Pride Returns

Bloodlight engulfed Keke. The dark light had opened the gates of hell, and the little beast's form vanished into the darkened sky.

The five-colored peacock king let out a long cry, its brilliant plumage shimmering with rainbow light, ten thousand auspicious rays bursting forth. In an instant, it shot out of that dark space bereft of all luster.

The golden lion king's attention was not on the peacock king. It was doing everything in its power to close the gates of hell. From within the enormous black hole came the sound of clanking iron chains, and a ghastly, sinister aura poured into the real world. The golden lion wanted to seal the black hole as quickly as possible.

To that end, it did not hesitate to expend its life essence, striving to shorten the time to the barest minimum. Golden flames blazed all around its body as it rose slowly into the air, standing before the gates of hell.

Seizing the moment, it struck decisively. It could not let all its previous efforts go to waste. By instinct, it knew that the Eye of Destruction had not managed to destroy the little beast, even though the opponent's defenses had been at their lowest then. Perhaps only by harnessing the power of samsara could it thoroughly eliminate that little nuisance—remove the great threat before it grew, wipe it out forever.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the Xuanhuang Beast-Fighting Arena erupted again. The battle had reversed so quickly that no one could believe it. The golden lion king was too treacherous, striking at such a critical moment.

"Too shameless!"

"Damn it, how could this happen?"

"Vicious lion king!"

"The little beast was too naive. In battle, you must never be the least bit careless or merciful. It should have finished off the golden lion long ago!"

Xiao Chen's heart felt hollow, but he had not yet despaired. He believed in the little beast's strength. Since the peacock king had escaped, the little beast surely could too.

He prayed silently. He hoped the bloodlight from the golden lion king's Eye of Destruction had not wounded the little beast too gravely. If it were knocked into samsara while badly hurt, how would Keke have enough strength to break out?

The golden lion king let out a low, guttural roar. Golden light soared into the sky from its entire body, as if it had transformed into a blinding, brilliant sun. Energy surged like a mighty river in a mad torrent, and the dark light from the vertical eye on its forehead—the eye of samsara—blazed even more fiercely.

It had forced the little beast into samsara with great difficulty. It could not afford to fail. The power it now unleashed was several times more violent than in the past, hoping to shorten the time to the minimum.

"Rumble!"

The black hole emitted a deafening sound, then rapidly faded. Afterward, an endless deathly stillness shrouded the sky. All sound vanished. Only the gates of hell could be seen closing swiftly.

The five-colored peacock king hovered high in the sky. Gold and the white tiger stood calmly on the ground, showing no intention of interfering. They did not want to ruin the golden lion king's achievement at this moment.

After all, in a certain sense, the little beast was their greatest enemy—more fearsome even than the golden lion, a foe too difficult to contend with.

Sacred beasts all possessed a crystalline heart, often even wiser than humans. Against opponents of similar strength, they would boldly challenge them to temper themselves. But if they knew the opponent was a lifelong rival they could never surpass, they would harbor different intentions, even more resolute and decisive than humans. If an opportunity to destroy that rival arose, they would strike without hesitation.

With no one interfering, the golden lion king proceeded smoothly, about to seal the gates of hell completely.

Many female spectators who sympathized with Keke were nearly in despair. Many cried out in alarm. Xiao Chen clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned pale, his eyes as cold as blades staring unblinkingly at the crystal screen.

A dragon's roar tore across the sky, like a thunderbolt of life crashing through a desolate, deathly plain, instantly dispelling the solitude and oppressive atmosphere.

A jade dragon streaked through the air like a phantom, racing with the speed of wind and lightning. The little defiant dragon had taken a blow to break free from the crimson dragon king. It had already taken four of the Seven Steps of the Defiant Dragon, stepping directly toward the golden lion.

The sky trembled. Surging waves of energy rolled forth, like a raging sea heaving, like a colossal mountain shaking.

The ancient battle techniques of the dragon clan had shaken the world since time immemorial.

