Two Kings, the True Threat!

The humans of Jiangnan Base City, who had gradually fallen into despair as the flood began to rage, found hope for survival once more when they saw this earth wall rise like an impassable natural barrier!

Ao Guang, on the other hand, was utterly furious.

"Who is it this time? Who is standing in my way?!"

"It's me!"

The ground trembled as a gigantic creature slowly rose from beneath the surface. On its back stood the towering earth wall that had blocked the tsunami's advance!

At the sight of the newcomer, Ao Guang's dragon whiskers quivered with rage.

"Xuan Shiba, it's you!"

"Who told you to meddle in other people's business? Not a single member of the human higher-ups dares to come out and settle this, yet your Black Tortoise Race is being so kind? The humans are merely a subordinate race of your Black Tortoise Race!"

The one who had appeared and stopped the massive tsunami was a huge turtle that stood over a hundred meters tall even while lying down. Hearing Ao Guang's words, its turtle eyes helplessly turned toward Hao Zhong, Chen Gu, and the others in the air!

It had originally been lying dormant underground, watching the show. It had no idea what had gotten into that War King, the new human prodigy, who had kept provoking Ao Guang. It waited and waited until the tsunami was about to drown Jiangnan Base City, yet not a single human higher-up had appeared!

It could not simply stand by and let Ao Guang run wild. Otherwise, its plan to profit as a third party this time would all come to nothing!

"The humans are subordinate to my race, so naturally my race has the right to protect them. As for you, Ao Guang, do you really think that having the dragon race backing you means you can act however you please?"

"You!" Ao Guang was furious, but if Xuan Shiba insisted on protecting the human civilians behind it, then given the difference in their strength, even if it could draw upon the entire Eastern Sea, there was nothing it could do to this giant turtle!

"Wow, what a huge turtle!" Xu Kun said, his eyes wide.

Hao Jian wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. "A turtle this big would probably make some delicious turtle soup."

Watching the two little jokers, the corners of Mu Qingxuan's lips rose imperceptibly as she slowly shook her head.

These two really had nerves of steel!

Xu Kun looked tentatively at his mother. "Mom, is that giant turtle powerful?"

Mu Qingxuan nodded. "That giant turtle is called Xuan Shiba. It is also a thirty-ninth-level supreme War King!"

"Ao Guang can't beat it?"

From the look of things, Ao Guang seemed completely unable to do anything to Xuan Shiba!

Mu Qingxuan explained, "Both are War Kings of the same rank, and both possess S-rank talents. But the Black Tortoise Race is known as the species with the strongest defense on Blue Star. They are born with the ability to control earth and water. In terms of destructive power, Xuan Shiba is no match for Ao Guang, who has the entire Eastern Sea supporting him. But if Xuan Shiba focuses purely on defense, then even if Ao Guang exhausts everything he has, he can do nothing to it!"

Xu Kun narrowed his eyes. "Not even the human higher-ups have stepped in. Is this War King of the Black Tortoise Race really that kind-hearted?"

Mu Qingxuan stared at Xu Kun for a while, making his hair stand on end. "Did... did I say something wrong?"

Mu Qingxuan shook her head. "You're not wrong. How could the Black Tortoise Race possibly offer kindness for no reason? They are merely taking what they each need. Keep watching, and you'll understand!"

Xu Kun nodded and looked seriously into the distance!

At this moment, the earth wall and the massive tsunami were distinctly separated, just like Xuan Shiba and Ao Guang, turtle and dragon facing each other. Neither could advance an inch.

"Xuan Shiba, you had better understand that I came this time under the Dragon Sovereign's orders to capture the human trial-taker Kun, who crushed the prodigy of my race, and bring him back! What I represent is the will of the entire dragon race!"

Xuan Shiba sneered. "Since when could a mere flood dragon represent the entire dragon race?"

"I have to say, that human woman was right just now. Ao Guang, you have truly regressed with age. The former prodigy of the flood dragon race has now become someone else's lapdog!"

Ao Guang said nothing, but anyone could tell from the surging waves beneath it that its heart was in extreme turmoil!

"Back then, you used all the people of Chen Tang Pass to force the Li Family father and son into submission, driving Nezha to carve off his flesh to return to his mother and cut out his bones to return to his father. You, Ao Guang, could still be considered capable back then. If you had taken the chance to wipe out the entire Li Family after Nezha was reborn in a lotus-root body, before he had built up his foundation, you would not have ended up being abandoned by your race!"

