Chapter 192.1: You Dare Claim Your Dragon Blood Is Pure?

Qi Yuan said calmly, laced with unmistakable contempt, "Because I just happened to counter you."

The rest of the gods were completely speechless. They simply couldn't understand where his confidence came from. This was the North Sea Divine Eye, the very heart of the North Sea Dragon Clan. Provoking them here was no different from courting death.

Golden Dragon stared at Qi Yuan, fury blazing in his eyes. "I don’t care if your father is a Great Venerable! You're not leaving this place today!"

He was truly enraged now. No matter the cost, he was determined to keep Qi Yuan here. The six True Gods also didn’t show the slightest fear toward Qi Yuan. The atmosphere grew taut, signaling an impending battle.

Just then, a Second Step elderly man stepped in as a mediator. "All of you are ancient gods. With external enemies still at large, we mustn’t rush into conflict. Peace should come first."

He was well known for being a peacemaker.

Golden Dragon's expression eased slightly, and he said coldly to Qi Yuan, "Hand over the woman, and we'll let this matter rest."

Qi Yuan’s face darkened instantly. This man really knew how to put on an act.

"Hand over the divine spiritual energy of all seven of you, and I'll spare the North Sea Dragon Clan" Qi Yuan said flatly, his tone icy.

If Golden Dragon's words had carried even a hint of compromise, Qi Yuan's held none at all. To an outsider, it would have seemed as though Qi Yuan were the real villain here.

Nearby, Ye Liuyun grew anxious and sent a voice transmission in a rush. "

Brother Qi, you're being a bit impulsive. Why don't we retreat while we still can?

"

Qi Yuan couldn't care less. He replied calmly, "

Is he a Yang Spirit? No? Then wouldn't running away be terribly embarrassing?

"

At that point, Twilight also sent a message. "

Qiyuann Sovereign, if things truly go south, I can step in and hold Golden Dragon back for you.

"

Doing so meant completely offending the North Sea Dragon Clan—a clear display of his resolve. However, when Twilight thought of Qi Yuan’s extraordinary talent, offending the Dragon Clan suddenly didn't seem like a big deal at all. In fact, if word of this spread, at least half of the ancient gods would probably be willing to back Qi Yuan. In fact, he believed that was the true source of Qi Yuan's confidence.

Qi Yuan replied to Twilight, "

Thank you for your goodwill, but there's no need for now.

"

Facing Golden Dragon, he was neither hurried nor afraid.

Meanwhile, the palace master seemed troubled. She wanted to stop them, but both sides were determined to fight.

In the end, she sighed. "If you must fight, then go to the North Sea Ancient Battlefield. Do not damage the waters here."

Back in the days, True Gods would fight in ancient battlefields so as not to harm mortals or devastate the land. Everything changed after the arrival of the new gods. They cared not for killing mortals or ruining terrain.

Golden Dragon snarled, teeth clenched in fury. "Fine!"

Qi Yuan nodded as well. "Let's go."

The group headed toward the ancient battlefield. The ancient gods left behind all had their own thoughts.

As for the palace master, she felt helpless. Another Hundred Flowers Gathering had ended in disappointment. Her master remained asleep, and the future of the Qionghua Palace seemed endlessly bleak.

***

Soon, everyone arrived at the ancient battlefield. The space was extraordinarily stable, far more so than the Mortal Heart World itself. It was nothing like the empty, fragile void realms of the Canglan World.

As Qi Yuan stepped onto the battlefield, a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes.

[Ancient Battlefield. The place where the heavens and earth of the Mortal Heart World first opened. The primordial gods and demons emerged here from chaos.]

That caught Qi Yuan slightly off guard.

So this is the origin of the Mortal Heart World?

In the distance, the watching ancient gods wore varied expressions.

"Qiyuann Sovereign is far too impulsive."

"A spoiled young lord will always be a spoiled young lord."

"

Haa...

We ancient gods are already in decline. Why must we fight among ourselves?"

"One side has a Second Step cultivator and six peak First Step True Gods.

The other has six early-stage First Step cultivators. How could they possibly win?"

