To slay the evil flood dragon, it was clear that the cooperation of the people from Shijia Village would be essential. Without their help, the creature would remain hidden underwater, making the task exceedingly difficult. Charging into the dragon's lair alone would be akin to walking into a death trap.
However, involving the villagers would undoubtedly expose them to significant risks. To prevent them from backing out, Xu Ming declared firmly, "I will not leave until the flood dragon is dead," putting their minds at ease. Of course, Xu Ming would still take precautions against the village chief. Trusting him completely would be unwise—if the chief were to betray him and inform the flood dragon, the situation could turn dire.
With adequate precautions in place, even if the chief betrayed him, Xu Ming was confident he could retreat unscathed, though he might not be able to slay the flood dragon. A mere Golden Core realm demon wasn't enough to stop him.
Killing the flood dragon wasn't purely altruistic—it served Xu Ming's purposes as well. He planned to use the dragon's heart blood as ink to create Dao Rain Talismans, which would enrich the spiritual energy in the Baiwa Secret Realm and improve the yield of spiritual rice. Dao Rain Talismans were finite, and once he used up his five remaining talismans, he would need to craft more. The flood dragon's heart blood was indispensable for this purpose.
Moreover, the flood dragon's body was a treasure trove. Its tendons, scales, and demon core were all invaluable. Even its "dragon whip" was a prized item, highly sought after by noble families, middle-aged cultivators, and aristocrats for its renowned health benefits. Throughout the ages, such supplements have always been in high demand. The dragon's flesh was a delicacy for martial artists, enhancing their true qi. Though the dragon's blood wasn't as potent as that of a true dragon, it was excellent for body refinement or could fetch a high price if sold to other martial artists.
In essence, slaying this flood dragon was as much about self-benefit as it was about aiding the villagers.
The village chief agreed to Xu Ming's plan, pledging to delay the dragon and coax it onto land.
The next morning, the village chief led a group of strong men to the banks of the Yellow Sand River, while Xu Ming observed from a distance. The villagers erected an altar, lit incense, and performed a solemn ceremony of worship. The chief then called out loudly, "Honorable Dragon King, we are grateful for your blessings that have brought prosperity to Shijia Village. Today, we were prepared to present offerings to you. However, the pair of children you requested will not reach nine years of age for another four days, which is the age you specified. We beg for your understanding and forgiveness."
Swallowing hard, his legs trembling, the chief continued, "Furthermore, in four days, our village wishes to host a grand festival in honor of the Dragon King's two decades of protection. If possible, we humbly invite the Dragon King to grace Shijia Village with your presence. It would be the ultimate blessing for all the villagers, young and old, to see you in person, a moment we would cherish for a lifetime!"
The chief's voice echoed across the Yellow Sand River. After finishing his plea, he fixed his gaze on the river, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He couldn't tell if his excuses would fool the Dragon King or if it had already sensed the deception. The mere thought of the latter filled him with dread.
Time passed slowly as the chief and the villagers waited anxiously by the riverbank. Despite the calm surface of the water, no one dared to move.
Suddenly, a loud rumble broke the silence. The Yellow Sand River began to churn violently, forming massive whirlpools.
With a loud splash, a column of water shot skyward before crashing back down, sending waves crashing against the shore and drenching everyone present.
Suspended in the air above the river was the fearsome flood dragon, coiling and twisting in all its malevolent glory.
Xu Ming gazed at the creature with unflinching resolve.
Aside from the thunder dragon Xu Ming encountered during his tribulation in the Baiwa Secret Realm, this was his first time seeing a living dragon species in the flesh—even if it was just a flood dragon.
He recalled a line from a book he had read:
"A snake transforms into a python in five hundred years, a python into a boa in another five hundred years, a boa into a flood dragon after five hundred more, a flood dragon into a chi in five hundred years, a chi into a qiu in another five hundred, and a qiu into a true dragon after yet another five hundred."
The first stage, the snake, is its most vulnerable form—small, fragile, limbless, with no ears, born from eggs, and reliant on shedding its skin to grow. It is defenseless against both natural disasters and human threats.
At the python stage, its size and strength grow significantly. It becomes a fearsome predator, yet still limbless and vulnerable to external calamities, growing only by shedding its skin.
