Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 576 - 351: Demon Dragon

High above the Southern Sea, Xu Yang rode the clouds, silently tallying his gains.

This venture was exceedingly smooth. Not only did he acquire the Essence Gold Divine Iron but also took the entire Ancient Iron Mountain.

Essence Gold Divine Iron, ranking at the Eighth Order, combined with one Ancient Iron Mountain and the resources he had gathered over the years, were enough to elevate Xuanyuan to a Superior Immortal Implement. There was even a surplus left for the construction of the Nine Rituals Heavenly Mecha.

However...

He had to keep a restraint over the Southern Sea. This trip could not be considered perfect.

His initial intention was to stir up a big fight, to challenge the might of the Calamity Immortal at the Dragon Palace.

Unexpectedly, the Dragon Monarch was rash, but the Dragon Queen was very rational, which prevented him from taking advantage of the situation.

Although the Dragon Palace of the Southern Sea would inevitably be dissatisfied and surely make a big fuss afterward, he still felt something was lacking, it was not perfect.

Even so, he couldn’t just act recklessly. The reputation of upholding justice was very important. It related to future scheming and should not be compromised over a trivial matter.

So...

"Roar!!!"

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a dragon’s roar coming from afar.

"Hmm?"

Xu Yang frowned, raising his eyes to look. The light from his forehead revealed all, piercing through heavenly secrets.

"Is it this fiend?"

He used the Admiring Eye of Heaven and, upon seeing the origin of the other, Xu Yang smiled, "Foes meet on a narrow path, it’s fate indeed!"

With that, he swept his horsetail whisk and the auspicious clouds turned into rosy light, shooting straight ahead.

...

Urgent, urgent, urgent, above the Southern Sea, a streak of Escape Light dashed hurriedly but still failed to shake off the pursuer behind.

"Roar!"

A dragon’s roar resounded with a chilling malice, along with surging Demonic Qi, transforming into the air of the Great Dark Heaven.

Upon closer inspection, amidst the rolling dark clouds, a demonic shadow rose and swung its tail, surpassing the light of escape.

It was a Demon Dragon, a Mahayana Demon Dragon.

The Southern Sea connected with South Observance, and was adjacent to the Demon Abyss, a place mixed with Immortals and Buddhists, Demons and Monsters.

Thus, a Mahayana Demon Dragon appearing above the Southern Sea was not world-shaking, not even unusual.

"Roar!"

The Demon Dragon let out a long roar. Lifting its fearsome head, it spat out a black beam, chasing directly after the person in front.

"Bang!!!"

The black beam was incredibly fast. Like a swift wind or lightning strike, it hit the fleeing light and revealed a battered Flying Boat; the strike from the black beam caused it to fall apart, throwing several figures from it.

Among these figures were both men and women, all extremely good-looking. Two of them had Cultivation levels that had reached the Integration Realm, but their faces were pale and blood was seeping from the corners of their mouths. It was clear they were the owners of the Flying Boat, already injured by the impact of the black beam.

Now that the Flying Boat had shattered, the group was helpless, only able to support their injured bodies and attempt to break free individually.

But to their dismay...

"Heeheehee!"

A sinister laugh echoed as rolling demonic clouds swooped in, quickly casting darkness as they transformed into a Demon Realm.

Within the Demon Realm, the Demon Dragon twisted its body like a snake, sealing off the escape routes of everyone. It then looked down from high above, laughing horrifically, "The taste of Merfolk, it has been a long time since I’ve had it. Today, to be devoured by me is your honor."

No sooner had it spoken than it opened its bloody maw and Demonic Qi roared forth, turning into a black whirlpool, pulling at their bodies.

Faced with the power of a Mahayana Demon Dragon, the group of Merfolk turned deathly pale, completely unable to resist and about to be devoured.

Just at that moment...

"Boom!!!"

A thunderous boom sounded, as if the sky were falling and the earth collapsing, shattering the dark Demon Realm and striking directly at the Demon Dragon’s head.

It was a Divine Thunder, a blend of five radiant colors fused together, turning into the momentum of thunderbolts. It struck like a falling pillar, landing right on the Demon Dragon’s Heavenly Spirit.

"Roar!!!"

Caught off guard and struck by the thunder, the Mahayana Demon Dragon couldn’t bear it, letting out a pained howl as it coiled its body.

Seizing the chance, a sweep of a whisk flashed by, resembling a golden rope dazzling to the eyes, and swept the Merfolk away from the Demon Realm.

