Chapter 179: The Ferocious Black Dragon
Everyone on the Thousand-Serpent Island gathered in one of its expansive valleys.
"Mr. Zheng, I see your cultivation has advanced again!" Xiao Nanfeng remarked.
Zheng Qian smiled. "It's all thanks to the inner core from that giant golden serpent you bestowed upon me, Benefactor."
"You've worked very diligently on my behalf, Mr. Zheng, and this spiritbeast core is worth far less in comparison. There'll be some draconic aether ahead, too, so be prepared to absorb it."
Zheng Qian nodded gratefully.
"When are we starting, Young Master? We can't wait!" Ye Dafu cried out.
Xiao Nanfeng reared back in alarm. "What's the matter, Ye Dafu? Why's your face pitch-black? Were you poisoned?"
"No, we're alright," Ye Dafu replied, smiling in embarrassment.
Not only was his face pitch-black, all of his lackeys' faces were, too. The snowy-white teeth they revealed were particularly striking in comparison.
Ye Sanshui clutched his forehead and looked at the cultivators disdainfully. He explained, "Please don't mind them, Young Master. Dafu and the others didn't take the antidote."
"Weren't there enough?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.
"There were, but we think that being bitten by these serpents is rather comfortable. Our bodies are tingly all over, as if we're on fire! It's like there are electric currents passing over our skin. I can't describe how comfortable it is!" Ye Dafu explained, luxuriating in pain.
His lackeys nodded.
Xiao Nanfeng was speechless. Those that cultivated Indomitable Body really did become perverts!
"Alright, I've set up the Immortal's Destruction. I'll be excavating the draconic vein now," Xiao Nanfeng began.
"Great!" all the disciples replied.
Xiao Nanfeng walked up to the Immortal's Destruction and used the technique that he had learned from the ancient turtle to activate the Immortal's Destruction. Four Immortal-binding chains appeared from the four pillars of coiling dragons. As Xiao Nanfeng imbued them with energy, the chains soared into the air, then dug underground. They elongated and burrowed down, down, and further down.
Everyone held their breaths and waited until the chains grew taut.
A dragon's cry came from deep underground.
"A draconic vein!" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes brightened.
A huge tremor caused the entire Thousand-Serpent Island to start shaking. The mountains all around them began to collapse as the tremors grew wilder.
The gathered Taiqing disciples shielded themselves from the incoming boulders and rocks.
The shaking grew so wild that tsunami-like waves formed all around the island.
"Four Immortal-binding chains aren't enough? I'll send out more, then," Xiao Nanfeng murmured in shock.
Another four chains dove deep underground. All eight chains grew taut as the dragon's cries grew more and more pained. The island's shaking increased in severity as the final few mountains collapsed.
"Rise!" Xiao Nanfeng commanded.
A huge dragon emerged from underground, releasing an incredible amount of resplendent light despite the fact that it was daytime.
"A huge draconic vein!"
"It has to be at least nine hundred meters long—twice as long as the first one!"
"What a huge dragon!"
Cries rang out all around Xiao Nanfeng as the dragon was exposed to the world.
The first draconic vein had been about six hundred meters long, but it was far slimmer than this one here. The vitality radiating off this draconic vein was such that it continued to buck and struggle wildly despite being restrained by eight chains.
"Tighten!" Xiao Nanfeng commanded.
The eight chains drew taut as they retracted, forcing the dragon to the ground beside the Immortal's Destruction.
It continued to rampage wildly, but the Immortal's Destruction held firm and bound it tightly.
Everyone's gaze grew ardent. Those who had absorbed draconic aether before knew that it was a tremendous treasure, and they eagerly awaited their chance to get another share.
Everyone waited for Xiao Nanfeng's command.
Xiao Nanfeng looked toward the gathered crowd, his gaze landing on You Jiu, who was hidden among the disciples. You Jiu nodded.
Xiao Nanfeng had informed all the disciples that he would share the draconic vein with them, but that they would have to cede their shares of all the other spoils of battle, including the five giant golden serpents that Zhao Yuanjiao, Croak, and Warble had killed. Xiao Nanfeng had given all their Spiritsong cores to You Jiu, who had risen to the peak of Ascension as a result. He was now informing Xiao Nanfeng that he was prepared for the Spiritsong breakthrough.
"Elder, Croak, Warble, juniors—let's dig in!" Xiao Nanfeng announced.
He leapt up to the dragon's head and began to suck up the draconic aether.
The draconic vein roared in outrage.
"Alright!" Everyone jumped toward the restrained dragon in excitement.
Over six thousand people split the humongous draconic vein, consuming millions of portions among them. There was more than enough for them to surpass the limits of their cultivation.
The draconic vein grew smaller and smaller as the cultivators dug in.
