Chapter 126: Heaven Unleashes Its Wrath

With a single, seemingly simple strike, Wang Yuanfeng combined his hand, eye, body, and footwork into one, landing his sword directly upon the weakest point of the white jade sphere—the physical manifestation of the dragon vein. The Dragon Lord had foolishly refined the dragon vein into a magical treasure, creating this very vulnerability.

The Dragon Lord had assumed that by refining the vein, he could claim it as his own, but his hubris backfired. How could the spiritual essence of heaven and earth ever be possessed by a single individual? For years, the Dragon Lord had neglected virtue, choosing instead to stir up trouble and sow chaos in a misguided attempt to solidify his position. This only served to displace the common folk, who, while forced into silence, had long since branded him a malevolent tyrant in their hearts.

Prime Minister Turtle had expected Wang Yuanfeng to seize the dragon vein, bury it in a location of favorable geomancy, and seal it with arrays to let it dissipate slowly. He had not anticipated that a single sword stroke would shatter it entirely. At this rate, the vein would be completely scattered within three quarters of an hour. Once dispersed throughout Dongting Lake, gathering it again would be nearly impossible; one would have to wait for the auspicious sign of the "Dragon Raising its Head" to stand any chance of recapturing it.

Watching this unfold, Prime Minister Turtle paused in astonishment before bowing to Wang Yuanfeng. "Congratulations, Divine Lord! The dragon vein has been dispersed; the great task is as good as done."

"Indeed, it is a joyous occasion. With the dragon vein lost, the Dragon Lord is destined to fail," Wang Yuanfeng agreed, fully aware that this vein was the linchpin of the Dragon Lord’s divine status.

Prime Minister Turtle continued, "Precisely, Divine Lord. Without the aid of the vein, the Dragon Lord of Dongting Lake is no longer a threat. Once we strip away his remaining fortune, the entire lake—and perhaps even the Southern Continent—will be within your grasp."

The Golden Dragon, irritated by the Prime Minister’s sycophancy, interjected, "It is not so simple. There is still the Dragon Maiden. If he absorbs her bloodline to elevate his own potential, he could attain the rank of Earth Immortal within a century."

Prime Minister Turtle nodded in acknowledgment. Immortality was categorized into five tiers: Ghost, Human, Earth, God, and Heaven. Ghost Immortals were beings of shadow, requiring the refinement of their spirits into pure Yang. Human Immortals were balanced between Yin and Yang, though their lifespans were finite; most practitioners remained at this level. Earth Immortals, however, represented the true gateway to the path of immortality. Those who could endure the three calamities and nine disasters would achieve eternal existence, marking them as truly "enlightened."

Though Wang Yuanfeng was well aware of this, he did not interrupt. "True enough," he said, a flash of sword light crossing his eyes. "There are a thousand paths to enlightenment; if the dragon vein is gone, there are other ways. We must not be careless. Once the situation is settled, we shall find ways to suppress the fortune of all practitioners, so that no matter how cunning he is, he will be unable to stir any great waves."

"Your will be done!" the Prime Minister replied with impeccable, reverent decorum.

Wang Yuanfeng noted the Prime Minister’s movements; every gesture was perfectly aligned with the rites of the Great Dao. He mused that once he restored order to heaven and earth, there must be a clear hierarchy. Without strict adherence to ritual, the world would fall into chaos: subjects would defy rulers, sons would treat fathers as brothers, and society would crumble. He resolved to dispatch the Prime Minister to Mount Tianzhu or keep him here in Dongting Lake to propagate these rites once the conflict ended.

The Golden Dragon, despite his distaste for the Prime Minister, followed suit and bowed. "Your will be done!"

As Prime Minister Turtle searched the stone walls for hidden mechanisms, the Golden Dragon pointed toward the large cauldron and the treasures spilling from the entrance. "Divine Lord, what of these?"

"Store them away. We shall deal with them once the matter is concluded," Wang Yuanfeng replied, mindful that they might need to flee at any moment.

"As you command," the Golden Dragon responded. He produced a dragon-shaped divine domain—a refined treasure—and began drawing in the cauldron, its chains, and every valuable item in sight.

Back on Dragon Island, the Dragon Lord let out a muffled groan. A splitting headache blinded him, and he vomited a trickle of blood. The chaotic energy within him sent the artifacts in the hall flying. The gathered demons, who had been discussing strategy, were thrown into a panic. This was the second time in a single day that the Dragon Lord had suffered such an episode at such a critical moment.

Several prominent demons stood up, asking with feigned concern, "What ails you, Lord?"

The Dragon Lord sat in silence, eyes closed, seemingly in agony. The blood dripping from his lips was thick with vital essence. Among the crowd, some demons exchanged glances; the sight of the Dragon Lord’s frailty had sparked thoughts of rebellion. The Crocodile Demon, however, remained seated, his eyes glinting with cold ambition. He recognized that the Dragon Lord’s fortune had been severely damaged; while not yet fatal, a great catastrophe was imminent.

The Crocodile Demon had caught a glimpse of the black, suffocating aura swirling above the Dragon Lord’s head—a sign of deep-seated karmic debt. Something had triggered the accumulation of centuries of retribution. As the black mist condensed at the Dragon Lord’s brow, forming a distinct, ominous line, the Crocodile Demon broke into a cold sweat and stood up in a panic. "The Heavens are manifesting their killing intent!"

The other veteran demons shuddered. Such an omen only appeared during the greatest of cataclysms, events that reshaped the world itself. The last time it occurred was during the war for supremacy between the human and demon races, which had left nine-tenths of the world’s creatures dead and the land desolate for ten thousand years. No one had expected to witness such a sign again.