“Elder, up ahead is the Luo clan’s base.”
Whoosh~
A dozen people streaked across the clear sky and landed, led by a muscled man in his thirties. He pointed toward the prismatic glow.
“We received word from Gambling Town that the clan refining a sword using dragon scales is located just ahead.”
The old man beside him stiffened. “That’s…”
“What is that?”
Another red-haired elder frowned. “In all my thirty-two millennia, I’ve never seen a phenomenon like this anywhere in the Sacred Domain. Everyone knows that anyone who forges a weapon using our race’s scales incurs our wrath. Yet this clan brazenly parades their dragon sword without fear. Do they have someone backing them?”
“Yeah.”
Another elder with jet-black hair stepped forward, eyes gleaming. “Something isn’t right. The Luo clan looks insignificant, yet they do outrageous things. Their territory is also covered by some strange phenomenon. Stay cautious.”
The others nodded.
The muscled man scoffed and cupped his fists.
“Elders Bai Long, Chi Long, Hei Long, you’re overthinking it. Isn’t that just a rainbow? I heard they’re under the protection of Demonic Emperor Zhao Chen. How is that a reliable backing? Even if the Seven Sacred Mountains supported them, would those old fossils dare meddle in our affairs?”
“We do not fear even three of the Sacred Mountains moving together. As for all seven…”
Bai Long hesitated.
“Better to err on the side of caution. Humans are treacherous and cunning. What if the Seven Sacred Mountains are intentionally provoking us into starting another war? Remember their tricks from half a million years ago regarding the Fountain of Youth. Their taunts caused us heavy losses when we withdrew from that blessed land. They only backed off because they thought we’d drag them down with us.”
“For that same reason, we must be extremely wary of this clan suddenly provoking us. Don’t forget.”
The others nodded solemnly.
The muscled man brightened and bowed.
“Shall I test them? If they have an expert hidden among them, we’ll reconsider. Otherwise, I alone am enough to wipe them out. Even among the Eight Emperors, I fear no one—what more this tiny clan? A dragon’s pride cannot be trampled. These humans dare look down on us.”
The three elders nodded.
The muscled man shot forward—but before he got close, a thunderous boom erupted, stunning him.
A draconic cry echoed as a prismatic dragon ascended into the sky, releasing a golden aura. The dragon split into five, each a different color. They circled high above, releasing black energy that formed a hole in space. As the golden auras gathered, the dragons intertwined their heads and tails, shaping a frame—a giant black mirror.
This was Zhuo Fan’s Imperial Mark: the Heaven Devouring Wraith Mirror.
The black mirror descended into Zhuo Fan’s room and vanished. The prismatic lights disappeared with it.
Everyone else opened their eyes, looking to the now-clear sky with disappointment.
(Why did it go away? Couldn’t it have lasted a bit longer? We barely enjoyed it.)
Yet when they checked their cultivation, their sorrow instantly turned into shock and elation. Everyone had advanced tremendously.
Danqing Shen, Murong Lie, and the other elders had all reached peak Emperor. The Eight Emperors were nothing to them now.
As inheritors of the Sword Sovereign and having undergone the baptism of Zhuo Fan’s four Sovereign paths, their foundations surpassed even the elites of the Sacred Mountains.
“For heaven’s sake! I told you it was just a rainbow!”
The muscled man steadied himself.
“That was a human forming his Imperial Mark. Why did he have a dragon soul? Damn it, the brat stole our dragon power to form his soul! How did he do it under our watch?”
Unable to understand, rage consumed him and he shot toward the city.
(A mere human not only stole our dragon power but even used our scale as a weapon. They must all die!)
His berserk aura startled the newly advanced Danqing Shen and the others. They immediately spotted him rushing toward the city.
“Puny Luo clan! You have some nerve! I will obliterate you!”
Peak Emperor power surged, flooding the entire area with killing intent.
Two days ago, the Luo clan would have been in trouble. But now?
Every Spirit King and Venerable in the clan had become peak Emperors.
An Emperor attacking them was now… totally insignificant.
“Who’s this guy? Got guts.”
Danqing Shen whispered.
Murong Lie grinned with blazing battle intent.
“A perfect test subject! Let’s use him to polish our new Emperor-level strength.”
“Agreed!”
Everyone nodded eagerly—even Baili Yulei was fired up.
“But form a line first! No cutting!”
“As usual!”
Murong Lie chuckled at Li Jingtian.
“Luo clan’s original Venerables go first, then us. Hahaha!”
“Gladly, hahaha…”
Li Jingtian cupped his fists and launched himself toward the city border.
“I’m your opponent!”
The muscled man sneered.
“Peak Emperor. Fine. I didn’t expect a puny clan to have one. Too bad you’re human—dragons are dozens of times stronger than you.”
“You’re a dragon?”
Li Jingtian gasped—then his excitement skyrocketed.
“Fantastic! Now I can really go all out!”
“…Come again?”
“They say dragons have the strongest bodies. I’m a body cultivator too. Let’s dance!”
Li Jingtian roared and threw a punch wreathed in black energy.
BAM!
The shockwave distorted space itself. His punch landed on the dragon’s palm, sending violent winds howling. Li Jingtian’s body trembled under the force.
The muscled man smirked.
“I didn’t expect a human to temper his body this far. But too bad—you’re still human. No amount of training can make you compete with a dragon!”
Boom!
With a shake of his arm, he blasted Li Jingtian back several steps.
Li Jingtian’s eyes widened with exhilaration.
(Dragons are terrifying!)
“Old Li! Use your Imperial Mark!”
Qiu Yanhai shouted.
“You’re not a beast! Don’t fight one with pure body strength! Humans have martial arts—use them!”
The muscled man mocked,
“Your friend is wise. Humans can’t beat dragons physically. That’s why you pride yourselves on your Imperial Marks. Die before even using it? I’d cry for you. Your people below are counting on you!”
(What do you know? They’re telling me to hurry up so THEY can get their turns! Especially the Sword Kings. Once they arrive, even a dragon like you is done for. You’re nothing here—everyone in this clan is a monster.)
Li Jingtian took a long breath and activated his newly formed Imperial Mark.
He had come to test himself.
But the dragon was actually waiting for him to go all out?
(You’re clueless, aren’t you? This is the Luo clan—home of devils. Once I’m done, they’ll chew you up one by one…)
[Waduh, ini bab komedinya pecah sih. Kota baru bangun dari “event buff massal” langsung kedatangan naga ngamuk yang salah timing total. Para tetua Luo clan? Bukannya takut, malah ngantri kayak nunggu giliran sparring di gym 😭🔥]