Chapter 86: Why Fight Solo When You Can Gang Up?
Standing nearby, Jiang Li’er heard his words and couldn’t help but roll her eyes, muttering under her breath: "How is it that all the good fortune seems to fall right into your lap...?"
However, upon second thought, if Jiang Bai managed to take down both of these dragons this time around, surely he wouldn’t need to return to the Star Dou Great Forest again anytime soon?
That would mean she could spend a little more time playing around outside...
Hmm... when she thought of it that way, perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing after all? While she was lost in her wild musings, the standoff in the valley below had reached a fever pitch.
The two colossal dragons no longer roared; instead, they moved with slow, immensely oppressive strides, circling one another as the distance between them silently closed. From an initial hundred meters apart, to fifty, then to thirty...
The air was thick with palpable killing intent and the restless energy of the elements. The forces of Light and Darkness clashed in absolute silence.
Gazing down at the explosive tension unfolding below, Jiang Li’er nudged Jiang Bai with her elbow.
"Hey—they’re about to come to blows! When are you planning to make your move? Waiting for them to beat each other to a pulp so you can swoop in and reap the rewards?"
Jiang Bai flexed his wrists.
"Little Li’er, that’s something you wouldn’t understand. I’m not a combative sort of person; my true passion lies in stopping fights."
"After all, seeing two parties suffer mutual destruction is just such a shame!"
"Pah! Who are you calling ’Little Li’er’?! Don’t you dare call me that!"
Jiang Li’er was so incensed she felt the urge to pummel him all over again.
With a fluid motion, Jiang Bai leaped down.
At that very instant, in the valley below, the long-simmering battle finally erupted!
The Radiant Holy Dragon struck first; it threw open its massive jaws as blinding golden light surged and compressed madly within its maw, coalescing into a luminous golden orb that grew ever brighter, radiating terrifying waves of energy.
The Shadowy Dark Dragon reacted almost simultaneously; the eerie black-and-violet markings across its back flared to life, and with a powerful beat of its wings, several deep, abyssal orbs of black-and-violet energy—so dark they seemed capable of devouring light itself—materialized out of thin air, encircling its body and poised to strike!
And in that split-second, that critical juncture...
A figure—moving with the elusive speed of a phantom—leaped down from the high platform overlooking the valley! He moved so fast that he left nothing but a blurred afterimage trailing behind him in the air!
It was Jiang Bai!
He landed squarely in the open clearing situated right between the two colossal dragons!
"???"
Where did this human come from?! And when did he get there?
After a brief moment of stunned bewilderment, the two dragons instantly snapped back to reality.
Without a word, without a single exchange, they simultaneously unleashed their fully charged attacks—both aiming straight for Jiang Bai.
"Boom—!!!"
"Hiss—!!!"
A pillar of holy golden light and several spheres of pitch-black, ominous energy tore through the air; charged with destructive power, they hurtled violently toward one another!
"Bang—!!!"
The ferocious clash of attacks kicked up a billowing cloud of smoke.
Neither dragon lowered its guard, for they sensed a powerful aura radiating from the very center of the maelstrom.
"Roar—!!!"
A dragon’s roar—even more ancient, more majestic, and imbued with boundless frigidity and overwhelming draconic might—suddenly erupted within the valley like a peal of thunder from the heavens!
As the smoke cleared, the scene they had anticipated—of the human being engulfed by their dual attacks and utterly obliterated—failed to materialize.
Centered upon Jiang Bai, a blinding, ice-blue radiance surged skyward!
A massive Ice Dragon—over twenty meters in length, its entire form shimmering like a sapphire, and exuding the terrifying pressure of a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast—stood guard, completely shielding Jiang Bai beneath its body!
Its colossal wings of crystalline ice—serving as the ultimate barrier—flared open with sudden force!
A terrifying shockwave radiated outward in a concentric ring, tearing up the valley floor in waves of earth, shattering stone, and snapping trees in two!
The spectral Ice Dragon slowly lifted its massive head. Its ice-blue eyes—cold and impassive, like those of a deity gazing down upon mere ants—swept over the Radiant Holy Dragon and the Shadowy Dark Dragon crouching below.
The absolute pressure of a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast—intertwined with the supreme draconic majesty of the Ice Dragon King’s bloodline—descended upon them like an invisible mountain!
"Thud!"
"Thud!"
The two 10,000-year-old dragon beasts—who just moments before had been bristling with aggression and poised for a battle to the death—suddenly went limp in all four limbs beneath this terrifying pressure, which struck at the very core of their souls and bloodlines.
Their massive bodies collapsed uncontrollably, slumping to the ground in utter humiliation!
