Chapter 1929: Put Down
Many great clans who had secretly been observing the battle were inwardly shocked. Even though Zu An being the Fiend races’ Regent was no secret, the Fiend races" territory was just too far away from the human side, so they had never treated it as too big of a deal. After all, no matter how great his status was on that side, it didn’t matter at all on the human side. But now that they heard this woman’s description, they suddenly realized just what kind of being the Fiend races’ Regent was.
Previously, because of the war between the humans and the Fiend races, the flow of information between the two sides had mostly been blocked. The great clans" hidden channels of information had only been able to bring back the news that Zu An had become the Regent, but they weren’t too sure exactly how he had gotten that position or what exactly happened on that side. Many clans even wondered if there was some important piece of intelligence they were missing.
Meng Chan was also a bit absent-minded. As she looked at that man, she murmured to herself, “A king of kings among the Fiend races…”
She was already filled with regret. If she had known he was this formidable, how could she possibly approve of her father and husband’s plan to face this man, let alone help them strategize? Zu An had lost his reason out of anger, but the Meng clan didn’t have the ability to take him down according to their plans! Whether or not they could even keep the Meng clan alive was already in question.
“What Regent? Do the Fiend races have someone like that? You’re trying to fool this ruler?” the great gold dragon snorted and said with a sneer. “Even a trifling tiger-devoured ghost dares to utter lies here?!” As soon as he said that, he released a blast of dragon breath at a certain building in the distance.
“Is that Scarlet Invitation’s territory?” many people exclaimed. They had already recognized that place, and they all felt a sense of pity. It seemed as if Scarlet Invitation would become history soon.
This wasn’t some ordinary dragon that wandered the fields, but rather a great gold dragon, one of the dragon race’s most powerful beings. The power of its roar even surpa.s.sed that of a grandmaster’s presence. It was common knowledge that the strength of beasts at the same cultivation rank exceeded that of humans.
Just then, however, a resplendent streak of sword brilliance moved even faster. It rushed out later, and yet arrived earlier. It scattered the dragon breath, turning it into a blast of dazzling fireworks.
The beautiful figure in Scarlet Invitation patted her trembling chest, saying, “Oh my, I was so scared… Thank goodness the young master came to save me. Otherwise, my soul really would have just scattered right here.”
She was Scarlet Invitation’s best courtesan queen, Nan Xun, and she also had her other status as King Qi’s concubine. The dragon’s voice was like thunder! As someone from the Fiend races, she couldn"t help but speak up for Zu An, but how could she have antic.i.p.ated that she would almost end up dead because of it?
“Hm?” Dragon King Hong Hua exclaimed as he turned around to look at Zu An. Even though he had fired that dragon breath on a whim and wasn’t completely serious, it wasn’t something anyone could easily neutralize. He asked, “Are you really the Fiend races" Regent?”
Zu An replied calmly, “Correct.”
Dragon King Hong Hua suddenly said with a sneer, “Hmph, you are still trying to deceive this king! Firstly, this king did inquire about news of the Fiend races" side when I woke up a few years ago, but I had never heard of any regent. Secondly, even if there were a newly risen regent, why would it ever be a human? Thirdly, not even the Fiend Emperor himself would have the right to make the dragon king greet him with respect, so what is so important about a regent? These are the holes in your bluff, and this is why you were exposed.
“So why, then, did you and that ghost collude to weave this lie? Just what is it all for?”
This insignificant bug actually dares to try to deceive this king? It’s a good thing that I’m not as stupid as those other dragons. My superior intellect helped me see through his ruse!
You have successfully trolled Dragon King Hong Hua for +444 +444 +444…
Zu An frowned. He didn’t explain anything, and instead took note of the bit of information he had just received.
Not even the Fiend Emperor has the ability to make the Dragon King greet him with respect? It seems the dragon king’s power is mysterious after all.
