Chapter 3017: Escape

The voice of the Azure Flood Dragon Emperor echoed through Lingxu City—just a few sentences, and it would completely rewrite the political ecology of the entire Bekka.

Who could have predicted that its counterattack against the Heavenly Gods after death would be more than ten times fiercer than in life?

This final roar of fury not only avenged itself, laid bare the truth for all under heaven, and left the Heavenly Gods unable to deceive the people of Bekka any longer. Clearly, this last testament was not yet finished, but Lu Yongyan, without hesitation, reached out to pluck the Dragon God Crown from Wu Huan's head.

I cannot let it continue speaking!

Wu Huan flashed backward, furious: "What are you doing?!"

This is its coronation ritual as emperor—how dare the Envoy of All Clouds try to snatch its crown?

What does this mean? Is the Heavenly Palace trying to strip it of its newly crowned emperorship?

As Lu Yongyan's hand extended, he knew it was improper—seizing the crown before a hundred civil and military officials—but what better way was there now to control the situation?

He had weathered countless storms in his life, and the Heavenly Palace was the pinnacle of worldly power struggles, yet he had never faced such a crisis: before him, officials shifted from doubt to realization; behind him, he had to withstand the Heavenly Gods' earth-shaking wrath.

Do not forget—below the mountain, Lingxu City seethes.

What should he do? He urgently needs the Lingxu Holy Sovereign's guidance—what should he do?!

Wu Huan opened its mouth and spat a mouthful of dragon flame at Lu Yongyan, hot enough to melt gold and scorch iron. But it was still young—how could it withstand the Envoy of All Clouds? Lu Yongyan endured the blast and, taking advantage of the moment, shifted his target from the Dragon God Crown to Wu Huan itself.

Court upheaval is imminent; the only plan now is to first seize the young flood dragon in hand, so that all factions will dare not act rashly!

Only then can we slowly plot.

At this moment, Lu Yongyan also heard the Holy Sovereign of Lingxu's solemn voice in his ear:

"Seize Wu Huan!"

Instantly, more than ten blades of light shot forth from the Heavenly Palace ranks—precisely the hidden Heavenly Gods among the palace attendants acting out this command of the Lingxu Holy Sovereign, which was not given solely to Lu Yongyan.

But Lu Yongyan had not yet touched Wu Huan when the Dragon God Crown flashed faintly, and suddenly a barrier erupted from Wu Huan's body, violently rebounding Lu Yongyan's hand. Once placed upon Wu Huan's head, the Dragon God Crown had already recognized its master, and Lu Yongyan's attack activated its automatic defense.

Moreover, four or five beams of light flew from the Dragon God Crown, landing on the ground and instantly transforming into strange beasts: dragon-shaped, humanoid with avian wings, and tigers with silver spots and wings—all lunging at Lu Yongyan and the Heavenly Palace attendants.

Among them, the great dragon was silvery-gray, with some translucence in sunlight. As it lunged, its form and aura vanished instantly—but after two breaths, three or four Heavenly Palace attendants suddenly screamed and mysteriously melted into pools of blood.

Lu Yongyan drew a pale gold wax candle from his bosom; it ignited on its own in the wind, its flame an odd, deep yellow. He aimed at the flame and blew hard, then inhaled sharply!

Within a radius of over twenty zhang, it became a living fire barrier.

The blazing light finally revealed a twisted, translucent shadow.

It was that dragon!

If He Lingchuan were here, he would surely recognize it—this is the famed Shadow Dragon of ancient times.

In those days, the Shadow Dragon loved to devour its own kind, earning the title "Dragon Slayer," and was only slain by the Dragon God's own hand. Its dragon pearl was forged into the Great Expansion Heaven Pearl, and its remnant soul was sealed into the Reverse Scale, transformed into a guardian beast.

Not only the Shadow Dragon, but the other few demon beasts were likewise former subordinates defeated by the Dragon God. They have lain dormant in the crown until an enemy appears. Only those worthy of the Dragon God's personal intervention would be anything but ordinary monsters.

