Chapter 347

At the moment he stepped into the giant gate, Qin Yang felt his vision suddenly swallowed by endless darkness.

Translation: At the moment he stepped into the giant gate, Qin Yang felt his vision suddenly swallowed by endless darkness.

At the moment he entered the giant gate, Qin Yang sensed his sight abruptly engulfed by endless darkness.

It felt like plunging into the abyss of chaos, as the ancient bronze giant gate slammed shut with a thunderous roar, like the bellow of a primeval beast.

Translation: It felt like plunging into the abyss of chaos, as the ancient bronze giant gate's closing roar echoed in his ears, like the howl of a primeval beast.

Note: The line ends without a period? We'll keep as is.

Thick fog surged from all directions, carrying a bone‑chilling cold and a faint scent of dragon saliva.

Translation: Thick mist surged from all directions, carrying a bone‑chilling chill and a faint scent of dragon saliva.

He instinctively gripped his Changdao, his eyes sharp as he scanned the surroundings.

Translation: Instinctively he gripped his Changdao tightly, his eyes sharp as he looked around.

We must use Changdao for Changdao.

Before he could even take in his surroundings, the earth shuddered violently.

Translation: Before he could make out his surroundings, the earth shuddered with a tremendous boom.

A deafening roar like collapsing mountains echoed from afar, as a blazing white light burst from the mist, its scales gleaming like blades; when its wings unfurled they seemed to blanket the entire sky.

Translation: From afar came a thunderous roar like collapsing mountains, and a blazing white light burst from the mist, its scales gleaming like blades, its wings spreading wide enough to seem to cover the entire sky.

The Responding Dragon—pressure of the ancient divine beast came like a tangible wave; Qin Yang's breath caught, as if millions of jin of stone pressed upon his chest.

Translation: The Yinglong—pressure of the ancient divine beast came like a tangible wave; Qin Yang's breath caught, as if millions of jin of stone pressed upon his chest.

We need to decide whether to keep the name 'Yinglong' unchanged or translate it to 'Responding Dragon' according to the rule that cultivation terms must be translated by meaning, not romanized. Since 'Yinglong' means 'Responding Dragon' and is not a standard term like Qi or Dao, we should translate it. The glossary does not include it, so we follow the rule and translate it as 'Responding Dragon'. Later lines that mention Yinglong should therefore be rendered as 'Responding Dragon'. For example, line 7 would read: 'The Responding Dragon—pressure of the ancient divine beast came like a tangible wave; Qin Yang's breath caught, as if millions of jin of stone pressed upon his chest.'

But we need to keep the dash? We'll keep punctuation similar.

Its dragon head loomed like a mountain peak, horns coiled with purple lightning, eyes like two blazing indigo suns, scorching his skin with pain.

Translation: Its dragon head towered like a mountain peak, horns entwined with purple lightning, eyes like two wheels of azure blazing sun, scorching his skin with a stinging pain.

Before he could react, the dragon's claw came crashing down with world‑destroying force.

Translation: Before he could react, the dragon's claw descended with world‑destroying force!

"Dodge."

Translation: "Dodge."

A flash of lightning crossed his mind, his form instantly turning into a stream of light that grazed the dragon's claw, slipping past its razor‑sharp teeth at the critical moment.

Translation: A flash of lightning crossed his mind, his form suddenly turning into a stream of light, skimming past the claw's blade‑like teeth at the critical moment.

The dragon's breath grazed his shoulder, instantly scorching his robe and coating his skin with a layer of white frost, the pain like a knife cut.

Translation: The dragon's breath grazed his shoulder, his robes instantly scorched, a layer of white frost forming on his skin, the sting like a knife cut.

He staggered in the void, stabilizing his stance, and finally got a clear look at the Responding Dragon's true form.

Translation: He staggered, stabilizing his form in the void, and then he could see the Responding Dragon's true appearance.

Its body coiled for hundreds of zhang, scales gleaming with cold divinity, each feather on its wings shimmering with metallic luster; as its tail swept, the surrounding bronze pillars were sheared clean through, stone fragments falling like a meteor shower.

Translation: Its body coiled for hundreds of zhang, its scales gleaming with a cold, divine sheen; each feather on its wings flowed with metallic luster, and as its tail swept, the surrounding bronze stone pillars were cleanly sheared off, rubble falling like a meteor shower.

"You actually defeated that female drought demon girl and made it to my second trial?"

Translation: "You actually defeated that Nüba girl and made it to my second gate?"

The Responding Dragon's voice thundered like heavenly lightning, shaking the entire space with a resonant hum.

Translation: The Responding Dragon's voice exploded like nine‑heavens thunder, shaking the whole space with a humming vibration.

Its massive head lowered slightly, its gaze upon Qin Yang tinged with three parts contempt.

Translation: His massive dragon head lowered slightly, his gaze upon Qin Yang carrying a hint of mockery.

"After a thousand years of solitude, an ant dares to knock on my dragon court—how interesting."

