197 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

### Chapter 850: Awakening Every guest and member of the Tai Xu sect present noticed the flames rising from the sect's direction. The auction was only halfway through, and while they worried about the state of the sect, they also had to guard against a potential decoy tactic. Immediately, they gathered and hurried to the secret chamber where the dragon meat was stored. Luckily, Du Ruo had prepared in advance, fortifying the chamber's walls to resist spiritual detection. Had the two of them left without precautions, they would have likely encountered the Tai Xu sect members head-on. The patrolling disciples were all above the Golden Core stage of cultivation, apart from the one Du Ruo had knocked out. Now, eleven of them gathered. The two Nascent Soul elders made things particularly tricky. It's feasible for Xiang Shi Yan and Du Ruo to take them down quickly if caught off guard, but facing over a dozen Golden Core disciples and the prominent guests invited by Tai Xu would be a challenge. Positioned by the door, each on either side, Du Ruo flicked her blade, leaving a trail of blood from a recent kill arcing on the ground. The serpent demon glanced at Xiang Shi Yan, noticing the mysterious sword she had received a few days ago being unsheathed. The sword emanated an intense cold air that filled the space as soon as it was drawn. Du Ruo hesitated, casting a wary look at the meteoric iron sword, but she chose to remain silent. Their eyes met briefly. Xiang Shi Yan gestured, and Du Ruo instantly understood her plan. "Once the door opens, I'll seize the chance to kill one and hold off the other. That's your cue to escape." In terms of cultivation, Xiang Shi Yan was at the Great Ascension stage. Even if surrounded, she might still find a way out. But Du Ruo was different. Her appearance, slightly distinct from the locals, marked her as a saintess of the demon clan—a fact that, if recognized, would invite untold complications. She couldn’t afford any delay and needed to leave immediately. As for Xiang Shi Yan, the fact that the Moonlight Sovereign, missing for over sixty years, suddenly reemerged as the culprit behind the attack on Tai Xu sect would make her predicament even more precarious. Xiang Shi Yan hadn’t planned on being cornered here. She had backup plans—willingly abandoning some when she infiltrated the inn. Her initial strategy anticipated chaos. If she couldn't escape in time, Fu Zhi and others would cover for her retreat. After reconsideration, she decided it would be best not to let Fu Zhi get tangled in her mess. "There is another way. I've laid a poison outside the door. Once released, it could kill them all in a short period," Du Ruo nervously licked her lips. "But if someone discovers it later, it might..." The aftermath of using such a poison would be troublesome to handle and could even harm innocents—a last resort, to be sure. Outside, the leader had already raised his hand. Unaware that he was but an inch away from a chilling sword inside, he lightheartedly pieced together the door-opening incantation on the stone door, with a dozen Golden Core disciples behind him. Four Nascent Soul elders, twelve Golden Core disciples. Should all these people perish here, the Tai Xu sect would be furious, combing through every inch to find the perpetrator. If it could be avoided, Xiang Shi Yan hoped not to commit more killings. Still— Her grip on the sword tightened, bracing for the moment the door would swing open. "Han Zhang Lao." A bright female voice sharply rang from the other side of the corridor. The man at the door turned abruptly, looking back through the crowd towards a cloaked woman. Zhu Yun, revealing her face by lowering her hood, asked, "Is something amiss?" "Master Zhu," Han Zhang Lao forced a calm demeanor. "There's no need to worry. You may return to your seat." The man's hand dropped from the door, and after whispering something to his companion, they both approached Zhu Yun. "We're merely acting out of caution, ensuring the auction item is secure. Please ease your mind, Master Zhu." "Glad to hear it. I wouldn’t want to lose something I've acquired." Zhu Yun smiled and nodded. "Of course, as agreed, this lot will not fall into other hands." Han Zhang Lao's sycophantic grin was directed at his junior, acknowledging the night's most honored guest. Under orders from the sect master, he dared not let this revered guest show the slightest discontent. The young lady glanced anxiously out the window. The flames from Tai Xu had diminished considerably and would be extinguished soon. She expressed concern, asking, "My meeting with your sect master..." "Naturally, it will