Chapter Ninety-One: Communion with Spirits

A thunderous roar shook the lake as the surging, turbulent waters erupted like a mad tide, as though they meant to swallow everything in their path. Above the lake, the once deep-blue flames had turned wholly black here, as if this were their true form.

The black flames of the earth fire were more like demon fire from the abyss. If the blue flames before had merely sent a chill through one’s bones, then the pitch-black earth fire now radiated a cold enough to freeze the soul.

Not far ahead of Luo Hao, the people who had first launched their charge toward the crystal lotus at the lake’s center were already fighting desperately against the increasingly savage waters.

As he watched them strike again and again, even Luo Hao, only a Spirit Realm martial artist, could tell the difference at a glance. Among them, the silver-haired elder and the Azure Yang elder of the Heavenly Sea Sect were undoubtedly the most at ease. By comparison, Zuo Qingfeng of the Desolate Fire Sect, Duan Yixiao of the Five Peaks Spirit Academy, and the people from the Western Mountain Ridges were visibly struggling far more.

“Boy, how did you get past the blue ice fire ahead?” Suddenly, the silver-haired elder’s voice rang in Luo Hao’s ear, carrying a trace of surprise. A martial artist who had not even reached the Blood Condensation Realm had become the first to stand alongside them.

“SSSS!”

Just as Luo Hao was about to answer, a hiss suddenly came from behind him, and a wave of extreme danger surged into his heart. With no time to think, Luo Hao’s feet flashed with golden light, and his figure vanished on the spot.

“Bang!”

The instant he disappeared, a bolt of purple lightning, bearing an overwhelming force that could destroy all things, crashed down. Great sprays of weak water flew upward, and the martial artists who had been crazily charging toward the lotus platform at the lake’s center were instantly frozen into ice sculptures and sank beneath the water.

That was close.

Luo Hao felt lingering fear. If that purple lightning had struck him just now, his fate would likely have matched those martial artists’. Thinking of this, a startling killing intent rose in his eyes as he looked toward the Purple Winged Thunder Python.

“Boom!”

As it neared the lotus platform at the lake’s center, the waters of the earth fire became utterly wild. From the lake, columns of water wreathed in black flame shot skyward like a rain of arrows blotting out the heavens.

“Not good, fall back!”

The arrowstorm filled the sky and covered the entire lake. At this moment, even experts like Zuo Qingfeng, formidable as celestial warriors, could only keep dodging the assaults suddenly launched from below.

On the lake’s surface, Luo Hao moved with extraordinary speed, each step seeming effortless and natural. Though he had not truly mastered the Eight Dragon Concealment Steps, he had once seen that divine being use them within the Dragon Bone Space. After his spirit infant’s deductions, he had gained only the form and not the essence, yet that was already enough for him now.

By contrast, the human martial artists behind him who were trying to storm the lotus platform at the lake’s center were not so fortunate. Great blooms of blood burst in the air. Dozens of them did not even have time to cry out before the water columns pierced their chests, and then they were instantly burned to ash by the black flames.

A roar like a dragon’s chant suddenly resounded from within Heavenly Star Lake. The cry was filled with boundless tyranny, arrogant to the extreme. All the beasts, including the Purple Winged Thunder Python and the Earth-Splitting Divine Ox, trembled; even the Azure Yang elder and the silver-haired elder frowned, while Zuo Qingfeng, Duan Yixiao, and the others grew solemn as if facing a great enemy.

“Humans, you also want to contend with this king for the Crystal Lotus of Clear Waters? The Heavenly Azure Mountains are not a place where you may run wild. All of you, get lost!” A domineering voice boomed like thunder, and the entire Heavenly Star Lake was thrown into turmoil.

Then, before Luo Hao and the others’ horrified eyes, a sinister black head emerged from beneath the lake’s surface. The black head resembled a qilin, with two sharp horns standing high upon it. Covered in black scales, it seemed to entirely ignore the power of the earth fire waters.

“Blackwater Demon Flood Dragon, the Black Flood King!”

Seeing that black head break the surface, many martial artists could not help but draw in a sharp breath. Being able to speak human language, it was unquestionably a fearsome beast, and the one before them was surely a sovereign among beasts.

“It really is the Blackwater Demon Flood Dragon. It is a close kin of the dragon race, carrying powerful dragon bloodline.” Many martial artists could not help but exclaim. In this age of antiquity, when dragons had long vanished, flood dragons were unquestionably the closest bloodline to the true dragon race. If the Purple Winged Thunder Python could be said to possess only a trace of dragon blood, then compared with the Blackwater Demon Flood Dragon, it was not even worthy of carrying its shoes.

As expected, once the Blackwater Demon Flood Dragon appeared, the Purple Winged Thunder Python, which had been strutting about violently all this time, became much more obedient. Even the Earth-Splitting Divine Ox was no longer so frenzied; within its brass-bell eyes there was now a trace of reverence.

“Blackwater Demon Flood Dragon, you have the audacity to control the earth fire waters of Heavenly Star Lake to deal with my human martial artists!” Zuo Qingfeng’s expression darkened within the Heavenly Spirit Divine Light Shield as he sharply questioned it.

For ever since the Blackwater Demon Flood Dragon had appeared, he had discovered that the earth fire waters no longer attacked them, and after all, controlling water to stir up wind and waves was precisely what flood dragons excelled at.

“Bang!”

Yet the moment Zuo Qingfeng’s words fell, a shadow of death immediately enveloped his heart. Then all the human martial artists and beasts on Heavenly Star Lake felt a terrifying surge of demonic power, vast as heavenly might. The black demonic force abruptly transformed into a cold, sinister dragon claw that slammed fiercely into the Heavenly Spirit Divine Light Shield.