Translation: "After a thousand years of solitude, an ant dares to knock on my dragon court—how interesting."

Qin Yang wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, the veins in his sword‑hand bulging.

Translation: Qin Yang wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, the veins in his sword‑hand bulging.

The Changdao hummed incessantly in his palm, its blade covered in Dao markings that flared with intensifying chill as his fighting spirit awakened.

Translation: The Changdao hummed incessantly in his palm, its blade covered in Dao patterns; as his fighting spirit awakened, it burst forth with an ever‑more piercing chill.

His earth‑immortal body trembled under the divine beast's pressure, yet his spine remained straight as a pine, steadfast as a mountain.

Translation: Though his earth‑immortal body trembled under the divine beast's pressure, his spine remained ramrod straight, like a pine, like a mountain.

"Battle!"

Translation: "Battle!"

He bellowed, his voice ripping through the heavens.

Translation: He let out a furious roar, his voice ripping the heavens.

His surging battle intent erupted from him, condensing into tangible substance like beacon smoke shooting skyward.

Translation: Towering battle intent surged from him, condensing into substance, like beacon smoke shooting to the sky.

He pointed his blade at the heavens, the cold light reflecting the resolve in his eyes; even though his foe was an ancient divine beast, he would overcome it today and trample it underfoot.

Translation: He pointed his blade at the heavens, the cold light reflecting the resolve in his eyes; even if the foe was an ancient divine beast, today he would break through and trample it underfoot.

The Responding Dragon laughed loudly, its voice shaking the nine heavens.

Translation: The Responding Dragon laughed loudly, its voice shaking the nine heavens.

A single shake of its wings caused the entire space to collapse instantly, shards of stone pouring down like a meteor shower.

Translation: A shake of its wings, and the whole space collapsed instantly, debris pouring down like a meteor shower.

He dove downward, the dragon's claw tearing open the void, as if seeking to return heaven and earth to chaos.

Translation: It dove downward, its claws tearing the void, as if seeking to return heaven and earth to chaos.

Qin Yang did not retreat but advanced, his form flickering like a phantom through the storm.

Translation: Qin Yang did not retreat but advanced, his form flickering like a ghost through the storm.

His Changdao suddenly burst forth a golden blade aura, the boundless energy condensing into chains that forcibly wrapped around the dragon's claw.

Translation: The Changdao in his hand suddenly shot forth a golden blade‑light, the boundless light condensing into a chain that forcibly wrapped around the dragon's claw.

"Trivial tricks!"

Translation: "Mere insect tricks!"

The Responding Dragon roared furiously, a shake of its claw shattering the blade aura instantly.

Translation: The Responding Dragon roared madly, its claw trembling, and the blade‑light shattered instantly.

But Qin Yang had already seized the opportunity to close in, thrusting his blade straight into the dragon's belly scales.

Translation: But Qin Yang had already seized the opportunity to close in, his blade tip thrust straight into the dragon's abdominal scales.

A white mark remained on the scale.

Translation: A white mark remained on the scale.

Though shallow, it seemed to etch a profane mark upon the immortal body of the eternal divine beast.

Translation: Though shallow, it seemed to carve a profane mark upon the immortal body of the eternal divine beast.

"An ant dares to wound me?"

Translation: "An ant harms me?"

The Responding Dragon flew into a rage, sweeping its tail to whip up a heaven‑burning hurricane.

Translation: The Responding Dragon flew into a rage, its tail sweeping up, whipping up a heaven‑burning hurricane.

Sparks mixed in the gale ignited the void, instantly scorching Qin Yang's clothes and searing his skin with blotchy blood marks.

Translation: Sparks mixed in the hurricane actually burned the void to a crisp; Qin Yang's clothes instantly charred, his skin scorched into mottled blood marks.

Amid the excruciating pain, he spotted a sliver of opportunity in the heart of the storm.

Translation: Amid the excruciating pain, he nonetheless spotted a sliver of opportunity in the storm's core.

Deep within the Responding Dragon's left wing scales, the dark patterns flowed sluggishly, as if a sealing force was eroding a fissure.

Translation: Deep within the Responding Dragon's left wing scales, the dark patterns flowed slightly sluggish, as if a sealing power was eroding a fissure.

That fissure was as fine as a spiderweb, undetectable without focused scrutiny.

Translation: That fissure was as fine as a spiderweb; without focused attention, it could not be detected at all.

His blood and qi circulated, his magical power growing ever stronger.

Translation: His blood and qi circulated, his magic growing ever stronger.

His Changdao instantly surged, extending hundreds of zhang of golden light that shot forward like lightning toward those dark markings.

Translation: The Changdao instantly swelled to hundreds of zhang of golden light, the light speeding like electricity toward those dark patterns.

The Responding Dragon howled, divine fire erupting from its body in an attempt to intercept the golden blade light.

Translation: The Responding Dragon howled madly, divine fire erupting from its whole body, trying to intercept the golden blade‑light.