Not a single one of them thought Qi Yuan stood a chance. The gap was simply too wide.

Twilight kept his attention fixed on the battlefield. If anything went wrong, he would intervene at once, and rescue Qiyuann Sovereign. After all, offering help in dire need was far more valuable than adding flowers to brocade.

At last, Golden Dragon could no longer hold back. "You deserve to die for humiliating me in the Qionghua Palace!"

With a furious roar, his entourage revealed their true forms. Six colossal flood dragons surged into the clouds, baring fangs and claws as they coiled together. The aura of True Gods spread across the battlefield, both overwhelming and terrifying.

"The Dragon Clan rules all Aquatic Clans!" Golden Dragon bellowed, brimming with confidence. "In the North Sea, we are born kings! I don't even need to lift a finger to kill you!"

The massive flood dragons all locked their gaze onto Qi Yuan, their lantern-sized eyes chilling to behold.

Qi Yuan remained unmoved, calmly saying, "There may be no Ne Zha, [1]but I do have the Subduing Dragon Arhat."

He glanced sideways at Zhao Zun. "Didn't you say you were hungry? You may break your vows and eat meat today."

In certain myths, Ji Gong [2]was said to be that Arhat's reincarnation. Hence, in a sense, it didn’t quite count as breaking precepts.

Zhao Zun trudged forward, earth quaking with every step. His appearance was akin to cast bronze.

All the ancient gods seemed puzzled.

"A peak Violet Palace?"

"A peak Violet Palace challenging True Gods? Even the No-Food Goddess wouldn’t dare!"

"Is this suicide?"

Standing among the crowd, Ye Liuyun felt an inexplicable fear when Zhao Zun openly revealed his aura. It wasn't strong, but it was there. Golden Dragon felt it too. But confident in his overwhelming strength, he sneered. "A Violet Purple Palace dares step forward?"

Just then, the Laughing Arhat declared, "Brother, I'll help you!"

He was one of the two True Gods among the Arhats.

"I'll join as well," said the Long-Browed Arhat.

The two placed their hands on Zhao Zun's shoulders. Divine spiritual energy surged wildly into him. In that instant, a fake divine aperture formed within Zhao Zun.

The ancient gods watching were visibly shaken.

"What kind of method is this?"

"Lending one's own power to another?"

"How can a Violet Palace body endure divine spiritual energy?"

Everything unfolding before them defied their understanding. Still, even with the added power, Zhao Zun still fell far short of the Golden Dragon’s side.

Yet Ye Liuyun's fear continued to spread for some reason. He couldn't understand why he feared a stranger so clearly weaker than himself. Golden Dragon's expression darkened as well. That same nameless dread gnawed at his heart.

"What in the world are you?!" Golden Dragon roared at Zhao Zun. "Doesn't matter, kill him!"

The six massive flood dragons surged forward. Anyone with a fear of giant creatures would have been paralyzed on the spot.

At that moment, Zhao Zun took a single step forward, declaring in a vast, authoritative voice, "Dragon of Heaven!"

As soon as his words fell, a divine dragon projection appeared behind him. It was pure gold, five-clawed, its length impossible to discern. Its shattered scales and torn apart form revealed that it was a corpse.

Ye Liuyun's heart shook violently. "A Great Venerable—no, that is a Seventh Step True Dragon!"

In this world, dragons were never particularly powerful. Even in ancient times, there were fewer than twenty Great Venerables. The strongest, which was Dragon Ancestor himself, had only reached Sixth Step to Heaven. And yet, here lay the remains of a Seventh Step Dragon. How could he not feel abject terror?

The other ancient gods were equally stunned. Even without knowing its exact level, they knew it was terrifying beyond measure.

Golden Dragon ground his teeth. "Impossible!"

1. Nezha (哪吒) is one of the most famous and beloved figures in Chinese mythology, often portrayed as a rebellious, fiercely righteous child god and a dragon-slayer. ☜

2. Ji Gong (济公) is a legendary Chinese folk figure, half monk, half madman, who looks ridiculous on the surface but is secretly a saintly being with immense supernatural power. ☜