It had waited here for a full millennium. During these thousand years, countless exotic beasts had eyed the Blue Demon Tear covetously, yet the Flood Dragon had never given them a second thought...

Even when a Soul Immortal arrived over a decade ago, it paid no mind. After transforming into a Flood Dragon, its strength had surged dramatically; even a Soul Immortal was no match for it.

So, it remained concealed around the Blue Demon Tear, awaiting the day it would fully mature. But when that day finally dawned, an entity arrived that even it felt a sense of dread toward...

Originally, it presumed such a powerful being would have no interest in this Blue Demon Tear. Who could have guessed that Dugu Bachén would intend to seize it...

However, it did not attack then. Instead, it hoped the Saint Beasts could exhaust Dugu Bachén's power. But when it witnessed Dugu Bachén effortlessly slay those Saint Beasts, it understood this was an overwhelmingly powerful expert against whom it stood no chance...

Yet, having guarded the Blue Demon Tear for a thousand years, which was crucial for its own potential transformation into a true Dragon, how could it allow another to claim it?

Now, possessing only one claw, it had already weathered the Third Heavenly Tribulation, making it equivalent to a Martial God at the Third Heaven. With the Fourth Tribulation imminent, without the medicinal effects of the Blue Demon Tear, it might not even survive this one. Facing death either way, the Flood Dragon resolved to make a desperate final stand...

Its speed reached the zenith of its existence, surpassing even Ni Bo’s velocity. If Ye Jingyu had not possessed the Eye of Reincarnation, he could not have discerned its form clearly...

In what seemed like a mere thousandth of a second, the Flood Dragon lunged before the Blue Demon Tear, opening its cavernous maw to swallow the plant whole...

But just at that moment, a figure instantly materialized in front of the Flood Dragon, extending a single finger to press precisely upon the Flood Dragon’s horn—the horn capable of piercing ordinary divine weapons shattered instantly...

“Aooo! Aooo! Aooo!” The immense pain elicited a dreadful shriek from the Flood Dragon, the sound vibrating so violently it numbed Ye Jingyu’s eardrums. Agonized, the Flood Dragon thrashed its body wildly, causing it to continuously swell...

Growing larger and thicker, within a few breaths, it stretched hundreds of meters long, its girth thicker than a locomotive.

Its colossal body hung suspended in the air, roaring ceaselessly toward the heavens. Dark clouds gathered overhead, lightning flashed, and the surrounding energy surged violently, shredding the underbrush and weeds nearby. Even Ye Jingyu felt as though his own body was on the verge of being torn apart...

“A mere Flood Dragon that has endured the Third Heavenly Tribulation dares to fight me for the Blue Demon Tear? You underestimate me, Dugu Bachén!” Words brimming with absolute authority spilled from Dugu Bachén’s lips. In his eyes, there seemed to be no room for leniency, nor any trace of mercy.

Be it this Flood Dragon or those Saint Beasts—if they didn't provoke Dugu Bachén, fine. But once they did, he would absolutely show no restraint...

Watching the formidable Flood Dragon reduced to such a state by a single gesture from Dugu Bachén, Ye Jingyu felt a profound shock ripple through him. This was true power; truly, he alone reigned supreme between heaven and earth. When would he ever attain such strength?

The Flood Dragon struggled in the sky. Its horn was its most resilient part, yet now, struck at its most vulnerable point by Dugu Bachén, the injury it sustained was undeniably grievous.

At this moment, forget seizing the Blue Demon Tear; even escaping seemed an unlikely prospect...

Just as the Flood Dragon prepared to fight desperately, an immensely vast aura emanated from the depths of the Blue Dream Marsh...

It was an aura so suffocating it felt like the breath of a god descending from the highest heavens, or perhaps a demon rising from the deepest abyss of hell...

So powerful, so powerful that it demanded absolute reverence. Even Ye Jingyu trembled under the pressure; were it not for the innate arrogance rooted deep in his bones, he would have surely knelt by now...

The Flood Dragon instantly retracted its massive form, shrinking back to a size of perhaps ten zhang. It coiled its body to one side, its eyes filled with terror...

All the various exotic beasts within several li, upon sensing this aura, immediately coiled upon the ground, their bodies quivering relentlessly...

In the entire Blue Dream Marsh, the only one whose expression remained unchanged was Dugu Bachén...

He stood there silently, appearing fragile and desolate, yet inexplicably, this lonely, meager figure resembled a colossal, sky-piercing blade set immovably between heaven and earth...

As long as this blade stood firm, Ye Jingyu felt a sense of reassurance, as if no matter what danger arose, there was nothing to fear.

“Aoo...” A Dragon’s roar echoed through the nine heavens, many times louder than the Flood Dragon’s cry, like rolling thunder itself...

Ye Jingyu instantly felt his heart pound violently, as if it might shatter from the sheer sound.

A casual roar possessed power more terrifying than his own Netherworld Raging Roar. What in the world was this entity?

Dugu Bachén’s perpetually unchanging brow furrowed slightly, a hint of surprise showing.

Sensing Dugu Bachén’s subtle shift, the Celestial Venerable Blade strapped to Ye Jingyu’s back began to hum. The blade trembled incessantly before suddenly unsheathing itself and appearing in Dugu Bachén’s hand...

Seeing Dugu Bachén grasp the Celestial Venerable Blade once more, Ye Jingyu’s expression shifted slightly. What sort of formidable existence could compel Dugu Bachén to show such caution?

He clearly recalled Dugu Bachén once stating: Do I still need a blade?

“Alas, old friend, haven’t you tasted the blood of divine beasts in a long time? Don't worry, you’ll have plenty of opportunities, just not alongside me.” Dugu Bachén gazed at the blade shimmering with purple light in his hand as he spoke this, then lightly tossed it back onto Ye Jingyu’s shoulder. However, the blade continued to tremble, seemingly displeased with Dugu Bachén’s arrangement...

“Come out, Turbid Dragon...” Dugu Bachén completely ignored the Celestial Venerable Blade’s protestations and suddenly projected these words toward the center of the Blue Dream Marsh...

(Argentina’s tragedy, Germany’s terror this year—truly the fearless young tigers! There will be another update this afternoon!)