200 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 200: Closing the Net According to the system, each stroke made by the creator doesn't simply alter the characters and events it embellishes; instead, like a storm, it sweeps across the entire world, affecting places that aren't even mentioned. Thus, in the original story, as the strongest figure among the demon clan but assassinated by his own disciple, the nearly background character, Demon Emperor Li Chi, seems also to be intertwined with the mystery of the dragon treasure. Xiang Shi Yan lifted her head, her ink-black eyes looking up at the tall woman. To this woman, Xiang Shi Yan was hardly a distinguished guest; she hadn't even changed into her Demon Emperor attire. The edges of her thin black inner robe were wet, clinging to her calves, her long hair naturally hanging down her back. Having fully merged with her demon form in the 'Transformation' stage, Li Chi's residence was a deep pool. Sensing the fox demon's gaze, Li Chi also glanced down with interest. As their gazes met, Xiang Shi Yan detected little anger in her eyes, instead catching a whiff of something unusual and distinct. What she cared about was never that piece of dragon meat, nor even that black dragon. It seemed as long as she knew the dragon's existence was real, she felt satisfied. In the past, the various demon tribes fought independently until the Holy Sect melded them into one. Honestly, having lived among the demon tribe for so many years, Xiang Shi Yan couldn't quite pin down what the so-called "Holy Sect" was; it felt like an odd assortment cobbled together, unlike the temples and monasteries she knew. The chaotic end of the prehistoric era led to even ancient sects like the Tai Xu Sect leaving behind little record. The contemporary understanding was that the primordial beasts who once roamed the continent couldn't survive the weakening of spiritual energy and the consequent natural disasters, causing them to perish. In contrast, the human and modern demon races survived. Upon witnessing the moment when the practitioners of ancient times rose to fight against the Dragon King in Yin Soul Gorge, Xiang Shi Yan saw both humans and demons unite for their survival; the titanic beast, even in death, nourished the land, allowing it to bloom anew centuries later. With such understanding, Xiang Shi Yan found the demon race's reverence for a prehistoric dominator slightly ironic. Present-day demons revered dragons, and the Li clan's continued hold on the Demon Emperor's throne was due to their ability to transform into dragons. Yet, according to Li Chi's previous words, this very talent now hindered the development of their tribe. However, the carp before her clearly had little faith, sparking Xiang Shi Yan's curiosity towards Li Chi once more. "Your Majesty, how much do you know about the treasure?" she boldly inquired. A flash of red blurred past, and Xiang Shi Yan instinctively raised her left arm, a layer of oddly lustrous ice forming before her, blocking the crimson glow. Li Chi didn't hold back; the spiritual blade from her tail's scythe split the ground behind Xiang Shi Yan in two, leaving a deep trench. As the ice barrier crumbled, both remained motionless, though Du Ruo jumped in fright, half-drawn sword at the ready. Once the icy dust settled, Du Ruo noticed the ominous aura wasn't from the sudden strike of her master, but rather the black scales beneath Xiang Shi Yan's torn spiritual robe. "Not nearly as much as you," Li Chi coldly commented, watching Xiang Shi Yan cover the black scales on her left arm. The fierce aura faded as the scales retracted beneath Xiang Shi Yan's skin, leaving just a red mark on her forearm after the magician's blow. After a moment's pause, Du Ruo quietly shed her outer robe, draping it over Xiang Shi Yan's shoulders to conceal the exposed skin beneath her shredded spiritual attire. Though Du Ruo had always been skeptical about the existence of the treasure, feeling the dragon's oppressing aura brought not vindication of her master's past search, but a chilling fear—those treasures were forged from the dismemberment of an ancient dragon, steeped in blood and conspiracy. She even felt an unease towards Xiang Shi Yan, who so placidly wore such things on her body. "The Tai Xu Sect's conspiracy to slaughter the dragon and manufacture several treasures to dominate the cultivation world eventually led to these items scattering far and wide in just a few centuries. As far as I know, the Tai Xu Sect retained only two... and it seems now there's still some remains of the dragon's body left; who knows how much has been consumed over the years." Li Chi calmly stated, "If I'm not mistaken, the black scales on you were taken from Bai Jinghuan during the Qing Yuan City chaos, were they not? So, it seems, it was you who made the demon clan bear that false charge." "The Owl clan spies conspired with the Tai Xu Sect first; I merely seized the opportunity." Du Ruo, listening on the side, broke out in a cold sweat. Her master, who dominated the demon clan for ages with her capricious nature, commanded even Xiao Luan's utmost caution. Yet, here Xiang Shi Yan was, in the heart of the demon capital, daring to retort Li Chi so boldly, leaving Du Ruo startlingly anxious. Before the scrutinizing gaze of the Demon Emperor, Xiang Shi Yan calmly spoke, "My actions