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The two figures walked further and further away in the long corridor of the Dragon Palace, seemingly out of place yet strangely harmonious with their surroundings.
Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun were strolling along the corridor when suddenly Qin Tian frowned slightly and stopped. He sniffed the air and whispered, "Can you smell it?"
Qin Wuhun listened and also carefully sensed it, then nodded. "There's a faint smell of blood. Although it's well masked, you can still detect it."
A hint of interest flashed in Qin Tian's eyes, and he smiled, "It seems the secrets of this Dragon Palace are more interesting than we imagined. Let's go take a look."
Following the direction of the bloody smell, the two arrived at an area shrouded by a curtain of seawater.
The curtain looked ordinary, but it was actually a barrier, completely isolating what lay within.
"It's blocked out here. The bloody smell is coming from here," Qin Wuhun said, looking around. This was a very secluded corner of the Dragon Palace, a place almost no one would come to.
"Interesting." Qin Tian's interest was piqued. He raised his hand and gently waved it, an invisible force instantly tearing apart the barrier, revealing the scene inside.
Stepping inside, a strong stench of blood assaulted his nostrils, as if he were immersed in a sea of blood.
The scene before him was starkly different from the luxurious splendor outside. Ruins were everywhere, and countless corpses of sea creatures and dragons lay scattered across the ground.
Rivers of blood flowed slowly, and a nauseating stench permeated the air.
Most striking was a colossal dragon corpse lying amidst the ruins. Its body had crushed several palaces, and its scales were covered in gruesome wounds.
Most horrifying of all, the dragon corpse was headless, and blood continued to gush from its severed neck, like a crimson waterfall, staining the surrounding ground crimson.
Qin Wuhun raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise in his voice: "It seems a fierce battle took place here. However, strangely, all the corpses are from the sea race and the dragon race; there are no corpses of other races."
Qin Tian nodded, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings, and said calmly, "It seems there's a problem within the dragon race itself."
Not far away, some sea race members were busily dealing with the corpses.
Their faces were filled with exhaustion and numbness, as if they were already accustomed to the horrific scene before them.
Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun showed no surprise or fear. As direct disciples of the Qin clan, they were already used to life and death. The scene before them, though gruesome, was not enough to move them.
The two exchanged a smile. Since they had encountered it, there was no reason not to see it. They then concealed themselves and silently bypassed the sea race members dealing with the corpses.
With their cultivation level and magical artifacts, the sea race members were completely unaware of their presence.
As they ventured deeper, the traces of the battle became even more shocking.
Deep cracks riddled the walls, and huge craters littered the ground, clearly blasted out by immense force.
The lingering energy fluctuations in the air testified to the intensity of the battle.
Qin Wuhun murmured, "It seems this battle was quite large-scale. Both the Dragon Clan and the Sea Clan suffered heavy losses. However, we haven't seen any corpses of other races along the way, so it seems like it was mostly internal strife."
Qin Tian shook his head, saying calmly, "Not necessarily. It's possible someone deliberately covered up the traces of other races."
Qin Wuhun nodded, "I'm becoming increasingly curious about what secrets this auction holds."
The two continued forward, as if the carnage before them was merely an insignificant spectacle.
Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun continued to conceal themselves, traversing this hellish landscape.
Just then, Qin Wuhun suddenly grabbed Qin Tian's hand and whispered, "Look over there."
Qin Tian followed her gaze and saw a colossal dragon head lying silently amidst the ruins.
The dragon head had smashed a deep crater, the surrounding earth soaked in blood, a stark contrast. The severed edge of the dragon head was clean and sharp, as if cleanly severed by some incredibly sharp force.
Qin Wuhun said softly, "This must be the old Dragon King of the East Sea. I never imagined that the lord of the East Sea would meet such an end."
Qin Tian nodded, a thoughtful glint in his eyes: "The cut is so clean; the person who did this must have extremely high cultivation. It must have been at least a powerful figure from a major force, or a powerful artifact of considerable strength to achieve this."
Suddenly, a faint, angry curse rang out.
Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun looked in the direction of the sound and saw several sea race rebels dragging a dragon corpse that was still alive.
Although the dragon was severely wounded, its eyes still burned with fury.
He gritted his teeth and cursed, "You traitors! Betraying the Dragon Clan and joining forces with foreign enemies, you'll get your retribution sooner or later! The Dragon King and the Crown Prince won't have died in vain; your crimes will be punished one day!"
Another sea race rebel sneered, kicking the dragon in his wound, and said viciously, "Shut up! The victor is king, the loser is villain. What's the use of saying this now? You stubborn fools should have died long ago!"
The dragon groaned in pain, but still refused to yield, continuing to curse, "You...you will die a horrible death! The spirits of the Dragon Clan...will never let you go!"
Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun watched coldly, not intervening.
Qin Wuhun said in a low voice, "It seems this internal strife is more complicated than we imagined. There's probably a larger force manipulating these rebels."
Qin Tian nodded and said calmly, "Let's go, let's take another look."
The two continued forward, arriving at a dilapidated palace.
This palace differed from the surrounding buildings; heavily guarded, it was clearly an important location.
Qin Tian looked up and saw a corpse above the palace gate, impaled in the chest by a long spear, pinned to the door.
The corpse's eyes were wide open, its pupils filled with rage and resentment, as if it had endured immense pain and humiliation before death.
Qin Wuhun said softly, "This is the Dragon Palace's eldest prince, Ao Tianchen. I met him once before. He was a gentle and refined man, considered by the Dragon Palace as its next heir. He was also a strong advocate for cooperation between the Dragon Palace and external forces. I never expected him to meet such an end."
Qin Tian carefully examined the corpse and said calmly, "It seems he was publicly executed by the rebels. This method of death was not only to intimidate others but also to completely crush the morale of the Dragon Clan."
Although Ao Tianchen's body was cold, the rage and resentment in his eyes were still clearly visible.
His hands were clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, as if he were still struggling in his final moments.
His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only leave this world with endless resentment.
Qin Wuhun sighed softly, a hint of regret in his voice: "The dignified Crown Prince of the Dragon Palace, dying with his eyes wide open. Now it seems most likely that the Fourth Prince colluded with outsiders to launch a rebellion against the Dragon Palace, killing the Prison Dragon King and the Crown Prince."
Qin Tian said calmly, "The Xuanming Black Abyss..."
Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun stood at the entrance of the main hall, their gazes sweeping over the guards.
Qin Tian raised his hand and waved, an invisible force instantly sweeping out.
The guards didn't even have time to utter a sound before they fell to the ground, lifeless.
"Let's go," Qin Tian said calmly, then stepped into the main hall.
The interior of the main hall was messy, but there was no smell of blood.
Clearly, this area hadn't been affected by the battle.
Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun traversed a long corridor and arrived at a spacious room.
The room was lavishly decorated, with countless luminous pearls embedded in the walls, illuminating the entire room as if it were daytime. In the center of the room stood a huge seashell bed, upon which sat a stunningly beautiful woman.
She was the Dragon Queen of the Dragon Palace, once high and mighty, now a spoil of war for the rebels.
Her mature allure was like aged wine, intoxicatingly so. A trace of the Dragon Queen's majesty remained in her eyes, yet her slightly parted, red lips betrayed a seductive charm in her breath.
She was imprisoned in a corner of this dilapidated palace, fine golden chains binding her snow-white ankles, jingling softly.
Her mature beauty remained captivating, her eyes still carrying the lingering authority of the Dragon Palace's mistress. Now, however, she could only lean against the cold seashell, her large, snow-white breasts trembling with each breath. Her thin gauze dress, torn to conceal their proud contours, revealed dazzlingly white, large, and soft flesh, like two ripe snowballs pressed together, straining against the dress. A noble air mingled with a wanton, alluring quality.
Just then, she heard the door creak open. She initially thought it was her beastly son or a rebel, but instead, a man and a woman entered. The man wore a silver mask, his gaze sweeping over her with unbridled lewdness. The woman wore a veil, her aura noble and ethereal; even without seeing her face, one could tell she was an incredibly beautiful fairy.
