Chapter 417: The Wrath of the Dragon Prince

Crack, crack—!!!

Above the Heavenly Dome, thunder rumbled as dark clouds churned and icy flurries roared!

On the Grand Canal, swollen river waters surged like thousands of rolling waves, resembling an avalanche of snow!

Massive snowflakes, as big as hands, drifted down through layers of dark clouds while winter thunder boomed behind them!

Within the borders of the Great Realm, the largest man-made river had been permeated by the divine aura of numerous Bizarre Temples. Every inch of its water brimmed with sacred energy, keeping it from freezing even in the fiercest winter storms!

Rows of nine-story Xuan Tie Lingmu Warships from the Imperial Court’s forces were moored at the riverbank, their enormous chains frozen solid, with icicles hanging down.

Yet as the water pounded against the vessels—etched with terrifying, ferocious designs—it whipped up violent surges!

Beneath the river’s surface,

a colossal shadow stretched across the depths. Far larger than the warships, its massive ten-zhang form could barely be discerned through the interplay of light and water.

In truth, ten zhang was only after the beast had retracted its form; if allowed to spread, it could easily extend to a hundred or even a thousand zhang!

For this behemoth was none other than the pinnacle of the Dragon God Clan—the Dragon Prince!

Ranked ninth at the Heavenly Gate of the Grand Inspector!

Rumble—!!!

Without warning, the river burst into resounding roars as white waves crashed and searing gusts erupted from within.

Deep below, in a dim realm where light barely penetrated, countless twisting waterweeds writhed in a bewitching dance.

Yet from within that darkness, a pair of enormous dragon eyes erupted in dazzling brilliance…

“You are…”

“Ogre?!”

The Dragon Prince’s eyes snapped open as a tremor of alarm coursed through his heart!

“Underworld Ogre?!”

Why would the Underworld Ogre appear before him?!

What was it planning?

Wasn’t Zhao Beidou, the formidable Divine Calamity Advancer, supposed to have eradicated every last menace in the Underworld?

Had even the main stronghold, Fengdu’s Minor Cavern of the Heavens, been wiped out by him?

Then why was the Underworld Ogre still at large now?

Gazing at hands folded across its chest, intertwined before a turbulent mass of black hair dancing wildly in the river as if streaks of black lightning shattering the flow—its massive form exuded an overwhelming presence.

Yet, floating straight in the water, its searing, scalding aura hit like a tidal wave—as though the true forms of a dragon and an elephant coiled behind the Ogre, looming over a tiny loach below.

The Dragon Prince’s mind raced in confusion, but an intense sense of crisis surged through him, making every dragon scale on his body stand on end as if boiling with untamed heat.

His massive dragon frame was about to make a move.

But…

That brawny, tower-like Underworld Ogre slowly extended a hand and pressed it onto his dragon head.

Fingers clenched!

Across the Ogre’s broad, sinewy back, nine snarling, quivering strands of angry dragon sinew erupted, unleashing a terrifying blast of force as blood, shimmering like molten mercury, surged wildly!

Bang—!!!

In an instant, countless torrents of water burst apart from the crushing pressure.

Behind the Ogre, a jet-black portal materialized as if carved from ink.

In a single explosive motion, the Dragon Prince’s colossal body was flung violently by the Ogre, hurled into that silent, towering gateway—a tear in the human realm’s veil of shadows!

The ravenous portal swallowed the entirety of the Dragon Prince’s divine aura in one gulp.

And in the distance…

the slumbering three dragon offspring suddenly awoke in an instant!

The moment the Dragon Prince’s aura vanished, they jolted upright in alarm!

Yet with their awakening came the unforgiving tug of the Ogre—a single step that slammed open a gigantic void at the riverbed, violently flinging one dragon after another like cannonballs. The sheer might of the force left the little dragons no chance, as they were mercilessly swallowed by the impenetrable gates of Mo City and Fengdu!

Above the river, a silent Cosmic Chessboard spread out, smothering every wisp of their struggling breaths, concealing not even a hint of their presence.

At the riverbank…

within the encampment of the Imperial Court’s forces…

Gu Qianchi, seated in a divine talisman formation alongside Zhao Beidou who was tending to his wounds, both seemed to sense that something was amiss with their Heavenly Dao Soul.

It was an instinctive warning of an impending crisis.

