Encounter on the Shore

The King Ship decelerated sharply, as if possessed of a sentient will. As it neared the Eternal Continent, a jet of black light burst forth, surging toward the shore like a demonic bridge. Xiao Chen and Yan Qingcheng found themselves hurled through the air, sliding along that bridge of shadow until they landed solidly on the ground.

Feeling the earth beneath his feet and breathing in the scent of the continent, Xiao Chen felt as if an age had passed. They had finally reached the Eternal Continent in safety.

"Woo... woo..." A low, mournful sound emanated from the King Ship. It blazed with demonic light, then stirred up endless green waves and sped away without a backward glance, leaving a white channel of foam on the sea.

The three skeletons, as Xiao Chen had instructed, donned the shed skin of the devil and pulled animal-hide clothes over it. Together, they began to walk inland. But no sooner had they taken a few steps than a dozen figures emerged from the wooded beach and converged on them.

Xiao Chen noticed that this stretch of shore bore clear signs of a fierce battle: great fissures split the ground, and patches of blood stained many places.

The approaching figures were all young men and women, none of them ordinary. The men were handsome and gallant, the women as beautiful as flowers. A group like this appearing together at the seaside was clearly out of the ordinary. Xiao Chen could tell that they were all cultivators, and none were weak.

"Junior Sister!" "Junior Sister, you have returned safe and sound..."

Shouts came from ahead, some joyful, others surprised, their expressions varied.

Damn it! Xiao Chen felt speechless. He had not expected to run straight into members of the Undying Sect the moment he set foot on land. Still, he did not panic.

Yan Qingcheng rushed forward swiftly and began speaking excitedly, explaining something.

Now that their fates were bound together, Yan Qingcheng could not afford to harbor any other thoughts. On the contrary, she had to do her utmost to "refute the rumors" about what had happened on Dragon Island.

Yan Qingcheng stood there, her bearing transcendent and ethereal. Though the other young men and women were also outstanding, none could compare to her.

Several hostile glares shot toward Xiao Chen from the young men. The women, while not openly hostile, watched him and his companions with wary eyes.

Xiao Chen quietly observed the men flocking around Yan Qingcheng, listening to their fawning words.

"Junior Sister, how did you return on such a strange boat?" "You were fortunate to be a few months late, otherwise you would have been in danger. Not long ago, when that divine ship returned, cultivators from various sects who had come to escort the Dragon Island party engaged in a savage battle on the shore. Countless died." "Yes, fighting over those Companion Dragon Kings, blood literally flowed like a river. Even demigods appeared. The coastline was stained red with blood that day." "It was terrifying. Demigods, Fallen Angels, Red Dragons—all of them appeared..."

Though their account was vague, Xiao Chen understood clearly what had happened. He frowned. This was not good news. He did not know whether Liu Mu and the others were alive or dead. Still, for him, it was a stroke of luck—he had avoided a bloody catastrophe.

"Junior Sister, you are truly formidable—not only did you evade that bloody battle and return safely, but you also subdued a Dragon King!" "I think the Sect Master Uncle will surely appoint you as the next helmsman."

Yan Qingcheng looked flustered. She did not know how to explain that the Little Defiant Dragon was not hers. She shot a fierce glare at Xiao Chen.

"Junior Sister, what is this dragon called? Have you named it yet?" A young man of the Undying Sect walked toward the Little Defiant Dragon. "Now the eleven Dragon Kings are famous across the land. The Purple Dragon King, Azure Dragon King, Winged Dragon King—their names have spread throughout the continent. What will our Undying Sect's Dragon King be called?" "You can imagine, decades from now when it has grown, even gods will tremble before it."

By now, not only the young men playing sycophant but even the women had grown excited and moved toward the Little Defiant Dragon.

"Ao roar!" When one man tried to stroke it, the Little Defiant Dragon let out a deafening roar that made him stagger. The ear-splitting cry clearly dazed him.

"Such a powerful Dragon King!" they exclaimed.

"It is not yours." At this moment, Xiao Chen finally spoke.

Simultaneously, the Little Defiant Dragon ignored them all and walked proudly to Xiao Chen's side.

"Who are you?" The men had noticed Xiao Chen earlier but had deliberately ignored him. Now they had no choice but to ask.

"Xiao Chen," he answered calmly.

"Which sect do you come from?" "Junior Sister, didn't you bring this Dragon King back?"

Their expressions were clearly hostile.

Yan Qingcheng seemed both embarrassed and angry when facing Xiao Chen. She gave a cold snort and answered the Undying Sect disciples, "That little dragon was not subdued by me."

"You subdued this little dragon?" One man taunted, staring at Xiao Chen.

"Yes."

"I don't believe it. I only believe my junior sister subdued it." The man sneered as he stepped forward, trying to put himself between Xiao Chen and the little dragon.