The Dragon Queen looked at the two men with some wariness and asked, "Who are you?"
She had suspected that these two might be in league with Ao Kuang and Mo Wushang, but their arrogant and domineering aura dispelled that suspicion.
These two were undoubtedly kings who looked down upon all the heavens; they would never serve as anyone's subordinate, let alone those two shameless beasts, Ao Kuang and Mo Wushang.
Qin Wuhun didn't answer, but simply found a chair and sat down, his gaze indifferent as he looked at her.
He scanned the dragon woman's body and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seemed her wicked brother's female slave group was about to gain another member.
That mature and alluring aura, those large, snow-white, obviously soft breasts, those legs, that buttocks, that waist—if Qin Wuhun were a man, he probably would have taken this beautiful woman for himself.
But this was for the best. She already regretted wanting to spend time alone with Qin Tian and not letting him bring female slaves. Now, Qin Tian had used all those shameful things on her.
Qin Tian walked up to the beautiful woman, carefully examining her. A faint smile played on his lips: "Who we are isn't important. However, I'm somewhat interested in what's going on here. If you'd like, you might as well tell us."
The Dragon Queen raised her head, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes. Her voice was hoarse and urgent: "Save me! Help me reclaim the Dragon Palace! I will reward you with endless riches!" Her tone still carried a hint of condescending command, but in her current state, where was the slightest trace of the Dragon Queen's majesty?
Qin Tian chuckled, leaning against the doorframe, a playful glint in his eyes: "That depends on how exciting your story is."
The beautiful woman took a deep breath, her large breasts swaying even more violently with each breath. A flicker of pain and anger flashed in her eyes.
She spoke slowly, her voice low and hoarse: "All this trouble stems from that traitor! He's coveted the Dragon King's throne for so long, and to usurp it, he colluded with outsiders, letting a wolf into the house!"
Her voice was filled with hatred, as if every word was dripping with blood and tears.
As she recounted her story, Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun seemed to see those horrific scenes unfold before their eyes.
"That day, the Dragon Palace's grand formation was suddenly destroyed, plunging the entire palace into chaos. The rebels launched an attack from within. The Dragon King, completely unprepared, was ambushed and severely wounded by that beast—his own son! The Dragon King was utterly unprepared."
"Then, the rebels stormed the Dragon Palace, destroying its protective formation. Just as the Dragon King was fighting desperately, a jet-black blade suddenly appeared in the air, its light as fast as lightning, too fast to react to. That single strike severed the Dragon King's head, and blood gushed out like a waterfall, almost staining the entire sea red."
Her voice trembled slightly, a painful memory flickering in her eyes.
"The Crown Prince led his loyal soldiers in a desperate resistance, but they were outnumbered. The rebel army surged in like a tidal wave, their eyes filled with madness and greed. The Crown Prince was ultimately pierced through the chest by a spear and nailed to the palace gate. I can still remember the rage and resentment in his eyes; until his last breath, he refused to close them. And all the loyal soldiers of the Dragon Palace were slaughtered, none spared."
Her voice choked, as if the scene were unfolding before her eyes.
"Every inch of the Dragon Palace was stained red with blood. Every palace became a battlefield. Those rebels and outsiders not only slaughtered the dragon warriors but also plundered the Dragon Palace's treasures, even taking the corpses. The dragon's blood and bodies were extremely valuable materials to them."
The beautiful woman's eyes filled with tears as she spoke. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, as if suppressing her inner anger and grief.
The eldest and fourth princes were both her children. The murder of their father and brother, the imprisonment of their mother, and the selling of their clan—this caused her, as a mother, heart-wrenching pain.
The beautiful woman was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke again, her voice trembling slightly: "My name is Ao Qingli, the Dragon King's wife, the Dragon Queen of the Dragon Palace."
She raised her head, her eyes filled with pain and humiliation, and continued: "The true purpose of this auction is far more heinous than you can imagine. Ao Kuang, that beast, to please Mo Wushang, he actually… he actually intends to offer me as an auction item to Mo Wushang!"
Her voice almost choked with sobs, and a deep despair appeared in her eyes.
"Mo Wushang is fond of women, and Ao Kuang wants to use this to gain more support from the Xuanming Black Abyss. That madman Mo Wushang loves to flaunt his wealth in front of everyone. He wants to auction off the Dragon Queen of the Dragon Palace in front of everyone, and then publicly bid for me, making me his slave. This kind of attention-grabbing behavior is exactly what he craves."
Ao Qingli's voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost a murmur to herself.
Her hands gripped the edge of the bed tightly, her knuckles white from the force. Her eyes were filled with tears, which slid down her cheeks, soaking the sheets.
Qin Tian's gaze flickered slightly as he listened, sweeping over Ao Qingli's alluring figure. Her body was voluptuous and graceful; even in her current disheveled state, she still exuded a mature charm. A hint of amusement flashed in Qin Tian's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
Qin Wuhun noticed Qin Tian's gaze, gave a soft hum, stood up, and said calmly, "The auction is about to begin. Let's go."
Qin Tian smiled, ignoring the still-crying Ao Qingli, put his arm around Qin Wuhun's waist, and turned to walk towards the door.
Seeing this, Ao Qingli hurriedly struggled to her feet, the chains rattling. She pleaded at their retreating backs, "Please, save the Dragon Palace! Save those innocent people! You are my only hope!"
At this moment, Qin Tian suddenly stopped, turned his head, and stared intently at her chest. Qin Wuhun smiled helplessly and didn't stop him.
Qin Tian's lips curled into a smile: "Take off your clothes first. Let me take a good look at your breasts, see if they're good enough for me to touch."
These words were incredibly vulgar, like something a thug would say. The Dragon Queen's face stiffened, and a burning anger of humiliation ignited in her amber eyes.
But she had no other choice. Falling into Mo Wushang's hands would mean a fate worse than death.
She bit her red lips, forcing out a single word: "Fine."
Then, her slender hands trembled as she reached for her shoulders, slowly tearing off her somewhat tattered gauze dress. The fabric slipped down, revealing her pair of snow-white, enormous breasts. Her breasts were astonishingly large, as white as freshly peeled lychees, their areolas pink and trembling, swaying slightly with her humiliated breaths. The once noble Dragon Queen now resembled a tempting object waiting to be sold, a mixture of shame and mature allure, so seductive it made one's blood boil.
The thin golden chains still bound her snow-white ankles, jingling softly.
Her pair of snow-white, enormous breasts, exposed to the air, were astonishingly large, dazzlingly white, like two soft, trembling mounds of milk, their areolas pink and swirling with a mature charm mixed with a humiliated expression, so seductive it made one's throat dry.
She bit her red lips, her eyes burning with shame and anger, but facing the mysterious man before her, she could only steel herself and straighten her chest, as if sacrificing her body for a sliver of hope.
She spoke softly, almost pleadingly, "Is...is that enough?" Her voice was soft, almost coquettish.
Qin Tian raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting from her swaying breasts, his eyes filled with amusement. He took Qin Wuhun's small hand, turned, and left the palace.
Leaving behind only one sentence.
"Nice breasts."
These words were incredibly flippant, like commenting on an object, leaving only the creaking sound of the door closing echoing in the empty palace.
Ao Qingli froze, her amber eyes wide, as if she hadn't reacted.
She stood there naked, her large breasts heaving with each rapid breath, but the man had left so decisively, without even a lingering sound.
She bit her red lips, her face turning deathly pale. Her fingers clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, and she muttered hoarsely, "You bastard..." but her voice was already trembling with sobs.
She slowly slid down, her back against the cold stone wall, the gold chains jingling against the floor, as if mocking her plight.
Her large, snow-white breasts hung precariously, swaying gently. The once high and mighty Dragon Queen now resembled a discarded object, her last hope shattered by a man's casual remark, "Nice breasts."