Yet when their gazes swept over the scene, no obvious peril was detected.

The heavens remained quiet, the snowstorm unrelenting, and the river flowed as ever.

……

……

Mo City. Fengdu!

Rumble, rumble, rumble—!!!

Though Mo City had not yet fully returned to perfection, the shattered void, the cracked city grounds—all had been restored to their original resolute strength!

Boom!

A violent explosion rattled Mo City, as countless puddles erupted into a furious spray of water flowers.

The Dragon Prince’s ten-zhang long body writhed and twisted on the ground.

“Roar—!!!”

A resonant, piercing dragon cry shattered the silence as massive torrents of blood and demonic energy intertwined explosively.

Enraged beyond measure, the Dragon Prince’s heart trembled with shock and fury!

From his abdomen, a brilliant light burst forth—the Dragon Emperor Pearl had been fully activated, radiating dazzling splendor.

The Dragon Prince’s aura surged in leaps, catapulting him to a strength that surpassed even the apex of his race, nearing the half-step Dragon God level!

This was the power bestowed upon him by the Dragon Emperor Pearl!

It was the treasured pearl granted to him as a last hope of his generation—a bonus for breaking through to the Dragon God realm.

“Ogre—!!!”

The Dragon Prince’s furious roar erupted from his maw, a booming echo that reverberated intensely!

Suddenly,

lifting his head, the Dragon Prince spotted three dark silhouettes materializing overhead. In a single glance, he recognized them as his three brothers!

They had arrived…

all of them had been captured!

What was this Underworld Ogre up to…

how dare it be so brazen?!

The Dragon Prince seethed with fury. He knew that activating the Dragon Emperor Pearl had granted him half-step Dragon God power, while the combined might of his three dragon offspring in their joint technique was also nearly a half-step Dragon God force!

Two half-step divine giants!

And yet the Underworld Ogre had shamelessly dragged them all in…

without even a thought for isolating his foes one by one?

How dare it show so contemptuous disdain?!

Vrrr—

The Dragon Prince’s body trembled before reforming into a normal human shape, his eyes gleaming with a mix of shock and wrath.

“I advise you to maintain your dragon form,” he cautioned coolly.

A calm yet resonant voice echoed through the expanse.

Crack—like lightning splitting the Heavenly Dome—the Underworld Ogre’s towering shape reappeared, its immense, fiery aura manifesting behind it like a blazing furnace of blood. It cast a delicate golden veil over the dark city as if a great sun had risen.

The entire obsidian city was bathed in a faint golden shimmer!

“Underworld Ogre! You’re asking for death!”

The Dragon Prince’s tone was as cold as steel.

Behind him, his three dragon offspring now stirred with equal parts astonishment and rage. They had been deep in slumber—winter was the worst season for them—only to be abruptly disturbed and stranded in this forsaken city.

Meanwhile, Zhao Beidou, the Divine Calamity Advancer, had once claimed to have shattered this very city of the Underworld!

So, is this what happens when even a top-tier calamity expert boasts?

Really shattered?

Not at all!

Boom—!!!

Li Che, donning the Ogre Mask, watched indifferently as the four dragon offspring below. Within his chest, the 【Wan Yao Di】 Dao Fruit thumped vigorously.

In his eyes, a thick demonic aura suddenly reflected vividly.

His gaze swept over, and he raised an eyebrow when he noticed that the demonic aura clinging to the Dragon Prince was a distinct shade of blue, while the aura on the three little dragons was a pale blue-white—markedly weaker.

So even demonic auras vary in intensity?

It seemed the inherent trait of the 【Wan Yao Di】 Dao Fruit allowed him to clearly discern the strength of a demon’s aura by its color.

This meant no demon could hide before him.

Even if a demon took on human form, its aura would betray it in front of Li Che.

Goldmane’s demonic aura was similarly a light blue-white—much inferior in quality compared to the Dragon Prince’s.

The 【Wan Yao Di】 Dao Fruit craved the potent demonic aura emanating from the four dragon beings before him.

Boom—!!!

Without further ado, Li Che’s body trembled as his massive frame convulsed, his sinews quivering as golden blood erupted from his back, and one divine seed after another burst forth.

Activating his mortal self, his Martial Immortal Golden Body blazed radiantly—transforming him utterly!