proceed as originally planned." Zhu Yun nodded contentedly, wisely refraining from questioning whether the elders knew the origin of the distant chaos. However, her gaze rarely left the window. She looked once more at the door seamlessly blending into the wall, and as she blinked, Xiang Shi Yan inside felt an odd sensation, as if making direct eye contact with her. At that moment, a Tai Xu sect cultivator descended from the sky, landing hurriedly and rushing to the gathered members with urgency. As the two elders listened, Xiang Shi Yan noticed their faces turning pale, offering Zhu Yun a respectful nod before departing, leaving half the Golden Core disciples behind. …Where had the explosions and the light originated from? How did Zhu Yun appear here precisely when she did, as if her presence was orchestrated to divert Tai Xu's members? Even more bewildering, Tai Xu backed by the Bai family clashed with Zhu’s family. The meeting between Zhu Yun and the Tai Xu sect master Fu Wenyao… If news of this broke, it would spark endless waves across the land. And if her words were true, that both sides had reached an agreement—possibly even reserving the auction's centerpiece for Zhu Yun through backdoor dealings— A normal auction might have shown the head of the Zhu family altruistically spending at Tai Xu’s auction. The underlying implications? Left to public imagination. Not to mention, the invited guests were all prominent figures from various major sects. Notably absent were envoys from Yu Cang Mountain. It was well-known that Yu Cang Mountain and the Zhu family had significant ties, further complicating the narrative. However, all these scenarios were contingent on the auction proceeding normally. In a private box, Fu Zhi, waiting anxiously, suddenly felt Fu Xiao nudge her side. Her apprentice whispered, "Received the signal, she's safe." Visibly relaxing, Fu Zhi leaned against the balcony, watching the now-seated Mu Hua below. However, she noticed the cloaked stranger seen upon arrival quietly returning to their seat, prompting her brows to furrow. Sensing her gaze, the individual looked up and smiled subtly at the three on the second-floor box. Silently, Xiang and Du slipped away from the town, heading in a direction away from Tai Xu. The elders being summoned back signified severe internal issues within Tai Xu. It wouldn’t be long before someone discovered the dead in the chamber and the stolen dragon meat. They needed to be as far away as possible. "Senior, is that box truly filled with dragon meat?" Du Ruo eyed the jade box carried by Xiang Shi Yan with bewilderment. From ancient times, finding a beast’s bones wouldn’t be too extraordinary, yet their flesh? The serpent demon sensed she was approaching a long-hidden truth. Yet Xiang Shi Yan remained silent. Lost in thought, she finally responded to Du Ruo’s query after a lengthy pause. "You could report it as such to His Majesty." A glimmer in Du Ruo's eyes went unnoticed by Xiang Shi Yan, who wasn’t surprised at all. What significance does a dragon hold for the demon clan, for the koi? To a carp dreaming of transforming into a dragon, what would dragon meat mean? Xiang Shi Yan had spent sixty years, maneuvering against He He, becoming a trusted aide to the demon emperor primarily to prevent the demon clan from falling under He He’s grasp. If the demon emperor ate the black dragon's flesh, reconciliation would be impossible. Yet now, as Xiang Shi Yan gazed at the jade box in her hands, a dark desire surged within her, raging like a storm. Her nemesis, her disciple, her dragon. How could she let anyone else have it? So she told Du Ruo, "We’ll camp here." The statement ended the discussion. Du Ruo hadn’t observed the darkness in the fox demon’s eyes, but she did catch a glimpse of the unsettling tone beneath Xiang Shi Yan's mild, soft-spoken words—a firmness Du Ruo had never felt before. The intense dread rolling through Du Ruo was like a strong intoxicant, leaving her slightly flushed. Obediently, and without a word, she set up their tents and started a campfire in the forest clearing. Xiang Shi Yan was in thought. Her mind lingered on Zhu Yun; the fog was lifting, yet she couldn’t string the clues together with the missing piece. Holding the jade box, she stood beneath the trees, where moonlight didn’t reach. A young woman's voice, playful yet cryptic, called from the shadowed darkness, "You can eat it. I don’t mind." But Xiang Shi Yan, seemingly unruffled, transmitted her cold response: "You disgust me." In the night’s depths, Xiang Shi Yan and her companion cast their eyes toward the distant town. Contrary to her expectations, the black dragon hadn’t struck at the black market, opting