Chapter 354: The Old Dragon Emperor Is in the Dou Di's Abode!
With this realization, a sharp gleam flashed in Zi Yan's eyes as her five fingers tightened slightly around Xia'ao's neck.
"D Dragon Emperor… Your Majesty, please spare me! I I'm willing to serve as your vanguard, to give my life for you…" Xia'ao stammered in sheer terror, his words incoherent.
The fear imprinted deep in his soul and bloodline caused his entire body to tremble uncontrollably. Faced with the fully mature bloodline of a Dragon Emperor, further enhanced by the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, he couldn't muster even the slightest resistance.
"Heh… spare you?" Zi Yan's stunning, otherworldly face curved into a cold smile. "You injured Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian, hurt Lu Bu, and now you have the audacity to ask for mercy?"
Boom!
Ripples of purple gold light surged outward like waves, and the vast and overwhelming dragon might spread across every corner of Eastern Dragon Island.
All the Taixu Ancient Dragons on the island turned pale as shock and awe washed over them. Their battles came to a sudden halt, and countless Taixu Ancient Dragons froze in place, overwhelmed by the crushing bloodline pressure. Instinctively, they awaited orders from their Emperor.
"All dragons from the three islands, immediately surrender! Anyone who dares resist will share this one's fate!" Zi Yan's voice rang out like thunder. Lifting Xia'ao's limp body as if he were a dead dog, purple gold light radiated from her form.
In the next instant, Xia'ao's face flushed crimson. His mouth gaped open, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Bang!
In a split second, his dragon bones shattered, and his body was reduced to bloody pulp that splattered across the air, leaving behind only a floating orb of crimson blood.
The sight made the Western Dragon Island's Dragon Armored Corps, the Southern Dragon Island's Barbarian Dragon Army, and the Northern Dragon Island's elites all turn deathly pale. With a collective thud, they fell to their knees, utterly defeated and devoid of resistance.
"Haha… hahaha… As expected of the Dragon Phoenix Emperor who absorbed the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit! Truly unmatched in might!" Xuan Mo's loud laughter echoed from the sky. Seizing the brief pause in Zhu Gang's attacks, he retreated a short distance and surveyed the scene below. Seeing so many dragons brought to their knees by Zi Yan's presence, he let out a booming cry:
"But we have already sworn loyalty to the Dragon King! A loyal subject would rather die than betray their master. How could a true man serve two rulers?"
"Farewell, Dragon Emperor!"
With that, Xuan Mo's aura flared to its peak, unleashing the power of a late stage one star Dou Saint. The tremendous energy rippled outward as some of the dragons below, initially subdued by Zi Yan's might, hesitated and slowly stood, inching toward Xuan Mo.
"Heh… fools!" The once enraged Zhu Gang suddenly smirked with disdain as he watched the scene unfold.
"What do you mean by that?" Xuan Mo's expression darkened as he demanded an explanation. He knew Zhu Gang's pride wouldn't allow him to lie.
"Zhu Tao has already returned. And you dare mention the Dragon King?" Zhu Gang sneered. "Zhu Tao is a five star Dou Saint!"
Before Xuan Mo could respond, the sky suddenly darkened.
Rumble!
The heavens and earth trembled, and the sun and moon lost their brilliance.
To the Taixu Ancient Dragons below, Zi Yan's presence was an absolute suppression of their bloodline and soul, a sovereign power that left no room for defiance.
But Zhu Tao's arrival brought an entirely different kind of pressure one rooted in overwhelming strength. His might was oppressive and direct, utterly indisputable.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
One by one, those dragons who had attempted to stand fell to their knees again, their trembling forms creating a series of dull thuds as they hit the ground.
Even Xuan Mo, at the pinnacle of the Dou Zun level, turned beet red as if a mountain had been placed on his back. The immense power pressing down on him rendered his strength laughably insignificant.
"To disrespect the Dragon Emperor is to invite death!" Zhu Tao stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his voice cold and authoritative. "Zhu Gang, capture him and throw him into the Dragon Prison. He will await the Dragon Emperor's judgment!"
As his words fell, Zhu Tao's five fingers clenched into a fist. Chains of dark gold shot forth, piercing through Xuan Mo's shoulder and latching onto his clavicle.
"At your command… hahaha, Xuan Mo, now it's your turn to suffer!" Zhu Gang roared with laughter as he yanked the chain hard, pulling Xuan Mo closer. Without hesitation, he smashed his fist into Xuan Mo's face.
Bang!
"Aargh!" Xuan Mo let out a pained howl, only for Zhu Gang to grab a large rock and shove it into his mouth.
"Does anyone else dare to defy the Dragon Emperor's command?" Zhu Tao's icy voice rang out.
Thud, thud, thud!
Immediately, all the dragons prostrated themselves, shivering with fear.
"Round them all up and throw them into the Dragon Prison. They will be judged according to the laws!" Zi Yan ordered sternly. "Zhu Tao, as the Elder of Punishment, you will oversee the punishment of these traitors. Leave no one unpunished."
