Chapter 667 The war begins
As Zi Yan unleashed her cultivation aura without reservation, the oppressive force crashed down like a collapsing mountain, carrying an unparalleled crushing power as it enveloped the three Dragon Kings and the allied forces of the three islands behind them.
The Mishima group felt as if they had been struck hard in the chest by an invisible giant hammer, their breathing suddenly stopped, and even the flow of their fighting spirit became extremely sluggish.
Even the three leading dragon kings, whose faces had just been filled with confidence and nonchalant contempt, were now like kites torn apart by a gale, shattering completely in an instant.
The soldiers in the allied forces, already struggling to breathe under the pressure of their bloodline, suffered an even greater blow.
The sounds of people kneeling down echoed one after another. The densely packed figures were like rice ears broken by a gale, their faces as pale as paper, their foreheads pressed against the void, their courage to even look up at Zi Yan crushed.
Zi Yan stood silently in the void, her dark golden armor shimmering with intense light as her battle aura surged. Her gaze was as cold as ten thousand years of ice as she swept over the three Dragon Kings, whose expressions had drastically changed.
Her voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly: "Now, do you still think the three of you can beat me?"
The moment she finished speaking, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, with only the overwhelming aura of a five-star Dou Sheng surging around her, slamming the arrogance of the Three Islands Allied Forces into the dust.
Over here, the soldiers of Donglong Island could no longer contain their excitement. Their deafening cheers exploded like thunder, instantly engulfing the entire sky.
"Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor is mighty!"
"Your Majesty has led us to reunify the Ancient Dragon Clan!"
"With Her Majesty Ziyan here, what is there to fear from the allied forces of the three islands!"
On the other side, in stark contrast to the sudden surge of morale on Donglong Island, the Three Islands Allied Forces camp was now eerily silent and dejected.
Just moments ago, their backs had been hunched over under Zi Yan's oppressive aura, but now they straightened up abruptly, their faces filled with shock and horror, and even the hands holding their weapons were trembling slightly.
Their previous blind obedience to the three Dragon Kings and their doubts about East Dragon Island have now turned into a deep sense of regret. They never imagined that this young Dragon Emperor would be so powerful that even if the three Dragon Kings joined forces, they would have little chance of winning.
But what's the use of regretting it now? When Zi Yan gave them the chance, who dared to answer under the noses of the three Dragon Kings?
Now that the relationship is long over, their moral ground is even more untenable. These dependents have become nothing more than fish on a hot plate.
"It's over," someone murmured in the queue, instantly striking a chord with everyone.
What kind of bloodshed will follow? What will become of these people? Countless chaotic thoughts swirled in their minds, and panic surged like a tide, making the entire camp feel precarious and chaotic.
The three Dragon Kings naturally noticed the commotion of the allied forces behind them. Feeling the rapidly spreading panic and wavering, a surge of anger rose in their hearts.
But the current situation left them speechless, unable to even utter a word of rebuke. Zi Yan's displayed strength was too terrifying; the pressure of that five-star Dou Sheng was like a sword hanging over their heads, completely disrupting all their plans.
Previously, in their eyes, this conquest of Donglong Island was a sure thing. Capturing that royal descendant would be a piece of cake, and destroying Donglong Island and dividing its inheritance would be even easier. They would then be able to return with a full load, greatly increasing the strength of their respective dragon islands.
But who could have predicted that things would turn out this way? Those seemingly weak royal descendants have actually become a five-star Dou Sheng Dragon Emperor who can crush them!
Thinking of this, the three dragon kings felt as if their hearts were being gripped by sharp claws, and an indescribable sense of regret rushed to their heads. If it weren't for their greed and their fear of the potential of that old dragon queen's descendant, how could they have ended up in such a predicament?
This sudden turn of events was completely unexpected for all three of them, far exceeding their previous plans.
Now that things have come to this, how could they not understand? Only by completely defeating this new Dragon Emperor born on Donglong Island can they quell the panic of the allied forces and bring this out-of-control situation back on track.
Defeating Zi Yan, the young Dragon Emperor, has become their only objective at present.
As for the idea of immediately bowing down to the new Dragon Emperor, it only flashed through the minds of the three Dragon Kings before they ruthlessly extinguished it.
For thousands of years, since the split of Ancient Dragon Island, each of them has occupied the island and ruled as king. They have long been accustomed to the honor of looking down on all living beings. That feeling of being high above has seeped into their bones. How could they be willing to kneel in public? They would never do such a humiliating thing.
