Chapter 166: Di Luo Na Ou

A few days later, the Niksalan Basin.

Di Luo Na Ou, looking resentful, curled up on the peak at the valley entrance, flicking his tail and hurling stones into the gorge below the cliff.

A few unlucky jaguars in the gorge were struck by the stones, turned into mush, and wailed sorrowfully, while the instigating Red Dragon remained indifferent, still sighing.

As a 600‑year‑old Red Dragon, Di Luo Na Ou still can't believe he has become a subordinate of a Juan Ce Long.

Recalling the scene from a few days ago, he again beat himself with his tail, cursing, "I let you be greedy, I let you be greedy, knowing it was an ancient dragon and still daring to be greedy!"

A few days earlier, he had swept through Tikar City with high spirits, and the sight of dazzling gold and gems that made a dragon salivate led Di Luo Na Ou to make an on‑the‑spot decision.

He wants to fill his own pockets!

Whatever the 'nine‑one split' is, he told the Juan Ce Long he hadn't found it!

So he went to the Juan Ce Long with a pitifully small amount of gold, claiming that's all he had found.

But his scheme was exposed on the spot.

The Juan Ce Long, angry, used a spell to slash himself to pieces, then declared that his deceit had insulted the Juan Ce Long's pride.

He forced Di Luo Na Ou to swear a divine oath to serve him free of charge for five hundred years.

That led to the present situation.

He was sent by that hateful Juan Ce Long to act as a gate‑keeping dragon!

Growing more angry, the Red Dragon let out a thunderous roar, fluttered his wings, and swooped down the peak, intending to find some fun.

He scanned the sky, and as if he had spotted something amusing, a grin tugged at his mouth, and he dived swiftly in one direction.

A Rain Dragon on another peak yawned, glanced at the Red Dragon's receding silhouette, and sneered.

Foolish dragon, still daring to run around—once the master finds you, you'll have it coming.

——

Te Ao Ti Wa Kan followed the army, gripping the obsidian longsword at his waist.

He was nervous.

Because he knew the enemy his army would face—dragons.

His task of guarding the monsters failed, but Tai Zi Ka's Grand Shaman Kusko spared his life, gave him a chance to redeem himself, and enlisted him in the force searching for the culprit that destroyed Tikar.

The five‑thousand‑strong army, led by a shaman, arrived at Tikar, only to find ruins and broken walls.

Soon, the shaman announced they would press southward; they trekked through the outskirts of the Dead Rainforest and reached this barren plain.

In the distance, two faint peaks and their connecting range were visible, with a narrow gorge between them.

That was the Niksalan Basin, a place many fleeing Niksalan traitors passed through.

However, Te Ao Ti Wa Kan knew that a terrifying necromancer shaman who had fled the kingdom lurked in the basin; that shaman had a pact with the Hu A Ke Li Alliance and would not attack the alliance's troops as long as they stayed out of the basin.

Moreover, this expedition came bearing the Grand Shaman's orders, demanding that the necromancer shaman join their force to hunt the Red Dragon.

Unlike his nervousness, the surrounding soldiers seemed relaxed; most Niksalan folk knew little about so‑called dragons, some not even aware such terrifying beasts existed.

But Te Ao Ti Wa Kan was well‑versed: during the Dead Rainforest, he often saw the rainforest's sovereign circling the sky, proclaiming his dominance to all creatures.

Te Ao Ti Wa Kan suddenly scratched his arm; hair stood up, and gooseflesh erupted across his skin.

He felt a bad omen, like a looming catastrophe before a natural disaster; he was familiar with it—whenever the Red Dragon appeared, this feeling accompanied all Tula clan members.

He opened his mouth in terror, wanting to shout, to warn those around him, but no words came. He had lost his courage.

"Hey, what's that up there? Look!" several soldiers suddenly shouted, causing a stir in the ranks as many looked up at the sky.

A black speck raced toward them, growing larger by the moment.

"Prepare, watch for an ambush!" the leading shaman, not arrogant, issued the command with heightened vigilance.

The soldiers brandished weapons, unaware that this would have no effect on the approaching creature.

Roar!!!

The deep blue sky roared like a thunderstorm, a pressure as vast as abyss and sea descending from above; thousands in the army seemed to witness something utterly terrifying.

They stood helpless, muscles taut, watching the sky‑borne monster draw nearer, unable to act.

"Ah, let me see— a bunch of slaves, are you seeking refuge with the great Emperor Long Salamander?"

The Red Dragon displayed his terrifyingly massive form across the sky, spanning the heads of everyone like a mountain.

!

Te Ao Ti Wa Kan covered his mouth, daring not to utter a sound; he recognized the sky's occupant as the volcanic Red Dragon, and he couldn't be mistaken.

Knowing the dread of an ancient Red Dragon, Te Ao Ti Wa Kan felt despair.

The leading shaman, though not swayed by Dragon Might, was deeply frightened yet mustered his resolve: "Honorable Red Dragon Highness, we are troops from the Hu A Ke Li Alliance; the Grand Shaman sent us to locate the culprit that destroyed Tikar."

"If we are hindered, the Grand Shaman will be very angry," he added cautiously.

Di Luo Na Ou squinted, smiling with amusement.

"You threaten me? You think your damn Grand Shaman can scare me?"

Even the shaman, despite his fear, had to bark loudly: "How dare you insult the Divine Representative on Earth!"

He gently shook the magical gemstone bracelet on his wrist; a soothing aura radiated from his body, and many soldiers, bathed in its light, instantly felt a wave of ease, snapping out of Dragon Might's intimidation.

"Tsk tsk, 'Divine Representative on Earth,' sounds terrifying," Di Luo Na Ou replied mockingly, grinning ferociously, his white sharp teeth flashing.

"I have good news and bad news; which would you like to hear first?" Di Luo Na Ou asked casually, scratching his claws.

The shaman furrowed his brow, thought briefly, then said helplessly, "The good news."

The Red Dragon nodded approvingly: "The good news is, I know who destroyed your Tikar City."

"Really? And the bad news?" the shaman asked, excitement evident.

"The bad news," the Red Dragon said with a dangerous grin, "is that the culprit is my master. Want revenge? I raise both hands in support!"

The Red Dragon's words caused a huge uproar; the shaman's smile froze before it could finish.

Your master? Isn't that someone on your side?

He wanted to cry but had no tears, feeling that his days were numbered.

And the Teotihuacan in the army was even more shocked; he knew best the might of the Red Dragon; such a terrifying existence actually still had an owner?

What a terrifying creature that must be!

(End of chapter)