Her head bowed, tears streaming down her cheeks, dripping onto her soft, white breasts, wetting their proud curves. Her dignity had utterly crumbled, leaving only utter despair. Her alluring body appeared both pitiful and seductive in the dilapidated cell.
When Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun returned to the Dragon Palace, it was still bustling with activity.
Cultivators from various factions gathered in small groups, conversing quietly, occasionally punctuated by bursts of laughter.
It was as if the carnage outside had nothing to do with the prosperous world here; hell and heaven were separated by only a thin line.
Not long after Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun left, the Fourth Prince, Ao Kuang, rushed to the palace where Ao Qingli was.
His face was initially smug, but when he saw the corpses of the guards at the door, his expression instantly changed.
He hurriedly rushed into the room and saw Ao Qingli, her clothes intact, still sitting on the bed, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
"Mother, has anyone been here just now?" Ao Kuang walked quickly to Ao Qingli, his tone urgent.
Ao Qingli glanced at him coldly, then turned her head away, saying nothing.
Her eyes were filled with disgust and resentment, as if even looking at him made her feel nauseous.
Seeing that she didn't answer, Ao Kuang didn't care. With Mo Wushang here, even if someone knew about the rebellion in the Dragon Palace, it wouldn't matter. Besides, the person who broke in only killed the gatekeeper; they didn't take Ao Qingli or make a big fuss about it. They were probably just a petty thief with low cultivation who accidentally wandered in.
Ao Kuang laughed wildly, "My dear Mother, my future rests entirely on your shoulders! You must serve Mo Wushang well. As long as he's satisfied, the Xuanming Black Abyss will fully support me. Then, the entire East Sea Dragon Palace will be under my control, and under my rule, the Dragon Palace will only grow stronger than ever before!"
Ao Qingli, hearing this, could no longer contain herself. She abruptly turned her head, her eyes filled with rage, "You don't need to call me Mother! I don't have a son like you! You're a beast! You killed your brother and father, helped outsiders slaughter your own kind! You don't deserve to be a dragon! You don't deserve to be my son!"
Ao Kuang's face instantly darkened. He sneered, his tone laced with mockery, "I don't deserve it? Then who does? My elder brother? Or my father? They might, but they're both dead! My father's head is still out there. The bigwigs of the Xuanming Black Abyss said they'd refine that old man's corpse into a dragon corpse, hahaha!"
His laughter was filled with madness and triumph, as if years of suppressed pent-up emotions had finally been released.
He walked up to Ao Qingli, bent down, stared into her eyes, and said, word by word, "Mother, you've always favored my eldest brother, always putting him first. Why can he be the Dragon King, but I can't? Now I've proven it! I am the Dragon King! I am the one who can lead the Dragon Clan to glory!"
Ao Qingli's eyes were filled with grief and indignation. She gritted her teeth and said, "You collude with outsiders, slaughter your own kind! The Dragon Clan will be destroyed in your hands sooner or later!"
Ao Kuang shrugged indifferently, his tone flippant: "Mother, you should think about how you plan to..." "You'd better serve Mo Wushang well. He's a picky man. If you accidentally anger him, I can't protect you."
He finished speaking, turned and walked towards the door, but stopped at the doorway, glanced back at Ao Qingli, and sneered, "Oh, right, Mother, don't forget, you're now my 'auction item.' If you don't want to be humiliated in front of the entire Immortal Realm at the auction later, you'd better perform well, and I might let you have some dignity."
Ao Qingli's face instantly turned deathly pale. Her hands gripped the edge of the bed tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
Ao Kuang laughed loudly and left the room, leaving Ao Qingli slumped on the bed, as if her entire world had collapsed.
Inside the Dragon Palace's main hall, the auction officially began.
The entire hall was filled with people, all of them prominent figures in the Immortal Realm.
They either conversed in hushed tones or closed their eyes to rest, awaiting the main event of the auction.
The most eye-catching figure was Mo Wushang, seated in the central area. He leaned back lazily in his chair, surrounded by several trembling dragon maidens.
These dragon maidens were clearly forced to serve him; their faces were filled with fear and humiliation, yet they dared not resist in the slightest.
Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun sat in a corner, appearing unassuming and composed.
Qin Tian had one arm around Qin Wuhun's slender waist, while the other gently played with her hair.
Qin Wuhun pouted slightly, a hint of jealousy on her face.
Seeing this, Qin Tian couldn't help but chuckle softly, "What, jealous?"
Qin Wuhun rolled her eyes at him, her tone tinged with sourness, "That Dragon Queen is beautiful and has a great figure; her breasts are even bigger than mine. How could I be jealous of her?"
Qin Tian chuckled softly, remaining silent. His eyes darted around, and his hand, as if guided by eyes, silently slipped under her skirt.
His large hand slowly caressed the base of her delicate thigh, the warm palm seeming to deliberately tease her, making Qin Wuhun tremble and her face flush instantly.
She glared at him, lowering her voice to scold, "What are you doing! So many people are watching, and you're doing this again!"
"Again?" Qin Tian chuckled, leaning closer to her ear, his breath hot on her earlobe. "You're just like me teasing you in this crowd, aren't you? You scold me, but you're secretly enjoying it."
As he spoke, his fingers became restless, tracing up her leg until they reached her soft, private area. His fingertips lightly traced circles around the outside of her vulva, rubbing gently.
Qin Wuhun bit her lower lip, clutching the hem of her skirt tightly, muttering softly, "You bastard... always choosing crowded places to do it, it's so embarrassing..." Her watery eyes darted around, afraid someone would see, but her body was too weak to resist.
Qin Tian always did this to her, and she was already used to the tingling sensation wrapped in shame.
Seeing her like this, Qin Tian's smile became even more wicked, his fingers becoming even more unrestrained. With a gentle push, he parted her wet, tender flesh and inserted himself into her tight, honeyed entrance.
Qin Wuhun let out a muffled groan, almost crying out, before quickly covering her mouth. Her eyes were a mixture of shame and reproach as she glared at him and whispered, "Be gentle...you bastard, we'll be discovered!"
"We won't be discovered. Everyone's watching the stage, who cares about us? Don't forget we're wearing our magic weapons on our faces," Qin Tian chuckled mischievously, his fingers slowly stirring inside her, sometimes probing deeply, sometimes gently rubbing, producing a few sticky, wet sounds, just low enough for the two of them to hear.
He whispered in her ear, "Big sister, your little hole is really biting, it's so tight I can't even move my fingers, how can you be so greedy?"
"How about I take your first time? You always say you're not ready, but your little hole doesn't look like you're not ready."
Qin Wuhun's face turned as red as a ripe peach, her body involuntarily shrinking back, but she still couldn't help but pout, "You...you stop talking nonsense! Stop it, I...I forgive you, okay! I...I'm not jealous anymore...don't..." Her words were urgent and soft, with a hint of pleading, clearly she couldn't take it anymore.
Upon hearing this, Qin Tian raised an eyebrow in satisfaction. He then plunged his finger inside her again, making her shudder, before slowly withdrawing it. He deliberately wiped the wet fluid on her leg, grinning irritatingly, "Why didn't you say so earlier? Next time you're jealous, I won't just do a little pluck."
Qin Wuhun, panting, pinched him hard, muttering "you lecher," but her eyes and brows clearly held a hint of coquettishness, even her earlier jealousy completely gone.
While the two were flirting, the auction officially began.
Ao Kuang strode onto the stage, a smug smile on his face.
He surveyed his surroundings and announced loudly, "Welcome, distinguished guests, to the East Sea Dragon Palace! Today's auction will present treasures collected by the Dragon Palace over many years. We hope everyone will find something of value!"
His words were barely finished when applause erupted from below the stage. Of course, most of the applause came from Dragon Palace members and ordinary cultivators.
Ao Kuang nodded in satisfaction, then clapped his hands, signaling the auction to begin.
Suddenly, ripples spread across the water, and a dragon maiden slowly rose from the center of the auction stage. Her figure was so alluring it seemed to drip with moisture.
