Battle the Three Dragons Again

The conflict among the Three Clans had expanded step by step from small-scale clashes into large-scale confrontations.

Although Red Cloud had been unwilling, he and the Parasol Tree had become the fuse that ignited the Dragon-Phoenix Decisive Battle.

This also benefited Red Cloud. The Great Luo Golden Immortals of the Three Clans were tied up by the conflict and had no time to search for him, allowing him to continue causing trouble.

One day, Red Cloud arrived at a wasteland that stretched as far as the eye could see. Not a blade of grass grew there. The ground was crimson, radiating a scorching heat.

This wasteland was called the Buzhou Wasteland. It lay at the northwestern foot of Buzhou Mountain and was shrouded in Pangu's pressure, making it one of the Primordial World's most notorious danger zones.

It was said that Fierce Beasts lurked in the depths of the wasteland, and even Great Luo Golden Immortals did not dare venture too deeply inside.

Red Cloud stood at the edge of the wasteland, staring at the crimson earth ahead with resolve flashing in his eyes.

He had heard more than once of the dangers of the Buzhou Wasteland, but he had no other choice now. Entering it might offer him a slim chance at survival, while remaining outside meant he would eventually be found by the Three Clans' pursuers.

"Seek life amid mortal danger. I'm going in!"

Red Cloud gritted his teeth and stepped into the Buzhou Wasteland. An inexplicable pressure immediately descended upon him.

But in the next moment, Red Cloud felt threads of warmth stir within his bloodline, and a faint golden glow spread across his body.

Then, the pressure weighing on Red Cloud abruptly vanished, replaced by an oddly familiar sensation.

"Could it be... Pangu's pressure has dispersed?"

A trace of astonishment flashed through Red Cloud's eyes.

But he quickly understood. He remembered that this incarnation had been forged from the origin of a stray drop of Pangu Heart Blood. It could be considered a descendant of Pangu as well.

At that thought, excitement flashed in Red Cloud's eyes. Without Pangu's pressure affecting him, the danger posed by the Buzhou Wasteland would be reduced by more than half.

Although Pangu's pressure was not fatal within the Buzhou Wasteland, even Great Luo Golden Immortals could not wield half their strength while under its effects.

It was like a negative aura domain. Within a certain range of Buzhou Mountain, the closer one got to the mountain, the stronger the pressure became. In the end, even Great Luo Golden Immortals would struggle to survive.

The Buzhou Wasteland was blisteringly hot. The ground was so scorching that cultivators below the Golden Immortal realm could not even stand upon it, while the air was thick with the scent of sulfur.

Not long after Red Cloud began walking, he spotted several enormous lizards basking on the distant ground.

The lizards were gigantic, surrounded by dense baleful aura. Each was tens of thousands of zhang long, covered in crimson scales and radiating a savage presence.

These lizards were called Redblood Lizards, Fierce Beasts that had fled into the Buzhou Wasteland after the Beast Calamity.

Each of those Redblood Lizards had reached Primordial Unity Golden Immortal Perfection. Not only were they powerful, but there were also many of them. Even Red Cloud did not dare provoke them lightly.

Red Cloud went around the Redblood Lizards and continued deeper into the wasteland. The Buzhou Wasteland was far larger than he had imagined, and there were far more Fierce Beasts here as well.

None of the Fierce Beasts living in the Buzhou Wasteland were below the Golden Immortal realm. Anything weaker simply could not survive here.

When he encountered Fierce Beasts weaker than himself, Red Cloud would kill a few. He had thought he would receive Heavenly Dao Merit, but unexpectedly, nothing happened.

"Has the benefit version been removed?!"

Red Cloud grumbled. He had thought he was about to strike it rich. No wonder these Fierce Beasts had been able to live here so peacefully.

If killing Fierce Beasts granted merit, the Three Clans would have wiped out every Fierce Beast in the Buzhou Wasteland long ago.

Without merit as a reward, Red Cloud's interest dwindled sharply. Though he no longer actively hunted Fierce Beasts, quite a few took the initiative to attack him. Redblood Lizards, Flame Scorpions, Earthfire Pythons, and others were all killed by Red Cloud and eaten.

