Golden Scale Dragon Transformation

Hearing Shangguan Hao's words, Xi'er's pretty face instantly turned cold.

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

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

Shangguan Hao raised his eyebrows. He hadn't expected Xi'er to care so much about this native.

"Miss, we are here under the Palace Master's orders to escort you back to the palace. We will take you no matter what."

The Thirteenth Elder spoke. The Palace Master had given the order, and even if Xi'er was unwilling to return, he would forcibly take her back.

"Brother Su Mo!"

Xi'er looked at Su Mo nervously.

"Xi'er, don't worry!"

Su Mo patted Xi'er's hand and said, "With me here, no one can take you away."

Su Mo was happy that Xi'er could find her parents. If she wanted to return to her family, Su Mo wouldn't stop her. But since Xi'er was unwilling to go back, Su Mo naturally couldn't let others take her away.

"With you here? A lowly ant dares to boast!"

Shangguan Hao shouted coldly. He suddenly stomped his foot, and a wave of energy surged out from him, instantly striking Su Mo.

Pfft!

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

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

"Mo'er!"

Su Hong was furious, his eyes blazing with anger. He looked at Shangguan Hao and roared, "What do you mean by this?"

"An ant is not qualified to speak with me!"

Shangguan Hao didn't even look at Su Hong. He waved his sleeve, and Su Hong felt a mighty force surge through his body. He trembled violently, staggered back several steps, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

What?

Su Hong was greatly alarmed, his heart churning like stormy waves.

How could he be so strong?

This young man looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, yet he had injured him and forced him back with a mere wave of his hand.

Shangguan Hao was incredibly arrogant, domineering, and forceful. Given his status, people like Su Hong were merely country bumpkins in his eyes, not even qualified to speak with him.

Su Mo clenched his fists tightly, his heart surging with anger. This person was truly so arrogant, so overbearingly conceited.

However, he wasn't so reckless as to charge forward and fight the man to the death. The difference in strength was too vast; he wouldn't gain any advantage by going up.

Furthermore, there was an even more powerful-looking elder beside him.

"Alright, Holy Son, let's not waste any more time. The Palace Master is waiting for us to return!"

The Thirteenth Elder said to Shangguan Hao. Then, he looked at Xi'er and said, "Miss, I apologize, but 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 exclaimed in shock. Just as he was about to step forward, a terrifying pressure descended, making his entire body tremble. It felt as if a great mountain was pressing down on him, rendering him unable to move even half a step.

"Let me go, let me go!"

Xi'er was furious, shouting repeatedly, but she couldn't break free from the restraint no matter how hard she struggled.

"Miss, what exactly do you want?"

The Thirteenth Elder asked with a grim expression. If she weren't the Palace Master's daughter, he wouldn't have bothered with her and would have simply taken her away long ago.

"I'm not going with you! I want to be with Brother Su Mo."

Xi'er shouted.

The Thirteenth Elder frowned, glanced at Su Mo, and shook his head. "You can never be together."

"Why?"

Xi'er asked.

"Because you are destined to be people from two different worlds!"

The Thirteenth Elder said with a detached expression, "He is merely a mortal, like a carp in a lake, forever confined to a small pond, never seeing the vast world outside in his lifetime. But Miss, after you return to Emperor Xuan Palace, you will become a bird soaring in the sky, spreading your wings and flying farther and farther. Do you understand?"

The farthest distance in the world: a bird and a fish.

Xi'er was taken aback, then resolutely shook her head. "I don't need to understand. I just want to be with Brother Su Mo."

Hearing this, Su Mo's heart trembled. Xi'er's feelings for him were so deep.

The Thirteenth Elder's expression turned cold. "Miss, I advise you to forget him! If the Palace Master learns of this, not only he, but his entire family will be annihilated."

Xi'er was stunned.

Su Mo's expression flickered between anger and contemplation. After a moment, he suddenly spoke to Xi'er, "Xi'er, you should go with them!"

"Brother Su Mo!" Xi'er exclaimed in shock, looking at Su Mo with confusion.

"Xi'er, he's right. You can only cultivate the Martial Path better if you go back with them. I'll come find you in the Central Continent later."

Su Mo said earnestly.

Su Mo had also figured it out. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing for Xi'er to go back with them. In fact, staying with him might just hinder her Martial Path.