"As you command!" Zhu Tao's expression turned serious as he bowed deeply, though inwardly he let out a sigh of relief. Zi Yan's earlier cold demeanor toward him had made him think he'd offended her somehow.
In truth, Zi Yan had simply been more concerned about Lu Bu. Compared to an elder, her focus naturally lay on those closest to her.
Zi Yan's figure flickered and disappeared with Lu Bu and the others in tow.
Watching her departure, Zhu Tao's face broke into a contented smile. "Wonderful. Not only is she the Dragon Emperor, but also the Dragon Phoenix. Our clan's revival is within reach!"
"Zhu Gang, you didn't lie to me. My trust in you wasn't misplaced!"
"Haha, elder, when the Dragon Emperor fully matures, how could the arrogant Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan continue to act so unrestrained?" Zhu Gang said, his mood soaring as he laughed heartily.
"Hahaha, once the Dragon Emperor rises, even the Ancient Emperor Clans will have to tread carefully!" Zhu Tao joined in the laughter, his heart lightened with hope.
"If the old Dragon Emperor were to return, it would be even better!" Zhu Gang's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
But Zhu Tao's face stiffened slightly. He shook his head with a trace of helplessness. "Over the years, we've tried contacting the old Dragon Emperor, but all our messages have gone unanswered. It's as if… he no longer exists in this world…"
Zhu Gang realized he had misspoken and quickly changed the topic. "Elder, why did so few of our seniors return after so many messages?"
"I don't know!" Zhu Tao rolled his eyes, his tone annoyed. "We've been cultivating in the void, separated by distances beyond imagination. That you even got a reply was sheer luck! If it weren't for the news of the Dragon Emperor's reappearance, I wouldn't have bothered!"
"Elder, how many seniors remain in the void?"
"More than ten stronger than me. And another dozen or so weaker than me. The exact number, I'm not sure."
Zhu Gang's lips twitched. So many formidable warriors still roamed the void, their absence leaving him feeling exasperated.
"This won't do. We need to discuss this with the Dragon Emperor. There must be a way to bring them back!" Zhu Gang muttered. But even as he said this, he scratched his head in frustration. How could they bring back these seniors? They couldn't even locate them, let alone compel them to return!
…
On a verdant mountain peak, nestled within a dense forest, lay a serene manor radiating powerful energy. Waves of majestic dragon might ebbed and flowed across the area.
Standing atop the manor, Zi Yan gazed down at the four figures deep in cultivation within the estate. With a sigh, she muttered, "It's been days. Why aren't they awake yet?"
"Hehe… Dragon Emperor, your companions are far from ordinary," Zhu Li, the Third Elder, said respectfully, bowing as he approached.
"Third Elder? What's the matter?" Zi Yan turned to him, her tone puzzled. The affairs of the Dragon Island were running smoothly with Zhu Gang, the Elder of Punishment, and the Second Elder managing everything. Why would they need her, the Dragon Emperor, for anything?
If everything required her intervention, what was the point of having others in charge? Who was the true Dragon Emperor here?
"Uh… The Punishment Elder and Second Elder would like to discuss with you how we might bring back the many seniors currently cultivating in the void as soon as possible," Zhu Li explained.
"Oh, is that so?" Zi Yan nodded and added, "In that case, stay here. If Lu Bu wakes up, bring him to me immediately."
With that, her figure flickered and vanished.
"As you command!" Zhu Li responded respectfully, feeling a tinge of emotion in his heart. The Dragon Emperor's care for Lu Bu was truly extraordinary, even surpassing her concern for their own clan members.
Boom!
Suddenly, not long after Zi Yan had left, a surge of energy began to rise sharply, climbing rapidly upward.
"Lu Bu is breaking through?" Zhu Li froze in place, then murmured in shock, "No, wait, he carries the Dragon Emperor's aura… No, that's not it. Why is he crossing so many levels all at once?"
Inside the spacious room, Lu Bu sat bare chested as purple black Dou Qi swirled around him. The searing energy distorted the surrounding space, while streaks of purple gold light flowed across his skin. His body glimmered with metallic scales that shone with a purple gold brilliance.
Boom!
Suddenly, a burst of golden light erupted as a pair of golden wings unfurled forcefully behind him.
Lu Bu's eyes shot open, and he let out a long roar toward the sky. His aura surged wildly, rising like raging waves.
… Six star… Seven star… Eight star… Nine star!
His energy surged all the way to the nine star Dou Zun level before finally stabilizing.
"Nine star Dou Zun… Looks like I caught a good tailwind from that little girl," Lu Bu murmured to himself, feeling the surge of power within his body. He hadn't expected to leap so many levels at once.
"Ahem… Lu Bu, the Dragon Emperor instructed me to take you to see her once you wake up," Zhu Li's voice called out from outside.
Hearing this, Lu Bu paused briefly. He spread his soul force to scan the area and immediately located Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, and Yun Yun.
The three women were also in the midst of cultivation. Clearly, the recent battle had brought them substantial growth.
With a wave of his sleeve, several beams of yellow light shot into the ground, forming a protective barrier around the entire estate.
