Chapter 542: First Encounter with the Western Dragon Palace

Chapter 542: First Encounter with the Western Dragon Palace

Outside the Pavilion of Myriad Visions, on the platform that welcomed guests.

A jade-horned silver dragon, winding like a starry river, suddenly descended and transformed into a burly man clad in silver armor. He wielded a crescent halberd, which he slammed onto the ground with force.

Qi Zhaoping's expression was sinister, and his eyes swept coldly towards the formation before him.

On any ordinary day, if he had come here personally, these despicable servants would have crawled out to greet him from a thousand miles away.

Now that he was outside the sect, there was not a sound from within.

Had the old fool from the Pavilion of Myriad Visions damaged his brain during his union with the Dao, truly believing that he could brush off this matter by secluding himself?

What a pipe dream!

"I'll give you three seconds to show yourselves, or I'll tear down your protective sect formation today!"

Qi Zhaoping closed his eyes and tightly gripped his halberd, his voice cold and harsh as he said, "One!"

The water tribe generals behind him also drew their weapons. Although breaking the protective sect formation would be a tedious task, they had plenty of time—after all, these idle princes of the Western Dragon Palace lacked nothing if not time.

It was clear that Qi, the Seventh Lord, was truly enraged this time.

They glared at the exit of the formation, their expressions dark. Unexpectedly, just as Qi was about to count to two, a faint light began to ripple across the formation.

It seemed these despicable servants knew what was good for them. If they truly offended the Western Dragon Palace, it wouldn't take much effort to raze them to the ground.

However, the next moment, the group of Dragon Palace generals, who had just relaxed their grips on their weapons, suddenly paled, their instincts kicking in as they tightened their hold once more.

A voice reached their ears before the person appeared.

A deep, rough voice, filled with malevolent intent, resonated, sending chills down their spines just from the sound alone.

"Come on, go ahead and break it. I'd like to see you try."

There was no hint of provocation in these words; it was as if he was merely curious to see if Qi Laoqi dared to make a move.

"..."

Qi Zhaoping had not expected such a response. In his opinion, these disciples of the Pavilion of Myriad Visions would treat him with the utmost respect and courtesy if they wanted to continue living in West Hong.

The reason they hadn't replied to the Dragon Palace earlier was probably out of fear.

But now, it seemed he had guessed wrong.

They hadn't responded because they simply didn't deign to.

"Good... good..."

Qi Zhaoping opened his eyes, and just as the violent aura surged onto his face, it stalled.

He stared at the two figures that had emerged from the formation, a hint of doubt in his eyes. One was tall and broad-shouldered, towering at several zhangs, while the other was a tiny figure who was almost overlooked, standing at only four chi tall. Yet, both wore identical dark golden robes, their faces hidden beneath hoods.

The stark contrast between the two made them appear even more sinister and demonic.

"Where's the old man from the Pavilion of Myriad Visions? Tell him to come out and meet me." Qi Zhaoping was no fool. Sensing that something was amiss, he quickly changed the subject, choosing to ignore his earlier threat.

"Pfft."

The tall figure suddenly let out a derisive laugh, then said with disinterest, "What Pavilion of Myriad Visions? This place now belongs to my palace. Scram."

With those last two words, the numerous water tribe generals all turned pale, and even Qi Zhaoping's eyes twitched.

Here in West Hong, someone dared to tell him, a royal prince, to scram?

But according to what this person had just said... had the Pavilion of Myriad Visions ceased to exist?

A sect that was barely considered an Immortal Sect had been silently annihilated, and the Western Dragon Palace hadn't received even a whisper of this news... What a joke!

The protective sect formation was still intact.

Those servants from the Pavilion of Myriad Visions had actually invited others to deceive him, treating Qi, the Seventh Lord, like a child to be hoodwinked.

"Hmph, you keep spouting 'this palace'. I'd like to see what kind of palace dares to act so arrogantly before the Western Dragon Palace."

Qi Zhaoping forcefully pressed down on his halberd, pointing the crescent blade straight at the two figures. A murderous glint appeared in his eyes, and a cold smile lifted the corners of his lips. "You're not even going to reveal your identity? Are you that afraid?"

Such a crude attempt at deception, and they had the audacity to try it on him?

As he pressed down with his halberd, the two figures shrouded in dark golden robes suddenly fell silent.

