Zi Yan gripped the Dragon Slayer Sword in her small but steady hands and brought it down in a single decisive stroke.
The sword light flashed across the air like the splitting of the heavens and the three Dragon Kings who had once stood at the very peak of the Taixu Ancient Dragon clan felt the severing of all resistance in that instant. Their heads separated from their necks with an almost ceremonial precision and rolled away across the cracked ground as if the world itself had declared their end. The echoes of that strike seemed to linger in the space between heaven and earth carrying the weight of an irreversible decree.
From this moment onward Zi Yan declared with a voice that cut through the stunned silence like a blade through silk that she would be the sole ruler of the Taixu Ancient Dragon clan. Her gaze swept over the kneeling figures below. Those eyes no longer held the mischievous gleam of a young girl. Instead they carried the imperious glow of a sovereign who understood the burden of the crown.
The sound of weapons striking the ground began softly at first like raindrops in the distance. One by one spears halberds and swords clattered upon the stone until the noise grew into a steady rhythm that filled the air. The warriors who had once followed the three kings stood with mixed expressions. Some held resignation in their eyes others shame and still others a reluctant awe. They had all seen the bloodline duel earlier. They had all felt the oppressive majesty of the purple gold dragon shadow that answered only to Zi Yan. That was the moment many of them had already surrendered in their hearts though fear of the three kings had sealed their tongues.
But now with the heads of those kings lying cold upon the ground there was no longer anything left to hide behind. Resistance had no meaning now. Across the island countless figures bent their knees their voices rising together like the crashing of waves upon a cliff.
"We welcome the new Dragon Emperor"
"Welcome the Dragon Emperor"
The chorus repeated over and over until the sound seemed to shake the very bones of the island.
Yet as the tide of voices reached its peak Hun Miesheng let out a soft almost amused laugh. His presence cut through the fervor like a shadow falling across sunlight. In that same instant three faint and flickering soul forms rose up from the decapitated dragon bodies. They darted upward in a desperate attempt to escape the fate that their flesh had already suffered.
With a casual wave of his palm chains woven from some unfathomable black essence shot through the air and wrapped around the fleeing souls. They writhed and struggled but the chains held fast drawing them into Hun Miesheng's grasp as though they had always belonged there. His voice carried no malice no warmth merely an indifferent statement as he tossed the bound souls toward Zi Yan.
"Deal with them yourself"
The three spectral forms trembled violently. Their voices rang out filled with panic and the hollow tone of those who had already tasted death once.
"Dragon Emperor spare us"
"We were blind and foolish and offended you we even fought you for the throne it was unforgivable"
"But for the sake of the years we have served the clan faithfully grant us our lives"
"Yes we swear absolute loyalty from now on no betrayal"
Zi Yan's fingers tightened on the hilt of the Dragon Slayer Sword. For the briefest moment her eyes flicked toward Hun Miesheng. He stood unmoving arms folded a figure entirely detached from the moral weight of the decision. The choice was hers alone.
She bit down gently on her lip the taste of iron reminding her of the blood that still stained her path to the throne.
The three kings' souls sensed her hesitation. That flicker of hope made them scramble to speak again to beg for the mercy they themselves had never shown.
The sword moved before they could finish their plea. A single flash of cold light split the air. Their screams were short lived as their spectral forms disintegrated into dust that scattered and vanished on the wind.
"The Taixu Ancient Dragon clan needs only one emperor" Zi Yan's voice carried a faint tremor but it was firm with finality.
Somewhere in the unseen depths a cold mechanical chime seemed to echo in Hun Miesheng's mind as if rewarding his role in shaping events. He nodded once and then his gaze shifted downward toward the still subdued forces of the three dragon islands.
His eyes hardened. Several loud bursts sounded almost simultaneously as more than ten bodies exploded into clouds of blood and fragments. Among them was a great commander of the North Dragon Island at the peak of the Dou Zun realm and an elder of South Dragon Island who had stepped into the first star of the Dou Sheng realm. Hun Miesheng had little need to explain. He had already read the measure of their loyalty and found it fatally lacking.