"Enough!"

Having its old wounds exposed again and again, even a clay figure would have some temper, much less Ao Guang, the Dragon King who ruled the entire Eastern Sea!

"What? You're allowed to be a cowardly turtle of a flood dragon, but I, Xuan Shiba, am not allowed to express my personal opinion?"

"Shouldn't that be a cowardly turtle?" Hao Jian curled his lips.

"But it's already a giant turtle. Who talks about themselves like that?" Xu Kun chimed in.

"Shut up! Shut your mouths!"

Ao Guang's furious roar frightened the two little spectators into quickly closing their mouths.

"What do you know? If Yang Jian hadn't stepped in to protect him back then, how could I have given that little beast a chance to survive?!" Ao Guang roared and churned through the water.

"Then why didn't you dare fight Yang Jian?" Xuan Shiba asked leisurely.

Ao Guang's body stiffened, and the anger that had just flared up instantly cooled by half.

Xuan Shiba continued to stoke the flames. "The Li Family entered the range of the thirtieth floor of the Haotian Pagoda one step later than you. With your level back then, you clearly had plenty of chances to settle the score with them!"

"But what did you do? You watched helplessly as that father and son casually crossed beyond the thirtieth floor, while you were too afraid of their retaliation to advance even an inch. For decades, year after year, you lay on the thirty-ninth floor throwing your weight around. Is that the courage of Ao Guang?"

"If you ask me, rather than living so miserably, you might as well have risked your life and fought them to the death back then!"

"And now? The four members of the Li Family have already reached the fortieth-something floors. Before long, with the help of Nezha—the thorn in your eye and flesh—they will probably successfully set foot on the fiftieth floor. Are you planning to slink into the fortieth floor only then?"

"You don't dare offend Yang Jian, and you don't dare lay a hand on the Li Family. Other than barking like a dog over here, I truly cannot see what you are capable of. You, Ao Guang, are the laughingstock of all races, the very definition of a coward!"

Xuan Shiba unleashed a barrage of words, constantly provoking Ao Guang. It was clear to see that Ao Guang's pair of dragon eyes had turned red.

"Bullshit! I, Ao Guang, am no coward!"

"The Li father and son—I'll settle the score with them one by one!"

"What about Yang Jian?" Xuan Shiba gave Ao Guang no chance to bolster his own courage.

"Yang Jian... Yang Jian, I'm not afraid of him either! If he has the guts, let him come out! Yang Jian, if you have the guts, come out! I, Ao Guang, am not afraid of you!"

"Oh? Is that so? Then here I am!"

Ao Guang, who had been baring his fangs and brandishing his claws, shuddered. He looked toward the source of the voice!

In the sky, an eye overlooking the world slowly opened. In an instant, the rippling waters calmed, and the tide receded!

Xuan Shiba trembled all over, and the earth wall instantly crumbled apart!

Ao Guang cried out and immediately lost his composure. The massive tsunami beneath his dragon body retreated like a mouse fleeing from a cat, even faster than it had advanced. He himself lost all control, and his entire dragon body crashed heavily onto the ground!

"T-That is..." Xu Kun and Hao Jian looked at each other, the same name surfacing in both their minds!

Tianyan!

This giant eye was Tianyan, one of the Lords of the Era of the human race's current era?

Mu Qingxuan remained as calm as ever. After glancing at the eye overlooking the world and frightening two supreme War Kings into trembling, she said evenly, "The Yang Jian Xuan Shiba and Ao Guang spoke of is Tianyan, one of the Lords of the Era of this era!"

Yang Jian... was Tianyan!

This was the first time Xu Kun and Hao Jian had learned the name of one of the Lords of the Era of their time!

"Morning Bell/Evening Drum, greetings, Lord Tianyan!"

"Sikong Zhen of the Sikong Family, greetings, Lord Tianyan!"

"...Greetings, Lord Tianyan!"

The experts of Jiangnan Base City who had gathered to resist Ao Guang all behaved like obedient children, taking the lead in cupping their hands toward the giant eye in salute.

Meanwhile, the citizens of Jiangnan Base City below, who had just been suffering amid disaster, now wept with joy.

