Chapter 97, Clan Leader’s Plan, Unfortunate Envoy  

Translator: Raznick

 

Mist Province and Cloud Province were neighbors. If the Dragonized Sect truly planned to make a comeback, Mist Province would certainly not escape unscathed. 

 

So Zhou Daoyi’s concerns weren’t unfounded.

 

However, Zhou Chun felt that if the Dragonized Sect stirred up trouble in Jing Kingdom, it might not necessarily be a bad thing for the Zhou Clan.

 

Currently, the cultivation world within Jing Kingdom—and especially the southern provinces of Jing Kingdom—hadn’t seen major power reshuffling for too long. This had led to various cultivating clans and rogue cultivator organizations forming strong alliances and becoming increasingly isolationist.

 

Even with the Green Lotus Monastery’s tacit approval, the Zhou Clan faced numerous restrictions and were constantly looked down upon when trying to settle in Mist Province. Even now that they’ve managed to establish themselves, the Zhou Clan was merely provided with Nine Peaks as a temporary haven—ambitious plans for further growth prove nearly impossible.

 

Zhou Chun had discovered a promising vein of Scarlet Glow Iron, but because the Zhou Clan was seen as outsiders, they were forced to concede most of the benefits. The root cause lay in the natives’ tendency to unite and their strong xenophobia. Without an external force intervention, it was practically impossible to break this situation.

 

Thus, Zhou Chun believed that by instigating the Dragonized Sect to cause some disturbances and eliminate certain native factions, it would create opportunities for the Zhou Clan—specifically by making the already-divided “pie” even bigger in their favor.

 

And during this time, if the Zhou Clan could make a showing by stepping in as saviors to lend a hand to certain forces in need, helping them through their crises… Then, the path for the Zhou Clan would only become broader in the future.

 

Of course, all of this was based on Zhou Clan not becoming a target for the Dragonized Sect’s wrath!

 

But while Zhou Chun harbored such thoughts, he refrained from voicing them. After all, prying ears might be listening—someone could very well be observing or eavesdropping in secret nearby, perhaps another Violet Palace cultivator.

 

Moreover, the timing wasn’t right for such a declaration.

 

With that, he remained vigilant and continued to watch the battle unfold.

 

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the Flood Dragon—its actions driven by its obsession with slaughter and destruction—demonstrated formidable strength. Single-handedly, it reduced six Violet Palace cultivators to a torrid plight.

 

The battle raged on for nearly half an hour until the Flood Dragon, burdened by the expiration of the Dragonized Ascendance spell, burst apart and perished. In that single hour of combat, three of the Violet Palace cultivators were injured, one even missing a limb.

 

The white-haired Green Lotus Monastery Daoist gathered the remains left by the deceased Dragonized Sect cultivator and turned to the three Violet Palace cultivators from Cloud Province, saying, “Fellow Daoist Lu, you should escort these two Fellow Daoists back to tend their wounds. We still have a task—hunting down that Blue Flood Dragon. Farewell.”

 

To prevent any misunderstanding, he added, “Rest assured, no matter if we succeed in slaying the Blue Flood Dragon or not, your assistance today in wiping out the remnants of the Dragonized Sect won’t be forgotten. There will be rewards for you all soon.”

 

This reassurance slightly eased their expressions, and they agreed to his request. They watched as the three Green Lotus Monastery cultivators pursued the Blue Flood Dragon’s trail.

 

As they observed this scene, Zhou Daoyi suddenly addressed Zhou Chun, “I am about to undertake a perilous task and can no longer keep you by my side. Zhengchun, return to the clan on your own.”

 

Zhou Chun, unsurprised by this declaration, asked him, “Are you going to pursue that Blue Flood Dragon, Clan Leader?”

 

“It doesn’t concern you, no go.”

 

Zhou Daoyi shook his head, neither confirming nor denying.

 

But Zhou Chun knew that his silence was as good as an admission.

 

He had actually suspected this all along.

 

The Sky Cloud Python owned by Zhou Daoyi, which contained the Flood Dragon bloodline, derived from a Blue Flood Dragon.

 

To evolve the Sky Cloud Python into a Flood Dragon, using the inner core of a Blue Flood Dragon as material would be the most suitable option.

 

However, even in its current injured state, the power of a Blue Flood Dragon was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Violet Palace Stage cultivator to handle.

 

With only a mid Foundation Establishment cultivation, how could Zhou Daoyi possibly have the confidence to scheme against a third-grade Flood Dragon?

 

Zhou Chun didn’t understand it, but didn’t ansk either.

 

He could only nod and watch Zhou Daoyi leave.

 

After he left, Zhou Chun looked in the direction of the Flood Dragon next.

 

The buried nest was being excavated by Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the Green Lotus Monastery Foundation Establishment cultivators that redirected the river let it return to its proper course, though it would take a while before the water returned.

