Dragon Tamer

Chapter 669: Chapter 671: Leisure Forces Surrounding the City

…

Having left the Dark Vortex, Zhu Minglang, Nan Lingsha, and Mingji appeared at another vortex near the Westland.

They headed east, but as soon as they arrived at Qi Xia, they doubted whether they had taken the wrong path.

The former Qi Xia, though also rugged and undulating, was not as vast and magnificent or as strangely formed as what they saw this time.

The continuous mountains and gorges were distributed in an exaggerated manner, as if they belonged to two entirely different worlds — either towering into the clouds or plunging into unfathomable depths!

The Heavenly Slaughter Dragon flew over Qi Xia, and from the depths of the gorges, they could occasionally hear strange, low growls with deep hostility, as if any being of the Heavenly Slaughter Dragon’s level that dared to approach their territory would be torn to shreds!

Zhu Minglang also sensed an extremely terrifying aura, not just from the creatures of the night, but as if the beings that inhabited Qi Xia had become fierce and powerful overnight!

The whole Qi Xia gave off a sense of extreme danger, now no less than some of the treacherous mountains and rivers that Zhu Minglang had crossed in the Tianshu God Domain’s Four Wastelands!

Past Qi Xia and onto the vast plains of Li Chuan, colossal and strong figures could be seen wandering the boundless wilderness from time to time.

Before long, Zhu Minglang saw the Li Chuan river system, which had suddenly widened by tenfold; even at its narrowest, it was comparable to a grand canal.

Zhu Minglang instinctively looked towards the farthest north of the plain, and through the night fog, he could vaguely see an ethereal, distant silhouette, but for some reason, this silhouette climbed up to the sky, reaching straight for the heavens!

That was the North Utmost Ridge…

But it now stood like a majestic Sky Gate, towering between heaven and earth!

Having only left for half a night, the entire Li Chuan had changed. Several times, Zhu Minglang doubted whether the Dark Vortex he had passed through had taken him to a different realm, because everything here looked like a wild and primeval different territory — a breathtaking and robust landscape from millions of years ago.

They returned to the Ancestral Dragon City-State.

The Ancestral Dragon City-State was brightly lit, its lights standing out even more under the desolate and mysterious colors of the night, conveying a sense of tranquility and nobleness. If one looked carefully, they would notice that the gray-white State Wall shone like liuli jade, its gentle glow melding with the lights of countless homes, yet completely isolated from the darkness.

Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but at that moment, Zhu Minglang truly felt the serenity and uniqueness of the Ancestral Dragon City-State, as if it were really blessed by the gods.

In fact, they had passed several cities that night, where the residents spoke of suffering beyond words. The creatures of the dark were unlike anything they had ever seen, and they had no idea how to defend against them, nor did they know how long they would survive in a city without any divine protection.

The rare tranquility of the Ancestral Dragon City-State seemed no different from usual times, but amidst the world’s drastic transformation, it was immeasurably precious.

…

Back at his residence, Zhu Minglang heard the Stove Dragon that Fang Niannian had bought snoring in the yard.

Zhu Minglang was about to rest when someone’s footsteps approached the door.

“Why aren’t you asleep at this late hour?” Zhu Minglang asked.

In this house, only he and Little Food Manager Fang Niannian lived, so the person who came could only be Fang Niannian.

“I’ve heard many things, about God Countries, God Armies, God Clans, they are flooding in from different places, they’re going to slaughter us like beasts…” Fang Niannian’s voice revealed a hint of worry and fear from behind the door.

Zhu Minglang had already taken off his boots, but with resignation, he put them back on.

Opening the door, he saw the girl in a big cotton coat, looking bulky, which reminded Zhu Minglang of the dream he had in the Sparrow Wolf Divine City. In that dream, Fang Niannian was quite helpful, finding the Midnight Dream Demon, even though it was just a dream.

“Do you still remember the wish I made?” Zhu Minglang glanced at Fang Niannian, sensing that she must have just woken from a nightmare, appearing uneasy and scared.

Indeed, many citizens of the Ancestral Dragon City-State were feeling the same. They did not know their fate and felt like tiny leaves fallen into water, helplessly drifting with the current.

“A prosperous nation and safe citizens?” Fang Niannian subconsciously repeated Zhu Minglang’s wish.

There was so much unease and fear, not only in the Ancestral Dragon City-State but in the entire Supreme Court as well.

Fang Niannian, unlike most cultivators, was closer to ordinary people. She, like everyone else, felt as if the sky was about to collapse, with not a shred of security.

“The truth is, I wasn’t making a wish to anyone in particular, I was just telling myself that there’s a very peaceful city here, with a bunch of interesting people, and I want them all to be safe. Rather than making unreliable wishes to some god knows which god receiving the lamps, I trust myself more. After all, as long as it’s something my heart desires, I will do everything in my power to achieve it,” Zhu Minglang said.

In Zhu Minglang’s philosophy, making a wish wasn’t about leaning back with open hands after it’s made, waiting for it to come true, but about relentlessly pursuing that wish oneself.

