and Fengjing City immediately.
In the 95th Year of Yuan Shuo, Zhao Xing brought 38 Great Dragon Kings with him to the capital.
Among them were Yin Xiu, Hog, Tianji, and others—all of whom were at the Supreme Grade realm! The dragon race possessed a transformation technique similar to the Hou Transformation Technique, and at this time, all of them appeared in human form.
When Zhao Xing returned, the court was thrown into an uproar.
"What? King Zhao conquered the Dragon Court and even brought the dragon race out?"
"Are these dragons like Bai Yunwu, the White Dragon King?"
"I've heard they're far stronger than Bai Yunwu. Before the court meeting, I even saw Bai Yunwu bowing to one of the figures behind King Zhao."
"Unbelievable! So there are now 38 dragons stronger than the White Dragon King?"
"They're dragons, not just water creatures!"
"The White Dragon King isn't pure-blooded. The ones brought out by King Zhao are."
"Wait, are you saying the White Dragon King is a hybrid? I always thought the Eastern Sea branch was a pure-blooded dragon lineage."
"Hmph, the legend says that the Ancestral Dragon gave birth to all creatures. Isn't everyone technically a descendant of the dragons? What's this nonsense about purity?"
"You must be an official from the Bai family, right? You seem unfamiliar. May I ask your name?"
"Ha! My name is Dragon Xiao, and I am the Marquis of Divine Splendor!"
"So it's Lord Shenxiao. My apologies for the earlier disrespect."
The imperial court assembly was convened, and Yin Xiu and thirty-eight other Great Dragon Kings were appointed by Ji Che as principal officials of Great Zhou's Xuanwei Division, with ranks equivalent to First Rank Officials. All of them were assigned to the Eastern Sea, instantly establishing thirty-eight official institutions there.
When Ji Che granted them their official titles and they accepted, this act symbolized the integration of the Dragon Clan into Great Zhou's Fortune System.
On the same day, after bestowing titles upon Zhao Xing, Yin Xiu, and the others, Ji Che called for Zhao Xing to deliver some good news.
"Brother, since you subdued the Dragon Court, the Fortune of the Imperial Dynasty has surged significantly, and I've successfully broken through to the Dao-Establishing Realm." Ji Che beamed as he announced his achievement.
"Che, congratulations! The young Emperor Wu has finally grown up!" Zhao Xing couldn't help but smile.
"Hahaha! It's all thanks to you, big brother, my Daoist of the Central Extreme Palace." Ji Che laughed heartily, and Zhao Xing joined in his laughter.
The title Daoist of the Central Extreme Palace was an honorary title that Ji Che had established for Zhao Xing.
This palace was specially built within the imperial palace for Zhao Xing. Its name, "Central Extreme," signified a position of honor and prestige, while the title of Daoist was honorary.
The title was bestowed upon Zhao Xing as there was no other reward suitable for him. Titles of nobility and official positions had already been exhausted; thus, this honorary title was created as a symbolic gesture.
Zhao Xing, however, didn't mind these honorary rewards. What mattered to him were practical benefits.
With Ji Che now having entered the Dao-Establishing Realm, his cultivation progress in the Rule Realm could be greatly accelerated. "Che, boost my cultivation to the maximum," Zhao Xing said with anticipation.
"No problem!" Ji Che extended his hand, and soon, a long river of national fortune descended over the palace gardens. The vast Fortune of the Imperial Dynasty flowed with infinite mysteries, resembling a golden starry river hanging in the air.
As the river descended, it formed a cascading waterfall with Zhao Xing at its focal point.
"Ahhh!" Zhao Xing felt an invigorating sensation rush to the top of his head. The warmth coursing through his body caused his brows to relax. Within his Three Divinities Destiny Palace, his Three Souls rapidly grew stronger!
The Heaven Soul, Earth Soul, and Human Soul quickly advanced from the mid-stage of the Rule Realm to the late stage and then entered the peak of the Rule Realm.
"This feels amazing! The soul nourished by the heavens and the earth grows significantly, and only in the Xuanhuang World can one enjoy such cheat-like benefits," Zhao Xing remarked in satisfaction.
In addition to this, his physical body underwent rapid transformations.
From the early stage of the Rule Realm, to the mid-stage, then to the late stage, and finally to the peak of the Rule Realm—all within three days, Zhao Xing's Shenhua Golden Body had transformed to perfection!
"Amazing, amazing, amazing!" Zhao Xing's body continuously expanded in size, resembling someone ascending the waterfall against the current. Even Ji Che found the transformation a little overwhelming.
"Big brother, your Shenhua Golden Body was already more than a hundred meters tall at the early stage of the Rule Realm? That's something even warriors rarely achieve!" Ji Che exclaimed. "But at the peak of the Rule Realm, it's already eight hundred meters tall."
Even King Luohou, upon reaching the peak of the Rule Realm, only had a Dragon-Elephant Golden Body measuring two thousand five hundred meters.
As a Shennong, Zhao Xing's physical body naturally couldn't rival that of a martial artist. The Golden Body achieved through the path of spells was inherently weaker than that achieved through martial cultivation.