The little defiant dragon had broken free from its opponent at the critical moment to come to the rescue. Though its body was covered in horrific wounds, with white bone showing in places, the little dragon showed no trace of fear. Facing the fearsome golden lion king, it charged forward without hesitation.

The golden lion king cast a cold glance. One of its eyes turned, and the Eye of Destruction opened in an instant. Bloodlight streaked across the sky, sweeping toward its target.

Character determined fate, determined the choices of a lifetime. The little defiant dragon was born for battle, lived for battle. Though its body was now grievously wounded, it could not retreat. It took the fifth step, and a starry diagram appeared beneath its feet, gleaming brightly, carrying a surge of immense energy.

The bloodlight crashed toward it. The little dragon steadily took the sixth step, planting its foot directly onto the bloodlight, meeting the power of destruction head-on.

"Boom!"

Heaven and earth shook, as if the very firmament were about to be overturned.

Crimson red demonic light stained the sky. Everywhere was filled with destructive force, churning violently.

All the spectators stared in shock. A sacred beast had dared to use its mortal flesh to oppose the power of the Eye of Destruction. It seemed unbelievable.

When the light faded, the little defiant dragon's wounds had worsened, but it still stood in the sky, not killed.

"Heavens, it survived!"

"Even the black tortoise, famed for its defenses, was shattered. How could it... survive?"

Everyone in the Xuanhuang Beast-Fighting Arena showed expressions of shock. The little defiant dragon had taken the destructive light and not fallen.

"It lives... It truly lives!"

The arena was in an uproar.

"It did not die... because it is a dragon. The black tortoise's defense was ultimately inferior. The dragon clan has always chosen offense, using attack as defense. Their combat power is said to be the best in the world! The Seven Steps of the Defiant Dragon had already been taken, proving that this little dragon king had resolutely chosen a battle to the death, and thus broken the destructive light."

"How could the race with the best combat power in the world ever retreat? By using the ancient dragon battle techniques just now, it successfully neutralized the destructive light, proving the dragon clan's supremacy."

The little defiant dragon's unyielding nature determined that it could never back down, especially now, when Keke was in unknown peril. Though it had fought fiercely with the crimson dragon king for a long time, both suffering severe wounds, its body covered in terrible injuries, it still chose the difficult path of killing the lion king.

But the seventh step, after all, it could not take. Not because it did not want to, but because it lacked the strength. It had fought the crimson dragon king for so long, spent too much of its essence, and was nearly exhausted.

However, the golden lion could not unleash a second beam of bloodlight either. To seal the gates of hell quickly, it could no longer spare that much power.

The little defiant dragon began the Seven Steps of the Defiant Dragon anew, charging forward without hesitation, rushing toward the golden lion.

And at that moment, a tiger's roar rang out. The white tiger's incarnation shot into the sky, flying high, blocking the little defiant dragon's path. The peacock king cried out, rainbow light flashing. It grabbed Gold and also soared into the sky, joining the white tiger to block the little dragon's way. It could not take the Seven Steps of the Defiant Dragon now without first battling the three sacred beasts.

Between life and death, the little defiant dragon stood alone in the sky, proud and aloof. It did not retreat half a step, silently facing these powerful opponents.

There was no time left, no choice. It pressed forward, knowing the outcome, but it could not retreat!

A dragon cry shook the sky. Though it was still very young, its roar carried a desolate, tragic air. The little defiant dragon chose to advance, to fight to the death!

The Seven Steps of the Defiant Dragon took it forward, meeting the three roadblocks head-on!

Shurashura—dazzling light blazed. Five-colored divine light swept toward it.

Tiger roars echoed. The white tiger incarnation pounced.

Radiant light burst forth. Gold, with its nine lives, struck out with nine bolts of lightning.

The Seven Steps of the Defiant Dragon could crush buddhas and gods; it was the dragon clan's most secret art, one of the most powerful martial techniques in the world. But the little defiant dragon was far too young, far from the pinnacle, and could not overpower three opponents.

Blood splattered. The little defiant dragon was sent flying backward by the combined force of the three sacred beasts, staining the sky with blood.