This dragon maiden wore a sheer robe, as thin as mist, semi-transparent yet remarkably revealing. Two pieces of azure silk gauze barely covered her firm, snow-white breasts, the two rosy nipples shimmering faintly at their tips, swaying with her movements like bewitching bells.
Many of the men in the audience stared wide-eyed. Some licked their lips, some instinctively squeezed their legs together, and some even reached into their pants, muttering, "Are all dragon women this slutty?!"
The Dragon Girl smiled, though somewhat forcedly. Carrying a tray, she gracefully walked to the front of the stage, her voice as alluring as rippling spring water: "Ladies and gentlemen, today's first item for auction is a truly precious treasure."
She lifted the red cloth from the tray, revealing a fist-sized luminous pearl, its light shimmering like it held a pool of spring water. It was called the "Spring Tide Pearl."
Ao Kuang cleared his throat, his voice booming: "This Spring Tide Pearl is no ordinary object! Wearing it will bring women swift and intense orgasms, causing them to become wet at the slightest touch, with endless spring tides every night. It will also double the activity of a man's semen, making his sperm as potent as a dragon's seed, guaranteeing instant fertility. It's impossible not to conceive! Those of you who desire a house full of children, or nights of unparalleled pleasure, cannot miss this pearl!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the audience erupted in commotion.
While the claim of instant fertility was an exaggeration, increasing the chances of having offspring, regardless of the number, made it an extremely rare and precious treasure.
"I'll offer 100,000 spirit stones!" a one-eyed burly man yelled, his eyes fixed on the dragon girl's chest.
"500,000!" A disciple from a certain sect gritted his teeth, crushing his wine cup in his hand.
"700,000! I'm taking it! Anyone who dares to take it, I'll kill them!" A middle-aged man with a face full of scars slammed his fist on the table, emanating a terrifying aura.
"Two million."
At this moment, a calm voice came from the corner, immediately raising the price to two million.
Everyone was startled, even Lian Mo Wushang was somewhat surprised, turning his head to look.
He saw it was the silver-masked man and the veiled fairy from before. The thought that the masked man might be buying the Spring Tide Pearl to have sex with the fairy beside him and impregnate her filled him with intense jealousy.
"I'll kill you sooner or later. Then I'll be the one who impregnates this fairy, hehe." Mo Wushang chuckled lewdly, then stopped paying attention.
Qin Wuhun's face flushed slightly; she already guessed what Qin Tian intended to do with the Spring Tide Pearl.
The Dragon Girl covered her mouth and chuckled, her chest heaving even more. Ao Kuang struck the crystal gavel and shouted, "Two million once, twice, three times, sold!"
Immediately afterward, the second item was brought to the stage, still held by the Dragon Girl. This time it was a small, exquisitely carved jade bottle, about the size of a palm, with a faint fragrance emanating from its mouth. It was called the "Aphrodisiac Bottle."
Ao Kuang grinned: "This bottle contains an aphrodisiac made from the tears of mermaids from the East Sea. A woman who drinks a sip will immediately gasp for breath, her legs going weak, wanting nothing more than to pounce on a man and beg for pleasure; a man who applies a little will have his aura dissipate, and all the women around him will strip naked and crawl into his arms, guaranteeing him a new bride every night!"
The first item was to increase pleasure during sex and improve fertility; this one was practically an aphrodisiac.
A commotion erupted again from the audience. A pale-faced scholar shouted, "Six hundred thousand spirit stones!"
A demoness beside him retorted, "Eight hundred thousand! My man's too cowardly, I need to get him some!"
…
The auction was in full swing. Every time the dragon maiden brought out a treasure, the men in the audience became like they'd been injected with adrenaline, their bidding rising and falling, their faces flushed, their crotches bulging as if about to burst. The entire Dragon Palace was filled with a decadent atmosphere.
Qin Tian, after bidding on the Spring Tide Pearl, didn't participate further. He simply watched the scene coldly.
Although the atmosphere was very lively, many people frowned and observed from the sidelines, not participating.
These were all successors or disciples cultivated by powerful forces.
Although the East Sea Dragon Palace was secluded, it wasn't completely closed off. Previously, the dragon race was an extremely powerful and proud race. While dragon maidens were rare, they weren't unheard of in the outside world.
No dragon maiden would publicly wear such shameless, barely-clothed clothing to sell her smiles on stage.
Moreover, this Dragon Palace auction exuded a strange atmosphere, as if it weren't a Dragon Palace but a Celestial Pavilion, with the auction items consisting entirely of items related to male-female sexual relations.
Many people had already noticed the oddities of the Dragon Palace.
Some even turned their gazes to Mo Wushang, who had been cheerfully laughing and clearly loved the limelight, yet hadn't participated in the bidding.
Qin Tian's eyes flashed with a glint of malice as he said, "The main event is here."
Sure enough, after the last ordinary auction item was sold, Ao Kuang revealed a mysterious smile.
Ao Kuang suddenly clapped his hands, a wicked smile playing on his lips, his voice low and provocative: "Ladies and gentlemen, the grand finale is here! This last item is the most prized treasure of my East Sea Dragon Palace!"
The crowd below held their breath, their eyes fixed intently on the stage. Mo Wushang sat up straight, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.
As soon as he finished speaking, the water in the center of the hall suddenly exploded, and a crystal platform slowly rose, upon which stood a woman.
No, calling her a woman wouldn't be accurate; she was a breathtakingly beautiful dragon-woman.
Her blue hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, the strands shimmering with the faint light of dragon scales. Her skin was as white as a freshly peeled lychee, so tender it seemed one could squeeze water from it.
Her thin, sheer gauze dress revealed her large breasts, which stood high like two snow-capped mountains, swaying precariously. The dress barely covered them, the pink outlines of her nipples clearly visible, the two rosy peaks standing erect as if about to burst forth.
Her waist was so slender it could be encircled with one hand, and her short skirt revealed two long, shapely legs, with a glimpse of dark blue undergarments between them. The crowd below erupted in uproar upon seeing this scene.
Many who recognized Ao Qingli exclaimed in shock: "Isn't that the Dragon Queen of the Dragon Palace? How could she... how could she be walking onto the auction stage in shackles?"
"What is the Dragon Palace doing? Have they gone mad?"
"The dignified Dragon Queen, being used as an auction item, this is an utter disgrace!"
The crowd buzzed with discussion, many faces showing shock and bewilderment.
However, Ao Kuang remained unconcerned. He stood on the stage, a smug smile on his face, as if it were all his doing.
"Distinguished guests, please be quiet!" Ao Kuang announced loudly, his voice tinged with barely concealed excitement, "Next up is the grand finale of this auction, the Dragon Queen Ao Qingli!"
"Starting price..."
"One spirit stone!"
His words had barely left his lips when the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were hearing.
The dignified Dragon Queen was being auctioned off for a mere spirit stone—this was the ultimate humiliation!
Ao Qingli's face turned deathly pale. Her body trembled slightly, her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms. She bit her lip so hard it almost drew blood.
She hadn't expected that she would compromise and wear these shameful clothes just to preserve a shred of her dignity. Ao Kuang had promised her she would be honorably auctioned off to Mo Wushang.
But she hadn't expected Ao Kuang to go back on his word and humiliate her in this way.
Just then, Mo Wushang lazily raised his hand and said in a flippant tone, "Two spirit stones."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire hall. He leaned back in his chair, a cynical smile on his face, as if this was all just a game.
He glanced at Ao Qingli, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "I'll buy this female dragon for fun. She's a worthless bargain anyway."
His words were barely out of his mouth when a low murmur of laughter erupted from below the stage.
Many people looked at Ao Qingli with a hint of contempt and mockery.
But more than anything, there was desire. The dragon mother was too beautiful, and with that figure, dying on her would be worthwhile.
After a brief silence, some who coveted Ao Qingli's beauty began to bid: "Three spirit stones!"
"Five spirit stones!"
"Ten spirit stones!"
