Chapter 437: Oblivion's First Match

Chapter 437: Oblivion's First Match

"I'll do it!"

A voice immediately rang out from among the guests at the banquet, and a young man stepped forward. He, too, took out a thousand ether crystals and threw them onto the table before taking to the sky.

The two Dragon Masters stood facing each other in mid-air, observing their opponent.

Today's guests were all renowned young talents in the Yuan Magnet Domain, and even if one hadn't seen them in person before, they would have at least heard their names.

The crowd below recognized both Dragon Masters.

"Titanium-Cobalt Chi, Sixth Tier First Stage."

"Meteor Fire New Star, Sixth Tier Second Stage."

The two introduced themselves, bowing to each other with solemn expressions, their eyes burning with enthusiasm.

"Dragon Lance!" Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei, as the host, took on the role of organizer and referee. When the guests decided on a dragon lance duel, she had already sent someone to fetch the lances from the nearby arena.

Two massive lances were thrown into the sky.

The lances were over five meters long, with thick rear ends and sharp tips. They were crafted from a special alloy, with anti-slip diamond patterns on the grip and intricate dragon engravings along the shaft.

"Haven't seen one before?" Titanium-Cobalt Lan noticed Ji Xinghuo's curious gaze on the dragon lance and asked in a low voice.

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

"The dragon lance is not an ordinary weapon; it's specially crafted for Dragon Masters to use in battle. It's of Super Ability Three-Star quality, and you'll understand its usage soon enough." Titanium-Cobalt Lan explained with a smile.

Meteor Fire New Star and Titanium-Cobalt Chi each caught a lance, bowed once more, and then turned to fly towards their dragons.

Their dragons were already by the lake.

One was a Meteor Dragon, and the other, a Thunder Shock Dragon—both were Shock-class Sky Dragons.

The two Dragon Masters landed on their respective dragons' backs, and amidst the dragons' roars, they flapped their wings and soared into the sky, passing through the light screen and into the arena. The entire area above the artificial lake was designated for dragon lance duels, spanning about ten kilometers in length and five kilometers in width.

They flew towards opposite ends.

Illuminated by thousands of giant crystal lights, the dragon lance arena stood out like a beacon in the starry night.

Even before the hundreds of dragons had arrived from the city, the commotion had already attracted many residents. Those who had been enjoying themselves by the lake eagerly claimed the best viewing spots, and now, even more people were rushing towards the arena.

However, the best viewing platform was undoubtedly the rooftop where the banquet was being held, located right in the middle of one side of the artificial lake.

At this moment, Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei returned to her seat nearby.

Having overheard Titanium-Cobalt Lan's words, she quickly explained the rules of the dragon lance duel to Ji Xinghuo.

Dragon lance duels, also known as dragon lance mounted battles, were the most popular form of combat in the True Dragon Empire. Two opponents faced off in a one-on-one battle, each riding their dragon into the arena. If one didn't have a dragon, they could substitute it with another flying mount.

Once the duel began, the two sides would charge at each other, with the sole objective of unseating their opponent from their dragon's back.

It was a battle of man against man and dragon against dragon.

The weapons were restricted to lances or specially made dragon lances, and no other ability attacks were allowed.

The dragons could only breathe their dragon breath and engage in close combat, refraining from attacking the Dragon Masters.

This type of duel tested one's dragon-riding skills, strength, martial arts, and personal valor. The first to be unseated from their dragon's back lost, and if one was found to be using any means other than the dragon lance to attack or interfere with their opponent, they would be immediately disqualified.

From Dragon Masters to commoners, everyone loved dragon lance duels.

Cheating in a dragon lance duel was a reputational blow that would stain one's name for life.

In fact, many people chose to settle disputes and grievances through dragon lance duels.

As barbaric as it may sound, it was incredibly popular in the martial-arts-loving True Dragon Empire.

"Thank you, Princess Qingwei, for enlightening me," Ji Xinghuo expressed his gratitude after hearing the explanation.

"You're welcome."

Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei nodded slightly, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Several people sitting nearby, including Lone Star Li and Titanium-Cobalt Zhenhe, had also overheard her explanation. They found it strange that Jin, despite being a native of the True Dragon Empire, seemed to be unaware of dragon lance duels.

Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei asked, "Jin, which one do you think will win?"

