Chapter 992: Colossal Beasts Assemble, the Ancient Time Dragon

Boom!

From the void that resembled the eye of the Heavenly Dao, torrents of incomparably pure and vast energy poured downward like heavenly pillars, flooding into the golden-white radiance that continued to expand below.

In an instant, the golden-white ring of light, already over three thousand kilometers wide, flared brilliantly and began expanding even faster.

For a cultivator, breaking through to the supreme level wasn’t just about absorbing vast quantities of transcendent energy and condensing a principle-based true form using World Force. It was also a transformation in the life stage itself, just like when the Destructive Dragon Emperor had broken through as an ancient titan.

However, Chen Chu wasn’t a beast and didn’t need to sleep for ages. Moreover, the place he had chosen was far from the Expansion Division and also distant from the territories of the Alliance of Gods. No one knew that, over two hundred thousand kilometers away, a supreme powerhouse was undergoing a breakthrough.

As Chen Chu quietly underwent his metamorphosis, the events of the world continued to unfold. At the battlefield within the forbidden zone, Qian Tian, the Primordial King and three Heavenly Feathered divine kings had finally expelled the lingering power of the demon gods. They began spreading their own principles to erode the heavens and earth, setting up restrictive barriers.

At the same time, the entire Federation mobilized its resources to an extreme. Strategic supplies were being mass-produced, and the countless mineral mountains of the mythical world were mined day and night to gather materials.

***

Roar! Roar! Roar!

At the edge of the storm-tossed Chaotic Sea, where gales stirred waves a thousand meters high, towering colossal beasts stood tall, letting out low growls and roars.

Some of these colossal beasts were over a thousand meters long, others loomed like mountain peaks several kilometers high, or unfurled wings that blotted out the sky. Law domains encircled them, and their auras were overwhelmingly powerful.

They had clearly grouped into three factions. One faction was stationed in the sea, led by mythical-level beasts such as the Deep Sea Dragon Turtle and the Nine-Headed Serpent, followed by the female orca and other sea-dwelling colossal beasts.

The second faction was led by a five-thousand-meter-long beast clad in black scales and bone spikes. Around thirty beasts exuded auras reaching mythical and even titan levels as they followed behind the Blade King like a disciplined army, their presence oppressive.

The third group consisted of over thirty mythical colossal beasts and several titans scattered across a thousand-kilometer range, each occupying its own mountain and standing alone like solitary warlords.

Some were surrounded by level 8 or 9 beasts, who eyed the other colossal beasts warily, their gazes filled with caution and vigilance.

In the thundering sea, a late-stage level 9 black orca flipped through the waves with excitement, letting out a series of joyful squeals.

So many colossal beasts! Their auras are so powerful! Little Hime, did you see? Our Dragon Palace is so strong now.

A female orca over a hundred meters long, radiating an aura at the peak of level 8, squealed sweetly on the surface and looked at the black orca with admiration.

I saw it, Chief. So many mythical colossal beasts. But they all joined the empire too late. They’re just ordinary members. Chief, as a Great Cavalry General, you outrank them. And with your talent, I believe it won’t be long before you become a mythical beast.

Encouraged by Little Hime’s praise, the black orca grew even more excited. This scene clearly annoyed the two flame-patterned orcas flying above.

Our youngest brother is so shameless, always dragging that female orca around behind it to flatter it day and night.

On the sea’s surface, the Nine-Headed Serpent—no, now the Nine-Headed Dragon, Ghidorah—stretched its seven-hundred-meter-long body and looked around nervously.

Baxia, I feel like we can’t control the scene anymore. What should we do?

In the sea below, the Dragon Turtle, which looked like a black-brown mountain, let out a low growl.

No need to panic, Ghidorah. Even if you do, it won’t help. Only Thunder Fiery can hold down this kind of gathering. But don’t worry. Even though we just reached the mythical level, our identities as dragon kings are enough to keep the other beasts from provoking us.

As it spoke, the Dragon Turtle’s eyes flicked warily toward the distant Blade King. Among all of the beasts present, that one was the strongest. Its aura rivaled that of the mightiest ancient-titan-level dragon kings, not to mention the mythical beast army surrounding it.

Not far behind the Dragon Turtle, a three-hundred-meter-long Blue Giant Crab stood nervously, raising its claws as it blew bubbles.

Horn Hime, the empire suddenly added so many mythical beasts. Do you think some of them will fight me for the gatekeeping job?

Floating silently in the sky, a female orca with distinct Kun-like features lowered its head to glance at the crab and replied in a calm hum.

Don’t worry, General Crab. No beast can take that job from you. The king is sentimental. As long as your loyalty to it doesn’t waver, you don’t need to concern yourself even with the titan beasts. Of course, not being concerned doesn’t mean acting arrogant. You must still show respect to those above the mythical level. Respect their strength.