"You'd best stay far away from me," Xiao Chen said. He had no desire to waste words on someone like this. Better to act than to talk. As for explanations, he trusted that Yan Qingcheng would be forced to step in.

"How rude! What if I refuse?" The challenge was obvious.

"Then I'll invite you for a swim." Xiao Chen wasted no more time. Quick as lightning, he seized the man by the collar and flung him into the sea.

A splash erupted as the man plunged into the water.

The others moved swiftly, surrounding Xiao Chen.

"What do you think you're doing?" Xiao Chen was not flustered. Though they were not weak, only two or three among them were at the Mortal-Shedding Second Heaven; the rest had not even entered the Mortal-Shedding realm.

"Junior Sister, who is he really?" They surrounded Xiao Chen while eyeing the three gaunt, hollow-eyed old men nearby.

"Junior Sister, did they forcibly take the Dragon King you subdued?" The accusation was a lethal one. Counting on the Undying Sect's proximity, they intended to seize the Little Defiant Dragon by force.

Just then, the little white beast Keke glared at them with wide eyes, her fury immediately drawing their attention.

"Is this a little dog? It looks rather cute—must be a pet you found on Dragon Island, Junior Sister?" "Maybe a little lion? It really has a spiritual aura."

"Ya-ya! Ya-ya! Ya-ya!" Keke cried out indignantly, as if saying, "Die! Die! Die!" Without any hesitation, her tiny paws swept out. In an instant, a seven-colored divine light enveloped everyone who had pointed at her and hurled them into the sea with a succession of splashes.

The women who had not been involved gaped in astonishment. Soon, those who had fallen into the sea climbed back up, humiliated and furious, ready to charge again.

"Enough, stop this. That little dragon was subdued by Xiao Chen; it has nothing to do with us." Yan Qingcheng finally spoke.

"Junior Sister..." One man called out in embarrassment and irritation. Clearly, he had intended to use the sect's proximity to seize the dragon by force. Even if they could not defeat it, they could send word for reinforcements.

"Don't entertain such ideas. The Little Defiant Dragon is no ordinary Dragon King, but he is my companion. I won't let you take him." Xiao Chen smiled lightly and dealt a merciless blow: "I forgot to tell you—we are family. Yan Qingcheng is my wife."

The blow was devastating to the men.

"You... nonsense!" "You are defiling the Undying Sect!"

Yan Qingcheng was also furious. She said coldly, "Please watch your words, Xiao Chen. Don't say things like that!"

"Did I say something wrong? Our fates are bound together." Xiao Chen's nonchalant attitude only made them angrier.

But no one dared to charge him again. They had witnessed Keke's power, and the Little Defiant Dragon was burning with battle intent—if he truly was a Dragon King, his combat strength would be terrifying. Coupled with the three identical old men nearby, they dared not act rashly.

"Xiao Chen, don't push me, or else..." Yan Qingcheng was so ashamed and furious she could barely speak.

Just then, a powerful wave of energy surged from the distance. A figure appeared silently on the sand.

"Second Senior Brother!" "It's Second Senior Brother!"

Xiao Chen felt threatened as he watched the newcomer.

The man was nearly forty, of medium build, with an ordinary appearance but extraordinarily sharp eyes. There was no doubt he was a very powerful cultivator, exuding an unfathomable aura. Xiao Chen was surprised: though this man was of the same generation as Yan Qingcheng, his age and cultivation marked him as a master of the previous generation.

"Junior Sister, you have returned. The Sect Master Uncle knew through the Undying Sacrificial Altar that you were safe, so he ordered several disciples to wait at the shore for your return."

Hearing this, Xiao Chen was even more astonished. The Undying Sect was truly unfathomable. The Sect Master's cultivation must be unimaginable—to know by the altar that Yan Qingcheng, tens of thousands of li away, was alive was utterly incredible.

"Greetings, Second Senior Brother." Yan Qingcheng quickly bowed respectfully.

The Second Senior Brother of the Undying Sect raised Yan Qingcheng, then turned to Xiao Chen. "Friend, it seems you have some karmic ties with my junior sister. Please come with me to the Undying Sect."

"Very well." Xiao Chen agreed without hesitation. There was nothing to fear.

"Let us hurry then." The Second Senior Brother glanced sharply at the Little Defiant Dragon and said to the group, "This is no place of peace. Quite a few cultivators have yet to disperse; they have been waiting along the coast. It will be troublesome if they see us."

They made their way up from the shore into a dense, primeval forest. The Eternal Continent seemed like an untamed wilderness.

The Undying Sect was located on the southern sea coast, only a few dozen li away. As they traveled, Xiao Chen was alarmed to realize that many cultivators were indeed lurking in this area.

While crossing a stretch of mountainous forest, the Second Senior Brother had them take cover. A Fallen Angel shot past overhead, fortunately not spotting them. Not long after, Xiao Chen was shocked to see a black Winged Dragon circling in the sky above the nearby sea. They were fortunate not to have been discovered.