The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

The architectural style of the Dragon Ascension Platform was grand and imposing, a hallmark of the dragon clan's majestic and solemn aesthetic. However, the southern platform, named "Mu," was distinctly different. The surrounding structures exuded a mysterious and eerie aura, and even the environment was grim and chilling. Once lush and towering trees had been stripped bare, leaving behind sharp, twisted branches that resembled clawing specters.

A biting wind howled through the area, swirling around a lone purple figure.

Amidst the tornado of purple light stood the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, tall and imposing like an ancient pine. His dark purple robes seemed to merge with the void. His face was gaunt, his flesh nearly desiccated, giving the impression of someone on the brink of death.

Yet his eyes shone with a profound purple light, as though capable of piercing directly into one's soul.

He held a staff crafted from mysterious Purple Bone—the Purple Flame Demon Bone Staff. Wreathed in flickering purple flames, it radiated an aura capable of incinerating anything in existence. Each sweep of the staff unleashed a terrifying storm of purple fire.

He was altering the laws of heaven and earth—not for offense, but for a ritual.

Beneath the Mu Dragon Ascension Platform, a massive dragon skull rested on a meticulously constructed altar. The skull alone was nearly half the height of the platform, lying horizontally on the altar and towering over 800 meters tall.

On either side of the skull were two immense blue dragons, each over 5,000 meters long, chained to the altar and immobilized completely.

As the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable waved his staff, beams of blue light flowed from the bodies of the two lord-tier peak dragons into the dragon skull below.

A red-clad figure stood beneath the altar. His handsome yet sinister face gleamed with fiery red eyes, as though capable of igniting a person's soul.

This was the Red Bone Heavenly Venerable.

The sword in his hand, the Blood Bone Sword, glowed a deep crimson like freshly spilled blood and emanated an overwhelming aura of death.

With each wave of the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's staff, the Red Bone Heavenly Venerable would draw blood from the two lord-tier peak dragons, steadily bleeding them dry.

It wasn't long before the two dragons succumbed entirely.

Their flesh and souls were consumed in the ritual, merging with the colossal dragon skull.

"Bone One, Bone Two, bring two more," the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable croaked, his raspy voice issuing a command to the two elders nearby.

"Yes, Heavenly Venerable," replied Bone One and Bone Two.

These two were false first-rank cultivators. Their bodies lacked flesh and blood, consisting solely of skeletons animated by soul flames. Standing over ten meters tall, they were shrouded in black robes. Even their skeletal frames were not originally their own but had been refined from the bones of other powerful beings.

The character "Mu" in the Dragon Language signified summoning spirits, and the Mu Dragon Ascension Platform was rooted in the Netherworld's energy.

The two Heavenly Venerables were attempting to refine the massive dragon skull using this platform.

The skull belonged to a Grand Dragon King, excavated from an ancient burial site.

"Sixteen Heavenly Venerables collaborated to unearth the dragon's tomb and divide the remains of the Grand Dragon King, 'Wu.'"

"With the Purple Dragon Court's support, our Divine Sect claimed the dragon skull. If successfully refined, it will become at least a treasure-tier artifact!" the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable thought, his gaze brimming with greed as he looked at the dragon skull.

In the Dragon Court Ancient Land, treasure-tier dragon artifacts exhibited unparalleled power. Here, the laws of heaven and earth favored the dragons, and a Grand Dragon King's strength far exceeded that of a human first-rank cultivator. In the Royal City, they were even more formidable. If not for this disparity, human experts would have long since killed them and claimed their treasures, eliminating the need for tributes.

Treasure-tier dragon artifacts created by the dragon clan were inherently superior to those crafted by humans.

As for the Grand Dragon King, there was no human counterpart to compare against. Super first-rank humans simply couldn't enter this land.

Given this pattern, a living Grand Dragon King would undoubtedly surpass a super first-rank human in strength within this territory.

"This refinement plan has been in the works for a thousand years. If it succeeds in my hands, the next Divine Venerable will be chosen between me and him," the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable thought.

"If he doesn't fight me for it, fine. But if he dares—" The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable glanced at the red figure below, a flash of deeply hidden killing intent flickering in his eyes.

At that moment, Bone One and Bone Two, who had just left to capture live dragons for the ritual, hurriedly returned.

"Heavenly Venerable, a powerful intruder has entered the southern region of the Dragon Ascension Platform, approximately a thousand miles away. The ten lord-tier dragons and thirty-two city-lord-tier dragons stationed there are all dead."

"Even Elder Bone Thirteen has perished."

"What?" The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's brow furrowed deeply. "Which faction is responsible?"

"We have yet to ascertain," Bone One replied.

The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable rotated his staff, initiating a divination. As a first-rank Destiny Palace cultivator, he was proficient in such methods.

However, as the staff spun, one of the skulls adorning it emitted a golden light, signaling a backlash.

"There's a Destiny Palace cultivator within our territory. They aren't part of the alliance," he muttered. "That means they must be from the Great Zhou."

Despite receiving limited information, he could infer the intruder's identity with a high degree of certainty.

"Bone One, Bone Two, take a squad of lord-tier dragons and investigate."

"If they can be killed, kill them. If not, drive them toward the eastern, western, or northern zones," the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable ordered.