Although the wish Zhu Minglang wrote down at that time wasn’t “a prosperous nation and safe citizens,” he had already harbored that hope in his heart.

Fang Niannian, just awakened from a nightmare, was a bit confused, and Zhu Minglang’s words made her daze even more.

“Do you think I or an elusive, unknown god is more reliable?” Zhu Minglang continued to ask.

“I don’t know, are gods really that powerful?” Fang Niannian said.

“In any case, just manage everyone’s meals well. With me and your sisters here, Ancestral Dragon City will only become more prosperous. Every year, there will be your favorite Lantern Festival,” Zhu Minglang said.

“Mm, mm.”

“After tonight, Li Chuan will undergo earthshaking changes. Pay close attention to the spiritual objects in the spirit gatherer farmers’ hands; there might be treasures among them,” Zhu Minglang said.

“Leave that to me. As long as the sky doesn’t fall, I can guarantee we’ll procure good stuff. Right, I bought this thing from an old mountaineer a few days ago. It looks a lot like Little White’s usual snacks,” Fang Niannian pulled it out from her thick cotton coat.

“Moon Glass Stone!” Zhu Minglang’s eyes widened.

Wasn’t this what Mi Zhongyun and the others were painstakingly trying to collect as tribute?

Fang Niannian actually bought it directly from someone!

“The old mountaineer sold it for a high price, but I gritted my teeth and bought it all. There’s still a small box in the house. I feel like it’s something Bai Qi would eat, but I don’t know if I bought the wrong thing,” Fang Niannian said.

“You didn’t buy the wrong thing. It’s Liuli Stone. Buy as much as you can find; it’s the treasure I was talking about… Pay extra attention, see if you can find this type of Liuli Jade. If it’s Liuli Jade, don’t even frown, just buy it all!” Zhu Minglang said.

“Then I’ll have all of next month’s dragon food reserves ready!” Fang Niannian’s face lit up with a smile.

“I have some Holy Spirits’ Soul Beads. You go sell them in the market later to replenish our funds,” Zhu Minglang said.

“Roger that!”

With a full reserve of dragon food, there’s no worry about the dragon pets going hungry even if one takes a trip outside.

After the Time Wave passes, many Heavenly Essence and Earthly Splendor will be born, and the quality of the dragon food will likely improve by more than just one grade. All Dragon Shepherds’ cultivation bases will grow rapidly too!!

…

The day-to-night transition in Ancestral Dragon City-State wasn’t subject to drastic changes; as long as one hid within the city-state, its citizens were safe and sound.

Dawn’s light spilled over, and Zhu Minglang opened his eyes. He knew that today, many of the loose forces and Lower God Organizations from the Tianshu God Domain had probably arrived at Li Chuan, so today would be another day of cruel and relentless fighting. There was no room for negligence, or the Ancestral Dragon City could be crushed by this torrent!

Indeed, before noon, countless groups of various sizes appeared one after another on the Li Chuan Plain.

To Zhu Minglang’s surprise, the loose forces heading to Ancestral Dragon City from the Tianshu God Domain were exceedingly united. It was as if they were prepared for a fight to tear a piece of flesh from the Lower God Organization, and even upon seeing the Divine Oracle Flag planted on the Li Chuan Plain, they still advanced.

For a moment, Ancestral Dragon City was besieged by many Tianshu cultivators. Zhu Minglang stood atop the city wall, scanning the horizon, and could see even more people gathering in this direction.

“What’s going on? Why have they all suddenly flocked to Ancestral Dragon City? How could these loose forces seem like they’ve been organized together…?” Mi Zhongyun said, utterly perplexed.

The Ancestral Dragon City-State already had their Xuange Divine Country’s banner flying.

Could it be they were provoking the might of the God Country?

“Someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes, using these loose forces,” Qi Huan said.

Zhu Minglang frowned.

It seemed that the true forces from Tianshu wishing to take Ancestral Dragon City were not few in number. He had initially thought that after dealing with the Ming God Army, the enemies Ancestral Dragon City-State would face would decrease. Yet he hadn’t foreseen that in just one night, swarms of Tianshu cultivators would come pouring in!

“It’s probably because the city’s divine protection has been revealed to the outside world,” Mi Rong said.

A city unafraid of darkness is no less significant than any Divine City or Divine Mountain graced by the presence of major gods. To secure a foothold here, the Tianshu cultivators charged toward it like crazed warriors!

“What do we do now?” The members of the Xuange Divine Country were somewhat at a loss, facing such an enormous group.

The loose forces were actually the main force of this invasion into the Supreme Court’s lower realm, while the Lower God Organizations merely had a certain level of prestige, keeping the loose forces somewhat in check. In terms of numbers and strength, the united loose forces far exceeded any Lower God Organization.

“We have the Divine Oracle Flag. Humph, I knew these mortals wouldn’t back off obediently. It’s time to teach them a lesson, to let them understand the difference between God’s people and mortals!” Mi Zhongyun viewed the loose forces with a hint of disdain.

This time, Zhu Minglang chose to step back a bit. He couldn’t always be at the forefront of battle.

The Xuange Divine Country should show their might as a God Country!