Chapter 572: The Captive Dragon, Ao Hong, and the Sword that Pierces the Heavens

Chapter 572: The Captive Dragon, Ao Hong, and the Sword that Pierces the Heavens

The man in the gray robe pondered for a moment before speaking, "I played a significant role in capturing Ao Hong, and I deserve half the share of this dragon. Since you are aware of what the Non-Transformation Temple is up to, Senior Chi Ni Wang will likely take action as well. Why don't we cooperate? As for dragon meat, this true dragon isn't extinct. If I'm not mistaken, Ao Hong still has descendants, and they will be more than enough to satisfy our appetite if we raise them in captivity."

Chi Xiao Ni gave the matter some thought, then replied after a while, "You must provide compensation; otherwise, there's nothing to discuss!"

The man in the gray robe heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Agreed!"

He then brought the grilled dragon meat over to Chi Xiao Ni and said, "The meat is ready!"

Chi Xiao Ni was thrilled, immediately popping the meat into his mouth and exclaiming with his mouth full, "This meat does taste better grilled."

"Of course!"

A hint of disdain flashed in the gray-robed man's eyes.

He stood up and walked to the edge of the Prison Dragon Abyss, looking down at Ao Hong, who was bound and unable to break free from the chains no matter how much he struggled.

"Ao Hong, don't waste your energy. You can't escape. Before the next epoch begins, you will die, and the Great Azure Heaven and Earth will be completely destroyed. Everything you possess will be used for the commencement of the next epoch." The gray-robed man smiled coldly.

"Roar!"

Ao Hong let out an angry roar, his eyes radiating a formidable dragon aura, but his expression was one of powerlessness and melancholy.

After Chi Xiao Ni had eaten the meat, he also poked his head over to look at Ao Hong.

Upon seeing Chi Xiao Ni, Ao Hong became furious. "You scoundrel! I, Ao Hong, am a true spirit, and I belong to the true spirit lineage. Yet, you betrayed your fellow true spirits by colluding with the Non-Transformation Temple. You will never become a true spirit king with such disloyalty!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Chi Xiao Ni retorted angrily, his mane bristling like flames.

"What makes you a true spirit? You betrayed the Non-Transformation True Spirits. You are a spirit of the heavens and earth, not of our lineage."

"You're shortsighted and ignorant," Ao Hong scoffed. "I demand to see Chi Ni Wang."

"You are not worthy of meeting my father!" Chi Xiao Ni lifted his head high, his expression proud and aloof.

"Ao Hong, if you think you can deceive Young Master Chi Xiao Ni, you're delusional," the gray-robed man said with a laugh, his words filled with flattery toward Chi Xiao Ni.

Chi Xiao Ni basked in the praise, looking thoroughly pleased.

Ao Hong was exasperated. While Chi Xiao Ni didn't exhibit the same level of beastliness and lack of spiritual intelligence as the other Non-Transformation True Spirits, his spiritual intelligence was still rather limited. It didn't take much for the gray-robed man to flatter and manipulate him into thinking highly of himself.

Ao Hong felt some regret. If he had known how gullible and easily influenced Chi Xiao Ni was, he would have started flattering and pandering to him from the beginning. Perhaps then, he wouldn't have ended up in this predicament.

However, Ao Hong also understood that his nature as a true dragon was inherently proud and arrogant. He had also been wise from an early age, having been the ruler of the heavens and earth that had opened up the world. When he first met Chi Xiao Ni, it simply wasn't in his nature to start flattering and groveling, especially since he wasn't familiar with Chi Xiao Ni's specific strength and background.

On the other hand, the gray-robed man was more acquainted with Chi Xiao Ni and was aware of his background. Thus, he had immediately started flattering and pandering to Chi Xiao Ni, which eventually led to their collaboration and Ao Hong's imprisonment.

"Despicable and shameless! All of you from the Non-Transformation Temple are a disgrace!" Ao Hong roared in outrage.

The gray-robed man remained unperturbed and instead responded with a smile. "Go ahead and curse all you want. The more fiercely you curse, the more it shows your vitality, and that's a good thing. If you were half-dead, you'd be of little use to us."

Ao Hong's eyes turned red with anger, and he let out a series of dragon roars, struggling violently against the chains that bound him. The chains clanked and shimmered with light, keeping him locked firmly in the abyss.

Suddenly, a voice rang out, "Are you the true spirit ruler of the heavens and earth, Ao Hong?"

Ao Hong was taken aback, and the gray-robed man and Chi Xiao Ni were equally startled. The three other true spirits lying on the ground also let out startled roars.

Unbeknownst to them, a handsome young man had appeared at the edge of the Prison Dragon Abyss.

The gray-robed man's expression turned solemn as he realized he hadn't detected the young man's presence beforehand. The youth was incredibly powerful, on par with a ruler of the heavens and earth!

Ao Hong looked up, his eyes widening in surprise. "Are you a spirit of the heavens and earth?"

"Where do you come from?" he asked.

