"You, you're cheating!" The Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon trembled slightly with rage, tears nearly spilling from its eyes. "We had an agreement, you... you broke your word!!" Ye Chen nodded. "I won't kill you. As for whether others will, I can't say." The Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon almost spat blood, swallowing its broken teeth and grinding them, its eyes flashing with malice. It seethed inwardly, "Cunning human, detestable! I fell for your trick. When I get a chance to live, I will definitely have Lord Evil-Wing kill all of you!" Ye Chen glanced at the malevolence in the Flood Dragon's eyes and said indifferently, "Do all the monsters around here obey your command?"

The Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon suppressed the fury in its heart. "What about it?"

Ye Chen said lightly, "Nothing much. If you can command these monsters, I might consider sparing your life." The Flood Dragon was startled and suspicious. "Really not killing me? You promise? Oh, your word can't be trusted. If you don't kill me, what if you have them kill me later?"

Ye Chen stated plainly, "As long as you can command all the monsters, you can make any single request."

The Flood Dragon's eyes lit up with immense joy. "Are you serious? If I can command them, you'll let me go? No, not just you, but all your subordinates, companions... In short, anyone connected to you cannot harm me." "Fine," Ye Chen agreed without hesitation.

Seeing his swift agreement, the Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon paused, suspicious. "You don't have some other trick up your sleeve, do you?" Ye Chen frowned. "I said I wouldn't kill you, and I won't."

"Alright!" The Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon gritted its teeth. "I'll trust you one more time!" In truth, it had no other recourse; resistance meant death! Having witnessed the power of the white-robed elder and the others from a distance, it instantly knew that with its own strength, it couldn't withstand even a single move from them!

The disparity was too vast!

"Roar!"

The Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon turned its head and let out a roar toward the heavens that shook the wilderness. All the monsters locked in battle immediately paused, turning their gazes toward it. As for the two figures on its back, Ye Chen and the other were minuscule by comparison, like ants, entirely invisible against the size of a single scale.

"Gulu-gwa, gulu-gulu-gu..." The Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon spat out a string of bizarre syllables. All the mutated zombies and zombie monsters quieted down, prostrating themselves and kneeling as if before a deity, paying no mind to the white-robed elder and the others around them.

Among the dark creatures, strength dictated respect. Only high-level dark creatures that had developed sentience truly cherished life. As for the common dark creatures, they barely understood what life was, and would willingly commit suicide upon command.

Just as many of the lower-level zombies from the Rat and Insect tribes were kneeling in worship, several discordant roars erupted from within. Two huge Violent Apes, ten zhang tall with golden fur and green eyes, roared furiously at the Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon, their expressions filled with rage and unwillingness.

A cold glint flashed in the Flood Dragon's eyes. It roared twice, and the two Golden-Eyed Green-Eyed Apes roared even more fiercely, seemingly unwilling to submit. They even turned and snarled at the other kneeling monsters, causing many who had bowed to rise again, looking bewildered, unsure of whom to obey.

The Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon roared again, its inner rage burning intensely, just as it was about to strike. Suddenly, it saw the heads of the two clamoring Golden-Eyed Green-Eyed Apes explode. Immediately after, it saw the white-robed elder and the others descend, watching the entire scene coldly.

The Flood Dragon's heart lurched. Without daring to delay, it quickly commanded the remaining monsters to arrange themselves in order. This time, no one dared to disrupt things. Several monsters in the several-thousand-level range had prepared to protest in the army, but upon seeing the white-robed elder and the others, they immediately shivered and dared not move.

A moment later, all the monsters that had been coiled around the ruins of the Huaxia Base City spread outwards, revealing a clearing of yellow sand, dust, and many dilapidated buildings and broken walls lying askew.

The Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon turned to look at Ye Chen, asking cautiously, "Is this acceptable now?"

Ye Chen nodded slightly.

Seeing that Ye Chen had no further conditions, the Flood Dragon reminded him, "Can I go now? You promised not to kill me; you can't go back on your word."

Ye Chen sat down cross-legged. "I can spare your life, but for the time being, you must become my mount."

The Flood Dragon panicked. "You said you wouldn't kill me, how can you go back on your word?"

Ye Chen glanced at it. "I didn't say I wouldn't kill you; I just said I'd detain you for a while."

The Flood Dragon couldn't help but become furious and livid, stamping its feet and glaring at Ye Chen. After a long while, the anger in its eyes turned into pleading. It wept bitterly, "Please, spare me! I'll never dare again! The moment I look at you, I can tell you are a kind and good person..." Ye Chen said slowly, "I have something that can invade your cells, devour your consciousness, and possess your body. That wouldn't count as killing you either. You choose?"

The Flood Dragon trembled internally. Looking at Ye Chen's calm expression, a chill ran through its heart. After careful consideration, it finally made a "rational" decision: being a mount was better than death!

At this moment, seeing Ye Chen subdue the Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon, the white-robed elder and the others descended onto its head, arriving before Ye Chen and respectfully standing behind him.