The bidding rose and fell, but the price was outrageously low.
Mo Wushang wasn't in a hurry, simply lazily bidding, adding only one spirit stone each time, as if toying with the bidders.
"Eleven spirit stones."
"Twelve spirit stones."
"Thirteen spirit stones."
As the bidding progressed, the crowd gradually discerned the subtle relationship between Mo Wushang and the Dragon Palace.
Mo Wushang seemed to thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere, as if he were toying with everyone present.
Furthermore, given the immense power of the Xuanming Black Abyss and Mo Wushang's notoriously arrogant and domineering nature, no one dared to easily offend him. Therefore, those who had initially intended to bid fell silent, fearing the consequences.
Ao Qingli stood on the stage, listening to the chillingly low price, her eyes filled with tears of humiliation.
Her body trembled slightly, as if she might collapse at any moment.
However, she stubbornly stood there, refusing to appear weak.
Seeing that no one dared to bid anymore, a smug smile appeared on Mo Wushang's face.
He stood up, glanced around, and said with a hint of mockery, "What, no one dares to compete with me? Looks like this worthless, cheap female dragon is destined to be mine."
"I'll buy it and play with it as I please. If you want it, you can sit by the trash can at the entrance of my Xuanming Black Abyss. Maybe one day I'll get tired of this female dragon and throw it away as trash, hahaha."
Just as he finished speaking, a faint voice came from a corner: "I'll offer one hundred spirit stones."
The entire hall erupted in an uproar.
Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice, where Qin Tian slowly stood up, a faint smile on his face.
His gaze swept over Ao Qingli on the stage, then turned to Mo Wushang, his tone laced with provocation: "Young Master Mo, shall we continue?"
Mo Wushang's face instantly darkened. He stared intently at Qin Tian, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "It's you again!"
Ao Qingli on the stage abruptly raised her head, her eyes filled with shock and hope.
Like a drowning person grasping at a straw, a ripple of hope stirred once more in her despairing heart.
The entire auction hall fell into a brief silence, all eyes focused on Qin Tian and Mo Wushang.
Qin Tian remained standing in the corner, a faint smile playing on his lips beneath his mask, as if his previous bid had been merely casual.
Mo Wushang, on the other hand, was grim, his eyes filled with anger and resentment.
He stared intently at Qin Tian, as if he wanted to tear him apart with his gaze.
"One hundred and fifty spirit stones!" Mo Wushang said coldly, a hint of threat in his tone.
Qin Tian smiled nonchalantly and raised his hand, saying, "Two hundred spirit stones."
Mo Wushang's expression darkened further. He gritted his teeth and continued to raise the price: "Three hundred spirit stones!"
"Four hundred spirit stones." Qin Tian remained calm and composed, his tone nonchalant, as if he hadn't noticed the threat in Mo Wushang's words at all.
The crowd below began to whisper among themselves, many showing expressions of surprise and curiosity.
"Who is this person? Daring to bid against Mo Wushang? Isn't he afraid of offending the Xuanming Black Abyss?"
"Is this person blinded by beauty? Does he really think he can snag this Dragon Queen at a bargain price? Isn't this clearly a conspiracy between the East Sea Dragon Palace and the Xuanming Black Abyss, a ploy to show off for Mo Wushang?"
"This is going to be good. Mo Wushang is known for his pride; he's probably going to be furious."
Mo Wushang's face grew increasingly ashen upon hearing the surrounding whispers.
He stared coldly at Qin Tian, his voice laced with suppressed anger: "Who are you, sir? Please state your name."
Qin Tian didn't answer, only glancing at him indifferently, his tone laced with mockery: "Are you going to bid again? Don't try to show off like a poor wretch."
These words immediately elicited a low chuckle from the entire auction hall.
Many people suppressed their laughter, afraid of angering Mo Wushang, but their expressions betrayed their inner schadenfreude.
Qin Wuhun, however, laughed out loud without restraint. Her laughter was clear and melodious, yet it felt like a slap across Mo Wushang's face.
Mo Wushang's face instantly turned ashen. His fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
He stared intently at Qin Tian, his eyes filled with venom, as if trying to imprint his image deeply into his mind.
"Five million spirit stones!" Mo Wushang practically gritted his teeth as he shouted the price. He knew that bidding in increments of a few hundred spirit stones was pointless; the carefully planned display of power had been completely ruined by this man.
"Seven million spirit stones," Qin Tian said calmly, his tone completely unwavering.
"Eight million spirit stones!"
"Nine million spirit stones."
"Ten million spirit stones!" Mo Wushang's voice was hoarse, his eyes blazing with fury, as if he were about to explode at any moment.
Qin Tian chuckled lightly, raising his hand and saying, "Fifteen million spirit stones."
His tone remained calm, as if fifteen million spirit stones were merely a casual toss.
Mo Wushang's face had turned extremely grim. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by rage.
"Twenty million spirit stones!" Mo Wushang practically roared the price.
"Thirty million spirit stones." Qin Tian remained unhurried, as if this bidding war was nothing more than a game to him.
Mo Wushang's gaze grew increasingly venomous. He stared intently at Qin Tian, as if he wanted to tear him apart with his eyes.
However, he stopped bidding. Twenty million spirit stones was the limit he could afford.
He had considered outright robbery, but he was still wary of the mysterious man's identity.
On the stage, Ao Kuang was already sweating profusely. He looked helplessly at Mo Wushang, then at Qin Tian, his heart filled with fear.
This auction, which he had meticulously prepared for Mo Wushang to show off, had been completely disrupted by this unexpected obstacle.
If Mo Wushang held a grudge, he would be dead for sure.
Seeing no one else bidding, Qin Tian calmly said, "No one's bidding anymore, is that it? Then I'll trouble this new Dragon King to announce it: the Dragon Queen is now mine."
His words immediately caused an uproar in the auction hall.
Many people wore expressions of shock and disbelief, while Mo Wushang stared intently at Qin Tian, his eyes filled with resentment and murderous intent.
Qin Tian won Ao Qingli's bid and didn't linger. He and Qin Wuhun rose together, ignoring Mo Wushang's almost murderous glare, and walked straight to the auction stage.
Qin Tian waved his hand, and the chains binding Ao Qingli snapped, the shackles instantly turning to dust.
Ao Qingli's body trembled slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Let's go," Qin Tian said calmly, his tone devoid of any emotion.
Qin Wuhun took Qin Tian's arm, a faint smile on her face.
The three of them left the auction house under the watchful eyes of the crowd, leaving behind an uproar and a gloomy Mo Wushang.
Mo Wushang stared intently at Qin Tian's departing figure, his eyes blazing with fury.
He suddenly grabbed his henchman by the collar, his expression ferocious, and said, "Go, send a message to my father! Tell him to bring the Immortal-Slaying Blade! I want to see what this arrogant fool has that gives him the audacity to oppose me!"
His voice was filled with suppressed rage, yet a sliver of reason remained.
He knew that Qin Tian's arrogance stemmed from some powerful backing.
Just in case, he decided to enlist his father's and the sect's resources to resolve this trouble once and for all.
Those around him, witnessing this scene, began to whisper amongst themselves.
Although they dared not openly mock Mo Wushang, their schadenfreude was impossible to conceal.
After all, Mo Wushang was usually arrogant and domineering, offending many people.
Now, seeing him humiliated, many secretly rejoiced.
"This is going to be good! Mo Wushang has actually been humiliated in public; this is the first time!"
"Who is that person? How dare he challenge Xuanming Heiyuan? Isn't he afraid of retaliation?"
"Who cares? It's none of our business. Let's just watch the show! I want to see rivers of blood!"
Mo Wushang heard the surrounding chatter and coldly surveyed his surroundings. The chatter immediately ceased.
Although everyone knew Mo Wushang wouldn't dare let Xuanming Heiyuan become the target of public criticism, no one wanted to provoke him at this moment.
At this moment, Ao Kuang cautiously approached, wiping the cold sweat from his brow, and asked in a low voice, "Young Master Mo, what should we do next?"
