Chapter 818: True Name Reaction, Return to the Blue Planet (I)

High above the shattered continent, a grotesque colossal beast loomed like a crimson mountain. Red lightning coiled around it like serpents, radiating a destructive aura capable of annihilating the heavens.

The Ancient Python watched with suspicion as the Destructive Dragon Emperor withdrew a black-and-red scale from its reverse scale space, ten meters wide and shaped like a token.

The Dragon Emperor’s deep, commanding roar echoed through the sky.

This is the token of my Dragon Palace. You need only entwine a thread of principle power upon it.

As the colossal beast faction’s territory expanded and its members increased, the Dragon Emperor had iterated on the scales it had previously given its subordinates to summon them when needed. The result was the Dragon King Scale, equipped with identification capabilities.

Every beast that held such a scale held a noble status. They could activate the strand of principle sealed within, linking directly to the Dragon Emperor and summoning a projection of its will for communication. This function worked much like how the level 9 Black Python had once contacted the Black Abyss King.

So this is the Dragon Palace's token, huh?

With a low growl, the Python unleashed its principle-imbued will, wrapping it around the black-and-red scale and laying bare every secret hidden within. The last shred of doubt in the Python's heart faded away; it seemed this crimson beast hadn’t deceived it after all, and truly intended to forge an alliance.

At that thought, the python’s will surged. Gray-white principle power descended from the heavens, forming countless threads that wove themselves into the scale.

Watching the Python swallow the scale in one gulp, the Dragon Emperor’s lips curled into a fearsome grin as it let out a low growl.

Welcome to the Dragon Palace. From this day forth, Camondod, you are the ninth Dragon King of the empire. Your title shall be "The World-Wrapping Serpent." You are granted the right to participate in the Dragon King Palace's deliberations.

This ancient-titan-level python possessed exceptional combat strength, and the Dragon Emperor likewise granted it a "dragon king" title. Originally, it had felt there were already too many kings within the Dragon Palace and had no plans to appoint more. However, when the Longjia King joined, it had to formally grant her a "dragon king" position to justify her presence.

Now, with so many dragon kings already in place, adding one more made little difference. After all, if even an ancient titan couldn’t qualify as a dragon king, then no other beast would stand a chance.

The so-called Dragon King Palace was something the Dragon Emperor had conceived on a whim. With the Dragon Palace’s continued growth, and the addition of titan- and even ancient-titan-level beasts, the Silver Colossal Dragon—currently the great dragon king of the palace—could no longer effectively rein them in.

This included fellow dragon kings like the Deep Sea Dragon Turtle and the Nine-Headed Serpent. These two beasts had only reached the quasi-mythical level and were increasingly out of step among a group filled with mythical-, titan-, and ancient-titan-level beasts.

Although the Dragon Emperor still suppressed everything by sheer power, conflict could arise at any moment. A system of balance had to be introduced in advance.

Hence the establishment of a Dragon King Palace—only dragon kings could enter, and only those permitted by the Dragon Emperor could take part in council affairs. Currently, the Serpent and Dragon Turtle held entry rights, but not deliberation rights. Only once they reached the mythical level could they speak within the hall.

Of course, the Dragon Emperor wasn’t belittling its earliest subordinates. On the contrary, it was a form of protection. The hierarchy of the beast world was absolute; to mythical-level beasts, titan-level beings were kings—beings to submit to, or else be exiled or killed. Ancient titans were even more terrifying.

The current harmony within the Dragon Palace, where even level 9 beasts could roar freely before titans, existed solely because the Dragon Emperor crushed all dissent. Otherwise, the wrath of a titan would leave not just a level 9 beast, but even a mythical beast crippled in a single blow, torn apart within a few moves.

Now, with an alliance formed, the tense atmosphere between the two sides finally eased. The crimson lightning around the Dragon Emperor slowly faded, and it rapidly shrank. Soon, it returned to its usual size of just over 2,500 meters, its aura slightly diminished.

At the same time, the python phantom that wrapped around the world also dispersed. Boundless gray-white principle power converged, and it reverted to its true form: a gray python more than 4,600 meters long. Seeing this, the Dragon Emperor paused slightly, unsure whether to call the other beast bold or simply reckless.

The path of colossal beasts differed from that of humans. For titan-level beasts, the merging of law-based abilities and their bodies created a complete “world,” birthing principles and enabling them to ascend into the ancient titan level.

When a beast broke through to become an ancient titan, the typical path was to refine the mythical world’s power of heaven and earth, further strengthening its already unified body until reaching the ultimate limit.