Though the Dragon God Crown is the Bekka Dragon Clan's ancestral treasure, the first three times it was taken out for use, the setting was solemn and safe—it needed only to serve as a ritual vessel, with no chance to demonstrate its protective power. Thus, aside from past demon emperors, no one knew its true efficacy. Until today, at this very moment, it has finally found its true purpose!

"Protect the Emperor!" As Lu Yongyan had just reached for Wu Huan, the Grand Preceptor of the Xia Palace was about to pull Wu Huan backward.

But she had not yet touched the Azure Flood Dragon when that Qiongqi turned and lunged at her.

This is the Dragon God Crown protecting its master.

"No, no, get away!" Wu Huan suddenly waved its hand.

The Dragon God Crown sensed its intent, and the Qiongqi flapped its wings, veered off mid-charge, and no longer rushed at the Xia Palace Preceptor.

A long staff stood between Lu Yongyan and the new emperor.

This upheaval today is truly earth-shattering—even the demon emperor's direct lineage is stunned.

The late emperor had kept them in the dark so thoroughly, not leaking a whisper beforehand!

But only this way could the Dragon God Crown's testament become the absolute killing blow against the Heavenly Demons.

And the gravest consequence is that the Xia Palace Preceptor and others are below the platform, while only Wu Huan and the Envoy of All Clouds are in close contact. If the Heavenly Gods and Lu Yongyan harbor murderous intent, the Azure Flood Dragon clan may face extinction.

Though the Dragon God Crown has defensive power, it is ultimately a dead object.

Even in ancient times, the Dragon Clan's reproduction was difficult—flood dragons valued their offspring far beyond ordinary people.

The late emperor would rather risk this immense danger than let the Heavenly Demons retain control over Bekka—truly, he would rather be jade shattered than tile whole!

As the Xia Palace Preceptor moved, spiritual light flickered around her, and the mighty ones of Lingxu City surged forward one after another.

Those present to witness the ceremony—each a shrewd individual. The late emperor's testament suddenly revealed means Lingxu City and the Heavenly Gods will immediately turn hostile; thus, their most urgent task now is to protect Wu Huan.

To preserve the late emperor's bloodline is to preserve the Bekka Demon Kingdom!

At this moment, centered on Lu Yongyan and Wu Huan, the light over the entire high platform suddenly dimmed.

Darkness fell like an impenetrable curtain, completely sealing off these dozens from the outside world.

Those inside cannot exit; outside reinforcements cannot enter.

This is precisely the Heavenly Demons behind Lu Yongyan acting.

Besides him, no one knows how many fully descended Heavenly Demons are present on today's Ascending Dragon Mountain. But the crowd behind him suddenly parted, revealing a face very familiar to Nie Xiaolou:

Helu Tian.

Indeed, a great Heavenly Demon lurks here!

However, Helu Tian's face is ashen, as if wounded.

Had it not been for the old demon emperor's battle in the Celestial Dome Palace, which dragged down two great Heavenly Demons, today's assault on the young flood dragon and Nie Xiaolou and others would be even fiercer! "Seize Wu Huan!"

Without Helu Tian needing to say more, the immortals and demons behind Lu Yongyan moved as one.

The Qiongqi and Shadow Dragon summoned by the Dragon God Crown were instantly struck down.

Seizing the opportunity, the Xia Palace Preceptor rushed forward two steps; her wooden staff suddenly shattered, turning into a sky full of tiny flying blossoms.

These are the most blazing summer starflowers, which, against the dark night sky, truly resemble a sky full of stars.

They merged with the darkness and dissolved, and daylight once again illuminated the high platform.

This technique of the Xia Palace Preceptor is specially designed to break barriers.

"Hurry and go!" she turned and shouted at Nie Xiaolou, then drew her long sword and advanced toward the immortals straight ahead.

Someone has to stay behind to buy the young lord a chance to survive.

Nie Xiaolou gritted his teeth, hugged the little flood dragon, and plunged into the ground in one breath.