The Demonic Dragon City and the Golden Hunter’s Duel

The second layer of the underground world.

As the adage proclaims, the darkest hour often precedes dawn. Indeed, this second layer of the underground world proved considerably brighter than the first.

Beyond the vibrant green and deep violet glow of myriad crystals, intricate jade carvings, shaped from peculiar gemstones, emitted a soft, hazy luminescence, casting an ethereal veil over the realm.

“Stand still! Who goes there!”

No sooner had Su Han and her companions emerged from the cave than four long halberds extended, poised to cross their throats. Qianzhe Ying swiftly sidestepped, narrowly evading the blades, while Luo Shang merely conjured a ripple of elemental energy, effortlessly sweeping the weapons aside.

“What an unexpected reception! This second layer is quite heavily guarded!”

Then again, it made sense, considering the Demonic Dragon clan had claimed this subterranean level. These lizardfolk were, naturally, dispatched to serve as their enforcers.

With their repulsive green scales and bifurcated red tongues, these lizardfolk were truly grotesque, even spitting white saliva as they spoke.

Having arrived in this second realm, Su Han and Luo Shang had no intention of a cordial visit. Instead, they aimed to turn it upside down.

With a shared glance of understanding, they exchanged a knowing smile. Before the lizardfolk could utter another word, they were already dispatched to the afterlife.

Based on prior experience, the lizardfolk settlements should have been clustered near the Demonic Dragon’s lair. However, Qianzhe Ying frowned, explaining:

“The Demonic Dragon clan’s territory exerts a natural bloodline suppression over the lizardfolk. Furthermore, the southern part of this second realm is rich in resources, while the lizardfolk only occupy the barren northern lands.”

“Very well, then we shall head south!” Su Han nodded decisively. As for the few lizardfolk guarding the formation outside, their deaths were inconsequential.

With Su Han’s current power, at the peak of the seventh-tier bloodline, covering a thousand li a day was effortless. Luo Shang, being a legendary peak expert, was even faster.

Qianzhe Ying, however, as merely a transcendent-tier mage, found their pace a bit slow. Fortunately, dark magic excelled at concealing one’s tracks, making their journey considerably smoother.

Despite their efforts to remain inconspicuous, the sheer number of lizardfolk made encounters inevitable. Moreover, Qianzhe Ying’s pointed elven ears instantly marked her as an outsider, drawing the lizardfolk’s pursuit.

As Su Han and her group traveled from north to south, they successively dismantled four or five lizardfolk cave territories. This relentless campaign drew the attention of a formidable pursuer: a purple-maned lizard, an eighth-tier bloodline beast.

While described as formidable, this pursuit merely served to inject some excitement into their otherwise monotonous journey.

Having maintained their hidden tracks throughout the journey, Su Han and her companions were on the verge of reaching the southern main city. It was then that they finally attracted the pursuit of three distinct teams of pursuers.

Su Han drew the black longsword she had acquired from Chen Yuan, and with a swift turn of her wrist, unleashed a strike. A Death Sword Intent — a solidified murderous aura — manifested.

An invisible, spiraling wind drill erupted from the sword’s tip, directly piercing the purple-maned lizard’s skull. Even its eighth-tier demonic core was pulverized into a fine energy dust.

Imagination, after all, remained just imagination. Only when Su Han arrived at the outskirts of the majestic castle did she realize the truth of the dragons’ fondness for glittering jewels.

Even the subterranean Demonic Dragons were no exception. She had assumed these dragons would simply dig a convenient cave to reside in. Instead, they had amassed countless resources to construct a dazzling Dragon City, its walls aglow with light, presenting an image akin to a paradise on earth.

“Heavens, this… this is a fifth-tier magic crystal, a Phantom Gem, a Purple-Eyed Crystal, and Spirit Leaf Stone, Blood Agate….”

Qianzhe Ying counted the inlaid jewels on the Dragon City’s facade, her fingers tracing each one, as excited as a child spotting a beautiful balloon.