Moreover, they knew Zi Yan's position all too well. How could the Dragon Emperor possibly show mercy to these traitors who had divided their race? Even if the soldiers of the three islands might be forgiven, the fate of the three of them would inevitably be extremely tragic.
At this point, there is no turning back. Victory or defeat has become the only way to survive.
They had no choice but to gamble everything, using every means at their disposal, and risking everything for a chance of winning.
Only by defeating Zi Yan can we escape this desperate situation and preserve everything we have, no matter the cost.
The three dragon kings exchanged a glance, their eyes already reflecting a resolute and ruthless intent.
"As expected of a descendant of the Dragon Emperor's bloodline, such talent is truly terrifying." The Northern Dragon King's gaze was fixed on Zi Yan, his tone calm and even, but his eyes were unfathomable.
"I just don't know how you managed to reach the Five-Star Dou Sheng level in such a short time?"
He paused, his voice suddenly hardening with icy killing intent: "If I had known you would end up like this, I should have taken matters into my own hands and captured you before you even came of age, bringing you back to North Dragon Island and nipping this menace in the bud!"
Changing the subject, he seemed to be recalling something, his gaze sweeping across the void: "However, judging from what my Three Islands vanguard encountered on Donglong Island, you were probably still in seclusion at that time, and your inheritance was not yet complete, right? In that case, your cultivation as a five-star Dou Sheng must not have been broken through for long, and this power is probably not yet fully consolidated and mastered."
As he said this, the black aura around him surged violently, and his voice revealed a desperate ruthlessness: "The three of us joining forces, the outcome today is still uncertain!"
The moment the words fell, the Southern Dragon King and the Western Dragon King understood. Their bodies surged with lightning and blazing battle aura, and the three powerful auras intertwined, faintly forming an aura that could resist Zi Yan's pressure. Clearly, they wanted to use these words to bolster their courage and stabilize the morale of their troops behind them.
"Oh? In that case, you can try it yourselves and see if it's as you think."
After hearing what the Northern Dragon King said, Zi Yan raised an eyebrow and curled her lips into a sarcastic smile.
Her dark gold armor gleamed with a cold light as her battle aura surged, making the disdain in her eyes seem almost tangible: "Today, I, the Emperor, will show mercy. No matter how many of you come, I will take you on alone."
At this moment, Zi Yan's calm and composed demeanor was as if she were looking down on a few ignorant fleas, as if the three dragon kings and thousands of troops in front of her were nothing more than chickens and dogs waiting to be slaughtered.
"Words are useless, then let's fight!" The Northern Dragon King roared, his voice echoing through the void. "The ancient dragon race has always judged strength by merit; the victor is king, the loser is a bandit! I, the king, will personally weigh just how worthy you are of being called the Dragon Emperor!"
Before the roar had even faded, the three Dragon Kings moved simultaneously.
With a powerful stomp of their feet, the space beneath them rippled instantly. The three figures transformed into three streaks of light: one as black as ink, one wreathed in silver lightning, and one as red as fire. The three streaks of light, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound that tore through the air, rushed toward Zi Yan together.
At the same time, the three of them burst forth with a dazzling purple light. Their original humanoid bodies expanded violently, their bones cracked, dragon scales broke through the ground, and dragon horns shot into the sky.
In a short while, three colossal dragons, each a thousand feet long, appeared in the void. At this moment, none of the three dragon kings intended to hold back. They all revealed their true forms as ancient dragons of the Void, hoping to have a greater chance of victory.
Three colossal dragons stretched across the sky, their massive bodies blotting out the sun and exuding an earth-shattering aura. Fierce flames burned in their dragon eyes as they locked onto the relatively petite figure in front of them.
A terrifying aura, like that of an ancient behemoth awakening, instantly swept across the entire battlefield.
The moment the three Dragon Kings set off, the arrogance on Zi Yan's face, which she had shown when she first encountered her opponents, quietly vanished, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.
She could sense that this battle was the most direct and dangerous challenge she had faced since she began to grow. Even though her cultivation level far surpassed that of her opponents, the combined might of the three Dragon Kings, especially when they manifested their true forms, was no child's play.
There is no room for the slightest negligence, and even less room for the slightest mistake.
Her gaze shifted to the ancient dragon clan elders behind her, her steady and powerful eyes finally settling on Xiao Ling as she spoke in a deep voice:
"These three Dragon Kings, though powerful, are nothing special. I will handle them personally. You all, watch closely how I will blunt their arrogance!"