Gurgle!

The Blue Giant Crab blinked in response. Since its head and body were one solid piece, it couldn’t exactly nod.

Roar!

Just then, a long, resonant dragon’s cry exploded across the distant sky. A red colossal beast over 1,500 meters long emerged in the dim sky, instantly drawing the attention of many titan-level beasts who raised their heads abruptly.

Around the dragon-shaped beast, time warped, seasons shifted, and an aura radiated that made the others faintly sense danger.

Behind Zhulong, vast black shadows fell across the sky. There, a colossal beast over thirty thousand meters long, like a mountainous black ridge, stood immovably. It was an ancient titan resembling a black qilin.

Surrounding this ancient titan were two ray-beasts over twenty thousand meters long, as well as two mythical colossal beasts. The pressure from their combined auras shook heaven and earth.

Every mythical and titan-level colossal beast on the ground instantly felt their bodies sink under the weight of that presence. Even the Blade King Toryad instinctively let out a low growl, bursting forth with a beginning-stage ancient power to meet the overwhelming pressure that swept in.

Boom!

The clash of the two ancient auras caused the sky to tremble violently, ringed shockwaves exploding outward in white ripples. The earth split and cracked under the weight of the energy.

Gazing at the black, fierce beast whose four claws sank a thousand meters into the ground, the Black Qilin let out a slow, rumbling growl.

You are the Blade King, Toryad. I’ve heard of you from Thunder Fiery.

Its cold gaze swept across the gathered beasts below, and its voice boomed like thunder.

I am the Lord of the Earth, one of the empire’s dragon kings.

Greetings, Dragon King of Earth!

Faced with this terrifying ancient titan, all of the colossal beasts who had been summoned here by the other ancient titans lowered their heads in reverence.

Even the female orcas and Blue Crab gathered on the sea showed the same respectful deference. Having experienced the first Dragon King Meeting, they were even more cautious.

However, the Dragon Turtle and the Nine-Headed Dragon merely gave a slight nod. Though their current realm wasn’t as high as the Black Qilin’s, their image as dragon kings couldn’t appear weaker. Even as their limbs and tails trembled beneath the sea, they held their composure.

With the return of the first ancient-titan-level dragon king, an invisible pressure swept across the gathering, calming the atmosphere that had started to stir. Just then, the sky above suddenly trembled. A long, mournful call echoed like a siren, and the enormous Ancient Ray-Beast, over sixty thousand meters long, descended from above.

Behind it followed titan-level ray-beasts, and the chaotic aura surrounding them once again made the legs of every beast present go soft.

It’s the Dragon King of Sky and Void!

Greetings, Dragon King of Sky and Void!

On the sea surface, hundreds of thousands of Longjia called out respectfully. Other than the aliens, there were a dozen mythical colossal beasts and one titan beast which had submitted to the ancient ray-beast. Seeing the massive form looming above the sky, the colossal beasts below seemed to have found their pillar of support.

The Ancient Ray-Beast merely dipped its head toward the Black Qilin hundreds of kilometers away, then hovered silently over the sky, quietly waiting. The Black Qilin beast had no desire for idle chatter either. It stood proudly, cold and aloof.

This was the true nature of ancient titans. Arrogant, aloof, gazing down on all living things. Those of lower realm were beneath notice. Even when facing others of the same level, unless familiarity existed, there was little desire for conversation.

Had it not been for the Dragon Emperor, even this gathering of ancient titans would have been impossible. They only came together for battle or for a special interaction with others of their kind.

While they waited in silence, an ancient aura rapidly approached from afar, turning half of the sky gray-white under its invisible power.

Roar!

With a cry that sounded like a blend of dragon and python, a gray python over ten thousand meters long descended from the sky. Behind it, endless gray energy coiled together, faintly forming the phantom of a python encircling the world.

Boom!

All of the colossal beasts instantly felt their bodies sink again. The land beneath their feet cracked under the oppressive weight of that ancient aura.

Along the shoreline, eight mythical colossal beasts and two titans lowered their heads respectfully.

Greetings, World-Wrapping Serpent, mighty Dragon King Jormungandr.

The Gray Python gave a slight nod to the beasts which had submitted to it, then turned to the Ancient Ray-Beast.

Alius, did you reach the end?

The massive ray-beast shook its head slightly.

Not yet. It felt like we were close, but then we received Thunder Fiery’s summons.

The Black Qilin rumbled,

I saw the edge of the Chaotic Region, but I didn’t cross. There’s a temporal rift blocking the path.

Good. Sounds like none of us went all the way.

The Gray Python nodded in satisfaction. Though the three ancient titans exchanged a few brief words, they soon fell silent again, separated by hundreds of kilometers.