The next moment, a vigorous demonic force surged forth, engulfing Qi Zhaoping and the multitude of water tribe members.

"..."

Qi Zhaoping's face twisted in shock. Two powerhouses comparable to the Union of Dao Realm were not enough to make him fearful, but the problem was that this was demonic energy.

The Pavilion of Myriad Visions wouldn't dare allow such a powerful demon to enter their sacred grounds, and they certainly wouldn't have any means to counter it.

In other words, the Pavilion of Myriad Visions was truly gone! Annihilated without even having the chance to activate their protective sect formation?!

"What palace?"

The tall figure let out another cold laugh, his voice indifferent as he said, "You're trying to resist my palace while being ignorant of its identity."

"Afraid to reveal..."

A hint of malice crept into Ke Shisan's laughter as he slowly lowered his palm onto his hood, "My palace is afraid you won't be able to handle it."

As he spoke, he casually pulled back his hood, revealing a majestic dragon head that seemed to be cast in gold, its luxurious horns reaching towards the sky like a crown.

"I don't have time to bother with you insects, yet you've come right to my door."

"Since you don't want to leave, then don't leave."

Ke Shisan took a step forward, instantly appearing before Qi Zhaoping. Using his height advantage, he looked down at the other with indifference.

He stared into Qi Zhaoping's eyes, his tone growing colder, "Although I have to deal with those despicable cultivators from North Hong first, it's no trouble to squash a few insects along the way."

Qi Zhaoping's face twitched a few times, and he unconsciously took a step back, retreating into the safety of the crowd. He looked at the strange dragon-demon before him with suspicion and uncertainty.

This formidable and magnificent appearance, with an intense and suffocating aura.

Standing next to him, Qi Zhaoping even felt a sense of inferiority. This dragon-like figure seemed more like a true dragon, definitely not a native of Hongze.

Could it be that the Immortal of Hongze actually let an outsider in?

Recalling the words of the demon before him, Qi Zhaoping finally remembered something. This trip was to capture the Southern Hong Daoist, who was disguised as an unknown force.

So... was this a case of mistaken identity?

Was there really a force daring enough to rival the Wu Liang Dao Huang Zong, and was it also as ruthless and cruel as the rumors claimed? The news of their brutality had yet to settle, and now they had already destroyed another Immortal Sect.

"Are you the East Palace Master?"

Qi Zhaoping recalled the message his eldest brother had sent from South Hong, and he vaguely connected it to the dragon demon before him.

Seeing the faint disdain on the other's face, he forcibly suppressed his anger and wanted to probe the other's strength.

The various Water Tribe generals also looked apprehensive as they protected Qi Zhaoping, the Seventh Lord, in their midst. Daring to offend the Wu Liang Dao Huang Zong so openly, without fleeing or evading, and instead maintaining such arrogance—and still existing in West Hong—was proof of their strength and confidence.

At the very least, the Western Dragon Palace was incapable of such feats.

"..."

Ke Shisan really wasn't used to being talkative, but at this moment, he sincerely wished that the dragon before him would show some impulsiveness and give him a reason to try and kill him.

However, as the guardian spirit, everything had to be done according to his master's wishes.

"Remember to fix this platform before you scram. Don't let me see a second instance of this, or my palace will take care of you before we head to North Hong."

Ke Shisan lightly crushed the spot where the crescent halberd had smashed the platform with his foot.

The two figures, one tall and one short, turned and walked towards the formation.

"Two great demons comparable to the Union of Dao Realm..."

Qi Zhaoping stared intently at their retreating figures. The small figure was too mysterious, remaining silent from start to finish and only revealing a demonic aura comparable to the Union of Dao Realm, making it difficult to discern its true depth. However, the strength of this dragon demon should be inferior to his own.

The problem was, what kind of dragon clan was this? To be able to recruit such a noble and powerful existence, how strong was that force?

And if there was an East Palace Master, then there was likely also a West Palace Master, a North Palace Master, and more... At least four Union of Dao Realm powerhouses, like the turtle demon mentioned in the news.

Above these Palace Masters, there might even be more formidable beings.

Even in the best-case scenario, this was a force no weaker than the South Dragon Palace, capable of influencing the situation in West Hong. If one were to think negatively, judging by their arrogant behavior... they might even be a force that could rival the Wu Liang Dao Huang Zong.

"This is West Hong. At the very least, leave behind a name so that I can report it to my father, the Western Dragon King."