Generally speaking, in terms of physical strength, martial artists overwhelmingly surpassed practitioners of any other profession. Once in close combat, opponents of other professions would inevitably fall. However, the difficulty lay in martial artists getting close in the first place.
After seven days, the absorption process came to an end.
Reluctantly, Zhao Xing stepped away from the fortune waterfall.
"Big brother, you sure know how to absorb. You actually took seven days to finish!" Ji Che teased.
"My Shenhua Golden Body requires a little more," Zhao Xing replied. "Mainly because my Inner Heaven and Earth (Pure Essence Space) is larger than that of an average Shennong. The Inner Heaven and Earth of the Self School is abundant in spirituality, which in turn nourishes the body."
"Still, compared to martial artists, it's far inferior."
"Big brother, don't forget, you've also cultivated the Hou Transformation Method. Once you activate the Hou Transformation, you won't lose to martial artists anymore," Ji Che said. Zhao Xing didn't deny this and nodded with a smile. "That's true."
When he unleashed the Ultimate Ancestral Dragon Transformation in its perfected state, Zhao Xing's spell defense and martial defense would both reach a ridiculously high level.
Only those wielding ultimate perfected spells, perfected martial techniques, and perfected domains, combined with a top-tier Star Dao Weapon, could break through his defense.
The weapon couldn't be subpar either. Even with the conditions met, if the weapon was only mid-tier, it would merely scratch the surface of his Rule Realm defenses.
Of course, the Hou Transformation Method had its drawbacks. In the Ancestral Dragon Transformation state, Zhao Xing couldn't perform the Shennong Arts in his humanoid form.
Techniques like the Seasonal Qi Command and Pure Essence Soil would momentarily hide due to the transformation of his life structure. Gains always came with trade-offs. The Hou Transformation Method was useful in extreme environments, offering greater endurance.
Additionally, the Ultimate Ancestral Dragon Transformation granted Zhao Xing innate secret techniques, effectively giving him a new attack method. For instance, the move "Ancestral Dragon Opens the Heavens" was a soundwave-based secret technique rooted in the Dao of Grand Sound, capable of catching enemies off guard.
"Che, now that I've grown strong enough, and you've reached the Dao-Establishing Realm, I think it's time for us to consider making a trip to the Guixu Land," Zhao Xing suggested.
Ji Che was momentarily stunned. "Big brother, why so urgent? You've just returned. Why not rest for a bit?"
Zhao Xing shook his head. "This time, after killing the Purple Dragon God, it's unlikely that the Moon God of Witchcraft anticipated it. He'll likely need to reassess my strength."
"We need to act while the Moon God of Witchcraft is still off balance and take care of things."
Ji Che fell into thought. "You make a good point. But how do we reach the Guixu Land? After breaking through to the Dao-Establishing Realm, I've been able to sense all the experts within the Xuanhuang World."
"Yet I've never found the Guixu Guardian you mentioned."
"I've said before, the Guixu Land is unique. It's part of the Xuanhuang World but isn't strongly connected to its main body. It's isolated by the seas and the earth veins," Zhao Xing explained, pointing downward. "It's below us."
"Below? Beneath the earth veins?" Ji Che was puzzled. "How do we get there?"
"There are two ways to reach it," Zhao Xing said. "The first is through the Ends of the World. There are four of them: east, south, west, and north. These are the ends of the four seas, where the Four Pillar Mountains are located."
"But this path is dangerous and leaves us vulnerable to ambush by the Moon God of Witchcraft."
"What's the second method?" Ji Che asked.
"We take the Cloud Sea Airship docked at the Cloud Academy and drill down through the secret grounds of Xuanyuan Prefecture's Xuantian Academy," Zhao Xing explained.
"The Cloud Sea Airship? Xuantian Academy's secret grounds?" Ji Che frowned. "Shouldn't drilling through require the Earth-Boring Divine Vessel from Kunyuan Academy instead? I know the Cloud Sea Airship, and it's merely a lower-grade treasure. Kunyuan Academy, however, has a top-tier treasure, the Earth-Boring Divine Vessel."
"Fifth Brother, send one of your avatars with me, and you'll understand everything," Zhao Xing said. "Additionally, I'll need a powerful Shennong to accompany me."
"How strong?" Ji Che asked.
"At least at the Rule Stage," Zhao Xing explained. "This Shennong must also be from the Self School and must have a spirit of self-sacrifice."
Ji Che pondered for a moment before replying, "Currently, there are seven Shennongs from the Self School who are at the Rule Stage. But what exactly is so dangerous about this Guixu Land?"
Xuantian Academy, Cloud Court, Guze Cave-Heaven.
The headmasters of the academy's four divisions had gathered: Yun Ze, Headmaster of the Cloud Court; Lu Xia, Headmaster of the Wind Court; Wang Tianzhi, Headmaster of the Thunder Court; and Que Qing, Headmaster of the Rain Court. Alongside them were two vice-headmasters, both at the Rule Stage, Chen Yu and Xiao Yun.