Uncertain of the intruder's strength, he decided to first test the waters.

"Yes, Heavenly Venerable," Bone One and Bone Two replied, swiftly executing the command.

"A first-rank cultivator from the Great Zhou," the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable muttered, gazing into the distance with a hint of trepidation.

He had previously clashed with Great Zhou experts during the Southern Barbarian War, where the Great Zhou forces had pushed deep into the Yin Nether Mountains, killing many experts from the Purple Dragon Court.

Although the rebellion of King Liang had slightly tarnished the Great Zhou's reputation, he remained acutely aware of their power.

"The alliance's main battlefield is on the Infernal Plains. The Dragon Ascension Platform isn't a primary objective. Driving them off is sufficient. Let the other three factions handle them."

"So long as they don't provoke me, I'll turn a blind eye. Refining the Grand Dragon King's skull takes precedence."

A thousand miles away, on the Dragon Emperor Ascension Platform, the once pitch-black stone had turned a dazzling gold.

Each ancient dragon rune etched into the stone radiated the power of laws.

The dark clouds above had transformed into auspicious golden clouds, and in the eastern section of the platform, an enormous statue of a Dragon Emperor rose.

The golden statue radiated a majestic brilliance, its head held high with eyes that sparkled like stars, exuding an overwhelming sense of authority and dominance. The dragon scales overlapped intricately, containing the mysteries of space and time.

Meanwhile, the fire used for the ritual had visibly diminished, as though drained.

"Activating this thing is no easy task," Zhao Xing remarked, feeling utterly drained.

The Dragon Emperor Codex, in its complete form, was a peerless treasure. Even the fragment in his possession was a treasure-tier artifact of immense power.

Despite having reached the Sixth Transformation of the Hou Transformation, he found it insufficient for the task.

"I need to recover!" Zhao Xing exclaimed, grabbing two bottles from the ground and greedily absorbing the true blood stored within.

The blood, originally intended to aid his breakthrough to the Seventh Transformation, was now being consumed to sustain the ritual.

Without it, he feared he'd be reduced to a dried husk—a mere "dragon jerky."

"Akulama, Land of Sotú—."

"Ancestral Dragon Codex, Divine Blessings of the Hidden Treasury—."

With the ritual chant in the Dragon Emperor's language, Zhao Xing continued to recite the incantation for unsealing.

Thanks to Shi Wenxuan's guidance and the extensive records available in the Grand Dream Academy, Zhao Xing's unsealing speed was impressively efficient.

However, the enemies arrived even faster.

Half a quarter-hour into the ritual:

Swish, swish~

Bone One and Bone Two, aboard a bone-white warship, arrived at the outskirts of the Dragon Emperor's Ascension Platform. They were accompanied by ten elders at the Fortune Realm and fifty dragon lords.

"What, this is—?"

Bone One and Bone Two were stunned.

"Is this the manifestation of Dragon Emperor Xiee?"

"This Ascension Platform has always been obscure and unremarkable. Why is Dragon Emperor Xiee's manifestation suddenly appearing here?"

"Bone One, are you sure you're not mistaken—"

"How could I be! Look at them!" Bone One pointed at the dragon lords surrounding the warship.

Previously, these lords obeyed the Dragon King's Command Standard mounted on the warship—a massive banner towering a hundred meters. With its commanding authority, Bone One and Bone Two could control these dragon lords.

But now, the lords grew restless, howling toward the Ascension Platform even before receiving any orders.

"Argh~~"

"Roar!!"

Fifty dragon lords collectively prostrated themselves toward the Dragon Emperor's manifestation.

"This is truly Dragon Emperor Xiee! Otherwise, such a scene would be impossible!"

"Could it be that the strong cultivators of Great Zhou are conducting a ritual to honor the Dragon Emperor?"

"Advance!"

Bone One swung the massive dragon-bone staff in his hand, striking the Dragon King's Command Standard at the warship's bow.

The staff hit a specific point, calming the dragons momentarily.

However, commanding them to attack the Dragon Emperor's Ascension Platform proved futile.

"We'll have to do it ourselves!"

Bone One and Bone Two signaled two revered elders and then proceeded with ten second-class elders, advancing toward the platform.

Buzz~

When they approached within twenty li of the Ascension Platform, a formation barrier appeared before them.

"The Boundary Stele Formation of Great Zhou? Child's play!"

Bone One sneered. If this ninth-rank Boundary Stele Formation were situated within Great Zhou's territory, it might have posed a threat. But here, it was no match for them.

"Dragon King Bone Spikes, go!"

Bone One's black robe tore apart, revealing his skeletal battle form. Nine bone spikes protruded from his spine, the shortest three meters long and the longest five meters.

Under his control, three bone spikes detached and shot forward, piercing the barrier.

Pfft, pfft, pfft!

Each spike embedded itself into the barrier, resembling seeds planted into its surface.

The spikes began to absorb the barrier's power through the tiny apertures on their surface.

"Break!"

With Bone One's gestures, the three bone spikes formed a triangular gap in the barrier.

Ten elders of the Fortune Realm squeezed through, followed closely by Bone One and Bone Two.

