Chapter 55: The Dragon Court’s Kin
Chapter 55: The Dragon Court’s Kin
Under the escort of the Battle Puppet, Su Ming spotted the dragon engaged in combat with Qu Xiangyang.
What surprised Su Ming even more was that this wasn’t some dragon-blooded beast like Shen Ming—this was a genuine, bona fide dragon!
Currently, the dragon was losing ground against Qu Xiangyang. Capturing it was only a matter of time.
“Fate, you’ve truly gifted me something spectacular!”
Even Su Ming couldn’t suppress his excitement—let alone Shen Ming coiled around his wrist.
“Master… I need its blood… and its time!”
The overwhelming craving drove Shen Ming to actively communicate with Su Ming.
“It won’t escape…”
With a wave of Su Ming’s hand, the Battle Puppet immediately charged into the fray.
The dragon was already at a disadvantage, and with the Battle Puppet joining the fight, its situation grew even more dire.
“Capture it! I need it to aid my cultivation!” Su Ming bluntly declared his intentions.
“Lord Su, you mustn’t!” Qu Xiangyang suddenly shouted. “It bears the Dragon Court Mark! If we kill it, we’ll incur the Dragon Court’s wrath!”
He then proceeded to explain the concept of the Dragon Court Mark to Su Ming.
In the Void Beyond where dragons roamed, they were among the most coveted prey for human cultivators.
To prevent their kin from being hunted, most dragons eventually united to form the Dragon Court and elected a Dragon Ancestor.
The first-generation Dragon Ancestor then devised a secret technique—one that could mark all Dragon Court members, including those yet to be born.
Should any dragon be slain, the mark would transfer to the killer, and the Dragon Court would instantly learn the killer’s location.
Thanks to this ability, ever since the Dragon Court’s establishment, anyone who dared kill its members would face endless retaliation.
Unless the killer possessed strength sufficient to withstand such retribution, the vengeance would never cease.
Thus, in the Void Beyond, slaying a dragon required first verifying whether it belonged to the Dragon Court.
If it didn’t? Kill away.
But if it did? Best steer clear.
The Dragon Court was one of the Void Beyond’s top-tier factions. Provoking such a colossal entity would have unimaginable consequences.
Qu Xiangyang had been holding back precisely out of this concern.
After Qu Xiangyang’s impromptu lecture, Su Ming gained a rough understanding of the Dragon Court.
As expected of something handpicked by Fate—it even comes with a Dragon Court Mark.
He then activated his Destiny Vision.
Sure enough, this Dragon Court dragon bore branches of destiny extending from Fate itself.
Under such circumstances, there was no reason for Su Ming to hold back.
Was he supposed to just stand by and watch as Fate’s enforcer attacked him with impunity?
Besides, if this dragon had the Dragon Court backing it, did Su Ming lack powerful allies of his own?
The Void Beyond hadn’t seen a Boundless Realm expert in ages—even the current Dragon Ancestor of the Dragon Court was merely at the Heavenly Dao Realm.
If our backers are equally matched, why should I fear you?
Thus, Su Ming declared outright: “Qu Xiangyang, I know what worries you. If you lack the courage, I’ll do it myself! Capture it for me!”
Caught between the Dragon Court and Su Ming, Qu Xiangyang instantly found himself in a dilemma.
Which of these two can I afford to offend? Why does fate keep playing these cruel jokes on me?
Qu Xiangyang knew full well he only had one viable path now—to join forces with Su Ming and slaughter this Dragon Court-marked dragon.
Otherwise, he’d gain nothing while earning Su Ming’s displeasure.
If he couldn’t withstand the Dragon Court’s fury, how could he possibly endure Su Ming’s?
By taking the initiative, he could at least curry favor with Su Ming.
Better to win on one front than lose on both.
Thus, Qu Xiangyang ceased holding back. With two Half-Step Void Realm experts teaming up, they swiftly battered the dragon to the ground before sealing its cultivation and mobility.
The massive dragon now lay like fish on a chopping block.
Its enormous pupils fixed on Su Ming, yet its eyes lacked any trace of autonomous will—like a puppet controlled by unseen strings.
“Even a creature as mighty as a dragon is reduced to Fate’s plaything?”
Su Ming placed his hand on its massive horn while Shen Ming eagerly crawled from his wrist onto the dragon’s body. Straining with all its might, Shen Ming pried open a scale and inserted its translucent siphon-like appendage beneath.
Meanwhile, Su Ming retrieved the Chaos Transformation Bottle and began absorbing the Chaos Spirit Liquid within.
Based on experience, this dragon would fill the bottle to capacity, so preemptively refining the existing liquid was necessary.
To accelerate the process, Su Ming activated a time-acceleration array.
Though Qu Xiangyang didn’t recognize the Chaos Transformation Bottle, he clearly sensed the Chaos Qi-infused liquid inside.
Having wandered the Void Beyond for decades, he’d seen enough to recognize such things.
Chaos Qi could only originate from two sources—natural formation or the Chaos Spirit Crystal.
Could it be… his parents already obtained that Chaos Spirit Crystal left behind by the Chaos Dao Lord?
Their prolonged absence was merely to avoid drawing attention and prevent others from snooping… Yes, it must be so!
Convinced he’d uncovered the truth, Qu Xiangyang grew exhilarated.
The current Dragon Ancestor was also at the Heavenly Dao Realm—the same tier as Su Ming’s parents.
With such formidable backing, what is there to fear?
Thus, Qu Xiangyang volunteered: “Lord Su, perhaps I should be the one to slay this dragon. That way, the Dragon Court Mark won’t fall upon you.”
“Unnecessary.” Su Ming flatly rejected the offer.
This dragon had been manipulated by Fate to appear—thus, he had to be the one to kill it.
To Qu Xiangyang, this response perfectly confirmed his earlier speculation.
Exactly! His parents have already emerged from the Chaos Dao Lord’s legacy Secret Realm with the Chaos Spirit Crystal and entrusted it to him!
Which means… he’s destined to become the next Chaos Dao Lord!
The realization filled Qu Xiangyang with fervor.
As the saying goes: When one man attains enlightenment, even his pets ascend to heaven. If he could hitch himself to Su Ming’s rising star, would cultivation bottlenecks still trouble him?
Upon reaching the Void Realm, one’s lifespan extended for millennia. Given Su Ming’s talent, he’d undoubtedly become the next Chaos Dao Lord long before Qu Xiangyang’s natural death.
Wouldn’t a few casual resources bestowed then easily propel him into the Creation Realm?
With this realization, Qu Xiangyang abruptly knelt.
“Young Master Su, I beg you—allow me to serve as your vassal!”
Su Ming was baffled by Qu Xiangyang’s sudden prostration.
What’s with this kneel-and-plead routine out of nowhere?
Instinctively, Su Ming activated his Destiny Vision to investigate—only to find Fate hadn’t interfered with Qu Xiangyang at all.
“What kind of scheme are you brewing now?”