But Qin Yang seized the moment, sacrificing everything to suppress the divine fire, actually preventing it from erupting.

Translation: But Qin Yang seized the moment, sparing no cost to suppress the divine fire, actually preventing it from erupting.

"Roar!"

Translation: "Ao!"

The dragon's roar shook the heavens, the Responding Dragon's massive body trembling violently.

Translation: The dragon's roar shook the heavens, the Responding Dragon's massive body shuddering violently.

Divine fire gushed from the wound, incinerating half the space as the massive pillars collapsed one after another.

Translation: Divine fire spewed from the wound, incinerating half the space, the great pillars collapsing one after another.

Qin Yang was blown back by the aftershock, smashing several pillars before crashing hard to the ground, a sweet‑tangy taste in his throat, yet he laughed to the sky: 'What does it matter if it's the Responding Dragon? It's still been defeated by me.'

Translation: Qin Yang was blown back by the residual force, smashing several pillars before crashing heavily to the ground, a sweet‑tangy taste in his throat, yet he threw his head back and laughed: "What of the Responding Dragon? Still defeated by me."

The mist dissipated, the Responding Dragon's body fading into green smoke, leaving only an echoing sigh.

Translation: The mist cleared, the Responding Dragon's body gradually turned into green smoke, only a sigh echoing.

"Kid, interesting—I'll be waiting for you in the immortal realm; later we'll have another battle, when my true form will face you."

Translation: "Kid, interesting; I await you in the immortal realm, and later we will have another battle—when the time comes, my true form will face you."

Qin Yang shivered.

Translation: Qin Yang shivered from the cold.

Only a fool would want to clash with the Responding Dragon's true form.

Translation: Only a fool would want to fight the Responding Dragon's true body.

That was a general under the Yellow Emperor, at least a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Translation: That was a great general under the Yellow Emperor, at least a Golden Immortal of the Great Luo.

Who knows how strong he is after surviving to this day?

Translation: Having survived to this day, who knows how strong he is.

I will not meet him before I have achieved Great Luo status.

Translation: Before I achieve Great Luo myself, I will absolutely not meet him.

Thinking this, Qin Yang began to sit cross‑legged there, adjusting his condition.

Translation: Xiǎng dào zhèlǐ, Qin Yang began to sit cross‑legged there, he needed to adjust his state.

According to the female drought demon, there are three trials in total, and the third will surely be guarded by someone even stronger.

Translation: According to Nüba's words, there are three gates in total; the third gate surely has a stronger guardian.

In the distance, the illusory shadow of the third trial's giant gate appeared, darkness seeping from its cracks thicker than here, as if an abyss devouring all light.

Translation: In the distance, the illusory giant gate of the third gate appeared, darkness seeping from its crack thicker than here, as if an abyss devouring all light.

Qin Yang drew a deep breath, gripping the Changdao, the blade humming incessantly, as if urging him forward.

He gazed at that door, battle intent reigniting in his eyes; no matter Shi Shei ahead, he would break through the final gate and bring forth Chiyou's true form.

He entered the third gate.

This place was not as he imagined.

He had thought the environment would be harsh, but Jiéguǒ was completely otherwise.

This place had a beautiful environment.

A small bridge over flowing water, teeming with life.

This place was clearly a small world brimming with vitality.

If he hadn't known this was a great tomb, Qin Yang even felt he might have arrived in the immortal realm.

Before him, a figure sat cross-legged in the void.

He wore imperial robes, radiating overwhelming majesty.

Waiting for that person to turn, it was a handsome face that made heaven and earth lose color.

Huang Di

Qin Yang felt these two words arise in his mind.

His scalp felt numb.

How could he still fight?

Fighting Nüba and Yinglong, even if his strength was inferior, he dared to Dòngshǒu.

But this person before him was none other than the legendary Huang Di.

Even if the opponent had no mana at all, he still dared not Dòngshǒu.

It wasn't fear, merely respect for his ancestors.

Seeing Qin Yang staring blankly at himself.

Huang Di smiled slightly, and casually pointed.

A pavilion appeared, along with fine wine and delicacies.

"I never expected that the one who came to unseal Chiyou's true form would actually be my descendant."

Huang Di spoke, his voice carrying a hint of a smile.

Qin Yang clasped his hands, performing a solemn salute: "Junior Qin Yang of later generations, pays respects to ancestor Huang Di."

"Please sit."

Huang Di pointed to the chair in the pavilion.

Qin Yang was not polite, directly sat down.

He casually picked an immortal peach, took a bite; the massive immortal spirit energy instantly surged into his limbs, actually replenishing all the strength he had just expended.

Even Qin Yang's Jìngjiè had some improvement.

This left Qin Yang stunned,

Is this real?

Moreover, it is extremely precious, definitely not an ordinary immortal grade.

"It's nothing special, just a flat peach, no need to be surprised."

Huang Di said with a light laugh.

Qin Yang could not sit still.

This actually is the legendary flat peach.