Qi Zhaoping sheathed his halberd and made one last attempt to test their strength, to see if they were all talk or if they truly had the power to back it up, and if they would be wary of the Western Dragon King.

Ke Shisan slowed his steps and his voice deepened, "The Myriad Demon Palace."

After speaking, he glanced back slightly, a playful smile on his face, "Now you can go back and report to that old worm. Little kitten, my palace awaits you."

This was probably the only truth Ke Shisan had spoken, filled with greed and sincerity.

As his voice faded, the two figures slowly disappeared into the formation.

Only Qi Zhaoping was left, his face flushed. In front of this golden dragon, the jade horn that he was so proud of now made him feel ashamed.

These demons! How dare they disrespect his father, the Dragon King!

"Seventh Prince..." The Water Tribe generals looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

Even with the two powerful beings the Myriad Demon Palace had displayed, it was not something the Seventh Prince could handle alone.

As for reporting back to the Western Dragon Palace... This so-called Myriad Demon Palace hadn't really done anything to the Dragon Palace, they had merely shown disdain and ignored them. Their treatment was far better than the brutality they had shown to other forces. On the contrary, it was the Seventh Prince who had inadvertently offended them.

They could definitely fight if they wanted to, as it would be upholding the dignity of the Western Dragon Palace.

But the Seventh Prince, who had brought this trouble upon himself for no reason, would surely face a terrible fate.

"Get out of my way!"

Qi Zhaoping pushed aside the few Water Tribe generals in front of him and transformed back into the Jade-Horned Silver Dragon, soaring into the sky.

The Myriad Demon Palace, the Myriad Demon Palace!!

"Seventh Prince, about this place..." One of the generals pointed awkwardly at the welcoming platform.

"Do as you please!" The Jade-Horned Silver Dragon let out a long cry and instantly disappeared into the clouds, vanishing without a trace.

The few demon generals exchanged glances, seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes. The Seventh Prince's response was obviously him giving them tacit approval while refusing to lose face.

It was up to them, his subordinates, to clean up this mess.

A few long sighs echoed in the pavilion as the water demons sheathed their weapons and began to use their demonic energy to repair the shattered platform.

...

Inside the Myriad Visions Pavilion.

Ke Shisan rubbed his face and sighed, "As the West Palace Master, you really didn't say a word?"

Indeed, Wu Jun was better at handling such situations.

In that moment of close proximity, he had truly felt Qi Zhaoping's strength and understood why An Yi hadn't suggested taking action.

Don't forget that this little tiger demon had exhausted a lot of energy earlier and hadn't fully recovered yet.

Her claim that she could barely win was probably an overestimation of their own strength.

Ke Shisan's words fell on deaf ears as far as An Yi was concerned. She completely ignored him and walked into the main hall, quietly standing behind Shen Yi.

She wanted to know if Shen Yi would feel regret when he saw that the dragon demon had left. After all, Shen Yi's expression had changed when he didn't want the old man to devour the lives of the creatures in the treasure land, and as a result, she had used far more of her foundation than usual, which was why she hadn't been able to keep the dragon demon today.

An Yi quietly glanced at the young man, staring at his fair profile.

Without any onlookers, Shen Yi appeared more like a gentle young man. The ink-colored robe he wore no longer exuded a murderous aura but instead seemed restrained and modest.

As for regret... it seemed there wasn't even a hint of it.

"Reporting to my lord, Xuan Jian has taken care of that dragon prince." Ke Shisan respectfully bowed.

Hearing the East Palace Master deliberately ignore An Yi, Shen Yi lifted his eyes helplessly. After spending so much time with Wu Jun, even this proud dragon descendant had started to learn the art of vying for favor.

However, it didn't matter. After all, Zhen Shi wasn't truly under his command.

Shen Yi put down the file in his hand and said, "Let's go and see what kind of backup that old man of the Qi family has prepared."

Although they wanted to deal with the South Hong Seven, just the Western Dragon Palace alone was enough to give them a headache. However, these miscellaneous helpers might become a problem at a critical moment.

It would be best to eliminate some of them in advance.

Moreover, they had hidden their identities, and no one knew what they were plotting for the old man of the Qi family. This provided Shen Yi with a convenient opportunity.

"My lord, Wu Jun..." Wu Jun, as if guessing something, hurried forward.

"You stay here and guard the place."

