Chapter 143: Mahayana Layer 5, True Dragon Descendant

Chapter 143: Fifth Stage of the Mahayana Realm, Descendant of the True Dragon

"What was that sound?"

"What's going on? Could someone have been blasted apart during their tribulation?"

"I don't know, but it seemed to come from beyond the sect grounds!"

"Damn it, that nearly drove me to cultivate inner demons!"

"Ahhh! I was forging artifacts! My precious materials are all ruined!"

"Could it be an enemy raid?"

……

Disciples of the Jade Pure Sacred Sect erupted in startled murmurs, while elders emerged from their seclusion chambers one by one to survey the situation in every direction.

Han Jue noticed the peculiar behavior of the two little golden crows, and following their gaze, he looked out—yet saw no divine beasts or demonic birds.

The mountains and rivers surrounding the Jade Pure Sacred Sect remained undisturbed, untouched by ruin; clearly, the earlier thunderous boom had originated from far away.

Han Jue deployed a simulated trial array to scan a hundred li around him, but detected no demonic beasts or divine creatures.

He did not let his guard down, instead waiting patiently.

Soon enough.

Jiuding Zhenren and Li Qingzi arrived, inquiring about the commotion.

Han Jue shook his head. "I am unaware of what transpired myself."

The Black Prison Chicken, Xun Chang'an, Wudao Sword, and others wisely chose not to mention the anomalies surrounding the Fusang tree.

They answered solely to Han Jue, not to the Jade Pure Sacred Sect.

"I pray another great calamity does not befall us," Li Qingzi said, heavy with worry.

Lately, he had been consumed by cultivation; since breaking through to the Divine Transformation stage, his progress had stagnated, weighing heavily upon his mind.

Even though the bitter cultivation at Immortal Ascension Mountain boasted abundant spiritual energy, his innate aptitude placed a ceiling on his advancement.

"Rest assured, with me here, the Jade Pure Sacred Sect shall remain unharmed. Return to manage your sect affairs; do not let panic fracture our ranks," Han Jue stated calmly.

Jiuding Zhenren and Li Qingzi nodded, taking their leave without further disturbance.

Once they departed, Han Jue turned his gaze once more toward the horizon, pondering what manner of entity could possibly be.

Ever since the earth-shattering roar, the Fusang tree had trembled each night, yet the presence it drew never materialized.

Thus, the quiet vigil persisted for half a year.

Jiuding Zhenren paid another visit.

"The cataclysmic noise from half a year ago originated from the demon clan. An ancient ferocious beast has awakened, known as the Three-Headed Flood Dragon King. His bloodline is impure, bearing wings upon his back, capable of commanding winds and summoning rains, and his nature is utterly ruthless. He dwells not too far from our Great Yan," Jiuding Zhenren began, his expression grave.

The Three-Headed Flood Dragon King?

Han Jue asked, "Has this demon unified the clans?"

"Not at all. Rumor has it the demon clans themselves shun him. He is insatiably gluttonous; when he ruled as a demon king, he would casually devour his own subordinates, leaving them unwilling to serve him," Jiuding Zhenren replied.

Han Jue exhaled in relief.

He had feared the demon clans might ignite a world war akin to the previous demonic path uprising, but fortunately, the Three-Headed Flood Dragon King lacked the loyalty of his kind.

Then came the pressing question!

The Fusang tree trembled, which meant the Flood Dragon King's awakening was drawn specifically to it!

Why then did he linger so long before approaching?

Was it caution?

Or was he plotting something in secret?

Han Jue could not fathom it. Since reason offered no answer, he would turn to the Tome of Misfortune to resolve it.

Jiuding Zhenren then recounted recent developments within the Jade Pure Sacred Sect. He intended to nurture Murong Qi into the sect's chief disciple, granting him authority over all junior members; though his rank fell short of the elders, his actual power surpassed theirs.

Han Jue harbored no objections, leaving the matter to Jiuding Zhenren's discretion.

Murong Qi had truly astonished Jiuding Zhenren; he had never imagined such a youth possessed such terrifying talent.

Jiuding Zhenren even found himself wondering whether Han Jue's other disciples might share such prowess.

Yet he dared not press further; merely securing Murong Qi's service to the Jade Pure Sacred Sect was already a considerable triumph.

After Jiuding Zhenren departed, Han Jue immediately drew forth the Tome of Misfortune and began weaving curses against the Three-Headed Flood Dragon King.

……

In the northern reaches of Great Yan.

Demon King Dian Su knelt upon the snow, trembling violently. Before him, amidst the swirling blizzard, three pairs of crimson eyes glowed; each eye dwarfed the demon king himself, implying the true form behind them was colossal beyond measure.