In this group, seven Shennongs from the Self School at the Rule Stage stood silently, observing Meng Kun and Ji Youtang, both from the Earth School, as they excavated under Zhao Xing's guidance. A massive pit had been dug deep into the barren lands of Guze Cave-Heaven.
"What is the Grand Shennong doing? Why did he suddenly decide to dig here?" one of the onlookers murmured.
"No idea. Yun Ze, do you know anything about this?"
Yun Ze looked perplexed. "I was just informed as well. This specific area of Guze Cave-Heaven has no inherent value, so I have no idea what they're trying to accomplish."
"Why build a tunnel here?" Wang Tianzhi frowned, glancing at Qiu Yuanshan, who shrugged. "Don't look at me. I have no idea either."
"This is bizarre," Wang Tianzhi muttered. "Could there be some kind of treasure hidden here?"
The excavation continued, and after digging 80,000 meters deep, Meng Kun wielded the Shennong Hoe to dig another 3,000 meters downward.
"Your Majesty, Grand Shennong, we've found it!" Meng Kun exclaimed.
Standing near the edge of the massive pit, Zhao Xing and Ji Che's eyes lit up. They peered down into the depths, where the excavated soil had been cleared away, revealing a mysterious, ancient stone gate. Its surface bore faint cloud-like patterns, and its weathered carvings made it hard to discern the age or origin of the inscriptions.
"Yun Ze, bring the Cloud Sea Airship down here," Zhao Xing instructed.
"Yes, sir," Yun Ze replied. As the acting headmaster of the Cloud Court—after his elder brother Yun Duo's death in the war on the Western Continent—he had taken over the position.
With a faint hum, an ancient airship descended 80,000 meters into the pit, carrying a group of individuals to the subterranean gateway.
"There's a door here?" Yun Ze was taken aback. "How could I not know about this as the headmaster?"
"Meng Kun, Ji Youtang, guard this area," Zhao Xing ordered. "Everyone else, board the airship and come with me."
Zhao Xing broke open the stone gate, and the airship, carrying the seven Shennongs from the Self School, Zhao Xing as the Grand Shennong, and Ji Che's avatar, began its descent into the depths.
The Cloud Sea Airship steadily descended further into the strange passage. While its tunneling capabilities were basic and unimpressive, within this peculiar passageway, its speed inexplicably increased.
Even Yun Ze, normally calm, was stunned. "Its tunneling speed is surpassing even the Earth-Penetrating Divine Ship? How is that possible?"
The Shennongs from the Self School were equally astonished, whispering among themselves in amazement. Only Zhao Xing remained silent, lost in thought.
Finally, the airship emerged into the Guixu Land. The sky above was shrouded in gray mist, with countless massive rivers cascading through the chaotic fog. These rivers appeared to follow mysterious and profound laws, flowing as if forming pathways to unknown destinations.
As the airship glided along one of the river paths, it was eventually caught in an unseen force, navigating through layers of turbulent currents before coming to a gradual halt.
Ahead of them lay a small patch of land. The area was filled with a vibrant aura of spring, with a lush peach forest blooming in full. As the airship landed, fluffy white clouds floated across the sky, giving the location an isolated, dreamlike serenity.
"This is the Guixu Land?" the group muttered in awe.
"Yes, we've arrived," Zhao Xing confirmed with a nod. "This is indeed the Guixu Land."
Ji Che's avatar suddenly turned his gaze in a particular direction. "What is it? Did you notice something?"
"There's a strong spiritual energy here, and… someone is coming," Ji Che replied. Despite being an avatar, his Dao-Establishing Realm sensory abilities surpassed that of anyone else in the group.
Moments later, a veiled figure gracefully appeared before the airship—a presence that exuded mystery and elegance.
"Lady Lingdie," Zhao Xing stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Lord Zhao," Lingdie Fairy's voice carried a hint of surprise. "I didn't expect you to find this pathway."
"A fortunate discovery," Zhao Xing replied. "I humbly request Fairy Lingdie to guide us further."
Fairy Lingdie nodded. "Lord Zhao, the place you seek is just ahead. However, before I guide you inside, please choose your companions wisely. The Master does not wish for any disturbances within."
Zhao Xing gave a solemn nod. "Fairy, rest assured. Everyone here is prepared to face life and death without hesitation."
"Very well. Follow me," Fairy Lingdie said as she led the group through the peach forest.
After walking for over ten miles, they arrived at an ancient courtyard. The courtyard appeared peculiar, as though it were made entirely of water, with rippling waves encapsulating the entire structure.
At the threshold of the courtyard stood a middle-aged man dressed in a white Daoist robe. His presence radiated tranquility, and as his gaze fell upon Zhao Xing and Ji Che, he studied the rest of the group one by one.
Finally, the man bowed slightly from within the watery doorway. His voice carried an ancient tone, resonating through the translucent barrier. "Greetings, fellow Daoists."
The group returned the greeting respectfully. Ji Che's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he looked at the robed man. After bowing, he inquired, "Junior Ji Che greets Senior. May I ask for Senior's name?"
After a brief pause, the robed man's voice echoed through the watery veil. "I am Yun Tiandao, the Grand Shennong of the Xia Dynasty."