Dark clouds rolled across the sky.
Violent winds swept through the forests surrounding Dragon Yuan Mountain, uprooting ancient trees as torrential rain began pouring from the heavens.
The air itself trembled.
Far in the distance, an enormous emerald figure burst through layers of clouds.
The Startling Lightning Flood Dragon.
Its massive body twisted through the heavens like a living mountain.
Although countless scars still covered its scales, many of the wounds left behind by the Heaven Seal Gate's chains had already begun closing. Fresh flesh slowly covered the old injuries as dense demonic aura continuously leaked from its enormous body.
Each flap of its wings produced hurricanes.
Each roar shook mountains.
Its pressure alone caused countless Foundation Establishment cultivators below to collapse onto one knee.
Even Purple Palace cultivators found breathing difficult.
Yet directly before that monstrous beast...
A lone figure floated calmly in the void.
He wore plain grey robes.
His physique was broad and powerful.
Neither sword nor saber rested at his waist.
Only his two fists.
Both fists glowed with a faint golden radiance as endless Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi continuously gathered around them.
He stood there quietly.
Like an immovable mountain.
The Grand Elder of Dragon Yuan Mountain.
A martial cultivator whose reputation had long surpassed ordinary Astral Gang experts.
---
The Grand Elder slowly raised one hand.
"Fellow beast..."
His calm voice echoed across the sky.
"You have already caused enough destruction."
"I ask you one final time."
"Stop."
For a brief instant...
The Flood Dragon's enormous eyes flickered strangely.
Almost...
As though struggling.
However...
Unknown to everyone present...
The beast no longer possessed control over its own actions.
Deep within its sea of consciousness...
An unfamiliar seal pulsed relentlessly.
Its soul struggled desperately against the foreign restraint.
Yet every attempt only brought unbearable pain.
Finally—
ROOOAAARRR!!
The dragon's roar shattered the surrounding clouds.
Instead of stopping...
Its enormous tail swung through space.
BOOM!!
Like a collapsing mountain.
The tail slammed directly toward the Grand Elder.
The air exploded.
Space distorted.
The surrounding observers instinctively shut their eyes.
---
The collision sounded like thunder.
BOOOOOOM!!
The Grand Elder was blasted downward.
His figure disappeared beneath the forest below.
Many cultivators turned pale.
"Did..."
"...did the Grand Elder lose?"
Before anyone could finish speaking—
A figure slowly rose from the shattered forest.
There was...
No crater.
The Grand Elder had landed lightly upon the ground before pushing himself back into the sky.
His sleeves fluttered calmly.
Not even a trace of blood appeared at the corner of his lips.
He merely flexed his right hand once.
"So..."
He looked toward the Flood Dragon.
"Your body still retains such terrifying strength."
His eyes gradually sharpened.
"In that case..."
"This old man shall stop holding back."
---
The Flood Dragon roared once more.
Its enormous jaws opened.
Green lightning condensed.
Wind spiraled violently around its mouth before transforming into a destructive dragon breath.
The surrounding clouds were instantly torn apart.
Without hesitation—
The dragon fired.
BOOOOOOM!!
The beam crossed dozens of kilometers almost instantly.
The Grand Elder slowly exhaled.
His feet separated slightly.
He lowered his waist.
His entire body entered an ancient martial stance.
The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi suddenly surged toward him.
Not through cultivation...
But through pure martial control.
His right fist slowly drew backward.
Then—
He punched.
Nothing fancy.
No dazzling technique.
Only one fist.
Yet that fist seemed capable of shaking heaven itself.
BOOOOOOM!!
The dragon breath exploded.
The collision generated a shockwave that flattened forests across dozens of li.
The Flood Dragon was actually blasted backward several hundred meters.
Its enormous body smashed directly into a nearby mountain.
The mountain instantly collapsed.
Rocks rained from the heavens.
---
The Grand Elder didn't stop.
His left hand formed another seal.
Immediately—
The surrounding temperature rose dramatically.
Countless observers widened their eyes.
"Fire?"
"No..."
"He's borrowing the surronding Spiritual Pressure of Heaven and Earth!"
Scarlet flames suddenly descended from the sky.
They weren't ordinary flames.
They were condensed from pure Spiritual Qi and Martial Will.
Like heavenly punishment itself.
The blazing inferno engulfed the Flood Dragon completely.
The dragon immediately roared.
Violent hurricanes erupted around its body.
Endless wind attempted to extinguish the flames.
However—
Instead of weakening...
The fire grew even stronger.
The surrounding elders immediately understood why.
"The Five Elements..."
"Wind feeds Fire!"
The Flood Dragon had accidentally strengthened the attack.
The blazing inferno exploded violently.
BOOOOOOM!!
The beast was blasted through another mountain.
Even from dozens of kilometers away, everyone could still hear its furious roar.
---
Countless independent cultivators stared at the battle with disbelief.
"So..."
"This..."
"...is a Rank Four battle..."
Many had never witnessed such power before.
Each exchange alone could erase cities.
---
Far away...
Several hidden figures concealed themselves among distant mountain ranges.
They wore robes bearing symbols from hostile Rank Three forces.
Originally...
They had intended to take advantage of the chaos once Dragon Yuan Mountain suffered heavy losses.
But now...
Their expressions became extremely ugly.
One elder slowly lowered the spy artifact in his hand.
"So..."
"The rumors were true."
Another sighed.
"The Grand Elder truly possesses combat power comparable to a Golden Core expert."
A third elder clenched his fists unwillingly.
"Our plans..."
"...have failed."
"As long as that old monster remains alive..."
"No one can easily touch Dragon Yuan Mountain."
