That Dragon Is Rotten-He Just Hit Me

The instant Shen Luo stepped out of the spatial rift, scorching magma heat blasted him in the face.

His abrupt turn back to save the Fire Fairy just now had truly been a last resort!

With his strength, he could not possibly survive deep within the earth's core!

Outside, lizardmen clad in crimson scales roamed in dense masses that stretched beyond sight.

The two exceptionally large old lizardmen at their head bore dark gold markings on their foreheads. They were the only two high-level Half-Saints among the Flame Lizardmen.

Sensing the ancient dragon's pressure emanating from that drop of Zhu Kun's essence blood inside Shen Luo, they all dropped to their knees, their scales scraping across the rocky ground with a thunderous rustle.

"All of you, clear out!" The old lizardman at the head spoke in human language, barking at the Flame Lizardmen behind him in a voice like sandpaper scraping iron.

He raised his rough palm, and a dark red barrier sprang into existence around Shen Luo, shutting out the heat that could roast a Dou Zong into charcoal.

Supported by the barrier, Shen Luo sped upward.

The rock walls of the Earth Core World raced backward beside him. Dark red rivers of magma crisscrossed the surroundings, and occasionally, a Flame Lizardman hatchling poked its head out of the magma, only to be slapped back down by an elder.

He clenched his fists, feeling that drop of ancient dragon essence blood revolve slowly near his dantian like a miniature sun, releasing a thread of searing power with every revolution.

The barrier broke through the final layer of rock, and the dazzling daylight made Shen Luo narrow his eyes.

Shen Luo finally returned to the bottom level of the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower. Once his boot soles left the Magma World, the barrier shattered soundlessly.

The two Half-Saint lizardmen poked their upper bodies out of a fissure, nodded to him, then sank back underground.

Shen Luo broke into a run.

The Inner Academy's stone paths raced backward beneath his feet. He ran straight into several Inner Academy elders, who jumped aside in fright at the waves of heat and magma scorch marks covering him.

He had no time to explain and charged straight toward Zi Yan's residence. Just as he rounded a corridor corner, an old man in gray robes stepped out from the side, blocking his path.

"Great Elder Su Qian." Shen Luo stopped short.

Su Qian looked him up and down, his brows knotting together. "Second Elder, I heard you-you went underground again. I was just about to take some people down..."

"Old Su, we can discuss everything else later. I have something urgent to do." Shen Luo turned sideways to go around him.

Su Qian stepped across and blocked him again, a rarely seen fierceness appearing on his gaunt face. "Even urgent matters will have to wait. Shen Luo, Jia Nan Academy suffered terribly this time. Those bastards from the Black-Corner Region joined forces to besiege the Inner Academy. Seven elders and over thirty students died. If Jia Nan Academy swallows this insult, how will we maintain our footing in the academy?"

He paused, raising his graying brows. "I've already assembled every elder in the academy at Dou Wang or above. We leave first thing tomorrow and knock on their doors one by one. Not a single faction that took part will escape."

Watching the vicious light bursting from the eyes of this great elder, who had always acted with the force of thunder and the speed of wind, Shen Luo felt a sense of satisfaction.

He patted Su Qian's shoulder. "They deserve a beating. Great Elder, you have my support. Beat them to death. But I can't go with you. I have something even more life-threatening to deal with."

Su Qian snorted. "I know all about your talent for stirring up trouble. Fine, stay behind if you must. But there's one thing you owe me an explanation for. What happened to the Fallen Heart Flame at the bottom of the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower? All the Fire Energy in the tower suddenly vanished. The students can't cultivate, and complaints are everywhere."

Shen Luo scratched the back of his head. "Old Su, there was a bit of an accident. Well... I've already destroyed the Fallen Heart Flame. The Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower won't ever produce Fire Energy again. It's completely useless now."

Su Qian's face instantly turned livid, and his Dou Zong aura erupted. "What did you say?!"

"Great Elder, don't get worked up!" Shen Luo hurriedly waved his hands. "I know I handled this badly, but I can compensate you. Discuss it with the Qianbai Elders later. As long as it's reasonable, I'll agree to everything!"

