Rise of Humanity

by <unknown>

  “Chilian snake that lives on the land?”

  Originally, Zhong Yue was paying little to no attention to Xin Huo, who was peeking at the others through his divine third eye, but those words managed to draw his attention. He thought, That snake must be the second disciple of Gu Hongzi, Chi Liannu! That monster girl must be trying to increase her power through harvesting this Jiao Dragon by siphoning off his Yang Qi to enhance her Yin Qi!

  He then looked in that direction with his divine third eye, but all he saw was that this Chi Liannu had disappeared into the deep sea with that Jiao Dragon.

  That Jiao Dragon is dead for sure!

  Zhong Yue then continue thinking, Chi Liannu is a very ruthless person and she would definitely siphon every single bit of this Jiao Dragon’s power and kill him! She probably waited all the while and pretended to be a sea serpent monster so that she could achieve her target after the Ancestral Dragon Ritual!

  He then closed his divine third eye so that Xin Huo could no longer peek through that eye, thinking, News about this will reach the ears of the powerful Jiao Dragons in no time! As a disciple of Shi Buyi just like her, I wonder if the problems she gets into will affect me or not, but what if the Jiao Dragons think that I am her partner…

  The carnival is still going on, and the Jiao Dragons will not notice the disappearance of this Jiao Dragon at the moment. But they will notice his death in no time, as they have special items like the soul lantern after all. I have to act quickly and leave so that I will not be dragged into the problems created by this monster girl. The most important thing now is the saint weapon of the Kun Peng Race, the Divine Wing Saber!

  He got all hyped up as soon as he thought of the Divine Wing Saber, as this saint weapon had no owner and was waiting for him to claim it!

  Here I come, the saint weapon that is no weaker than the Pan Long Sword!

  Zhong Yue then returned to the Earth Courtyard where Qing He, Long Chun’er, and the others were waiting in their rooms. Right now, Long Chun’er and the other three girls had already acquired their own spirits and became Qi Practitioners.

  “Show me your spirits and let me have a look,” Zhong Yue ordered.

  Long Chun’er, Long Xia’er, Long Dong’er, and Long Qiu’er quickly showed him their spirits. While Zhong Yue examined their spirits, he realized that the four girls had all picked the same Dragon Goddess!

  “We learned from the seniors that this is the spirit of Yushi.” Long Qiu’er quickly told him. “This is a spirit that is listed as one of the highest rank spirits among the Dragon Gods. This spirit is the one that can control the weather, The four of us coincidentally acquired the same spirit.”

  Qing He said in some surprise, “Being able to obtain the same spirit at the same time is very rare, and the spirit of Yushi is indeed very powerful. If one manages to merge it with their soul and cultivate the Yuan Shen to the third form, it can bestow great combat power to the owner!”

  Zhong Yue nodded and replied, “Since you have all become Qi Practitioners, then we have to leave this place as fast as possible. Qing He, lead them and return to Gu Xia City right now.”

  Qing He quickly asked, “Then how about you, Master?”

  “I have matters to attend to.” Zhong Yue got up and said, “Make haste, we have no time to spare! I will go and see Ao Fenglou to notify him about our leaving!”

  Qing He and the other girls nodded and quietly left the Earth Courtyard immediately. Zhong Yue went to see Ao Fenglou, who was not participating in the carnival and had remained in the Earth Courtyard. When Ao Fenglou was informed by Zhong Yue about his plan to leave, Ao Fenglou hesitated for a moment before nodding. “I think it is good for you to return to East Barren right now, so that after the carnival, the Jiao, Li, and other clans will not be able to bother you. Junior martial brother Zhong…”

  Ao Fenglou hesitated again, and finally said, “Don’t put it in your heart.”

  Zhong Yue nodded and replied, “I know what you are trying to say, and besides, I received some gains in the Ritual, so don’t worry about me getting all stressed up by it.”

  Ao Fenglou was relieved at his words, and said, “Let me send you out of the city.”

  The duo then walked to the city gates. When they arrived at their destination, Ao Fenglou said sorrowfully, “Junior martial brother, pardon me for not being able to send you any further, as I have to stay here to watch out for any misbehaving people in the city during the carnival.”