Two half-step Martial God-level experts clashed perfectly… proving that it was time to put his Martial Immortal Golden Body to the test!

In Li Che’s eyes, the realms of Martial Immortals and Martial Gods were two entirely separate systems.

While both enhanced the flesh, Martial God cultivation was inseparable from divinity—opening the Heavenly Gate and harnessing its divine energy to fortify the body was the way of the Martial Gods.

The Dragon Prince fixed his gaze and let out a high-pitched dragon roar!

The sound wave shattered, its invisible force twisting the air, so powerful it made the storm outside seem to vanish—save for that resounding, piercing roar!

The overwhelming burst of energy obliterated raindrops and swept the dark, misty vapor into a relentless assault against the Underworld Ogre.

From within his abdomen, the Dragon Emperor Pearl unleashed an intensely potent demonic aura, shattering the Dragon Prince’s limitations!

Clenching his fingers, channeling the might of his blood and flesh, the explosive divine energy soared behind him, coiling into the semblance of a dragon’s shadow!

With that, the Dragon Prince thrust out his fist—cloaked in countless scales that resembled armor—and collided head-on in a simple yet brutal exchange!

Li Che, empowered by his Martial Immortal Golden Body, fought with eyes swirling with fragrant golden mist, as his molten, golden blood and clattering bones resounded in unison!

A torrent of unimaginable force crashed like a flood!

Boom—!!!

Fist met fist, the shockwave surged upward in a rigid column, rippling through space as fine fractures emerged!

The explosive force resounded like startling thunder!

The Dragon Prince, struck by a single blow, turned pale with dread!

Is this… a human?

Is this the physique a human can possess?

How could it be so powerful?!

Feeling the overwhelming force unleashed from that punch—a force like an avalanche—the power through the Dragon Prince, amplified by the Dragon Emperor Pearl to half-step divine might, began to shatter as if splintering under the strain!

Bang—!!!

The compressed air behind him exploded into rippling shockwaves!

The Dragon Prince was slammed to the ground; his shattered fist, bloodied and broken bones evident…

He looked upward, a dreadful premonition instantly clouding his heart.

Meanwhile, his three dragon offspring had no choice but to watch.

They had just combined for a joint technique, only to be shattered by an onrushing figure!

It was the Mo City Dominator Clone!

A crimson, flowing staff whirled out, unleashing a surge of scorching blood and power!

Divine Monkey!

The Underworld Divine Monkey!

Bang—!!!

A staff, stretching out like a dragon, crashed into the ephemeral half-step Dragon God silhouette formed by the three combined dragons.

Then countless after-images of the staff soared skyward, intertwining across the heavens as if to engulf the entire sky!

One blow…

Shattering the Southern Sky!

Bang—!!!

The three figures let out agonized cries as they were hurled sideways; their combined technique disintegrated as torrents of dragon blood erupted relentlessly!

The scales of the Dragon Prince spread wide, his body radiating fierce heat as he listened to the agonized wails—the sound sinking his heart into an abyss.

It was over…

He raised his head.

There, the Ogre who had exchanged blows with him showed no injury whatsoever. Its fist rose again, bathed in dazzling brilliance as the entire void trembled!

Spines arched like a coiled dragon, each burst of incandescent light flickering like scattered suns!

A torrent of raging blood surged through the heavens!

Crackle, crackle—

Obsidian rain lashed the Dragon Prince’s face; cold, piercing, and hopeless…

Carrying such explosive power, how was he not torn apart on the spot?!

This…

Is this a human?!

……

On the banks of the Grand Canal…

In the Imperial Court’s military camp, tents bloomed like brilliant white flowers in the midst of falling snow.

Slowly, the curtains lifted as Xie Yunshen, his face pale, stepped out.

Beside him, Huang Mei Great Master trailed silently, palms pressed together in a respectful gesture.

Also present was Gu Cheng, the leader of the Bashu Sword Pavilion—a top-tier expert whose sword techniques relied on divine methods rather than martial prowess, earning his place among the Divine Register though not at the Heavenly Gate.

Perhaps spurred on by Zhao Beidou’s commendation of Xie Yunshen, Gu Qianchi had seen an opportunity and arranged for Gu Cheng, the sect leader, to personally safeguard Xie Yunshen.

