Chapter 982

It was called a dragon, but it was not entirely a dragon.

It had a dragon's head, dragon's eyes, dragon's mouth, dragon's whiskers, and dragon's claws, yet its body resembled a human, clad in a dark green and black dragon robe, crowned with a golden jade imperial headdress, jade beads hanging in streams, seated upon the imperial throne in the high hall, radiating supreme authority and majestic dignity.

Mo Hua looked around and realized he was inside a grand hall.

The hall soared high, its walls carved with dragon figures, mist and clouds swirling.

On either side stood rows of "nobles" clad in splendid robes—civil ministers, military generals, and priests.

They had human faces, but parts of their bodies were "dragonized"—some bore dragon claws, others were covered in dragon scales, or trailed dragon whiskers.

All of them bowed their heads, hunched their chests, knelt prostrate on the ground, paying deep reverence to the half-dragon, half-emperor figure upon the throne.

The only one standing in the vast dragon hall was Mo Hua.

At this moment, Mo Hua stood beneath the hall, gazing up at the "Dragon Emperor" seated upon the throne above.

The Dragon Emperor, clad in a dragon-embroidered imperial robe, looked down upon Mo Hua with a deep, solemn voice:

"Having seen this Emperor, why do you not kneel?"

Kneel?

Must I kneel just for meeting you?

Mo Hua frowned, displeased, and retorted, "What are you? Why should I kneel to you?"

"Audacious!" the Dragon Emperor roared in anger.

This roar echoed through the dragon hall like a thunderclap, winds swirling with dragon roars, shaking the four directions.

All the ministers turned pale with alarm.

Yet beneath this turbulent spiritual pressure and overwhelming dragon aura, Mo Hua remained calm, unmoved.

The Dragon Emperor's gaze sharpened, studying Mo Hua deeply, then spoke slowly:

"You… are not of my Da Huang imperial lineage?"

Mo Hua shook his head, speaking plainly: "No."

"If you are not a child of the Da Huang imperial clan, how did you enter this Da Huang Long Dian?" the Dragon Emperor mused, then coldly asked, "Where did you obtain the Dragon Vein? And who guided you here?"

Mo Hua paused, startled, also puzzled.

The Dragon Vein was indeed in his possession.

But… guided?

Had someone guided him here, allowing him to enter this dragon hall and face this Dragon Emperor?

Who?

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

And if only one who held the Dragon Vein and was guided could open this dream dragon hall, then that meant…

Mo Hua pondered, then looked up and asked the Dragon Emperor, "Is this the Da Huang inheritance ground?"

"Correct," the Dragon Emperor replied solemnly.

As expected…

Mo Hua lifted his head and asked directly, "Will you pass the Da Huang inheritance to me?"

The Dragon Emperor, though not angry, radiated authority, icy intent swirling in its eyes.

At its side stepped a dragon general clad in dragon armor, with emerald eyes and vertical pupils, thick eyebrows and long whiskers, who raised his spear and pointed it at Mo Hua, rebuking:

"Ignorant child, how bold! Without Da Huang blood, how dare you covet the Da Huang imperial clan's inheritance? Do you even deserve it?"

Mo Hua snorted, "I'm speaking to your master. What are you? A mere guard—do you dare interject?"

The dragon general immediately flew into rage, "Audacious beast! How insolent! I shall kill you on the Emperor's behalf!"

It bowed to the Dragon Emperor, then its eyes blazed with murderous intent, gripping the spear with dragon claws, leaping down from the hall, transforming into a dragon, spear tip glittering with icy light, striking straight for Mo Hua's face.

This spear thrust carried immense power.

A phantom green dragon coiled around the spear shaft, complementing the towering, golden-armored dragon general, making him seem like a celestial being.

Mo Hua merely sneered, extended his palm, and lightly clenched it—capturing the spear's tip firmly in his hand.

The dragon shadow on the spear flickered, brimming with killing intent.

