Storms Stir Beyond the Sea – The Poison Flood Dragon

Chapter 529: Storms Stir Beyond the Sea – The Poison Flood Dragon

“Poison Flood Dragon!”

Han Li’s heart cried out, and a rare look of fear appeared on his face.

This demon beast was a vivid crimson, its body over three hundred yards long—almost identical to the Ink Flood Dragon he had seen before. It was a genuine Flood Dragon, and moreover, a Poison Flood Dragon, infamous among its kind for its ferocity.

The spiritual light rippling across its scales was so solid it felt almost tangible. This was unquestionably a Grade 8 demon beast.

The nameless pressure it exuded was something Han Li had only ever felt from Nascent Soul old monsters.

Flood Dragons were among the few primordial heavenly beasts that had persisted since ancient times. Not only did they cultivate far faster than ordinary beasts, but once they achieved mastery, their magical power and abilities far surpassed those of same-rank demons. Even defeating a higher-rank enemy was not impossible for a pure-blood Flood Dragon.

If the ancient records were accurate, this Poison Flood Dragon, though only Grade 8, would not be at a disadvantage even against a Grade 9 beast.

How could Han Li not change color at the sight?

His first instinct was to flee, but his reason barely restrained him from acting rashly.

Two more beams of light were still shooting toward him from afar. Their intentions were clearly hostile. Escaping amidst the chaos would be safer than moving now and revealing his position.

Still, he quietly draped the blood-colored cape over his shoulders and gave a slight shake of his wrists, bringing the Five Element Ring and Storage Basket silently into his hands.

Only then did he feel a little more at ease.

By now, the Poison Flood Dragon had stopped its long roar. It twisted its massive head and cast a glance at the giant turtle still struggling desperately in the lightning. A strange gleam flickered in its eyes.

Then, a blinding blue light erupted from its body. Its enormous form rapidly shrank and warped within the radiance.

Moments later, a humanoid flood dragon, roughly the size of an ordinary person, stood in its place.

Its head remained a ferocious dragon’s head, unchanged. But its body and limbs had transformed into humanoid form, covered entirely in vivid crimson scales. A thick dragon tail swayed restlessly behind it.

Witnessing this transformation, Han Li’s heart was seized with dread.

The humanoid Poison Flood Dragon stood barehanded atop the waves as if on solid ground, its body not wavering an inch.

But after taking human form, its jade-green eyes casually swept toward Han Li’s hiding spot. The icy malice in that glance sent a chill through Han Li’s entire body, and cold sweat broke out on the palms clutching his two ancient treasures.

Fortunately, at that moment, the distant golden light and another scarlet cloud arrived almost simultaneously.

The Poison Flood Dragon immediately lost interest in Han Li, its cold gaze turning to the three figures materializing in the air.

Within the golden light stood an elderly Daoist with an immortal air. A treasured sword was strapped to his back, a horsetail whisk in his hand, and golden glittering Bagua robes draped over his frame. Stroking his beard, he studied the humanoid flood dragon with open astonishment, though a flicker of greed also gleamed in his eyes.

Not far from the Daoist stood a pair of middle-aged men with similar features. Their faces were ashen, like corpses, and they wore blazing red robes that were utterly identical. The only difference was that one carried a massive red gourd on his back, while the other held a towering ghost-head staff, over three yards tall.

They first glanced at the giant turtle and the flood dragon below, then looked at the Daoist opposite them. Their expressions were blank, and they remained silent.

Of these three, the elderly Daoist was an early Nascent Soul cultivator, while the two middle-aged men were merely late Core Formation. What baffled Han Li was that these two crimson-robed men exuded an imposing presence before the flood dragon and the Nascent Soul elder, showing not a trace of fear.

“Heh heh! I didn’t expect to encounter both Fellow Daoists Huo here. I’ve truly been remiss in my greetings!” The old Daoist’s eyes darted for a moment, then he smiled at the two red-robed men.

“We didn’t expect to meet Senior Jinxia here either. Could it be that you intend to hunt the two beasts below? If so, my brothers and I will yield the opportunity to you.” The red-robed man carrying the gourd twitched his face and spoke without changing expression.

Hearing this, the old Daoist felt quite stifled.

The Poison Flood Dragon below was equivalent to a Grade 9 beast. Even with his arrogance, he did not think he could take it down alone.

If not for his confidence in his sharp magic tools, he wouldn’t even dare to think of scheming against this flood dragon.

