Those golden slit pupils, like two enormous lanterns, slowly drew closer through the thick fog.
As the colossal creature approached, the sea began to heave violently. The Spirit Boat rocked from side to side, forcing the disciples aboard to clutch the gunwales to keep their footing. A heavy, fishy stench filled the air, making them gag.
"Everyone, hold steady!" Chen Ming shouted sharply. He circulated his spiritual power, planting his feet on the deck as firmly as if they had taken root. His gaze never left the eyes drawing ever closer through the fog as he rapidly considered his options.
At last, the enormous creature in the fog revealed its true form.
It was a pitch-black flood dragon, sixty to ninety meters long. Its body, as thick as a water vat, was covered in dark green scales, each the size of a palm, gleaming with a cold, eerie sheen in the dim light.
Its head was triangular, with a short, thick black horn rising from its crown. Two fangs several feet long protruded from the corners of its mouth, flashing with a sinister chill. The demonic aura of a mid-stage Nascent Soul creature radiated from its body, pressing down on everyone present until they could barely breathe.
"The Black-Scaled Flood Dragon... it really is the Black-Scaled Flood Dragon!" Jiang Yue's voice came from Tianxing City's tower ship, his tone grave. "And judging by its size, it must have over a thousand years of cultivation! Be careful, everyone. This beast won't be easy to deal with!"
The Black-Scaled Flood Dragon slowly swam to a spot roughly three hundred meters from the four Spirit Boats and stopped. Its cold slit pupils swept over the fleet before it, filled with scrutiny and hostility. Its tail swayed gently, each movement raising waves several meters