Chapter 272: with translation of chapter title

Ao Yuan

Facing the Baojing Daoist charging straight at him, Ao Yuan merely gave a contemptuous smile, his dragon body twisted, and instantly rushed toward the seabed of the alley.

Seeing the Baojing Daoist pay no heed, the Qizi Daoist and the Jinpen Daoist tightly followed the White Dragon down to the seabed, and they couldn't help but feel hesitant.

The Sword Wielder Daoist is in poor condition; if they follow, should an external enemy attack now, they would likely suffer more losses than gains.

But if they do not follow down, given the Baojing Daoist's present state, they would likely end up with more losses than gains, after all the seabed holds many mysteries, and the unfamiliar are sure to be restricted.

Sword Guardian

The Qizi Daoist inquired, and the Jinpen Daoist pondered, then spoke:

"Your Dharma treasure cannot be unleashed in the seabed, and the Sword Chief needs someone to guard him; you had better wait on the sea surface, just in case."

"That wicked beast is likewise in poor condition; I think with me and Xundaozi going together, at least our lives will be safe, which counts as a prudent plan."

The Qizi Daoist nodded; that counts as the words of an elder, at least entailing little risk.

But just as the Jinpen Daoist was about to set out, the one they called the Sword Guardian spoke up:

"You all should go together; otherwise that wicked beast will likely flee, for the dragon clan's physical form is mighty, and two people alone cannot stop him."

"As for me, I should be fine; that wicked beast will not turn back, in the sea there is still a chance to escape, but turning back means only death and the disappearance of the Dao."

"Although I am seriously wounded now, it is not that only a Great Luo could kill me; you may go ahead."

"Only by slaying that wicked beast do we have a chance to act; otherwise, losing a Great Luo Golden Immortal would leave us unable to answer to the Celestial Court."

Isle of the Immortals

Yet under the Sword Chief's insistence, they too had to go together into the deep sea, while the Sword Chief flew down to above the clouds, entered tranquility to regulate his breath, and restore himself.

Baojing Daoist pursued and attacked all the way, but was led by the White Dragon into the sea trench; its water is dark and special, making it hard to project one's divine sense, and even the Spirit Eye technique can see clearly only within a thousand zhang.

After the White Dragon entered the sea trench, it directly vanished, leaving the two who followed closely somewhat puzzled, for they did not see the White Dragon's returning form.

Celestial Court Assembly

"Let us search carefully; we did not see it leave, so it must still be hiding somewhere in this deep sea."

"The water here is not ordinary; it suppresses spiritual power, and its transformation techniques cannot be employed; we can simply unleash the Baojing's divine might again to break through this place's concealment."

Vast Ocean Sea-Suppressing Hammer

Treasure Mirror Divine Might

Spiritual Eye Technique

Without time to greet, the three flew together toward the sea surface; unfortunately, their discovery was always a bit late, and when they saw light again, a huge White Dragon soared up and flew across.

Spiritual Blood

Ao Yuan slightly shook his head, his mocking gaze undisguised; in the sight of the three, the massive dragon body collided with the Sword Chief.

The dragon claw extended, grasping the feeble Sword Chief in its hand, then, facing the three's frenzied attack, the dragon claw clenched tightly.

A vast blood mist burst open, and the Sword Chief, together with his physical body, primordial spirit, and true spirit, dissipated; then, before the three's eyes, Ao Yuan repeated what he had done to the Hulu Daoist earlier.

The Jinpen was inverted, covering the White Dragon beneath it; silver mirror light glittered, scorching the White Dragon's broken scales black, and a yellow wind swept up, cleanly severing the White Dragon at the waist.

Ao Yuan's entrails spilled out, the surrounding sea area was dyed bright red by dragon blood, his tens of thousands of zhang-long body fell, smashed into the water, and raised waves ten thousand zhang high.

The White Dragon's gaze gradually dimmed, also gradually recovering clarity from the blood red, losing its murderous intent, becoming utterly tranquil, like an ancient well without ripples.

Yet to the three's eyes, this calm gaze only made them more hateful; the Jinpen lifted again, raising the White Dragon and the surrounding blood-red sea water together.

Ao Yuan had long been unable to resist; he was already spent, and evading the three to slay the Sword Chief had drained his last reserves of energy.

Now that his death was imminent, the three still had no intention of letting Ao Yuan go.

Baojing Daoist came down heavily, stepping on the dragon's head, his magical power gathering and condensing into a giant hand that fell from the clouds.

His five fingers turned into blades, placed on the dragon's neck where Ao Yuan's reverse scale lay; through the remaining scales, he hooked hard and pulled.

Ao Yuan let out a painful roar; the reverse scale on his neck was torn out, leaving a huge bloody hole where it had been.

The Daoist waved his banner; yellow wind like a blade sliced open from the wound at the reverse scale along the spine, revealing a crystalline dragon tendon.

The giant hand in the sky fell again, gripping one end of the dragon tendon at the breach, and yanked hard, pulling the tendon straight out.

Yet Ao Yuan made no sound; the three glanced over and saw his dragon eyes dull and lifeless, the vicious blood threads already congealed.

The white dragon was already dead. "It's a cheap end for this monster; he died so easily!"