Su Qian's chest heaved several times. The finger pointing at Shen Luo's nose trembled again and again before he finally heaved a long sigh. "You brat... the Fallen Heart Flame was the foundation on which the academy was established. Without it, how can the academy maintain its footing?" He waved his hand, his eyes shifting. "You'll have to pay extra!"

When he returned to the little courtyard and pushed open the door, he froze for a moment.

There were quite a few people inside.

Zi Yan sat cross-legged on the bed, still in the form of a petite, delicate little girl. Her purple hair spilled down to her waist, and her small face was as exquisite as a porcelain doll's. Only her eyes held a little more depth and sharpness than before.

Queen Medusa was there too, dressed in brocade robes, her cold beauty striking.

This dragon and snake seemed to be getting along quite well!

To Shen Luo's surprise, Xiao Yan was there too, lying prone on the floor with a rather unpleasant expression.

"Shen Luo!" Zi Yan bounced off the bed, her short legs pumping as she plunged headfirst into his arms. "What's that smell on you? Blood and magma-you stink!"

Shen Luo rubbed her head. "Never mind the smell for now. Did you advance successfully? Why are you still so tiny?"

Zi Yan tilted her face up and huffed. "What's the rush? Once I get a little stronger, I'll naturally grow up."

"It's a long story." Shen Luo's gaze swept toward Xiao Yan. "You're Xiao Yan, aren't you? What brings you to this elder's residence?"

Before Xiao Yan could speak, Queen Medusa cast him a cold glance.

"This brat wanted me to leave with him just now. He said he was the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's master. But my master... is clearly you..."

After speaking, Medusa even kept letting out little sobs, looking as though she wanted him to uphold justice for his humble servant!

Looking at this beautiful snake with her superb acting skills, Shen Luo shrugged!

Xiao Yan said urgently, "Second Elder, this Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python really is my pet! She came to Jia Nan Academy with me. Queen Medusa's soul occupied her body!"

Xiao Yan looked at Shen Luo pleadingly.

Shen Luo remained silent for two breaths before saying coldly, "Xiao Yan, the person before us is clearly Queen Medusa. Besides..." He paused, then laid it out plainly. "She's already mine!"

Xiao Yan's face went from white to red, his chest heaving violently as he abruptly flicked his sleeve. "Elder Shen, you... don't push me too far! You stole my snake today, but don't you know that the river flows east for thirty years, then west for thirty years? When I, Xiao Yan, reach the pinnacle one day, don't any of you regret this!" He snorted heavily, turned, and strode out, slamming the door behind him.

Hearing those somewhat familiar words, Shen Luo's scalp prickled!

The room fell silent for a moment.

Queen Medusa scoffed. "Shall I slaughter him?"

Shen Luo did not answer. He grabbed Zi Yan's hand. "Zi Yan, come with me. I'll take you to meet someone."

Dragged forward two stumbling steps, Zi Yan's little face turned stern. "What? What? Who are we meeting? I'm not meeting anyone!"

"Don't you want to meet your kin? I'll take you to them right now!"

Zi Yan stopped in her tracks and jerked her head up. "My kin? Really?" She kicked off with her short legs, grabbed Shen Luo instead, and shot outside with him in tow. "Then what are we waiting for? Hurry!"

The two rushed out of the courtyard gate. Suddenly remembering something, Shen Luo turned his head and called as he ran, "Cai Lin, don't touch that Xiao Yan. Let him be!"

Queen Medusa leaned against the doorframe with her arms folded, no expression discernible on her cold, beautiful face. She merely tossed out a mild reply. "Understood. Come back soon. Cai Lin will be waiting for you in bed..."

Shen Luo made a hand gesture and pulled Zi Yan along as he flew toward the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower.

In the Magma World, the two Half-Saint lizardmen raised a barrier and escorted them down into the depths of the earth's core, one on either side.

Zi Yan leaned close to Shen Luo's ear and murmured, "Shen Luo, weren't we going to meet my kin? Why are we coming underground?"

Shen Luo grinned. "There's an Ancient Void Dragon hiding deep in this earth's core. He's rotten. He just hit me."