"The first barrier is breached," reported the King Shenluo, standing by the dragon warship.

"Ten second-class elders and two first-class ones. They've brought Dragon King Bone Spikes."

"That's all the forces they've deployed?"

Jiang Chuan, Xiao Huang, Ye Yukong, Tong Jin, and Ji Mengjun exchanged puzzled glances.

According to Bone Thirteen's intelligence, the Bone Sect possessed four first-class elders, sixteen second-class elders, and over a hundred dragon lords.

Of course, Bone Thirteen was unaware of the ongoing refinement of the Dragon King's skull.

Though they didn't fully understand the discrepancy, the fight was inevitable.

Whistle~

Xiao Huang's flute sounded, signaling the battle. Among the six of them, only he stayed behind while the remaining five flew out to confront the enemies.

As they left the dragon warship, the figures of Tong Jin, Ye Yukong, King Shenluo, and Jiang Chuan warped and ultimately disappeared.

"Great sounds are silent; great forms are invisible!"

Using the Dao of Great Sound, Xiao Huang distorted the rules of heaven and earth, concealing his four companions entirely. This supreme invisibility technique hid not just physical traces but also their energy, true essence, and even Dao fluctuations.

Of course, Ji Mengjun didn't require such concealment.

Her battle dance techniques conflicted with this invisibility technique, requiring her presence to be seen.

Zhao Xing's avatar observed as the four figures vanished.

"Second-class Fortune Realm cultivators can twist the rules of heaven and earth. I can barely comprehend the changes."

"As for first-class Destiny Palace cultivators, their ability to alter the rules is beyond my understanding."

"Without mastering the Dragon Emperor Codex, I can't participate in this level of combat."

"But it doesn't matter. Once I master the Codex, the situation will be entirely different."

"Right now, during the unsealing process to activate the Dragon Emperor's Ascension Platform, the dragon lords won't attack."

"Once I master the Codex, I'll hold authority higher than even a Dragon King!" Zhao Xing glanced up briefly before lowering his head to continue the ritual.

The Ancient Dragon Grounds belonged to the dragons. Here, the rules of heaven and earth favored them.

It was all about dragon authority—not human martial prowess.

Everyone knew that Dragon King Yin Xiu had countless treasures. Yin Li likely possessed just as many. Dragon Kings corresponded to the first class, yet even the King's City of Gu Ting, filled with first-class cultivators, wouldn't dare rob them, opting instead to pay tribute and trade according to protocol.

The reason was simple—they couldn't win.

If brute force were sufficient, the Ancient Dragon Grounds would have long been turned into a human playground. There'd be no need to study the Dragon Language; conquest would have sufficed.

As the battle raged outside the Ascension Platform, Zhao Xing entered the final stage of the ritual.

Thanks to his blood offerings and the techniques learned from Grand Dream Academy, Zhao Xing had reduced the unsealing time to one and a half quarters of an hour.

The Zigu Sovereign would need time to send reinforcements after learning of the ritual, as the Ascension Platform represented a significant location for humans.

Crack~

The final fragment of the carved shell on the Dragon Emperor's Ascension Platform broke apart!

Zhao Xing's expression shifted; he ceased chanting the incantation, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He quickly stepped forward, descending to the center of the platform.

"Finally! I've spent half my blood, but the unsealing is complete!"

At this moment, the true form of the codex was finally revealed.

Nine five-clawed true dragons circled a golden ancient book, ten meters long and three meters wide.

"Just possessing it ensures I won't be attacked, but if I want to truly use its power and gain the codex's blessing, I must at least open it and gain preliminary mastery!"

"Roar!"

Zhao Xing opened his mouth wide and swallowed the codex in one gulp.

Boom!

As he swallowed the codex, a tremendous weight bore down, causing him to crash heavily to the ground.

The artifact's weight felt as if he had consumed the entire heavens and earth!

"Argh~"

A majestic and Ancestral Dragon roar echoed from within his body.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Zhao Xing's body began to radiate waves of golden light. The fiery red scales and aura on his body were instantly transformed into a radiant gold hue.

From within his stomach, particles of golden light emitted by the codex washed over Zhao Xing's body like an explosive torrent.

"This is a test of bloodline purity!"

"The Dragon Emperor Codex is undeniably the most powerful artifact of the post-Dragon Court era. Even fragments of it cannot fall into the hands of other races!"

"If it were any other matter, I might not be able to handle it. But this is about Hou Transformation! When it comes to bloodline, I am a true dragon!"

Other methods like Dharma Manifestations or Dragon Blood Golden Bodies couldn't compare to the purity of the Hou Transformation.

The essence of the Hou Transformation was that once the transformation reached a point of no return, the user became entirely a part of that race!

Even if killed in their Hou Transformed state, they would perish in the form of the corresponding race.

Generations of inheritance within the Ten Thousand Transformations Cave-Heaven preserved one of the purest dragon bloodlines.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The golden light surged repeatedly, its power penetrating deep into Zhao Xing's flesh and blood.

This wasn't just a test; it was an evolution!

Zhao Xing could feel his life structure progressing toward a more perfect dragon form!

The bottleneck from the sixth to the seventh transformation of the Hou Transformation began dissolving at an astonishing pace.