Mo Wushang was already furious, and hearing Ao Kuang's words, his anger flared even more.
He abruptly raised his hand and slapped Ao Kuang away, cursing, "Useless trash! You worthless dog! If you hadn't been so incompetent, that guy wouldn't have gotten away with it!"
Ao Kuang was dazed by the slap, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth, but dared not utter a sound of complaint. He could only lower his head, silent.
Mo Wushang glanced at him coldly, then turned and left, leaving Ao Kuang slumped on the ground, his face filled with fear.
Meanwhile, Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun led Ao Qingli to a quiet room.
As soon as Ao Qingli entered, she gracefully knelt down. That kneeling was quite something; her thin, gossamer-like white gauze dress offered little cover, the hem spreading open to reveal a pair of long, slender legs. Her knees buckled, and her large, plump breasts slammed onto the ground with a "plop," flattened and rounded, the flesh spilling out from the neckline, trembling as if bewitching.
She looked up at Qin Tian, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and allure, and whispered, "Thank you for saving me, Young Master. Ao Qingli is deeply grateful."
Qin Tian glanced at her indifferently, his tone calm: "I can help you rebuild the Dragon Palace, kill those traitors, and even destroy the Xuanming Black Abyss."
Ao Qingli's heart trembled upon hearing this. Of course, she knew what this man wanted.
She bit her luscious red lips, her large breasts heaving with each breath, as if deliberately tempting him.
She raised her head, her voice soft and sweet: "How does Young Master wish for Qingli to repay you? Qingli dares not disobey, I only ask that Young Master reveal his intentions."
Having experienced despair and humiliation, most of the arrogance of a Dragon Queen had dissipated from Ao Qingli. Now, for the sake of revenge, she cared about nothing else.
Qin Tian chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice: "You're clever, knowing there's no such thing as a free lunch. My conditions are simple: I need your dragon race to submit to me. I will provide you with all the resources to grow and prosper. You don't need to follow me or serve me, but if I summon you in the future, you must respond and fight."
To Ao Qingli's surprise, this man didn't demand to possess her or for her to undress and serve him in bed. Instead, he asked the dragon race to respond to a future summons?
This condition, though seemingly easy, was the most terrifying aspect—the unknown.
Even if a world-ending war were to occur in the future, and the dragon race were involved, they might be wiped out.
But that was the future.
Ao Qingli trembled, a struggle flashing in her eyes, but she knew she had no choice.
If it weren't for Qin Tian in this auction house, she would have been stripped naked and violated by that beast Mo Wushang long ago. Now, she had simply changed masters.
She closed her eyes briefly, then whispered resignedly, "Qingli... is willing to serve you as my master. If summoned, the Dragon Clan will surely respond and fight." With that, she leaned forward, her large breasts pressing closer to the ground, like an offering.
Qin Tian nodded, a faint smile on his face. "Very well. From this moment on, the Dragon Palace is yours, and you are mine."
Meanwhile, outside the Dragon Palace, a dense mass of Xuanming Black Abyss cultivators and Dragon Palace rebels surrounded the entire palace, the atmosphere oppressively suffocating.
Mo Wushang stood at the forefront, a chilling smile on his face.
Beside him stood a middle-aged man in black robes, his face stern, his gaze sharp as knives. Beside him, a jet-black Immortal-Slaying Blade floated silently, its blade radiating a chilling aura.
"Father, that brat is inside!" Mo Wushang pointed towards the Dragon Palace, his voice filled with venom. "He not only publicly humiliated me, but also stole the Dragon Queen! He simply doesn't respect our Xuanming Black Abyss!"
The middle-aged man in black robes, Mo Tianxing, the current sect master of the Xuanming Black Abyss, coldly glanced in the direction of the Dragon Palace and asked indifferently, "Have you found out his identity?"
Mo Wushang shook his head and said, "No, that brat is wearing a mask and has altered his appearance. We can't trace his origins either."
Mo Tianxing snorted coldly, his tone full of disdain: "If you can't find out, so be it. There's been no news of any disciples or successors from those top powers traveling recently. Anyone who dares to bully my son, no matter who he is, will be killed."
Upon hearing this, Mo Wushang's face revealed a sinister smile: "Father is right! Anyone who dares to offend our Xuanming Black Abyss will pay the price!"
After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Ao Kuang beside him and gave him a cold wink.
Ao Kuang immediately understood, stepped forward, and shouted loudly towards the Dragon Palace, "You brat inside, get out here and face your death! Daring to offend Young Master Mo, today is your death day!"
His voice echoed above the Dragon Palace, filled with arrogance and conceit.
However, the Dragon Palace remained silent, as if no one responded.
Just as Ao Kuang was about to shout again, the gates of the Dragon Palace slowly opened.
Qin Tian walked out with Qin Wuhun and Ao Qingli.
Qin Tian still wore that silver-white mask, his gaze indifferent, as if the thousands of troops before him were nothing more than ants.
Qin Wuhun held his arm, a faint smile on his face, while Ao Qingli stood on his other side, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"What, is that all?" Qin Tian looked up at Mo Wushang and his son, a hint of mockery in his voice. "I thought you'd have something more interesting to offer."
Mo Tianxing stared coldly at Qin Tian, his voice filled with killing intent: "Boy, so you're the one who bullied my son?"
Qin Tian chuckled, a hint of sarcasm in his voice: "Bully? Your son, that kind of trash, dares to be bullied by me? With a father like you, no wonder you gave birth to such a waste."
Mo Tianxing's face instantly darkened, a flash of anger in his eyes.
As the sect master of the Xuanming Black Abyss, he had dominated the Immortal Realm for many years, and no one had ever dared to speak to him like this.
"You're courting death!" Mo Tianxing roared, raising his hand and waving it. The Immortal-Slaying Blade beside him instantly swelled hundreds of times, transforming into a gigantic black blade shadow, carrying a world-destroying power, and slashed down fiercely at Qin Tian and his companions!
Ao Qingli's face turned deathly pale at the sight.
The old Dragon King had been beheaded by this very same Immortal-Slaying Blade, utterly powerless to resist.
However, Qin Tian remained calm and composed.
He raised his hand, and an ancient jade pendant shaped like two fish flew from his sleeve. The pendant rapidly enlarged in mid-air, transforming into a gigantic yin-yang symbol, slowly rotating and emitting a soft light.
"Boom!!!"
The Immortal-Slaying Blade and the jade pendant collided violently, producing a deafening roar.
A violent surge of energy instantly swept outwards, seemingly tearing the surrounding air apart, and countless cracks appeared in the ground.
The cultivators of the Xuanming Black Abyss and the Dragon Palace rebels were forced back by this force, many even coughing up blood and collapsing to the ground.
The blade of the Immortal-Slaying Blade and the light of the jade pendant clashed fiercely, sparks flying and a piercing metallic scraping sound emanating from them.
Mo Tianxing's expression gradually turned solemn. He hadn't expected that his Immortal-Slaying Blade would be blocked by a seemingly ordinary jade pendant.
"Break!" Mo Tianxing roared, his spiritual power surging wildly into the Immortal-Slaying Blade.
The black light on the blade intensified, seemingly threatening to devour the entire world.
However, the yin-yang jade pendant remained steadily suspended in the air, its yin-yang symbol slowly rotating, gradually dissolving the power of the Immortal-Slaying Blade.
The light on the jade pendant grew stronger, as if containing boundless power.
"Crack..."
Suddenly, a soft cracking sound rang out.
Mo Tianxing's pupils contracted sharply. A small crack had appeared on the blade of the Immortal-Slaying Blade.
The crack spread rapidly, covering the entire blade in the blink of an eye.
"No...impossible!" Mo Tianxing cried out, his face filled with disbelief.
"Boom!"
Another deafening roar echoed as the Immortal-Slaying Blade finally succumbed to the power of the Twin Fish Jade Pendant, shattering completely into countless black fragments that dissipated into the air.