Their dragon heads pressed tight against the earth; they lacked even the courage to lift them, left with nothing but instinctive terror and trembling, emitting only faint, reverent whimpers.
Within the valley, the dust slowly settled.
The Ice Dragon stood guard over the young man at its center.
The radiance of the young man’s twin ice and fire claw-blades swirled around his hands; wearing a composed smile, he gazed down at the two "prey" cowering on the ground before him, trembling with fear.
From their perch on the high rocky platform, seeing the Ice Dragon appear to take command of the scene, Bi Ji and Jiang Li’er gracefully drifted down to land by Jiang Bai’s side.
Jiang Li’er leaned in close to Jiang Bai, her beautiful eyes sweeping over the Ice Dragon’s massive form with a hint of playful teasing in her tone: "I thought you were going to unleash your mighty power and take on these two ten-thousand-year-old dragon beasts all by yourself. Why did you go straight to summoning the Ice Dragon?"
As she spoke, she secretly sensed the Ice Dragon’s aura, and a flicker of astonishment involuntarily rose within her heart.
Was it just an illusion? It hadn’t been that long since they last met... yet why did the Ice Dragon’s aura feel so much more formidable and solid than it had during their sparring session outside the city?
Jiang Bai shrugged, wearing an expression that suggested it was the most obvious thing in the world: "Why bother with a one-on-one duel when we can just gang up on them? Efficiency comes first. Besides, aren’t you in a hurry to leave the Star Dou Great Forest? A quick, decisive battle—isn’t that exactly what you wanted?"
Jiang Li’er thought for a moment, then nodded: "That’s true..."
Jiang Bai turned his gaze toward the Radiant Holy Dragon and the Dark Shadow Dragon—who were pinned to the ground, unable to move, under the crushing pressure of the Ice Dragon’s aura.
He did not speak directly; instead, he exchanged a meaningful glance with the Ice Dragon.
Understanding his intent, the Ice Dragon lowered its massive head slightly. Its cold, draconic eyes fixed upon the two "juniors" below as it let out a low, majestic draconic roar, initiating a dialogue with them.
"Roar—"
"Aow? Aow... aow..."
"Aung—"
"Roar! Roar... roar..."
"Aung—"
...
After a brief exchange in the language of dragons, the hostility and fear in the eyes of the Radiant Holy Dragon and the Dark Shadow Dragon gradually gave way to shock, skepticism, and a trace of irrepressible curiosity.
Both pairs of massive draconic eyes simultaneously turned toward Jiang Bai—who stood beside the Ice Dragon, appearing quite "insignificant" by comparison.
The Ice Dragon withdrew its gaze and turned toward Jiang Bai; speaking in human tongue, its voice was cool and detached: "Master, they say... they wish to enter the space within the tower first to see it with their own eyes. Only after confirming that the environment there aligns with your promises will they consider pledging their allegiance."
Jiang Bai nodded, his gaze calmly sweeping over the two dragon-beasts.
His voice was soft, yet it carried an indisputable air of resolve: "Very well. But remember: this is your only chance. Once you have gone inside and seen for yourselves—if you choose to submit, you shall become my partners—partners of Jiang Bai—and the future will hold infinite possibilities for you. But if you still stubbornly refuse..."
He paused, his eyes suddenly turning cold: "Then there remains but one path: death."
These icy words, laden with undisguised killing intent, caused the massive bodies of both dragon-beasts to shudder simultaneously.
At that very moment, Bi Ji—who had been observing quietly from the sidelines—stepped slowly forward.
Her exquisite face bore an expression that was gentle yet solemn; her emerald eyes fixed upon the Radiant Holy Dragon and the Mystic Shadow Dark Dragon, and she spoke in a voice that was soft, yet imbued with immense power.
"I am Bi Ji, Matriarch of the Emerald Swan Clan. I give you my word: if there is even a shred of falsehood in Jiang Bai’s claims—if the space within that tower is not as wondrous as he has described, or if it proves unworthy of becoming a second home for you—then I vow that he shall not leave the Star Dou Great Forest alive this day."
The Matriarch of the Emerald Swans!
Bi Ji and her clan commanded immense prestige and credibility within the Star Dou Great Forest.
She was gentle and benevolent by nature, never making promises lightly; yet, once a promise was given, it carried the weight of a mountain. Her personal guarantee held extraordinary significance.
The Radiant Holy Dragon and the Mystic Shadow Dark Dragon exchanged glances, each recognizing the flicker of hesitation in the other’s eyes.
Even the Matriarch of the Emerald Swans had personally offered her guarantee...
And there was the senior Ice Dragon—a beast of one hundred thousand years—to bear witness as well...