Vrrr—

Suddenly, space distorted as two figures shattered through the falling snow.

It wasn’t anyone else—it was Gu Qianchi and Zhao Beidou. Zhao Beidou’s face had a ruddy hue, yet his injuries were grave.

The two stood tall amidst the dissipating snow, their presence parting the swirling flurries.

Their eyes fixed on the distant meeting point of water and sky on the Grand Canal.

There, an immense, fearsome surge of waves thundered forward!

“They’re coming,”

Gu Qianchi squinted as his Heavenly Dao Soul shuddered, the latent sword aura on his body threatening to break free in unguided fury.

Zhao Beidou inhaled deeply, “That old dragon… I heard he’s lived three thousand years, nearly at the limits of surviving calamities.”

He continued, “He’s devoured countless treasures from the Eastern Sea that sustain longevity…”

He sighed, “But now, judging by that old dragon’s eagerness to land with the Dragon God Clan, he likely can’t overcome the third calamity—if he could, he’d gain another thousand years of life.”

Gu Qianchi nodded, “Living three thousand years is already remarkable. Even though we’ve all crossed a thousand years, in the end we all fall to calamities or perish in our explorations of the Bizarre Temple…”

He added, “This old dragon living three thousand years isn’t a loss.”

With a quiet sigh, both Gu Qianchi and Zhao Beidou, seasoned calamity experts, understood the inevitability of fate.

“Shall we head out to greet the old Dragon God together, venerable masters?” Xie Yunshen said gently, a warm smile on his face.

“This old Dragon God’s arrival will bolster the Imperial Court’s power—

the era of shattering the Dao is near!”

Xie Yunshen’s excitement was palpable as he praised the old Dragon God.

Yet Gu Qianchi and Zhao Beidou’s expressions hardened—what did it mean? Is the arrival of the old Dragon God supposed to turn the tide and obliterate everything?

Were their own efforts in vain?

Zhao Beidou snorted coldly; after all, he had fought the Underworld to near-fatal injury.

Xie Yunshen noticed the tension in his words and quickly apologized, though a secret smile played on his lips.

A subtle discord among the three calamity experts would only give their enemy a chance to strike!

Gu Qianchi said little, instead flicking his sleeve as brilliant sword light gathered at his feet. In a flash, a stream of flying swords roared along the Grand Canal, slicing through the waves as it surged forward.

After roughly a hundred zhang of slicing through the waves, Gu Qianchi halted. His ancient robes billowed as his gaunt face registered shock.

There, at the edge of the Grand Canal, a wave a hundred zhang high surged upward!

All they could hear was the rolling dragon cry as the Grand Canal churned in endless, towering waves!

An aura both domineering and terrifying ascended rapidly, colliding with the heavens with unstoppable force!

Above the Heavenly Dome, dark clouds had already amassed. Ominous thunderclouds loomed, their terrifying pressure falling like judgment, stifling every sound!

Gu Qianchi and Zhao Beidou stared as if transfixed, witnessing a colossal azure dragon emerging from the boundless sea—a being carrying endless ocean water, bridging heaven and earth!

Rumble—!!!

The majesty of dragons was palpable!

The dragon’s roar shattered the skies!

At the crest of that hundred-zhang tidal wave, an elderly man with a massive frame, sporting two sharp, spear-like dragon horns that seemed poised to split the skies, appeared!

His eyes blazed with intensity, and his overwhelming blood aura seemed to cover the heavens!

A tidal wave of such magnitude surged!

The Dragon God had arrived from the east!

……

……

Daocheng.

Boom—!!!

An invisible shockwave exploded from the Grand Canal, slamming into the ancient, towering city walls like an enormous hand!

Thud—!!!

The entire wall trembled violently, as if facing an unprecedented earthquake!

Countless houses swayed, on the verge of collapse!

Inside the Divine Sect Mountain Gate,

in the courtyard of the Elder’s residence,

Elder Fang Han Shu, leisurely reading the Sage’s Book amidst swirling snow, couldn’t hide a trace of solemnity in his eyes.

Vrrr—

The Qian Kun Plaque at the mountain gate soared high.

The void tore apart as Lü Qiankun stepped forth, and by his side, Lü Taibai—whose eyes burned as if fused with Annihilating God-Wind—followed closely.