  “Don’t worry, Brother Fenglou.” Zhong Yue then bowed, and proceeded on his journey back to East Barren. Not long later after leaving the city, he thought to himself, I have to be far away from the Dragon City so that I can release the Golden Feathery Peng Sword and let it lead me to the Divine Wing Saber!

  ------

  Zhong Yue continued on his journey, but he suddenly stopped as he arrived at a lonely island floating in the middle of nowhere. A slender figure was sitting at the edge of the island, drinking alone.

  “How come Brother Qingtu did not join the carnival?” asked Zhong Yue with a smile, as he slowly walked towards the island.

  The man sitting at the island looked back at Zhong Yue and replied, “Brother Long Yue, I have been waiting for you. All of them thought that I had defeated you in battle and because of that, I received the Ancestral Dragon’s heritage. But little do they know that we have yet to fight each other. Without beating you, my title as the strongest Awakening level Qi Practitioner in the entire Eastern Sea will be nulled!”

  He then stood up and offered Zhong Yue a seat as he said, “And I got here ahead of you as soon as I saw you bidding farewell to senior martial brother Fenglou, to wait for you here. The delayed match between you and I will finally start tonight!”

  Zhong Yue set foot on the island as he looked into the eyes of Jiao Qingtu. He also saw that there was a stone table with two stone chairs on the edge of the island.

  Jiao Qingtu invited him to seat and poured a glass of wine for Zhong Yue. The duo drank a toast together. Zhong Yue then said, “I, too, want to find out which one of us is stronger and the specialty of the Ancestral Dragon’s heritage.”

  The duo toasted one another and knocked their cups together, letting out a clear tinking sound!

  Chapter 232: What A Beautiful Moon |

  “What a beautiful moon.”

  Jiao Qingtu raised his head and gazed at the bright moon. He said leisurely, “The bright moon dangled high in the sky, and the sea waves rippled like silver scales. Today, I’ve experienced an unprecedented joy in my life, and along with the duel with you that I’ve been awaiting a long time, I should be overjoyed. However, right now, my heart is calm and peaceful. Just like this vast sea, the waves would ripple, but the sea would still remain calm.”

  Zhong Yue was surprised, and praised, “You’ve acquired the heritage of the Ancestral Dragon, and the dragons are throwing a feast cherishing your achievements; and yet, Brother Qingtu is not conceited, your heart remains calm and sedate. This is the disposition of a true Qi Practitioner. Undoubtedly, you will strive high in the future.”

  Jiao Qingtu laughed and replied, “Brother Long Yue didn’t acquire the heritage of the Ancestral Dragon, but you are not dispirited at all. That is also the disposition of a true Qi Practitioner, you will also have a bright future. From the way you act and the way you speak. I can tell that you have a great ambition; your breadth of mind is huge as the firmament, and your shrewdness is deep like an abyss — you are not the simple figure you’ve presented yourself as. Can you tell me, what is that great ambition you’ve hidden in your heart?”

  Zhong Yue gently smiled, raising his head to look at the moon, and said slowly, “The moon tonight, it is indeed beautiful.”

  Rays flashed in Jiao Qingtu’s eyes, “It seems like Brother Long Yue doesn’t want to talk about it. You spoke of the ancestral blood in the ritual, and that piqued my interest. Have you acquired the ancestral blood in the Ancestral Dragon secret realm? Those that acquired the ancestra
l blood were all outstanding dragon disciples, they all eventually became the most renowned experts in the dragon race.”

  Zhong Yue smiled and said, “It’s true that I’ve acquired the ancestral blood, but didn’t Brother Qingtu acquire the heritage of the Ancestral Dragon too? The ones that acquired the heritage of the Ancestral Dragon, they are also incredibly renowned in the dragon race, right? Furthermore, the scale of the Ritual this time was the grandest in the history of the dragon race. The heritage that Brother Qingtu has acquired must be extremely appalling.”

  Jiao Qingtu downed a full cup of wine and said with a smile, “I’ve yet to finish attaining the heritage of the Ancestral Dragon, I’ve only attained one or two skills from it for now. You’ve acquired the ancestral blood and I’ve cultivated one or two skills of the Ancestral Dragon; hence, I can’t be said as taking advantage of you. You are already the strongest in the level of Awakening in the monster race, while I’m the strongest in the level of Awakening in the dragon race. You and I have yet to duel and surely, you must be very curious to know which one of us is able to be the strongest of the two races, am I right?”