Simultaneously, his dragon scales started to molt, his flesh and blood tearing apart and rapidly regenerating.

"Argh~"

At one moment, Zhao Xing let out an earth-shaking roar.

The pressure from the codex sharply diminished as he soared into the air!

A shocking transformation occurred!

His Hou Transformation surged from the sixth transformation to the seventh, then to the eighth!

At this moment, Zhao Xing's Hou Transformation evolved from fire to the legendary wen transformation.

However, his form bore significant differences from the common depiction of a "Wen."

"Legend has it that the Wen has a dragon's head, a fish's body, and no claws, yet I've grown claws."

"The power of the codex has unlocked a new Hou Transformation method for me, though it's still incomplete." Zhao Xing gazed at his appearance quietly, awaiting the second trial.

"Woo~"

Within his sea of consciousness, the rules of heaven and earth descended, carrying the Dao of the Dragon Court, and collided with his Life Soul.

"Unite!"

Zhao Xing immediately merged his seven main souls into one, transforming it into a Seven-Star Life Soul. As the soul shifted, it took on a dragon shape.

The essence of the Seven-Star Life Soul, a foundation of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit, merged with the seven Fate Stars. Its external appearance was secondary, as soul-related secret techniques often led to transformations, whether into soul knives, soul swords, or soul spears.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The Life Soul trembled as if it would collapse. Zhao Xing felt as though he had returned to the early days of cultivating the Derivation of the Divine Spirit.

Back then, it was the suppression of the Secret Pattern Stars; now, it was the pressure of the Dragon Court's heavenly Dao.

Though Zhao Xing had only mastered the first level of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit, his spiritual power had reached 49,999 strands—a level surpassing many second-level practitioners of the technique. Coupled with his seven Fate Stars, he was fully capable of withstanding this trial of willpower.

Facing the test of the rules of heaven and the Dao of the Dragon Court, Zhao Xing's Life Soul repeatedly suffered damage yet continued to repair itself.

At the same time, his body underwent further changes, refining the new Hou Transformation method.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Zhao Xing's expression twisted in pain. Under the extreme pressure, he instinctively recalled the scene from the Primal Dragon Chant, depicting the Ancestral Dragon opening the heavens.

His body involuntarily roared out, "Huang!"

The sound was like a drumbeat, a heavy Dao resonance echoing through the heavens and earth, shattering the rules between them.

At that moment, Zhao Xing completed his ultimate transformation.

The Hou Transformation reached its pinnacle—the ninth transformation!

Buzz~

The Dragon Emperor Codex within him ceased all phenomena.

Zhao Xing looked down at his body.

"This has nothing to do with the Wen Transformation anymore. Dragon head, five claws, golden scales, and overwhelming bloodline power—this is an entirely different level. Even the fiery essence blood in my apertures has vanished."

"It resembles the form of the Ancestral Dragon!" Zhao Xing assessed himself.

The Ancestral Dragon was the first true dragon in existence. Zhao Xing's current form was nearly identical to it, though far smaller in size.

A trace of the Ancestral Dragon's divine essence radiated from his Life Soul.

This was the divine essence he had captured while practicing the Dragon Language Incantation in the Primal Dragon Opening the Heavens.

It was also the reason he passed the codex's second trial of the Life Soul.

"This new Hou Transformation shall be called Ancestral Dragon Transformation."

"Every dragon Hou Transformation ultimately seeks to emulate the first true dragon."

"And this method's ultimate goal is no different."

Indeed, it was the creation of a path that held the potential to directly point toward the ultimate!

Of course, it was only potential for now, as Zhao Xing had merely captured a fragment of the Ancestral Dragon's divine essence.

"Right now, it's at the pinnacle level. If it reaches the ultimate level, it will become the strongest Hou Transformation!"

Poof~

Zhao Xing's body rapidly shrank, returning to human form. In his hands appeared a golden codex, glowing with metallic luster and immense weight.

Buzz~

As soon as he touched it, clear images emerged in Zhao Xing's mind. One depicted a deep, dark seabed; another showed an object floating within a shadowy abyss.

"The locations of the other fragments."

"So, during this period, the codex in Yin Xiu's hands was already in a three-in-one state?"

Previously, Zhao Xing thought the Dragon Emperor Codex was divided into nine parts, and this was merely one-ninth.

But after mastering it, he realized this was one-third of the whole.

This understanding came from the new knowledge of two additional locations.

At this moment, Zhao Xing finally realized that the Dragon Court Codex had only been divided into three parts during this period.

"I see. No wonder the trials have intensified, and I've even managed to create the Ancestral Dragon Transformation," Zhao Xing muttered, closing his eyes to connect with his past life's memories.

"The reason I knew the Codex was in Yin Xiu's possession was because it had been used in my previous life."

"When Yin Xiu awoke and began his conquest, he relied on the Codex to ascend as the Grand Dragon King. He tried to enter the Abyssal Sea to reclaim the scattered fragments but ended up in a monumental battle with the Rebellious Dragon."

"It seems that during that time, the Dragon Court Codex was broken apart. Ultimately, he failed to unify the Dragon Court," Zhao Xing thought as he pieced together the historical context.