It wasn't that Lu Bu distrusted the Taixu Ancient Dragons; he simply wanted to err on the side of caution.
With a flicker of his figure, Lu Bu appeared before Elder Zhu Li, nodding slightly. "Third Elder, let's go."
"Alright…" Zhu Li chuckled warmly, paying no mind to Lu Bu's act of setting up a defensive array. He led the way, heading toward the distant palace.
…
Within a grand and majestic hall, Zi Yan reclined lazily on the throne at the center. Her tall, slender figure leaned against the chair's backrest as she listened idly to the discussion among the three elders below.
However, their conversation offered no progress. The topic at hand was how to summon back the Taixu Ancient Dragon experts cultivating in the void.
This was something Zhu Gang had already attempted once. Zhu Tao had returned, but many others had either not received the summons or had outright ignored it.
These stubborn elders were a real headache. Detached from worldly concerns, they rarely involved themselves in clan affairs and only heeded the old Dragon Emperor.
Of course, if the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan faced imminent extinction, they might respond.
But sending two messages in such a short time would only make these elders less likely to pay attention. Even Zhu Tao, a five star Dou Sheng, stepping forward might not sway them.
Among these stubborn elders were many stronger than Zhu Tao so many, in fact, that those capable of overwhelming Zhu Tao in battle were likewise numerous.
Whoosh!
Just then, space rippled as Zhu Li arrived with Lu Bu in tow.
"Ah…" Zi Yan's lazy posture straightened slightly, and a smile appeared on her beautiful face. "Elders, this is Lu Bu, the one I've been telling you about. Without him, I would never have found the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit or returned to the clan."
Immediately, Zhu Tao's expression turned solemn. He clasped his hands and said in a deep voice, "Lu Bu, my friend, thank you. You are a great benefactor to our clan!"
"Hehe… Elder, you're too kind." Lu Bu returned the gesture politely and replied, "Zi Yan is my… friend. It's only right that I helped."
"Lu Bu, we're currently discussing how to summon back the elders cultivating in the void. Do you have any suggestions?"
Zi Yan suddenly appeared beside Lu Bu in a flash, her smooth, jade like arm draping over his shoulder as she chuckled with a hint of pride in her tone. Her expression seemed to say, Look, I've grown up!
Lu Bu rolled his eyes. This girl… even as the Dragon Emperor, she hadn't changed her mischievous nature!
Hearing Zi Yan's question, Zhu Tao and Zhu Gang were momentarily stunned. They had already realized that Lu Bu was aware of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan's situation, but they hadn't expected the Dragon Emperor to consult him so openly.
"It seems his relationship with the Dragon Emperor far exceeds what we imagined…" Zhu Tao and Zhu Gang exchanged glances, silently elevating Lu Bu's status from "clan benefactor" to "esteemed guest." He would need to be treated with the utmost respect.
Zhu Li, meanwhile, remained impassive. He had grown accustomed to watching the Dragon Emperor "favor outsiders" and openly conspire right in front of him.
"This… isn't too difficult!" Lu Bu stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Really? Tell me quickly!" Zi Yan's eyes lit up with excitement. If they could bring back those elders, the clan's situation would stabilize, allowing her to spend more time with Lu Bu and her sisters.
"Tell them the old Dragon Emperor has been found…"
"What?! The old Dragon Emperor has been found? Where?!"
Before Lu Bu could finish his sentence, Zhu Tao and the other three elders leaped up like they had springs under their seats, their previous composure utterly abandoned.
"He's trapped in the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Abode," Lu Bu replied, rolling his eyes. "Tell those elders who refuse to involve themselves that the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan is preparing to move against the Hun Clan, the Gu Clan, and the other Dou Di clans. We plan to seize the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade, open the Ancient Emperor's Abode, and rescue the old Dragon Emperor!"
As his words fell, Zi Yan rolled her eyes. She could tell that Lu Bu was planning to trick all those elders into returning!
"Wouldn't lying like this get us beaten up?" Zhu Gang asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he realized the implications.
The Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan wasn't known for its patience. If those elders discovered they'd been deceived, they wouldn't dare harm the Dragon Emperor, but the younger generation would surely pay the price!
"How is this lying?" Lu Bu retorted with a scowl. "Every word I said is true! The old Dragon Emperor is in the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Abode!"
"Only the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade can bring him back. The reason the old Dragon Emperor disappeared was that he went in search of an opportunity to break through to Dou Di!"
Lu Bu's voice was firm and resolute, leaving no room for doubt.
"Heh…" Zhu Tao's mouth twitched. While he could believe the last part, the rest… well, not so much.
"Hmm, Lu Bu's idea isn't bad. Let's go with it," Zi Yan said with a grin. "This time, we'll definitely trick those stubborn old folks into coming back."
"Elder Zhu Tao, I'll draft the decree. You'll deliver the message. Let's see if they dare stay away!"
Zhu Tao's face stiffened, and a bitter smile appeared. He could already imagine the beatings he would receive if this plan didn't work…
(End of Chapter)
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