Chapter 453: Chapter 438: Emergence of the Dragon’s Trace
"This is the [Dragon Luring Pill] specially made by Yunlong Square for the Dragon Slayer Conference. It contains the Tier Five Spirit Elixir [Dragon Transformation Herb], which greatly aids a flood dragon’s growth. Once a flood dragon smells the fragrance it emits, it will surely be drawn out to devour this pill."
"This pill is extremely rare. I also paid a great price to acquire one. Later, Fellow Daoist Zhouyang, you will carry this sachet containing the elixir across the river, attracting the flood dragon out. Fellow Daoist Wang and I will follow and protect you in secret."
In the sky above the river, Zhao Hao raised his hand, took out a pigeon-egg-sized brown-red Spirit Pill, and placed it into a silk sachet, handing it to Zhouyang as he solemnly spoke of his plan.
Yunlong Square issued invitation letters to convene the "Dragon Slayer Conference" and surely would not leave the cultivators who attended without even a glimpse of a flood dragon. Otherwise, who would accept their invitation in the future?
The "Dragon Luring Pill" given to Zhouyang by Zhao Hao was a secret Spirit Pill passed down through generations by Yunlong Square.
This Spirit Pill is of Tier Five grade, with its main ingredient being the precious Spirit Grass "Dragon Transformation Herb," which can help a flood dragon purify the true dragon bloodline within it. Whenever the "Dragon Slayer Conference" is held, Yunlong Square offers a few of these Spirit Pills for sale to cultivators capable of slaying a flood dragon.
With such a secret Spirit Pill to lure flood dragons out of hiding from water areas, Yunlong Square can attract cultivators from all directions each time they hold the "Dragon Slayer Conference."
At this moment, holding the "Dragon Luring Pill" given by Zhao Hao, Zhouyang suddenly recalled the image of an unparalleled beauty as stunning as a celestial goddess.
He remembered, back in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, the beautiful Female Immortal Jiang Fengxian, who once had a life-and-death bond with him, sought to purchase the Spirit Grass "Dragon Transformation Herb" at a trade meeting for her nurtured "Seven-Colored Cloud-Swallowing Python."
That "Seven-Colored Cloud-Swallowing Python" possessed the bloodline of a poisonous flood dragon. If it could ingest the "Dragon Transformation Herb" or a flood dragon demon pill to advance to Tier Five, there was a high chance it could transform from python to flood dragon, evolving into a true poisonous flood dragon.
"I wonder how she is now. Back then, I escorted her through Core Formation as a favor. Will there be a chance to use that favor?"
Zhouyang’s thoughts flickered, and a trace of melancholy appeared in his eyes.
Of course, he did not let himself immerse too deeply in past memories, quickly regaining his focus. Holding the sachet tightly, he said, "Since Elder Zhao trusts me, I shall give it a try."
Thus, just as Zhao Hao instructed, Zhouyang attached the sachet containing the "Dragon Luring Pill" to his waist, allowing the Pill Fragrance to waft into the air. He controlled his flying sword to glide steadily along the river surface, heading upstream toward the Flying Dragon Waterfall.
The fragrance of the "Dragon Luring Pill" was unique. A true flood dragon could easily detect the pill fragrance wafting above the water, even if hidden in a deep water cave hundreds of feet below.
However, the "Dragon Luring Pill" attracted not only flood dragons but also all demon beasts possessing the flood dragon bloodline.
Dragons are inherently alluring. Many exotic demon beasts living in the water possess the flood dragon bloodline. Their desire for the "Dragon Luring Pill" is no less than that of flood dragons and even more intense.
In the Long River, generations of flood dragons have hidden to cultivate there. The number of demon beasts with the flood dragon bloodline in the river is many times more than in other rivers and lakes.
As Zhouyang flew over the river carrying the "Dragon Luring Pill," while he couldn’t draw out a flood dragon, he did manage to draw out a large number of demon beasts with the flood dragon bloodline.
The potential of the flood dragon bloodline is significant. Those demon beasts with the flood dragon bloodline are generally Tier Three or Tier Four demon beasts.
Attracted by the "Dragon Luring Pill," these demon beasts had no fear of human cultivators. Emerging from the river, they directly attacked Zhouyang.
Although the attacks from these demon beasts were generally hard to harm Zhouyang, being constantly attacked by them was quite irritating.
If it weren’t for there being only one "Dragon Luring Pill," and Zhao Hao worrying that his entanglement with these beasts could cause severe loss of the pill’s potency and thus lose its allure to the flood dragon, Zhouyang would certainly seize the chance to slaughter and reap a wave of benefits.
But now, he could only endure the onslaught from the demon beasts and increase his speed to shake off these frenzied creatures.
However, the respite from the demon beasts was only temporary. As long as the "Dragon Luring Pill" continued to emit fragrance, the beasts would keep pursuing him in his flight direction, gathering more and more.
Therefore, after Zhouyang flew nearly two thousand miles, the number of demon beasts following him reached dozens, and a formidable Tier Four demon beast suddenly blocked his path ahead.
The beast blocking the path was a Tier Four High-Grade demon beast known as the "Unihorned Thunder Eel," a very rare aquatic demon beast.
The "Unihorned Thunder Eel" excelled in water and thunder magic, and its innate thunder divine techniques were incredibly powerful—so powerful that even a Golden Core Stage cultivator had to take it seriously when executed underwater.
Faced with such a formidable demon beast blocking his path, Zhouyang had no choice but to stop.
"Get it over with, deal with this beast quickly!"
Zhao Hao knew that it was unrealistic to expect Zhouyang to continue forward while facing the "Unihorned Thunder Eel’s" attacks. Upon seeing Zhouyang stop, he immediately revealed himself and spoke with determination.