"I don't know," Ji Xinghuo shook his head.

He had just heard Titanium-Cobalt Lan introduce Titanium-Cobalt Chi—a genius Dragon Master of the Titanium-Cobalt family of his generation. Chi had become a Dragon King a few years ago and, in Earth years, he was not yet 50 years old. His talent was extraordinary.

Meteor Fire New Star was no slouch either. He was a core member of the Meteor Fire family and had reached the Sixth Tier over a decade earlier than Titanium-Cobalt Chi, making him well-known throughout the Yuan Magnet Domain.

This information was rather basic.

Since Ji Xinghuo had never witnessed a dragon lance duel before, he couldn't make a judgment.

"Of course, Brother Chi will win!" Titanium-Cobalt Zhenhe interjected with a smile. "Come on, Princess Qingwei, you know as well as I do that Brother Chi has been passionate about dragon lance duels since he was young. There aren't more than ten people in Titanium Ring City who can beat him."

His words held a hidden meaning, and Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei, realizing her thoughts had been exposed, blushed slightly and remained silent.

"Let the duel begin!"

The two Dragon Masters took their positions in the sky, about five kilometers apart.

The lake shore was already packed with spectators, each viewing platform crowded with people craning their necks skyward.

"Roar!"

"Roar..."

The two dragons roared almost simultaneously, their voices reverberating for dozens of kilometers. They flapped their massive wings and accelerated towards each other.

The Meteor Dragon and the Thunder Shock Dragon, both Sky Dragons, were similar in size, measuring over fifty meters from head to tail.

Both dragons were incredibly fast.

In just over ten seconds, the charging dragons were less than 500 meters apart, their massive jaws open wide as they prepared to unleash their dragon breaths.

On their backs, Titanium-Cobalt Chi and Meteor Fire New Star had their dragon lances activated. They channeled their stellar energy into the lances, causing the tips to glow—one red and the other blue. The once-intangible light instantly solidified, transforming the lances into substantial weapons with blades extending several meters.

In the blink of an eye, the dragon lances extended to a hundred meters in length, their tips aimed directly at each other.

Boom!

The Meteor Fire Dragon and the Thunder Shock Dragon exhaled their breaths.

The crimson dragonfire and azure lightning clashed like two raging torrents, colliding with a tremendous explosion. The dragons themselves slammed into each other, continuing to spray their breaths at their opponent while clawing and biting ferociously.

Even before the dragons collided, their masters had already exchanged blows, their hundred-meter-long lances probing and testing each other in the blink of an eye.

They feinted, blocked, dodged, and thrust.

In the lightning-fast exchange, Titanium-Cobalt Chi and Meteor Fire New Star altered their lance techniques two to three times each, ultimately proving equally matched. Their lances collided head-on with a thunderous boom, and the lances, after erupting with stellar energy, shattered into pieces.

Neither had managed to strike their opponent, and they remained firmly seated on their dragons' backs.

Then, they once again channeled their energy into their lances, preparing to strike.

By now, the two dragons had grappled with each other, entangled as they fell towards the lake's surface. The battle continued on the dragons' backs, with the two masters repeatedly channeling their lances and trading blows. Each attack ended with the lance shattering into pieces.

From high in the sky, they fought their way down to almost ground level. Just as it seemed they would both fall into the lake, the two masters signaled their dragons to separate, bringing this round of the battle to a close.

Both dragons were covered in scorch marks and wounds, their scales shattered.

After creating some distance between them, the dragons wasted no time in flapping their wings and charging at each other once more. The dragon lances extended to a hundred meters, their tips aimed to pierce their opponents.

The spectators by the lake burst into enthusiastic cheers.

At the banquet, the guests watched with rapt attention, applauding the display.

The second round of the clash also ended in a draw.

It was only in the third round that Titanium-Cobalt Chi seized an opening in his opponent's defense. His dragon lance smashed through Meteor Fire New Star's lance, while his own lance remained largely intact. The Thunder Shock Dragon immediately surged forward, and the lance pierced Meteor Fire New Star's chest, knocking him off the dragon's back.

In the end, Titanium-Cobalt Chi's skill proved superior.

"He wins!"

"Whoa!"

