'This thing before me... it's not just an ordinary Flood Dragon, but a unique variant among themāa Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon! No wonder its aura is so powerful.'
Yang Xiao looked at the terrifying, mountain-sized beast before him.
Its long, imposing body reared up, its purple scales each emitting a terrifying, dark glow. On its head was a long, sharp, blood-red horn.
Like a spike.
Threatening to pierce the heavens.
It was incredibly imposing and majestic.
His heart sank to the depths.
Although this Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon's level was about the same as the Thousand-Winged Serpent Eagle'sāboth equivalent to the Seventh Level of the Small Divine Power Realmātheir actual strength was worlds apart.
Because this creature...
was a Flood Dragon.
And a unique variant at that.
One had to understand...
For a Demon Flood Dragon to evolve into a Flood Dragon, it had to possess the power of at least ten thousand young Demon Flood Dragons.
An adult Demon Flood Dragon, however, generally only had the power of one thousand young Demon Flood Dragons, equivalent to the Peak of Tier Four Barbaric Beasts. Only by breaking its own boundaries and amassing the power of ten thousand Young Demon Flood Dragons while still at the Tier Four Barbaric Beast realm could it transform into a Flood Dragon.
Therefore, the power of ten thousand young Demon Flood Dragons is also known as one unit of Flood Dragon Power.
And this was only for the weakest of Flood Dragons.
This Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon before him was not only a unique variant, but it had also advanced far on the Dao of the Flood Dragon. If it could just advance a few more levels...
...it could very likely transform into a true dragon, albeit only the weakest kindāa horned dragon.
But even the weakest horned dragon possessed the power of one hundred thousand Flood Dragons, comparable to an expert at the Great Divine Power Realm.
And if this Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon were to transform into a Purple-scaled Blood Horned Dragon...
...at its weakest, it would likely have the power of ten horned dragons.
This was because the creature already possessed nearly the power of one horned dragon, and it was only a Tier Six Upper-Grade Beast King, far from its peak.
Its level was only around the Seventh Level of the Small Divine Power Realm.
But its true strength was already approaching that of the weakest in the Great Divine Power Realm. The gap was easily over a hundredfold.
"What are you spacing out for? Stunned by this dragon's dashing looks? This dragon is indeed quite handsome... Human, hurry and answer this dragon's question."
Unlike the Thousand-Winged Serpent Eagle, which referred to itself as 'this king,' this Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon much preferred the title of 'this dragon.'
Because dragons...
were one of the most venerated creatures in existence.
The first Dragon Ancestor was even hailed as the Son of the Heavens.
Becoming a true dragon, a True Dragon, was an event eagerly anticipated by all draconic Barbaric Beasts and even Demon Beasts. However, to become a True Dragon...
...one had to at least reach the True Divine Realm.
Although this Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon was extraordinarily powerful, it was still a far cry from the True Dragon Realm.
"Uh, I came from the outside."
When outmatched, one must yield. Yang Xiao had no choice but to lower his head.
'If I anger this creature, I'll probably be killed instantly.'
'Besides, from the way it's acting, it doesn't seem like it wants to kill me outright.'
'Perhaps I still have a chance to find out the location of the Inheritance Tower from it.'
A thought struck Yang Xiao.
"From the outside? Has the Sword Mansion's inheritance trial begun again?"
The Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon shook its enormous head, looking puzzled.
Looking at the creature, Yang Xiao was suddenly struck by a question.
'If the time flow on the 2nd Layer of the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion has always been a hundred times faster than the outside world, then one thousand years outside would be one hundred thousand years for the Barbaric Beasts inside.'
'After all that time...'
'How could no Barbaric Beast have broken through to become a Demon Beast?'
'And then there's the 1st Layer.'
'Even though the time flow was only ten times faster, that's still ten thousand yearsāmore than enough time for some Barbaric Beasts to break through.'
'Yet the strongest was the Thousand-Winged Serpent Eagle.'
'It's all very strange.'
"Since you're an Inheritor and you've made it to the 2nd Layer, this dragon wants to ask: how many Inheritance Sword Orders do you have on you?"
