Chapter 149: A Spirit Array Subdues the Northern Dragon King, Thoughts of Hotpot Everywhere
In the northeastern region of the Dou Qi Continent, deep within the Beast Realm and the Tianyao Phoenix Tribe's territory, tensions were at an all time high.
"Spirit Array? What's that?"
The Northern Dragon King frowned at the unfamiliar term. Though his ego flared at being underestimated, curiosity momentarily stilled his temper.
After a fruitless effort to recall anything resembling a "Spirit Array," he dismissed the thought, his cold gaze settling firmly on Huang Min and Huang Lingyun.
Having stumbled upon pureblood Tianyao Phoenix descendants, his plans to merely snatch some "provisions" from the Tianyao Phoenix Tribe shifted into something far more tantalizing.
"In that case, let me see what you two scraggly feathered birds are capable of!"
With that declaration, the Northern Dragon King launched himself forward, his massive fist barreling toward Huang Lingyun with the force of a mountain.
A Clash of Titans
The sheer force of the attack seemed as if it could shatter the very air itself. Yet, neither Huang Min nor Huang Lingyun flinched, let alone retreated.
"Hmph."
Huang Lingyun's expression remained calm. Without hesitation, he met the dragon's fist head on with his own.
"Boom!"
The impact ripped through the space around them, creating visible tears.
When the dust cleared, Huang Lingyun stood firm, his posture unshaken, as though nothing had happened.
The Northern Dragon King, however, had been forced back. His body skidded dozens of meters across the ground before he managed to halt himself, his expression a mix of surprise and indignation.
**"Impressive. It seems you're more than just a whelp coasting on your Tianyao Phoenix bloodline. You actually have some strength of your own.
"Tell me your name, boy. It would be a shame for me to kill you without knowing it first."**
Huang Lingyun offered no response, his icy glare piercing straight through the dragon.
"Hey, ugly lizard!" Huang Min sneered. "You're all bark and no bite. Daring to strut into our territory? If I let you leave here alive today, I'll take your name!"
Though her brother remained stoic, Huang Min's fiery personality refused to let the dragon's arrogance slide. Years of following Xiao Tiance had only amplified her brazen confidence.
The Northern Dragon King snarled, his pride clearly stung.
"You miserable little bird! By the time I'm done, I'll break every bone in your body and see how long that insolent mouth of yours keeps running!"
The dragon's aura surged as his temper boiled over, his overwhelming seven star Dou Sheng power manifesting in a pressure that cracked the ground beneath him. His upper clothing tore away, revealing a body as sturdy and unyielding as tempered steel.
"Boom!"
He lunged forward, smashing through the stone tiles beneath his feet and hurtling toward Huang Lingyun.
This time, however, Huang Min sprang forward, intercepting the attack.
"Bam! Bam! Bam!"
In a matter of seconds, the two exchanged dozens of blows. Their combat lacked the intricacy of human techniques, instead emphasizing raw physical power and unique beast combat methods.
An Even Match
Huang Min might have been a seven star Dou Sheng (early stage), but her combat strength far exceeded her rank, reaching the late stage. Though they fought as equals, neither gained the upper hand.
Realizing this stalemate, Huang Lingyun joined the fray. The Northern Dragon King, perceptive and cunning, quickly retreated to avoid being cornered by both siblings.
"Sister Min, let's take him down together," Huang Lingyun murmured, stepping beside his sister.
The Northern Dragon King sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.
"Hah! Do you think I fear you? Two phoenix brats daring to challenge me? You'd both be better off bowing before me and pledging loyalty. Do that, and I might just spare your lives."
A Dragon's Offer
Despite his bravado, the dragon had taken note of their strength. Subduing the siblings could prove advantageous for his ambition to unite the Taixu Ancient Dragon Tribe.
Huang Min spat in disgust.
"Spare us? You delusional worm! I'll burn you to ashes before that ever happens!"
Her fury manifested as flames, and she exchanged a glance with her brother. In unison, their hands ignited with two distinct Heavenly Flames the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame and Yin Yang Twin Flames.
The space around them warped under the heat of their flames, the air itself seeming to ripple.
The Power of Heavenly Flames
The Northern Dragon King scoffed.
"Is this supposed to scare me? The Myriad Beast Spirit Flame and Yin Yang Twin Flames? Mere scraps on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Do you truly believe such weak flames can harm me?"
But Huang Min's smirk only deepened.
"You'll find out soon enough!"
She unleashed the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, and a cacophony of beastly roars echoed as it surged toward the dragon like a tidal wave of fiery wrath. Huang Lingyun followed immediately, sending the Yin Yang Twin Flames toward the dragon's flanks.
The Dragon's Defiance
The Northern Dragon King bellowed, his confidence unshaken. With a single motion, he sent out two titanic palms of energy to intercept the flames.
"Boom! Boom!"
The collision scattered embers and fiery shards across the battlefield. The dragon's laugh rang out, smug and overconfident.
"Is that all? You'll need more than that to even scratch me!"
The Tables Turn
Yet his triumph was short lived.
The embers of the Heavenly Flames did not dissipate as expected. Instead, they coalesced in mid air, forming a blazing barrier that began to constrict the dragon's movements.
Huang Min smirked.
"Did you really think it would be that simple? Foolish lizard."
From within the inferno, the Northern Dragon King's roar of frustration echoed, the searing heat finally beginning to penetrate his scales.
"You dare!" he bellowed, thrashing against the encroaching flames.