Surely, they wouldn’t all conspire together just to deceive two mere ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts like us?
That would be far beneath their dignity...
Weighing the pros and cons—and driven by their own curiosity regarding the "wondrous space" the Ice Dragon had spoken of—the two dragon-beasts finally nodded, signifying their agreement.
Jiang Bai spoke no further; he simply raised his right hand, his palm facing upward. A nine-hued radiance swirled as a crystal-clear, nine-storied Glazed Pagoda quietly materialized, rotating gently in the air.
Immediately thereafter—black, black, black, and red—four soul rings that struck terror into the heart slowly rose from beneath Jiang Bai’s feet, pulsing with light and radiating an overwhelming aura of power.
The first black soul ring, deep in hue and edged with a faint crimson glow, was clearly not far from evolving into the coveted 100,000-year tier.
"This...!"
The massive draconic eyes of the Radiant Holy Dragon and the Profound Shadow Dark Dragon instantly constricted to the size of pinpricks as they stared in utter disbelief at a soul ring configuration that completely defied their understanding.
Black! They were all black! And there was even a 100,000-year red one!
How could a mere Soul Sect possess such a configuration?!
Was the "great opportunity" the Ice Dragon spoke of actually real?!
Those black soul rings—which had originally been merely hundred-year or thousand-year rings—had evidently been elevated to their current level while inside that mysterious space?!
Even Bi Ji and Jiang Li’er—though they had long known that Jiang Bai’s Soul Rings were unique—could not help but feel a renewed sense of shock upon witnessing this configuration that defied all conventional logic.
Bi Ji, in particular, could clearly sense that Jiang Bai’s aura had grown significantly stronger than before; the energy contained within that first black Soul Ring was indeed slowly evolving toward the level of a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring.
This served as the most powerful corroboration of the Ice Dragon’s claims!
With a shift of his will, the pagoda erupted in a brilliant radiance, enveloping the Radiant Holy Dragon, the Shadowy Dark Dragon, and the Ice Dragon all at once.
With a flash of light, the figures of the three dragon beasts vanished from where they stood, having been drawn into the tower.
Silence temporarily returned to the valley, leaving behind only the mournful whistling of the wind as it swept across the rocks.
Jiang Bai, Bi Ji, and Jiang Li’er waited in quiet anticipation.
Approximately ten breaths later...
Jiang Bai raised his hand once more. Two beams of light shot forth, landing upon the ground and coalescing back into the forms of the Radiant Holy Dragon and the Shadowy Dark Dragon.
Their eyes still held traces of profound shock, ecstasy, and excitement; clearly, what they had seen and felt within the tower’s interior had completely overturned their previous understanding of reality.
When they perceived that their surroundings had reverted to the familiar valley, they even paused for a moment—appearing somewhat reluctant to leave, as if they hadn’t had their fill... or perhaps, as if they didn’t want to come out at all?
Jiang Bai looked at them.
"Well? How was it?"
The two dragons did not hesitate; they nodded frantically—bobbing their heads up and down like pecking chicks!
Their gazes were filled with an intense eagerness; not a shred of their former hostility or arrogance remained.
The environment and energy density within that tower had utterly conquered them. Let alone merely submitting, if asked to offer themselves as sacrifices right now, they would likely be fighting over who got to go first!
"Very good." Jiang Bai nodded with satisfaction.
"Then, for the next question: I currently require only one fifth Soul Ring. Which of you two wishes to go first?"
The Shadowy Dark Dragon’s eyes darted to the side, and a glint of cunning flashed within her deep-violet vertical pupils.
She cast a sidelong glance at the Radiant Holy Dragon standing beside her.
The Radiant Holy Dragon failed to notice the Dark Dragon’s subtle maneuver; upon hearing Jiang Bai’s inquiry, it immediately craned its slender neck and let out a series of low, rapid dragon roars—seemingly eager to expound upon its own virtues and merits to Jiang Bai.
Its cultivation was approaching 30,000 years, its attributes pure, its combat power formidable, and its potential immense...
It hoped Jiang Bai would choose it.
Just as it was earnestly "promoting" itself, beside it, the Profound Shadow Dark Dragon suddenly shone with a deep, eerie purple light!
Its body rapidly transformed from solid to ethereal and transparent, dissolving into countless tiny stars!
These particles of light contained pure soul power and the essence of the soul, swirling and condensing in the air, ultimately forming an incomparably deep black soul ring with shadow energy flowing around its edges!
The soul ring took shape and shot towards Jiang Bai without hesitation, instantly merging into the sequence of soul rings rotating around him!
Radiant Holy Dragon: "...?"