"Zhen Yuanzi!"

At this instance, the Mahayana Demon Dragon regained its composure, raising its head in shock and anger, looking towards the high sky, "It’s you again!"

High above in the colorful auspicious clouds, the Dao Practitioner stood sturdy, his words light and laughing, "No wonder I had a whim this morning. It turns out I’m destined to settle this karmic debt. Mo Yunzi, today I shall act on behalf of heaven to rid of this demon head."

"Hmph, self-righteous, putting on a show of power!"

Named "Mo Yunzi," the Demon Dragon sneered, "Hiding behind your Mountain Gate Array for six hundred years, you think you are invincible. Today, I will show you there are always others stronger!"

"Then come!"

Xu Yang smiled and without more words, he swept his whisk, and immediately thunder boomed, unleashing the force of the Five Elements.

"Roar!!!"

Mo Yunzi roared and coiled its body. The demonic clouds billowed, transforming into a dark Demon Realm to ward off the Five Elements Divine Thunder.

"Boom!!!"

Yet, the might of the Innate Five Elements and the power of the Taoism Divine Power were not something mere demonic clouds could withstand. Amidst the thunderous roars, the demonic clouds shattered, the Demon Realm collapsed, and at last, only the shadow of a dragon was seen, desperately fleeing.

"Ha!"

Unsurprised, Xu Yang unleashed the Five Colors Divine Light, chasing after the fleeing enemy.

...

...

...

Watching the two Mahayana figures running away, the group of Merfolk by the side stood in a daze for a long time before they finally recovered as if awakening from a dream.

"That was..."

"Wuzhuang Temple’s Zhen Yuanzi?"

"The Great Immortal Zhen Yuan from the South Observance Continent?"

"It was actually him?"

"No wonder Mo Yunzi was like a frightened bird!"

"We were saved against all odds, saved against all odds!"

The merfolk were like waking from a dream, filled with joy at having survived a catastrophe.

...

Meanwhile, Xu Yang rode on the Divine Light, executing the Five Elements Great Escape, but he was neither hurried nor slow as he chased after the escaping Demon Dragon.

He and this Demon Head Mo Yunzi were old acquaintances.

Over the years, he had made many friends and attracted many enemies in the South Observance Continent as he subdued demons and dispelled evil.

Mo Yunzi was one of them, a Mahayana practitioner of the Demon Path with the body of an evil dragon, who had wreaked havoc in the realm of South Observance for many years. He had clashed with True Person Ziyang and Pure Jun Sword Lord; although defeated, he had still managed to escape with his life.

After Xu Yang became his enemy, Mo Yunzi even besieged Wuzhuang Temple on Mount Longevity for three months and, during Xu Yang’s ascension to Mahayana, joined forces with a group of crooked demons and evil spirits, watching for an opportunity to cause trouble.

Though he did not succeed, the enmity was established, so after Xu Yang’s ascension to Mahayana, many of the Demon Path Mahayana who deemed themselves no match for him and feared he would rally friends for a joint attack began to quietly withdraw from the South Observance realm. Only a few powerful demons, relying on the advantage of their lairs, stubbornly defended their turf.

Mo Yunzi was among the former, known as one of the weaker figures within the Mahayana of the Demon Path. He had been running rampant for years relying on his Demonic Escape Technique and the body of an evil dragon, but he generally bullied the weak and feared the strong; he might not win fights, but he could always escape.

As such, after learning that Xu Yang had defeated an Arhat at the Pill Origin Gathering and possessed a formidable method to manipulate the void using the Five Elements, he decisively packed up and fled.

And for over six hundred years, Xu Yang had been focused on his cultivation, diligently practicing his Divine Powers, and had no time to trouble himself with him or other demons.

But Heavenly Dao has its own order, and karma naturally comes full circle. Today, they had unexpectedly encountered each other above the Southern Sea.

Indeed, enemies often cross paths!

Not only were enemies destined to meet, but there was something more…

Thinking of some rumors about this demon, Xu Yang’s eyes shone with amusement, and his Divine Light accelerated, closing in from behind.

"Damn it!"

Facing a formidable enemy and a looming threat of death with little room to maneuver, Mo Yunzi bit down hard and finally decided to take the plunge, diving into the sea with a flick of his tail.

"Bang!!!"

The Demon Dragon plunged into the sea, stirring up towering waves, and fled far into the distance.

"Indeed, there’s no smoke without fire!"