The third stage, the boa, is much like the python but even larger and stronger. Typically living near water, it dominates its territory but remains unable to resist major disasters or human intervention. However, as a master of the wilderness, it holds dominion over its domain.
The fourth stage, the flood dragon, is where the transformation becomes profound. A boa must traverse great rivers and waterways to gain the chance of becoming a flood dragon. The river it transforms in becomes its sacred land.
Once transformed, a flood dragon typically cultivates in its sacred land for a time before seeking further evolution. While a flood dragon is not yet a true dragon, it is a transitional form. It lacks horns, has a snake-like body, a head resembling a blend of dragon and tiger, a voice like a bull, and the ability to control winds and rains. It can resist human threats but remains vulnerable to natural disasters.
To advance further, the flood dragon must enter the sea—a perilous process filled with natural phenomena that ancient people referred to as a heavenly tribulation. Surviving this tribulation, the flood dragon becomes a chi dragon. A chi dragon, typically at the Nascent Soul stage equivalent for cultivators, has four legs and resides in the sea.
The chi dragon's evolution into a qiu dragon represents the emergence of true dragon traits. A qiu dragon gains iconic dragon horns and unparalleled abilities. It can soar into the heavens, dive into the earth, and alter its size at will. Capable of creating clouds and mist, it possesses divine strength and can establish its own domain in the sea, even forming an undersea kingdom with subjects.
Finally, the ultimate stage that all dragon species dream of: the true dragon. A true dragon has a scaled body, a long, imposing head, sharp teeth, prominent brow ridges, and a tail that is both powerful and slender. It can carve rivers and redirect waterways with a flick of its tail, ruling over dragonkind.
According to Xu Ming's understanding, there were only four true dragons in the current world, all at the Ascension Realm. One of them was the unparalleled North Sea Dragon Queen, ranked second on the Beauty List.
In practice, though, the time needed for a snake to evolve into a python often took mere decades, with gifted individuals taking less than ten years. However, for a flood dragon to ascend to true dragon status, particularly from qiu to true dragon, the process could take thousands of years—and many would never reach that stage in their lifetime.
"Your humble servant pays respects to the Dragon King!"
As the malevolent flood dragon emerged, the Shijia Village chief quickly knelt and kowtowed, followed by the villagers.
The Yellow Sand Dragon Lord swept his gaze over the group. "You've never held a temple festival before. Why do so this year?"
"T-To respond to the Dragon King," the chief stammered, trembling. "This year marks the twentieth year of your grace upon Shijia Village. The number twenty is considered significant to us, so we wished to celebrate and honor you, Dragon King."
"Is that all?" The Yellow Sand Dragon Lord furrowed his brows.
The Shijia Village chief stammered, "Yes… that is all."
"Look me in the eyes and say it!" the dragon commanded coldly, its oppressive aura spreading across the riverbank.
Beside Xu Ming, Shen Shengsheng, who had been standing at a distance, sensed the threat and bared her teeth at the Yellow Sand Dragon Lord. Her vertical pupils contracted sharply in defiance.
"It's fine," Xu Ming reassured her, patting her head gently.
Shen Shengsheng lifted her head to look at Xu Ming, blinked once, then clung to his leg while continuing to glare and bare her teeth at the distant dragon.
By the Yellow Sand River, the Shijia Village chief trembled as he raised his head and met the dragon's gaze.
For an ordinary man to look directly into the eyes of a Golden Core-level flood dragon under such immense pressure was an extraordinary act, and Xu Ming couldn't help but feel concerned. He worried whether the chief could withstand the pressure and keep from spilling the truth.
The chief's voice wavered as he said, "To… to respond to the Dragon King, this humble servant does have another reason." His voice broke as he dropped heavily to his knees and kowtowed, striking the ground so hard that his forehead split open. "I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"
"Speak!" the Yellow Sand Dragon Lord demanded coldly.
"In truth… in truth, this humble servant wishes to request something," the chief said, nearly in tears. "I humbly ask if, in the future, we could use other offerings in place of the children… to forgo the boy and girl sacrifices."
The flood dragon's eyes narrowed sharply. "I have already decreed that the sacrifices must be a boy and a girl. There will be no exceptions! Consider yourself fortunate that I am sparing you this time because of your past service. If you ever dare bring this up again, I will feed your old bones to the fish and shrimp of the Yellow Sand River!"