The moment the tide receded, cheers rose one after another.

"Lord Tianyan has arrived! We don't have to die!"

"Lord Tianyan is mighty!"

"Long live Lord Tianyan!"

All pessimism vanished from Jiangnan Base City. Their cries shook heaven and earth, enough to make anyone who witnessed the scene feel their scalp tingle!

"Is this the prestige of one of the Lords of the Era who created an era?" Xu Kun swallowed hard, his heart burning with excitement.

Though it was nighttime, the opened giant eye hung high like a blazing sun. Everyone felt as though it had swept its gaze over them.

Hao Jian's plump, delicate body trembled as she muttered, "Lord Tianyan... it seemed like he noticed me just now!"

Xu Kun felt the same way. When that gaze swept past him, he felt as if he had no secrets at all before it!

He could not help looking at his mother.

She was still as calm as ever...

After the overwhelming cheers died down, that gaze finally fell upon Ao Guang, who had climbed out of the dust.

"Ao Guang, I heard you were looking for me? Was it because of what happened back then? Did you want an explanation from me?"

Xuan Shiba tucked his turtle head into his shell, then poked out a small bit of it. His turtle eyes looked mockingly at the trembling Ao Guang.

Go on, act tough. Why don't you be fierce with him? The very man you want is standing right in front of you—settle both old and new scores at once!

Hao Zhong and the others, who had previously been threatened by Ao Guang, now straightened their backs as well. With Tianyan here in person, what the hell was there to fear from him?

Under the watchful eyes of all, some wondered whether Ao Guang, who had just proclaimed that he would fear no shattered bones and leave his innocence in this world, would respond boldly to Tianyan's question—or bow his head under the force of circumstances!

But most people had still underestimated how shameless Ao Guang could be.

Ao Guang shrank his head, then comically bent his entire dragon body toward the giant eye. "Lord Tianyan, this little dragon misspoke just now. It was all a misunderstanding. I hope Lord Tianyan will not take offense!"

"You don't want an explanation anymore?"

"No, no, I don't!"

"Damn, this old dragon has no shame at all! I thought it would stand its ground a little!" Hao Jian said, eyes wide.

"Looks like, between pride and life, this dragon still chose life!" Xu Kun remarked with a sigh.

The huge stone weighing on his heart finally fell away as well. With Tianyan stepping in, judging by Ao Guang's current attitude, he probably would not dare demand that the human race hand him over anymore, right?

"Since you did not come to demand an explanation, why did you raise a tsunami and attempt to harm hundreds of millions of my human race's citizens?"

"I..."

Xuan Shiba seized the opportunity to fan the flames from the side. "Lord Tianyan, please see clearly! Ao Guang came to demand that the human race hand over the top-ranked contestant of this Golden List, Kun—the trial-taker with an SSSS rating!"

Ao Guang glared at Xuan Shiba. Who asked you to butt in?

"Oh? Is that so? Ao Guang, why don't you ask around and see when our human race has ever handed over one of our own because of threats?"

Ao Guang fell silent, while Xuan Shiba's beady little eyes darted around.

Ao Guang, you'd better pull yourself together. The entire Dragon Race didn't send you here just to make a fool of yourself, did they?

Sure enough, although Ao Guang was terrified of that eye to death—even lacking the courage to meet its gaze—he still said, "My lord, please see clearly. This little dragon came under the Dragon Race's decree. Your human race must hand him over, whether you want to or not!"

Xuan Shiba internally shouted, Nice!

The moment Ao Guang finished speaking, that eye opened a little wider. Beneath its gaze, the once-mighty Ao Guang was like a loach trapped deep in a mud pit!

"Are you... threatening me?"

"This is the will of the entire Dragon Race! It is also the will of that one in the Haotian Pagoda!"

"The Dragon Race will never allow what happened back then to happen again!"

After Ao Guang finished speaking, the atmosphere instantly fell silent.

Ordinary people who heard this exchange were utterly bewildered. They could not understand how much courage Ao Guang, who had been trembling in fear before Lord Tianyan, had mustered to dare speak like this!

And as Lord Tianyan remained silent, the initial excitement gradually faded away.

Xu Kun, the person at the center of it all, felt his heart rise to his throat again.