Mo Hua's palm, small and white, seemed to hold the power to command heaven and earth, effortlessly gripping the spear tip, rendering the dragon general powerless no matter how hard he strained.

The dragon general paled, channeling dragon power, attempting to change tactics.

But Mo Hua twisted his wrist, using overwhelming spiritual force to snap the spear in two, then stepped forward and kicked out with his small foot.

This seemingly light kick carried overwhelming force.

The dragon general was blasted like a cannonball, crashing into the dragon hall's wall, bones shattered, unconscious.

One twist, one kick—and the mighty dragon general was crippled by Mo Hua.

In the dragon hall, the ministers trembled, their expressions filled with panic.

They had suspected this brat, so audacious, must have some backing.

But they never imagined he was this formidable.

Even the Dragon Emperor's fiercest general was no match for him in a single blow.

Upon the throne, the dragon-headed, human-bodied Dragon Emperor, majestic and awe-inspiring, showed a flicker of surprise in its eyes.

So young, yet so fierce—if he could be won over, if he submitted to this Emperor, he would greatly strengthen Da Huang's might…

The Dragon Emperor's gaze grew thoughtful.

But Mo Hua also looked up at the Dragon Emperor and said, "If you won't give me the Da Huang inheritance, then let me go back."

He didn't want trouble, nor did he wish to make enemies with the Da Huang imperial clan.

The Da Huang imperial clan had a long history, guarded by karmic dragons, with countless hidden secrets behind it—better to avoid them if possible.

Besides, this was their first meeting—he didn't want to make things too tense.

That dragon general—if it hadn't been so arrogant and tried to kill him first, he wouldn't have kicked it flying either.

Even so, he had still held back.

Otherwise, with his current Core Formation divine sense and his body of pure-gold Dao incarnation, a little more force would have been enough to stomp that dragon general into fine powder.

Therefore, it was best for everyone to stand down.

The Dragon Emperor looked at Mo Hua, thought for a moment, then said slowly, "You don't want the inheritance of my Great Wasteland?"

Mo Hua was taken aback and asked, "Can you give it to me?"

The Dragon Emperor shook his head. "To receive the Great Wasteland's inheritance, one needs the bloodline of an orthodox Great Wasteland imperial heir. You don't have that bloodline."

Mo Hua frowned.

Since he didn't have the Great Wasteland's bloodline, why was it still talking nonsense?

"However," the Dragon Emperor continued at this moment, "the Great Wasteland's inheritance is not limited to the imperial line alone."

"The imperial clan has the imperial clan's inheritance."

"The nobility has the nobility's inheritance."

"Commoners also have commoners' inheritance…"

Mo Hua suddenly understood and nodded. "In other words, I count as a 'commoner,' and can learn the inheritance of Great Wasteland commoners?"

"Correct." The Dragon Emperor inclined his head.

The inheritance of Great Wasteland commoners…

Mo Hua mulled it over in his heart.

He didn't really care about imperial clan or common clan or anything like that.

The great Dao of heaven and earth, the myriad Daos and techniques—while their grades may be high or low, and people themselves distinguished as noble or humble—regardless of high or low, strong or weak, great or small, each is itself a part of the "great Dao."

Any technique that can be used, works well, and is practical will do.

There was no need to chase after things that merely looked "grand and lofty."

Besides, Mo Hua was rather curious what the inheritance of the Great Wasteland commoners actually contained…

While Mo Hua was lost in thought, the Dragon Emperor spoke again in a condescending tone:

"Your bloodline won't do, so the imperial heir's inheritance cannot be passed to you. But the common clan's inheritance, I can 'bestow' upon you."

Mo Hua nodded and said, "Then bestow it on me."

Though the word he used was "bestow," his tone carried a hint of command.

The Dragon Emperor suppressed his displeasure, his voice like a great bell, and commanded:

"Then kneel."

Mo Hua frowned. "Why do I have to kneel again?"

The Dragon Emperor said in a deep voice, "This is the ritual of the Great Wasteland's inheritance. Kneel, submit to the Great Wasteland, submit to the dragon lineage—only then can I bestow the inheritance upon you."

