Chapter 974: The Ancestral Dragon's Wrath

"This illusory space was created from the heart force of me and my companions. Were you the one absorbing it earlier?" the skeletal dragon replied.

"I apologize. I've stopped doing so," Xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.

"Forget it. Ignorance is not a crime."

Xiao Nanfeng bowed, then waited patiently while Croak, Warble, and the Superior absorbed the toxins and cursed energy from the ancestral dragon.

Nearby, Ao Zhou, watching Croak and Warble benefit from what was going on, anxiously cried and began to complain, "Ancestor, the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace has suffered terribly. While you were gone, it was destroyed. My father died in tragedy, and all the elders perished as well. The descendants of the Eastern Sea have almost been wiped out entirely. I am the last survivor. I struggled to establish a new palace, but we're destitute and constantly being bullied by other forces. Ancestor, please help me out!"

The skeletal dragon clearly hadn't expected to have such a shameless descendant. It had been reduced to nothing but bones. What help could it provide?

After a moment of silence, it sighed. "Very well. My old companions perished long ago due to the toxins and cursed energy sapping their strength. Their resentment lingers, and their existence is a haze of unending pain. Let me try to persuade them to move on."

"Thank you, Ancestor!" Ao Zhou exclaimed in excitement.

The skeletal dragon looked at the skeletal beasts in the surroundings. "Old friends, your souls have lingered for too long, and your consciousness has almost entirely faded away. It's time to rest. I will watch over the future of the realm in your stead. Give your power to our descendants so they may fight against the heavens."

The hundred skeletal beasts let out long, mournful cries. Though their consciousnesses were muddled, their howls carried traces of longing and reluctance.

They trembled, their forms contracting as they slowly transformed into white orbs of light that floated in the air.

"Ao Zhou?" the skeletal dragon called.

"Ancestor, I'm here!" Ao Zhou quickly stepped forward.

"These were supreme cultivators who ventured beyond the heavens long ago. They died, but their vengeful spirits lingered in unending pain. Unwilling to part with them, I merged part of my draconic essence with their residual power to form these skeletal forms so they could accompany me. Now, they're finally leaving. Take this draconic essence. I hope you won't emulate my self-destructive ways. Be like Xiao Nanfeng—fight for the people and the heavens. Don't let us down," the skeletal dragon said.

"I understand!" Ao Zhou replied respectfully.

"Open your mouth!" the skeletal dragon commanded.

With a wave of its claw, the hundred white orbs flew into Ao Zhou's mouth.

Ao Zhou was overjoyed. He quickly swallowed the white orbs.

With a hum, a massive surge of power poured into Ao Zhou's body, causing him to emit blinding light.

"This power is too vast for you to absorb all at once. Use my soul-binding technique to store it in your body and gradually refine it," the skeletal dragon said.

"Thank you, Ancestor!" Ao Zhou knelt in excitement.

Meanwhile, Croak, Warble, and the Superior accelerated their absorption of the toxic corruption and cursed energy. Streams of black gas surged into them, and the swamp below gradually diminished in extent.

"This swamp—is it made of toxic corruption and cursed energy?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Indeed. These energies are highly contagious. If not for my companions' and my combined heart force restraining them, they would have polluted the realm, causing countless deaths," the skeletal dragon explained.

"For years, you've confined this scourge and even ensured that the Western Sea Draconic Palace remains guarding this place. Your care for the realm is evident," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"This realm is my birthplace and home. Even though I despair for the future, I would never wish for its destruction," the skeletal dragon said.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded in admiration and waited patiently. The swamp rapidly dissipated, transforming into streams of black gas that flowed into Croak, Warble, and the Superior.

The entire space trembled violently.

After three whole days and nights, the swamp was absorbed in its entirety.

Xiao Nanfeng's silver moon radiated brilliant white light. "I've absorbed an immense quantity of cursed energy. I'll need some time to refine it."

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

With a whoosh, it flew into Xiao Nanfeng's mindscape.

Xiao Nanfeng switched back to his physical form.

Nearby, Croak and Warble emitted dazzling golden light.

"Xiao Nanfeng, we've absorbed all the toxins and sealed it within our bodies. Once we refine it all, our cultivation will surely skyrocket."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

Ao Zhou had also sealed the draconic essence within his body.

Xiao Nanfeng turned to the skeletal dragon. "Senior, what are your upcoming plans?"

The skeletal dragon was about to answer when it suddenly jerked its head toward the sky.

"What's the matter?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"I sense an extremely powerful presence. It's searching for this illusory space."

"An extremely powerful presence?" Xiao Nanfeng's expression turned serious.