instead for a direct assault on Tai Xu. Her brazen attack confounded Xiang Shi Yan, leaving her puzzled as to why Tai Xu was so alarmed. Just a few days prior, He He stood thoughtfully on the bustling streets of the demon capital, pondering why Xiang Shi Yan had tasked her with pursuing Du Guan Yan. Each move they made was peculiar, and yet, looking at the entire gambit, everything seemed in perfect harmony, as if they were unintentionally complementing each other's strategies. A small twitch at the corner of Xiang Shi Yan's eye revealed her intention behind leading He He to the demon capital—partly to divert her attention. But apparently, it was to no avail. Recalling the events at the inn, Xiang Shi Yan felt, strangely, as if she had inadvertently covered for He He. Perhaps their infiltration of the inn alerted He He, who only cared if her flesh was misused by the Tai Xu sect. If it was Xiang Shi Yan acquiring it, He He seemingly had no objections. Yet, the cunning black dragon recognized this as an opportunity and immediately redirected towards Tai Xu sect. Though Xiang Shi Yan did not know her exact actions, the fact that it alarmed the sect leader enough to redirect all black market security suggests it was significant. The sudden messenger that offered them respite intertwined with He He's maneuvers, shifting Tai Xu's focus as the theft of auction items and the deaths of the guards unfolded at the black market inn. Realizing she had unwittingly colluded with He He, Xiang Shi Yan's feelings were complex. What had He He truly done within Tai Xu? Suddenly, Xiang Shi Yan's head snapped up, her pupils dilating as she froze in place. The final piece of the puzzle struck her mind like a thunderbolt. It dawned on her: the one who had orchestrated the reprieve for those trapped in the secret chamber was not the belated messenger, but Zhu Yun. Turning her head to the swaying shadow of trees, her face was a mask of bewilderment. Since the truth emerged, Xiang Shi Yan held firm to the belief that every coincidence wasn't truly coincidental. Yet, she had subconsciously boxed Zhu Yun out of the conspiracy map. If that seemingly mutual glance wasn’t just an illusion… "She was there because of you," Xiang Shi Yan murmured, failing to control her volume. Du Ruo, seated by the fire, overheard and stood curiously. "If not outpaced, you would have been the one to kill those guards and steal the item." Du Ruo heard Xiang Shi Yan's sharp intake of breath, but apart from her, no one else was there, prompting the serpent demon to approach cautiously. "Senior?" "So Zhu Yun feigned alliance with Tai Xu, publicly bidding high on the auction finale to mend relations, betraying Yu Cang Mountain… because she didn’t need to. The auction would never reach that final step." "Senior, who are you talking to?" "When news breaks that Tai Xu intends to sever ties with the Bai family, suspicion will brew between them. The goodwill auction abandoned, the chaos would disgrace them before the sects, and guests could only feel mocked." Staring at the shadows, Xiang Shi Yan muttered, "She was your accomplice." "When she unhesitantly plunged into the Huaihai City quagmire, it was your backing that gave her confidence. All this time… she…” Staggering, she withdrew a step. The last time He He saw such an expression on Xiang Shi Yan was when she ruthlessly extracted Qin Miao's entire spine before her. Though He He expected to find amusement in Xiang Shi Yan’s plight, realizing she was surrounded by betrayal, she found herself not at all entertained. Seeing that fragile expression on an otherwise icy face was instead deeply wounding. The night’s cold wind rustled the leaves, emphasizing the vast, dreadful silence between them. At that moment, Du Ruo inexplicably furrowed her brows, removing a small, rattling wooden box from her sleeve. The tiny creature inside was chirping against the box walls with a unique frequency. Widening her eyes, the serpent demon listened closely again before exclaiming in surprise, "The Jade Fox clan has rebelled, Du Guan Yan… has raised an army in the northern territories." Even He He, feeling a pang of pity, caught an unexpected sight. Xiang Shi Yan, who should be in shock, instead donned a calming smile at the abrupt news. **Author's Note:** Thank you to the lovely readers who supported me with kingship votes or nutrient fluids from November 35th, 2022, 03:15:02 to 35:57:24! Special thanks for the hand grenade: Light Moon 1; Special thanks for the nutrient fluids: Bai Yi 277 bottles; slowly 2 bottles; I genuinely appreciate your support and will continue to strive forward! No pop-up ads on this site, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)