「Heavenly Being Realm Flood Dragon!」
Staring into the cold, piercing gaze of the colossal flood dragon before you, your soul felt like it was about to flee your body. Every hair on your skin stood on end, overwhelmed by the suffocating pressure that threatened to crush you completely.
The aura of this massive flood dragon was even more terrifying than that of the Blood-Robed Figure—undoubtedly, it was a Heavenly Being Realm Flood Dragon.
In the face of such a fearsome creature, you were nothing more than a mere snack. Even if you activated the Nine Steps to Treading the Heavens again, you wouldn't be able to scratch it.
Trapped between the Heavenly Being Flood Dragon ahead and the Blood-Robed Figure closing in from behind, you were caught in a deadly pincer attack, with no hope of survival.
For a split second, you couldn't help but suspect that the information your eldest brother Sun Shou from the imperial capital had given you was nothing more than a death sentence, luring you into the Ten Thousand Great Mountains to die.
But you still clearly remembered Liu Yue's words: Head south, go to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, and you will survive.
Which meant this couldn't possibly be a dead end.
Besides, if they'd really wanted to kill you, why go through the trouble of setting up three trials? A single palm strike would've been enough—no need for all this complexity.
You activated Supreme Mode in an instant. Your mind transcended mortal limits, entering a state of absolute calm. You locked eyes directly with the colossal flood dragon before you, a Life-Substituting Blood Escape Talisman clutched upside down in your right hand.
CRASH!
The massive flood dragon lurking beneath the river's surface moved toward you with seemingly slow, deliberate motions, yet each ripple of its scales stirred up towering waves and terrifying currents. Creatures of such innate power—these bizarre alien beings—were far stronger than human cultivators of the same realm.
But to your surprise, the colossal flood dragon didn't attack you. Instead, it drew near, its snout nuzzling your body as if sniffing to confirm something.
In your state of absolute calm, gazing up at the enormous creature mere inches away, you finally noticed a subtle clue.
A faint golden fragrance had begun to emanate from your body—exactly the scent of the incense you'd burned in the temple earlier...
It seemed this was some kind of special token of passage.
And at that moment, it finally clicked. The colossal flood dragon before you looked exactly like the one coiled around the waist of the statue in the mountain-top temple...
「No way. Could it really be the same flood dragon? What kind of Heavenly Being would have a flood dragon as an accessory around their waist... Wait a minute. Could it be Him?!」
Your eyes narrowed sharply. Countless clues flashed through your mind, instantly bringing to mind a legendary, fearsome figure from the Qianyuan Empire's history.
If it really was That Venerable One, then it was entirely possible that He would protect you.
In terms of sheer power, the combined strength of the entire Sun Clan couldn't hold a candle to That Venerable One.
After all, several decades ago, That Venerable One had been hailed as the Qianyuan Empire's number one God of War.
Lost in your shock, you didn't notice the danger creeping closer.
Before you knew it, the Blood-Robed Figure had also slipped into the river, his face twisted into a ferocious snarl as he lunged at you, countless blood arrows streaking toward you with the stench of death. 「Die, you bastard!」
ROAR!
The colossal flood dragon just inches away from you let out a thunderous roar of anger. In the next instant, you were swallowed whole by the surging waves, hurtling toward the distance at breakneck speed...
In the split second before the waves knocked you unconscious, you caught a glimpse of the Blood-Robed Figure being struck by the flood dragon's massive tail, sending him flying through the air in a spray of blood...
The Heavenly Being Flood Dragon had actually saved you at the critical moment.
「That's gotta hurt like hell.」
That was the last thought that crossed your mind before the waves slammed into you, knocking you into unconsciousness.
...
You slowly regained consciousness after what felt like an eternity, only to find yourself lying on the bank of a river, staring up at a valley that looked like a paradise on earth...
The spiritual energy here was incredibly dense. While it wasn't as overwhelming as in that mysterious secret realm in the Magic City ocean, it was several times richer than in the outside world.
「So... I'm saved? I'm safe now?!」 You clutched the reopened wound on your chest, your eyes darting around to survey your surroundings.
With the Heavenly Being Flood Dragon intercepting him, the Blood-Robed Figure should be unable to pursue you any further...
You were probably safe...
「Little bastard! Don't think you can get rid of me that easily!」 A voice like a lingering ghost suddenly rang out.
SPLASH!
The calm river surface erupted in a violent surge, and a mangled, evil figure burst forth—none other than the Blood-Robed Figure.
But his condition was absolutely dire. His entire left side was mangled and torn, as if a ferocious beast had taken a huge bite out of him.
Watching the Blood-Robed Figure still doggedly pursuing you despite his injuries, you were left completely speechless. 「Did I kill your entire family or something? Why are you chasing me this damn hard!」
「Still running your mouth even at death's door.」 The Blood-Robed Figure's face was dark with rage. He limped toward you, his mangled body swaying unsteadily with each step, waves of killing intent rolling off him.
「I'll tell you something.」
First, he'd been tricked by this little bastard, losing an arm and being scared off. Then, when he'd figured out the truth and come back, he'd been ambushed and mauled by that vicious flood dragon...
He was absolutely livid!
He couldn't beat that vicious flood dragon to vent his anger—but surely he could take down a measly Mountains and Rivers Realm cultivator like you?
「Little bastard, let me tell you something. The Sun Clan in the imperial capital has been branded as traitors, sentenced to extermination of the nine clans. And I'm the one tasked with hunting down every last one of the Sun Clan traitors.」
「Your Sun Clan ancestor was besieged by our forces, torn limb from limb in the end, and fed to spirit beasts.」
「Your precious eldest brother died by my hand. Before he breathed his last, he was begging me not to kill you. Hahaha!」
「It's all because of you, you little bastard! So many lives ruined, the entire imperial capital thrown into chaos...」
Listening to the Blood-Robed Figure's taunting words, even though you were still in the absolute calm of Supreme Mode, a storm of rage boiled up in your heart.
Learning of the Sun Clan's tragic fate, you wanted nothing more than to tear this bastard limb from limb. Even if you couldn't, you'd gladly die biting off a piece of his flesh...
But your body had already reached its limit. You couldn't even move a single finger.
「If those Sun Clan traitors hadn't hidden you away, you would've died eighteen years ago...」
The Blood-Robed Figure moved quickly, as if in a great hurry. He soon reached your side, a blood-red saber materializing in his hand out of nowhere. He raised it high above your head, preparing to bring it crashing down and end your life...
It was as if he was afraid of something.
「I've passed all three trials! Where's the one who's supposed to protect me?!」 You knew exactly what he was afraid of, and you shouted at the top of your lungs.
BOOM!
Just as the blood saber was about to strike, a swirling vortex of energy suddenly erupted from the far distance, slamming into the Blood-Robed Figure with devastating force and sending him flying through the air...
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The soft crunch of footsteps echoed from the valley behind you...
The one who was supposed to protect you had finally arrived!
You forced your body to move, twisting your head around to get a clear look at the newcomer...
But what greeted your eyes was a tall, imposing yellow dog with a white muzzle and white whiskers, standing as tall as a man?!!
「Young Master! Your old servant is here!」
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