Chapter 570: Crisis on Dragon Island
In the inner city square of Holy Pill City, figures abound, each of whom is a powerhouse famous in their own right. Yet, now these mighty figures are gathered here, their gazes reverently and fervently fixed on a figure standing on the high platform. Xiao Ze's growth rate is nothing short of legendary, even if they are unaware of the details. Merely considering his current achievements, a young Dou Saint, coupled with being a ninth-grade Xuan Dan Grandmaster, is enough to command their utmost respect.
"Esteemed patrons and elders, you have all exhausted your wisdom and taken risks for the Alchemy Alliance, serving as the vanguard against the Soul Alliance. I, Xiao Ze, hereby express my gratitude to all of you!" Xiao Ze bowed solemnly to the crowd in the square. Delight and excitement were visible in many eyes below the platform. Receiving acknowledgment and thanks from a Dou Saint was a first in their lives, for such beings usually remain aloof and rarely interact with those on the Dou Qi Continent at this level.
"This operation to dismantle the branches of the Soul Hall will rely heavily on your efforts," Xiao Ze continued. "Of course, I am not just offering empty words. You will not be expected to fight and die for the Alchemy Alliance for nothing. After this mission, based on the alliance's reward system, you will receive the honors you deserve."
The crowd nodded excitedly upon hearing this. The merits offered by the Alchemy Alliance are highly valuable. From its inception, the alliance, formed by four top forces, has access to collections and resources unimaginable to ordinary cultivators. To attract more powerful individuals, the Alchemy Alliance has opened up part of these resources, allowing members to earn merits through service. These merits can be exchanged within the alliance for heavenly materials, elixirs, combat techniques, and more.
"Those who perform exceptionally in this operation may receive a Bodhi pill as a reward!" Xiao Ze declared. At his words, the crowd's breathing intensified, and their eyes reddened as they looked at him.
"Is that really true, Lord Xiao Ze?" someone asked eagerly. Xiao Ze simply smiled.
"You must be aware of the emergence of the Bodhi ancient tree. I was fortunate to obtain some rewards there, and offering one or two Bodhi pills as a reward is certainly within my means." His confirmation sent a wave of excitement through the crowd, who were now eager to depart for the Soul Hall branches to slaughter their enemies and earn their rewards.
Seeing that he had successfully motivated the crowd, Xiao Ze's smile remained unchanged. "Do not hurry, here are some spatial scrolls. If a Dou Saint-level threat appears, tear these immediately, and a Dou Saint from our alliance will come to your aid."
"This operation is meant to be covert, aiming to destroy the numerous branches in the Central Region before the Soul Hall can react." Xiao Ze distributed several spatial scrolls to the team leaders. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, a faint blue energy enveloped the crowd like mist.
Feeling no danger, the warriors curiously watched the surrounding mist. "This is my method of masking aura. Try linking your own Dou Qi with this mist to keep it around you, reducing detection by others."
Expressions of surprise and gratitude broke out among the crowd, pleased with the additional support from Xiao Ze. Masking their aura and reducing sensory detection could be crucial in combat.
"We thank Lord Xiao Ze for his generous assistance," they said. After a moment, Xiao Ze watched them leave, muttering to himself, "I hope all goes well."
Just as Xiao Ze was about to return to the Elder Tower to rest and continue his research on the ninth-grade precious pill, he suddenly received a message through the roots of the Source Tree.
"Lord Xiao Ze, Dragon Island is in peril. Zi Yan has not awakened, and we urgently request your aid."
Startled, Xiao Ze knew the importance of the message, as he had distributed pieces of the Source Tree to key individuals and forces, including Dragon Island where Zi Yan resided, which possessed a dragon-shaped jade pendant embedded with a golden tree.
Immediately contacting Elder Zhu Li, Xiao Ze quickly moved towards the Black Tower, learning more about the crisis during their communication.
It turned out that after Xiao Ze had slain two armies sent from Dragon Island, the three Dragon Kings had hesitated due to fear of the unknown powers aiding Dragon Island. According to their intelligence, the elder dragons of Dragon Island were in deep seclusion and unlikely to emerge for such a trivial matter. However, the fact remained that Dragon Island's elite forces had been crushed.
Further investigation suggested that the battle had been one-sided, likely with the aid of an unknown powerful ally, causing some apprehension among them. The cunning North Dragon King, notorious for his devious methods and a plotter in the original story, had proposed collaborating with the Heavenly Phoenix Clan to assassinate Zi Yan once she emerged.
Such a move not only disregarded the ancient enmity between the two clans but also invited wolves into the house, especially since the leader of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan was a late-stage five-star Dou Saint, and the current Tai Xu Ancient Dragon clan was extremely weak.
If the Heavenly Phoenix Clan realized the true state of the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon clan, they might risk complete annihilation. Perhaps the proudly pure-blooded North Dragon King never considered that the Heavenly Phoenix Clan, once considered mere food, could turn the tables.
The situation had shifted due to changes in power dynamics. The leader of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan, Huang Tian, was a late-stage five-star Dou Saint, unmatched by anyone in the current Tai Xu Ancient Dragon clan.
The current crisis on Dragon Island had indeed been caused by the North Dragon King. Wary of the unknown ally, the three Dragon Kings had gone all out, setting spatial traps along the route to Dragon Island with the North Dragon King leading the effort.
Using spatial powers as a cage, they had enveloped Ancient Dragon Island, trapping it and cutting off any spatial communication with the outside world. Even if someone inside tore a spatial scroll, the fluctuations could not escape, nor could any strong allies be called for help.
The three Dragon Kings' aggressive approach was clearly not just to target a royal lineage member like Zi Yan; they intended to flatten Dragon Island entirely, eradicating the Dragon Island lineage.
In such a dire moment, Elder Zhu Li had no choice but to appeal to Xiao Ze and the Alchemy Alliance for help. Xiao Ze, realizing that the three Dragon Kings were still trying to negotiate, likely feeling secure behind their spatial cage, hoped to turn things around without immediate action.
He went to the Black Tower to inform the Alchemy Alliance's upper echelon of the situation before proceeding further.
(End of Chapter)
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