Shen Yi nodded slightly towards it and then left the hall, leaving only the old turtle demon standing bitterly in place.

It's over. Once the master leaves this time, I'm afraid that by the time he returns, I won't even be able to hold my head high in front of the other colleagues.

Thinking of Ke Shisan and the others, as well as a Middle Palace Master whom he had not yet met, several giants at the Union of Dao Realm chatting happily together, and he, a mere White Jade Jing, could only serve tea on the side...

"My lord, Wu Jun has you in his heart! Wu Jun is thinking of you! You must not forget about Wu Jun!" The old turtle demon shouted desperately as he chased after him.

"..."

Shen Yi left the Myriad Visions Pavilion, hearing the faint shouts from behind, and his temples twitched.

He wasn't sure if giving the Union of Dao Realm treasure to the other party to guard was a wise choice.

Never mind, fortunately, there was a dark golden robe covering him, so no one could see what was underneath.

Shen Yi deliberately spread the news about the Myriad Demon Palace.

After all, there was no such force in the world.

All these palace masters lived in his spiritual sea, and even if they made enemies, the opponents wouldn't know where to find them to take revenge.

It was a good choice to divert attention.

As for now...

Shen Yi looked into the distance. If it weren't for the information from the Myriad Visions Pavilion, even the Yunhe Sect probably wouldn't know that there was such a fierce demon next to their sect.

If he remembered correctly, there seemed to be a South Hong Daoist in the Yunhe Sect.

The old man of the Qi family really spared no expense, investing for many years without counting the cost, and feeding the Western Dragon Palace's treasure to outsiders... Was he trying to compete with the Jade Mountain Dragon Consort?

Never mind, it had nothing to do with him anyway.

Shen Yi now only wanted to know if there was anything among the "backup" left by the old man of the Qi family that could help him through the Fifth Tribulation.

Even if there wasn't, acquiring them would still be beneficial. They could enhance his Dao artifacts, and their own strength would also be a great help!

Shen Yi put away Ke Shisan and took only An Yi with him. The two, one tall and one short, their black figures quickly disappeared into the cloudy sea.

At the same time.

In the direction where Shen Yi had swiftly disappeared.

A huge figure suddenly emerged from a clear lake, washing away the dust of the journey in the clean water. Although the speed was extremely fast, one could still vaguely make out its purple and white dragon body.

She transformed into a human by the lakeside, her voice gentle yet carrying a hint of displeasure, "Come out, I know you're there."

A young cultivator stumbled out from behind a tree, fell to his knees, and said, "I accidentally saw the fairy bathing, please don't take offense, fairy."

Anyone who could be called a fairy in Hongze was undoubtedly a top beauty.

Even if one didn't recognize her, just looking at her exquisite beauty would be enough to guess her extraordinary background.

Adding the fact that she had purple beard and white dragon blood, her identity as a woman was obvious.

"Hmm."

The girl in the purple skirt frowned slightly and sighed softly. After so many years, the cultivators of Hongze were still so shameless. Other dragons swam in the water and flew in the sky every day, yet no one paid any attention to them. But as soon as it concerned her, there would always be some mysterious figures lurking around.

"Thank you, Purple Orchid Fairy, for your kindness..."

The young cultivator wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled bitterly, "I didn't mean to peep. I was just passing by on my way to ask for help."

There was no cultivator who wouldn't want to create a wonderful opportunity with a fairy.

But it also depended on the situation. For example, he was really in a desperate situation now.

"Hmm?"

Purple Orchid Fairy turned to look at him, "Ask for help?"

Upon hearing this, the cultivator slapped his forehead, almost forgetting that the Purple Beard White Dragon clan was famous for their love of meddling in other people's business! They had spent tens of thousands of years proving that their kindness was not an act.

Thinking of this, he quickly got up from the ground and chattered silently, "There's a demon!"

The cultivator didn't hide the fact that he was talking about demons. Everyone in Hongze knew that the Dragon Palace never considered themselves as part of the demon race. They were the masters of Hongze... at least they used to be.

Rustle—

A dragon scale sword sheath appeared in the Purple Orchid Fairy's palm.

She casually hung it on her waist and then took out a conch, saying indifferently, "Wait for me to visit my aunt in Jade Mountain. I'll come back later."

After speaking, Purple Orchid Fairy put away the conch and walked forward, "Let's go and take a look."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end