Candle Dragon Comes to Threaten Them

The moment these beings emerged, they felt incomparably dense Innate Spiritual Qi rushing toward them. When they focused their eyes, they saw nothing but Innate Spiritual Roots and froze on the spot.

"Qing Ya, hurry and make the arrangements. Explain the island's rules to them and let them settle down in peace."

Xuan Qing handed the spiritual roots and spiritual items he had collected from the Western Continent to Qing Ya, having these beings take them to cultivate on the island.

After giving Qing Ya his instructions, Xuan Qing prepared to begin cultivating the Fusang Wood. This was a major undertaking, and he needed to seek the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree's help.

He first communicated with the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree. After receiving its agreement, Xuan Qing took out a branch of Fusang Wood and a cluster of Solar True Fire, then opened up a separate plot far away from the other spiritual roots and planted the Fusang Wood there.

The Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree scattered a cluster of heavenly and earthly spiritual essence, which drifted respectively toward the Shore Flower, the Innate Gui Water Spirit Apricot, and the Second Generation Fusang Wood, as if welcoming a New Friend.

Slowly, the Second Generation Fusang Wood came back to life. However, it would take a very long time to grow, requiring a long wait. The Shore Flower King swayed happily instead, and her spiritual intelligence became even more complete.

After dealing with these matters, everyone returned to the Heart Nurturing Hall. This was also Han Xi's first time seeing an entire hall filled with Innate Merit Spirit Treasures, and even her big heart found it a little overwhelming.

When Xuan Qing had refined the Heart Nurturing Hall, he had not planned things very carefully. The entire great hall only had around ten bedrooms, and he arranged one for Han Xi as well.

Han Xi looked at her room in surprise. The furniture filling it was all Merit Spirit Treasures. Thinking of the lifestyle habits of modern people that Xuan Qing had described to her, she could not help feeling delighted.

Not long afterward, having heard that Xuan Qing had returned, the Heavenly Horse Patriarch and Bai Yu hurried to the Heart Nurturing Hall.

"Master, you're finally back!"

Bai Yu's face was filled with excitement, and he could not help soaring through the air.

The Heavenly Horse Patriarch looked at Xuan Qing somewhat awkwardly, unsure how he should address him.

"From now on, other beings can just call me Island Master. There's no need to be so restrained. Other than taking good care of the spiritual roots, just follow Qing Ya's arrangements. I don't have that many rules."

Seeing the Heavenly Horse Patriarch's awkwardness, Xuan Qing quickly eased the situation.

"Thank you, Island Master. Some time ago, the Dragon Clan discovered this place. Zu Long led a large force to attack, but they could not do anything to the Formation and withdrew. However, they have blocked our entrance. Island Master, what should we do?"

Upon seeing someone to rely on, the Heavenly Horse Patriarch finally relaxed. He explained their current situation. As a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, he understood everyone's predicament all too well.

"Don't panic. Continue as usual from now on and focus on cultivating, but do not damage your foundations. The Dragon Clan cannot do anything to this grand Formation."

Xuan Qing calmed everyone's emotions and encouraged their drive to improve. With the Dragon Clan looming above them, everyone now felt immense pressure. Pressure brought motivation, and that would spur their cultivation.

Having heard Xuan Qing's arrangements, the Heavenly Horse Patriarch had a general understanding of the situation and prepared to leave to cultivate.

"Don't be in such a hurry to leave. We happened to kill that giant Dragon blocking the entrance when we returned. We can use its Dragon Meat for barbecue and see how it tastes. There's plenty of Dragon Meat, so Heavenly Horse Patriarch, take some back later for your Clan Members to try."

"Yay!"

The moment Qing Ling heard there would be grilled Dragon Meat, she jumped up in excitement. She could finally taste that giant loach. The frustration of having her entrance blocked for countless years was swept away at once.

Ignoring Qing Ling's excited dancing, Xuan Qing brought everyone to the kitchen. After preparing the Dragon Meat, he placed it on the grill.

This was also the first time the Heavenly Horse Patriarch and Bai Yu had entered the Heart Nurturing Hall. Without Xuan Qing's permission before, they had not dared come and go freely.

Seeing that even the cooking utensils used to make food were Innate Merit Spirit Treasures, they could not help feeling depressed. What kind of person was this? How could he possess such strange Spiritual Treasures?

Before long, the aroma of meat filled the entire kitchen. Seeing that the meat was nearly done, Xuan Qing sprinkled seasoning over it. The fragrance became even more enticing, and its appearance stirred everyone's appetite.

Xuan Qing distributed the grilled meat among them, and everyone began tasting it. Bai Yu often followed Qing Ling around, so he had eaten quite a bit of delicious food before.

However, Qing Ling did not possess Xuan Qing's skill. She immediately realized just how delicious Xuan Qing's grilled meat was. In the future, she was afraid she would no longer be able to eat Qing Ling's cooking.

It was the Heavenly Horse Patriarch's first time eating anything, and he could not help feeling curious about the act. He took a bite as well, finding the sensation uniquely flavorful.

This was also Xuan Qing's first time eating Dragon Meat. Words that could only be used as a joke in his previous life had actually become reality.

He could not help feeling secretly pleased. Not bad, not bad. This tastes far better than Innate Spirit Fruit. It seems there was a reason the Dragon Clan ended up on the menu.

"Master, how is the meat you grill so delicious? Mine is much worse. How did you do it? Was it because of the things you added just now?"

Qing Ling had a particular love for food. Seeing Xuan Qing add something while grilling the meat, she became curious.

"Here, these are seasonings. They're Innate Spiritual Plants, and there are plenty of them on the island. Go pick some yourself."

Xuan Qing took out some seasonings and introduced them to Qing Ling, telling her to prepare them herself in the future.

