Golden Scale Dragon Transformation

Upon hearing Shangguan Hao's words, Xi'er's pretty face turned frosty.

"You... I won't allow you to speak of Brother Su Mo like that."

Anger flashed in Xi'er's eyes. Anyone who insulted Su Mo displeased her.

Shangguan Hao raised his brows. He had not expected Xi'er to care so deeply about this native before her.

"Miss, we have come under the Palace Lord's orders to bring you back to the palace. No matter what, we will take you with us."

The Thirteenth Elder spoke. The Palace Lord had given his command; even if Xi'er was unwilling to return, he would forcibly take her back.

"Brother Su Mo!"

Xi'er looked at Su Mo anxiously.

"Xi'er, don't worry!"

Su Mo patted Xi'er's hand and said, "As long as I'm here, no one can take you away."

Su Mo was happy that Xi'er had found her parents. If she wished to return to her family, he would not stop her. But since Xi'er did not want to go back, he naturally could not allow anyone to take her away.

"With you here? A lowly ant like you dared to make such wild boasts!"

Shangguan Hao shouted coldly. He suddenly stamped his foot, and a wave of air surged violently from his body, instantly slamming into Su Mo.

Pfft!

Su Mo spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Brother Su Mo!" Xi'er cried out in alarm and hurried forward to help Su Mo up.

"Mo'er!"

Su Hong was furious, flames of rage rising in his eyes. He looked at Shangguan Hao and roared, "What do you mean by this, sir?"

"Ants are not qualified to speak to me!"

Shangguan Hao did not even glance at Su Hong. With a sweep of his sleeve, Su Hong immediately felt an immense force crash through his entire body. His body shook violently as he staggered back several steps, a trace of crimson blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

What?

Su Hong was utterly horrified, stormy waves churning in his heart.

How could he be this strong?

This youth looked no more than sixteen or seventeen, yet with a casual sweep of his hand, he had injured and driven Su Hong back.

Shangguan Hao was incomparably arrogant, domineering, and overbearing. What was his status? In his eyes, Su Hong and the others were merely rustic natives, unqualified even to speak with him.

Su Mo clenched his fists tightly, fury surging in his heart. This man was actually so arrogant, so wildly overbearing and invincible in his conceit.

However, he was not reckless enough to rush forward and fight the other man to the death. The gap in their strength was far too great; charging in would gain him nothing.

Moreover, there was an old man beside him who appeared even more powerful.

"Enough, Holy Son. Don't waste any more time. The Palace Lord is still waiting for us to return!"

The Thirteenth Elder spoke to Shangguan Hao, then turned to Xi'er and said, "Miss, forgive me. We are returning to Emperor Xuan Palace."

With that, the Thirteenth Elder waved his hand, and a gust of wind swept Xi'er to his side.

"Xi'er!" Su Mo was greatly alarmed. Just as he was about to step forward, an utterly terrifying pressure descended upon him. His entire body trembled, as though a mountain were pressing down on him, and he could no longer move even half a step.

"Let go of me! Let go of me!"

Xi'er flew into a rage and cried out repeatedly, but no matter what she did, she could not break free from her restraints.

"Miss, what exactly do you want?"

The Thirteenth Elder asked with a dark expression. If she had not been the Palace Lord's daughter, he would not have bothered with her at all and would have taken her away directly long ago.

"I won't go with you. I want to be with Brother Su Mo."

Xi'er shouted.

The Thirteenth Elder frowned and glanced at Su Mo. Shaking his head, he said, "You two can never be together."

"Why?"

Xi'er asked.

"Because you will belong to two different worlds!"

The Thirteenth Elder's expression was indifferent as he said, "He is merely an ordinary mortal, like a carp in a lake. He can only live forever in a tiny pond, never seeing the vast world beyond throughout his entire life. But once you return to Emperor Xuan Palace, Miss, you will become a bird in the sky, spreading your wings and soaring ever farther. Do you understand?"

The greatest distance in the world lay between a bird and a fish.

Xi'er froze for a moment, then firmly shook her head. "I don't need to understand. I only want to be with Brother Su Mo."

Su Mo's heart trembled when he heard this. Xi'er's feelings for him ran so deep.

The Thirteenth Elder's face turned cold. "Miss, let me advise you: you should forget him. If the Palace Lord learns of this matter, not only he, but even his Lineage will vanish into ashes."

Xi'er was immediately stunned.

Su Mo's expression shifted unpredictably. After a moment, he suddenly said to Xi'er, "Xi'er, go with them."

"Brother Su Mo!" Xi'er was shocked and looked at Su Mo in confusion.

"Xi'er, he is right. Only by returning with them can you cultivate the Martial Dao better. In the future, I will go to Central Continent to find you."

Su Mo spoke earnestly.

Su Mo had also thought it through. Xi'er returning with them was not necessarily a bad thing. On the contrary, staying with him might delay her Martial Dao path.

