Can My Five Tigers of the Underworld Defeat Him in a One-on-One Fight?

Lu Chen heard this and abruptly turned to Lord of the Land. "Good! Then take me there now!"

"I obey Your Excellency's decree!"

Lord of the Land raised the jujube-wood cane in his hand and slowly drew a circle around Lu Chen. The cane immediately blossomed with dazzling golden light, enveloping Lu Chen's entire body.

The next moment, Lu Chen felt the ground vanish beneath his feet. A powerful sensation of weightlessness struck him, and darkness instantly swallowed his vision. Sharp scraping sounds rang intermittently in his ears, as though they were piercing through layer upon layer of rock.

"Your Excellency, that old Dragon King has a peculiar temperament and no restraint on his tongue. I hope Your Excellency will not lower yourself to his level." Lord of the Land's voice sounded in the darkness. Then a ball of bright light lit up at the tip of his cane, illuminating their surroundings.

Only then did Lu Chen see clearly that the mud and sand around them were streaming backward like flowing water.

This was Lord of the Land's signature skill: Earth-Escape Technique.

Experiencing such a mysterious spell for the first time, Lu Chen was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, looking everywhere in wonder and clicking his tongue in amazement. He nodded slightly and asked, "Lord of the Land, from the sound of it, you seem quite familiar with this Well Dragon King? Do you normally have dealings with each other?"

"In reply to Your Excellency, this old man has little to do in his spare time, so I occasionally visit the old Dragon King's water manor for a few games of Go. As for familiarity... I do know a thing or two about him."

"Oh?" Lu Chen raised a brow. "Back then, when the East Sea Spirit King violated the Xu River, the Xu River Dragon King would rather shatter jade than remain intact as tile. Yet this Well Dragon King managed to preserve himself alone. Could he have already submitted to the East Sea Dragon King?"

"Your Excellency jests." Lord of the Land waved his hands repeatedly. "That old Dragon King is timid as a mouse, and his divine power is mediocre. He is only slightly stronger than this humble deity. How could someone like the East Sea Dragon King possibly think highly of him?"

"Even if he does not think highly of him, this Well Dragon King is still a dragon. Given the East Sea Dragon King's methods, I do not believe He would let him off so easily." Lu Chen's tone grew heavier.

Lord of the Land smiled awkwardly. "Your Excellency does not know: while that Well Dragon King is useless at most things, his ability to hide is second to none. Before the East Sea Dragon King made His move back then, even this old man had no idea that Dragon-Tiger County was hiding such a Well Dragon King. It was not until more than a decade ago, when this old man was conducting his routine patrol of the territory and happened upon a barren mountain, that I faintly heard a dragon's cry. I went closer to investigate and discovered an old dragon sighing amid a stream. Only then did I learn of His existence. After we came and went more often, the two of us gradually became chess companions."

At this point, Lord of the Land gave a dry laugh. "This old man has no hobbies in life, save for a deep fondness for the Way of chess. That old dragon and I are birds of a feather, so I hope Your Excellency will not find fault with it."

Lu Chen looked thoughtful. "From what you say, this Well Dragon King is living quite miserably now?"

Lord of the Land nodded and sighed. "The Well Dragon King's duty is to govern wells and springs and regulate underground water sources. But times have changed. How many people still dig wells for water now? The common people drink from rivers and great waterways, and those who worship the Well Dragon King have long since vanished. Naturally, He has fallen into increasing destitution. Moreover, He is timid by nature. When the Xu River Dragon King was still around, He worried every day that He would be taken in and used as a subordinate. After the Xu River Dragon King died in battle, He feared the East Sea Dragon King's thunderous methods even more, living in constant dread and never stepping beyond His door."

"Ever since this humble deity stumbled upon Him, He has kept His water manor tightly shut. Only when He is bored out of His mind does He send word and invite this old man over for a few games."

Lu Chen smiled without quite smiling. "So it really does prove the old saying: the more timid one is, the longer one lives."

"Your Excellency sees clearly! That is exactly the truth. To be honest, this old man cannot bear to see the people of Dragon-Tiger County suffer either. Protecting one region is this humble deity's duty to begin with. It is not that I never thought to ask the old Dragon King to summon clouds and spread rain, but He refused every time without hesitation."

Lord of the Land paused, then continued, "But upon further thought, it is understandable. If He truly had that kind of courage, He would have stepped forward when the East Sea Dragon King began slaughtering back then. Thus, if Your Excellency wishes to persuade Him to act, the difficulty will indeed be considerable. But this humble deity believes that with Your Excellency's divine might, You will seize victory as easily as reaching into a bag, sweeping all before You."

Lu Chen said, "Uh..."

Fuck, it seemed he had bragged a little too hard...

His strength was only at the perfected peak of First Rank.

He had not even reached Second Rank yet.

Even if he had Black and White Impermanence, Ox-Head and Horse-Face under his command.

