Dragon Marsh Seventh Layer, another direction.
Su Xinghe, alone with his flying sword, glided through the air. He frowned, looking at the dense Dragonmen leaders below. Monsters were everywhere, but he saw no sign of the legendary Boss or any fortuitous encounters. If it were just about grinding monsters, anyone could do it, and it would be meaningless. How then could he distinguish himself from other players?
Just then, a flute melody drifted from the bamboo forest ahead. As Su Xinghe looked down, he saw a youth riding a green ox emerge. Su Xinghe's heart leaped. He had heard the tale of the Dao Ancestor riding a green ox out of Hangu Pass. It was said the Dao Ancestor's cultivation was unfathomable, and he had long since returned to simplicity, making it entirely possible for him to appear as a youth.
"Who are you, and why have you come here?"
The youth, riding the ox, looked up at Su Xinghe.
Su Xinghe immediately landed his sword and clasped his fists respectfully. "I am Su Xinghe, passing through this place. I apologize for disturbing the immortal master."
"It's nothing."
The youth, with an air of maturity, smiled. "Su Xinghe, I have resided here for a long time, seeking the Dao, and have not encountered anyone who could enter this forest. Now, I have comprehended a profound Daoist art. You are considered a fated person. Are you willing to accept this Daoist art?"
"I am willing!"
Su Xinghe clasped his fists again. "I implore the immortal master to impart his teachings."
"Very well, the Daoist art is..."
The youth raised his palm slightly. Suddenly, a purplish palm image descended from the heavens, striking directly towards Su Xinghe's head. As the palm fell, it transformed into the claw of a living demonic dragon. The unfortunate Su Xinghe, without even a grunt, was smashed into pieces by the dragon's claw, turning into white light and returning to the city to respawn.
...
"Whoosh!"
Another brilliance flew into the Seventh Layer. It was Lin Zhao, bearing the Dragon Slaying Sword and Zhan Lu, with a Hundred Flowers gourd hanging from his waist. Clad in white armor, he exuded the demeanor of a Sword Immortal. He happened to be passing a bamboo forest when he heard a melodious flute sound from within. Lin Zhao frowned. According to legend, the Seventh Layer of the Dragon Marsh was the burial ground of the Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong, a place filled with demonic energy, utterly unsuitable for human survival. How could there be flute music here?
Just then, a young man in a green short shirt emerged from the bamboo forest, playing a bamboo flute. He looked up at Lin Zhao in the wind and smiled. "Who are you, and why have you come here?"
Lin Zhao descended gracefully, clasped his fists, and said, "My name is Lin Zhao. I am passing through here to slay demons. Please forgive me for the disturbance."
"It's nothing."
The youth smiled. "Lin Zhao, I have been trapped here for hundreds of years. By chance, I have comprehended a Daoist art. If you can rescue me from this place, I will bestow this skill upon you. Are you willing?"
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao blinked slightly and asked, "Who are you, and why are you trapped here?"
The youth's expression turned sorrowful. "Let bygones be bygones. Lin Zhao, I only ask you this: if I am willing to impart a heavenly skill to you, will you save me from this realm?"
"..."
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "I do not like to bargain. If you are truly trapped here by the demonic dragon, I will help you escape. However, there can be no conditions. Otherwise, my original intention for helping would become impure. Therefore, please understand, I absolutely cannot agree to what you propose."
"You..."
Veins on the youth's forehead slowly bulged, but he suppressed his temper and smiled. "What if I feel a kinship with you and willingly teach you a Daoist art? And then, after you rescue me, we can consider it a mutual exchange. What do you think?"
Lin Zhao frowned again. "That doesn't make sense either. Because I already know you have a skill to exchange, saving you now would still compromise my original intention and the cultivation of a scholar's mind. If you insist on an answer, then I am willing to help you escape, but I will absolutely not accept your bestowed Daoist art. How about that?"
"Ahhh..."
The youth's expression became increasingly ferocious. He could no longer suppress the demonic nature within him. The skin on his forehead cracked, and two dragon horns slowly protruded. His body began to grow larger, and the green ox he was riding merged into his body, becoming a thick, green dragon tail. In an instant, only the youth's head remained human-shaped, the rest transforming into the appearance of a green demonic dragon. He roared madly at Lin Zhao, "Why are you so hesitant and indecisive? Just accept the opportunity when it's given to you! Why do you need to clarify so many principles? You Confucian scholars are truly detestable! I hate scholars the most in this life!"
"Oh dear..."
Lin Zhao took several steps back, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Getting agitated already?! Hahahaha..."
In reality, the demonic energy here was dense. The moment Lin Zhao stepped onto the Seventh Layer, he did not believe any human could still be alive. Therefore, he used Confucian principles to test the waters slightly. The Boss of the Seventh Layer, the Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong, could not suppress his anger. No wonder he had been suppressed in the Demonic Dragon's Tomb for so many years and could not escape.
"Beep!" A message arrived from Jian Huang, the leader of the Lin Yuan Xian Yu guild. "Lin Zhao, be careful if you enter the Seventh Layer. This damned Boss of the Seventh Layer is cunning and will disguise himself as a youth riding an ox. Once you accept any benefit he offers, you will be instantly killed. I, Su Xinghe, and several other top players have fallen for this trick, and even invincibility skills didn't work. We were instantly killed."