Moreover, the most important thing was that Su Mo knew these two would definitely take Xi'er away today, and whether he agreed or not, he couldn't stop them.

All of this was because his strength was too weak.

Su Mo clenched his fists tightly. At this moment, he possessed an immense craving for strength.

Xi'er's eyes turned red, and she remained silent.

"Ant, don't get your hopes up. You'll never reach the Central Continent in this lifetime, nor will you ever see my junior sister again."

Shangguan Hao sneered, his words filled with deep mockery.

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

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

Su Mo said coldly.

"You're seeking death! How dare a lowly ant speak to me like this? Do you know who I am?"

Shangguan Hao's eyes flared with killing intent, and he shouted.

"Who are you? Aren't you just from Emperor Xuan Palace?"

Su Mo replied.

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

Shangguan Hao scoffed, his face full of arrogance. "Let me tell you what Emperor Xuan Palace represents. Emperor Xuan Palace represents power beyond your imagination! Emperor Xuan Palace represents a peak you can never ascend in your lifetime. Emperor Xuan Palace represents the power to decide the life and death of billions with a single thought."

"Now, do you understand the gap between us? You lowly ant!"

Shangguan Hao tilted his head high, his gaze towards Su Mo filled with naked disdain.

Su Mo's brows furrowed tightly. The other party's contempt ignited a surge of anger within him. He said coldly, "You call me an ant the moment you open your mouth, and you keep calling me an ant. Then let me ask you, as powerful as you are, what realm have you reached?"

"Hahaha!"

Shangguan Hao smiled proudly. "My current cultivation is a realm you will have to look up to your entire life."

"A realm I will have to look up to my entire life?"

Su Mo shook his head dismissively, and then said astonishingly, "Since you're so confident, I'd like to see how you'll make me look up to you my entire life. I only need ten years. No, five years. I only need five years, and I will definitely surpass you. Five years from now, I will issue you a challenge."

As soon as Su Mo said this, the surroundings fell silent. The crowd stared at him in disbelief.

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

"What? You want to challenge me in five years?"

Shangguan Hao froze, then burst into laughter, shaking his head speechlessly. "It seems you still haven't recognized the gap. A frog in a well is truly pathetic!"

Then, Shangguan Hao added, "I accept your challenge. I'll be waiting! Oh, and my name is—Shangguan Hao!"

Shangguan Hao said this casually, his eyes filled with amusement, not taking it seriously at all.

For a lowly ant to surpass him in five years, was that even possible?

The answer was definitely no.

Su Mo ignored him and turned his gaze to the grey-robed elder, saying, "Senior, you just said that Xi'er would become a bird in the sky, while I am merely a carp in the lake. That metaphor is very good and fitting."

As soon as Su Mo said this, the crowd was surprised, all believing Su Mo had come to terms with it.

The Thirteenth Elder raised his brows slightly, feeling a bit puzzled. Had this boy suddenly seen the light?

Just then, Su Mo suddenly changed his tone and said, "However, I want to tell you, Senior, that even a carp can leap over the dragon gate, transform into a golden dragon, and soar into the sky. Can you be sure that I, Su Mo, will be mediocre my entire life?"

Su Mo's voice was resonant and powerful. The noble aspirations of a young man seemed to materialize and shoot towards the heavens.

A carp leaping over the dragon gate?

Transforming into a golden dragon and soaring into the sky?

Su Mo's impassioned words flashed a hint of surprise in the Thirteenth Elder's eyes. Then, he shook his head again and sized up Su Mo once more, saying expressionlessly, "Kid, aren't you being a bit too naive? A carp leaping over the dragon gate? Transforming into a golden dragon and soaring into the sky? These are just the fantasies of the weak!"

The Thirteenth Elder found it somewhat amusing. This young man had commendable ambitions, but they were unrealistic!

"I will achieve it. We'll see in five years."

Su Mo said firmly.

The Thirteenth Elder smiled and didn't take it seriously. He said to Shangguan Hao, "Holy Son, let's go!"

"Mm!"

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

With that, the two of them, along with Xi'er, ascended into the sky, soaring towards the heavens.

"Brother Su Mo, I love you!"

Xi'er's beautiful eyes welled up with tears as she suddenly exclaimed loudly.

Su Mo's heart trembled. This was the first time Xi'er had openly confessed her feelings.

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

Su Mo shouted as he watched the retreating figure gradually disappear into the sky.