Free Web NovelChapter 406: Chapter 389: Tormenting the Dragon
A Golden Dragon over forty meters long coiled in the air, its enormous head looking down upon the ants who dared to defy it.
A second draconic roar echoed. Disciples below the Minor Perfection realm were either killed outright by the sonic blast, while even the faster ones who tried to flee were sent tumbling away in a pathetic state.
Hei Wuchang stared coldly at the Giant Dragon in the sky as the others prepared for battle. ’An Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon King... a bit troublesome,’ he thought. ’If it were at its peak, I’d have bolted without a second thought. But a dying Golden Dragon King? How long can it keep up this arrogance?’
The Illusionless Dragon-Devouring Cannon deployed a massive Array, from which torrential Elemental Power burst forth frantically. The red Crystal Stone Hei Wuchang had just tossed inside erupted with astonishing force.
Hei Wuchang felt a pang of regret. ’The power in this red Crystal Stone is even purer than that of a city’s main power crystal. It was found in the same ruins as the Illusionless Dragon-Devouring Cannon, and for every one I use, that’s one less I have. But it seems I have no choice this time.’
"Kill!"
BOOM!
As the Array activated, the Illusionless Dragon-Devouring Cannon let out an earth-shattering roar, and a crimson pillar of light blasted toward the Golden Dragon in the sky.
The Golden Dragon shot out its claws. With a shudder of its body, ten thousand rays of golden light erupted, like a volley of ten thousand sharp swords.
Screams instantly erupted from below as the golden light pierced through almost every defensive array and sword screen.
This wasn’t a magical attack, but Dragon Qi. As a Five Elements Golden Dragon, it possessed the most tyrannical offensive power. Ordinary Magic was completely useless against the Dragon Race, and Golden Dragons also had the strongest defense against physical attacks.
Two more holes were blasted into the ground right beside Wang Meng. ’A Golden Dragon isn’t something someone at my level can get close to,’ he thought. ’The target is the Dragon Cave.’
With the Golden Dragon’s roar, the Dragon Cave began to tremble. A fissure was slowly widening, and the pitch-black cave mouth exuded an intense Dragon Slayer. ’Should I go in or not?’
At that moment, the blast from the Illusionless Dragon-Devouring Cannon broke through the golden light shrouding the Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon and slammed into its body. The Golden Dragon let out an even more deafening roar.
It had been violated.
Hei Wuchang cried out in frustration. He had intended to strike the Golden Dragon’s vital point—its Reverse Scale—but he had missed by just a little.
"Prepare the second shot! Full power!"
"Yes, Elder!"
"Full power" meant that every person had to channel all of their Elemental Power into the cannon.
Hei Wuchang shot toward the Golden Dragon in the sky. "Fellow Daoists, now is the time!"
’This clearly isn’t something one person can handle.’ Mo Chen tapped his pipe, blew out a ring of smoke that enveloped him, and flew into the air as well.
Ziwei Fairy produced a multicolored Ziwei Flower and flew toward the Golden Dragon, while Liuu Rufeng of the Cyan Cloud Sect drew his Long Sword and ascended straight up, riding it with Sword Control.
Though the rare Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon King was mighty, no one was willing to miss such an opportunity. The Inner Core of an ordinary Golden Dragon King was already a supreme treasure, to say nothing of an Eight-Clawed one. Of course, the chances of obtaining it were minuscule, as it would usually be destroyed upon the dragon’s death, but no one wanted to pass up the chance.
The sinews of an Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon King could be refined into an invincible Immortal Binding Rope—an inescapable one. This was a temptation Hei Wuchang found impossible to resist.
Aside from Lin Jinghao’s group, many other Cultivators hadn’t left. They all rushed toward the Dragon Cave. ’The Golden Dragon King has nothing to do with us. Even if there are spoils to be divided, they’ll go to those major Sects fighting up there. It’s pointless to even think about it. Our only goal here is the Dragon Cave.’
The Golden Dragon’s roar was incredibly fierce, causing Wang Meng’s own qi and blood to churn violently, but his Five Elements Body managed to withstand the pressure.