Mo Hua said disdainfully, "Then forget it, I don't want it."

In this life, one kneels to heaven, to earth, and to one's parents. Some mere Great Wasteland imperial clan—was it worthy of his kneeling?

The Great Wasteland's inheritance could go without.

The Dragon Emperor's gaze darkened. "You don't want it?"

Mo Hua nodded. "Mm, I don't want it anymore." Then he added, "Let me go back."

His time was precious; he needed to go back and continue studying formations.

If the Great Wasteland wouldn't give him this inheritance, then he'd figure it out himself and raise a dragon on his own.

But the Dragon Emperor fell silent, made no move, and after a moment shook his head:

"No. This inheritance, you must learn!"

Mo Hua sensed the atmosphere was wrong and looked warily. "What do you mean?"

The Dragon Emperor's eyes opened slightly, his aura suddenly changed, and he extended a blue-black dragon claw glinting with cold light, pointing at Mo Hua. With tremendous pressure, he commanded:

"Kneel!"

Mo Hua sneered, paying it no heed—but the next instant, his expression shifted slightly.

From the void, an awe-inspiring, irresistible force descended suddenly.

A powerful pressure bore down on him, and a strange power seeped into his knees, forcing him to kneel.

"This is—?!"

Mo Hua was startled.

He could feel a force akin to a law enveloping the Long Dian.

The Great Wasteland's dragon might and the majesty of imperial authority were eroding and seeping into his divine sense bit by bit, gradually giving rise to a desire to "submit," compelling him to kneel.

Mo Hua quickly understood the law of cause and effect at work here.

The moment one kneels, a sliver of servility takes root in the soul.

Once that servility enters the mind, it will slowly grow and strengthen, merging into the consciousness and becoming habit.

He himself would be enslaved step by step, ultimately becoming a "slave" of the Great Wasteland's imperial authority and dragon might, willingly submitting to its domination.

This force, using divine sense as its medium, was a higher-level "law" power.

Even Mo Hua, for a moment, felt it hard to resist; his knees went slightly weak, as if about to sink down bit by bit.

Mo Hua gave a cold laugh in his heart and immediately activated his Dao-incarnation origin to resist the erosion of this "dragon might."

At the same time, he calmed his mind and, through meditation in accordance with the Dao, suppressed the servility born of the imperial authority's pressure.

The surrounding pressure bore down like a mountain, yet Mo Hua stood unmoved.

The Dragon Emperor was greatly surprised at the sight, then a glint flashed in his dragon eyes, and his entire being radiated the supreme majesty of one who reigned above all.

He spoke slowly, each word like the tolling of a great bell.

Every character contained the majesty of the imperial clan, brimming with the power of bloodline.

"You crippled this Emperor's Dragon General. This Emperor, in his grace, will not blame you for it. He will even promote you, and make you a member of his Imperial Guard."

"This is a reward for you, a boon bestowed upon you."

"You should kneel, devoutly kowtow, and thank this Emperor for his great grace."

These words carried a strange, bewitching power.

But Mo Hua did not kneel. His gaze was cold.

A flicker of displeasure surfaced in the Dragon Emperor's eyes, and then he continued:

"This is this Emperor's boon, bestowed upon you."

"You should feel fortunate, feel honored. You should prostrate yourself fully, kneel upon the ground, and engrave upon your heart the vastness of the imperial grace."

"Only then will this Emperor grant you the inheritance of the Great Wasteland."

"You are of lowly birth. Your parents were both common folk. The bloodline inherited from your parents is truly base."

"Only by receiving this Emperor's boon can you cast off your origins, be reborn, and defy the heavens to change your fate…"

……

Mo Hua's face instantly chilled. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. He pointed at the Dragon Emperor's nose and cursed: "Old worm, I've given you too much face, haven't I?"

"What do you even count as? How dare you speak ill of my parents?"

The Dragon Emperor was stunned. His dragon face was filled with utter disbelief.