So after furrowing his brow a few times, the old Daoist simply coughed dryly and spoke directly:

“You jest, Fellow Daoists. I alone cannot defeat the Poison Flood Dragon below. Likewise, even if the two of you possess the Divine Sand of Creation, you couldn’t trap this beast. If we join forces, we might have a sliver of a chance. Are you interested in giving it a try? Grade 8 demon beasts haven’t been encountered in many years. If we succeed, I won’t claim the Grade 8 demon core, but I must have the flood dragon’s refined soul.” Jinxia the Daoist stared at the two red-robed men and spoke slowly.

This offer seemed to catch the two red-robed men somewhat off guard. But they exchanged a glance, communicated in some unknown way, and the one holding the ghost-head staff gave a curt nod.

“Fine! Since you’ve put it that way, Senior, it’s settled. We won’t let this chance slip either. Let’s fight with all we’ve got!” With that, the other man flipped his hand, and the fiery red gourd appeared in his grasp.

The old Daoist was overjoyed. He raised his hand, and a green jade ring shot from his sleeve, swelling in the wind with a resonant hum.

The Poison Flood Dragon below, which had been watching the three coldly, seemed to understand their words.

A fierce glint flashed in its eyes. Without a word, it opened its massive maw, and a streak of blood-red light shot toward the old Daoist in a blink. Its own form flickered and vanished from the sea’s surface.

The next instant, the flood dragon appeared behind the two red-robed men as if teleported. It raised both hands, and blue light gathered at its fingertips as it stabbed down viciously.

With a deafening clang, a giant cyan hand suddenly blocked the strike.

It was the ghost-head staff of the red-robed cultivator, which had transformed into a towering, hideous fiend to save them.

Even so, it gave the Huo brothers a severe fright.

Their deathly pale faces showed a hint of terror.

But at the same time, they gently released the red gourd. After a phoenix-like cry, countless crimson crystal sands surged from the gourd in a sky-blotting tide, turning the surrounding hundred-yard area into a blazing red world, trapping the Poison Flood Dragon within it.

Meanwhile, the blood-red light the flood dragon had spat was now weaving and tangling with the jade ring the old Daoist had released, like a living thing.

From the look of extreme wariness on Jinxia’s face—how he dared not let the blood light near him—it was clear that this blood light was equally extraordinary.

The Poison Flood Dragon, forced to fight three enemies at once, was clearly buying time for the demon turtle to cross its tribulation.

Likewise, the old Daoist and the two red-robed men were happy to slowly drain the flood dragon’s energy, wary that it might flee at the first sign of trouble. They planned to whittle it down and then strike decisively. As for the giant turtle, even if it survived the tribulation, it would be severely weakened and nothing to fear.

And so, the three men and one beast clashed in the high sky, while below, the giant turtle’s tribulation reached its critical point. The falling bolts of lightning transformed into clusters of silver thunderbolts, striking the giant turtle until its whole body trembled and it roared again and again.

Witnessing this, Han Li, hidden to the side, was overjoyed.

He naturally didn’t harbor the foolish notion of reaping the spoils. This level of battle was far beyond his reach. Whether beast or man won in the end, either could finish off a mere early Core Formation cultivator like him with ease.

Now that he finally had a chance to escape, he hurriedly poured all his magic power into the blood-colored cape. In an instant, he transformed into a streak of blood light and shot through the sky.

Han Li’s startling escape alerted the three combatants and the beast for a moment, but they quickly ignored him.

Though the blood light was extremely fast, it let them clearly see Han Li’s cultivation level. An early Core Formation cultivator was utterly irrelevant to them.

Fearing that his cave dwelling might be discovered by these beasts and cultivators, Han Li didn’t flee toward the Mist Sea. Instead, he chose another direction and sped away.

Relying on the blood-colored cape’s astonishing speed, he covered several thousand miles in one breath.

Only when he sensed no pursuit did he finally relax. He switched to an ordinary flight technique and continued onward.

After flying for over half a day, he finally stopped at a random deserted island.

He lingered in the nearby waters for a few days, estimating that the great battle should have concluded. Only then did he cautiously fly back.

As expected, the area near the Mist Sea was calm. The beasts, cultivators, and heavenly thunder had all vanished, as if nothing had ever happened.

Standing on the sea’s surface nearby, Han Li pondered briefly. Suddenly, he released his spiritual sense, carefully scanning the surrounding waters.

Then, with a flicker of azure light, he sank into the sea.

After the time it took to prepare a meal, he flew back out, holding an object in each hand.