Donghai Longzi's skin turned darker until it was pitch black. His robes merged with his skin, transforming to ebon-colored scales. His humanoid form elongated until it turned serpentine. His horns grew, and two more prongs grew out of the base on each horn, making it a three-pronged horn. His hot-white eyes resembled stars. Finally, tiny motes of light glittered endlessly across his scales, making them resemble the starry sky.
A silence descended onto the banquet hall as they took in Donghai Longzi's true form. Even next to Demon Emperor Redraco, his presence did not diminish. In fact, he exuded a majestic pressure that threatened to eclipse the leader of the True Dragon Realm.
Demon Emperor Redraco's slit-like pupils turned paper thin. He had never seen Donghai Longzi's true form either, and upon witnessing the powerful bloodline emanating from the True Dragon Realm's newest dragon lord, he doubled down on his decision. Despite not entering the Demon Emperor Realm, Donghai Longzi already had the bearing of a dragon king.
He spared a glance at Honglin. Seeing the barely concealed awe, Demon Emperor Redraco felt his spirit lift. He coughed, breaking the silence that had overtaken the banquet.
Liveliness colored the banquet again.
"I heard that one of our kin was born and stranded amongst the despicable humans. I wondered what kind of character could survive among them and return a dragon lord, but upon seeing Lord Donghai, it's all clear to me now," a dragon with shell-like plating covering his body flattered.
"Panwei is right. I heard rumors that the True Dragon Realm might have another Dragon King soon. At first, I thought it was nothing but gibberish, but upon seeing Lord Donghai, it's clear that the rumor is not just mere rumor," Shiagui, a dragon with lobster-like claws and a turtle shell, praised.
Donghai Longzi only smiled, not replying. However, the two dragons didn't show any displeasure and only laughed. He glanced toward the dull red dragon that targeted him earlier, only to see said dragon trying to make his existence as small as possible.
He knew that the dull red dragon was only used as a knife, and the true mastermind did not show himself. So, with great mercy, Donghai Longzi did not bring up the matter.
Demon Emperor Redraco smiled at Donghai Longzi's actions. Although he disdained the praise by Panwei and Shiagui, he didn't make an example of the dull red dragon either.
At this time, an elegant dragon with marine scales and long trailing fins spoke out. "Lord Donghai is a true dragon amongst dragons. With your aid, the humans will learn their place in the next war."
"In my opinion, Lord Donghai can already handle ten human monarchs," a beautiful white-scaled dragon with coral-like horns praised. Her voice was as beguiling as a siren's.
Before the praise could last for long, a cold snort echoed through the hall. "You're just a bunch of dragonlings who haven't experienced the cruelty of war. In that bloody battle, even a dragon king will fall if he isn't careful, much less a dragon lord."
The speaker was a scar-ridden dragon with earthen scales. Powerful muscles bulged below his scales, making him appear twice as thick as other dragons. Noticeably, his tail was missing. He was a true dragon that survived the Divine Beast-Human War. After the war, he broke through to the Demon King Realm.
His words caused silence to descend and dampen the liveliness. The other true dragon survivors of the war propagated this atmosphere. Although this was a banquet to allow Donghai Longzi to acquaint himself with the younger generations, dragons lived far longer than humans of the same realm. For a true dragon, ten thousand years was still considered their teenage years, so many of the dragons present had experienced that devastating war.
The war left permanent marks on every one of the survivor's bodies, physical and immaterial.
Demon Emperor Redraco said nothing and just waited for Donghai Longzi's reply. As a participant, he also experienced the cruelty of the war. The previous Azure Dragon had died, allowing him to ascend to his current position.
"Your words are correct," Donghai Longzi said. "I don't know what to call you?"
"Tulong," the earthen-scaled dragon said.
"Well, Tulong," Donghai Longzi continued. "I was born after the war, so you are right that I'm inexperienced. I don't know if you are willing to impart your experience to me."
