Free Web NovelChapter 301: Chapter 299: Stealth
Just as all the factions were making their move for the Black Fire.
"SCREEEE..."
A dragon’s cry echoed through the sky as a streak of fire descended upon the world.
It was the Flame Dragon, which had suddenly taken to the sky. Its eyes were locked on the location of the Black Fire, filled with excitement.
It even roared thunderously across Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, "The Black Fire belongs to me, the Flame Dragon! Anyone who dares try to snatch it from me is courting death—truly courting death."
"Anger me, and you can prepare to die."
"I don’t care what faction you’re from. All of you, back off and get out of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain."
It, too, was after the Black Fire, and it now unleashed its own draconic might across Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.
The next moment, its draconic might crashed down, sweeping across the entirety of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.
"ROAR..."
"AWOOO..."
A myriad of beasts cried out in unison, as if submitting to the Flame Dragon in that moment.
Sensing the Flame Dragon’s might, the other Beast Kings on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain also began to stir restlessly.
They answered with roars of their own.
But the Flame Dragon didn’t immediately move to contend for the supreme title of Beast King; instead, it watched for an opportunity to seize the Black Fire.
At the same time, it issued a warning to the other factions on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain who had their eyes on the Black Fire.
"Damn it! That Flame Dragon has its sights on the Black Fire, too."
While on the move, Lord Wangu, leading the Blood Light Mercenary Corps, looked up at the terrifying Flame Dragon in the distant sky, his expression grim.
’It actually wants to monopolize the Black Fire.’
His expression turned grave. He realized that the difficulty of seizing the Black Fire had just increased dramatically.
One-Eyed Wolf’s expression changed drastically upon hearing the Flame Dragon’s arrogant words.
He shot a terrified glance at the seemingly invincible Flame Dragon in the sky.
He said to Lord Wangu, "Young Master Jun, I’m afraid it’s simply impossible to get the Black Fire now."
"I think we should give up. We don’t stand a chance."
"This Flame Dragon is a terrifying existence, at least at the Martial Arts Sect Level. We’re no match for it."
Admittedly, One-Eyed Wolf was starting to get scared.
He was worried that the Blood Light Mercenary Corps would be completely wiped out in this scramble for the Black Fire.
Ever since the Beast King Flame Dragon had first appeared, he had harbored thoughts of retreating from Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.
Furthermore, one could say this expedition had gotten off to an inauspicious start.
The Meng Family Brothers had been the first to fall, and now Yuan Xi was missing.
All of this gave him an intense feeling of crisis.
"Shut up! Your Blood Light Mercenary Corps is just a bunch of cowards."
"I really regret hiring you lot."
Lord Wangu had no intention of backing down. It wasn’t his style to give up over a single threat from the Flame Dragon.
One-Eyed Wolf gave a bitter smile.
"Young Master Jun, I’m speaking the truth. Executing the mission is our duty."
"But we also have to think of you. After all, even in the entire Fire Sparrow Kingdom, there are few who could defeat that Flame Dragon."
He repeatedly tried to persuade Lord Wangu to abandon the mission.
Failing the mission would be a huge blow to the reputation of the Blood Light Mercenary Corps, but compared to that, staying alive seemed far more important.
With the Flame Dragon present, it wouldn’t matter if the Blood Light Mercenary Corps were a hundred times stronger—they would still be no match for it.
"Bullshit! If you want to ’think of me,’ then get me the Black Fire."
"I don’t care about anything else."
Lord Wangu snapped, completely unmoved, and continued onward.
The members of the Blood Light Mercenary Corps exchanged uneasy glances.
Every one of them wanted to retreat.
But their employer was adamant, so they had no way of backing out.
If they abandoned their client, they would later be killed by the Mercenary Castle.
Thus, once a mission was accepted, they had to see it through to completion, even if it meant dying in battle, unless the client themself gave up.
These were the rules of the Mercenary Castle.
Cold, ironclad rules.
As they listened to the Flame Dragon’s proclamation, the expressions of Crown Prince Wen Shixuan of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom and his men also turned exceptionally grave.
"That damn beast actually wants the Black Fire for itself, too."