"The Abyssal Sea floor aligns with what I know. Back then, the deathly vision I saw on the Island of the Chosen was precisely that sea."

"The second location must be within the Heavenly Abyss Demon Clan's territory."

"The Dragon Emperor Xie split the Codex into three parts: one to suppress the Abyssal Sea, one for the Heavenly Abyss, and one to govern the realm."

"After his death, the governance section of the Codex changed hands many times before ending up with Yin Xiu."

Within an instant of realization, Zhao Xing grasped the entire situation.

"Hmph! Now that it's in my hands in this lifetime, there's no way it will be scattered again! Yin Xiu—" Zhao Xing smirked confidently, "—what could you know about dragons that surpasses me?"

Just as he reached this conclusion, Zhao Xing heard a faint whistling sound in the distance.

A single Dragon King Bone Spike tore through the void, heading straight for the Ascension Platform.

As it reached the platform's edge, a figure appeared, throwing a single punch at the incoming spike.

"Heaven and Earth Dragon Fist!"

Tong Jin's muscles rippled like coiled dragons, veins pulsating across his arms. His punch manifested the shadow of seven heavenly dragons.

Boom!

The Dragon King Bone Spike was sent flying, its destination unknown.

Without sparing another glance, Tong Jin's figure vanished.

By now, Zhao Xing could sense the battlefield's movements.

The trial he had completed had only just preceded the battle, which was still in its opening stages.

"One-rank battles against one-rank, two-rank against two-rank—the battlefield has been split accordingly."

"Xiao Huang's initial diversion was very effective. Among the ten second-rank members of the White Bone Sect, three were killed in the first exchange."

"Now, the numbers are evenly matched for first-rank combatants, but the White Bone Sect still has three more second-rank fighters."

Although first-rank combatants were even in number, their strength differed significantly.

Ji Mengjun was up against Bone One.

As Zhao Xing observed the battlefield, Bone One's soul had already been driven out of its battle body, which then self-destructed. The earlier spike had been launched from this self-destructed battle body.

Its aim was to disrupt the Ascension Ritual on the Dragon Emperor's Ascension Platform.

Tong Jin, battling Bone Two, had initially held the upper hand. However, due to Ji Mengjun's swift dispatch of Bone One, the ensuing explosion forced Tong Jin to retreat and protect Zhao Xing from the bone spike's interference.

Killing the enemy wasn't the main goal—protecting Zhao Xing was the priority.

In the second-rank battlefield, Ye Yikong fought three opponents, Jiang Chuan fought two, and King Shenluo handled another pair, with Xiao Huang providing support.

Initially, they held the advantage. However, Bone One's self-destruction altered the dynamic.

Bone spikes were now directed at the second-rank battlefield, attempting to create openings for the White Bone Sect's elders to retreat.

"Ancestral Dragon Transformation!"

Zhao Xing's combat instincts kicked in instantly. He dashed toward the southern section of the Ascension Platform.

Arriving beside Jiang Chuan, Zhao Xing's dragon body coiled tightly.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Three bone spikes struck Zhao Xing's scales. Despite their potency, rivaling ninth-rank divine weapons, the golden light of the Codex's protection shielded him.

The immense impact passed over his scales without leaving a single mark.

Zhao Xing had chosen to protect Jiang Chuan first because the man was a fragile sorcerer. Facing a first-rank self-destruction, even at a distance, posed a severe threat of injury if not precisely deflected.

As for King Shenluo, his mechanized armor provided ample protection against even multiple layers of penetrative strikes. Tong Jin was guarding Ye Yikong, while Ji Mengjun and Xiao Huang weren't immediate targets.

"Marquis Shenwei?" Jiang Chuan looked stunned as he stared at Zhao Xing's massive dragon form.

Zhao Xing ignored him, gliding swiftly to the edge of the barrier.

He spat out the golden Codex, flipping it open to a new page.

Then, a sonorous Dragon Language echoed through the heavens and earth.

"By the Dragon Court's decree and the true words of command, I, as the Grand Dragon King, strip you of your dragon identity!"

Golden glyphs flew out from the Codex, twisting and combining to form a colossal dragon. It surged toward the retreating Bone Two and the seven White Bone Sect elders.

With the Dragon Court Codex in hand, Zhao Xing could unleash the upper ninth-level Dragon Language Technique, the Dragon Emperor Glyphs.

Created by Dragon Emperor Xie, these glyphs functioned similarly to the Nine Great Incantations.

Mastering the Nine Great Incantations required proficiency in the Dragon Emperor Glyphs.

Holding the Dragon Court Codex and commanding these glyphs enabled Zhao Xing to enact the True Words of Command.

The first page of the governance chapter contained the Lineage Severance Decree.

This decree stripped dragonkin of their titles, identities, and bloodline power.

Zhao Xing had decided to test the Codex's capabilities using Bone Two and his accomplices as guinea pigs.

The results were astonishing. The golden glyphs transformed into a dragon and traversed the space to reach Bone Two and the seven elders.

Whoosh!

The dragon silhouette seemed to pass through all eight figures before vanishing into the Codex.

"What?!" Bone One was stunned. "The Dragon Marquis's protection has disappeared!"