  Zhong Yue nodded, he drank the wine and said, “Although I’m about to break through to the level of Atman Body, I’m very curious to know which one of us is stronger. Otherwise, a slight regret would lurk in my heart.”

  Jiao Qingty put down the wine cup and laughed, “All of the dragon race thinks that I’m the strongest, but I can’t see myself the same way as they see me, not until I’ve defeated you. But tonight is a beautiful night, it’ll be a waste if we fight. Why don’t you and I change the way to duel — we will fight with our Yuan Shen, what do you think?”

  Zhong Yue’s eyes brightened, and he nodded, “Alright.”

  The two of them were drinking on the island; all of a sudden, a bright moon emerged behind Zhong Yue like a second orb dangling in the sky, while a dragon soared in the moonlight behind Jiao Qingtu.

  “Manggu!!”

  The bright moon changed and morphed into the six-eyed Star Toad. Right away, the sky was brightened by the immense moonlight, as if there were six bright moons in the mid-air and contending with the true moon in the sky — the scene was incredibly beautiful!

  The dragon showed its second form; its reverse scale bristled up and dragon wings emerged behind it as it soared into the sky!

  The two of them showed their Yuan Shen’s second form, flying higher and higher, soon entering the cloud layer. Suddenly, sounds of skills blasting away could be heard and thunders rumbled in the clouds while lightning sparkled. There were psyche-visualized Jiao Dragons looming in and out of the clouds, clashing together and roaring ferociously constantly!

  Ka-cha——

  One after another, lightnings struck away and brightened up the sea surface. They were skills visualized by the psyche, skills that had merged the lightning totem patterns and the dragon totem patterns.

  Their Yuan Shen shuttled across the cloud layers, casting the skills of the【Soaring Dragon Hundred Forms】; there were a thousand dragons circling each of them, clashing and striking together. Suddenly, the two showed their Yuan Shen’s third form.

  Jiao Qingtu’s dragon god Yuan Shen turned into a half-dragon half-human form with nine dragon heads and six dragon claws, while casting a marvelous skill. On the other hand, Zhong Yue’s six-eyed celestial being morphed out eight arms — the two celestial being Yuan Shens clashed in mid-air, intense and brutal. The impact from from the clashing of their skills even drove the clouds away!

  If someone were to stand above the surface of the sea and look up, he would have seen a terrifyingly savage scene.

  There were countless dragons soaring in the sky, coming together in different forms. At times, there would be lightning strikes of the lightning dragons; huge and strong tidal waves from the giant dragons; and the blazing flame curtains that emerged in the mid-air from the fire dragons!

  Then, there would a thousand dragons coming together to form the【Thousand Dragon Wall】to fend off the skills!

  The nine dragon bell was raised and the nine dragons roared ferociously, the bell shuddered and stirred up a surge of huge tidal waves on the surface of the sea!

  The two celestial being Yuan Shens came down and fought around the island. The third-form Yuan Shens were engaged in a bone-rattling battle, but the small island remained calm and peaceful. Zhong Yue picked up the wine bottle and poured a full cup of wine for Jiao Qingtu. He smiled and said, “This is such an interesting battle, but Brother Qingtu’s arcane energy is not as strong as mine, you are still lacking a little.”

  Jiao Qingtu sneered frigidly. Zheng zheng zheng—— sounds of explosions could be heard from the nine-headed dragon god Yuan Shen as he opened his Yuan Shen secret realms. Jiao Qingtu’s arcane energy immediately skyrocketed, “I’ve yet to open the Yuan Shen secret realms, that’s why my arcane energy is lacking compared to you. But now, as I’ve opened up my Yuan Shen secret realms, Brother Long Yue should know how strong my arcane energy is.”

  Zhong Yue was surprised, “Ah, it seems like Brother Qingtu didn’t open your Yuan Shen secret realms all this while, no wonder you’ve been suppressed by me. But… I’ve also yet to open my Yuan Shen secret realms.”

  Zheng zheng zheng—— sounds of explosions also came from the six-eyed celestial being, Zhong Yue’s Yuan Shen also opened the five secret realms. Suddenly, his Yuan Shen brightened up immensely, and attracted all of the moonlight in the sky into its body!