"Mom... who is the one in the Haotian Pagoda that old dragon mentioned? Could even Lord Tianyan be afraid of him?"

Without turning her head, Mu Qingxuan replied, "This time, Ao Guang represents the entire Dragon Race. Among the Dragon Race members stationed on Blue Star, he holds a high-ranking position, but that does not mean he is particularly powerful. Xuan Shiba's earlier words were mocking Ao Guang, but crude as they were, they made sense. To the entire Dragon Race, Ao Guang is merely a dog they can command at will!"

A mere dog... had nearly wiped out all of Jiangnan Base City just moments ago!

"Among the myriad races, the true strength of any powerful race is never found within the settlements of its people on Blue Star. Their core forces are active on the Myriad Races Battlefield, while their absolute strongest experts are all in the Haotian Pagoda, seeking that sliver of opportunity!"

Xu Kun only half understood.

Mu Qingxuan continued, "And the one Ao Guang spoke of is the Dragon Ancestor, who predates our human race by an era. Lord Tianyan may be one of the Lords of the Era for humanity's current age, but before that one, he is nothing more than a child!"

"Ao Guang himself is insignificant. Even if Lord Tianyan killed him on the spot, it would not cause much of a stir. But Ao Guang appearing here represents the Dragon Race's will!"

Mu Qingxuan did not spell it out, but Xu Kun already understood.

The Dragon Race was determined to force the human race to hand him over!

Ao Guang was merely the vanguard sent by the Dragon Race!

"Then... what if Lord Tianyan refuses to compromise?" Xu Kun asked uneasily.

Mu Qingxuan shook her head. "That depends on how deeply obsessed the Dragon Race is with this matter!"

After saying that, she turned and glanced at Xu Kun. "But once they are refused, something like destroying a base city would merely be the opening course before the Dragon Race declares war on the entire human race. With the Dragon Race's strength, if they disregard the Myriad Races Pact and seek to annihilate humanity, no one can stop them!"

Xu Kun suddenly found it hard to breathe.

What had he done to deserve having the survival of the entire human race tied to him?

His heart could not help but sink into dead silence.

Mu Qingxuan turned back and gazed at that eye.

Earlier, when Ao Guang attacked and nearly summoned a massive tsunami to flood all of Jiangnan Base City, why had none of humanity's upper ranks stepped forward?

It was not that the higher-ups were willing to stand by and do nothing. Rather, once they showed themselves, even if Lord Tianyan personally appeared, it would give Ao Guang grounds to negotiate!

War King-level experts like Hao Zhong and Sikong Zhen were merely humanity's middle ranks. They had no authority to agree to Ao Guang's demands. Ao Guang had said from the start that they could not make the decision and told them to seek instructions from the higher-ups!

The higher-ups had remained silent. Left with no other option, and unable to defeat Evening Drum, Morning Bell, Ao Guang could only threaten the hundreds of millions of civilians in all of Jiangnan Base City!

With Lord Tianyan's abilities, he had long noticed what was happening here, but he could not show himself!

Originally, there would have been no issue if Lord Tianyan had not appeared. But Xuan Shiba, who had been lurking underground, could not simply watch Ao Guang reach the point of no return, so he stepped in and blocked the tsunami!

Humanity's higher-ups could have simply pretended not to see!

Yet Ao Guang had clearly already failed, so why had Lord Tianyan appeared again just because of a few words?

With her back to Xu Kun and Hao Jian, a smile appeared at the corner of Mu Qingxuan's lips.

How much did you learn from your Big Brother? You didn't show up sooner or later—what scheme are you plotting now?

Sure enough, just as Mu Qingxuan finished speaking, Ao Guang continued, "Lord Tianyan, I hope you understand that that one's will cannot be defied. If you refuse, then to eliminate any future trouble, the Dragon Race will use the strength of its entire race to ensure that the human race never knows peace again!"

It was a naked threat, but this was no longer Ao Guang's personal threat backed by his own strength. It was a threat from the entire Dragon Race, represented by Ao Guang!

Everyone held their breath, awaiting Lord Tianyan's response.

That gaze shifted slightly before finally turning toward Xuan Shiba, who was hiding like a turtle with its head tucked in its shell.

"The Dragon Race seeks to coerce humanity. Is the Black Tortoise Race willing to offer protection?"