Chapter 151 - 180: Red Flame Ridge, The Art of Painted Skin, North Nether Divine Techniques, The Ocean Overturns
Within Xia Imperial City, no place was more arid than Red Flame Ridge.
A hundred-li expanse of red sand, where not a single blade of grass grew.
Even the most drought-resistant cacti could not survive here.
Planted one day, they would wither by the next.
Because of this, the area was desolate and uninhabited, with few people ever setting foot there.
Legend had it that the Late Emperor Xia had once wielded the Sword of Royal Authority here to slay an Ancient Fire Demon. After the Fire Demon’s death, its blood seeped into the ground, transforming what was once fertile farmland into a stretch of red sand.
If an ordinary person walked on it, even while wearing the finest cowhide boots, the fire poison from beneath the ground could still seep into their body.
Without Martial Arts Cultivation to protect them, their body would fester completely, and they would die within three days.
Consequently, even wild beasts and birds deliberately avoided this place, not daring to enter.
At this moment, however, three figures stood upon the lands of Red Flame Ridge, seemingly waiting for something.
The person standing at the forefront had broad shoulders and a well-proportioned build. He wore a golden Dragon Robe and a Golden Purple Imperial Crown!
His hands were clasped behind his back, his expression indifferent. His golden eyes were piercing, giving him an air of authority without any hint of anger.
Behind him stood an old, white-browed man with a turtle shell on his back, and a beautiful woman with a seductive figure.
Early this morning was the day the upper echelons of the Great Xia Dynasty had arranged for him to meet with the Black Flood Dragon Ao Xuan.
Gazing at the surrounding red sands, the golden-robed youth’s lips twitched, revealing a hint of mockery.
At this moment, the white-browed old man behind him stepped forward and spoke respectfully, "Your Majesty, although the date has been moved up, this old servant has already contacted them."
"With but an order from Your Majesty, a tributary from the North Sea can be swiftly channeled from underground to flood this Xia Imperial City!"
"Turtle Aspect, you’ve done well!"
The golden-robed youth showed a hint of pleasure and nodded slowly.
Suddenly, his expression flickered, and his gaze shifted toward a certain direction.
A breath later, several brilliant streaks of Escape Light appeared in the sky to the south of Red Flame Ridge!
In the blink of an eye, they had arrived before the golden-robed youth.
There were four newcomers in total.
The one in the lead, dressed in an ornate black robe, was none other than the Mr. Yun the golden-robed youth had met before—Yun Wuya!
Beside Yun Wuya was an old monk in the green robes of an official, as well as a young man in a white robe who looked rather nervous.
The last person stood at the very back, their face masked and hidden.
A thick Demon Qi, however, emanated from their body.
The golden-robed youth’s gaze fell upon the masked youth first.
His eyes grew profound, and he seemed to freeze in place.
"Dragon King."
Yun Wuya stepped forward and was the first to speak.
After a few breaths, the golden-robed youth slowly came back to his senses.
After a moment of silence, he said, "Mr. Yun, you are indeed a man of your word. You’ve brought my elder brother."
Before Yun Wuya could speak, the masked youth suddenly cried out.
"Worthy brother! Is that you, worthy brother?"
Hearing this voice, the golden-robed youth’s gaze trembled slightly.
He subconsciously took several steps forward.
But was discreetly blocked by Yun Wuya.
"Dragon King, do not be hasty."
Yun Wuya said slowly, "You will be reunited with your esteemed brother shortly."
The Golden Flood Dragon King of the Golden Dragon Prefecture took a deep breath, slowly calmed himself, and gave a slight nod, halting his advance.
Seeing this, Yun Wuya’s expression relaxed. He shot a look at the white-robed youth beside him.
The white-robed youth understood and immediately removed the black cloth covering the person’s head.
Then, the three of them stepped aside.
The black cloth was lifted, revealing a fair and handsome face.
This person was none other than the "Black Flood Dragon Ao Xuan"!
The moment Black Flood Dragon Ao Xuan was freed, he rushed over and hugged the golden-robed youth tightly.
"Worthy brother! You’ve finally come to save me!"
"These past years have been so miserable for me!"
The golden-robed youth didn’t speak, but his eyes reddened. He raised a large hand and gently stroked Ao Xuan’s head.
He traced a line from his hair down, then caressed the tips of his hair, his brows, his eyes, and his forehead.