Amidst the crowd rushing into the Dragon Cave, Wang Meng spotted Zheng Dasheng, who was staring longingly at the Golden Dragon in the sky. But that prize was far out of his league. ’If only I could use that Golden Dragon to refine a cauldron of Pills...’
Of course, that was basically a daydream.
Outside, the Great Perfection masters had begun their siege on the Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon. At its peak, even a dozen more of them wouldn’t have been able to contain it. But it would not flee. This place was its final resting place. How long its power would last, no one knew.
The crowd rushed into the Dragon Cave. The moment they entered, they felt an intense Dragon Slayer corroding their bodies, forcing every Cultivator to use their Elemental Power to resist it.
But evidently, some had come just to try their luck. With a bloodcurdling scream, one such person’s Elemental Power was corroded away, and the Dragon Slayer reduced them to a mere skeleton while they were still alive.
Lin Jinghao and his party took the lead. Their cultivation levels were perfectly suited for this, possessing the greatest strength within their tier, which gave them the most significant advantage. Braving the Dragon Slayer, they advanced at high speed. This area still wasn’t the Dragon Tomb itself.
Wang Meng’s group followed behind. Not far from them was Zheng Dasheng, who was clearly keeping a low profile. He had no intention of acting as a vanguard.
The Dragon Cave appeared to be inside a massive cavern, but Lin Jinghao, Ling Fei, and the others at the front showed no signs of stopping. Apparently, this wasn’t the first time their Sects had entered this Dragon Cave.
Mingren was also near the front of the pack, along with another group led by Bu Qingyun. It was clear that everyone was on edge.
As they ventured deeper, some began to feel their energy failing. The drain from the Dragon Slayer was immense. A few started consuming Pills, while others began to retreat. If they went any further, they wouldn’t even be able to make it back out.
Before long, the rest were left far behind. Wang Meng was in the last group, with just over forty Cultivators still pushing forward. They were all Minor Perfection Cultivators; he was the only exception. Wang Meng put his mask away in his Qiankun Bag—it was no longer needed. He could feel the Dragon Slayer’s corrosion was severe, and he didn’t want to waste his precious treasure here.
Having come this far, it was too late to turn back. The Tier One experts in the lead group were already long gone, leaving everyone else in the dust. The remaining forty or so Cultivators were all elites among the Minor Perfection realm, their Elemental Power profound, and they were desperately resisting the Dragon Slayer.
However, they were surprised to discover someone in their midst who hadn’t even reached Minor Perfection. ’How is this guy withstanding the Dragon Slayer?’
After all, more than ten Minor Perfection Cultivators had already fallen to it.
In truth, Wang Meng was suffering in silence. The Dragon Slayer’s drain on his Elemental Power was terrifying. He had only lasted this long because of his solid foundation and the potency of his Five Elements Technique. But unlike the others, Wang Meng had no retreat. He had to reach the Dragon Tomb. Neither fear nor pain could sway his will.
Though the others were of a higher realm, in a place like this, it was hard to say who truly had the upper hand. Their pace had slowed considerably, and some had already brought out their treasured Magical Artifacts, looking like they were preparing to risk it all.
"Everyone," Wang Meng said, "the only way we’re getting to the Dragon Tomb is by working together. If we keep going like this, we’ll all die here for sure."
Wang Meng had voiced the thought on everyone’s mind.
"That’s right. At this rate, none of us will make it to the Dragon Tomb."
Everyone stopped and nodded in agreement. They gathered together and began to focus their Elemental Power, but the effect was poor. Because their Cultivation Techniques and elemental attributes were all different, their combined effort was discordant, actually allowing the Dragon Slayer to press in even closer.
Just then, everyone suddenly felt the pressure lighten. The cause was, surprisingly, the only Cultivator among them who had yet to reach Minor Perfection.
Wang Meng was channeling his Five Elements Technique at full power, regulating the Five Elements Balance between everyone. Their vast, disparate streams of Elemental Power merged, forming a massive protective barrier of Elemental Power that held back the Dragon Slayer.
"Kid, you’ve really got some skills!"