This was akin to the Divine Court's official positions conferring fortune upon its officers. For dragonkin, titles carried similar effects—not as strong in augmentation but symbolizing their status and allowing kin recognition.

Bone One's Dragon Marquis title had been earned in the Grand Arena of the Guting Kingdom, granting him the role of Dragon Trainer Lord, higher than a regular lord but below a Dragon King. His responsibility was to train dragonkin war generals.

He had earned this role through merit, not favor or contribution.

Under normal circumstances, even a Dragon King with no special equipment couldn't revoke his title.

Yet now, it had been reclaimed!

If even Bone One, with such a prestigious title, was affected, the second-rank elders were even more astonished. Never had they encountered such authority before.

"The Dragon Court's decree? True words as command? Stripping identity with a single sentence? Such authority actually exists?!"

The eight were momentarily stunned, failing to notice that the fifty lord-level dragons around their warship were looking at them differently.

Having lost their dragon identities, they were now considered outsiders.

Entering the Dragon Court required dragon bloodlines and identity; otherwise, they were deemed heretical. Now, Zhao Xing had used the artifact to reclaim their powers.

To the lord-level dragons, Bone One and his group were no longer "kin."

"People of the Dragon Court, heed my command: eliminate these intruders!"

Eight golden glyphs flew out from the Codex again, transforming into five-clawed dragon shadows.

This time, however, the glyphs didn't return but turned blood-red, spiraling above the eight intruders' heads.

Slaughter Mandate!

"Roar!"

The fifty dragon lords, already prepared, charged towards Gu Yi and the seven elders without hesitation.

At this moment, the eight of them could no longer maintain their composure.

They had escaped back, hoping to use the dragon lords as a cover to flee.

But before they could even board the ship, their permissions had been revoked, and instead, they found themselves hunted by the dragon lords!

"No! Stop!"

"I am the Grand Lord of Thunder Dragons! You cannot attack me!"

"I order you—ugh!"

It was madness!

The fifty dragon lords were acting as if they had lost their minds.

A group of colossal dragons soared into the air, their massive bodies blotting out the sun.

Among them were some Ji Meng lords, wielding sharp weapons. Their dragon-patterned swords shimmered with a chilling light, mysterious runes flowing across the blades. Each swing seemed capable of slicing through the void. Others carried massive axes, the blades thick and ferocious, cleaving mountains and splitting the earth with each strike, leaving massive craters behind.

Some relied on their claws, tails, or dragon flames to attack.

The thunderous roar of battle was deafening, and the dragons' howls echoed like a sky filled with exploding thunder.

Flames, frost, and lightning intertwined on the battlefield, each attack carrying devastating, earth-shattering power.

One crimson dragon lord spewed raging flames from its mouth, the heat distorting the surrounding air. Everything in its path turned to scorched earth.

Two elders of the White Bone Sect didn't even have time to react before being incinerated into ash by the advanced flames.

At the second-rank level, dragon lords were practically invincible against humans, especially in their own territory. And with so many of them gathered, the disparity was overwhelming.

The blue dragon lord exhaled an icy breath, the sound of its freezing blast shrill and piercing. Mist coalesced, creating a freezing net that entangled its targets.

Even more astonishing, these dragon lords demonstrated seamless coordination in their battle formations.

The stark contrast of blazing fire and bone-chilling frost left Gu Er trembling with fear. Why hadn't he realized before how fearsome these dragon lords were in combat?

Why were they going all out now, only when fighting him?

The answer was simple—they had no choice. Zhao Xing had issued a death command.

In essence, if the dragons marked by the True Words Mandate failed to kill their designated targets, they themselves would face execution!

As a result, the dragon lords unleashed their full power, sparing no effort. They used their innate secret techniques and even sacrificial abilities that came at great personal cost!

Gu Er, a dragon trainer, would never encounter such an all-out assault in training. Who trains by risking their lives?

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The seven second-rank elders were instantly obliterated, their bodies reduced to a fine mist.

Under the ferocity of such attacks, even their life souls couldn't endure for long, obliterated by the twisted laws of this domain.

As for Gu Er, although a pseudo-first rank, he still had some degree of first-rank strength. He managed to hold out for ten breaths, even slaying a Thunder Dragon lord, before his skeletal frame was disassembled.

"Dragon King's Bone Spike!"

"Sacred Bone Soul Sacrifice!"

At the moment of his destruction, Gu Er triggered a self-detonation.

Golden marrow streaked through his skeletal frame, merging into his primordial soul and transforming into a radiant golden beam as he attempted to escape like Gu Yi had.

"Shriek!!"

Seven Requiem Dragons, their eyes glowing with gray dragon shadows, swiftly gave chase. The space ahead distorted, blocking Gu Er's path once again.

"Requiem Dragons can even initiate a 'Heavenly Soul Blood Sacrifice'—damned officials of the Great Zhou!"

Gu Er cursed Zhao Xing's authority with all his hatred.

"Heavenly Venerable, save—"

"Boom!"

Those were Gu Er's final words before death.

This pseudo-first rank was beaten to death by the "rebellious" dragon lords, unable to even escape as a soul, unlike Gu Yi.

When the dust settled, only 48 of the original 50 dragon lords remained.

"Roar~"

The 48 dragon lords obediently lined up, prostrating themselves before Zhao Xing.