And most importantly, Su Mo knew that those two would definitely take Xi'er away today. Whether he agreed or not, he had no way to stop them.

Everything was because he was too weak.

Su Mo clenched his fists tightly. At this moment, he yearned for strength like never before.

Xi'er's eyes reddened, and she remained silent.

"Ant, stop dreaming. You will never reach Central Continent in your life, nor will you ever see Junior Sister again."

Shangguan Hao smiled disdainfully, his words filled with thick mockery.

An icy gleam filled Su Mo's eyes as he looked at the brocade-robed youth before him, killing intent surging in his heart.

"Whether I can reach Central Continent or see Xi'er again is none of your concern."

Su Mo said coldly.

"Courting death! A lowly ant like you dared speak to me this way? Do you know who I am?"

Killing intent flared in Shangguan Hao's eyes as he shouted coldly.

"What status? Aren't you merely from Emperor Xuan Palace?"

Su Mo said.

"Heh! Do you know what Emperor Xuan Palace represents?"

Shangguan Hao sneered, his face brimming with pride. "Let me tell you what Emperor Xuan Palace represents. Emperor Xuan Palace represents a power beyond your imagination! Emperor Xuan Palace represents a towering peak you will never climb in your life! Emperor Xuan Palace represents the power to decide the life and death of hundreds of millions with a single thought."

"Now do you know the gap between us, lowly ant?"

Shangguan Hao held his head high. The look he gave Su Mo was naked contempt.

Su Mo frowned tightly. The man's contempt sent rage billowing through his heart. He said coldly, "Every other word from you is calling me an ant. Since you are so powerful, then tell me: what realm have you reached now?"

"Ha ha!"

Shangguan Hao laughed arrogantly. "My current cultivation is a realm you will spend your entire life looking up to."

"A realm I will spend my entire life looking up to?"

Su Mo shook his head disdainfully, then said something astonishing. "Since you are so confident, then I want to see how you will make me look up to you all my life. I need only ten years—no, five years. I need only five years to surpass you. Five years from now, I will challenge you."

The moment Su Mo said this, the surroundings abruptly fell silent. Everyone stared at him in disbelief.

Even Su Hong was startled by his son's words.

"What? You actually want to challenge me five years from now?"

Shangguan Hao was stunned for a moment, then sneered incessantly and shook his head speechlessly. "It seems you still have not recognized the gap between us. A frog at the bottom of a well—how pitiful!"

Then Shangguan Hao added, "I accept your challenge. I shall await you at any time! Oh, and my name is—Shangguan Hao!"

Shangguan Hao had said this only casually. His eyes were full of amusement; he did not take it seriously at all.

A lowly ant wanted to surpass him in five years. Was that possible?

The answer was undoubtedly no.

Su Mo ignored him and shifted his gaze to the gray-robed elder. "Senior, just now you said Xi'er would become a bird in the sky, while I was merely a carp in a lake. That is a fine and fitting comparison."

When Su Mo said this, the crowd was astonished. They all thought Su Mo had come to terms with it.

Upon hearing this, the Thirteenth Elder lightly raised his brows, somewhat puzzled. Had this boy suddenly seen the light?

Just then, Su Mo's words suddenly changed. "However, what I want to tell you, Senior, is that even a carp can leap over the Dragon Gate. Golden scales can transform into a dragon and soar into the heavens. How can you be certain that I, Su Mo, will remain mediocre all my life?"

Su Mo's voice rang with force and conviction. The lofty ambition belonging to a young man seemed to take tangible form and shoot into the heavens.

A carp leaping over the Dragon Gate?

Golden scales transforming into a dragon and soaring into the heavens?

Su Mo's impassioned words made a trace of surprise flash through the Thirteenth Elder's eyes. Then he shook his head, examined Su Mo once more, and said expressionlessly, "Boy, aren't you being far too naive? A carp leaping over the Dragon Gate? Golden Scale Dragon Transformation, soaring into the heavens? Those are merely the fantasies of the weak!"

The Thirteenth Elder found it somewhat amusing. This youth's ambition was commendable, but utterly unrealistic!

"I will do it. Five years from now, the truth will be known."

Su Mo said firmly.

The Thirteenth Elder smiled but did not take him seriously. He said to Shangguan Hao, "Holy Son, let us go!"

"Mhm!"

Shangguan Hao nodded. Looking at Su Mo, he sneered. "An ant will always be an ant. It can never defy the heavens!"

With that, the two took Xi'er and shot into the sky, rushing straight toward the heavens.

"Brother Su Mo, I like you!"

Tears filled Xi'er's beautiful eyes as she suddenly cried out loudly.

Su Mo's heart trembled. This was the first time Xi'er had personally spoken her feelings aloud.

"Xi'er, remember to wait for me!"

Watching her graceful figure gradually disappear into the sky, Su Mo shouted.