The atmosphere turned tense, yet a hint of electricity sparked through the air. The dragons' eyes drifted between Donghai Longzi and Tulong. Although Donghai Longzi emitted a majestic presence coated in destruction, only baptism by battle would fully convince all dragons.
"My pleasure!" Tulong growled as he flew into the center of the banquet hall. Donghai Longzi responded in kind.
Demon Emperor Redraco expanded the center so that it was over ten kilometers large. Hardly enough for two dragon lords to duke it out, but sufficient for each to test the other.
Donghai Longzi's tail waved leisurely, waiting for Tulong to make the first move. Fury entered his eyes at his foe's lighthearted approach. It was true that he was only a second-step dragon lord, but dragons always placed more importance on their fleshly prowess.
Still, Tulong did not let rage cloud his thoughts. Had he kept this habit, he would have long fallen in the Divine Beast-Human War. Yellow aura covered his body, strengthening it. He opened his maw and released a thunderous roar.
Rocks condensed in front of his jaws, and their density reached the point of exceeding steel. The air popped and shattered as the rocks launched at Donghai Longzi.
Even as they neared him, Donghai Longzi still idly swished his tail, like he couldn't see the rocks shooting toward him. Tulong snorted with disdain in his eyes.
Right before the rocks made contact, they exploded and engulfed Donghai Longzi entirely. The blast radiuses overlapped, multiplying the power each time they did. Gasps echoed in the banquet hall.
Honglin frowned, but she glanced at her grandfather. Demon Emperor Redraco showed no change in expression. Seeing this, she turned back and waited for the dust to clear.
Tulong's eyes widened when he saw Donghai Longzi unscathed, as if an explosion had never occurred. Although Donghai Longzi was a fifth-step dragon lord, he should not have been able to remain whole unhurt. "Hmpf, your defense is good, but if that's all you're good at, you will never be able to defeat me."
Donghai Longzi towered over Tulong. Tulong only reached a third of his length, but his bulging muscles made him seem equal in every way. Tulong’s muscle density increased, doubling his mass. His dull brown scales took on a yellow luster as he charged at Donghai Longzi.
The dragons present wondered how Donghai Longzi would fend off this assault.
When Tulong saw that Donghai Longzi was still not reacting, he growled. 'You'll pay for your arrogance.'
Right before Tulong reached him, Donghai Longzi finally reacted. A single hand reached out to meet the full force of Tulong's assault. The survivors and dragon lords all shared the same thought. Donghai Longzi would reap the consequences of his arrogance. Not just them, but even Demon Emperor Redraco sighed. 'Still too young.'
When Donghai Longzi's long hand clashed with Tulong, the scene everyone expected did not occur. Instead, Tulong crashed brutally onto the floor, forming a crater. A giant phantom of Donghai Longzi's hand materialized and shackled Tulong.
No matter how Tulong struggled, the hand shackling him did not budge even a millimeter. Not even his dragon qi could leave more than a few centimeters from his body. All his spells were absorbed by the phantom hand without causing it to change.
Finally, Tulong stopped struggling, and his muscles returned to their normal size. Donghai Longzi didn't continue to torment him and took his hand off. The phantom hand dematerialized in conjunction.
Tulong took a deep look at Donghai Longzi as if to ingrain his image forever. "I admit, you do have the foundation to be arrogant. However, you still have to be careful in the war."
When Tulong left, Donghai Longzi moved his hands behind his back before remembering that he was in his true form. With a cough, he shifted back to his human form, hands behind his back. He scanned the dragon lords present. "Does anyone else have any experience to impart to me?"
None of the dragon lords stepped up. Although many of them could defeat Tulong, none could do so as decisively as Donghai Longzi. Rather than a dragon lord, his strength had already reached the dragon king level. Who would step forward to seek abuse? Not to mention it would be far more humiliating if they were defeated by his human form.
"I don't have any experience to impart, but I would like to seek pointers." Donghai turned to see Honglin fly into the center of the hall. Contrary to moments ago, her eyes were heated, but not like that of a maiden in love. No, this was a warrior who found a worthy rival.