"Shouldn’t it be off contending for the title of Beast King?"
After all, the Flame Dragon was a newly emerged Beast King. Logically, it should be vying for the supreme title of Beast King.
But now it had set its sights on the Black Fire instead.
This infuriated Wen Shixuan.
Grand General Ming Zhe’s expression was also exceptionally foul.
He had been very confident coming here, but he knew that when faced with that Flame Dragon, even an expert at the Martial King Eighth Layer Heaven like himself was no match for it.
His confidence wavered.
Meanwhile, the soldiers of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom army were all terrified of the Flame Dragon in the sky.
"Crown Prince, no matter what, we have to try."
"The Black Fire is a Fire of Heaven and Earth; it cannot be obtained simply by virtue of strength."
"I, for one, believe it will go to the one who is destined to obtain it."
Hearing Grand General Ming Zhe’s words, Wen Shixuan’s eyes lit up.
Regardless of whether the words were meant to comfort him, they gave him boundless hope.
"Good. We press on! Ignore that Flame Dragon."
And so, the army of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom began to advance toward the location of the Black Fire.
Jiang Chen, leading the Celestial Brown Ridge Python, also gradually entered the core region of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.
His eyes were calm, as if he hadn’t heard the Flame Dragon’s proclamation at all.
’Beast Kings are certainly arrogant.’
’A pity, though, because I want to get the Black Fire, too.’
Jiang Chen was filled with anticipation for this Black Fire.
Inwardly, however, Jiang Chen was not calm at all.
He already had a premonition that the fight for the Black Fire would be exceptionally fierce.
There was the Blood Light Mercenary Corps, the Flame Dragon, and who knew what other hidden factions he hadn’t yet discovered.
When he thought about it like that, the situation was indeed extremely tricky.
’Right now, I can’t even handle a Martial King Expert.’
He gave a bitter smile.
Of course, this time, the presence of even a Martial King Expert would be of no use.
After all, compared to the Flame Dragon, a Martial King Expert was nothing but dregs.
’It’s in that direction.’
Jiang Chen could already sense the Black Fire’s location, and he moved stealthily through the forest. frёewebηovel.cѳm
Beside him, the Celestial Brown Ridge Python followed closely.
Though the Celestial Brown Ridge Python was terrified of the Flame Dragon, it stubbornly stayed by Jiang Chen’s side.
Because it lacked a Martial King’s Cultivation, the Celestial Brown Ridge Python was unable to change its shape or size.
SWISH, SWISH, SWISH...
As he pressed onward, Jiang Chen occasionally encountered a few Demon Beasts, but there didn’t seem to be many around at the moment.
Meanwhile, throughout Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, the beasts were in an uproar, surging continuously in a single direction.
In the sky, the Flame Dragon soared, its four claws moving as if dancing, treading upon the very air—an incredibly majestic sight.
Its ferocious might swept across Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain. Wherever it passed, Demon Beasts would roar ceaselessly, submitting to the Flame Dragon.
They then began to follow the Flame Dragon, running in a great tide through Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.
A beast tide formed in the blink of an eye.
Faced with such a terrifying army of beasts, even the formidable Fire Sparrow Kingdom army could only temporarily avoid a direct confrontation.
As for the members of the Blood Light Mercenary Corps, they were even more cautious, not daring to be careless in the slightest.
The various hidden factions all proceeded in secret.
The most conspicuous of all was, without a doubt, the Flame Dragon.
Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain was its home turf.
It was unstoppable, and an endless stream of Demon Beasts followed in its wake.
They made a beeline for the location of the Black Fire.
Thus, Jiang Chen and the Celestial Brown Ridge Python were actually quite safe on their path.
Just then, a sharp cry rang out: "Who goes there?"
Jiang Chen’s expression changed.
He looked up to see a troop of soldiers appearing directly in his path.
They were clad from head to toe in fiery red armor, making them extremely conspicuous.
A fiery red bird was engraved on the armor, making it even more distinct.
’People from the Fire Sparrow Kingdom?’
Jiang Chen recognized them at once; he had actually run into people from the Fire Sparrow Kingdom.