The Twin Fish Jade Pendant, however, remained unscathed, still hovering quietly before Qin Tian, radiating a soft light.
Mo Tianxing and Mo Wushang were utterly dumbfounded by this sight.
The surrounding onlookers gasped in shock, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"This...how is this possible?" Mo Wushang muttered to himself, his face filled with disbelief. Their Xuanming Black Abyss, a force that had slain countless demons and even immortals, had shed their blood beneath its blade—and now it was shattered!
Mo Tianxing's face also turned deathly pale.
He stared intently at Qin Tian, a flicker of fear in his eyes: "You...who exactly are you?"
Qin Tian smiled faintly, a hint of amusement in his voice: "Who I am is not for you to know. However, since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, don't blame me for being impolite."
Qin Tian stood before the Dragon Palace, his gaze indifferently sweeping over the Xuanming Black Abyss cultivators and the Dragon Palace rebels before him.
His pupils gradually turned golden, cold and profound, like a high-dimensional god looking down upon all living beings.
Behind him, a massive bronze sundial slowly emerged, its pointer swirling with a phantom image of a human head and a snake's body, radiating an ancient and mysterious aura.
"At the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), spring plague descends, flesh and blood bloom like flowers," Qin Tian spoke slowly, his voice like a divine judgment, cold and merciless.
As soon as he finished speaking, the pointer of the bronze sundial slowly turned, stopping at the "hour of Yin" position.
In an instant, a strange power spread from the sundial, enveloping the entire battlefield.
Mo Wushang was the first to notice the anomaly.
To his horror, he discovered a tender sprout growing from his arm. The sprout grew rapidly before his very eyes, blossoming into a vibrant flower in the blink of an eye.
His eyes widened, his face filled with terror. He frantically shook his arm, trying to shake off the plant, but it seemed rooted deep within his flesh, unmoving.
"Father! Save me! Save me!" Mo Wushang cried out in terror, his voice filled with despair.
Mo Tianxing, hearing his son's cry for help, paled and rushed over.
He grabbed Mo Wushang's arm, examining it closely. But the moment he touched the plant, tender sprouts also began to grow on his palm, spreading rapidly.
"What kind of evil magic is this?!" Mo Tianxing's pupils contracted, his face filled with shock.
He clearly felt these plants absorbing his flesh and cultivation, as if using him as nourishment.
"Ah!"
Soon, screams of agony echoed all around.
Mo Tianxing turned his head and saw that the cultivators of the Xuanming Black Abyss and the Dragon Palace rebels were all in the same predicament.
Various kinds of plants grew on their bodies, some blooming with vibrant flowers, others bearing strange fruits.
Those with weaker cultivation were almost instantly drained of their flesh and blood, turning into withered "potted plants."
"No...no! I don't want to die!" Ao Kuang knelt on the ground, frantically scratching his body, trying to stop the plants from growing.
His face was filled with fear and despair as he scrambled towards Mo Wushang, grabbing his leg and pleading, "Young Master Mo, save me! Save me!"
Mo Wushang was struggling to save himself and had no time to care about Ao Kuang.
He kicked Ao Kuang away violently, cursing, "Get out of my way! You piece of trash!"
Ao Kuang was kicked to the ground, his body rapidly consumed by the plant, instantly transforming into a withered "bonsai," his face frozen in terror.
Behind Qin Tian, watching her son being drained of his life in fear and torment, a flicker of relief crossed her eyes, but was quickly replaced by sorrow.
Mo Tianxing felt a chill run down his spine at the sight.
He knew that if this continued, everyone would perish. As the most powerful cultivator present, although he could temporarily resist the spring plague, he wouldn't last long.
"To catch the thief, catch the leader first!" Mo Tianxing gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint in his eyes.
He diverted some of his power to protect Mo Wushang's body, then charged towards Qin Tian, roaring, "Boy, no matter what evil magic you used, once the caster dies, the magic will naturally dissipate! Die!"
His speed was incredible; in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Qin Tian, raising his hand to strike out with a palm strike, his palm brimming with terrifying power, as if to crush Qin Tian completely.
However, Qin Tian remained standing, looking at him coldly, as if looking at an ant.
"Overestimating yourself," Qin Tian said calmly, his tone full of disdain.
Qin Tian stood before the Dragon Palace, his gaze indifferently fixed on the charging Mo Tianxing.
His golden eyes were utterly unmoved, as if the enemy before him was nothing more than an insignificant ant. He spoke slowly, his voice as cold and majestic as celestial music: "Noon, summer's wrath; blood transforms into mirages."
As his words fell, the hands of the bronze sundial slowly turned, stopping at the "noon" position.
In an instant, a scorching power spread from the sundial, enveloping the entire battlefield.
Mo Tianxing had just rushed to Qin Tian's side, before he could even make a move, when he felt a strange power invade his body.
His movements froze instantly, his whole body trembling violently like a drowning fish.
Scalding mist began to spew from his seven orifices, the mist mixed with his memories and soul, rapidly condensing in the air into mirage-like illusions.
"Ah!"
Mo Tianxing let out a shrill scream, his memories being peeled away like silken threads, revealed without reservation to everyone.
In the illusion, a series of heinous acts were revealed:
To seize the position of Sect Master of the Xuanming Black Abyss, Mo Tianxing secretly colluded with external enemies, plotting the death of the previous Sect Master and wiping out his entire family, even the infants in their swaddling clothes.
To cultivate his evil arts, Mo Tianxing massacred several innocent villages, refining the villagers' flesh and blood into elixirs, even slaughtering his own fellow disciples.
To cover up his crimes, Mo Tianxing repeatedly framed loyal officials, eliminating disciples and elders devoted to the sect one by one, even collaborating with external enemies and betraying the sect's interests.
…
The surrounding crowd, witnessing these illusions, erupted in uproar.
Those who had initially feared Qin Tian's methods were now filled with rage at Mo Tianxing's atrocities.
"This...this is utterly heinous! Mo Tianxing has committed so many evil deeds!"
"No wonder the previous sect leader of the Xuanming Black Abyss suddenly died; there were so many shady dealings behind it!"
"This kind of scum doesn't deserve to live!"
Many people took out communication talismans to send these illusory memories back to their respective factions.
In an instant, the entire Immortal Realm was shaken. Countless forces began to condemn the Xuanming Black Abyss, vowing to eliminate this scourge.
Mo Tianxing's screams gradually weakened. His body seemed to have been drained of its contents; his flesh and memories all turned into mist and dissipated into the air.
Finally, his body completely withered, like an empty shell, and collapsed to the ground.
The Spring Plague of Yin Hour, where flesh blossoms, primarily attacks the human body; the abundant spring plague will spread to the point of death.
At noon, the Summer Strike, a blood-red mirage, primarily targets a person's memory and soul. Everything within the body is evaporated, transforming into a mirage.
This is the forbidden technique of the Nuwa Emperor.
Mo Wushang, witnessing this scene, felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
His father, the omnipotent Xuanming Black Abyss Sect Master in his eyes, was utterly powerless before Qin Tian, not even leaving behind a corpse.
He opened his mouth, wanting to beg for mercy, but before a sound could emanate, a ginkgo tree suddenly sprouted from his mouth.
The ginkgo tree's branches and leaves rapidly grew, completely blocking his throat, rendering him unable to utter a single sound.
His eyes were filled with despair. His body was rapidly consumed by the power of the Spring Plague, ultimately transforming into a tall ginkgo tree, its branches and leaves lush, but forever unable to utter a sound.
Qin Tian withdrew the Time-Shaped Sundial, his golden pupils gradually returning to black, and the bronze sundial behind him slowly dissipated.
His previously aloof, godlike demeanor vanished, and he reverted to his original appearance.
"Gentlemen, this place now belongs to me. Please return."
Qin Tian's gaze swept over all the people present at the auction.
They were still reeling from Qin Tian's bizarre and terrifying forbidden technique, but now, regaining their senses, their eyes were filled with apprehension.
