Jiang He left his hotel at around 10 pm.
It was the timing that he had decided upon after thinking long and hard.
Shennongjia was around 1400 km away from Jingdu city—a round trip, added with the time needed to find and kill the Dragoncroc Emperor, would take at least two hours.
“I’ll probably make it back around half past twelve. I’ll have a bath then and blow-dry my hair. It would then be one, which is also my usual sleeping hour.”
Whoosh!
Jiang He took to the air, turning into a thunderbolt that disappeared in the night skies.
Pinpointing a direction, he flew at three times the speed of sound and landed on the wildlands just 100 km away from Shennongjia.
A rank-six Feral came crashing towards him just as his feet reached ground.
It was a tank-sized boar.
Jiang He killed it with a single punch before starting a fire to grill it.
‘I forgot about dinner before coming, so I’ll just have some grilled meat. It’s a little waste of time at worst, and I would just have to get home and sleep later than expected,’ Jiang He mused, grilling the meat as he whipped out his satellite phone and searched for information about the Dragoncroc Emperor.
He had to admit that the military-grade satellite phone was very useful. Neither signals nor network were affected even in an old forest wildland like this, and was more than enough for watching videos, let alone checking intel and maps.
“Dragoncroc Emperor….”
“Feral Emperor.”
“Suspected to be an ancient species. Almost a hundred meters in length and covered in black scales, bearing draconic attributes over its head.”
The Dragoncroc Emperor’s existence was no secret—a simple search on the Internet would suffice, although the information available on Warrior Home was more completely. There were even several photos of the beast, and from the distant angle, it must have been captured with drones or some equipment.
The creature’s lair was Lake Dajiu.
It was a famous scenic spot in Shennongjia. Composed of lakes and marshes with various sizes, it spanned over thirty thousand Mu, and was 15 km in length from north to south and 3 km in width from east to west.
There was a flatland in the middle of Lake Dajiu surrounded by towering mountains, which was why it was known as a ‘mountain plains’ and the Hulunbuir of Shennongjia.
Naturally, that was the landscape before the Revival of Qi.
It appears that these lands had changed drastically after the Revival of Qi. A lot of the mountains had collapsed and the many lakes and marshes had combined as one, forming a great lake.
And the Dragoncroc Emperor lived there.
‘If that’s so, the Dragoncroc Emperor’s nest would not be that hard to find. I just hope that it has been staying in its lair and not running around…wouldn’t I have run around for nothing otherwise?’
As Jiang He smelled the aroma wafting from his grill meat, Jiang He took out a bottle of Origin Fluid, eating and drinking while he thought, ‘Although the Origin Fluid tastes incredible, it feels lacking when matched with grill meat. I should get some aged alcohol when I have the time like Lafite or Maotai or whatnot for my next grill session.’
Having had his fill, Jiang He then hurried on his way.
He withdrew his aura as he weaved in and out across the wildlands and soon arrived upon the lake which the information mentioned.
Hidden behind a bushes on the shores of the lake, Jiang He thought about how he should quietly slip into the lake, then find and kill the Dragoncroc Emperor. However, before he could think of a plan, he heard an echoing splash—
A huge wave shot up from the heart of the lake.
And behind it was a bronze shroud that resembled a bell.
It broke through the surface and hovered up in the air, and behind the shroud was a black-robed figure.
Standing atop the lake, the black-robed man opened his mouth and spat out a Daemonic Qi that entered the shroud, which immediately shone in green light and rapidly expanded into a circle that stretched over a hundred feet.
A fire in the shape of a dragon blazed within the shroud, and Jiang He could feel the horrific heat despite being several hundred meters away.
Even the waters of the lake were steaming from the scorching heat.
‘It’s a mystic treasure!’
Jiang He’s eyes tightened and he looked utterly shocked. ‘No, that person breathed Daemonic Qi just now—he isn’t human, but a daemonic cultivator who has transformed… that shroud must therefore be a daemonic weapon and not of a low grade either, but of at least moderate grade!’
Who was that black-robed man?