On the Fiend races’ side, people had usually avoided talking about the Ocean Races. Still, Zu An had gotten the impression that the Ocean races only acknowledged the Fiend Emperor as their ruler in name, but the influence of the Fiend King Court couldn"t interfere with the Ocean races’ side at all. In other words, though the Ocean races said that they were loyal, whether they would really obey an order from the court was hard to say. The silver lining was that the Ocean races usually acted with excellent etiquette, and the Fiend Emperor’s side also treated them with a lot of respect. Both sides maintained a sort of tacit understanding.
Suddenly, there was a loud shout. Meng Jing endured the intense pain in his head and screamed, “Dragon ruler, please help our Meng clan kill this monster! In the past, you agreed to save the Meng clan from destruction three times. This is now the second time! If you can help us kill him, our Meng clan will consider you to have fulfilled the agreement!”
“Is that offer serious?” Dragon King Hong Hua replied, his eyes wide. There was clear excitement in his expression.
In the past, when he was still weak, he had been saved by the Meng clan’s founding ancestor. At the time, out of a moment of impulse, he had signed a contract to protect the Meng clan three times. After all, those of the dragon race lived far longer than those of the human race. However, as the years went on, his strength had grown greater and greater as well. Even though he had always enjoyed the Meng clan’s offerings, he"d always felt a bit unhappy about his lack of freedom.
Furthermore, a powerful clan like the Meng clan only bullied others and never let others bully them. Life and death situations for the clan really didn’t happen too often. After so many years, this was only the second time. No one could predict when the third time would happen again in the future. If he could cancel out two instances of help right now, wouldn’t he become free again?
Meng Jing gritted his teeth and said, “I am the one with the most say in the Meng clan right now. Furthermore, if the dragon king does not believe me, you can ask for the opinions of all the disciples here.”
When the Meng clan’s disciples in the distance saw the dragon"s head turn toward them, they all shouted out,
“I’m willing!”
“Dragon king, please help us!”
“Dragon king help us!”
…
When had the Meng clan ever had to suffer like this before? There were many of them who didn’t even know the entire sequence of events or what was going on right now. They felt as if they had been mysteriously attacked out of nowhere. They had watched as the Meng clan’s guards were absolutely crushed. Those elders who were normally incredibly powerful also fell one after another. As a result, the disciples had been filled with horror and despair. Now that there was a chance to mount a comeback, they naturally supported it.
Dragon King Hong Hua nodded in satisfaction. Then, he looked at Zu An with a sinister smile and said, “Youngster, this ruler is not usually a fan of bullying my juniors, but the Meng clan is just offering me too much here. All that can be said is that you were unlucky to have met this ruler today.”
He had sensed the battle previously, but only ever considered it more than a tantrum between ant-like humans. It was far too lacking compared to the prestigious dragon race.
The dragon race not only had powerful bodies, but also outstanding elemental resistance. Even if he just stood there without doing a thing and let similar-ranked human cultivators attack him, it would feel like nothing more than a tickle. Furthermore, he had the most powerful and most revered bloodline in the dragon race. His father was the previous generation"s dragon king… even though he was an illegitimate child his father wouldn’t acknowledge.
That old man had really loved sowing his seed everywhere, and it didn’t matter what race they were; as long as they were pretty, he would pamper them. Hong Hua was a result of one of such relationship. However, what met him when he returned hadn"t been cheers of joy and laughter, but rather sneers of disdain and scorn. He had been bullied by others of his race quite a bit. In the end, he had been banished, unable to stay in the dragon race"s territory.
He had thus wandered the world as a rogue cultivator, so his strength naturally grew very slowly. Eventually, he had actually been seriously injured and almost lost his life. Fortunately, the Meng clan’s master had pa.s.sed by and saved his life. Out of grat.i.tude, he had decided to sign an agreement to help the Meng clan"s descendants three times.
As time went by, the Meng clan master also pa.s.sed on, and Hong Hua had lost track of who and how many clan leaders came after. But the Meng clan had also grown more and more powerful. The offerings and resources they had supplied him with also grew greater and greater. Perhaps because of the stimulation of the treasures he received, one day, he had awakened the purest great gold dragon bloodline. His strength had grown further by leaps and bounds.