As more of them returned, the mythical colossal beasts scattered across the region began to stir. Some soon started moving and gradually gathered beneath the three ancient titans. Seeing this, the three ancient titans didn’t stop them. Those were beasts they had subdued on the way here.

Just then, the black orca near the shoreline suddenly squeaked excitedly.

Mom, I think I just saw Dad! It's lying on that giant ray’s back, fast asleep!

The flame-patterned orcas in the sky quickly reacted, turning their gazes toward the gray python’s rear. There, two titan-level ray-beasts hovered with wings spread. On the back of one, over 19,000 meters long, lay the slumbering figure of the Single-Horned Kunpeng.

Hu Yi’s eyes widened, fire blazing from its body.

Dad’s actually sleeping on another beast’s back? Mom, should we help give it a good beating?

Yeah, unforgivable!

Hu Er nodded eagerly. They had finally found a chance to challenge their father’s authority.

As the three young orcas squealed in excitement, the female orca remained calm and gave a soft hum.

Don’t make a fuss. Your father is in a breakthrough slumber, and it's about to become a titan-level beast. Are you sure you can challenge it?

Titan!

The three little orcas immediately shrank their tails, realizing they had nearly forgotten just how quickly their father was growing. It seemed they’d have to stay in hiding a bit longer. The black orca’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment.

Soon, another colossal beast returned. It wasn’t an ancient-titan-level dragon king, but the Longjia King, Alicia. Compared to the might of the three ancient titans, Her aura fell significantly short. After returning, it simply gave a slight nod and rejoined the sea’s faction.

Roar! Roar!

Two thunderous dragon cries echoed across the heavens. An icy chill swept through the air, followed by an overwhelming blue frost aura that surged skyward.

From within the freezing gale emerged a colossal dragon with a five-kilometer wingspan, its body covered in azure-white scales. Around it, over a dozen towering tornados howled. This was a world-ending dragon of frost and storm.

Beside the Azure-White Colossal Dragon was a slightly smaller Crystalline-Red Dragon, radiating a powerful peak-titan-level aura.

The Azure-White Dragon’s arrival caused many colossal beasts to pause, including the Midgard Serpent and the three ancient titans.

When Saixitia’s and Thorsafi's mothers had joined the Dragon Palace, most of the beasts had already departed on their campaign in the Chaotic Region. As such, the Dragon Emperor hadn’t introduced them to all of the others.

Still, the faint aura of a Dragon King Token on the Azure-White Dragon drew no hostility from the three ancient titans, yet neither did they approach or greet it. Their gazes remained cold and detached. The mythical and titan beasts around them gave weight to that tension.

By comparison, the two dragons appeared rather alone. They looked even less imposing than the Blade King, which stood on land surrounded by more than twenty mythical- and titan-level beasts.

As the aura of the two dragons seemed dwarfed by the surrounding powers, space suddenly rippled. The sky and earth trembled, and the air twisted into clear waves.

Roar!

A dragon’s cry filled with great majesty burst forth, and endless silver light tore through the void. Bathed in that brilliance, all colossal beasts felt an illusion of time distortion and light-speed passage. Even the three ancient titans and the Blade King raised their heads solemnly.

From the shimmering silver light, a colossal dragon just over five thousand meters long emerged, its body encased in pure white scales. Time itself seemed to flood from its form, as though it had descended from the past to arrive beside the Azure-White Dragon.

In an instant, there now stood two ancient colossal dragons; one of them even possessed mastery over the principle of time. Even the Midgard Serpent and the three ancient titans couldn’t help but growl.

Time principle! Which dragon king is this?

As they gazed at the newly arrived Time Dragon, even the more advanced ancient titans showed wariness in their eyes.

Kurapavida lifted its head with pride. Its aura radiated arrogance, though the sideways glance it shot at the Azure-White Dragon revealed a trace of caution.

Fortunately, the Azure-White Dragon only cast a cold glance at the Time Dragon and made no aggressive move. The Time Dragon exhaled in relief and offered a sheepish, almost human-like smile.

Adrienna, congratulations on breaking through to the ancient titan level.

However, the Azure-White Dragon simply continued staring coldly at it, showing no intention of replying. Under its gaze, the Time Dragon gave a stiff smile, withdrew its neck, and avoided looking toward the Crystalline-Red Dragon beside her.

Luckily, the awkwardness didn’t last long. Suddenly, the heavens and earth trembled once more. The ground over tens of thousands of kilometers began to quake. It felt as if an indescribably massive being was slowly approaching.

At the same time, a terrifying aura spread across the land, so dreadful that it made the hearts of every colossal beast tighten. Under that bloodline pressure, everyone, even the Time Dragon, instinctively landed.

In the face of the colossal beast that was about to arrive, not a single beast dared to remain in the sky.