Chapter Eleven: The Path Against the Dragon

The Eastern Domain borders the Nether Sea, but their meeting point stretches only a hundred miles; it is here, precisely at their intersection, that the sect was founded.

A river from the Nether Sea divides this region, its widest section spanning about thirty miles. The eastern part of the Wilderness God Continent, where it meets the Nether Sea, is adorned with mystical mountains and wondrous lakes.

Relying on unmatched power, the Founder seized this extraordinary land and became a legendary figure of the Wilderness God Continent for nearly ten thousand years.

Legend has it the Founder began as an outer disciple of a small sect, persecuted by fellow disciples and sent deep into the Nether Sea to seek cultivation materials. Through countless trials and brushes with death, fortune led him inexplicably to the legendary Dragon Island, the sacred ground of the dragon clan.

On Dragon Island, the dragons toyed with him, yet also gifted him rare treasures and materials for cultivation. Living long among them, he forged strong bonds and was eventually allowed to learn some of the dragons’ arts and martial techniques.

Here, he revealed his astonishing talent, mastering various dragon techniques swiftly—though the most supreme arts remained beyond his reach.

When he felt his strength sufficient, he left Dragon Island, but his abrupt departure enraged some dragons. A fierce battle ensued; despite his formidable power, he was defeated and gravely wounded by the dragon elders. The dragons, valuing loyalty above all, ultimately let him go, on the condition that he would never return nor disclose the island’s location to anyone.

He understood the dragons’ customs and made his vow. Even after ascending, he left not a trace of Dragon Island’s whereabouts.

Upon returning to the mainland, he reappeared at the junction of the Eastern Domain and the Nether Sea. Seeing the spiritual beauty of the land—an ideal place for cultivation—he sent word to all sects of the Eastern Domain: a thousand miles from the entrance to the Nether River belonged to him.

This audacious claim enraged the masses. Countless cultivators challenged him, but after a hundred battles, he remained undefeated. Tired of endless challengers, he confronted the largest sect in the Eastern Domain, Cloud Ascendant Dao Sect, shattered their mountain-protecting array, and defeated their supreme leader and seven elders in joint formation.

This battle shook the world. From then on, his name spread across the continent. Armed with the knowledge learned on Dragon Island, he quickly rose, his seven disciples each extraordinary, and from then on established a lasting foothold on the mainland.

Even after his ascension and more than eight thousand years, his legacy stands unrivaled in the Eastern Domain; none can challenge his authority.

For thousands of years, the might of his disciples has become legendary. Even now, disciples of Little Heavenly Palace—the so-called leader of the Wilderness God Continent—dread encountering his followers.

Xiao Cangtian had been flying with Covering Heaven for dozens of days. The White Dragon Dynasty lies at the westernmost edge of the Eastern Domain, near the Central Domain. Covering Heaven originally intended to visit old friends in the Central Domain, but ended up staying two years at the White Dragon Dynasty. Though he enjoyed the palace’s fine brews daily, worldly wine grew increasingly flavorless. Still, the time wasn’t wasted: he took in a disciple with extraordinary talent, though the boy seemed sly. All was well, except for the words the boy uttered after his apprenticeship ceremony—Covering Heaven wished he could slap him twice. What kind of remark was that, just sworn in as a disciple, already hoping for his master’s demise?

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Though Xiao Nuotian was already a cultivator at the Heroic Realm, he could only levitate, not truly fly; higher cultivation was needed for that. So his master carried him through the skies, the old man looking perpetually ragged, always exuding a pungent alcoholic scent, yet his power was remarkable. He had flown for days, drinking wine as he went, introducing Nuotian to the basics of cultivation and the sect’s structure.

Covering Heaven had five disciples: three men and two women—Cold Cloud, Nangong Xue, Yang Fantian, Meng Feiyun, and Eastern Linglong.

Each disciple possessed exceptional talent. Of course, Covering Heaven boasted a little about his prized pupil, claiming he had a slight edge over the others, especially considering Xiao Nuotian’s unparalleled dantian; Covering Heaven felt the past two years were worthwhile.

The sect was divided into four halls: Heavenly Dragon Hall, Divine Dragon Hall, Earth Dragon Hall, and Hidden Dragon Hall.