He occupied the imperial throne, received the worship of all subjects. For so long, no one, no being whatsoever, had ever dared, right before his face, to commit such a defiling act, to utter such treasonous words!

It was simply the greatest outrage under heaven!

By law, he deserved to be sliced into a thousand pieces, his entire clan exterminated!

The Dragon Emperor no longer possessed his former composure and majesty. His eyes blazed with fury, his whiskers bristled, his dragon scales stood on end.

But Mo Hua was equally furious.

"Old thing that can't take a face when one's given!"

He held back no longer. With all his might, he drove his Daoized divine sense. His entire body instantly erupted with an incomparably brilliant, blinding golden light.

This golden light was utterly pure. Vast divine resonance flowed within it, and the laws of Daoization were contained within.

The powerful dragon Qi was dissolved.

The majesty of imperial authority was obliterated.

Mo Hua broke free from the constraints of the Long Dian's laws. He circulated his divine sense, golden light blazing, looking like a little golden immortal.

He stepped forward.

In just one step, he crossed the towering staircase of the Long Dian and drew near the imperial throne above.

The Dragon Generals guarding nearby were enraged and surged forward to attack.

Mo Hua felled them with one punch each. Amid the surging golden light, he blasted all these Dragon Generals to death, crushing them into dust.

Mo Hua took another step and had already ascended onto the Dragon Emperor's throne.

He kicked over the Dragon Platform with one foot, then stretched out his small hand like an inescapable net and reached for the lofty Dragon Emperor.

"You beast! How dare you!"

The Dragon Emperor, who had been so noble and extraordinary moments before, now possessed not a trace of composure. He thrust out his dragon claws to tear at Mo Hua.

But in the next instant, his ferocious dragon claws were seized by Mo Hua's fair, tender little hand.

Mo Hua bent the dragon claws, one by one, snapping them all.

The Dragon Emperor, enraged, assumed his true dragon form and fought Mo Hua.

But the laws of the Long Dian could not restrain Mo Hua. The dragon Qi and imperial might had lost their hold on Mo Hua, whose body was forged by Daoized divine sense.

Relying solely on the power of divine sense, this half-dragon body of the Dragon Emperor was simply no match for Mo Hua.

In barely a dozen exchanges, the Dragon Emperor had his bones broken by Mo Hua and was pinned beneath his feet.

Mo Hua sat high above the Long Dian, astride the dragon throne, with the Great Wasteland's Dragon Emperor underfoot. He snorted coldly:

"Stinky worm, you said my bloodline was base? Now look—who's more base?"

The Dragon Emperor was consumed with shame and fury. "Shameless beast! You have desecrated my Great Wasteland Long Dian, defiled the majesty of my imperial clan! One day, you will suffer the Karmic Dragon's retribution, fall into the boundless Purgatory, endure endless suffering, and never find release for all eternity!"

These venomous curses, Mo Hua usually let in one ear and out the other.

Anyone who could truly kill him would have already struck.

Those who couldn't kill him were the ones who spat such venomous words—helpless, raging.

But this time, facing the Great Wasteland's dragon clan, Mo Hua couldn't help feeling a twinge of unease.

Suffer the "Karmic Dragon's retribution"?

Did such a thing really exist?

Did this mean that if he killed this Dragon Emperor, he would incur karmic consequences and be retaliated against by the Great Wasteland's Karmic Dragon?

Mo Hua's eyes once again gleamed with golden light as he examined this so-called "Dragon Emperor" of the Great Wasteland.

This Dragon Emperor was half-human, half-dragon.

His body was human, but his head was a dragon's head, his hands and feet were dragon claws, and his skin bore dragon scales.

In appearance, he was indeed half human, half dragon.

And his divine soul, under Mo Hua's divine sense scrutiny, was also half human, half dragon.

The human half, Mo Hua estimated, should be the soul of some imperial clan member of the Great Wasteland—possibly even some "Emperor."

The dragon half, however, was a genuine "Dragon Soul."