Dragon blood fell like rain, and much of the little dragon's body showed white bone.

It still had a long road ahead, limitless potential, and could have grown slowly. Now it did not have the strength to fight three sacred beasts alone, but it could not bear to watch Keke, who had come from Dragon Island with it, be cast into samsara. For that, it chose to press forward and fight.

The little defiant dragon was on the verge of death, but its eyes, which had been growing dim, suddenly blazed with brilliant light at the moment they were about to extinguish.

Waiting to die was not its nature. If die it must, it would die fighting! The little dragon took the Seven Steps of the Defiant Dragon with difficulty, standing in the sky, its proud and resolute figure stirring the hearts of all who watched.

At that moment, an indescribable feeling welled up in people's hearts. This nameless emotion infected many. Those of fragile sentiment felt their eyes grow moist.

Fight! Fight! Fight!

As long as it still had breath, the little defiant dragon would not retreat. The fire of its life burned for the last time, its boundless battle will soaring into the heavens.

A dragon's cry rang through heaven and earth. The little dragon turned into a streak of jade light, charging forward without hesitation!

In the VIP room, Xiao Chen stood silently. The light in his eyes was as sharp as a blade. His clenched fists strained until the veins nearly burst, his knuckles cracking audibly.

Three layers of light fell upon the little defiant dragon. No one could bear to watch this scene any longer. This proud little dragon, knowing it could not win, still pressed on. Could even young sacred beasts possess such sincere and precious friendship?

Turning away was not possible. Xiao Chen kept his eyes fixed on the crystal screen, silent and unwavering.

A beam of bloodlight plunged from the horizon. A clear dragon cry rang through heaven and earth. The crimson dragon king descended.

At this moment, did it also choose to deliver the final, fatal blow?

Many no longer wanted to see the little dragon's body shattered. But soon, exclamations came from every VIP room and ordinary chamber.

The crimson dragon king had not chosen to attack the little defiant dragon. Instead, it struck at the three sacred beasts. Blazing bloodlight shrouded the sky, joining the little dragon's jade light to meet the three sacred beasts.

An unexpected result. No one would have thought the crimson dragon king would help the little defiant dragon, when moments ago they had been locked in a life-or-death battle.

Why would it suddenly help its former mortal enemy?

Those who had studied the eleven dragon kings in detail were astonished. Among them, the crimson dragon king was the most savage—an open secret. No one would have thought it capable of mercy.

But they could not understand the crimson dragon king's state of mind at this moment. This was not pity, but the heart of a dragon king. Dragon kings would fight to the death without mercy, meeting as mortal enemies. But when they saw an allied race being oppressed by outsiders, they still felt anger.

If it had been one-on-one, and the little defiant dragon had fallen in defeat, the crimson dragon king would not have cared. But the little dragon was being attacked by three sacred beasts together. That it could not tolerate. The dignity of a dragon king could not be profaned. A dragon king should not be allowed to die so wrongfully!

Blazing light burst forth with a thunderous roar. A devastating energy storm, like a volcanic eruption, swept across the entire sky. All the spectators were horrified. These young sacred beasts, so small, already possessed such extraordinary divine powers. What would they become when they grew up? If they did not die young, they would surely be legendary celestial beasts recorded in the annals of cultivation history.

The little defiant dragon and the crimson dragon king were both sent flying. They had fought too bitterly before, both already severely wounded. Now, two against three, they were utterly defeated.

The little defiant dragon's injuries grew even more severe. Its life was flickering out. But at least the crimson dragon king had taken half the damage, so it did not shatter instantly.

The crimson dragon king roared in savage madness, its demeanor furious.

At this moment, the golden lion king finally sealed the gates of hell completely. The last trace of dark light vanished utterly.

The little defiant dragon cast a last, helpless look at that patch of sky, then plummeted toward the ground. The crimson dragon king let out a furious roar, turned into a beam of bloodlight, and chased after it, catching the falling little dragon in its descent.