“Clang!”

The black dragon claw struck the shield, and with a horrifying shockwave, the golden conch shell’s divine light dimmed at once, revealing fine spiderweb cracks. Everyone’s pupils contracted as they saw Zuo Qingfeng inside the golden conch shell spurt blood wildly, his face as white as paper.

“Hmph. A mere celestial warrior like you dares question this king?” Seeing Zuo Qingfeng’s miserable state, sorrow filled the hearts of the crowd. A celestial warrior might seem mighty and unmatched to ordinary people, but in the eyes of the Black Flood King, he was no different from an ant.

“Black Flood King, do not go too far. I refuse to believe that with so many of us joining forces, you can gain any advantage.” Inside the golden conch shell, Zuo Qingfeng gasped for breath and roared with malice.

Unfortunately, the Black Flood King paid him no further heed, or rather, completely ignored him. In its view, Zuo Qingfeng was simply not qualified to speak with it. Its frigid eyes remained fixed on the Azure Yang elder and the silver-haired elder not far away.

After a long while, the Black Flood King withdrew its gaze and let out a sneering laugh. “To kill you, this king would need only raise a hand. There is no need for any dirty tricks. Believe it or not, as you please. If you wish to fight, this king will accompany you at any time.”

Seemingly wary of the Azure Yang elder and the silver-haired elder, the Black Flood King spoke with a cold laugh, yet anyone could see there was not the slightest hint of weakness in its words.

“Hahaha, so the mighty Black Flood King dares to do it but not admit it. Who here does not know that the flood dragon clan is adept at controlling water and stirring up storms?” It was still Zuo Qingfeng speaking, as though he bore a deep grudge over the Black Flood King’s earlier attack.

“Yes, exactly.”

“That makes sense. Those unlike us surely harbor different hearts; beasts’ words cannot be trusted.”

“Yes, we should quickly invite the seniors to slay the Black Flood King.”

Indeed, Zuo Qingfeng’s words instantly resonated with many human martial artists present. To these voices of agreement, the Black Flood King merely gave a cold snort and ignored them entirely.

“No, I believe you!”

Suddenly, a voice rang out like a bolt from a clear sky among the gathered martial artists, and the scene instantly fell silent. Countless eyes turned in unison toward the source of the voice.

The Azure Yang elder and the silver-haired elder also looked over. Even the cold and arrogant Black Flood King showed a trace of surprise in its eyes as it said, “Boy of the Spirit Realm, what did you just say? Did this king hear wrongly?”

Under the astonished, puzzled, and even somewhat contemptuous gazes of the crowd, Luo Hao, his face still covered, said calmly, “I believe you, Black Flood King. You did not control the earth fire waters to attack us!”

“You are colluding with beasts. You are betraying the human race. Such intentions deserve death!” Before Luo Hao had even finished speaking, Zuo Qingfeng immediately flew into a rage and cursed. One must know that in this ancient world, many races were hostile to humanity; colluding with outsiders was enough to bring scorn upon one’s entire clan.

“Heh, what a grand accusation.” With a sneer, Luo Hao cast a disdainful glance at the cowering Zuo Qingfeng inside the golden conch shell and said coldly, “Shut your mouth. You do not represent the human race.”

By now, the will of humanity had awakened from its slumber. If Luo Hao truly had colluded with foreign races and betrayed humanity, then the human will would have destroyed him the moment those words were spoken. How could he still be standing here unharmed?

“Hahaha, good. Who would have thought that today a mere ant in the Spirit Realm would commit such an act of treachery against his ancestors and still dare to be so arrogant? Today, I will use your blood to pay tribute to those human martial artists who died beneath the earth fire waters.”

Zuo Qingfeng laughed in fury. Though the golden conch shell was already covered in cracks, under his urging it still erupted with astonishing power. Terrifying spiritual force suddenly pressed down as though the whole world were bearing down upon Luo Hao.

“Hmph. This king has not yet spoken; what are you?” With a cold snort, the Black Flood King’s eyes suddenly shot two streaks of icy light toward the golden conch shell.

Crack, crack!

Along with the sound, the already cracked golden conch shell shattered instantly. Zuo Qingfeng was struck heavily at once, fresh blood spilling from his mouth; he could no longer speak a single word. Bound to the shell by mind and spirit and refined through long years of effort, it had actually been destroyed like this.

“Black Flood King, you have gone a little too far.” The Azure Yang elder’s calm voice drifted out. Since they belonged to the same race, he could not simply watch the Black Flood King humiliate Zuo Qingfeng so thoroughly.

At this, the Black Flood King, who had originally been about to strike and kill Zuo Qingfeng, gave a cold snort. “This was only a small punishment to shut certain petty villains up. Boy, tell me, on what grounds do you believe me?” The Black Flood King looked at the masked Luo Hao with interest.

“Young man, do tell us.” After glancing at the Azure Yang elder, who was looking at him intently, Luo Hao shifted his gaze to the Crystal Lotus of Clear Waters upon the lotus platform at the lake’s center and raised a hand to point. “Then we must ask it. Ask it how it is controlling these earth fire waters.”

“Is this boy insane? Asking a lotus flower!”

“Idiot! If this boy wants to excuse the Black Flood King, he should at least come up with a decent reason!”

Hearing Luo Hao’s words, many martial artists sneered, but to Duan Yixiao, the Azure Yang elder, and the others, it carried an entirely different meaning.

“Enlightenment! Boy, are you saying this Crystal Lotus of Clear Waters has attained enlightenment?”

As soon as Duan Yixiao spoke from the Jade Belt Bridge, he stunned everyone present. The crowd fell silent, and when they looked again at that crystal lotus, their gazes were completely different, burning with an almost feverish intensity.