Ten-Thousand-Year Dragon Loach—Please Read On

Chapter 31: Ten-Thousand-Year Dragon Loach—Please Read On

Xu Changqing sat atop the weathered rock for a full day and night.

Throughout that day and night, he had been observing the habits of the soul beasts in this area.

His wait had not been in vain. He had indeed discovered a few things.

First, the reason so many soul beasts gathered in this area was because they often came to the riverbank to drink, causing different species of soul beasts to congregate in large numbers.

Second, the reason these soul beasts did not attack one another was because they had reached some sort of cooperative agreement.

Xu Changqing had once seen a Five-Colored Deer attacked by a Dragon Loach in the water while drinking. It had been bitten by the neck and was about to be dragged underwater, its life hanging by a thread.

But at that moment, many soul beasts on the shore attacked the Dragon Loach at once and rescued the unfortunate Five-Colored Deer.

For the sake of water resources, these land-dwelling soul beasts had silently formed a cooperative relationship here.

However, the Dragon Loaches in the water were not easy opponents either. Even with the land soul beasts working together, some soul beasts were still regularly dragged into the water and devoured completely.

This small stretch of river seemed to be entirely Dragon Loach territory. At least, Xu Changqing had not seen any other kinds of soul beasts appear in the water.

Presumably, the situation in other stretches of river was not much different from here.

After some thought, Xu Changqing could not be bothered to investigate other areas. After observing these Dragon Loaches for so long, he had already more or less understood their habits. He might find water-attribute soul beasts that were easier to hunt elsewhere, but that would waste too much time. He might as well set his sights on the Dragon Loaches in this river.

After observing for a full day and night, he had found several Dragon Loaches that had reached ten thousand years in cultivation. If he could find a way to get any one of them ashore, his Soul Ring would be settled.

However, a new problem arose. How was he supposed to get a ten-thousand-year Dragon Loach onto land?

The few Dragon Loaches that had reached ten thousand years were all colossal, nearly twenty meters long. In the water, Xu Changqing knew he could not possibly be their match.

After thinking it over, his eyes suddenly lit up, and the corners of his mouth curled upward.

"You like to eat, huh?"

He chuckled and raised a hand. A purple thousand-year Soul Ring flew out, and a green Divine Dragon emerged from it in a rolling surge. The Green Dragon then swayed its head and tail as it leisurely descended from the sky, blending into the herd of land soul beasts below.

At first, the soul beasts were wary of the Green Dragon and kept far away from it. After a while, seeing that it had no intention of attacking, they gradually relaxed. Though they still kept some distance, they no longer deliberately avoided it.

"Very good. Step one of the plan: successfully infiltrate the land soul beast herd!"

From high above, Xu Changqing carefully concealed himself as he watched below. He then controlled the Green Dragon, having it slowly crawl toward the riverbank like the land soul beasts, looking exceedingly cautious.

A Divine Dragon that should have been soaring through clouds in the heavens was now crawling across the ground on four short little legs. No matter how one looked at it, the sight was utterly bizarre.

But Xu Changqing could not care less. As long as the plan worked, that was all that mattered.

Before long, the Green Dragon had crawled to the riverbank. It lowered its dragon head and began drinking.

Underwater, the Dragon Loaches swished their tails one after another, their large eyes filled with confusion and hesitation.

Why doesn't this soul beast have a soul beast's distinctive aura?

It looks so huge. Can we really beat it?

It looks like it would be really hard to deal with...

But its flesh looks delicious. Eating it would definitely be hugely nourishing, and bring us one step closer to advancing. This is a tremendous opportunity!

A group of Dragon Loaches blew bubbles as they discussed matters beneath the water. In the end, the decision passed unanimously.

Brothers, get it!

Led by two ten-thousand-year Dragon Loaches, more than a dozen thousand-year Dragon Loaches formed up and quietly swam toward the Wood Dragon.

As for the Wood Dragon, it had already been drinking for two minutes. It was as if the river water were some peerless delicacy, without the slightest hint of vigilance as it brazenly lay at the riverbank with its head lowered.

The surrounding land soul beasts were utterly dumbfounded by the sight. Had those hateful Dragon Loaches all gone to sleep?

Should we take this chance to get some water too?

Just as a large group of land soul beasts began to stir restlessly, two enormous creatures nearly twenty meters long suddenly burst from the river's seemingly tranquil surface. With gaping maws, they bit toward the Wood Dragon's neck.

The Wood Dragon appeared startled by the sudden development and hurriedly tried to retreat, but it was just a bit too slow and was immediately bitten fast.

The two ten-thousand-year Dragon Loaches were overjoyed. So this thing was merely large in appearance, while its strength was nothing special. They immediately thrashed their tails madly, trying to drag the Wood Dragon into the water.

As for the taste being off?

Who would care about that at a time like this?

The Wood Dragon roared repeatedly as it "struggled" to break free, but its strength seemed insufficient. It could only hold on briefly, and being dragged into the river seemed only a matter of time.

This sudden turn of events alarmed the nearby land soul beasts. Just as they hesitated over whether to help drive off the Dragon Loaches, another abrupt change occurred.

Two willow branches as thick as water barrels, like coiling dragons, shot out of the earth by the riverbank along with countless wrist-thick willow branches. They tightly bound one of the Dragon Loaches that had failed to dodge in time.

That was not all. A series of dragon roars suddenly rang out from the sky as eight or nine gold-and-green Divine Dragons dove straight down with tremendous momentum. Each one looked no smaller than the Wood Dragon currently caught in the Dragon Loaches' jaws.

The Dragon Loach that had not been attacked by the willow branches saw that something was wrong. Without a second thought, it turned and fled. Damn it, this soul beast has so many family members. I'm out of here.

As for that trapped brother, may he fend for himself.

"Wood Dragon · Entangling Body!"

Xu Changqing, hidden atop the weathered rock dozens of meters above, clenched his hand into a fist. The other four Wood Dragons he had summoned instantly unleashed their ultimate move upon the Dragon Loach, which had already been bound like a dumpling and was struggling desperately.

Willow branches immediately swept down over it from all directions, wrapping it layer after layer, too many to count. Then, five Golden Dragons spiraled through the air, taking on the role of porters. Together, they seized the giant cocoon of willow branches in their claws and flew skyward. Their speed and coordination were as though they had rehearsed countless times, without the slightest pause, their cooperation flawless.

"Got it!"

Xu Changqing was delighted. With another wave of his hand, he summoned a Wood Dragon, leaped onto its head, and closely pursued the five Golden Dragons serving as porters.

There were too many soul beasts here. Even if he killed the Dragon Loach, it would not be suitable to absorb its Soul Ring in this place. He had to find somewhere slightly safer.

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(End of Chapter)