It was as if he wanted to engrave this face, unseen for thirty years, deep into his heart.
"Brother, I understand. I understand everything..."
What a touching scene it was.
A deep brotherly bond.
But as Yun Wuya watched, his expression shifted slightly, and he said nothing.
The old monk, Wu Tianming, watched the golden-robed youth with a smile in his eyes, his thoughts unreadable.
"Worthy brother! These damned Great Xia officials."
"They tortured me day and night in that prison, forcing me to endure heart-searing, bone-burning pain!"
"Quick! Worthy brother, help me kill them! You have to help me kill them!"
As Black Flood Dragon Ao Xuan spoke these words, he clenched his teeth, his hatred profound.
He was just like a stubborn child who had suffered immensely and finally found family, seeking someone to stand up for him.
"I understand! I understand all of it..."
The golden-robed youth kept muttering.
「An unknown amount of time passed.」
Yun Wuya spoke up to remind him, "Dragon King, it’s about time."
"We should be taking your esteemed brother back now."
As he spoke, the old monk Wu Tianming also moved closer.
Golden Flood Dragon King Ao Jin’s gaze was profound; he said nothing.
But the Black Flood Dragon Ao Xuan before him started yelling frantically, like a dog whose tail had been stepped on:
"No! I don’t want to go back!"
He then turned and begged tearfully, "Quick! Worthy brother! Take me away! Please, take me away with you, okay?"
"I never want to go back to that dark prison again!"
The golden-robed youth said softly, "Alright!"
He slowly raised his right hand and caressed Black Flood Dragon Ao Xuan’s face.
But then, the gentleness on his face vanished without a trace!
In its place was an icy indifference!
The hand caressing Ao Xuan’s face suddenly clenched with force!
With a sickening CRUNCH—!
Black Flood Dragon Ao Xuan’s entire head exploded into a spray of blood!
In the golden-robed youth’s hand, a bloody piece of dragon skin had appeared!
Yun Wuya’s expression changed slightly.
His face gradually grew grave!
"You... deserve to die!"
As his ferocious, cold shout faded...
The golden-robed youth’s hand gradually transformed into a gleaming golden dragon’s claw. The sound waves from his voice shook the hundred-li expanse of red sand, kicking up a sky-blotting dust storm!
An indescribably terrifying Demon Qi erupted from Ao Jin’s body.
The beautiful woman and the old man behind him seemed to have anticipated the golden-robed youth’s actions. They had already used a Secret Technique and vanished without a trace.
"I told you so."
"A mere illusion technique wouldn’t fool him."
"We should have just attacked from the start, suppressed and captured him!"
Wu Tianming said, his face devoid of expression.
Beside him, Yun Wuya was silent for a moment.
His original intention had been to bluff his way through this, waiting for Golden Flood Dragon King Ao Jin to leave the Imperial City before attempting to capture him.
That way, if a real fight broke out, it would minimize casualties.
"So be it! It’s just a fight, one way or another!"
Yun Wuya sighed softly, looking at the Golden Flood Dragon King before him.
Then, the two of them unleashed powerful auras, no less imposing than that of the Golden Flood Dragon King.
They focused their gazes on Golden Flood Dragon King Ao Jin.
Even if the coming battle would cause some civilian casualties, the priority right now was to capture this Golden Flood Dragon!
Ao Jin didn’t look at them. Golden flames suddenly ignited between his knuckles, incinerating the black flood dragon skin to ash!
Then, with a WHOOSH, he shot up into the sky!
Dark, ominous clouds instantly began to gather.
Thunder rumbled!
Amidst the thunderclouds, a thousand-zhang golden dragon could be seen, flickering in and out of sight.
A dragon’s roar, filled with torrential fury, rolled down from the thunderclouds, accompanied by peals of thunder that shook the heavens and the earth!
"You broke your word and senselessly killed my brother!"
"Today... I will make this entire Imperial City be buried with him!"
"North Sea of Netherworld!"
High in the clouds, the golden dragon danced and writhed, its roars shaking the sky!
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!
Beneath the Imperial City, the underground waterways surged violently. The surrounding water veins also roared to life, rising like water dragons, roaring as they shot into the air and rapidly converged in the sky!
「In an instant, outside the Imperial City...」
The waves had already crested a thousand zhang, an entire ocean poised to come crashing down!