were solely for the harmony between our races, with no ulterior motives." Li Chi clearly seemed disappointed by her response, with an odd, playful look in his eyes. With a flick of his sleeve, he shook out a pair of intricately carved iron rings which landed before Du Ruo, producing a crisp sound: "Since Moonlight Lord has betrayed us first, I dare not use her anymore. For now, you'll handle her detention. As for your guilt of recommending her, we'll assess in due time." Clearly, these iron rings were magic tools meant to seal her spiritual power—but today, if she did not wear them... how could she leave this hall? Before returning to the demon capital, Xiang Shi Yan had mentally prepared herself. Compared to the unrest that He He might stir among the human territories, the demon clan, a ticking bomb, appeared much more daunting. Xiang Shi Yan glanced at Du Ruo, who picked up the rings, the snake demon appearing utterly disheveled, about to drown in her cold sweat, her pale and weary face tightly drawn. Du Ruo rarely spoke out of turn, but when quiet, the usually smiling woman's silence bore an oppressive feeling distinct from Hua Ye. Her light-colored eyes blinked at Xiang Shi Yan with their customary tranquility. Hesitant, Xiang Shi Yan obediently extended her hands. As the iron rings closed, scarlet light surged from the magical tool, forming a chain to bind Xiang Shi Yan's hands in front. As the light slowly receded, Li Chi had disappeared. Only after her master vanished without exploiting Xiang Shi Yan's surrender did Du Ruo finally breathe a sigh of relief. Shaking the chains on her hands, Xiang Shi Yan found herself yet again a prisoner. Li Chi's wariness about her connection with the black dragon prevented any rash actions against her, further proving that the Demon Emperor had no intent to ally with He He... so what was he planning? Casting a small spell to clear the sweat off her face, Du Ruo removed her usual delicate makeup, which gave her a slightly more fragile appearance. The snake demon looked at the woman before her; Xiang Shi Yan, now donning her outer robe, her lengthy hair entirely white and her tail gently dragging along the skirt. Yet, even if externally she appeared every inch a great demon, Du Ruo knew she remained unchanged from the celestial being she fortuitously encountered amidst the snow. Unfazed by the sealing of her spiritual energy, could Xiang Shi Yan have anticipated her current predicament? The fox demon's bright eyes looked at Du Ruo innocently, as if asking what to do next. Sighing in exasperation, Du Ruo replied with a hint of irritation, "To the dungeon!" Beneath the grand demon capital lies an expansive defensive formation, distinct from the formations humans excel at; demon constructions draw spiritual power from spirit stones, greedily absorbing all energy and thus rarely used unless in dire need, unlike Huaihai City where city practitioners powered it. The capital’s defenses lacked Huaihai City's fame, given their records show the city's defenses were never tested. In the original story, the damage caused by Qin Mo's sabotage marked the worst disaster ever in the demon capital, as apart from those who perished in the explosion, many died from having their spiritual energy utterly drained. Few prisons could hold powerful cultivators indefinitely, and the Demon Emperor's answer was constructing cells underground—idle prisoners were stacked away to be potentially used as kindling. Hearing Du Ruo's words, Xiang Shi Yan momentarily thought her end was near, the idea of escape flashing momentarily before she suppressed it. She recalled an old friend who had recently arrived at the capital, now likely imprisoned in the dungeon. Deep within the dungeon, closer to the underground cells, only one cell housed a person. A bedraggled man stared blankly at the damp walls, his sullied white ear twitching slightly. Turning his head, he saw two figures descending the steps. Scooting over, he tried to get a better view of the visitors. A young female cultivator with black scales assisted a shackled prisoner; the prisoner's white tail languidly dragged behind her, significantly larger than those of her kin. Instead of being placed in a cell, the guards allowed her to crouch before the man, bringing her to eye level with him. In the filthy cell, the man's bushy tail instinctively jerked back, hiding behind him. Beyond the spiritual barrier that promised intense pain upon contact, he stared in dumbfounded amazement at the all-too-familiar face before him. Xiang Shi Yan squatted in front of him, quietly observing this northern rebel leader, waiting for Du Guan Yan to speak first. Despite being held in such disarray, disheveled and shabby, Du Guan Yan still bore the remnants of his reputation as the most handsome man among the demon clan. His features seemed to be chiseled from the same mold as Xiang Shi Yan's, yet compared to his somewhat spirited daughter, he appeared overly delicate. The man awaiting his death in silence within the prison finally spoke, “...Are you Huai Lei’s daughter?” His bitter voice still sounded youthful—indeed, how could a cultivator in the 'Great Ascension' stage age? Du Guan Yan had always been that scholarly figure at the mask vendor’s stall, only Xiang Shi Yan's unfortunate mortal mother had been caught by time’s grasp. “I thought you’d need a moment