Chapter 23: The Coldwood Dragon

The spirit energy around the Emerald Bamboo Python surged violently, causing the previously clear, cloudless sky to instantly turn overcast as heavenly lightning gathered within the dark clouds.

Mu Qianqian tightened her grip on her sword. "We can't let it complete its advancement, or we’re finished!"

"Strike while it’s vulnerable," Yun Zhao said, her gaze sharp. "Senior Sister, it’s at its weakest during advancement. Let's attack!"

But as they charged, a powerful wave of spirit energy sent them flying. Yun Zhao slammed into a tree, struggling to get back up despite the pain. When she looked up and saw the person shielding the python, followed by a deadly blade flying straight toward her, her breath hitched.

...

"Junior Brother Qi, what’s wrong?"

While battling the demonic beasts, Qi Yan suddenly clutched his chest. Had Lin Shu not pulled him aside in time, he would have been struck.

Qi Yan pressed his lips together, slaying the two beasts attempting a sneak attack with a single strike of his sword. Seeing the tide turn, the remaining beasts fled in a panic.

Lin Shu scratched his head. "Junior Brother, you’re truly formidable. If it weren't for the sake of our training, you wouldn't have had to—"

"Boom—"

A crack of thunder interrupted him. He instinctively looked toward the southeast. "Since when did it get so dark over there? Is someone undergoing a tribulation?"

Shuang Xue stood to the side, hugging her sword. "It started a while ago, but you were too focused to notice."

"It’s not a person," Qi Yan murmured. "It’s a beast."

What was that sudden pain in his heart just now?

Unable to fathom it, Qi Yan sheathed his sword, Yin Xue. "Let's go take a look." He turned and left, with Lin Shu and Shuang Yue quickly following behind.

...

"Bang—"

Yun Zhao parried the blade with her sword. Fu Guang emerged from the blade, hovering beside her and baring its fangs fiercely at the man.

"Song Zhiyuan," Yun Zhao said coldly, "what do you think you're doing?"

Mu Qianqian and Shuang Yue, who had been thrown aside, hurried over to stand by Yun Zhao, glaring at Song Zhiyuan.

"Junior Sister Yun?" Song Zhiyuan looked surprised. "Oh, it’s you. I was too far away to see clearly and thought you were other cultivators. This Emerald Bamboo Python is my contracted spirit beast. I was just anxious because I thought someone was trying to hurt it, which is why I nearly struck you."

"Song, who are you trying to fool?" Mu Qianqian fumed. "This python isn't contracted to anyone! And since when does a Golden Core cultivator have such poor eyesight? Go back to the drawing board!" She was still shaken; had that attack landed on Yun Zhao, it would have run her through.

Song Zhiyuan remained unfazed. "I simply haven't finalized the contract yet, but I intend to. Right, little python?"

The newly ascended python didn't answer; it simply slithered toward Song Zhiyuan. Before he could celebrate, the python suddenly lashed out, whipping its tail against him!

"Human," the python’s voice rumbled, dark and menacing. "How dare you covet me? Die!"

Song Zhiyuan dodged clumsily, shocked. "You can talk!" How could a Golden Core Emerald Bamboo Python speak human language?

The python sneered, "You mistook me for that low-level Emerald Bamboo Python? Listen closely: I am a Cold Wood Flood Dragon!"

With that, it lunged forward, engaging Song Zhiyuan in a fierce struggle.

Mu Qianqian gasped, "A Cold Wood Flood Dragon!"

"It's a good thing Song Zhiyuan angered it and drew its focus, or we wouldn't be making it home tonight," she added.

"Senior Sister, what is a Cold Wood Flood Dragon?" Yun Zhao asked curiously. "I've never heard of it." Shuang Yue was equally intrigued.

Faced with two pairs of eager eyes, Mu Qianqian cleared her throat. "I only know of this by chance. They are distant relatives of the dragon race. Their cultivation speed is incredibly slow in the early stages—slower even than the lowliest field mouse—but..."

"If they reach the Golden Core stage, their path becomes much easier. Once they attain a certain realm, they can even transform from a flood dragon into a true dragon."

Yun Zhao let out a "Wow." "They're that strong? Doesn't that mean we accidentally helped it?"

Mu Qianqian stroked her chin. "You could say that. Also, their physical bodies are formidable, allowing them to fight above their level. Even as a newly ascended Golden Core, it can easily hold its own against Song Zhiyuan—or even defeat him."

She grew frustrated, "I thought there were no powerful beasts in the Profound Dragon Secret Realm! What is going on?"

Shuang Yue said weakly, "Since it's so powerful, let's leave."

"Right," Yun Zhao patted her forehead. "Senior Sister, let's go."

As they spoke, Song Zhiyuan was whipped by the dragon's tail, landing not far from them and coughing up blood.

"Yun Zhao," Song Zhiyuan said, looking at the retreating trio, struggling to speak, "let's join forces to defeat it. Otherwise, it will come for you next. You don't actually think you can escape its pursuit, do you?"

Yun Zhao paused. Song Zhiyuan seized the moment to persuade them, "You must have spirit artifacts. If we work together, we can handle it." He felt a pang of regret; had he known, he wouldn't have wasted so much spirit energy fighting a beast over a single herb.

The Cold Wood Flood Dragon realized the danger and quickly interjected, "You three humans, join me in killing this man, and I will overlook your earlier insolence. This ant nearly hurt your companion—don't you want revenge?"

Both sides extended an invitation, but Yun Zhao waved her hand. "You two fight it out. We’re leaving." Neither side was trustworthy; they were better off slipping away!

Song Zhiyuan’s expression shifted. "Yun Zhao, you refuse to help? Aren't you afraid the Sect Master will hold you accountable when we return?!"

Yun Zhao ignored him entirely, pulling Mu Qianqian and Shuang Yue away.

Song Zhiyuan stepped in their path. "You’re really not going to help me?"

"Are you alright in the head?" Yun Zhao snapped. "If you can't beat it, just crush your jade token and leave! You nearly hurt me earlier; I haven't even settled that score with you yet!"

Song Zhiyuan gritted his teeth. "You think I don't want to?!"

A training exercise was nothing compared to his life. He had tried to crush the token the moment he realized he was outmatched.

Yun Zhao froze. "What do you mean?"

"It means your jade tokens are useless," the Cold Wood Flood Dragon chimed in, enjoying the show. "This is my domain. Even if you crush them, you cannot be teleported out." It watched the four of them with keen interest, hoping they would fight so it could enjoy four small snacks.

But the dragon was disappointed. Amidst their arguing, the four suddenly split into two groups and bolted forward, widening the distance in a single second.

The Cold Wood Flood Dragon was stunned, then enraged. "Don't think you can run!"

It gave chase to Yun Zhao and her companions, while simultaneously sweeping up a massive tree with its tail and hurling it at Song Zhiyuan!

As the wind howled, Yun Zhao shoved Mu Qianqian and Shuang Yue aside, but found herself caught in the serpent's tail.

"Human, perish!"

She squeezed her eyes shut.

A cold, shimmering light flashed as a sword flew through the air, embedding itself deep into the dragon's tail.

The next second, Yun Zhao fell into a cool embrace.

"Zhao Zhao."