Even if all of them started at Third Rank.

That old Dragon King was still a true dragon.

If they really fought, could his Five Tigers of the Underworld defeat Him in a one-on-one fight?

It was honestly hard to say...

After all, this thing had high defense and thick health.

In any game, it would at least count as a minor boss.

"Forget it, I'll go first and see! Having a chance is better than having none."

With that thought in mind, Lu Chen's expression remained as steady as an old dog's. He said calmly, "Let this one go meet Him!"

"Your Excellency's divine might!!" Lord of the Land hurriedly flattered him, then raised a hand and pointed ahead. "Your Excellency, we have arrived!"

Lu Chen felt his body lighten, and his vision suddenly opened up. He had already returned to the surface.

Looking ahead, he saw a dried-up well standing alone amid a barren mountain.

Not a blade of grass grew around it. Looking over the surrounding mountains, all he saw was bleak desolation, without even the faintest trace of human habitation.

Lord of the Land shuffled over to the dry well, bent down, and lightly tapped the edge of the well three times with his cane.

"Roar!"

A moment later, a deep dragon's cry came from within the well, making the walls tremble faintly.

Lu Chen's eyes lit up.

Then a suppressed roar came from the well. Clearly, its owner did not wish to alarm the surroundings. "Old bastard! Who is that person beside you? Have you forgotten my rules?!"

Yet the anger in that voice was nearly overflowing.

Lord of the Land lifted a foot and lightly kicked the edge of the well, snorting. "You blind old loach! This honored lord is the sworn younger brother of an Orthodox God from the Heavenly Court's Wealth Department, the sworn son of the Underworld Office's King of the Underworld, and the Underworld Martial and Virtuous General! Why have you not come out to receive Him?!"

"Old bastard, do not try to fool me! This man has not even reached Second Rank, and his divine power is feeble. How could he possibly be as extraordinary as you claim! Roar!"

Another dragon's cry rang out, shaking Lu Chen's mind and spirit.

"Your Excellency..." Lord of the Land clasped his hands and looked toward Lu Chen.

Lu Chen nodded slightly, then walked slowly to the side of the well and looked down.

There was actually water in this dry well, likely connected to an underground river.

At this moment, the surface was churning violently, bubbles rising without end.

Without another word, he removed the Fortune-Bringing Gold Ingot from around his neck and held it above the well. "Old Dragon King, do you recognize this?"

"This is..." The Well Dragon King's tone changed abruptly, revealing suspicion. "This object truly carries the aura of an Orthodox God from the Heavenly Court!"

"Correct. This is the personal magical treasure of Lord God of Wealth, an Orthodox God of the Heavenly Court's Wealth Department. It is called the Fortune-Bringing Gold Ingot." The corners of Lu Chen's lips rose slightly. "Old Dragon King, look at this as well!"

The moment his words fell, black qi surged around him, transforming into a tornado that shot into the sky with terrifying force. His long hair flew without wind, dancing down to his waist. His eyes were like Yanluo awakening from the abyss of the Nine Netherworlds, scarlet as blood. The Yanluo Token on the back of his hand was like a crimson serpent flicking its tongue, chilling all who saw it.

Lu Chen once again assumed Yanluo form!

"Old Dragon King, do you recognize this one?!"

His voice, like an echo from the Nine Netherworlds, shook the four directions. It frightened Lord of the Land into retreating again and again before dropping to his knees in worship. "Your Excellency, quell Your anger! Your Excellency, quell Your anger!"

"Roar!!"

The next second, the sound of water breaking erupted.

A golden dragon shot from the dry well into the sky. After circling twice in the air, it landed and transformed into human form.

"I did not know Your Excellency would honor this place with Your presence. This little dragon failed to welcome You from afar!" The dragon-headed, human-bodied Well Dragon King hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

Lu Chen dispersed his Yanluo form and returned the salute with clasped hands. "Greetings, Well Dragon King. I have come to trouble you today, and I hope the Dragon King will not take offense."

"Not at all, not at all! Your Excellency is far too gracious to this little dragon." The Well Dragon King turned to Lord of the Land and complained, "Since Your Excellency had arrived, why did you not say so earlier?"

Lord of the Land said, "...Fuck your grandfather, you old loach!"

Knowing he was in the wrong, the Well Dragon King's throat bobbed, and He swallowed His words back down.

Lu Chen studied this Dragon King. He saw that His clothes were ragged, patches layered upon patches over His dragon robe. Worse still, He did not even have a pair of boots, His dragon claws stepping directly on the ground. He was indeed so destitute that it tugged at the heart.

A thought stirred in Lu Chen's mind, and he said to Lord of the Land, "Lord of the Land, trouble yourself to do something for me."

"Please speak, Your Excellency!" Lord of the Land clasped his hands respectfully.

"Go back and fetch the backpack from my car. I have use for it!"