Even Xuan Mo the once feared general was among those who fell in that heartbeat without even the chance to cry out. Another cold chime marked the moment as the balance of power shifted further toward the new ruler.
Zi Yan's eyes flickered but she held her silence. When Hun Miesheng finally withdrew his oppressive aura a visible shudder ran through the gathered dragons. With the weight lifted they drew in deep breaths as if tasting air for the first time in hours. Respect and fear mingled in the looks they cast upon their new Dragon Emperor.
The exhaustion of the day settled upon Zi Yan like a physical weight. Her limbs longed to collapse yet she stood straight unwilling to let anyone see weakness.
Hun Miesheng suddenly raised his head and his voice cut into the moment. "You have been watching long enough. It is time to come down."
His figure blurred from sight.
Somewhere in the sky a hoarse voice hissed "Not good. We must go."
Before the words had even faded the space around them locked tight. A massive hand of pure force smashed downward shattering the pocket of concealed space. Dozens of figures spilled out like fish torn from water.
"Run"
Every one of them was powerful their auras no weaker than the Dou Zun level and one in gray robes radiated the unmistakable pressure of a Dou Sheng. In mid flight their forms twisted and elongated wings bursting from their backs as they became enormous sky demon phoenixes each one stretching over a hundred meters in length.
"They are from the Sky Demon Phoenix clan" The realization struck the surrounding dragons like a thunderclap. This was not merely a rogue squad but an elite force of the phoenixes hidden in their territory. The danger they posed was immense.
Zi Yan's voice rang clear and cold. "Do not let a single one escape"
Her order unleashed the full might of the gathered dragons. With nearly half the entire clan present the sky became a maelstrom of claws teeth and elemental fury. Screams rang out as phoenix after phoenix was seized or slain.
One among them Kun Huang felt terror coil cold and sharp in his chest. Had he known an eight star Dou Sheng was here he would never have dared set foot on the island. He turned to flee through the void itself.
"You will stay" Hun Miesheng's words were followed by the rattle of chains. The black links pierced Kun Huang's body locking away his battle qi in an instant. Before he could comprehend his capture he was thrown to the ground and a foot pressed hard against his chest stealing the air from his lungs.
"I am Kun Huang of the Sky Demon Phoenix clan. Spare me and I swear we meant no disrespect had we known you were here we would never have interfered" His voice quavered with desperate honesty.
"What was your purpose"
"To help the South King seize the throne of the Taixu Ancient Dragon clan"
"And the reward" Hun Miesheng's gaze was as sharp as any blade.
Kun Huang hesitated and pain lanced through him as the chains pulsed with a red light pulling at his very soul. He cried out "The South King promised to give us East Dragon Island in return"
Before the weight of his words could settle a violet gold sword light flashed. Zi Yan's strike cut through body and spirit alike ending him instantly. Her face held a quiet fury. Betrayal of the clan was the one sin no dragon could forgive.
The anger spread like wildfire among the gathered dragons. Whatever faint nostalgia they might have held for the three kings vanished completely.
Far in the distance a rising hum drew their attention. Figures approached from the sky their speed swift and their presence forceful.
"Is it another attack" someone whispered but Hun Miesheng only smiled faintly.
The lead figure's voice boomed out over the island. "North Dragon Island and South Dragon Island have been taken by East Dragon Island. All remaining forces will surrender immediately"
It was Elder Zhu Li returning from the mission Hun Miesheng had quietly assigned before this confrontation began. With the fall of the two other islands the entirety of the Taixu Ancient Dragon clan now rested firmly under Zi Yan's rule.
At last the chaos settled. The storm that had raged through the clan for so long had reached its end.
Hun Miesheng glanced sidelong at Zi Yan his tone lightly mocking. "Time to leave Dragon Emperor"
She stared at him in silence then a sudden laugh bubbled from her lips. Stepping forward she leaned into his chest letting the weight of her crown slip away for just a moment.
"In front of you I will always be that little girl who never grows up"
Hun Miesheng's smile turned sharp edged and wicked. "Do you know now how little girls become mothers"
Her face flushed crimson as she swatted at him in wordless protest.
(End of Chapter)
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