Chapter 464: Chapter 30: The True Man’s Display
Tens of thousands of feet in the sky, despite the assistance of Black Beauty, the further they flew, the more difficult the flight became.
The higher they went, the thinner the air became, and the wind, like a knife’s edge skimming across the scalp and skin, made one shudder repeatedly.
Fortunately, the Black Winged Dragon had been prepared all along. From its continuously flapping wings extended a layer of pale black Dragon Shield Energy that isolated the winds from outside, making it feel like they were aboard an airship.
After the encounter with the Sky Dragon Palace, Yue Jinghua couldn’t help but think that for the long-term development of the Mercenary Team, she too must acquire an aerial transportation tool similar to the Black Winged Dragon or the Fire Dragon Sail.
It was easy to think about, but really putting it into practice was far from easy.
The Sub-Dragon Clan, especially the Winged Dragon lineage, were hard to come by. As for the Fire Dragon Sail, that was something that only large Mercenary Groups like the Rebellion Mercenary Group could have. For a negative point-scoring Mercenary Team like the July Mercenary Team, even buying a piece of ship plank would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
As she pondered, Yue Jinghua felt a tug on her sleeve; it turned out that Yue Chen had grabbed the cuff of her sleeve.
Yue Jinghua couldn’t help but silently think, those like Luo Rui who relied on their own Cultivation to reach the Dragon Palace, even if they managed to get there, probably had little Dark Power remaining. In this view, the Divine Court’s use of the Transmission Array to enter the Sky Dragon Palace was indeed the smartest method.
The Sky Dragon Palace, from afar, already boasted an imposing aura. Up close, the dragon-shaped design of the palace was lifelike, no wonder those Middle-level Air Knights were so scared as they approached that they plummeted.
It was only upon getting closer that the secret of how the Dragon Palace managed to hang suspended in the air was revealed.
Turns out, the Dragon Palace was modeled after a dragon, with nine claws, and beneath each claw was a Dark Array. It was these nine Dark Arrays that locked the towering Dragon Palace in the sky.
Ahead, under the bright moonlight, the full view of the Dragon Palace was on display.
The Sky Dragon Palace, modeled after a lying dragon against the sky, had its entrance strikingly resembling a widely opened dragon’s mouth.
Black Beauty retracted her wings and landed smoothly.
After throwing a Dark Beast corpse to Black Beauty as a reward, Jin Nuo pressed the Black Dragon Totem on his chest, and a halo of light flashed over the totem. The Black Winged Dragon, as big as a small hill, vanished before everyone’s eyes.
Each Knight of the Imperial Dragon Cavalry Group wore specially customized armor, forged by the Empire’s renowned Dragon Smith Masters, blending each Dragon Rider’s flesh and blood into the creation.
Emblazoned on the chest of every piece of Dragon Rider Armor was a totem capable of containing a member of the Sub-Dragon Clan. It is said that even the most inferior Dragon Rider Armor is of Low-level Holy Artifact Dark Treasure quality.
The other forces who entered the Sky Dragon Palace a moment earlier had already vanished from sight, evidently having already entered the palace.
As the group approached the dragon’s mouth, they saw two merfolk pearls embedded in the eyes of the dragon, shining without illumination, forming a powerful sight together with the bright moon hanging in the sky, brilliantly reflecting off one another.
The night was so tranquil that it was slightly unsettling.
The group had barely stepped forward when they bumped into an invisible wall of energy.
From amongst the dozen or so soldiers of the Dragon War Empire, one stepped out. He was broad-shouldered and round-hipped, sturdy like a young elephant, indeed a fierce warrior.
He took the lead, channeling his Dark Energy, his body shimmering with a sandy-yellow Dark Light – he was a Dark Practitioner with Dark Earth Cultivation.
He practiced a Powerful Dark Skill known as "Hundred Elephant Charge." Once his Dark Energy flowed through his entire body, he became like a massive elephant, with bursts of sandy-yellow Dark Light engulfing him like a cannonball smashing toward the invisible Dark Energy Wall.
It must be known that his charge was no trifling matter, capable of shattering even pillars thick enough for two people to embrace with a single blow.
Indeed, with this charge, everyone felt a buzzing noise in their ears, as if two great forces collided.
As the Dark Energy Wall was about to collapse, a strange wind suddenly swept in from the entrance ahead.
The Dark Energy Wall, cracked by the impact, rippled like the surface of water disturbed by a dropped stone, then wavered slightly and restored itself to its prior state.
It seemed that the barrier at the entrance of the Dragon Palace was formed by two consecutive layers of Dark Energy aiding each other; to successfully break through the Dark Energy Wall, one must strike both simultaneously and independently.
Moreover, the coordination between these two, must be exceptionally skilled, to have a chance at breaking the Dark Energy Wall in an instant.
Amongst the Imperial Soldiers, another was about to step forward immediately.
Yet at this moment, Jin Nuo raised his hand and the soldiers who were about to move forward immediately stepped back, "Little Brother Yue, seeing as we are cooperating, my Black Dragon has already exerted some force, now it’s time for you to put in some effort."
Jin Nuo, candid by nature, was not foolish either. Born into a military family, he understood too well the disadvantage of an enemy known versus an ally hidden, especially when entering a perilous place like the Heroic Tomb.
Although Yue Jinghua’s Mercenary Team seemed weak, one must still guard against others. Jin Nuo also wanted to see just how strong Yue Jinghua’s Mercenary Team really was.
"Captain?" Seeing that the other side intended to test them, the members of the July Mercenary Team were eager to try.
Yue Jinghua pondered deeply, knowing this show of force must be neither too strong nor too weak.
Too strong might arouse Jin Nuo’s suspicions, but too weak would be self-demeaning.
"What’s there to be afraid of? If the sky falls, there are tall ones to hold it up," with a plan in mind, Yue Jinghua gave Feng Buhui and Qin Dongting a signal with his eyes, "If you’re a real man, step up, fight for some honor, and don’t lose face for us."
Understanding her/his intentions, Feng Buhui stepped forward. He turned his head and borrowed a powerful bow from a bow-wielding soldier.
Qin Dongting scrutinized Yue Jinghua with a look that was quite lethal, but ultimately he also stepped out.
Jin Nuo had noticed that within the July Mercenary Team, this Mixed Army, it seemed only Feng Buhui and Qin Dongting looked the part. Presumably, these two were the strongest amongst them.
"Dongting, you first," to break this peculiar Dark Energy Wall, coordination between two people was essential.
The moonlight was like a brushstroke, outlining Qin Dongting’s handsome profile. He opened his Mountain and River Fan with a flourish, and with a shake of his figure, he moved as swift and forceful as a dragon darting out of its cave.
No sooner had he flashed out of sight than he returned to the original spot. Everyone felt an overwhelming power of the mountains crash down like a landslide, with rocks rolling and fallen leaves rustling, striking the Dark Energy Wall in succession.
The Dark Energy Wall was instantly dented by a huge concave.
"What is this...?" Jin Nuo watched in amazement, having never seen such refined use of an Illusion Technique.
While Jin Nuo was in astonishment, he heard the clear sound of drawing a bow near his ear.
Feng Buhui drew the bowstring with one hand, accurately targeting the Dark Energy that replenished itself quickly; he released the bow and the surrounding air, like a smooth surface of a lake, suddenly rippled.
The ripples gathered under Feng Buhui’s fingers, and as the Dark Energy accumulated, the ripples suddenly transformed into a New Moon Arrow shooting through the air.
"Bang--"
Like a pane of glass shattered by a hammer, the Dark Energy Wall standing in front of everyone was shattered to pieces.