to recall—you have quite a few children, right?” Xiang Shi Yan retorted mockingly. The string of events over the past few months, from being repeatedly denied access to the Holy Sovereign, to being incited by a stranger to rebel—all at once connected in Du Guan Yan’s mind. The light in his beautiful peach blossom eyes slowly dimmed. The person in front of him, though resembling him more in appearance, reminded him of that once vivacious noblewoman. Du Guan Yan let out a sorrowful laugh—perhaps even the defeat of the northern tribes was part of her plan. “You wish to avenge your mother. If it's my life you want, I’ll give it to you, but why involve so many others?” “To incite a northern uprising, one must first dispatch the Wolf Fang Army to intimidate the borders. Previously, during the northern territory disputes, the Wolf King led his tribe to capture two cities of the Snow Bears, committing arson and looting, causing nearly ten thousand deaths. A mere six years ago, it seems few have changed from those dressed for battle then. Meanwhile, from the Tiger Clan, Su Bo Yuan's lieutenants repeatedly violated the borders, massacring two major towns seventeen years ago with casualties reaching tens of thousands. The battles ended swiftly, with no civilians involved in fort sieges, and these two armies lost half their forces in head-on clashes—isn’t this just evil punishing evil?” Xiang Shi Yan spoke as if delivering a casual joke, a cold, mocking smile twisting her face. Now stripped of everything and tossed into the dungeon to die, Du Guan Yan looked paler, more pitiable than even Xiang Shi Yan. If he held any hope of escape before, Xiang Shi Yan's words banished it; he realized her mind was as sharp as a knife, his escape was impossible. “Besides, you weren’t my primary target.” Xiang Shi Yan's spiritual energy was bound, preventing her from communicating soundlessly, yet her quiet words stunned the two listening. Du Ruo, who had brought Xiang Shi Yan to the dungeon without notifying the Demon Emperor, originally stood by disinterested in their conversation. Yet upon hearing this, her ears perked, curiosity fully captured. Their association began when Xiang Shi Yan chased her father across thousands of miles, accidentally saving Du Ruo at the snow-covered mansion. The serpent demon instinctively darted her tongue, eager for Xiang Shi Yan’s next words. What awaited them, however, was silence; Du Ruo cautiously turned her head only to find Du Guan Yan staring blankly at Xiang Shi Yan for a moment, then suddenly, in a frenzy, he charged at the transparent spiritual barrier. The chains on his hands triggered formation instantly, scorching his wrists and ankles with loud, sizzling sounds and white smoke. Voiceless, enchanted restraints covered his mouth with a spirit-patterned cloth, inhibiting even his word magic. The previously weak-seeming man now glared ferociously, lunging at the spiritual wall with complete disregard, the barriers carving scars upon his flesh. Yet he seemed oblivious to the pain, growling ferociously at Xiang Shi Yan. What? Du Ruo wrinkled her nose; before she could hear more, how had their morality tug-of-war escalated so quickly? Yet with the prisoner causing chaos, her responsibility was to substitute the guards she sent away. She picked up a restraining rod and jabbed Du Guan Yan's leg, “Quiet down.” Even though his powers were heavily constrained, the complete 'Great Ascension' period demon still intimidated. He seemed to be saying something and shot a vicious glare at his accomplice. Initially, Du Guan Yan hadn't identified the young black-scaled woman, but upon closer inspection, he realized she was one of the Demon Emperor’s disciples, rumored to be a half-blood born of his elder brother and a dancing girl. He slumped, energy depleted, as Xiang Shi Yan stood, casting a pitiful glance at her biological father, then smiled as she signaled Du Ruo to leave the dungeon with her. Author's Note: The plotline related to the former Demon Emperor was mentioned back in Chapter 47; consider it a long-buried foreshadowing. I’m not planning on explaining it explicitly, so those interested can speculate! To the current master, dealing with a rubbish father pales in importance to confronting the boss! Due to illness and finals coinciding, I've barely updated for about a month and a half (though on the 10th, I was indeed free, I spent five days farming in Stardew Valley... so…). I apologize for the delay in updates QAQ. I’ll strive to update faster in hopes of concluding this story by March. For me, this book feels quite lengthy. My interests have shifted again and again while writing; I haven’t decided what to tackle in my next book yet, but I want to write something lighter, some sweet novellas. Any themes you're interested in seeing? PS: I’ve always wanted to write Western fantasy, but I worry it might be too niche. Thank you to the little angels who cast grenades or showered me with nutrient solution between 2022-12-15 35:13:10 and 2035-01-15 13:05:27~ Thanks to the angels who cast grenades: 想和光熙大做特做 1; Thanks to the angels who nourished me with nutrients: 圓焰貼貼 327 bottles; 所有的 author 大大都是天 155 bottles; 光子糾纏不清 124 bottles; 火鍋燙雞蛋 50 bottles; 二三 31 bottles; 鶴群管理員 30 bottles; 貓刺 10 bottles; 跟富婆鬼混, Fate, 大風雪 5 bottles; 陸璟臣 1 bottle; Thank you all for your support! I will continue to work hard!