Though the little defiant dragon had astonishing regenerative powers, this time it felt death's breath completely engulfing it. When it reached the ground, the little dragon nodded to the crimson dragon king, then was laid down. Its internal organs had been reduced to pulp, completely crushed. It could no longer support its body. But in the end, it mustered the last of its strength to stand up, raised its head, and let out a long cry. The dragon's roar shook heaven and earth.

Even the older generation among the spectators was moved. Rather die standing—such a proud little dragon struck a blow at everyone's heart.

The crimson dragon king silently walked aside.

Xiao Chen stood motionless before the crystal screen, his body as if petrified, not moving an inch.

The four sacred beasts in the sky descended together. The rebellious little beast had been forced into samsara. Now the little defiant dragon was near death, and the crimson dragon king was heavily wounded and no longer a threat. It was time for the four of them to fight it out among themselves.

Naturally, Gold and the peacock king would still work together.

The golden lion king and the white tiger, without any hesitation, walked to one side.

Before starting their battle, they glanced at the crimson dragon king and decided it would be safest to eliminate him first. Moreover, the essence of two dragon kings had gathered there. Absorbing that dragon essence would be far too beneficial for them.

Suddenly, a deep, muffled sound rang out from the sky, like the impact of something inside a sealed stone chamber.

The sudden noise made all four sacred beasts look up alertly, and all the spectators felt their hearts stir. A glimmer of hope arose from the despair that had gripped them.

The sound of impacts grew clearer from the sky. Faint energy ripples could be seen, as if the very void were about to warp.

"It's not an illusion!"

"I hear it... it's that little beast..."

Many cried out in surprise, inevitably thinking of the little beast that had been cast into samsara.

This time, the sound was even louder. The void showed signs of shattering.

The golden lion king, the peacock king, and the white tiger's incarnation shot up into the air together, flying toward that patch of sky.

"Boom!"

The void shattered. The gates of hell reappeared. Seven-colored divine light shot into the sky, dazzling and brilliant. A snow-white little beast burst out.

Keke's clothes and the golden monkey hide had all been torn away. It continuously swept out seven-colored light, forcing open the gates of hell, casting off the power of samsara, and returning by its own strength.

"Heavens!"

"No way..."

"Incredible!"

"This is no illusion!"

Everyone cried out in shock. What they were seeing was too hard to believe, too extraordinary.

Though Keke had reverted to its true form, everyone recognized it at once. Those lively, intelligent eyes could not be mistaken!

What kind of heavenly beast was this, to possess such unimaginable power? It had forced its way back even after the gates of hell had been completely sealed. It felt like an indescribable frenzy.

If it could escape on its own, did that mean it also had the power to open the wheel of reincarnation? Did it possess a divine ability equivalent to the golden lion king's Eye of Samsara?

The entire Xuanhuang Beast-Fighting Arena erupted, the sound spreading across Heavenly Emperor City.

At that moment, the golden lion king, the five-colored peacock king, and the white tiger's incarnation all moved at once. Beams of blinding light swept toward the little beast. The terrifying energy made the sky tremble violently.

"Ya-ya-ya!" The snow-white little beast was angry—very, very angry!

Seven-colored divine light swept across the entire sky, shattering all obstacles. It was clearly much stronger than before it had been cast into samsara. All the energy attacks were broken, and the golden lion king, the peacock king, and the white tiger's incarnation were all sent flying.

Keke was fuming, showing no sign of letting the matter rest. Fortunately, it had not yet seen the little defiant dragon's condition, or it would have immediately gone berserk, revealing a side of itself never seen before.

But even so, it was terrifying enough. It charged straight at the peacock king, the nearest one. Seven-colored divine light obliterated the five-colored divine light and broke through the hazy sword-qi of the Chaos Azure Feather, and in an instant, it landed on the peacock's back.

Pulling up a carrot!

No, it was plucking peacock feathers!

All the spectators were dumbfounded. Keke was yanking at that Chaos Divine Feather with all its might. Everyone's mouths gaped open, unable to close.