But his struggles only seemed to fuel the siblings' determination.
In the Beast Region within the Tianyao Phoenix Tribe's domain, the tension escalated as Huang Min casually tossed a token at the Northern Dragon King.
Moments later, a shocking development unfolded an invisible force locked down the surrounding space, completely immobilizing the dragon king. Even the space immediately around him felt unnervingly stagnant.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The Northern Dragon King's fists pounded relentlessly against the glowing barrier trapping him.
"What kind of cursed thing is this?" he bellowed in frustration, but his strikes yielded no results.
Outside the array, Huang Min giggled mischievously and glanced at Huang Lingyun.
"What a backwoods bumpkin! Doesn't even know what a spirit array is and still dares to stir up trouble. Truly courting death."
Lingyun sighed, shaking his head.
"Sister Min, why'd you use the spirit array so soon? I was just starting to enjoy having such a decent sparring partner. It's rare to find someone worth practicing with, and you've already trapped him. What a waste."
Huang Min grinned, her radiant smile almost disarming.
"Waste? I've been itching to use the spirit arrays Teacher gave us. Before we left, I nabbed over a dozen Grade Eight arrays and even a few Grade Nine ones. It's been so long, and I haven't used any yet. This big lizard is perfect for practice, don't you think?"
Seeing her joy, Lingyun shrugged and relented. Withdrawing his Heavenly Flame, he turned his attention to the struggling dragon within the array.
"Alright, Northern Dragon King, was it? Stop wasting your energy. This is an Eighth Grade Spirit Array, capable of sealing even a peak Eight Star Dou Sheng, let alone someone at your level. Oh, and I should mention: this array doesn't just trap you; it gradually drains your Dou Qi as well. Judging by your current reserves, you'll be completely drained in about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea."
Shock and Awe
Lingyun's words sent chills through not just the Northern Dragon King but also the surrounding Tianyao Phoenix Tribe elders.
"My King, what exactly is this… spirit array? To trap someone as powerful as the Northern Dragon King what kind of method is this?"
The tribe's leader whispered, awe struck.
Lingyun chuckled and explained,
"This is a Grade Eight Spirit Array, a protective measure gifted to us by our teacher. Even an Eight Star Dou Sheng would find it nearly impossible to break free. As for the Northern Dragon King, he doesn't stand a chance."
"Hiss…"
Gasps of disbelief rippled through the Phoenix Tribe's ranks.
"So this is the work of that great teacher… Truly beyond comprehension."
"No wonder the Northern Dragon King can't escape. Such methods are beyond anything we've ever seen."
Their murmurs of admiration underscored their growing reverence for the mysterious figure behind Huang Min and Huang Lingyun.
A Dangerous Proposition
Lingyun glanced at the now visibly weakened Northern Dragon King.
"Sister Min, how do you plan to deal with him?"
Huang Min tilted her head in thought before her eyes gleamed with excitement.
"I've never tried Taixu Ancient Dragon meat before… Why not turn him into hotpot? You brought the base, didn't you? Let's make a feast out of this."
Lingyun sighed, exasperated.
"Why did I even ask? You always come back to food."
Huang Min playfully clenched her fist.
"What was that?"
Lingyun quickly backtracked.
"I said we should save some for Teacher. After all, it's thanks to his spirit array that we caught this big lizard. Wouldn't it be rude not to leave him a portion?"
Huang Min clapped her hands.
"You're right! Let's save him a leg. The rest we'll share with everyone."
Desperation Within the Array
Inside the spirit array, the Northern Dragon King felt an overwhelming sense of foreboding.
His strikes against the barrier grew increasingly desperate, but every punch only created faint ripples. To his horror, he realized that his Dou Qi was rapidly depleting, draining faster than he could recover it.
"Damn it… What is this cursed thing?"
Forcing himself to calm down, he glared at Huang Min and Lingyun, demanding answers.
"Who is your teacher? I've roamed the Dou Qi Continent for years and have never heard of anyone possessing such methods!"
But the pair ignored him completely.
Huang Min was busy daydreaming about the perfect seasoning for dragon hotpot, while Lingyun was pondering how to discreetly cover up the dragon king's disappearance.
A Futile Outburst
Feeling utterly disregarded, the Northern Dragon King roared in rage.
"Answer me! Whose handiwork is this spirit array?"
"Boom!"
A concentrated blast of energy slammed into his chest, sending him crashing into the array's shimmering walls.
Huang Min's voice was sharp and impatient.
"Food doesn't get to talk back. Shut up already I'm deciding how best to eat you."
The dragon king coughed up blood, unsure if it was from the attack or sheer indignation.
"You insolent brats! I am the Northern Dragon King of Taixu Ancient Dragon's Northern Island! How dare you treat me like this?"
Huang Min sneered.
"Quiet, you noisy lizard. Lingyun, go prepare the hotpot base. Once his Dou Qi's drained, we'll butcher him."
Lingyun nodded.
"On it, Sister Min."
An Unexpected Arrival
Just as Lingyun turned to leave, an overwhelming aura surged toward them. Both he and Huang Min froze, their expressions turning serious.
"A Nine Star Dou Sheng?" Huang Min muttered, her tone low.
"Notify Brother Xiao Qing and Lord Tianluo immediately. We'll need backup."
Before the message could be sent, a deep and commanding voice echoed from the void.
"Young ones of the Tianyao Phoenix Tribe, I must trouble you to release my Taixu Ancient Dragon clansman."
(End of Chapter)
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