"Let’s move forward together!"
"Keep channeling your Elemental Power! Don’t try any selfish tricks. The Dragon Tomb is filled with countless treasures. We need to stick together, and everyone needs to pull their own weight!"
In a place like this, everyone wanted to conserve their strength; an extra bit of power saved could mean an extra chance at survival. But if everyone thought that way, they were all doomed. Wang Meng was going all out to balance their Five Elements Primordial Power and shape it into a cohesive force. The drain on him was significant, but it was still far better than facing the Dragon Slayer alone.
This was thanks to his Five Elements Cultivation Technique; the array-like principles within it greatly enhanced his ability to regulate the Five Elements.
Although the group’s forward pace slowed, the journey was now less strenuous and much safer than before.
By now, everyone could sense the nature of the young man’s power—the legendary Five Elements Body. Their gazes couldn’t help but fill with a hint of pity. Clearly, this Five Elements Body had hit an advancement bottleneck.
Among all types of natural prodigies, the Five Elements Body was considered top-tier. The problem was, the difficulties it presented were even more extreme. Advancement was riddled with obstacles, and a breakthrough to a stage like Minor Perfection was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Compared to other Talented, it fell short. It was a classic case of a blessing and a curse, not a truly great gift.
In the midst of this struggle, Wang Meng felt the difference between himself and a Minor Perfection Cultivator firsthand. Perhaps this was him finally hitting rock bottom and beginning to rebound. A flicker of excitement began to burn in his eyes, which had been strained with pressure just moments before.
’I am Wang Meng!’
’I will not—I absolutely will not fall here!’
While they struggled onward toward the Dragon Tomb, the battle outside was raging with incredible intensity.
The Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon was truly extraordinary. Its immense Dragon Power completely neutralized the oppressive auras of the top-tier Great Perfection Cultivators, and even threatened to overwhelm them. There was no sign that this was a Giant Dragon on the verge of death.
However, blood dripped from the Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon’s Reverse Scale—damage from the Illusionless Dragon-Devouring Cannon. The Human Cultivators cooperated seamlessly; none of them wanted to be the first to charge in, but the Illusionless Dragon-Devouring Cannon could serve as the spearhead, firing that first crucial shot.
A savage grin spread across Hei Wuchang’s face. "So this is all an Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon amounts to! It’s already a spent force!"
A massive Ghost Claw slashed viciously at the Golden Dragon, creating a deafening SCREECH of metal on scale. Though the Golden Dragon’s defenses were supreme, it began to sustain injuries under the Ghost Claw’s relentless assault.
Mo Chen’s task was complete. He had only been there to help hold back the Giant Dragon, which he considered his way of helping Wang Meng enter the Dragon Cave.
’Perhaps because I’m on the verge of death myself, I’ve become more accepting of things,’ he mused. ’In that way, how is this Giant Dragon before me any different?’
But even in the face of death, the Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon King maintained its majesty as a Giant Dragon.
Mo Chen sighed and abruptly drifted away from the battle.
"Fellow Daoist Mo, are you backing out?" Hei Wuchang asked with a laugh.
"This Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon King is a divine creature of heaven and earth," Mo Chen said. "Fellow Daoist Wuchang, grant it a dignified death."
"Fellow Daoist Mo, we’ve all expended a great deal of effort to get this far. Since when did you become so naive?"
"Fellow Daoists, let’s finish this!"
The one who shouted was Liuu Rufeng. For Cultivators at the Great Perfection realm, there were very few natural treasures left in the world that could still benefit their bodies. This Eight-Clawed Golden Dragon King was the absolute cream of the crop. Even though it was past its prime and its medicinal properties were somewhat diminished, it was still an incredibly rare opportunity. And while there were many people present, the Giant Dragon was a treasure trove from head to tail—there would be more than enough to go around.
The moment his voice fell, Liuu Rufeng’s Elemental Power erupted. It was as if a world-spanning blade had descended from the heavens. Ten thousand Long Swords materialized behind him, their collective light illuminating the sky as they swarmed to envelop the Golden Dragon.
The Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Root Stream of the Cyan Cloud Sect.