Most imposing of all were the two colossal Demonic Dragon statues outside the Dragon City’s gates, their wings spread wide. Their dragon heads were tilted skyward, black horns piercing the clouds.

Between their fangs, each clutched a peak ninth-tier magic-energy cannon, poised to unleash destruction.

“In this regard, you’re just like her,” Luo Shang teased Su Han. “A little gluttonous cat, drooling at the sight of treasures?”

“Pah, certainly not! I’m not interested in these things. I’m interested in the purebred black dragon’s magic crystal. I heard it’s even more beautiful than obsidian and possesses immense magical power, making it perfect for a pendant!”

“Alright, this is the place. I’ll need some essence blood to break through the Dragon City’s formation.”

“Wait,” Su Han interjected just as Luo Shang prepared to draw his own essence blood. From her storage ring, she produced Chen Yuan and Xia Xuan. “I wonder if their essence blood would suffice?”

“Of course it would,” Luo Shang clicked his tongue, “but their strength is too weak and their bloodlines impure. Forcibly extracting their essence blood would surely cost them their lives.”

“I had originally intended to extort a fortune from the mercenary guild, but now it seems… cough, cough… I’ve found that the Dragon City holds far more valuable treasures.”

Su Han undid the seals on Chen Yuan and Xia Xuan’s mouths, then chirped with a grin, “Then I’ll trouble the two of you!”

“You’ll die a terrible death! Our mercenary guild will surely have its revenge!” Chen Yuan roared, his face contorted in a ferocious snarl.

Upon hearing that his essence blood would be drawn to fuel the formation, his white eyes bulged, threaded with crimson.

“Don’t say such things,” Su Han replied casually. “The strong preying on the weak is only natural, and besides, the mercenary guild already believes you’re buried at the bottom of Moon-Gazing Pool!”

They had shown her no mercy when they attempted to murder her for her treasures. Since arriving in this world, Su Han had witnessed countless gruesome scenes, becoming desensitized to such sights.

Having even died once herself, what more could she possibly fear?

Luo Shang erased the souls of Chen Yuan and Xia Xuan, leaving behind only their empty husks. Then, his hands glided, tracing intricate patterns as he chanted a spell.

Streaks of fresh blood surged from their chests, coalescing into a fist-sized orb of essence blood. As the crimson blood orb solidified, their bodies, caught by an unseen breeze, crumbled into shimmering motes of light, fading into nothingness.

With a concealment art, Luo Shang darted onto the Dragon City, pouring the essence blood into the patterns etched on the massive Demonic Dragon statues outside the gate.

He then carved further patterns into the dragon heads, causing the Dragon Soul formation guarding the city to temporarily fall dormant. Turning, he then led Su Han and Qianzhe Ying to leap onto a dragon claw, step onto its back, and clandestinely slip inside through the dragon’s wing.

It was not as if the Dragon City lacked lizardfolk entirely; however, those present were all formidable beings. These included lizardfolk with golden scales bearing draconic bloodlines, atavistic purple demonic lizards, fiery red inferno lizards, and even those with traces of abyssal demon blood — all quite common.

Thus, the Dragon City was quite lively. Of course, being a Dragon City, its primary inhabitants were still dragons. The main lineage was the black-purple Demonic Dragons, but it also housed various other subterranean dragons like earth dragons and soil dragons, in both humanoid and draconic forms, some walking upright, others crawling.

“Little sister Qianzhe Ying, you must be careful, alright? Remember to stick close to Young Master Luo, and you’ll be safe!”

Su Han giggled, then vanished from Luo Shang’s sight in a series of blurs, evidently rushing towards the central Dragon Palace.

“Hey, is that really alright?” Luo Shang shook his head helplessly. He had no recourse with Su Han and could only lead Qianzhe Ying in pursuit.