An amused smile appeared on Donghai Longzi's face. He made a 'please' gesture with his hand.
Honglin immediately charged without another word, shocking Donghai Longzi. She raised her claw and slashed down. The very tip of her claws concealed blood-red lights.
Donghai Longzi materialized his true form's hand as a qi construct that blocked Honglin's attack. His eyes widened when he felt ripples appear on the qi hand. Tulong had greater power as a dragon lord, but Honglin, with her True Demon Realm cultivation base, possessed far greater penetrative power. Thus, she actually posed a greater threat than Tulong.
Furthermore, Donghai Longzi actually felt that his blood was out of his control. It was as if it wanted to break out of his body and stream toward Honglin. 'The Law of Blood? Is this her innate ability or her own comprehension? No, this technique is too perfect. This Scarletblood Dragon has mastered the Law of Blood!'
Now comes the question. Why would Honglin not break through to the Demon King Realm after mastering a worldly law? There could only be one answer. Honglin wanted to master a stronger law to enter the Demon King Realm.
Donghai Longzi waved his arm, knocking back Honglin. She didn't give up, charging again and again, refining her technique. He could feel her increasing strength. His thoughts drifted to San Jiuling. Thanks to the Divine Beast Pseudo System's spies in the Huang Realm, he learned that the Leakless Sect had perished.
Now, how would San Jiuling's road to revenge develop? Naturally, he'll become an essential member of the Divine Beast Pseudo System's hierarchy. He would get revenge for his sect and destroy the Buzhou Immortal Sect.
However, along the way, how could he remain single? Only a peerless genius would fit him. Was Honglin this genius, fated to be with San Jiuling and aid him in his revenge?
"You're amazing. Take my most powerful attack!" Honglin said, breaking Donghai Longzi out of his thoughts.
Blood leaked out from below her scales. They converged and covered her, not only increasing her size but also her aura. Rather than a true dragon, she gave off the aura of an intermediate dragon lord. A violet-gold light exuded from her blood dragon form.
Donghai Longzi's expression turned serious. He could feel his blood reacting to her, treating her as someone equal. Did her bloodline reach the same level as his? "Should I kill her and eliminate this danger before she realizes her potential?"
Honglin didn't know of his thoughts and charged. Her hand, which possessed seven claws, struck forward. Donghai Longzi immediately shifted into his true form and retaliated.
The clash was short and overwhelming. Honglin crashed into a pillar, scales broken and puking blood. Inwardly, some bones shattered and organs ruptured. In the end, Donghai Longzi stayed his hand. He still had to live in the True Dragon Realm, and killing Demon Emperor Redraco's granddaughter was foolish.
"My apologies," Donghai Longzi said. "Your granddaughter's transformation made me instinctually fear her. I have to congratulate you. Once your granddaughter enters the Demon King Realm, she'll have a high chance of reaching the Demon Emperor Realm."
"No, it's I who should apologize for my granddaughter not knowing the severity of the situation," Demon Emperor Redraco said. If Donghai Longzi killed her, it was unknown how he would react. But the reality was that she didn't die.
He healed Honglin, and the banquet resumed. Not only did Donghai Longzi's prestige rise, but so did Honglin's. However, throughout the banquet, he felt Honglin staring at him without uttering a word. 'Is she holding a grudge?'
Thankfully, he only had to endure her stare for a single day as the banquet ended. Donghai Longzi was granted a territory that was not that large, but it was close to the core of the True Dragon Realm, so it was full of spiritual qi, spiritual veins, and natural treasures.
There was just one problem.
"Dragon Lord, let's fight!"
Donghai Longzi stared at Honglin, who also came to his territory after the banquet. 'What is her scheme? Does she want to find out my weakness and kill me in revenge? Or did she get into contact with San Jiuling and hear of how I bullied him and want to get justice for him? Whatever your plot is, it won't work on me!"
R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at f(r)eew𝒆bnovel.com Only