 

The nest of a Flood Dragon was quite the treasure trove. Typically, any site where a Flood Dragon built its lair was a Natural Qi site and conducive to the growth of rare items. Moreover, the formidable and domineering bloodline aura of the Flood Dragon gradually corrupted and transformed the properties of nearby plants, minerals, and stones, turning them into so-called dragon blood items.

 

For instance, the well-known Dragon Grass only grew on the outskirts of a fourth-grade Flood Dragon’s nest. The stronger the Flood Dragon’s power and the longer its aura had been influencing the area, the more potent the Dragon Grass became. Additionally, other items like dragon blood grass, dragon blood stone, and dragon blood fruit were mostly formed in this manner.

 

In the cultivation world, there was once a discovery of a fourth-grade Flood Dragon’s nest, where the beast had lived for centuries. Someone took advantage of the dragon’s absence to raid its lair entirely. The haul they got from the nest alone was worth more than the loot from slaying two other fourth-grade demon beasts combined.

 

These treasures were hatched over time through the dragon’s influence and the Natural Qi in its nest, making them incredibly valuable and sought after by cultivators.

 

So one could understand the value of a Flood Dragon nest.

 

However, the Flood Dragon nest on Flying Horse Mountain had only just been completed, with both dragons not yet reaching fourth-grade in power. Even though there might be some dragon blood items inside, their quality was likely low. Otherwise, other Violet Palace Stage cultivators would have taken action themselves.

 

But despite this, the enormous fame of a Flood Dragon nest was enough to attract several Foundation Establishment cultivators willing to take on the hard labor of excavation.

 

As for Zhou Chun, he too wanted to get in on the action, but alas, he simply didn’t have the strength. At this point, he could only sigh deeply and shake his head, heading down the mountain alone to return to Mist Province.

 

This trip to Cloud Province had not yielded any dragon blood items as he had hoped. But he had gained experience of a true Flood Dragon’s divine abilities, experience of a Violet Palace Stage cultivator’s skills, and experience of the Dragonized Sect’s uniquely evil secret arts. Though his gains were shallow, it had broadened his horizons nonetheless.

 

And even though he hadn’t acquired any dragon blood items yet, there was still hope that he could obtain some in the future. Whether it was a Green Lotus Monastery cultivator slaying a Flood Dragon or if Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi had indeed succeeded in his “sneaky venture,” Zhou Chun believed he could secure some dragon blood items.

 

It was this lingering hope that made Zhou Chun less reluctant to leave Cloud Province and return to the clan. After all, it was time for him to go back.

 

But as soon as Zhou Chun stepped down from the mountain, he was intercepted.

 

“Remove your bamboo hat immediately so I can inspect you. If you refuse, you’ll be treated as a remnant of the Dragonized Sect.”

 

In the forest, a Green Lotus Monastery cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage hovered in mid-air, blocking Zhou Chun’s path and coldly ordering him to submit to the inspection.

 

At that moment, Zhou Chun still wore the bamboo hat gifted to him by Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi. With such an outfit, it was no wonder he aroused suspicion.

 

Zhou Chun, however, never imagined that Green Lotus Monastery would act so quickly, beginning their search for remnants of the Dragonized Sect right at this moment.

 

With a Foundation Establishment cultivator currently eyeing him suspiciously, Zhou Chun felt his anxiety rising. He hurriedly pulled off the bamboo hat atop his head, revealing his true appearance and said, “Senior, please understand me. I am a cultivator from the Spirit Beast Zhou Clan of Mist Province, not some leftover from the Dragonized Sect.”

 

Noticing that this man in his thirties already possessed the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation, the Foundation Establishment cultivator mentally conceded he might have made a mistake. Yet, since he had already intercepted him, he pressed further: “If you’re a cultivator from Mist Province, why are you meddling in affairs here in Cloud Province? Where’s your Senior?”

 

This line of questioning struck Zhou Chun as rather baseless. Nevertheless, he could only respond with patience.

 

“My clan specializes in the art of beast-taming. Among our Seniors, one has successfully domesticated a demon beast with the bloodline of Flood Dragon. Upon hearing of this opportunity to acquire dragon blood items, I ventured here hoping to procure some for my Senior.”

 

“That so?” The Foundation Establishment cultivator glanced at Zhou Chun’s waist, where a spirit beast pouch was hanging. Apparently, he chose to believe Zhou Chun’s explanation.

 

“Very well, then be on your way.” The cultivator swept his hand dismissively.

 

“Thank you, Senior!” Zhou Chun bowed in gratitude. He dared not put the bamboo hat back on and hurried off, showing his true appearance as he went.

 

Since the Green Lotus Monastery had already begun searching for remnants of the Dragonized Sect, it was those Dragonized Sect leftovers who should be panicking now. They likely wouldn’t have time to bother him anymore.

 

And before Zhou Chun even left the borders of Flying Horse Mountain, he witnessed several instances of Dragonized Sect disciples being rounded up and slain. From the looks of things, the entire Cloud Province cultivation world’s markets and various clans, along with rogue cultivator organizations, would soon begin thorough investigations on cultivators entering their realms to cultivate.