As it spoke, a hint of anticipation actually appeared in the massive creature's eyes.
"Don't worry. If this dragon wanted to make a move on you, you'd be utterly powerless to resist. As long as you're honest and don't lie to this dragon, this dragon won't harm you."
As if afraid Yang Xiao would get the wrong idea,
the Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon immediately continued.
'Why does this creature care so much about this? What's its angle?'
But it would have been better if it hadn't offered an explanation.
The moment it did...
Yang Xiao grew suspicious.
'However, just as the Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon said, if it really wanted to attack me, I might not be able to escape with a single swipe of its claw, even with the help of the Time Secret Pattern.'
After a moment's hesitation, Yang Xiao finally said, "I only have one."
"One? Really?"
Who would have thought that upon hearing this, the Flood Dragon would be overjoyed?
This left Yang Xiao completely baffled.
"Good, good, this is wonderful! Kid, come here. This dragon will grant you a tremendous fortune. But, when you leave later, you must do this dragon a small favor, understand?"
After speaking, without waiting to see if Yang Xiao was willing,
its tail coiled, transforming into a long, thin whip that wrapped around Yang Xiao.
With a flash,
it vanished from the spot, taking Yang Xiao with it.
When they reappeared,
they had landed in a mountain valley.
Upon seeing the valley, Yang Xiao's eyes lit up.
But then...
he grew disappointed.
Because there was no Inheritance Tower inside.
Instead, a resplendent golden palace stood there.
It looked quite grand.
It seemed extraordinary.
But what Yang Xiao wanted was the Inheritance Tower.
'Even a 4th Layer Inheritance Tower would be better than this palace,' he thought.
"Kid, what's with that look? You think this place is inferior to the Inheritance Tower? Hmph! If it weren't for this palace, would this dragon be holed up here all this time? With this dragon around, does that Golden-winged Hairy Roc really think it can occupy the Desolate Divine Fruit Tree?"
The Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon snorted coldly.
The force of it made Yang Xiao's head spin.
Facing this terrifying Flood Dragon...
He was still too weak.
'I have no idea what the Northern Wilderness Sword God was thinking, capturing so many terrifying Barbarian Beast Kingsāand even unique variants like this oneāand putting them here. With them around, how could anyone possibly complete the inheritance trial?'
Yang Xiao couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
'The power gap is just too massive.'
'No wonder no one has managed to obtain the inheritance after all these years.'
'Under thirty years old...'
'And I have to contend with these Tier Six Barbaric Beast Kings.'
'It's just too difficult.'
But Yang Xiao didn't know...
...that back then, the Northern Wilderness Sword God had no idea he would perish here. The trial he designed was based entirely on the standards for geniuses from the Divine Land Continent.
In the Celestial Cloud Region, reaching the Martial Grandmaster realm before the age of thirty was considered the absolute limit. Someone like Yang Xiao, with combat power approaching the Small Divine Power Realm, was practically an unparalleled prodigy.
On the Divine Land Continent, however, it was a different story. Cultivators under thirty in the Small Divine Power Realm were a dime a dozen, and there were even a fair number in the Great Divine Power Realm.
To those geniuses, Tier Six Barbaric Beast Kings were nothing much.
Even a Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon wouldn't be considered a serious threat.
Only the young of pure-blooded Divine Beasts could pose any real threat to them.
So, a Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon appearing on the 2nd Layer was, in fact, quite reasonable.
'Is this kid really the genius who broke into the 2nd Layer on his own? He just looks dazed, hasn't said a peep. Oh well. This dragon has waited for so many years, only to end up with someone like him. I might as well just get him inside.'
While Yang Xiao was confused and complaining, the Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon was also rather dissatisfied. However, given its plans and the lack of any better candidates, it had to make do.
"Are you going in or not? Remember, after you reap the benefits inside, you have to come out and promise this dragon one thing. Now get in there!"
With that, regardless of whether Yang Xiao was willing, it flung him directly inside.
Yang Xiao stared at the palace.
Then he glanced back at the Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon outside the valley.
He felt like crying but had no tears.