No, the black-robed daemonic cultivator!
Was it the Dragoncroc Emperor?
It most likely was…
Feral Emperor, advanced?
It was equal to Void-tier, and more or less same as True-Child in immortal terms. Still, the tiers of daemonic cultivation differed from human cultivation.
After all, Jiang He did read the Sky Daemon Invincibility which Trumbo translated, and hence learned that after a certain progress in cultivation, daemonic cultivators would refine their Daemonic Pellets, a level that was equal to humans’ Golden Pellet-tier.
And above Daemonic pellet is Morphing, and most daemonic cultivators who reached that level usually could transform into humans, and that was equal to humans’ True Child.
Jiang He could not help feeling lucky that he decided to stay his hand right then, and improved his ability before coming to bother the Dragoncroc Emperor…or he would not have had a good chance of killing the beast.
‘Hold on…’
Another thought occurred to Jiang He then.
Did the Dragoncroc Emperor get a stroke?
Why was it cultivating its daemonic weapon with offerings in the middle of the night?
That was when the black-robed man, who was actually the Dragoncroc Emperor, morphed laughed fearsomely. “Jiang He, I have fully refined the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud. How can you stop me after my powers have doubled?”
“I shall claim your dog life tomorrow!”
It was just muttering to itself…
But when it reached Jiang He’s ears, he seemed to hear it differently.
‘Oh no, the Dragoncroc Emperor really did notice me!’
Jiang He was at once both shocked and doubtful.
Since the Dragoncroc Emperor has noticed him, why would it not make a move, but instead show-off incessantly and even turn its back against him?
Even so, could Jiang He be bothered about all that in such a moment?
Those who strike first win, those who strike late lose.
Whoosh!
In almost a split second, a crimson light shot out from between Jiang He’s brows!
It was the Scarlet Flame Sword!
First style of the Three Thousand Calamities: White Foal Crosses the Rift!
The Dragoncroc Emperor was less than five hundred meters away from Jiang He and the Scarlet Flame Sword reached it in the blink of an eye…the Dragoncroc Emperor did not even have time to react before the scarlet sword radiance pierced through its shoulder with a loud shank.
“Who is it?”
Boom!
Horrific Daemonic Qi erupted out of the Dragoncroc Emperor’s body. Extending his hand with a summoning gesture, the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud descended and covered his entire body before it promptly turned to find Jiang He stepping out from its bushes.
Its eyes tightening, it cried out involuntarily, “Jiang He?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Extending his hand and beckoning the Scarlet Flame Sword to return to him, Jiang He’s complete Golden Pellet aura emanated…but he was frowning.
What was going on?
Didn’t the Dragoncroc Emperor notice him already?
Why did it fail to evade his sword?
Even if he couldn’t, he could have used that…Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud or something to protect himself from Jiang He’s sword, could he not?
In truth, the Dragoncroc Emperor did not notice a thing.
At this very moment, it was utterly baffled.
What the hell.
What had actually happened?
I’ve just finished refining the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud and was testing its power just outside my home, and suddenly got stabbed by Jiang He?
Nonetheless, how much of an eminence was the Dragoncroc Emperor?
After a moment of surprise, it promptly came to its senses. Its aura shot up three times in power as it roared, “Jiang He, you really would rather die when you could have lived a little longer! To think that you would come on your own when this emperor is about to take your life!”
Whoosh!
He reached Jiang He with a single stride, punching out at him.
The Dragoncroc Emperor was very confident.
Buffed with the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud, a superior daemonic weapon, he did not fear Jiang He at all… the strike just now was a fluke, and he had simply let down his guard.
Be that as it may, Jiang He did not retreat or evade the Dragoncroc Emperor’s punched. Laughing out loud, it punched out in return.
As his fist extended, a horrific physical strength akin to the gods burst out in an instant!
Pow…
The Dragoncroc Emperor was sent flying backwards from that one punch, and even reverted from human form to its true form. The Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud was shaking incessantly from the impact, the green light on its surface dulling.