"Titanium-Cobalt Chi is indeed the undefeated champion of dragon lance battles in Titanium Ring City. There are few dragon masters of the same rank who can match him..." The spectators by the lake were thoroughly exhilarated, discussing the battle with excitement and cheering loudly for Titanium-Cobalt Chi.

"I knew Chi would win," Titanium-Cobalt Zhenhe said with a calm smile.

Ji Xinghuo turned his attention to the loser.

Meteor Fire New Star had sustained injuries, but they didn't seem too severe. He flew back to his dragon's back and soothed his Meteor Fire Dragon before returning to the banquet with his dragon lance. He wore a displeased expression, but he didn't appear overly dejected.

No one mocked or ridiculed him, and the guests showed a degree of tolerance towards the loser of a dragon lance battle.

After all, no one could guarantee they would never lose.

Anyone who had participated in dragon lance battles understood the bitter taste of defeat.

Meteor Fire New Star's friends consoled him, while the victor, Titanium-Cobalt Chi, basked in his glory. Riding his Thunder Shock Dragon, he approached the building, dismounted, and collected the thousand ether crystals that had been wagered, now his winnings.

Titanium-Cobalt Chi shouted, "I'll put up another thousand ether crystals! Who's next?"

"I'll go!"

"Me!"

Four or five dragon masters stood up simultaneously, but the quickest among them threw the ether crystals he had prepared onto the table, grabbed a dragon lance, and flew up. The others had no choice but to step back and wait for the next opportunity.

Titanium-Cobalt Chi lived up to his reputation as a genius, and his experience in dragon lance battles was evident. He employed different tactics against each opponent.

He emerged victorious in three consecutive battles.

In the fourth battle, however, his Thunder Shock Dragon's accumulated injuries were too severe, impacting its combat prowess, and its stamina had been depleted too much. As a result, Titanium-Cobalt Chi lost to a Sixth Tier dragon master from the Crystal Radiance Family.

With three wins and one loss, Titanium-Cobalt Chi's record was impressive, and he had earned two thousand ether crystals.

According to the rules of dragon lance battles, the winner could choose to continue fighting, acting as the defending champion. Before each battle, wagers would be placed, and challengers had to offer an equal value in ether crystals or other treasures.

As long as the defending champion agreed, the challenger could take the field.

The winner took all.

After Titanium-Cobalt Chi stepped down, numerous dragon masters took turns stepping up. Over a dozen consecutive battles unfolded, but no one could achieve more than three consecutive wins, with the best record matching Titanium-Cobalt Chi's.

Ji Xinghuo also began to understand the intricacies of these dragon lance battles.

In dragon lance battles, two factors were paramount: the dragon and one's martial arts skill.

Since attacks were restricted to dragon lances, most people's advantage in abilities was negated. The stellar energy consumed to channel and extend the dragon lances wasn't excessive and had a limit, which placed Legend and Emperor ranks on equal footing.

While the channeled dragon lance could transmit power, its length and hardness were inversely proportional.

The longer the lance, the lower its hardness.

Moreover, the lance could only erupt with stellar energy once before shattering, limiting each attack to a single strike.

Dragons could only attack other dragons, breathing their dragon breath and engaging in close combat, but the types and strengths of dragons varied, and they had different strengths and weaknesses.

Some dragons were fast fliers, small and agile, favoring guerrilla tactics; some had strong defenses, focusing solely on offense and excelling in melee combat; others were massive in size, possessing unmatched strength but slow in movement, ultimately losing due to their sluggishness.

Therefore, the level of understanding between the Dragon Master and their dragon was also of utmost importance.

"This is getting interesting!"

Ji Xinghuo watched with great interest.

"Jin, why don't you give it a try?" Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei suddenly asked with a smile, her sparkling eyes fixed on Ji Xinghuo.

The surrounding guests turned to look at him, some confused and others sneering.

Ji Xinghuo shook his head.

"How can he participate without a dragon?" Cang Ya asked with a smile, teasing him. "Unless, Princess Qingwei, you're offering to lend him your Titanium-Cobalt Dragon?"

"That's not out of the question." Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei's answer surprised everyone. "But my Titanium-Cobalt Dragon has just reached the Brilliant grade, so it might be a bit of a stretch to pit it against a Shock-grade Sky Dragon. Also, I haven't had much time to develop a bond with Jin, and our lack of coordination might hold him back."

Everyone was stunned by her words for a moment.