"Yes, yes, this humble servant would never dare again! Please forgive me, Dragon King," the chief pleaded, kowtowing repeatedly.
"Four days from now, ensure that the celebration is grand and lively. I will invite some friends to attend. Do not disgrace me—do you understand?" The Yellow Sand Dragon Lord seemed eager for the festival, not just to bask in the villagers' reverence but also to showcase his power and influence to his peers.
"Rest assured, Dragon King, I will ensure everything is perfect and to your satisfaction," the chief said quickly.
"There is something I wish to ask you," the dragon continued.
"Please speak, Dragon King," the chief replied, still prostrated on the ground, not daring to lift his head.
"Has a young man come to your village? Around sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a blue robe, looking something like this?" The Yellow Sand Dragon Lord tossed a painting onto the ground in front of the chief.
The chief picked it up and, upon seeing the image, felt his heart skip a beat.
Isn't this the Immortal Master?
"Judging by your expression, it seems you have seen him," the dragon said, letting out a cold chuckle.
"To… to respond to the Dragon King, this humble servant has indeed seen this young man," the chief began carefully. "Just yesterday, he came to my home, saying it was late and asking for a place to stay the night. This humble servant allowed him to stay."
"Oh? Is he still at your house?" the dragon's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Yes," the chief nodded. "The young man is still there. He seems to be resting and said he would leave tomorrow. He even gave me a tael of silver."
"Good." The dragon nodded before waving his sleeve. A small bottle containing a green liquid fell at the chief's feet. "Find a way to keep him in the village for a few days. Isn't your festival in four days? Keep him until then. Pour the contents of this bottle into his tea and make him drink it. If you succeed, I will reward you handsomely."
"Understood," the chief replied, trembling as he picked up the bottle and tucked it into his clothes.
"Remember! Do not let him leave. If he escapes, I will bury your entire village alongside him!"
With that final warning, the Yellow Sand Dragon Lord transformed back into his true form and plunged into the river, disappearing beneath the water's surface.
The river gradually returned to calm. Only then did the village chief finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Village Chief," one of the burly men stepped forward to help the chief up. "That Immortal—"
Before the man could finish the words "Immortal Master," the chief shot him a sharp glare, silencing him immediately.
"Let's head back. We must prepare for the Dragon King's festival without any negligence," the chief said firmly.
"Understood, Chief."
The burly man nodded. Together with the other villagers, they began gathering their belongings by the riverbank and heading back to the village.
From the distant mountaintop, Xu Ming watched the scene unfold, having heard every word.
Xu Ming's lips curled into a faint smirk. He wanted to take this flood dragon's life, but it seemed the flood dragon also wanted his. The question was, why?
They had no grievances between them. Was it because the flood dragon coveted Baiwa's Secret Realm? Or had someone else pulled the strings—someone like Mo Zhuer?
Recalling Mo Zhuer's parting words the last time they met, Xu Ming couldn't dismiss the possibility. After all, Mo Zhuer was at the Dragon Gate Realm. Previously, she might have had a chance to kill him in a one-on-one fight, but now, the tables had turned. If anything, she would be the one at risk of being slain. Seeking an ally, such as this flood dragon, would make sense.
Still, Mo Zhuer remained a tricky opponent. Was there a way to deal with her while also eliminating the flood dragon?
As Xu Ming pondered, his fingers brushed his chin thoughtfully while he descended from the mountaintop.
When Xu Ming returned to the village, the chief and the others had already arrived.
The chief informed Xu Ming that the festival would take place on the village's largest open area. Xu Ming nodded and instructed the chief to keep others away from the site.
Each night thereafter, Xu Ming went to the designated area and began setting up an array.
He drew over a dozen Terrifying Mind Talismans, laying them as the foundation for the formation.
After finishing this groundwork, Xu Ming sent his consciousness into the Baiwa Secret Realm.
"Master," the golden toad, Yuan Yu, greeted Xu Ming with a respectful bow from inside the temple.
Xu Ming acknowledged him with a nod. Looking at the Golden Core-stage toad, he asked, "Yuan Yu, I need your assistance with something. Do you have the time?"