However, no one noticed the dragon's eyes glimmering with hatred.
The dragon looked all around itself before focusing all its attention on Xiao Nanfeng. It had nowhere to vent its concentrated hatred.
In the end, that hatred slowly condensed and manifested itself as a dense ball of black fog, which shot toward Xiao Nanfeng's mouth along with a portion of draconic aether.
As Nanfeng finished absorbing all the draconic aether he could stand, the dragon was consumed in its entirety.
Everyone's bodies glowed with golden light as they prepared for a breakthrough to their cultivation.
You Jiu sealed the draconic aether in his body and quickly retreated behind the crowds.
Xiao Nanfeng himself sat cross-legged and began to advance his cultivation. Draconic aether surged into his dantian and was distilled into pure yang qi.
Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng noticed that one wave of draconic aether was pitch-black. The black aether exploded in his body as Xiao Nanfeng appeared in the middle of a cloud of fog. Everyone around him had vanished.
"An illusion?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out in surprise.
A dragon howled above him. He looked up to see a three-hundred-meter long black dragon swooping down at him, eyes alight with fury, killing intent billowing from its body.
"What's going on?" Xiao Nanfeng cried.
"Die, vile thief!" the black dragon roared.
The black dragon slammed down with a tail. Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened as he met the attack with a punch.
A huge gale formed at the point of contact as Xiao Nanfeng was sent flying.
"How could this be?" Xiao Nanfeng cried out. His spiritual cultivation was at Lunar Deluge! How could he be no match for the black dragon?
As the black dragon surged forward again, Xiao Nanfeng hastily defended.
He was sent flying each time, clearly no match for the black dragon. The black dragon itself was relentless, as though it wouldn't give up until it had killed Xiao Nanfeng.
"Madam Rouge, I've brought you a big meal! Come taste it!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out.
A cloud of black fog appeared nearby, and Madam Rouge along with it. She shot toward the black dragon rapidly.
As though it could sense her, the black dragon turned in her direction. The hatred in its eyes grew more intense. Another cursed effigy? Die, you cursed thing!"
It whipped its tail toward Madam Rouge, who attempted to defend with her claws. However, even she was sent flying. She crashed against the ground.
"Is this black dragon that strong? Even Madam Rouge isn't its opponent!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.
The black dragon roared as it swooped toward both of them again.
Even with Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge defending against it together, they were no match for it. It was too strong, and its devastating strength was such that Xiao Nanfeng's spiritual avatar was about to disintegrate.
"Madam Rouge, how do we deal with this?!" Xiao Nanfeng cried out urgently.
Madam Rouge formed words with her characteristic black smoke. "This is no meal. You lied to me—you'll pay for this!"
Her body flickered and vanished.
Xiao Nanfeng blanched. "Madam Rouge, how could you run? Are you really going to desert me?"
Madam Rouge ignored Xiao Nanfeng's pleas.
Xiao Nanfeng: ...
"Colluding with cursed effigies is certain to lead to downfall—and your downfall is now," the black dragon roared.
It sent Xiao Nanfeng flying once more. The tremendous momentum caused it to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood.
"Elder, can't we talk through things calmly? Are you the will of the draconic vein? I didn't know that you had already developed a consciousness. I apologize for my actions, and I'm willing to help save you," Xiao Nanfeng called out.
"I'm not the draconic vein, merely a parasite. You harbor the red rope, and you must die!" The black dragon shot forth.
Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened. Was it attacking him only because of the red rope?
He had two lengths of red rope in his possession. He had used one to set up the formation around the Isle of Xiao, and he carried the other with him.
"Elder, you're mistaken. That red rope tried to kill me, but I destroyed its cursed spiritual avatar. The length of red rope that I possess is merely the spoils of my victory. I detest the red rope too!"
The dragon's tail suddenly stopped short right before it struck Xiao Nanfeng. A gust of wind blew by, causing the fog to dissipate.
Xiao Nanfeng glanced toward the black dragon in shock. As expected, that was the source of its enmity!
"Elder, I promise that I speak true. I've already destroyed the cursed spiritual avatars of two lengths of red rope, and Madam Rouge, whom you met earlier, was my friend. I sealed the red rope's spiritual avatar in an illusory realm, and she was responsible for consuming it."
Xiao Nanfeng called out again, "Madam Rouge, bear witness for me!"
However, Xiao Nanfeng's surroundings were silent. Madam Rouge chose not to show herself.
The black dragon stared at Xiao Nanfeng from the air, glaring at him. "Describe your encounter with the red rope. If you dare lie, I'll destroy your spiritual avatar immediately. I may not be able to kill you like a cursed effigy, but I can promise that you'll be unconscious for at least a decade."
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