Lü Taibai’s silver hair whipped in the wind, his hands behind him as sword energy raged uncontrollably!

He had done it!

Breaking through to a half-step Martial God was officially achieved!

Half a step into the Martial God realm combined with half a step of calamity—Lü Taibai gritted his teeth, journeying into the Heavenly Gate. Emerging unlost, he completed his breakthrough.

Yet at that moment, no pride showed on Lü Taibai’s face.

His expression was grim as countless sword auras cascaded down.

Fang Han Shu raced over and smiled, “Congratulations, Sect Master, on breakthrough to half-step Martial God.”

Lü Taibai gave a wry laugh and shook his head, “Half-step Martial God cultivation… it’s still not enough.”

Lü Qiankun stroked his beard, “It’s because that old Dragon God of the Dragon Clan, who’s lived three thousand years—

after the founding of the Great Realm by our founding emperor, he once clashed with the old dragon by the Eastern Sea. In the end, the founding emperor triumphed, decreeing that the old dragon, without the Emperor’s permission, must never set foot on land; defiance would bring calamities upon his soul.”

Lü Qiankun scoffed, “And now this old dragon dares to step into the Great Realm… clearly he has the Great Jing Emperor’s approval.”

Fang Han Shu’s scholarly robes fluttered as he stroked his fine beard and squinted,

“The Great Jing Emperor… has sold our Dao Yuan to this old Dragon God! Allowing the Dragon God Clan to occupy our Dao Yuan and extend into the future…”

“I heard that the Sanqing Bizarre Temple in the Eastern Sea has completely lost control, releasing demonic chaos from the Bizarre Temple, and even a revived Temple Spirit now invades the sea… With the old dragon nearing his limit, the Dragon God Clan probably can no longer stay in the Eastern Sea and seeks refuge on land.”

Lü Qiankun shook his head, “Furthermore… the old dragon’s purpose for coming ashore is likely more than that… Qitian City is about to open.”

“Closed for five hundred years, Qitian City—straddling the boundary of the Inner and Earthly Weird Sanctuaries—has captivated the hearts of all the world’s elites…”

“This old dragon probably wishes to make a final stand in Qitian City, to see if he can overcome the third calamity.”

“In the face of life and death, neither man nor dragon can escape fate.”

“No one wants to die; everyone wants to live…”

Fang Han Shu exhaled, “That may be so, but if this old dragon joins our Dao Yuan… it spells danger.”

Fang Han Shu turned to Lü Taibai, “Sect Master, why not seek assistance from the Xuanfu Divine Sect of Qingyun Daoxuan?”

“Perhaps, for the sake of the Sect Master’s wife, the venerable Xuan Yang Patriarch will lend his support.”

Lü Taibai’s eyes hardened as his gaze shifted toward the Divine Talisman Pavilion, his sharp look softening for an instant.

“Very well.”

……

……

Thud—!!!

A giant head, as large as a building, crashed onto the ground. The black surface of Mo City sank deeply, spiderweb-like cracks sprawling everywhere.

The Dragon Prince’s once-majestic hundred-zhang dragon form now lay broken on the ground, drenched by the rain.

Every scale was marred by cracks; none remained unscathed.

In the distance, the three dragon offspring also lay barely conscious, hoisted against a dark rectangular structure by Li Che, who wore the Divine Monkey Mask.

Dragon blood gushed relentlessly from their wounds.

The Dragon Prince, gravely wounded, stared ahead with despair filling his eyes.

He was utterly outmatched—there was no contest between them!

Smack, smack, smack—

The puddles burst forth as the Underworld Ogre’s massive form approached the edge of the dragon head. Standing there, he observed the Dragon Prince, whose rain-soaked body leaked cold dragon blood from deep wounds.

Li Che exhaled slowly.

It felt incredibly satisfying!

Compared to his life-or-death clashes with calamity experts, dueling the half-step Dragon God-level Dragon Prince was pure exhilaration for Li Che.

His Martial Immortal Golden Body’s cultivation advanced swiftly.

【Dragon Elephant Furnace: Martial Immortal Golden Body (5%)】

Now, it was time to take decisive action.

Li Che opened his five fingers and slapped down onto the Dragon Prince’s head. Like divine spears, his fingers pierced through the dragon scales, driving into the Dragon Prince’s flesh.