They clasped their hands in a fist salute to Qin Tian, then all departed. They were going back to destroy the Xuanming Black Abyss.
This was a perfectly good excuse.
They claimed to be eliminating evil, but more than that, they were eager to divide the spoils.
This was why even top-tier sects dared not act too recklessly, except for the Qin Clan, who possessed absolute power to deter these people.
"Go, rescue the sea and dragon clans who are still alive and on your side," Qin Tian said calmly.
Ao Qingli nodded and immediately flew back to the Dragon Palace to begin rescuing the remaining members of her clan.
Soon, Qin Tian was surrounded by people.
The sea race was the largest, the dragon race the smallest, and most of them were dragon women, including the beautiful dragon princess at the auction, though she had now shed her shameful clothes and donned a normal, conservative palace dress.
Ao Qingli tallied them up, her eyes gradually dimming.
The dragon race had 183 members remaining: 150 dragon women and 33 male dragonmen.
The sea race had 8,000 members remaining.
Qin Tian nodded. He didn't care about these numbers. He had given the dragons a very long time to develop; he wanted the future, he wanted to plant a seed for it.
"This place is no longer suitable for your survival. I'll find you another place."
After speaking, Qin Tian looked at Qin Wuhun and continued, "Big sister, can you find a spiritual vein at the bottom of the sea?"
"Yes." Qin Wuhun raised her hand, and the fluctuations of causality spread out, soon wrapping a thread around her ring finger.
"Found it."
…
Deep in an unknown sea area, beneath the surface of the ocean, surrounded by utter darkness.
Qin Tian stood with his hands behind his back, enveloped in a faint azure light that shielded him from the seawater.
Beside him, Ao Qingli, dressed in white, her dragon horns gleaming in the darkness, surveyed the surroundings. This place didn't seem like a suitable location for rebuilding the Dragon Palace.
Not only was it remote, but it was also deep in the ocean, where spiritual energy was extremely scarce.
"This is it," Qin Wuhun said suddenly, watching the thread on his finger disappear into the seabed before him. His voice was still clearly audible in the deep sea.
Ao Qingli followed his gaze and saw only a desolate seabed, devoid of even the faintest signs of life. A hint of doubt arose in her eyes regarding the girl.
But Qin Tian had no doubts.
He slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers spread.
In an instant, a chilling pressure swept across the entire seabed. Everyone except Qin Wuhun involuntarily took a half-step back.
"Heavenly Hands!"
With a soft shout from Qin Tian, two pure white giant hands appeared out of thin air, each a thousand feet in size, with clearly visible lines on their palms, radiating a suffocating pressure.
The two giant hands slowly plunged into the seabed, causing the entire ocean to tremble violently.
The seabed churned, and countless sea beasts, dormant for millennia, fled in panic.
Qin Tian remained calm, gently separating his hands.
"Boom!"
A massive, bottomless rift was torn open in the seabed.
From within the rift, dense spiritual energy surged forth, forming countless tiny bubbles in the seawater. Ao Qingli took a deep breath, feeling her dragon blood boiling.
"This…this is…" She stared incredulously into the depths of the rift.
Qin Tian smiled slightly: "A Celestial Spirit Vein. This vein is enough for your Dragon Clan to recuperate for several epochs." With that, he waved his sleeve, and hundreds of orbs of light flew into the crack. Each orb contained a storage bag filled with a vast amount of resources.
After doing all this, Qin Tian tossed two more items to Ao Qingli.
The first was the Tide Spring Pearl he had acquired at auction; the Dragon Clan needed it more than he did.
The second was the Twin Fish Jade Pendant that had shattered the Immortal-Slaying Blade earlier.
Qin Tian: "Place this jade pendant at the exit of the rift. It will protect you from being discovered, and even if they are, it will ensure they can't get in."
"Remember, until you receive a summons, you must never leave this place in your lifetime. You have two things to do: first, cultivate and improve your cultivation as much as possible; second, reproduce and strengthen your race."
"Living on the Immortal Spirit Vein, with the cultivation resources I've given you, plus the lifespan of your dragon race, you don't need to worry about being trapped here forever. One day in the future, you will receive a summons, and then you will regain your freedom. I assure you."
Ao Qingli's expression was somewhat complicated. Although she didn't know what the future held, she could guess from Qin Tian's tone.
To completely preserve the dragon race, the only way was to continuously improve their cultivation and, in the war yet to come, suppress the enemy with absolute power. Only in this way could they survive.
At her command, all the dragons and sea creatures surged towards the rift. The rift was vast and deep, containing an immense underground space rich in spiritual energy—a rare and blessed land.
"Things here are settled. Let's go back," Qin Tian said, extending his hand to Qin Wuhun with a slight smile.
Qin Wuhun took Qin Tian's hand. She looked down at their clasped hands; her slender, white fingers, like the finest mutton-fat jade, lay quietly in his palm.
His hand was large, with distinct knuckles, almost completely enveloping hers.
Qin Wuhun smiled, nodding slightly, her eyes filled with the image of her beloved.
Ao Qingli watched the two of them, her hands clasped to her chest. Her lips opened and closed several times, but the words stuck in her throat remained unspoken.
She knew she wasn't worthy…
"Young Master…could you remove your mask so Qingli can remember your face?"
She finally spoke, but the words that came out were completely different from what she truly wanted to say.
Qin Tian and Qin Wuhun exchanged a glance.
Qin Tian's lips curled slightly as he slowly removed the silver mask from his face.
As the mask slid off, a young and handsome face was revealed before Ao Qingli.
His brows exuded a touch of heroism, his nose was high and straight, and the corners of his lips were slightly upturned, carrying a faint, alluring smile.
His deep eyes seemed to see through people's hearts, yet they also held an elusive mystery.
Ao Qingli was momentarily stunned, her gaze involuntarily lingering on his face, as if trying to imprint this face deeply into her heart, locking it forever in her memory.
Then, Qin Wuhun also gently removed the veil from her face.
Her movements were elegant and composed, as if every subtle gesture carried an innate nobility.
The veil fell, revealing a breathtaking face.
Her skin was as translucent as snow, her eyebrows like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her eyes clear as water yet deep as the starry sky, seemingly reflecting all things in the world.
Her nose was delicately straight, her lips pale in color, and when slightly pursed, they exuded a cool, aloof air.
Her beauty was unlike that of an ordinary person; she was more like a celestial being from the heavens, otherworldly and untouched by the dust of the world.
Looking at Qin Wuhun, Ao Qingli felt a pang of self-consciousness. She had never seen such an ethereal woman; even glancing at her felt like a desecration.
Her beauty lay not only in her appearance but also in her innate aura, as if all the spirit of heaven and earth had converged upon her.
Ao Qingli sighed inwardly. Only a woman like her deserved to stand beside him. She lowered her head, suppressing the budding feelings in her heart even more deeply.
"Thank you for saving my life, young master and young lady. My dragon clan will answer the call in the future. No matter the enemy, my dragon clan will devote itself wholeheartedly to the cause."
Ao Qingli gave Qin Tian one last deep look before turning and flying into the crevice.
It was normal for him not to be interested in her. After all, she was not only a wife but also a mother. An older woman who had been married and had children, it was normal for him, so young and exceptionally talented, not to be interested in her.
Originally, she only intended to repay his kindness with her body, but now that he didn't reciprocate, she was happy to be free. This was a good thing for her.
That's right, she not only preserved her reputation and chastity but also gave the dragon clan a chance to regain its glory and gained resources that she could never use in a lifetime.
No matter how you looked at it, she had come out on top.
But…
But…why were she crying?
"I don't care about anyone else, but you belong to me, you are mine alone. We'll meet again in the future."
Just then, a voice reached Ao Qingli's ears. She abruptly stopped, immediately turning her head to look, only to find the place empty.
Ao Qingli smiled, looking down.
She knelt on the ground, kowtowing and paying homage.
"Ao Qingli obeys her master's command."
"We'll meet again in the future."