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===BREAK===
"Hiss~"
After a brief moment of stunned blankness, Shaoying snapped back to his senses because of Bailu's smile.
But in his eyes, beneath that childlike, playful, and adorable smile lurked something as terrifying as a tyrant choosing someone to devour, so dreadful that it made him forget to flee for a moment.
He let out a terrified howl. "No, this is impossible!"
That howl finally woke the dazed crowd behind Bailu, and a wave of shocked, excited cries instantly erupted across the moss-covered stone path.
"HOLY SH—! This little one really has something!"
Tail floated in front of Huohuo, conjuring a phantom hand and giving Bailu a thumbs-up. "Look at her—same tiny size, but one shout and she scares Preceptors into wetting themselves! You've gotta stand tall too, get it?!"
"I—!"
Huohuo shouted as she tried to retort, but her momentum suddenly shrank, and she muttered under her breath. "If I were that strong, you wouldn't need to tell me to stand tall."
March 7th pulled out her camera and hammered the shutter at Bailu nonstop, gasping as she did. "Oh my god! Is this really the medicine-carrying dragon girl? This is totally a verbal-combat dragon girl—one mouthful and people just drop! If I could be this strong someday, I probably wouldn't even need to train so hard anymore, right?"
Stelle made no comment on such a hopeless thought and simply looked at her with gentle concern.
"Bailu, you…"
Lingsha called Bailu's name, but in the end, she didn't know what to say.
Compared to everyone else, Lingsha was the most shaken of all. She had come with the intention of saving people, never imagining she would witness a scene like this.
"What are you still standing around for?! Run!"
Gouchen growled in a suppressed voice, and while everyone's attention was elsewhere, he grabbed Shaoying by the arm and hurriedly dragged him down toward the sea.
To the Vidyadhara Elder Hall! Call every Preceptor at once—this is the only chance to survive!
Shaoying also turned back, forming hand seals with both hands as he activated a water-manipulation technique.
The Vidyadhara of the Luofu excelled most at controlling water—so long as they could reach the ocean, there was hope of escape.
As long as they could reach that place!
But unfortunately for them, the one they had encountered today was Bailu—Empress Bailu, who had obtained the authority of the Elemental Emperor.
A trace of mockery appeared on Bailu's small face as she spoke in her milky voice, filled with pity. "Did you really not think about what I used to knock on the door and drag you out of the sea?"
She extended a tender, chubby little finger and casually traced a small circle. And that ordinary motion summoned a storm that shattered the deep sea, colossal waves that ravaged the sky, and the unrivaled sole existence upon the throne of water—[Word Magic: The Nine Children]
The Scalegorge Waterscape, which had barely calmed when the Preceptors first appeared, erupted once more, and far more violently than before!
Under the shroud of turbulent water elements and ferocious draconic might, fish and shrimp trembled, aquatic plants quaked, and distant Vidyadhara coiled their long dragon bodies and bowed low in reverence to the High Elder—one they had once regarded with pity, but never with awe.
They dared not disturb the High Elder with their gaze, only listening with their ears for the judgment of their ruler, praying she would not use cruel collective punishment as the first act to establish her authority.
And beyond the submission of living beings, the sea itself—terrified by the might of the Elemental Emperor—directly became Bailu's enforcer.
Azure torrents of water compressed Shaoying and Gouchen together from all directions, producing bone-cracking sounds that made one's teeth ache. As for their water-control techniques, they naturally failed to function at all.
The two were sealed inside a sphere of high-pressure water and delivered straight before Bailu.
Seeing the barely alive Taoran beside them, both felt their hearts sink into despair.
Dan Heng finally spoke after a long silence. "Miraculous beyond belief!"
He surveyed the massive body of water that had risen more than a thousand meters and was now even floating in midair, as well as the surrounding Vidyadhara who seemed to have lost all dignity and bowed in utter submission, and could only utter those four words to express the shock in his heart.
He could tell that Bailu was exercising extremely efficient control over the water element—so efficient that the water offered no resistance at all and instead actively assisted her in wielding it!
What was this?
This was the King of All Waters!
By comparison, the irresistible pressure Bailu exerted over the Vidyadhara seemed almost insignificant!
At this point, he was completely certain that, setting aside Permanence and resurrection, there was no dragon in existence who could overpower Bailu.
Even the Five Dragons of old probably wouldn't have stood a chance.
And with power like this, how would Bailu judge the Preceptors?
He cast his gaze back onto that small figure.
Bailu looked at the two Preceptors who had been so arrogant toward her just moments ago, now sprawled before her eyes, their bodies shaking like sieves, and the resentment she had carried for so many years finally eased by a small measure.
"Gouchen."
Bailu looked down at them with cold eyes. "Didn't you say earlier that as long as I handed over the High Elder's authority, you'd spare me and let me be an ordinary little dragon, living quietly for the rest of my life?"
"But now I refuse to hand it over! And not only that—I'm going to give you an 'act of mercy' in return. As long as you admit your mistake, apologize, and bark like a little dog a couple of times, I'll spare your life and let you live out your days intact."
"Mm… I mean intact physically. As for authority, I can reward you with the privilege of eating and sleeping!"
Her voice suddenly quickened, her tone firm and unquestionable. "So? This is your only chance—this High Elder grants you the right to choose!"
===BREAK===
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