After speaking, he immediately controlled his flying sword to strike at the approaching "Unihorned Thunder Eel."
As soon as he made his move, the overwhelming aura of a Golden Core Stage cultivator instantly awakened the "Unihorned Thunder Eel," which had its mind clouded by the allure of the "Dragon Luring Pill."
The massive creature, spanning twenty to thirty feet in length, had a horn on its head that flashed with a ray of thunderous light. A thick silver-white bolt of lightning struck Zhao Hao’s flying sword with a thunderous roar.
Then the "Unihorned Thunder Eel" didn’t even look at the results of its attack, it just dove its head into the water, quickly burrowing towards the riverbed.
Almost as soon as it submerged, Zhao Hao’s Flying Sword sliced through the lightning at the spot it had just vacated on the river surface.
"This beast reacts quickly!"
Zhao Hao’s sword missed, and he couldn’t help but curse in frustration. He then shook his head towards Zhouyang and Wang Wei, who were about to pursue and said, "Forget it, the main task is urgent; since it knows to retreat, we should continue with our main business."
He didn’t want to create more trouble, and although Zhouyang and Wang Wei felt a bit regretful, they could only obey and continue on their way.
Only, the person carrying the "Dragon Luring Pill" now changed to Wang Wei, while Zhouyang followed Zhao Hao, concealing their presence in the shadows, clutching a Spirit Stone to quickly restore their Magical Power.
After flying a few hundred more miles, Zhouyang and the others, in mid-flight, suddenly heard an angry roar coming from upstream of the Long River.
"It’s a dragon’s roar! Not good, someone found the Flood Dragon before us!"
Zhao Hao’s expression changed, and after an exclamation, he immediately revealed his figure and accelerated towards the direction of the dragon’s roar.
Zhouyang and Wang Wei exchanged a glance and could only follow him in silence.
Both knew that the person fighting the Flood Dragon must be one of the other two Golden Core Stage cultivators who came to Cloud Dragon Island for the "Dragon Slayer Conference" this time.
Going there now, they probably won’t be welcomed.
Not just unwelcome, when Li Yuan, who was currently in magical combat with the Flood Dragon, sensed another Golden Core Stage cultivator approaching the battlefield, his face suddenly turned somber.
Li Yuan was also at the Mid-Stage Golden Core, but he was at the fifth layer.
However, compared to Zhao Hao, he, being from the Celestial Cauldron Sect, the top major sect of the Great Yun Country, had an advantage that Zhao Hao couldn’t match.
Leveraging the advantages of a local cultivator from the Great Yun Country, he obtained the "Dragon Luring Pill" from Yunlong Square a day earlier than Zhao Hao, thus first using the pill to lure the Flood Dragon hidden in the riverbed out of the water.
After luring the Flood Dragon out, Li Yuan immediately had three Purple Mansion Stage disciples and two Purple Mansion Stage nephews set up a Tier Four High-grade Array, the "Five Elements Trapping Dragon Array", trapping the Flood Dragon within it.
The dragon roar that Zhao Hao and Zhouyang heard earlier was the Flood Dragon’s roar of anger after being wounded by Li Yuan.
Now, sensing a Golden Core Stage cultivator approaching, and discovering it was Zhao Hao from the Cyan Origin Sword Sect of Jinyang Country, Li Yuan continued to master the magical artifact, fiercely attacking the trapped Flood Dragon in the array while shouting loudly, "Li Yuan of the Celestial Cauldron Sect is leading his sect disciples in slaying the Flood Dragon here. Unrelated persons, please stay a hundred miles away!"
His loud shout could be heard within a hundred miles, and Zhao Hao, who was approaching the battlefield, certainly wouldn’t miss it.
Actually, Zhao Hao had spotted Li Yuan and his companions from a few hundred miles away and knew who had found the Flood Dragon before him.
But he was unwilling to give up his prey so easily, so he pretended not to see and wanted to get a closer look to see if he still had a chance.
Upon hearing Li Yuan announce himself, despite his reluctance, Zhao Hao could only pause for a moment.
After all, the Celestial Cauldron Sect was the overlord of the Great Yun Country and also a major sect with Nascent Soul Stage cultivators. Although the Cyan Origin Sword Sect didn’t fear anything, it wasn’t wise to have a conflict within the Great Yun Country.
After stopping his cloud, he quickly responded loudly, "So, it is Fellow Daoist Li from the Celestial Cauldron Sect. The Flood Dragon is fierce, and I wonder if Fellow Daoist Li needs any assistance? Zhao is unskilled but willing to share your burden and contribute to this grand endeavor!"
Share the burden?
Probably wants to snatch the prey, right!
Li Yuan coldly chuckled in his heart and immediately refused without hesitation, "No need, dealing with merely a newly advanced Flood Dragon doesn’t require Fellow Daoist Zhao’s help. After I slay this Flood Dragon, we’ll have a grand banquet back at Yunlong Square and drink to our heart’s content with Fellow Daoist Zhao!"
After speaking, he seemed worried that Zhao Hao would resort to some trick out of reluctance, quickly adding with a hint of warning, "I know Fellow Daoist Zhao also comes for the Dragon Slayer Conference, but don’t forget, this is the Great Yun Country, the territory of our Celestial Cauldron Sect!"
"The Great Yun Country is the territory of the Celestial Cauldron Sect? Such big talk!"
Zhao Hao coldly huffed in his heart, his eyes flickering as he glanced at the black Flood Dragon within the array, but he didn’t respond to Li Yuan’s warning words.
He wasn’t easily frightened; how could a few words from Li Yuan scare him away?
Though the Celestial Cauldron Sect was strong, their Cyan Origin Sword Sect wasn’t made of clay!