After finishing the grilled meat in his hand, Xuan Qing took out all the remaining Dragon Meat and set down some seasonings as well.

"Anyone who still wants to eat can make it yourselves. Grill it the way you just saw me do it. Bai Yu, make sure you do it well. You'll be taking some back for your Clan Members later."

Xuan Qing had eaten enough after having some. There was no need to fill himself up in one sitting. What would he do if he grew sick of it afterward? He should turn his attention back to considering future arrangements.

He had to resolve the trouble caused by the Dragon Clan as soon as possible. Otherwise, no one would be able to leave the island in the future. His cultivation was still insufficient. Otherwise, how would the Dragon Clan dare be so arrogant?

Watching everyone eat merrily, Xuan Qing felt the beauty of life. Strength was still necessary!

After everyone finished eating and cleaned up, Xuan Qing took out the Innate Five Elements Origin Essence he had collected and handed it to Qing Ya.

"Use this essence when you break through in the future. It can not only accelerate cultivation but also strengthen your foundation. Once your cultivation is sufficient, come to Qing Ya to collect it."

Xuan Qing distributed the gains from this expedition. This time, he would enter seclusion properly and strive to break through to Grand Luo Golden Immortal as soon as possible.

On the Dragon Clan's side, the death of a giant Dragon at the early Grand Luo Golden Immortal stage after being blasted apart by the Formation caused a massive disturbance. The other Dragon Clan members stationed among the island clusters discovered what had happened.

Because that Flood Dragon had contributed by discovering Azure Nether Island last time, he had been assigned to an island as a reward. This time, after hearing the great commotion from Azure Nether Island, he secretly came to investigate.

However, he arrived too late. He did not find the giant Dragon that had been blocking the entrance, only Dragon Blood scattered everywhere. He knew something major had happened.

A Grand Luo Golden Immortal of the Dragon Clan had died. This was no small matter. It was highly likely that the island's master had returned, so he hurriedly reported it to the Dragon Clan.

As Zu Long gathered the beings of the East Sea, he discovered that the Auspicious Qi of the entire clan was rising. Even his own cultivation was steadily improving. This was an excellent opportunity to surpass those great powers. He had Candle Dragon preside over the clan's affairs while he entered seclusion directly.

Not long after he entered seclusion, Candle Dragon arrived at the palace where he was cultivating and interrupted him from his comprehension. However, Zu Long had not immersed himself too deeply, so the interruption did not have much effect.

"What brings you here? Haven't I entrusted all clan matters to you? Did you encounter a problem while gathering the Water Clan that even you cannot resolve?"

Zu Long stared at Candle Dragon curiously.

"Big Brother, the Flood Dragon who discovered that group of islands last time sent word. He said that the Grand Luo Golden Immortal we sent from the Dragon Clan was killed. It seems the island's master has returned. I could not make the decision, so I had to ask you to decide."

Hearing Candle Dragon's words, Zu Long immediately felt that something was wrong. The Dragon Clan had not lost a single Grand Luo Golden Immortal until now.

As the Dragon Clan's top combat power, losing even one would weaken them greatly. This was a direct provocation against the Dragon Clan.

Candle Dragon truly could not make this decision. Zu Long needed to think it through carefully as well, or they would become the Prehistoric Era's laughingstock again like last time.

They could not fail to respond to the loss of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal. Otherwise, anyone could ride over the Dragon Clan's heads in the future. Yet they would have to abandon gathering the Water Clan, which left Zu Long in a difficult position.

There was nothing he could do about the great Formation around that island. Even gathering the entire clan's strength would not work. The other side hid within it like a turtle shell, rendering all their methods useless. The events of last time had also offended the other side beyond repair. It was truly difficult to handle.

After pondering for a long time, Zu Long slowly offered a helpless solution.

"Second Brother, make a trip to Azure Nether Island. Make the display as grand as possible—best if the entire East Sea can see it. They cannot come out anyway. Just threaten them outside the Formation. Didn't our investigation some time ago reveal that the Island Master is only a Grand Unity Golden Immortal? He poses no threat."

Hearing Zu Long's plan, Candle Dragon felt depressed as well. He had never expected that one day he would rely on words instead of action, going to threaten a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

Not long afterward, Candle Dragon assembled a team of Grand Luo Golden Immortals and set out with great fanfare. However, they traveled very slowly, seemingly putting on a show as they leisurely advanced toward Azure Nether Island.

Countless Sea Clan beings who had hidden away were terrified by this menacing force. Some who had remained neutral immediately pledged themselves to the Dragon Clan, while other beings who relied on some ability of their own were forced to flee the East Sea.

Yet there were also some bold beings who followed behind the force, wanting to see what major event the Dragon Clan intended to undertake.

Candle Dragon noticed the situation in the sea, but he ignored it. This was a good opportunity to clean up the East Sea, making it much easier to control later.

To allow those Grand Unity Golden Immortals and Golden Immortals to keep up, the massive force traveled for more than eight thousand years before finally reaching Azure Nether Island, where they stopped outside the island.

This immense display had long alerted everyone on Azure Nether Island. Seeing the force, Xuan Qing could not understand what the Dragon Clan intended. Were they not planning to attack?

"Listen up, people inside! You dared kill a Grand Luo Golden Immortal of our Dragon Clan. We are now locked in an endless struggle of life and death! If it were not for that turtle shell, I would have crushed you insects to death long ago! Once our Clan Leader breaks through, you will be the first to be destroyed. Your good days are over!"

Candle Dragon opened his mouth and shouted loudly, establishing an image of the Dragon Clan's invincibility for the surrounding beings. The others with ulterior motives were so frightened that they put away their little schemes.