Chapter Nine: The Karma of the Dragon Clan

Dragon Clan Residence.

The Ancestral Dragon sat high upon the main seat, with Elders such as Prime Dragon, Candle Dragon, Mysterious Dragon, and Yellow Dragon gathered below. At this moment, all their expressions were deeply grave.

“Have you found out what the Phoenix Clan and the Qilin Clan have been up to lately?”

Yellow Dragon bowed respectfully and replied, “Forefather, the alliance between the Phoenix Clan and the Qilin Clan is beyond all doubt. I believe they will declare war on our Dragon Clan in the near future.”

The Ancestral Dragon frowned, clearly dissatisfied with this answer. “Does our Dragon Clan possess the strength to withstand the alliance of the two clans?”

The gathered elders exchanged glances. In the end, Prime Dragon stepped forward, bowed, and answered, “If we faced a single clan, I am ninety percent certain I could lead our Dragon Clan to victory. But against both at once, our chances fall below fifty percent. Even if we were to win, it would be a pyrrhic victory, the losses outweighing any gains. Thus, unless absolutely necessary, I believe we must avoid war at all costs.”

“But it is not our Dragon Clan seeking war—the Phoenix and Qilin Clans are uniting to target us,” Mysterious Dragon interjected with a frown, reminding the assembly. The others remained silent, for none could devise a solution.

“Something’s wrong!”

As the group pondered, a dragon in azure robes suddenly cried out, alarmed by a sudden intuition.

The Ancestral Dragon frowned, a hint of reprimand in his voice. “Azure Dragon, what is it?”

The others turned to him as well, puzzled by Azure Dragon’s uncharacteristic loss of composure.

“Forefather, I beg you to avenge my son!” Azure Dragon paid no heed to the others’ gazes. He fell to his knees before the Ancestral Dragon, his face contorted in grief.

The Ancestral Dragon’s frown deepened. With a wave of his broad hand, he traced the cause and effect upon Azure Dragon, and a curtain of light appeared. As the immortal mist dispersed, three figures became visible within the glowing screen: two men and a woman.

“It’s him!” The Ancestral Dragon sprang to his feet, eyes fixed fiercely on the white-robed man at the center of the image, his fists clenched tight.

He could never forget this man. A thousand years ago, that man had killed his sixth son, prompting him to order a millennium-long hunt. Alas, at that time, he had not yet broken through to the Quasi-Sage realm, and lacking the necessary power, the pursuit came to nothing. Worse still, many of their Dragon experts perished in vain.

When the Dragon Clan later flourished, and with the clan’s fortune, he finally advanced to Quasi-Sage. Yet, the man seemed to vanish from the world, leaving no trace. Now, unexpectedly, he had resurfaced—and slain Azure Dragon’s offspring.

Truly, it was as if the world believed the Dragon Clan devoid of strength!

The other dragons, seeing the Ancestral Dragon’s face twisted with fury—as though he might erupt at any moment—bowed their heads in silence, dreading they too might be caught up in the coming storm.

“All dragons above the Great Golden Immortal realm, hear my command! Follow me to slay this fiend!”

With fists clenched, the Ancestral Dragon roared. A flash of violet light, and in an instant he transformed into a titanic, ten-thousand-zhang-long violet-gold nine-clawed divine dragon, soaring toward a distant direction.

The others exchanged uneasy glances. Though some felt the situation unwise, none dared defy the Ancestral Dragon’s order. As one or two leaders set forth, the rest transformed into their true forms and followed.

Azure Dragon was overwhelmed with joy, but thoughts of his slain child quickly reignited his rage. In a flash, he became a thousand-zhang-long nine-clawed azure dragon, roaring in fury as he joined the others, tearing through the skies.

For reasons unknown, the bond of causality between the Ancestral Dragon and that man had become crystal clear. By following this thread, he could swiftly locate his quarry.

…

Meanwhile, after the dragons set out, Li Tian felt a growing unease in his heart, as though calamity loomed near. Yet, no matter how he pondered, he could not pinpoint any danger, and so he betrayed no outward sign.

Fuxi, however, sensed something deeper. He halted abruptly, holding back Li Tian and Nuwa as well. “A foreboding premonition has just arisen within me,” he said.

Li Tian’s heart clenched. He had assumed his own unease was mere paranoia, but with Fuxi similarly unsettled, he dared not take the matter lightly.

“Brother, what’s wrong?” Nuwa asked, puzzled. Her cultivation was the lowest among them, and while she too felt some unease, her youthful temperament, coupled with the presence of Li Tian and Fuxi, filled her with confidence—she felt certain no danger could threaten her.

Fuxi summoned his powers, divining with his fingers, but the result was indistinct. He frowned.

After a moment’s thought, he said, “I cannot see the specifics, but we must not continue forward. We should head south—that is our path to life!”

“South?” Nuwa glanced in that direction. All she saw was a barren plain, with only a faint trace of green forest millions of miles away.

Li Tian turned as well. The moment he looked south, a sudden clarity filled his heart—it was as if the path had opened before him. He had no doubt: south was indeed their way to survival.

“Nuwa, Fuxi is right. The south is our path to life. Let’s go!”

With that, Li Tian took Nuwa’s hand and exchanged a glance with Fuxi. Both nodded, then set their clouds and sped southward at their fastest pace.

Seeing the gravity in Li Tian and Fuxi’s expressions, Nuwa too grew uneasy, even forgetting to pull her hand away from Li Tian’s grasp.

The three hurried onward, traveling hundreds of miles in moments. Less than half a month after their departure, a vast host of dragons tore through the sky, arriving at the spot where they had previously been.

“They’ve gone south—pursue them!”

The Ancestral Dragon paused, then roared, veering in pursuit.

At his side, Candle Dragon glanced at him, knowing well that once the Ancestral Dragon set his mind, there was no persuading him. Without a word, Candle Dragon followed.

But Prime Dragon could not hold back. Surging ahead, his immense form blocked the Ancestral Dragon’s path. “Forefather, please reconsider!”

“The south is the Phoenix Clan’s territory. Venturing deep alone is a grave mistake, especially into their very lair. If we continue this pursuit and are ambushed by the Phoenixes, our losses will be catastrophic!”

Upon hearing this, Azure Dragon flew over immediately, caring little for the usual deference he held towards Prime Dragon. “Forefather, our Dragon Clan’s finest are all here. Even should we face the Phoenix Clan, what is there to fear?”

Mysterious Dragon also advanced, joining Prime Dragon’s side. “Forefather, please reconsider. Recently, the Phoenix and Qilin Clans have grown close. Our approach is hardly subtle; word may already have reached them. If they learn our Dragon Clan elites are all absent, they may take the risk and attack our homeland. The consequences would be disastrous! Forefather, we should not pursue. We must return and make long-term plans!”

The Ancestral Dragon listened, finding merit in their words. Yet his heart was entirely consumed by fury, leaving no room for delay. Without hesitation, he dismissed Prime Dragon and Mysterious Dragon’s objections.

“My decision is made. That wretch shall die today—move out!”

With a furious roar, the Ancestral Dragon accelerated ahead. The others dared not resist and followed in silence. Prime Dragon and Mysterious Dragon exchanged a glance, sighed deeply, and joined the pursuit.

…