At this point, the entire Untransformed Wilderness had been reduced to just the Great Azure Heaven and Earth. How could there be such a powerful being within it? And why was he here?

Even if the Great Azure had left behind a contingency plan, allowing for the emergence of a new ruler of the heavens and earth within the Great Azure Heaven and Earth, it was highly unlikely for that person to appear in this particular place. Could it be that the Great Azure had already been destroyed, and this new ruler of the heavens and earth was fleeing and had stumbled upon this location?

If that were the case, the Lord of Non-Transformation would surely be pursuing him. As a ruler-level existence, there would be no escape from the Lord's pursuit.

Thus, Ao Hong was filled with doubt and astonishment.

"Who are you?" he asked, bewildered.

"I am Sword God Xu Yan!" came the calm reply. Xu Yan paid no heed to the four ruler-level true spirits nor the gray-robed man. Now that he had arrived, the gray-robed man was as good as dead.

Any strong individuals from the Non-Transformation Temple were to be killed on sight!

"Sword God Xu Yan?" Ao Hong was stunned, and he asked with hesitation, "Are you from the Great Blue Heavens and Earth?"

"Yes and no," Xu Yan replied with a nod and a shake of his head.

The gray-robed man stared at Xu Yan, his face filled with shock, followed by elation. This was an unexpected windfall—to find another ruler-level existence among the heavens and earth!

Chi Xiao Ni, on the other hand, ignored Xu Yan, conversing with Ao Hong as if the other didn't exist, much to the dragon's fury. Chi Xiao Ni, the master of the Prison Dragon Abyss, was being completely disregarded, and he let out a low growl of anger.

At Chi Xiao Ni's growl, one of the three true spirits let out a roar, its aura flaring as it pounced towards Xu Yan.

"Be careful!" Ao Hong couldn't help but exclaim in warning.

Xu Yan's expression remained unchanged as he lifted his hand and slashed with his sword. The sword light, like a cold glow, shone amidst the mountain peaks, slicing into the charging true spirit.

Boom!

The true spirit instantly fell to the ground, causing the mountain peaks to tremble.

Slayed with a single sword strike!

Chi Xiao Ni was taken aback, and even the gray-robed man was momentarily stunned. Ao Hong's face was filled with disbelief. Such power reminded him of the Great Blue.

Aside from the Great Blue, no other heavenly being possessed such formidable strength. Even in his prime, Ao Hong wouldn't have been able to kill that true spirit so effortlessly.

"Roar!"

Chi Xiao Ni's mane fluttered like flames, and his nostrils spewed forth curls of red smoke. His eyes glowed crimson with rage.

"How dare you kill my subordinate!" he bellowed.

"Join forces and capture him," the gray-robed man said with a cold smile. "Since he's here to save Ao Hong, let them face their fate together."

A curved gray blade appeared in the gray-robed man's hand, its aura surging. His formidable power was undeniable.

Chi Xiao Ni's massive body exuded a true spirit's might, and the other two true spirits roared and encircled Xu Yan.

In the Prison Dragon Abyss, Ao Hong's expression changed as he exclaimed, "Run! You're no match for them!"

Even though Xu Yan's strength exceeded his expectations, Chi Xiao Ni and the gray-robed man were both extremely powerful and not ordinary rulers. Xu Yan alone wouldn't be able to face them.

"Wait here while I deal with them, and I'll come back to free you," Xu Yan said calmly, showing no signs of panic.

He turned to face the gray-robed man and asked with a cold smile, "Why do you, as members of the Non-Transformation Temple, constantly target the heavenly beings?"

The gray-robed man didn't answer but instead took a step forward, inching closer. "You'll find out when you're sealed with Ao Hong and the next epoch begins."

Xu Yan looked at Chi Xiao Ni, mildly curious. "The Non-Transformation True Spirits are usually without spiritual intelligence. How did you come to develop it? Although it seems rather limited, it's still somewhat surprising."

"How dare you insult Chi Xiao Ni, young master of the Chi Clan! You're asking to die!" Chi Xiao Ni roared in fury.

Boom!

Chi Xiao Ni's tail lashed out, and a whip-like shadow appeared in the air, descending with a buzzing sound.

The other two true spirits roared and spewed forth a powerful crimson light, aiming for Xu Yan.

The gray-robed man also took action, waving his hand. Chains shot out from his sleeves, forming a giant net that enveloped Xu Yan.

"Trifling tricks!" Xu Yan's expression was indifferent as sword light surged from his body. In an instant, it was as if the might of an entire world descended upon them.

He raised his palm.

Roar!

A golden dragon emerged, roaring as it rushed forth.

The dragon's might shook the heavens, its angry roars echoing endlessly.

Below the Prison Dragon Abyss, Ao Hong was stunned. A true dragon? Where did it come from?

"Something's not right! What kind of technique is this?" Ao Hong was perplexed. The golden dragon that Xu Yan had summoned with a palm strike possessed the formidable might of a true dragon.

Moreover, this golden dragon was filled with raging fury, as if it wanted to take its enemies down with it. It seemed to be burning with all its might, unleashing a strike that would ensure mutual destruction!