The hidden experts silently retreated.
There was no longer any point remaining.
---
Meanwhile...
Within Dragon Yuan Mountain...
The gathered elders watched the heavens with equally shocked expressions.
Although they belonged to the Lin Family...
Very few had ever personally witnessed the Grand Elder fighting seriously.
One elder swallowed hard.
"I knew the Grand Elder was powerful..."
"But..."
"I never imagined he could actually force back a Rank Four Flood Dragon."
Several others nodded silently.
Even they had underestimated him.
Old Liang stood among them.
His fists remained tightly clenched.
Unlike everyone else...
He wasn't merely shocked.
He was worried.
As the Grand Elder's personal disciple...
He had heard countless stories regarding his master's strength.
People claimed his martial cultivation rivaled Golden Core cultivators.
People claimed he could fight above his realm.
Yet...
Hearing stories...
And witnessing such a battle...
Were completely different things.
More importantly...
Flood Dragons carried traces of true dragon blood.
Among Rank Four beings...
They stood near the very top.
Old Liang slowly lowered his head.
"Master..."
"You must win..."
At Late Astral Gang, he knew full well that even joining the battlefield would only become a burden.
He could only watch.
And pray.
The Head Elder calmly observed the battle before finally speaking.
"The Grand Elder has always been one of Dragon Yuan Mountain's greatest trump cards."
Everyone turned toward her.
She continued slowly.
"Our only Golden Core Ancestor cannot casually leave the family."
"There are countless hostile powers watching him."
"The moment he dies..."
"Our Rank Three status disappears."
"The Lin Family would instantly become prey."
Her voice became solemn.
That is why the Grand Elder exists.
"He protects the family whenever Golden Core combat power is required."
"He ensures the Ancestor can remain in seclusion without exposing himself."
Looking toward the heavens...
Even the Head Elder's usually calm eyes revealed admiration.
"Today..."
"Everyone shall finally understand..."
"Why the Grand Elder has been called..."
"...Dragon Yuan Mountain's Martial Pillar."
The Grand Elder stood in the sky, his hands still clenched into fists.
The terrifying Martial Will that had blanketed the heavens slowly dispersed, causing the violent spiritual energy surrounding Dragon Yuan Mountain to gradually calm.
The blazing sea of flames vanished.
The raging winds ceased.
Only drifting smoke remained between heaven and earth.
Deep within the clouds...
The enormous body of the Startling Lightning Flood Dragon trembled violently.
Its blood-red pupils, which had been clouded with madness since escaping the secret realm, suddenly flickered.
A trace of clarity appeared.
The beast let out a low growl.
Its enormous head shook repeatedly as though struggling against an invisible force.
For the first time since breaking free...
Its instincts overcame the control placed upon it.
Without hesitation—
ROAR!!
The Flood Dragon twisted its colossal body and shot toward the opposite horizon with astonishing speed.
Its massive figure disappeared into the endless sea of clouds in only a few breaths.
"..."
Everyone watching stood frozen.
"What..."
"It retreated?"
"It actually fled?"
Even the Lin Family elders were momentarily stunned.
They had prepared for a desperate life-and-death battle.
Instead...
The dragon had suddenly regained enough awareness to escape.
No one understood what had happened.
---
Far away...
Hidden within an abandoned valley.
A temporary Dharma Altar stood quietly beneath layers of concealment formations.
At its center sat the core disciple of the Seven Star Palace.
The moment the Flood Dragon escaped—
Crack!
The seal engraved upon the altar shattered.
The youth's eyes widened.
He violently spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Puah!"
His face instantly turned pale.
The spiritual connection between himself and the Flood Dragon had been forcibly severed.
"No..."
"No!"
His expression twisted with disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
He stared blankly at the shattered altar.
"The Soul Imprinting Seal..."
"...was successful."
"I clearly controlled it!"
"How could it suddenly break free?"
His breathing became ragged.
Then—
With a roar of fury—
BOOM!!
He slammed both hands onto the Dharma Altar.
The stone platform exploded into countless fragments.
His killing intent surged uncontrollably.
"How?!"
"HOW DID IT ESCAPE MY SEAL?!"
Blood continued flowing from the corner of his lips.
The backlash from losing control of a Rank Four Flood Dragon had injured his soul considerably.
The surrounding cloaked cultivators immediately lowered their heads.
Not a single person dared speak.
None wished to become the target of his anger.
The atmosphere became deathly silent.
---
Several moments later...
The youth slowly calmed himself.
His chest continued rising and falling violently.
Although furious...
He was not foolish.
Someone...
Or something...
Had interfered with his control.
Otherwise, a weakened Flood Dragon should never have broken free from the Dharma Altar's Soul Seal.
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"...Dragon Yuan Mountain."
"...That old martial artist."
He clenched his fists until veins bulged across the backs of his hands.
"I underestimated him."
The Grand Elder's Martial Will had not merely injured the Flood Dragon.
It had shaken the beast's spirit strongly enough to temporarily suppress the Soul Seal.
That single opening...
Had been enough.
The youth's expression became incomparably cold.
"So be it..."
"The Flood Dragon has escaped."
"But chaos has already begun."
"The surrounding provinces have suffered heavy losses."
"The Lin Family has been forced to reveal one of its hidden trump cards."
He slowly stood up.
A sinister smile gradually appeared.
"Our objective..."
"...has already been partially fulfilled."
He turned around.
"Withdraw."
The cloaked cultivators immediately responded.
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Within moments...
The entire group disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind only the destroyed Dharma Altar and shattered fragments of stone.
Far above...
The storm clouds slowly dispersed.