"As for the remaining allied forces of the three islands," she changed the subject, her tone carrying an undeniable authority, "you only need to firmly restrain their follow-up forces and make sure they cannot interfere, so as not to disrupt my decisive battle with the three kings!"
She paused slightly, no longer looking at the three allied forces that were temporarily intimidated, but instead gazing at the figures in the distant Mishima camp whose expressions were clearly wavering and who had even begun to retreat. Her tone became more solemn, as if she understood everything:
"After I defeat these three, the ancient dragon clan members on the other three islands will mostly collapse, and it will not be difficult to subdue them."
"The ancient dragon race is now fragmented and ravaged. Reunification and restoring its glory are of paramount importance!" She paused, then spoke each word carefully.
"Most of these allied soldiers are also of the bloodline of my ancient dragon clan, and are the backbone of our clan's future. Unless absolutely necessary, we should recruit them and not kill them. Remember, as long as we live, we can always rebuild!"
Upon hearing Zi Yan's command, the elders, led by the First Elder Qingshan and the Second Elder Qingmu, bowed in unison, their voices steady and powerful: "Yes, Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor!"
They had no objection to this arrangement. Zi Yan was strong enough to fight the three kings alone, and it was their duty to restrain the allied forces and prevent them from causing trouble.
What resonated with the elders even more was Zi Yan's long-term vision for the future.
In conclusion, this was ultimately an internal conflict within the ancient dragon clan, as they shared the same bloodline and were connected by a common lineage.
If the division can be quelled at the lowest possible cost, avoiding the unnecessary sacrifice of killing one's own kind, that would naturally be the best option.
This sentiment made their gazes towards the enemy soldiers less decisive and more heavy with helplessness.
The elders' eyes sharpened, and they immediately turned around, their gazes sweeping sharply over the soldiers of Donglong Island behind them, silently conveying their orders.
Hei Qing immediately stepped forward and shouted in a deep voice, "Form ranks! Protect the Dragon Emperor's flanks and do everything in your power to hold back the Three Islands Alliance. Don't let them interfere in the Dragon Emperor's decisive battle with the Three Kings!"
In an instant, the Donglong Island army swiftly changed formation, like an iron torrent, instantly creating an impenetrable barrier on the battlefield. Countless powerful auras intertwined to form an airtight bulwark, firmly blocking the path of the three-island allied forces.
The tense atmosphere, like a taut bowstring, instantly reached its peak, and even the air seemed to freeze.
These few instructions were given in the blink of an eye, and in that short time, the three dragon kings, transformed into giant dragons thousands of feet long, crossed the void and rushed straight towards them with a world-destroying force.
Zi Yan dared not delay, and her figure suddenly transformed into a streak of purple-gold light, flying towards the three enormous dragon bodies.
Her face showed no panic or fear, only an unwavering determination. Her dark gold armor fluttered in the wind, like a sharp blade about to cleave through chaos, as she fiercely crashed into the sky-covering dragon shadow.
The void trembled violently under the clash of their auras, even the light seemed to be distorted, and a peak duel between the Dragon Emperor and the Three Kings was about to begin.
What no one noticed was that long before the three Dragon Kings launched their attack on Zi Yan, the Northern Dragon King had already secretly and silently crushed a golden token.
His movements were extremely subtle. Not only did the people of Donglong Island, who were on high alert in front of the battle, not even Zi Yan, who was in charge, notice his inconspicuous little actions.
Even Xiao Ling, who deliberately concealed his aura and did not release his perception to conduct a thorough investigation, did not notice the Northern Dragon King's little trick.
The moment the token shattered, a barely perceptible ripple pierced through the void, disappearing like a ghost towards an unknown location.
Meanwhile, deep within the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's territory, inside the grand hall of the floating island in the center of the sky, a blond man suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of golden light disappearing within them.
"It seems there's been some big commotion on Ancient Dragon Island," the man muttered to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest. "That Northern Dragon King actually activated the restriction I left in the token..."
He paused slightly, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. He scoffed, "The ancient dragon race is currently in turmoil, the four dragon islands are split, and even those self-proclaimed dragon kings are willing to betray their race for personal gain. It's truly laughable."
His laughter carried a hint of mockery, but more so a hidden ambition: "So be it. This chaos presents the perfect opportunity for my Heavenly Phoenix Clan to rise..." (End of Chapter)