Chi Xiao Ni and the gray-robed man were equally astonished, and Chi Xiao Ni blurted out in surprise, "Are you a true dragon?"

The golden dragon roared and charged towards the two true spirits that were attacking with their true spirit power. A deafening boom resounded as the golden dragon collided with their attacks, sending the true spirits flying.

Buzz!

In an instant, a sword light appeared, emanating an aura of annihilation.

"Full power!"

The gray-robed man's expression changed drastically as Xu Yan's strength far exceeded his expectations, giving him a sense of facing the mighty Tai Cang.

Even more so, by three folds!

Roar!

Chi Xiao Ni also sensed the danger, his body suddenly enlarging, surrounded by crimson light. He opened his mouth and spat out a pillar of red light, hurtling towards Xu Yan. Simultaneously, his tail stood erect, the sharp bone spurs glinting with icy coldness.

The gray-robed man waved his hand, and a torrent of dark power surged forth like a storm, transforming into countless curved blades that swept across the land.

Buzz!

A sword light suddenly slashed out, tearing through the storm of curved blades. Xu Yan's figure vanished from his original spot, deftly evading Chi Xiao Ni's attack.

The next moment, Xu Yan reappeared before the gray-robed man. With a thrust of his sword, the heavens and earth manifested within, trapping the gray-robed man in a miniature world created by the sword.

And within this world, a sword light descended to annihilate all!

Divine Ability: Sword World and the Ultimate Sword!

The gray-robed man's face twisted in horror as a strong sense of crisis emerged in his heart. Streams of dark power continuously surged within him, and at the same time, a gray bead appeared. With a boom, the bead transformed into a net that enveloped him, not as a means of attack, but as a protective shield.

The giant net enveloped the gray-robed man, shielding him with a layer of powerful Daoist laws.

Xu Yan's eyebrows furrowed slightly. This gray bead was a condensation of Daoist power, not the gray-robed man's own strength. Evidently, it was a defensive artifact bestowed upon him by the Unchanging Lord.

Xu Yan coldly smiled. Although the bead's Daoist laws were strong, they did not surpass the scope of the Heaven's Lord. How could it withstand his sword?

After defending himself with the Daoist laws, the gray-robed man breathed a sigh of relief. He raised the curved blade in his hand, and the power within him continued to surge, gathering on the blade. He intended to strike Xu Yan the moment his sword was hindered by the defensive Daoist laws, either heavily injuring or killing him.

At the same time, Chi Xiao Ni, whose previous attack had missed, was also furious. His erect tail lashed down, and the sharp bone spurs shot out like icy beams, crashing down.

Boom!

The mountains trembled as cracks appeared in the heavens and earth. Xu Yan's expression remained unchanged as his sword slashed through the giant net of Daoist laws surrounding the gray-robed man.

Buzz!

In an instant, his sword severed the giant net of Daoist laws, and the sharp sword light penetrated towards the gray-robed man.

The sword intent, akin to the annihilation of the heavens and earth, seemed to want to extinguish the gray-robed man. Such a powerful sword strike caused the gray-robed man's face to drain of color. He swung his curved blade to meet Xu Yan's sword.

Boom!

The Ultimate Sword and the gray-robed man's strike collided, unleashing a powerful wave that caused half of the mountain peaks to crumble.

The Sword World also shattered at this moment, and Chi Xiao Ni's attack descended.

Xu Yan's figure moved, vanishing from his original spot. With a loud boom, Chi Xiao Ni's tail struck the air as he roared in anger. The crimson light surrounding him blazed like flames as he pounced towards Xu Yan.

Ah!

Suddenly, the gray-robed man let out a painful cry, instinctively covering his head.

Although he had blocked the residual force of the Ultimate Sword, Xu Yan's hidden Xun Wind Sword Intent had sliced into his soul, causing him to cry out in agony.

Chi Xiao Ni's charging figure halted, and he looked at the gray-robed man in shock. The gray-robed man's strength was not inferior to his own, yet he had been injured without Chi Xiao Ni even noticing how it had happened.

The gray-robed man let out a low growl, his face contorting, but he knew that the true crisis had arrived. Without hesitation, he took out another bead, which exploded with a bang, transforming into a gray shield that enveloped him.

Boom!

Powerful forces surged from the gray-robed man's body, and skull-like gray figures emerged around him.

However, Xu Yan slashed down with his sword once more.

This sword was silent and inconspicuous, devoid of any sharp sword intent. Yet, a strong sense of impending death enveloped the gray-robed man.

"I shall test this sword technique on you!"

Xu Yan said indifferently.

Divine Ability: One Sword to Rule the Heavens!

Roar!

"Chi Xiao Ni, attack now!"

The gray-robed man's face paled with fear, and he mustered all his strength, burning his source, and frantically counterattacked to block this sword strike.

Chi Xiao Ni was also frightened. He opened his mouth and spat out a massive pillar of crimson light, hurtling towards Xu Yan.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end