Watching this scene, Ji Mengjun, Tong Jin, Jiang Chuan, Xiao Huang, Ye Yukong, and King Shenluo couldn't help but be stunned.

"Old Luo, my dragon language isn't great. Can you translate? What did Zhao Xing say just now, and what are they saying now?" Ye Yukong asked, turning to King Shenluo.

King Shenluo, equally dazed, replied, "Zhao Xing just declared himself the Great Dragon King and mentioned something about the 'Divine Court' and a 'True Mandate.' Then these dragon lords followed his orders and wiped out the White Bone Sect's people."

"Permission extends across borders?" Jiang Chuan muttered, unable to comprehend but visibly shaken. "These are dragon lords of the Guting Kingdom, right?"

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?" Xiao Huang fiddled with his flute, then turned to Ji Mengjun, the palace's deputy.

Tong Jin also looked to her. Among them, Ji Mengjun was the most knowledgeable in dragon language and culture, making her the most likely to understand the situation.

"Don't look at me," Ji Mengjun said, her eyes gleaming with layers of intrigue. "I don't understand either. But those dragon lords were indeed saluting the 'Great Dragon King.' King Shenluo's translation is accurate."

Unbeknownst to them, the Dragon Emperor Codex and dragon glyphs wouldn't emerge until the era of Emperor Wu, during the reign of Dragon King Yin Xiu. It was only during his campaign to unify nine nations that they became widely known.

For now, they couldn't comprehend the mandates or the rules they embodied, as they weren't true dragons themselves.

For humans to grasp and understand such things, they would need to reach the level of a Dragon King like Bai Yunwu.

Including Bai Yunwu, the Great Zhou only had four Dragon Kings.

"Whoosh~"

Zhao Xing reabsorbed the codex into his body and reverted to his human form.

The 48 dragon lords remained obedient, waiting in formation.

"Brother Zhao, what exactly is—"

"We'll talk on the way," Zhao Xing interrupted. "Let's leave here first."

The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable and Red Bone Heavenly Venerable were true first ranks. Anyone bearing the title of Heavenly Venerable was no ordinary opponent. Gu Yi and Gu Er couldn't compare to them at all.

Having just gained control of the codex, Zhao Xing wasn't yet confident enough to defeat the two Heavenly Venerables in a direct confrontation. It wasn't worth wasting time.

"Retrieve!" Zhao Xing commanded, collecting the enemy's dragon ship and the Dragon King's Battle Decree.

With a swift motion, everyone boarded the ship. Leading the 48 dragon lords, they departed the Dragon Ascension Platform.

The Dragon Ascension Platform was the White Bone Sect's territory.

After Zhao Xing and his companions left, Gu Yi's soul also returned.

"Hmm?" The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable frowned. "Gu Yi, what happened?"

"Heavenly Venerable, something major occurred!"

Gu Yi quickly recounted everything that had just transpired.

The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable and Red Bone Heavenly Venerable ascended together, listening intently.

Upon hearing that Gu Yi had been forced to self-destruct, they weren't particularly surprised.

Ji Mengjun, one of the six top dancers of the imperial palace, was unquestionably poised to become the leader of all dancers in the future.

For Gu Yi, being crushed was unsurprising—he was merely a pseudo-first rank.

But when Gu Yi recounted how Zhao Xing had descended from the Dragon Ascension Platform, transformed into a five-clawed true dragon, and inexplicably swayed the dragon lords of the Guting Kingdom to his side, the two Heavenly Venerables' expressions drastically changed.

"This... how is this possible? Could that truly be a Dragon Ascension Platform related to the Dragon Emperor Xiee? And did the Great Zhou obtain some kind of treasure?"

Faced with something they had never encountered, the two Heavenly Venerables were unwilling to believe it easily.

If such a treasure indeed existed, it could upend the current balance of power. The siege against the Great Zhou would become a joke!

"Quickly, to the Dragon Ascension Platform!" the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable and Red Bone Heavenly Venerable declared, abandoning their plans to refine the dragon skull bones.

Using their techniques, the two arrived at the Dragon Ascension Platform in a flash.

However, by the time they reached it, the platform had reverted to its ordinary, unimpressive state.

They ascended the platform and attempted every known method but found no clues.

The only thing they could confirm was that the dragon lords had indeed left with the Great Zhou's warriors.

"This alliance operation is doomed!" The Purple and Red Bone Heavenly Venerables exchanged a glance, realizing the implications.

"Heavenly Venerable, should we report this to the royal court and the other sects?" Gu Yi asked hesitantly.

"Only partially," the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable said after some thought.

"Agreed," the Red Bone Heavenly Venerable concurred.

To report "partially" meant issuing a warning to the royal court and allied forces: a powerhouse from the Great Zhou might have acquired some top-tier authority related to the Dragon Emperor.

However, they would withhold the fact that the dragon lords had been swayed to join the Great Zhou and remain silent on the battle details.

This way, they fulfilled their duty to warn others. And if the operation on the Fire Prison Plains failed? The blame wouldn't fall on the White Bone Sect.

