Xiao Hua swept his gaze around, then looked at Ao Jiu, who faced death as if returning home, and gave a cold smile. One hand seized Ao Jiu's dragon body and pressed him hard against the deck, while the other fell upon his dragon tail. A faint golden glow emerged from his fingers. With a slight exertion of force, Xiao Hua tore through Ao Jiu's tough dragon hide. As dragon blood welled up, Xiao Hua's fingers gripped the dragon sinew within him, and he said coldly, "People often say dragon sinews are tough and resilient. This Xiao happens to lack a dragon-sinew belt, so I'll borrow yours!"
"You..." Ao Jing's voice rarely carried such fury as he shouted, "You may kill the dragon generals of my North Sea Dragon Palace, but if you dare humiliate them, my North Sea Dragon Palace will be irreconcilable with you!"
How could Xiao Hua possibly heed Ao Jing's words? He fiddled with Ao Jiu's dragon sinew again, peeled back another layer of dragon hide with his fingers, and said once more, "They say dragon hide is impervious to water and fire as well. This Xiao should look quite imposing wearing it as a Dao robe, shouldn't I?"
"Damn it..." Ao Jing roared in rage. "Xiao Hua, if you dare act, this king will never spare you!"
Xiao Hua said coldly, "This Xiao never intended to beg for mercy. This Xiao has stood here all along, but what about you? The lofty Second Crown Prince of the North Sea Dragon Palace actually hides within the dragon ship's demon array, spouting nothing but useless words. You watch as this Xiao flays and strips the sinews from your dragon general, yet you do not dare emerge. Tell me, who will dare serve you in the future?"
"What?