“Wait,” Su Han stumbled to a halt, turning to Luo Shang with a complaint. “I only heard that Grand Elder mention subduing the Demonic Dragon clan, but how exactly… how are we supposed to subdue them?”

“By fighting? I can’t possibly win against them…”

“How would I know?” Luo Shang shot Su Han a look. “Just go to the Dragon City and capture the Dragon King, wouldn’t that suffice?”

He rolled his eyes. What else could they do? They were already inside the Dragon City; she couldn’t possibly give up halfway, could she?

“Or, how about we just fight our way in from outside the Dragon City?”

“You’re overthinking it. We’re outnumbered, understand?” Luo Shang patted Su Han’s head. “What, did you leave your brain at home today?”

As Su Han and her group cautiously traversed the pavilions, they suddenly heard a shout from not far away: “Stop fighting!”

Luo Shang and the others stealthily crept closer. They discovered a lizardman with a golden scale on its brow locked in a fierce battle with a dark-purple Demonic Dragon.

It was said that golden scales on a lizard signified an atavistic awakening, suggesting it possessed considerable abilities. The golden battle qi fluctuations emanating from its body served as ample proof.

Bystanders on the street, drawn by the spectacle, murmured amongst themselves:

“I heard this Golden Hunter was born to Lord Dragon King and a lizardwoman from the northern lands. I never expected someone who awakened an atavistic bloodline to be this powerful.”

“Indeed, and I hear he cultivates both bloodline and battle qi. To think he already possesses peak eighth-tier combat power at just twenty years old.”

“But why is he fighting with General Blackbelly, the city’s protector?”

“Apparently, General Blackbelly’s younger brother harassed Golden Hunter’s sworn sister, and Golden Hunter, in a fit of rage, slew him. That’s why these two started fighting.”

“Interesting! I didn’t expect such a lively scene upon our arrival!” Su Han rubbed her palms together, clearly intrigued by the duel.

Blackbelly wielded a pair of purple mountain-cleaving axes, hacking them towards Golden Hunter. Golden Hunter, with a powerful flick of his tail, blocked the massive axes, sending golden sparks scattering across the ground.

“Golden Hunter, you killed my brother, and you have nothing to say for yourself?”

“He was mere scum; slain, then slain!” Golden Hunter strode forward, confronting Blackbelly. He unleashed a powerful punch, striking Blackbelly’s chest, leaving his scorched breastplate stained with blood.

“Good, very good! I’ve long craved a truly exhilarating battle!” Suddenly, Blackbelly’s purple dragon eyes transformed into a pupil-less, inky black, a clear sign of demonic possession.

The two exchanged dozens of punches and hundreds of moves in rapid succession. White smoke billowed from their fierce collisions.

Golden Hunter recoiled a hundred paces, spitting a mouthful of clotted blood, then burst into laughter, “Good, good, good!”

This thrilling close-quarters battle was truly a rare sight. However, Golden Hunter was not as simple as he appeared. A golden scale on his brow shone brilliantly, and terrifying battle qi fluctuations began to emanate from his body.

His powerful strike cracked the floor as he swept his leg towards Blackbelly. Yet, Blackbelly seemed to have anticipated it, executing an over-the-shoulder throw that sent Golden Hunter soaring into the distance.

However, Golden Hunter had no intention of letting the opportunity slip. Risking severe injury, he unleashed a Lizard Hunter’s Claw, aiming for Blackbelly’s heart.

“Boom!” The ground cracked as Golden Hunter was sent sprawling. “What good is mere brute strength? You’re trash with no practical combat skills,” Blackbelly scoffed.

“Is that so?” Golden Hunter slowly picked himself up from the ground, dark red veins writhing across his body, as if his wounds were rapidly healing. Meanwhile, Blackbelly, who had been standing, abruptly collapsed.

A gust of wind swept through, dispersing the dust. The onlookers stared intently: Blackbelly’s heart had been pierced, and in Golden Hunter’s hand, a purple heart, its blood vessels still visible, pulsed faintly.