"I am the Eldest, leader of the Eternal Dragon clan. Outsiders, why do you trespass on the Green Leaf Village's Holy Land? Depending on your answer, your life might end now." The Eldest didn't beat around the bush, his Monster Core unleashing terrifying pressure upon Xinzi's group.
Alongside all other Liberation Temple people, our monk's eyes rose to meet the Eternal Dragons, not fazed in the slightest. Needless to say, after taking control of the villagers, Xinzi did his homework, learning about the various factions of Green Leaf Village.
To get to the Spring of Eternal Youth, to get to the Golden Immortal Hall and rob the relic that'd enable anyone, regardless of background to control the non-Celestial-Farm part of the village, one had to first go through the Eternal Dragon clan, a successful immortal bloodline created by Qiu Meng's avatars after countless trials and tribulations.
At first, Xinzi couldn't believe it. The development of an immortal bloodline was at a level of difficulty that approached the creation of Demon Nobles and Divine Spirits. Without upper realm knowledge, how did Qiu Meng succeed where so many others had failed.
Of course, the Life Tribulation that only Gods, Devils, Saints, and experts above the Great Principle could ignore, prevented any true immortality. But regardless, this was a marvelous achievement. And as Xinzi studied the Eternal Dragon Bloodline, his Bloodshifter Heart stirred, making his pulse quicken as his lips, tongue and teeth ached for that dragon blood.
"I'm here to save you from yourselves and put the Spring of Eternal Youth to use." Xinzi didn't conceal his plans.
"Save us from ourselves? A bold and asinine claim. What exactly does my noble clan need your assistance for?"
"You don't know? On the surface, your bloodline is a one-in-a-million years success. But truth be told, you're defective. Even an Ordained Beast such as you cannot take human form—that in itself isn't that big a deal. Human form is overrated anyway. But the older you get, the larger you become, and while the growth does make you stronger, it also makes your dragon blood prone to explosion." Xinzi paused, watching the Eldest's large slit eyes twitch at his words.
"Thankfully, since you've avoided conflict for 10,000 years, you've not had to trigger your bloodline or face the consequences of these defects. But I'd be surprised if a 10,000-year-old specimen like you failed to notice the bloodline issue. As if that wasn't enough, due to these defects, your cultivation speed is lower than the average True Dragon. External resources are also of no use to you." Unlike other mysterious beasts in Green Leaf Village, Qiu Meng's Golden-Haired Lord avatar gave Lianist Sutras to the Eternal Dragons, enabling them to get an Ordinance and cultivate past rank five. But 10,000 years afterward, the strongest still plateaued at the peak of rank-six Ordained Beast, unable to break through to rank seven.
Though Mysterious Beasts cultivated at a much slower pace than other species, some were exceptions to this rule, and starting with Ordained Beasts, it didn't apply any longer. The True Dragon clan had several bloodlines, but all started at rank-four Beast General, equipped with human forms, and cultivated much faster than the average beast.
The Eternal Dragons did start at rank four as well, but their cultivation speed was so low that, even with 10,000 years of cultivation, their best specimen couldn't cross three realms.
"Grrrrrrrrr!" Rattled by Xinzi's truths, hundreds of emerald dragons grumbled in frustration, their jaws opened wide, assaulting Xinzi's group with ear-splitting roars.
The earth cracked, trees burst into splinters, but Xin Zhong snapped his fingers, conjuring a barrier that prevented this destructive roar from affecting Xinzi's troops. The ease with which the former hegemon dismantled the Draconic Roars startled the Eldest, forcing him to give Xinzi's group a new appraisal.
"What are you roaring at me for? I didn't create you, nor am I trying to insult you. I'm stating facts that you all need to hear to make the best decision for your future. Why die for relics, men that only saw you as caliber muscle and experiment tools, when you can live in eternal bliss under the banner of My Humble Self?
Surrender to me and I will solve all of your bloodline issues—helping you to surpass the legendary creatures that you aspire to be," Xinzi said and stretched his hands out, reaching for the dragons.
"In life or death, the Eternal Dragon clan only serves the immortal founders. Since you dared to thirst for their relics, prepare to die!" The younger dragons snorted in response, rejecting him outright. The Eldest said nothing, but his eyes warned Xinzi of the battle he'd have to go through to obtain the Spring of Eternal Youth.
"Seems like they're hard-wired to protect Qiu Meng's legacy. How unfortunate. White-Winged Soldiers, protect our people. This is an opportunity for me to challenge the limits of my current body."
"As you command, Your Eminence!" The White-Winged Demons bowed at Xinzi, then joined their hands together, strengthening the barrier cast by Xin Zhong. Rising into the air, Xinzi walked out of the barrier. His momentum building with each step, our monk stared at the Eldest, ignoring the 360 other dragons flying by its side.
"You must have guessed it by now. In an all-out clash, you have no hope of defeating my subordinates. But, I will give you one opportunity to preserve your masters' legacy. You..." Xinzi clenched his fists, his hulking muscles bulked up, stretching his adamantine silk robe as his aura erupted in full force.
"Only have to defeat me." The tyrannical roar of a Solar Dragon shook the heavens and earth, dwarfing the 360 Eternal Dragons' momentum as, under their awe-struck gaze, a reptilian creature crafted from pure gold and white flames coiled Xinzi's body, expanding to over 300 meters to tower over all 360 dragons.
A blinding sun hovered above the Solar Dragon's horned head, blinding all reptiles.
"Isn't this? No...impossible! How could you be..." The Eldest couldn't finish his words.
Blood Energy, colossal Divine Power and Evil Qi masked by Xinzi's pulse as Spiritual Energy rolled out, powering every fiber of our monk's being with overwhelming destruction force.