Over the past few years, he had already grown restless. Finally, though, he could complete his agreement and return to the dragon race. He could find the ones who bullied him and pay them back for everything he had gone through.
Then, I will prove my own worth with my own strength, and subdue the entire race! Everyone will kneel and worship me; they will praise me as their dragon king!
The most beautiful dragon race women, and that mermaid princess… they’ll all be mine.
He couldn"t help but grin when he thought about all that.
Zu An looked at the dragon with a bit of confusion.
Is this guy okay? Why is he suddenly smiling like an idiot?
He thought about his relationship with Shang Liuyu. He didn’t want to go too far with this dragon, so he suggested, “How about this? I tried to kill them two times and you already interfered twice to save them, which should satisfy the agreement as well. What do you think?”
Meng Jing widened his eyes.
Can it really work like that?
But he became really worried. That was one way around the issue… What if the dragon really was convinced? He said, “Dragon ruler, you must not listen to that brat’s dishonest rhetoric! The only reason he is speaking this way is because he is scared…”
Dragon King Hong Hua said with a snort, “Do you think I don’t know that?!” Then, he stared at Zu An and continued, “Who do you think this king is? I received great favor from the Meng clan’s ancestor, and received offerings for over a thousand years. If I pulled a fast one like what you described, wouldn’t I be ruining my own cultivation convictions?”
Meng Jing was so moved that he almost broke out into tears. In the past, he had scoffed at naive ideas like repaying kindness and seeking revenge. He hadn’t expected to be saved by such n.o.ble thoughts one day.
Dragon King Hong Hua stared at Zu An and said with an evil grin, “You killed so many of the Meng clan’s people, and you even impersonated the Fiend races’ Regent to fool me. Today, not even an immortal can save you if they come here! Mark my words!”
“And which of the top ranks have you reached?” Zu An asked, looking at him with confusion.
Did this guy get his head kicked by a camel or something? Even though he is pretty strong, he"s just a bit above the grandmaster rank. He might have had a chance if he were some earth immortal who had just advanced, but he would still most likely lose in that situation. For instance, Zhao Han, the Fiend Emperor, and the libationer are all beings he absolutely couldn"t win against, and yet he’s saying that not even an immortal could do anything if they came now…
Dragon King Hong Hua had wanted to show off a bit, but he hadn’t expected Zu An to take it seriously! He couldn"t take the embarra.s.sment and immediately erupted into a rage. He yelled, “You little b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you’re courting death!”
You have successfully trolled Dragon King Hong Hua for +999 +999 +999…
A terrifying wave of draconic might spread outward in all directions. Those from the Meng clan lay on the ground, shaking in fear. The domesticated spiritual beasts they had raised were also lying on the ground, urine and feces flowing everywhere. After all, Dragon King Hong Hua had awakened the dragon race’s purest imperial bloodline. It was something that had a natural suppressive effect on most living creatures.
Many strong cultivators who had rushed over from the different clans all stopped one after another. They could feel the burst of power all the way from where they were. That Zu An had to face it head-on, so he wouldn"t even be able to remain standing, right?
Just then, the giant dragon"s furious roar echoed through the air. “Why are you… This is impossible!”
Zu An stood there as if nothing had happened. Whether it was the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra he cultivated or the other divine techniques, they were all of such high grade that they weren’t inferior to the gold dragon bloodline at all. Furthermore, with his current cultivation, unless Zhao Han or the Fiend Emperor came back to life, or those beings from the great tomb suddenly rushed out, he really wouldn’t have to fear anyone anymore. This dragon pressure naturally wouldn’t affect him.
“Is that all? Then it’s my turn now,” Zu An said. As soon as he spoke, an even more terrifying pressure spread out in all directions.
The kilometer-long dragon’s entire body trembled. He could no longer remain on the tower. With an incredibly loud noise, his body slammed into the ground, sending smoke and dust high up into the air.