Jinpen Daoist gritted his teeth, then overturned the treasure in his hand, pouring the dragon's corpse and its blood together into the sea.

The three rested briefly at sea, then found the other half of Ao Yuan's body, pulled out the dragon tendon, and after also retrieving the Wangyang Sea-Suppressing Hammer, they returned to Penglai.

Knowing they had caused trouble, they did not go to their own base but headed straight for the main island of Penglai.

Upon arriving on the island, they presented the Wangyang Sea-Suppressing Hammer to Dong Wanggong, saying they had merely found it at sea and it was nothing major.

It was just that many people had discovered it then; the Sword Chief and the Gourd Immortal had both perished in this treasure seizure, and they had already avenged them, so it was not worth a big fuss.

Although Dong Wanggong felt it a bit strange, he considered these people long-time followers, trustworthy souls, believed they would not deceive him, so he bestowed rewards and gladly accepted the treasure.

He then informed them that the Celestial Court assembly was about to begin, ordering them not to go out and to cultivate in peace on the island.

The three naturally agreed; worried about dragon clan retaliation, they would have made this request even if Dong Wanggong had not said so.

What they did not know was that, not far from where Ao Yuan fell, Yinglong stood watching silently, his eyes blood-red, his killing intent boiling and uncontainable.

"Little Yuan, I promise to let you die a proper death; you have suffered too long, it is time to rest."

Yinglong gathered Ao Yuan's corpse, preparing to take it back to the dragon clan for burial.

Ao Yuan also left no true spirit; in life he had committed excessive slaughter, karma clung to him, yet to suffer this calamity and still be able to contribute something to the dragon clan was already a great favor from the heavens.

To try to preserve his true spirit would undoubtedly be a desecration of his karma-laden body and of those he had wantonly slain.

Even if Yinglong stood beside him, wanting to act to save his true spirit, it would be utterly impossible, for his true spirit had already dissipated at the moment of death.

"You have conducted yourself thus; you have not lost the dragon clan's prestige, nor are you a sinner of the dragon clan."

Yinglong placed his palm on Ao Yuan's dragon head, now lacking its horns; the dragon eyes that had been wide with anger finally began to close slowly, and the karma encircling his body likewise faded away.

Yinglong glanced once more at Penglai Immortal Island, then turned and left; he needed to properly brew his plans before he could overturn this place! "Perhaps I should really unleash a great slaughter, otherwise my dragon clan would truly have no reputation at all in the primordial wilderness."

Yinglong thought to himself, as if even before the calamity of the ferocious beasts, after the dragon clan gradually rose, there was no one in the world daring to massacre the dragon clan like this.

But now? Ao Yuan's death once again struck a heavy blow in Yinglong's heart.

Since the seal was lifted, Yinglong's idea of letting the dragon clan rise again has never been this strong.

In the heavenly realm, Qi, Taiyi, and Nüwa were also watching this battle; Ao Yuan's death was heroic, but their eyes showed little fluctuation.

As for Fuxi and Di Jun, they still had to handle affairs of the Heavenly Court and the Primordial Wilderness, but they had no time to pay attention to the conflict among these Daluo Golden Immortals.

"There are indeed not a few heroes among the dragon clan; truly worthy of those who have experienced the great calamity."

"On this cruel flesh-and-blood grinder of the Three Clan Battlefield, although bound by karma, one can still see their former bearing."

Taiyi merely felt that this white dragon had some ability; although he didn't care about its life or death, he would not be stingy with praise for one who willingly goes to death.

Nüwa nodded and smiled, saying, "However, from this one can also see that the dragon clan's strength is still quite strong now; otherwise, using a Daluo Golden Immortal as bait, ordinary forces would be reluctant."

"Especially such strong individuals, even if placed in the Heavenly Court, could at least serve as a divine general."

Qi thought carefully and somewhat agreed, saying, "Indeed so; although it's impossible to serve in the Thunder Department or the Battle Department, but if in the Lower Four Departments, with great merit, there is still a chance."

Qi's words were not empty; most of the Heavenly Court's divine generals are held by innate deities, who may have cultivated the immortal path, but their profound foundation gives them many advantages over ordinary Daluo Golden Immortals.

No matter what, life cultivation remains the foundation of practice; whether realm or divine abilities and techniques, tracing back to the source, they are merely extensions of life cultivation.

"The Immortal Court assembly on Penglai Immortal Island is about to convene; now that this has happened, I want to see whether, when Yinglong comes to their door, they can still hold this assembly."

Taiyi's mouth curled with a wicked smile, as if he had already seen the scene of Yinglong driving out Penglai Island.

Qi and Nüwa had long been accustomed to this, after all, Dong Wanggong was also the first to directly confront the Heavenly Court and contend with it.

The act of proclaiming to the world is undoubtedly a provocation against the Heavenly Court; Taiyi's endurance to this point can be considered Qi's proper persuasion.

As for Dong Wanggong's strength, whether it can match his earlier attitude of proclaiming to the world, the time has now come to test his ability.

"You are peacefully waiting a while; I think Yinglong will not let us down."

Qi smiled faintly, while Taiyi said, "May it be so."

PS: 6000-word update completed, keep going! (End of chapter)