Then, they looked at Ji Xinghuo with a hint of envy in their eyes, and some even glared at him with jealousy, their eyes turning red.

A dragon was a Dragon Master's most important partner.

Even spouses were not allowed to touch each other's dragons without permission, and they were generally never lent out.

Yet, Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei was willing to lend her dragon to Ji Xinghuo.

What exactly was their relationship?

Cang Ya widened her eyes, looking at Ji Xinghuo and then at Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei, her heart filled with a complex mix of emotions she had never experienced before—a tinge of sourness and a hint of inexplicable annoyance. Finally, she said, "Qingwei, you're so generous, even willing to lend your Titanium-Cobalt Dragon to others."

Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei flashed a pure smile. "It's just a temporary loan. Cang Ya, if you want to borrow it, I'd be happy to lend it to you as well."

"I wouldn't dare to ask for that," Cang Ya said, with a hidden meaning.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Princess Qingwei, but I'll pass on borrowing the dragon." Ji Xinghuo quickly clarified his stance to avoid any misunderstandings.

Titanium-Cobalt Qingwei pouted. "But I want to see you in action."

"Uh..."

Ji Xinghuo had experienced her 'tea' tactics, and she was quite skilled at it.

She had written 'Oblivion Jin' on the invitation card, knowing full well that he possessed the Oblivion Dragon, yet she suggested lending him her Titanium-Cobalt Dragon, misleading others about their relationship and drawing attention to him, essentially pushing him into the dragon lance duel.

He didn't want to reveal the Oblivion Dragon so soon, even if it might have been Titanium-Cobalt Dragon King's arrangement to elevate his status.

"There will be other opportunities."

Just as Ji Xinghuo was about to decline politely, the two Dragon Masters in the sky concluded their match, and the winner was the previously introduced Titanium-Cobalt Kemin.

He returned riding his Thunder Shock Dragon, his gaze falling on Titanium-Cobalt Lan, his face proud and confident.

Then, he threw something onto the table.

It was an Endtime Dragon Eye.

This was the most valuable wager of the night so far, and Titanium-Cobalt Kemin's voice boomed with confidence as he asked, "Who's next?"

Ji Xinghuo's heart stirred. He had used an Endtime Dragon Eye before, but he could give it to Qinghong or Doomsday. Especially for Doomsday, the Endtime Dragon Eye was a rare item that could increase a dragon's fusion capacity.

Perhaps due to the high value of the Endtime Dragon Eye, the large wager, or Titanium-Cobalt Kemin's impressive victory, no one responded for a few seconds.

"Xinghuo, go for it."

Titanium-Cobalt Lan's voice sounded in Ji Xinghuo's mind, speaking in the language of the Akashic Sect. "Kemin has been getting a bit too full of himself lately, constantly disturbing my cultivation. He's gone too far, so please teach him a lesson on my behalf."

Ji Xinghuo stood up immediately.

He smiled coldly to himself. Kemin, you dare to hit on the leader's confidante? If Blue Sister doesn't want to deal with you herself because of their friendship, then I'll teach you a lesson in her stead.

And I'll win that Endtime Dragon Eye while I'm at it.

"I'll do it!"

Ji Xinghuo threw a Red Emperor Blood Crystal onto the table next to the Endtime Dragon Eye.

All the guests at the banquet turned to look at him, puzzled. What are you doing, joining in without even having a dragon?

Titanium-Cobalt Kemin glanced at the Red Emperor Blood Crystal on the table, his expression arrogant as he said indifferently, "Since you want to give me the Red Emperor Blood Crystal, I'll agree. I'll give you half a stellar hour to borrow a dragon or another mount."

"Hahaha..."

Some guests couldn't help but laugh, their ridicule plain to hear. "Participating in a dragon lance duel without a dragon? You're just asking for humiliation!"

Others were delighted to see potential drama unfold.

But in the next moment, they saw a dark golden light burst from Ji Xinghuo's body, blooming above his head and projecting a dragon's shadow. A devastating aura exploded from him, pressuring the entire venue.

The Thunder Shock Dragon hovering outside the rooftop was startled, flapping its wings in a hurry to retreat, almost throwing Titanium-Cobalt Kemin off its back.

Titanium-Cobalt Kemin barely stabilized himself, his pupils dilating in shock.

"What kind of dragon is that?!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end