“No…”
The Dragoncroc Emperor could not help crying out in panic, “How are you so strong?”
Jiang He ignored it. Striding forward again, he sent forth another punch.
Pow!
Though the punch landed on the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud, the brute strength ruptured all of the Dragoncroc Emperor’s organs even though it was weakened by the Shroud. Once again, the Dragoncroc Emperor was sent flying and coughing blood profusely, its daemonic Yuan Qi choking and almost unable to sustain the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud now.
It tried to call for help, but Jiang He had slammed another punch on the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud just as it opened its mouth.
As a superior daemonic armament, The Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud could restrain or kill an opponent, as well as be used for guarding…and yet, it had become misshapen just after three of Jiang He’s punches.
And even though the Dragoncroc Emperor was shielded behind the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud, most of its body was mangled and it was bleeding profusely.
Its dark-golden pupils were filled with fear.
How…
How could this be?
Was Jiang He really this powerful?
He is getting killed even with the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud’s protection?
The brat did not show such power when he was killing the Golden-Winged Roc just a few days ago…The Dragoncroc Emperor himself had witnessed the entire battle, and it was only because of that power level displayed then that he agreed to work with the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint!
On the other hand, Jiang He was feeling a little helpless.
He was still just a little weak.
Now, he had a general idea what grade the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud was. It could be nothing less than superior, since a mediocre grade item would not be misshapen from three of his full-powered punches, but directly broken.
He stared at his own fist, which was in a miserable state.
It was bleeding after three consecutive forceful punch on a superior daemonic armament. Most of the skin was broken, since power could mutually destruct.
Meanwhile, the Dragoncroc Emperor had seized its chance to charge its Daemonic Qi, consuming a medicinal herb that must have been a floral sprit to recover before growling, “How dare you ambush this emperor, Jiang He? Don’t you believe that every Feral in the world shall go on a rampage on this emperor’s call?!”
Amused, Jiang He laughed coolly. “Dragoncroc Emperor, you’re plotting with the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint to kill me. How could I not retaliate? And you’ve even said you would claim my dog’s life…Did my dog insult you or something?”
The Dragoncroc Emperor was taken aback.
Your…dog’s life?
Did you misunderstand something?
Most importantly, how did Jiang He learn that it was in league with the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint?
Could that wretch from the Sky Demon Cult have betrayed him? It could not be…
Meanwhile, in the instant that he spaced out, Jiang He released the Autumn Water Sword with a thought.
Both the Scarlet Flame Sword and the Autumn Water Sword burst out in synchrony as a fire dragon and water dragon that interweaved in the night sky, forming the Ice and Fire Duality Sword Array as it shot towards the Dragoncroc Emperor…
And yet, that was the very moment something unusual happened.
A green light shot out from beneath the lake and actually broke Jiang He’s Ice and Fire Duality Sword Array.
After that, a silhouette floated up in the air from under the lake, standing before the Dragoncroc Emperor with his hands clasped behind his back and saying evenly, “You’re Jiang He?”
The human silhouette was illusory and not solid at all. It studied Jiang He thoughtfully and smiled, “Interesting…A sword cultivator refining his physique as well? If my eyes are right, your body must have reached True Child, has it not? And not at a novice level.”
Though the silhouette spoke with an even town, it had a lofty feeling, as if a person was staring down at an ant.
Then, after having a good look at Jiang He, he waved him off and said, “I won’t pursue this matter. Leave.”
Jiang He laughed from sheer exasperation.
Was that…
A clone, formed from Daemonic Qi and spirit?
No, it was not spirit…but Yuan Spirit!
So this was the Dragoncroc Emperor’s backer?
The ancient daemon cultivator that Lin Tianzheng spoke of?
But since its true form was not here, what was there to fear?
He waved his hand. Both the Scarlet Flame Sword and the Autumn Water Sword flew towards him and hovered in near him as he calmly smiled, “Who do you think you are? How dare you show off in daddy’s face?”
“Don’t you believe that once daddy gets angry, I’ll cut you down too?”