The four halls governed together: Heavenly Dragon Hall was managed by Covering Heaven’s elder brother, the White Dragon Supreme; Divine Dragon Hall belonged to Covering Heaven; Hidden Dragon Hall was overseen by Covering Heaven’s younger brother, Hidden Dragon. As for Earth Dragon Hall, it was the core of all disciples. Every ten years, a competition selected the next hall master.

This unique system cultivated disciples. In their youth, White Dragon Supreme, Covering Heaven, and Hidden Dragon had each led Earth Dragon Hall.

To become a hall master meant enjoying far greater cultivation resources than other disciples, from arts to rare treasures. But it also carried responsibilities: urging disciples to train and maintaining the sect’s prestige.

Upon hearing all this, Nuotian’s first impression was surprise: this shabby old man was actually a hall master? Divine Dragon Hall must be a den of beggars, he mused.

But he was now genuinely interested in the Earth Dragon Hall competition.

“Master, who’s the current hall master of Earth Dragon Hall?” Nuotian asked, eager to learn about his future opponent.

“The current master is my elder brother’s eldest disciple, Shangguan Feihong. Only thirty years old, he’s already reached the peak of the Fifth Stage of Martial Qi, surpassing most sect elders. He cultivates the supreme art ‘Blood Dragon Floating Clouds’ and, coupled with his formidable strength, has gained a great reputation across the Wilderness God Continent. As the Earth Dragon Hall master, he’s known by all as the Blood Dragon Hall Lord.”

“Thirty years old, peak Qi Stage!” Nuotian was astonished. In ordinary sects, reaching the Core Stage could make one an elder, a position of high status. First-rate sects required the Might Stage for elders; in top-tier sects like those now ruling the continent, only the Qi Stage could qualify. Cultivation was harder than ascending to the heavens; countless perished at the lower martial stages. A genius might reach Heroic Realm at nine, Soul Stage at fourteen, Core Stage at twenty, Might Stage at thirty, but beyond that, progress depended on fate.

Shangguan Feihong’s strength and status left Nuotian deeply shocked.

“Master, how long until the next Earth Dragon Hall competition?” Nuotian asked.

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“The last competition was eight years ago. Many senior disciples have withdrawn, and your elder brother had no opportunity. A pity—last time, Cloud lost by a single move,” Covering Heaven answered, not realizing his disciple’s intentions.

“Very well. I’ll fulfill my brother’s regret. This term, I’ll be the Earth Dragon Hall master,” Nuotian said confidently, raising his head.

“Confidence is good, but overconfidence leads to disaster,” Covering Heaven replied, speechless. “You’re so young, with modest cultivation—no matter how gifted you are, I can’t believe you’ll reach the Might Stage or higher in two years. Though the next contest won’t have experts like Cold Cloud or Shangguan Feihong, there are still formidable competitors, all at least at the Might Stage.”

“Don’t be too confident, little one. If you’d met me a few years earlier, you might have had a chance to become hall master, but now, it’s unlikely. This term, you’ll probably be defeated instantly. Next term, you might have a shot,” Covering Heaven said bluntly.

Nuotian didn’t argue. His destiny was his own to shape, especially his goals. With a goal comes drive, and for the next two years, his motivation was to claim the Earth Dragon Hall master’s seat. Wait another ten years, and the world would no longer be the same. Nuotian’s eyes burned with unprecedented longing; if he became hall master, he’d have the capital to vie for supremacy.

To reach the peak, one must first conquer the younger generation.

A vast river, its length unknown, stretched before the two. Torrential waters surged as if to sweep away all along its banks. Dozens of bends made the river perilous, nurturing countless beasts within—though not overly powerful, enough to threaten ordinary lives.

At the end of the bends, dozens of towering mountains rose abruptly, narrowing the river to a slender thread as it wound through the peaks. The first mountain soared a thousand feet, steep and formidable, its cliffs etched with three bold characters.

From afar, Nuotian could see the characters clearly. The closer he drew, the more extraordinary they seemed, exerting a powerful mental pressure. But Nuotian refused to yield; gritting his teeth, he focused his mind and resisted with all his strength. Soon, the pressure vanished.

He let out a long breath, wiping cold sweat from his brow. That had been truly harrowing.

Turning, he saw his master staring at him, dumbfounded.

“What’s wrong, Master?” Nuotian asked in confusion.

Covering Heaven replied, “You really are a monster!”