After all, in the Purple Dragon Kingdom, the White Bone Sect was not a state religion but merely a top-tier sect. The state religions were dominated by divine sects. Among the other top-tier sects, there were the Four Saints Sect, Qingyang Sect, Guiyuan Sect, and Corpse Puppet Sect.

A failed siege would have significant consequences. While the Great Zhou was far away in Zhongzhou and might not directly compete with the White Bone Sect for resources, their "allies," being neighbors, were another matter. Weaker allies meant stronger leverage for the sect.

For these allies? A calm narrative sufficed. For internal matters, such as notifying the "True Lord of Seven Absolutes" stationed in the Guting Kingdom, the tone would need to be stern.

The Guting Kingdom, Northern Seas Territory, Dragon Emperor Yin Xiu's Slumbering Palace

"Respected Dragon Emperor Yin Xiu, here is my tribute..."

Prince Feng Xiu of the Great Snake Kingdom, in his serpent form, lay prostrate on the Dragon Crystal Path, performing a tribute ceremony. It had taken him an eternity, but he had finally reached his fourth exchange.

Everything had been proceeding smoothly until suddenly—

"Roar~!"

The dragon spirit of Dragon Emperor Yin Xiu abruptly left the Dragon Crystal Throne, soaring into the sky before vanishing entirely.

Prince Feng Xiu froze in place, utterly bewildered.

The offerings had been accepted, so why had Yin Xiu suddenly departed?

After waiting for a while, he noticed the Dragon Crystal Path and Throne begin to crumble.

Clearly, Yin Xiu had no intention of returning.

"Unbelievable! What kind of nonsense is this?" Prince Feng Xiu cursed loudly as he left the Northern Sea Earth Dragon Palace in frustration.

The Guting Kingdom, Yinli's Palace

Dragon Emperor Yin Xiu's dragon spirit suddenly appeared in the palace.

"Yinli, did you feel it?"

"Yes, Xiu."

A dragon spirit emerged from the throne, and the two dragon spirits began to circle each other midair.

"I sensed a summons from the Dragon Court, as if a new Dragon King has been born," Yinli said.

"Yinli, you're mistaken," Yin Xiu corrected. "It's not a new Dragon King—it's a power exceeding that of a Dragon King. Perhaps even surpassing the Grand Dragon King."

Yinli was visibly stunned. "Xiu, are you suggesting—?"

Yin Xiu nodded gravely. "Yes. As the inheritor of the Eastern Emperor's Glyphs, I can sense the power of the Dragon Emperor Glyphs. The Abyss Sea and Geavenly Abyss appear to be stirring as well."

"The Dragon Emperor Codex has emerged. Someone has mastered the codex."

"I can feel the connection with him."

Yinli fell silent, overwhelmed by the shocking news.

Unlike other Dragon Kings, Yin Xiu, as the inheritor of the Eastern Emperor's Glyphs, possessed superior talent and knowledge.

"I have waited many years for this moment."

"Yinli, I will awaken ahead of schedule and travel to the Dragon Court to follow his footsteps and rebuild the Dragon Court."

"Starting today, prepare for war. Above all, be ready to awaken the other ancient Dragon Kings."

Upon hearing his brother's instructions, Yinli's dragon spirit surged with excitement. "Xiu, I will begin preparations immediately."

Central Dragon Court, Wildlands

"What? It can summon Dragon Kings?" Ye Yukong exclaimed in astonishment. "What kind of divine artifact can do that?"

"The Dragon Emperor Codex," Zhao Xing replied with a smile. "You can think of it as the dragon equivalent of the Human Sovereign Sword, the National Seal, or the Rivers and Mountains Diagram."

"Hiss—"

Zhao Xing's explanation made everyone understand, but it also left them gasping in disbelief.

"So, does that mean you can rule the entire Ancient Dragon Domain?"

"It's not that exaggerated," Zhao Xing shook his head. "The Ancient Dragon Domain has deep foundations, and this artifact is only a part of it. I've merely obtained the equivalent of a 'National Seal' piece."

Though Zhao Xing downplayed it, this fragment was more than sufficient for the current stage.

Why only for now? Because during the small-scale tide in Emperor Wu's era, the Ancient Dragon Domain would also be affected, allowing the Ancient Dragon Kings (Grand Dragon Kings) to awaken. By then, fragmented pieces would no longer suffice.

But for now, it was more than enough.

A Dragon King with a divine artifact was an existence beyond first rank. Zhao Xing didn't need to awaken too many—just summoning two Dragon Kings wielding divine artifacts to assist would suffice to sweep away the other human forces.

Currently, no human forces—whether the Great Zhou or foreign enemies—possessed authority exceeding that of a Dragon King. Rare exceptions might involve temporarily inviting other Dragon Kings, but such cases were only invitations, not direct control.

Zhao Xing's plan after leaving the Dragon Ascension Platform was clear: head to the True Dragon King City's teleportation array and summon allies—not people, but dragons!

"Marquis Shenwei, which Dragon King do you plan to summon?" Ji Mengjun asked curiously.

The others also looked on with intrigue. They were just as fascinated by this unprecedented authority.

Zhao Xing was about to reveal his plans when he suddenly frowned.

"Looks like I won't need to spend time searching after all."

"Dragon King Yin Xiu has already arrived at the True Dragon King City."