"The direction you speak of may well lead to the Jade Pure Sacred Sect... I urge you, abandon this notion."

Demon King Dian Su stammered, the dread radiating from the creature before him echoing the terror he had once felt facing the Azure Python Sage.

It surpassed that memory tenfold!

The Three-Headed Flood Dragon King!

A hoarse voice followed, rumbling like grinding stones: "Is the Jade Pure Sacred Sect truly formidable?"

"Extremely. There may well dwell a celestial immortal within its walls."

"Nonsense. How could an immortal choose to reside among mortals?"

"Regardless, it is immensely powerful. Across the entire realm today, the Jade Pure Sacred Sect stands as the most fearsome place; I dare say even the Heavenly Immortal Manor pales in comparison."

Upon hearing this, the Three-Headed Flood Dragon King fell silent.

The Flood Dragon King had originally slumbered deep beneath the earth, drawing nourishment from the planet's vital energies, but as the Fusang tree continued to flourish, its resonance finally roused him from his long rest.

He shattered through the surface, driven to seek the mysterious treasure that called to him from the depths of fate.

Yet for reasons unknown, a strange chill seized him as he traveled.

A persistent dread whispered that this journey would end in his death.

Thus, the Three-Headed Flood Dragon King hesitated to advance recklessly.

He began to slow his pace, questioning the demons he encountered along the way.

He received a unanimous reply.

If Great Yan held a treasure capable of drawing him, it could only lie within the Jade Pure Sacred Sect.

But if it was indeed the Jade Pure Sacred Sect, he must absolutely not approach!

Previously, Zhu Dou had soared into Great Yan with tremendous momentum, heading straight for the Jade Pure Sacred Sect, only to perish.

The Azure Python Sage had once charged toward the sect with unstoppable fury, and met his end there.

Though these events may have faded from human memory, they remained among the demon clans as chilling legends that still made their blood run cold.

"Could it be that the Jade Pure Sacred Sect is truly off-limits?"

The Three-Headed Flood Dragon King thought silently to himself.

His cultivation stood at the sixth tier of the Mahayana Realm!

In all under heaven, who dared lay a hand upon him?

Yet that gnawing sense of foreboding was undeniably present!

Demon King Diansu quaked with trepidation, dread coiling in his gut lest the Three-Headed Jiao King’s wounded pride turn to murderous wrath and swallow him whole.

At last, the Three-Headed Jiao King turned and left.

Only then did Demon King Diansu exhale a long, shuddering breath of relief.

……

Thirteen years slipped by.

Han Jue shattered through to the fifth tier of the Mahayana Realm.

The great Fusang tree had swayed for those same thirteen years, leading Han Jue to suspect its movements were deliberate.

It struck him as a form of predation.

Much like a carnivorous bloom waiting for prey.

With two Golden Crows standing guard, no mere demon or mortal beast would dare approach.

Still, Han Jue maintained strict vigilance, casting periodic sweeps across the Jade Clarity Sacred Sect to root out any lurking infiltrators.

Following his breakthrough, he stabilized his newfound power while simultaneously probing the sect for the strongest presence within its walls.

[Three-Headed Jiao King: Sixth Tier of the Mahayana Realm, Scion of the True Dragons]

As expected, he had arrived!

Han Jue’s eyes narrowed. A scion of the True Dragons?

Well-connected, then?

Han Jue initiated a preliminary combat simulation against the Three-Headed Jiao King.

The creature proved pathetically frail, reduced to ash in a single strike.

He traced the intruder’s coordinates, only to find himself utterly dumbfounded.

The Three-Headed Jiao King had disguised himself as a youthful male disciple, kneeling alongside a small group at the base of the Peak of Ascetic Cultivation and Immortal Ascension, desperate to swear allegiance to Han Jue as his master.

Ever since Xun Chang’an, Murong Qi, and Fang Liang achieved success, a steady procession of aspirants had kept watch at the mountain’s base, bowing in silent reverence, too awestruck to utter a word.

And with Murong Qi’s meteoric rise, the fervor for the God-Slaying Elder burned ever brighter among the ranks.

“What manner of scheme is this?”

Han Jue mused, rubbing his chin in quiet contemplation.

Never mind!

Let him remain on his knees!

Han Jue shut his eyes and returned to his meditation.

……

A full year elapsed.

The disguised intruder persisted in his prostrations. Realizing such stagnation served no purpose, Han Jue dispatched Xun Chang’an to bring him inside. To ensure the disciple’s safety, he commanded the twin Golden Crows to perch upon Xun Chang’an’s shoulders, their radiant forms acting as an impenetrable shield.

The Golden Crows themselves stood at the seventh tier of the Mahayana Realm. Could two beings of such stature truly fall to a single sixth-tier opponent?

(End of Chapter)