In other words, he was a divine-sense construct, a hybrid of "human soul" mingled with "dragon soul."

So if he killed it, there would likely truly be a "dragon's" karmic retribution…

Moreover, Mo Hua did not know what status this "Dragon Emperor" held in the Great Wilderness.

It's so weak—it should have low status…

But if behind it, there were other ancient Dragon Emperors, primordial Dragon Emperors, primordial-ancient Dragon Emperors, and such Laozu…

Would killing the "little" one drag out the "old" ones, leading to endless ancestral revenge, always harassing him?

This Dragon Emperor might not be that strong. But other, older beings? They might be another matter entirely.

After the battle with the Lone Mountain Evil Embryo, Mo Hua had become much more humble.

His divine sense was strong, but that didn't mean he could truly rampage unchecked with no rivals.

"What if… we let this Dragon Emperor go?"

Mo Hua pondered inwardly.

Although he had killed its Dragon General, kicked its Dragon Platform, ridden its Dragon Throne, and crushed it beneath his feet.

But ultimately, it was the one who struck first.

It was the one who forced him to kneel.

Could they perhaps just smile, forget past grievances…?

As Mo Hua thought, his expression grew hesitant, his feet slowing.

The Dragon Emperor sensed his hesitation.

Knowing Mo Hua was "afraid," the Dragon Emperor sneered:

"Ignorant brat, you have no idea what grave crime you've committed."

"Best you cease now, kneel down, and bow your head to this Emperor, swear to be my slave or servant—then perhaps I may show mercy and spare your life. Otherwise, in time, you shall suffer supreme karmic retribution, your soul scattered to nothingness!"

Mo Hua's face darkened again.

He always resisted force, never yielded to pressure.

If this old serpent had spoken politely, he might have been in a good mood and let it go.

But what is this now?

Threatening me? Intimidating me? Trying to kill me?

Living in imperial luxury, spoiled rotten, you have no concept of life and death?

Mo Hua smiled lightly. "Descendant of the Great Wilderness's imperial line? Today, I'll teach you what it means to be born in hardship, and 'die' in comfort."

The Dragon Emperor trembled, enraged: "How dare you?!"

But before it could speak further, Mo Hua reached out and snapped its neck.

Then his right hand condensed, manifesting a strange divine-sense short sword, streaked with a thread of starry black.

This sword was imbued with the Heavenly Demon Path of Severing Emotion.

Mo Hua had now reached Golden Core in divine sense; his understanding of divine-sense sword formation had risen another level—he could now independently channel the laws of the Heavenly Demon Severing Emotion into his divine-sense sword.

Thus, this "divine-sense sword" was, in essence, a "Heavenly Demon Sword."

Mo Hua used the Heavenly Demon Sword to sever the Dragon Emperor's divine sense into its "human soul" and "dragon soul" portions.

Back at the Lone Mountain Divine Temple, he had done the same to the Evil Embryo and Huang Shanjun.

Now, with stronger divine sense and a sharper divine-sense sword, slicing apart a Great Wilderness Dragon Emperor weaker than the Evil Embryo was effortless.

A flash of golden-black sword light.

The Dragon Emperor split in two.

"Wretched beast, what have you done?! You…" The Shi Renxing Dragon Emperor, furious, looked utterly incredulous.

Mo Hua had no patience for his babbling—he pinched his small fingers shut and crushed it dead.

What remained was the pure "dragon soul."

A faint azure, dignified yet defiant, dragon soul lay clasped in Mo Hua's hand.

Looking at this pure dragon soul, a thought naturally arose in Mo Hua's mind:

"Can this dragon… be eaten?"

The moment this thought surfaced, it spread like wildfire, instantly seizing all of Mo Hua's mind.

The dragon soul was pure, brimming with dragon power, and pulsed with a radically different, potent mental force.

Mo Hua's mouth began to drool.

He held back, but ultimately couldn't resist—he opened his mouth and, "Mmmph!" swallowed the entire dragon soul whole.

(End of Chapter)