Excitement was written on every face. They had never enjoyed a battle so thoroughly as they had today! Ye Chen activated Elvy's communicator. Soon, the connection was made, and a surprised voice came through: "Ye Chen, you can finally connect! I tried calling you several times, but there was no signal. Where have you been?" Ye Chen didn't elaborate much. "First, help me open the spatial entrance to the Atlantis Civilization Ruins."

Elvy objected anxiously, "No way! There are mountains of monsters surrounding the outside. If we open it, the people in the city will be attacked."

Ye Chen said calmly, "These monsters have been subdued. There's no need to fear." Elvy jolted, standing frozen on the spot. After a long moment, she snapped back to reality, her face filled with shock. "You resolved it? So many monsters, millions of them? You managed it with Superman Mode? How much time did Superman Mode give you? What method did you use?" Hearing the barrage of questions, Ye Chen sighed helplessly. "I'll tell you later. Just open it first."

"Oh," Elvy muttered, but she dared not disobey the order, and only proceeded to open the entrance to the ruins.

Above the original site of the Huaxia Base City, a black opening appeared, a hundred zhang in diameter, faintly shimmering with colored light inside. A magnificent city floated within, radiating a majestic aura.

Ye Chen waved his hand and said, "Go in." Everyone boarded their flying craft, with the Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon leading them toward the black hole. Along the way, the white-robed elder and the others asked no questions, merely observing everything with astonishment.

Inside the Atlantis City.

The vast steel city, with its saucer-like buildings, resembled a futuristic metropolis suspended in a grayish-white space. Many people were seated or lying on the streets. Even in entertainment venues and high-end hotels, the atmosphere was oppressive.

Signs of refugees were everywhere. Many people wore leather armor, appearing not weak in capability, but their faces were haggard and on the verge of death, slumping onto the ground like sluggish worms.

Suddenly.

The ruins opened, and the massive black hole hovered before everyone. This commotion awakened everyone. They turned their heads to look, their faces a mixture of confusion and doubt.

"What's going on?" On the steel city walls, several guards exchanged glances, all looking perplexed. Since entering the ruins, the ruin space hadn't opened for a long time. Monsters had always patrolled outside, and every expedition for supplies resulted in a major battle with heavy losses. Eventually, the entrance was sealed and never opened again.

Just as people were wondering, a colossal being stepped out of the black hole. Gradually, it became clear, materializing before everyone: a thousand-zhang Flood Dragon with eight wings, carrying an aura of ferocious brutality.

"Not good!" "The monster broke through the ruins to attack us!" Everyone on the streets changed color instantly, scrambling up from the ground, their expressions tense, legs trembling slightly.

Many guards on the city walls shouted, aiming their instruments, laser cannons, and other weapons at the Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon, pressing the switches and yelling as they fired!

After time seemed to freeze for a few seconds...

"Huh?"

"What's going on?" Everyone watched in astonishment as the instruments remained completely unresponsive. Laser cannons, defensive shields—everything had failed...

Just then, several figures streaked in from a distance, whistling past. Under everyone's gaze, they arrived at the edge of the steel city wall. These figures were Murong Xue, Bing Yun, Elvy, Hua Bule, and Qin Lan.

"Everyone, stand down." Murong Xue's cool voice echoed across the area, carrying an inviolable majesty. Through the experiences of this period, she had clearly matured into a commanding figure.

Whoosh!

Ye Chen and the others leaped off the Eight-Winged Black Scaled Flood Dragon and landed on the steel city wall. The guards and citizens, who had been bewildered, gaped, their mouths wide open. Then, their expressions of confusion turned into sheer elation.

"God of Slaughter Ye Chen!!"

"It's him! He's back!!!" "The God of Slaughter has returned!!"

Everyone's necks turned red with excitement and fervor. After the last war, Ye Chen held an irreplaceable status in everyone's hearts!

Ye Chen looked at the surging cheers below, his lips twitching slightly, then turned to look at Elvy and the others opposite him. Half a year had passed, yet Elvy hadn't changed, still clad in a white dress like a holy princess, her dark eyes shining with joy.

Behind her...

Murong Xue, Bing Yun, Hua Bule...

All familiar faces, though greatly changed. Especially Murong Xue, who wore a set of black soft leather armor and held a long sword. Her once soft, long hair had been cut short, giving her a look of spirited heroism! As for Bing Yun, she was still in her fiery red armor, her figure exquisitely curvaceous, her astonishingly prominent chest seeming ready to burst through her clothes at any moment.

Hua Bule had matured considerably through the trials of time; much of her noble air had faded, replaced by resilience and a more mature charm.

Ye Chen glanced at them briefly, then said, "Let's go to the main hall. Also, arrange some space for these friends' flying craft to dock."

Elvy smiled and nodded. "I'll handle that."

Murong Xue and the others gave her a strange look, unable to understand why the System Goddess, who usually treated them rather formally, was smiling at Ye Chen, whom she was meeting for the first time.