  All of a sudden, darkness fell within ten thousand feet as all of the moonlight was sucked away by Zhong Yue’s Yuan Shen!

  Krong——

  Jiao Qingtu’s nine-headed dragon celestial Yuan Shen took a full blow and was sent flying, sliding across and splitting the surface of the sea into two waves a thousand feet high!

  On the island, Jiao Qingtu’s body quivered violently and abruptly, the wine cup in his hands exploded, splashing the wine all over his body.

  His Yuan Shen was struck away for a full eighty miles before coming to a stop. The nine-headed dragon god was grievously damaged, its body lacerated with wounds, and its breath faltering.

  “Thank you, Brother Qingtu for inviting me for drink.” Zhong Yue stood up while his Yuan Shen returned to his back, it dispersed its third form back into a round moon; Zhong Yue stood up and said leisurely, “The moon is indeed beautiful… I will have to leave already.”

  Jiao Qingtu sat unmoving while the nine-headed dragon god Yuan Shen flew over, dispersing the third form back into a two hundred-foot long Jiao Dragon coiling behind him.

  Jiao Qingtu’s face was gloomy and his breath was unsteady, but he smiled, “Brother Long Yue, aren’t you going to stay for a little longer? Your arcane energy is indeed abundant, but I’ve yet to test out your comprehensive ability. The prowess of a Qi Practitioner does not solely rely on the Yuan Shen’s arcane energy, but the Qi Practitioner himself.”

  Zhong Yue was surprised, he asked, “What is Brother Qingtu trying to imply?”

  “Winning only in terms of Yuan Shen cannot determine the strongest Awakening Qi Practitioner!”

  Jiao Qingtu stood up, his aura was getting stronger and wilder, more domineering, while his blood essences pierced through the sky like a dragon. “The Jiao Dragon race is valued as the strongest in combat capability in the dragon race was not because of our Yuan Shen, but our arts in killing!”

  Zhong Yue frowned, he said patiently, “Brother Qingtu, what you have just said, we would decide the winner with the Yuan Shen, why did you change your mind now?”

  Jiao Qingtu laughed out loud, “I didn’t say we would decide the winner solely from that!”

  Zhong Yue sighed, he shook his head and said, “You’ve lost to your heart. Brother Qingtu, your frame of mind has yet to achieve the state of calm; you’ve valued the name of the strongest Qi Practitioner too greatly.”

  Jiao Qingtu was filled with the desire to do battle, he raised his hand and said, “Brother Long Yue, shall we?”


  Zhong Yue gazed deeply at him, his eyes turned into the sun and moon pupils, one like scorching sun, while the other was a bright moon, serenely he said, “Very well then, Brother Qingtu. Three bouts, if you can take three rounds and remain standing, then I will concede defeat.”

  Rays of light shone from Jiao Qingtu’s eyes, he said coldly, “Three rounds? Don’t you think you are too conceited?”

  “No, I’m not conceited at all; I’ve clearly perceived your prowess. You are still a fine line weaker than the 100th golden statue in the Dao Yi Palace of the Ancestral Dragon secret realm.”

  Zhong Yue said in a serious tone, “After these three rounds, whether you accept it or not, I will make you lie down here and pulverize the island into a flatland. And when Brother Qingtu has attained all of the Ancestral Dragon heritage, you can come to Gu Xia City of East Barren and challenge me again. So here, this is the first round!”

  As he finished his sentence, his blood essences pierced through the firmament and painted the sky sanguine. Even the moon appeared to be blood-red in color!

  Zhong Yue’s eyes lit up and the Yin and Yang Qi lashed out, slashing at Jiao Qingtu!

  Jiao Qingtu bellowed furiously. The thousand dragons soaring around him formed into a dragon wall to defend him, but the dragons in the Yin and Yang Qi’s path were beheaded and could not slow the Qi down at all!

  Cold sweat burst out from Jiao Qingtu’s forehead as the Yin and Yang Qi pierced through the wall of a thousand dragons. Swaying his body, he showed his Jiao Dragon form, the dragon scales all over his body engraved with shield-like totem patterns, while light wheels emerged behind him as he tried to use the powers from the five realms to stop the Yin and Yang Qi!