The Dragon Prince shut his eyes in humiliation.

Yet, in the next moment…

he abruptly opened his eyes in terror and awe.

Within his mirror-like dragon eyes surged an overwhelming mix of reverence, trembling fear, and dread!

Because…

he realized that before him, the Underworld Ogre had transformed into a monstrous demon—a terrifying giant demon emerging step by step from a primordial wasteland!

Its demonic aura soared sky-high, blinding the heavens!

“Ah—!!!”

The Dragon Prince let out a horrified shriek.

What was this?

Underworld Ogre, who are you?!

Are you a demon?!

Chitter, chitter, chitter—

Li Che’s 【Wan Yao Di】 Dao Fruit ignited with a horrifying devouring force, erupting in a burst of ravenous energy.

Slowly…

the demonic aura from the Dragon Prince was completely siphoned away!

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom—!!!

Inside his chest, the 【Wan Yao Di】 Dao Fruit beat frantically, like a soft sea surging and absorbing water!

【Dao Fruit: Wan Yao Di (lv2 0%)】

……

【Dao Fruit: Wan Yao Di (lv2 50%)】

【Dao Fruit: Wan Yao Di (lv2 90%)】

【Dao Fruit: Wan Yao Di (lv3 0%)】

……

Before his eyes, a warm golden light slowly swirled out.

Countless mists of blue demonic aura, like a thick fog, flooded into Li Che’s body.

The recently transformed Dao Fruit progressed rapidly, advancing and evolving from lv1 to lv2, then from lv2 to lv3…

Completing its first transformation!

But that wasn’t the limit!

The overwhelming demonic aura provided by the Dragon Prince was unprecedented—

not merely because the Dragon Prince’s aura was vast, but because the feedback from the Dragon Emperor Pearl within him was fiercely intense!

Li Che’s ears rang as if a deafening roar had been unleashed.

It was as though a terrifying ancient demon from a barren land had roared in ecstasy!

The Dragon Prince’s body trembled uncontrollably—convulsions rippled as his once-great hundred-zhang form gradually shrank, until finally…

all that remained was a feeble, emaciated, skin-and-bone figure.

In his eyes, the Dragon Prince was filled with sheer terror.

He gasped for air, his body curling up, soaked by rain and bleeding with every passing wound, his eyes vacant as if confronting a hideous demon.

He mumbled hoarsely, “Ah-ah…” in a trembling, terrified whisper.

“Hoo—”

“Sigh—”

Li Che, wearing the Ogre Mask, lifted his head; his golden hair whipped wildly as he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

All over his body, dense blue demonic energy billowed like rolling mists!

In a flash, Li Che reappeared atop the three dragon offspring hanging from the dark, rectangular structure.

Repeating his old trick, he absorbed their demonic aura and essence!

Once the Dragon Prince and his three offspring were completely drained by Li Che…

Li Che felt an immense bell tolling in his heart—a tremendous explosion of energy!

【Dao Fruit: Wan Yao Di (lv5 0%)】

Dao Fruit…

Triple Transformation!

……

……

Crack, crack—!!!

Rolling thunder resounded!

Snow, falling amidst leaden clouds, burst apart—obliterated into dust!

Above the Grand Canal, the raging tide surged, unleashing a titanic force as if a true divine dragon had soared forth from the boundless sea.

The blistering, scorching blood energy transformed the heavens, inciting wrath in the calamities!

Even mere movement stirred a terrifying, overwhelming momentum!

The rolling majesty of the dragon advanced from the end of the Grand Canal, a force that could overturn mountains and seas!

The old Dragon God, with his hands clasped behind him, his massive body clad in resplendent Crimson Dragon Armor, appeared—his pale, twisting dragon hair flaring as if ablaze, his eyes radiating the brilliance of a midday sun!

In an instant, time seemed both fleeting and interminable.

The old Dragon God’s overwhelming presence appeared before Xie Yunshen and the others waiting to greet him.

Xie Yunshen smiled broadly.

Meanwhile, Gu Qianchi and Zhao Beidou, the two calamity experts, maintained grim expressions.

The old Dragon God’s eyes shone a deep purple, reflecting the ancient light of the cosmos.

His cold, domineering gaze swept over the scene.

Then, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Where are my dragon sons and grandsons?!”

“Why haven’t they come to greet me?!”