 

After leaving Flying Horse Mountain, Zhou Chun confidently set a course, summoning his flying artifact to speed ahead. Knowing that Cloud Province had become a hotbed of turmoil, he naturally wanted to escape the area as quickly as possible.

 

However, barely thirty miles into his flight, Zhou Chun noticed disturbances behind him—skies filled with unusual noises and flickering lights. It appeared someone was dueling in mid-air, with one party chasing and another fleeing.

 

This kind of situation was entirely unfamiliar to Zhou Chun. Without hesitation, he descended to the ground to avoid potential danger. Once settled, his curiosity about the identities of the aerial duelists grew. He quickly deployed a mystical art to enhance his vision, peering upwards.

 

In the clouds above, a robed figure in blue and another in white were collaborating to surround and attack an elderly man clad in black. All three seemed to be at Foundation Establishment Stage, a fact Zhou Chun could discern from their aura.

 

“Those are Foundation Establishment cultivators from Green Lotus Monastery,” Zhou Chun muttered to himself.

 

Zhou Chun immediately recognized the Black Robed Elder’s attire as belonging to the Dragonized Sect. His thoughts raced as he pieced together their identities.

 

According to the sect’s hierarchy, Qi Refining cultivators were ordinary disciples, Foundation Establishment cultivators served as envoys, Violet Palace Stage cultivators acted as protectors, Golden Core Stage cultivators held the title of Elder, and only those at the Nascent Soul stage could rise to become the sect’s leaders and vice leaders.

 

Given that the black robe was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had to be an envoy in the Dragonized Sect. It seemed his luck had run out; his true identity was exposed, and now he was being pursued all the way to this spot.

 

Meanwhile, the Green Lotus Monastery cultivators and the woman in the white robe had completely surrounded him, leaving little chance for escape. Zhou Chun watched the battle unfold below, observing the three-way skirmish for about an hour before noticing that the the black robe cultivator began to show signs of weakening. He struggled increasingly to fend off his two adversaries’ intensifying attacks.

 

Then, he witnessed the application of Dragonized Sutra once more.

 

Given his cultivation level, his mastery of the Dragonized Sutra should had reached the second stage.

 

After unleashing this secret art, a layer of black scales appeared on the surface of his body beneath his robes.

 

Compared to the lifelike dragon scales covering the two Dragonized Sect enforcers earlier, the black robe’s black scales seemed somewhat illusory, like merely an effect of mystical art rather than something tangible and textured.

 

Even so, these scales provided defensive capabilities equivalent to wearing a second-grade internal protective artifact.

 

Furthermore, the secret art gave him a pair of second-grade claw-like artifacts, ones that did not require additional expenditure of spiritual power.

 

As a result, the black robe’s fighting style shifted dramatically. While he continued to wield his artifact and black scales artifact to parry and block his opponent’s attacks, his claws swung with precision, slicing through the incoming mystical art with razor-sharp energy blades. At times, he lunged forward like a demon beast, pouncing viciously toward his opponent’s core.

 

The two opponents remained calm in the face of this sudden shift. The Daoist from Green Lotus Monastery rapidly formed hand seals, and a sphere of green spiritual light swiftly shot toward the approaching black-clothed old man, transforming into a massive green lotus that imprisoned him within its petals. Meanwhile, the woman in the white robe also began forming hand seals; a frigid aura emanated from her palm as she summoned a white ice dragon over ten feet long. With a single gesture, the ice dragon lashed its tail and charged at the black-clothed old man with bared fangs.

 

The poor fellow, barely managing to tear apart the green lotus restraining him, was immediately struck by the white ice dragon. The dragon, composed entirely of extreme cold energy, collided with the old man on impact, instantly encasing him in a massive block of pristine-white ice that plummeted toward the ground.

 

All this transpired high above the earth—over a thousand feet up—and if allowed to fall unindered, the black-clothed old man would surely meet an untimely demise. He was all too aware of this grim reality as he faced certain doom in mid-air.

 

Therefore, during the time when the white ice fell hard, he also recklessly unleashed a self-destructive technique from the Dragonized Sutra, combining it with another cultivation method and a secret art to shatter the ice.

 

A sudden boom erupted in the sky, sending fragments of ice flying everywhere. On the ground, it felt like a hailstorm had broken out.

 

Once freed, the black-clothed man didn’t even bother retrieving his two artifacts. Instead, he charged toward a small river a mile away, completely drenched in blood.

 

“He’s trying to escape using the water. Stop him!”

 

The Daoist from the Green Lotus Monastery in the sky turned pale as he instantly figured out the black-clothed elder’s plan. Earlier, when the elder had fallen, both he and the woman in white had let their guard down, thinking the man was dead for sure.

 

Now, trying to intercept the fleeing black-clothed man in this chaotic moment proved to be no easy task.

 

As the black-clothed man was midway through his retreat, he encountered several first-grade mystical arts clumsily thrown by both individuals. After sustaining a few hits, he dove straight into the river.