Seeing this, Xu Yang was not surprised and shifted his Five Elements to water attribute, diving into the sea as well.

...

At the bottom of the Southern Sea, within the Crystal Palace.

Despite the recent mishap that was barely controlled, the Grand Void Sea Assembly had to go on, for the sake of the Dragon Palace’s reputation.

Therefore, the Crystal Palace still resounded with singing and dancing, the cultivators had varying thoughts, but they continued to drink and make merry.

Life is like a play, why take it too seriously?

Even the Dragon Monarch of the Southern Sea suppressed his rising anger and returned to the banquet, once again engaging in jovial conversation with his fellow Mahayana practitioners, temporarily dispelling the earlier gloom.

At that moment…

"Report!!!"

Urgent cries disrupted the music as the crab general guarding the gate rushed into the palace, falling to the floor in a panic and reported, "Dragon, Dragon Monarch, he, Zhen Yuanzi is here again!"

"What?"

Hearing this, everyone was startled, their faces filled with astonishment.

He’s here again?

What for?

"This is too much!"

The Dragon Monarch of the Southern Sea was furious, slamming his hand on the table and shooting up, rushing outside.

"This…"

"Quickly go to the Eastern Palace, inform the Dragon Queen!"

"What does Zhen Yuanzi want by coming back?"

"Could it be that he’s not satisfied with just obtaining the Essence Gold Divine Iron and wants to lay claim to our other treasures?"

"Such an outrage; does he really think he’s so powerful that no one can deal with him?"

"The Dragon Palace of the Southern Sea is part of the Immortal God Taoism, after all!"

Witnessing this, the crowd had varied reactions: some were deeply worried, some indifferent, taking delight in the misfortune of others.

In such a state, outside the Crystal Palace.

"Zhen Yuanzi!"

The Dragon Monarch of the Southern Sea arrived with a roar, confronting the Taoist Man standing outside the palace gates: "What more do you want?"

Xu Yang, holding a horsetail whisk, softly laughed and said, "Dragon Monarch, please calm your anger. I have no other intention in coming here. Just now above the Southern Sea, I saw a Demon Dragon wreaking havoc; it was the Demon from the South Observance, Mo Yunzi. I intervened and have been pursuing him all the way here…"

"Presumptuous!"

Before he could finish, he was interrupted as the Dragon Monarch of the Southern Sea bellowed: "Are you suggesting that my Dragon Palace in the Southern Sea harbors evil demons?"

"I had no such thought."

Xu Yang shook his head and spoke calmly: "But indeed, Mo Yunzi has fled to this place. He might have hidden himself within the palace using a secret technique. To eliminate the demon and for the peace of the Southern Sea, I ask that the Dragon Monarch allow me to search inside…"

"Presumptuous!"

Before he could finish again, he was interrupted, as the Dragon Monarch of the Southern Sea roared with his scales standing on end: "Do you think my Dragon Palace is a place you can casually search? Zhen Yuanzi, don’t go too far!"

"This…?"

The cultivators behind had also arrived, and seeing the enraged Dragon Monarch of the Southern Sea and Xu Yang standing outside the palace, they were momentarily unsure.

"Mo Yunzi?"

"Could it be that one?"

"Mo Yunzi from the South Observance, the evil dragon, has long been rumored to be associated with the Dragon Palace of the Southern Sea, said to be the younger brother of the Dragon Queen and the brother-in-law of the Dragon Monarch of the Southern Sea!"

"Initially thought to be mere gossip, who would have guessed there was truth to it?"

"This Zhen Yuanzi is a bit too much; as they say, a favor obligates, and one who benefits is bound. Having received such a treasure, can’t you turn a blind eye?"

"To chase after them and demand entry, do you really intend to force the Dragon Palace of the Southern Sea to turn hostile? What benefit would there be for you?"

"This person’s actions are too overbearing!"

The people in the back furrowed their brows and muttered their grievances.

The Dragon Monarch of the Southern Sea was boiling with fury: "If you dare step into my Dragon Palace today, we of the Southern Sea will be at odds with you until the death!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yang also fell silent and finally shook his head with a sigh: "So be it then. Since the Dragon Monarch refuses, I will not insist. I only advise the Dragon Monarch that keeping company with evil leads to one’s downfall. Associating with evil demons will surely invite self-destruction!"

Having said this, he paid no mind to the other’s reaction and turned to leave, leaving behind the furious Dragon Monarch of the Southern Sea and the bewildered onlookers.