"Got it."
Lin Zhao smiled. "Leave this Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong to me."
"En!"
Immediately, Lin Zhao sent his map coordinates to Chen Xue. "Now, have the Golden Core realm ranged attackers and support players from the guild fly over as quickly as possible. Cooperate with me to conquer the ultimate Boss of the Ancient Dragon Marsh."
"Coming!"
Lin Zhao sat on his flying sword. With a sweep of his hand, he addressed the half-transformed Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong. "Don't be in a hurry to kill me yet. Look... I am merely a Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator. I am no match for you, of course. There are countless unknown sword cultivators like me in the human realm, but there is only one Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong in the world. Now that I am in your territory, you can kill me whenever you wish. Let's first clarify things."
"What do you want to clarify?"
The Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong's gaze was icy. "I have been suppressed beneath the Seventh Layer of the Ancient Dragon Marsh for thousands of years. Did that Confucian sect leader who suppressed me show any mercy?"
"Then what did you do back then to enrage the Confucian sages so much?"
"It was merely a momentary whim that caused me to burn the world, leaving it barren for thousands of miles. What does it matter if millions of people died? I was once a thirteen-realm Demonic Dragon, the supreme being of all monsters!"
"That's where you're wrong again."
Lin Zhao frowned. "Confucianism has always taught the principle of not doing to others what you would not want done to yourself. Since you resent the Confucians for suppressing you, have you ever thought about how the common people you burned might have resented you? Although you are a thirteen-realm being, the supreme ruler of the world, this power comes partly from your bloodline and partly from the spiritual essence of heaven and earth. Therefore, you should not have indulged your power so recklessly. Confucianism also says, 'A gentleman conceals his talent...'"
He began to drone on with his reasoning.
"???"
The Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong tilted the head of his youthful form and looked at the young sword cultivator before him. Since when did sword cultivators in the human realm become so long-winded? At that moment, the Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong wished he could bite his head off.
Just then, several brilliant lights streaked from afar. It was Shen Xingchen, Mo Chenxue, Chen Xue, and others. In the distance, other players were rushing over, including Lu Li, Qing Ning, and Ding Chi.
Lin Zhao's heart was relieved. He was happy now. With Mo Chenxue's arrival, they would have healing. The more people who arrived, the better.
"Alright, let's form a team!"
He stood up abruptly and descended from his flying sword, Hongye. The moment his feet touched the ground, a fierce Sky Burning Beast appeared beneath him. When facing a Boss solo, speed and agility were not as important as offense, defense, and health. He pointed his sword directly at the Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong and reprimanded, "You love to kill innocent people so much, so you must have your retribution. Come, die!"
"You're finally done pretending to be a Confucian sage!?"
The Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong's face was also contorted in ferocity. "Very good, very good! Die!"
The two sides officially began to fight.
Lin Zhao's primary reliance was still on his extremely high survivability, thanks to the Golden Armor Immortal Robe. Although the Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong was the largest Boss on the map, he was still a Saint-level Boss. He wouldn't be overwhelmingly stronger than the Sky Burning Beast. Behind Lin Zhao were Mo Chenxue, Qing Ning, and other nomads. As long as the percentage-based health recovery skills could keep up, it would suffice.
"Alright, hold steady."
Chen Xue, holding her spear, stood a short distance away, watching the battle with a smile. "Almost all the people here are our true allies. Guild leader, if you have anything to say, just say it. How do you want to distribute the Boss's loot?"
"Distribute it based on need."
Lin Zhao raised his eyebrows and smiled. "First, the Qiankun Xuanhuo Tower goes to me. I'll examine this magical artifact and decide whether to use it myself or give it to one of you. In short, the final treasure belongs to me. Also, if there are any Saint-grade equipment that suits me, I'll take it first. Everyone, don't rush. I don't get many opportunities to fight Bosses, so let me replenish my equipment first."
"Okay!"
Ding Chi grinned. "Anyway, we brothers are just here to watch."
For a moment, the Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong roared. These people were so arrogant, already eyeing the Qiankun Xuanhuo Tower. Did they really think the Demonic Dragon Qing Zhong was just a fish on a cutting board?
...
Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, the New Year is approaching.
"Whoosh!"
A figure in a red dress and white shirt descended from the sky. It was Xiao Jiu'er. She held a long sword and looked at Dong Cang, who was cutting red paper nearby. She smiled and said, "Sister Dong Cang, are you making couplets?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Dong Cang smiled. "Xiao Jiu'er, you're home?"
"Mm!"
Su Qingjiu nodded heavily. "It's the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month. It's time to go home for the New Year. Where's Brother Lin Zhao?"
"Young Master seems to have gone to the Ancient Dragon Marsh in Yunzhou for training these past two days. Don't worry, he'll be back before New Year's Eve. Young Master has always been thinking of you."
"Mm, okay!"
Su Qingjiu stepped into Tian Ran Ju and began cleaning the two rooms on the second floor, one for Brother Lin Zhao and one for Xiao Jiu'er.