Once the shackles were broken and the principles it had grasped were acknowledged by the heavens and earth, the beast’s true name would be etched into the core origin of the mythical world, as it ascended and transcended into that of a true-ancient-spirit-level colossal beast.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

However, if the breakthrough failed, it would either perish or become petrified, turning into an ancient creature.

The Dragon Emperor had already been recognized by the heavens and earth when it was still at the mythical level. If it continued to grow naturally, it would inevitably ascend to become a true-ancient-spirit-level beast. Even that wasn’t the Dragon Emperor’s limit. Due to it possessing a heavenly-emperor-level bloodline, its starting point was already at the true ancient spirit level.

Meanwhile, this beginning-stage ancient-titan-level python had spent time and origin to petrify this fragment of a world. In doing so, it had even fused its own body into the fragment and expanded the surrounding void to a scale comparable to that of the Blue Planet, using it to nurture and contain its principles.

The advantage of this was clear: If it succeeded, it would become unimaginably powerful. Every move it made would possess planetary force, with astonishing defense. Moreover, by using a world to host its principles, their evolution and growth would proceed even faster.

However, the weakness was equally obvious. It couldn’t leave the world fragment before completely refining and reforging its body; if it did, its strength would plummet to the peak of the titan level.

Worse still, if a stronger beast shattered a part or even the entirety of the fragment before the refinement was complete, the Python would suffer irreversible injury. After all, this was a fragment of a great world, exposed and external. It was far easier to destroy than a micro-world hidden within a dimensional rift. That was why the Dragon Emperor was so surprised.

Staring at the python, vast as a grey mountain range, the Dragon Emperor suddenly growled,

Camondod, your name lacks dominance. How about I give you a new one?

Change my name?

The Python froze. Its name had come from a race of tiny aliens that once trembled before it after it became a mythical beast. When those pitiful aliens were eventually wiped out by disease, it had returned to slumber ever since.

The Dragon Emperor nodded, its voice low and gruff as it replied,

Yes. I think you should be called Jormungandr.

Jormungandr...

As the Python softly repeated the name in a guttural growl, a strange sensation welled up within it—an inexplicable resonance with a vast and powerful force. Though its knowledge had been limited by its primitive existence, as a creature that had mastered principles, it instantly sensed this name’s extraordinary nature.

Without further hesitation, the Python lifted its head and let out a thunderous roar as it proclaimed its new identity to the heavens.

From this day forward, my name shall be Jormungandr Felix Copofell!

In that instant, its sea of consciousness trembled faintly. Deep within its being, a slumbering force seemed to awaken, and wisps of ancient, azure-gray aura began to spread from its body.

This transformation made the Dragon Emperor pause once more, before it let out a low growl.

Jormungandr, continue refining your world. I will now head deeper into the Chaotic Region to gather more resources.

As it spoke, the Dragon Emperor loosened its right claw and swallowed the two Stone Hearts in one gulp.

Boom!

The moment the law-level divine items were consumed, two massive waves of dense yellow energy exploded, surging through the Dragon Emperor like a tidal wave. An endless amount of pure law energy shimmered, rich with the origin of the earth, and triggered a riot in the high-level laws that had merged into the Dragon Emperor.

Crack! Crack!

Its entire body began to radiate yellow light, and its form swelled like an inflating balloon. 2,540 meters... 2,550 meters... 2,570 meters... 2,600 meters...

Boom!

At that point, blazing gold-violet flames, laced with corrosive law, erupted from it and engulfed an area two hundred kilometers wide. The searing heat melted stone and burned through space.

Within the sea of fire, bolts of blue-violet lightning dragons roared, while black and red thunderbolts of annihilation danced through the air. The invisible aura of destruction made even the Python instinctively back away over two hundred kilometers.

Gazing at the black-and-red colossal beast standing amid the gold-violet inferno, its eyes widened in disbelief.

Impossible... How is it digesting and growing this fast?!

It was almost as if the Dragon Emperor’s body and the law-gifted abilities it had fused with required no further evolution. The moment it consumed the Stone Hearts, its body simply grew. Even more terrifying were the forces entwining its form—

one, two, three... Gasp!

Upon sensing the nine high-level laws wrapped around the Dragon Emperor, the Python sucked in a breath, and the surrounding heavens roared with wild wind.

No wonder this creature is so horrifying. Nine high-level laws. Where did this freak even come from?

As a colossal beast that had mastered three high-level laws and numerous abilities, the Python knew better than anyone how terrifying the Dragon Emperor was, both now and when it would reach the ancient titan level.

Yet while the Python reeled in shock, the Dragon Emperor remained slightly dissatisfied with the sudden surge of power it felt inside.