The skeletal dragon flicked its tail. It led Xiao Nanfeng and the others out of the illusory space.

They returned to the valley in the mountains. The black miasma that had once shrouded the mountains had vanished entirely. The barrier around the area was gone, and the distant crystal palace had been leveled. Cries of pain from dragons and sea spirits filled the air.

Not far away was a man in blue, looking down imperiously. It seemed that he alone had suppressed all the cultivators of the Western Sea Draconic Palace.

"It's the Void Saint! What's he doing here?" Croak exclaimed.

The Void Saint glanced at the skeletal dragon in surprise, then fixed his gaze on Xiao Nanfeng. Smirking coldly, he said, "Xiao Nanfeng? You're good at hiding, but this time, you won't escape my grasp. Who's that skeletal dragon beside you?"

"Saint? What kind of title is that?" the skeletal dragon asked curiously.

"They are lackeys of the heavens. They monitor and oppress the people, spreading poison throughout the world. During the Heavenly Emperor's reign, they hid like rats in the shadows. After his death, they emerged to wreak havoc. I've clashed with him several times, and now he's cornered me here," Xiao Nanfeng explained.

"Lackeys of the heavens, oppressing the people? Truly despicable—a cancer that must be eradicated!" The skeletal dragon's killing intent flared.

It couldn't believe that such traitorous scum would act so brazenly before the heavens even descended.

"Insolence! Who are you?" the Void Saint snarled.

"I am but a common cultivator. Traitors who betray the people and serve the heavens are my enemies. Today, I will rid the world of you!" the skeletal dragon roared.

With a deafening bellow, the skeletal dragon charged forward, unleashing a torrent of thunderous flames toward the Void Saint. The void itself trembled.

The Void Saint reared back in alarm as he raised a hand to block the attack.

The blazing flames collided with his palm strike in a massive inferno that shook the Western Sea Draconic Palace to its core.

Amidst the fiery storm, both the skeletal dragon and the Void Saint were forced back.

"A peak Boundless Immortal? Just who are you?" the Void Saint exclaimed.

"A cultivator of such caliber betraying the people—your behavior is unforgivable!" the skeletal dragon roared.

It charged forward again.

The Void Saint's eyes turned cold as he waved his hand, summoning a pillar of light that stretched from the heavens to the earth. It radiated brilliant blue light.

"If you wish to die so badly, I'll grant you that wish," the Void Saint said chillingly.

A massive blue sea materialized and surged toward the skeletal dragon, who opened its jaws and bellowed, "Boundless is the sea!"

An enormous tidal wave was summoned out of thin air.

The collision created a massive shockwave that rippled across the area, reducing the Western Sea Draconic Palace to ruins. Countless sea spirits vomited blood, and mountains and palaces crumbled into dust.

With a loud crash, the skeletal dragon was sent flying by the immense force.

"And here I thought another Liu Miaoyin-level powerhouse had appeared, but you're nothing special. You can't even withstand my heavenly laws!" The Void Saint sneered.

"Senior, he wields a charm of heavenly law, granting him power over death. Be careful!" Xiao Nanfeng called out from a distance.

The skeletal dragon steadied itself and glared at the Void Saint. Killing intent surged as three glowing moons circled away from its body and flew toward Xiao Nanfeng.

"Xiao Nanfeng, guard these three moons for me. If I perish here today, they will be yours," the skeletal dragon said solemnly.

With the moons gone, its power suddenly spiked, catching the Void Saint off guard.

"Just who are you?" the Void Saint asked, startled.

"I have no need to name myself to a traitor to the world!" the skeletal dragon growled.

With a sweep of its tail, it shattered the palace's barrier. The water of the Western Sea surged toward the palace, responding to its call.

"Waters of the Western Sea, heed my command. Transform into dragons and slay this traitor!" the skeletal dragon roared.

With a deafening roar, countless dragons of waters, each thousands of meters long, charged toward the Void Saint with unparalleled ferocity.

"This is impossible! Who are you?!" the Void Saint cried out in shock.

He summoned another blue sea, which clashed with the dragons and created a storm of destruction that devastated their surroundings.

The skeletal dragon bellowed and lunged at the Void Saint. Their fight carried them into the depths of the sea.

Xiao Nanfeng caught the three moons and turned to Croak. "Where is Ao Xi? Spit him out!"

With a spluttering sound, Croak spat out the dazed and confused Ao Xi.

Xiao Nanfeng grabbed Ao Xi by the collar, his voice cold. "Who allowed you to inform the Void Saint of our presence? Do you have a death wish?"