One day, Red Cloud discovered a stone mountain ahead. It was not tall, only a few hundred zhang high, but there was a natural cave in its cliff face that looked suitable for shelter.

Red Cloud headed toward the stone mountain, but when he was halfway there, he suddenly stopped and warily looked around.

Something was wrong. It was too quiet here.

Although the Buzhou Wasteland was desolate, there were always signs of Fierce Beast activity. Yet in this area, there was not even a single insect in sight, much less a Fierce Beast. It was far too abnormal.

Red Cloud swept the surroundings with his divine sense but found nothing unusual. Still, his instincts told him something was wrong.

"Come out. Stop hiding."

After standing there for a moment, Red Cloud suddenly spoke. His voice echoed across the empty wasteland.

No one answered, but after a brief silence, a cold laugh came from the void. "You're quite vigilant."

"But unfortunately, you're still too late."

Suddenly, three figures stepped out of the void. They were the same three Horned Dragons who had once pursued Red Cloud.

The leading Horned Dragon wore a cold smile, looking at Red Cloud as though he were already dead.

"How did you find me here?"

Red Cloud's expression shifted slightly as he studied them. He discovered that all three Horned Dragons had reached Primordial Unity Golden Immortal Perfection.

He was improving, but so were the others.

Still, these three were certainly persistent. Red Cloud had not expected them to pursue him all the way into the Buzhou Wasteland.

"Kid, did you think that hiding in the Buzhou Wasteland would make us unable to find you?"

The leading Horned Dragon sneered.

"Though the Buzhou Wasteland is dangerous, to our Dragon Clan, it is nothing more than a backyard. Every move you make has been under our watch."

Red Cloud's heart sank. He had thought entering the Buzhou Wasteland would allow him to shake off the Three Clans' pursuit.

Now it seemed that idea had been somewhat naive. The Buzhou Wasteland could block independent cultivators, but it could not stop the Three Clans from hunting someone down. Before the benefits of gaining merit from killing Fierce Beasts disappeared, the Three Clans must have come here often.

"Last time, the Tiger Clan interfered and let you escape. This time, let's see who can save you."

The leading Horned Dragon loosened his body as dragon might spread outward and locked onto Red Cloud. The other two Horned Dragons also scattered apart, sealing off Red Cloud's retreat.

Red Cloud took a deep breath. He knew this battle was unavoidable, but he was no longer the man he had once been. This time, he would not flee in such a sorry state.

"Enough nonsense. If you want to fight, then fight."

Red Cloud's face turned cold as he casually drew the Ice Soul Sword. A faint azure glow flowed across its blade.

"You've got guts. Then die!"

The leading Horned Dragon struck first. With a twist of his body, he transformed into his true form and opened his mouth to unleash a blast of Profound Ice Dragon Breath.

This time, the dragon breath was even more ferocious. Wherever the icy-blue breath passed, even the air froze, leaving an icy trail across the ground.

Red Cloud did not meet it head-on. With a flash, he avoided the direct strike of the Profound Ice Dragon Breath.

But the moment Red Cloud dodged the dragon breath, lightning from another Horned Dragon was already crashing down. The silver lightning was like Heavenly Punishment, carrying the force to destroy everything.

Red Cloud's expression did not change. He raised the Ice Soul Sword, sending a sword qi streaking toward the lightning. The rainbow-like sword qi collided with the lightning, erupting in a blinding silver-red radiance.

Red Cloud was struck by the lightning's aftershock. His body went numb, and his movements became somewhat sluggish.

The third Horned Dragon's poisonous mist followed close behind. Black poison mist spread out, enveloping Red Cloud.

Red Cloud bit the tip of his tongue, using the pain to dispel the numbness. At the same time, he activated the Illustrated Record of Literary Fortune. Golden words formed a shield around his body, blocking the poison mist's corrosion.

"This kid is really troublesome!"

The Horned Dragon controlling the poisonous mist said in frustration. His poison mist was nearly useless against Red Cloud, leaving him deeply frustrated.