Chapter Ninety-Four: The Leopard of Mount Ji

At this moment on Shenlong Island, after leaving Tai Xuan Lake, the Great Flood Dragon entered the mist of Dongting Lake. For safety, it transformed into a young gentleman, concealing all its aura and revealing no trace of its magical power. Holding an invitation, it blended in with the crowd heading to Shenlong Island, observing the terrain and discreetly inquiring about the situation along the way.

As the Great Flood Dragon just set foot on Shenlong Island, the Dragon Lord seated in the grand hall seemed to sense something amiss, as if an outsider had entered his domain. He released his divine awareness to carefully search the island.

Almost everyone on the island felt something unusual, as if someone was watching them, causing them to look around uneasily.

Among the crowd spreading rumors, Mu Dajiao suddenly felt eyes upon him. His heart quickened with excitement, and he hurriedly concealed all his aura, not daring to look around carelessly, pretending to be indifferent as he continued spreading rumors.

A black-clad youth beside the Dragon Lord in the grand hall noticed the Dragon Lord’s unusual expression and asked, “Dragon Lord, is there something unusual?”

“Heh heh,” the Dragon Lord retracted his divine awareness and smiled, “I discovered something interesting, just took a casual look.”

“Oh,” the black-clad youth chuckled softly but remained silent thereafter.

However, his eyes betrayed a hint of skepticism. The grand hall housed not just one humanoid figure, but several.

Yet, few were entirely human in appearance; most bore half fish heads, scaly bodies, or resembled shrimp soldiers and crab generals. Among these were loyal followers of the Dragon Lord as well as guests invited to witness the ceremony. This black-clad youth was one of them—a water leopard who had attained enlightenment.

Originally a leopard living in the waters around Boji Mountain, because of the proximity to the hills of Southern Continent, he had grown up solitary and vulnerable, with scarcely any place to hide in the water. He escaped to the mountains, where a leopard took him in. Though a water leopard, he identified as a leopard. Even after unifying the various water veins near the Southern Continent’s land, he still considered himself a leopard.

The Dragon Lord had invited him this time to forge an alliance, hoping he could keep the Great Flood Dragon in Tai Xuan Lake in check, giving time to consolidate power over the entire Dongting Lake.

Seeing the water leopard feign ignorance, the Dragon Lord felt a twinge of displeasure and said, “I detected an aura very similar to that wild flood dragon’s. I wonder if you, as the leader of the Southern Continent’s third largest power, have any interest?”

A sharp gleam flashed in the water leopard’s eyes. He sensed trouble; the Great Flood Dragon of Tai Xuan Lake was acting recklessly to come to Dongting Lake. No matter how ancient and cunning a creature is, even with supreme concealment techniques, traces would be found.

It must not be allowed for that wooden flood dragon to perish here. The principle of mutual survival was clear to him. The water leopard silently resolved to act.

He then said to the Dragon Lord, “This matter is manageable, but I suppose you would be more interested than I am.”

“Ha ha,” the Dragon Lord laughed, “Indeed, I am quite intrigued.”

He glanced outside, expressionless, and continued, “Although there is chaos among the hundred kings in the Southern Continent, you and I both know the true controllers are only the three of us.”

“I think you misunderstand, Dragon Lord. I only operate near Boji Mountain. I have no interest elsewhere,” the water leopard said coldly.

Secretly thinking, if it weren’t for the Dragon Lord stirring up trouble every year and plunging the Southern Continent into chaos, could there be enough food and drink to fuel rebellions? The water leopard looked at the Dongting Lake Dragon Lord with disdain.

The Dragon Lord was unimpressed. “Although Boji Mountain is not known for governance, once you give the order, twenty percent of the Southern Continent’s territories would be under your control.”

“Heh heh,” the water leopard laughed lightly, unconcerned, as if pondering something before saying, “I don’t have such power. It’s all due to my mother’s prestige.”

Hearing mention of his mother, the Dongting Lake Dragon Lord was suddenly alert. The purpose of allying with Boji Mountain was the water leopard’s mother, whose cultivation was comparable to his own. Though lacking a divine rank and perhaps inferior, the gap was not great.

Though the water leopard was adopted by the leopard queen of Boji Mountain after she lost her child, she loved him deeply—more than her biological offspring. Once, when a demon tribe tried to harm the water leopard, the leopard queen wiped out the entire tribe, demonstrating her fierce protection.

If he left the Dongting Lake waters, he would be no match for that leopard, but as long as that leopard came to Dongting Lake, he would not be the opponent.

The Dongting Lake Dragon Lord contemplated secretly. He had thought to capture the water leopard to threaten his mother, but reconsidered. Given the leopard queen’s temperament, she might fight to the death. Though not necessarily afraid, this was a critical moment; he could not afford unnecessary complications.

“Ha ha,” the Dragon Lord chuckled awkwardly to ease the tension, then encouraged, “I wonder how the Leopard Queen mother has been lately?”

“Heh heh, she’s fine, but recently many have planned to establish a temple for her worship. She hasn’t had time to go elsewhere,” the water leopard replied casually. To survive for centuries on land as a water leopard, his mother’s status was one reason; his own intelligence was another. Without the right temperament, even with noble status, one would not survive.

“Oh?” The Dongting Lake Dragon Lord’s heart first leapt with joy, then tightened. Yet his expression remained calm, making it hard for others to discern his true feelings. After a pause, he said, “Then I must congratulate the Leopard Queen mother. When the people begin to worship her, I will not interfere in Tai Xuan Lake affairs. From then on, the Southern Continent will be governed by just our two families. Wouldn’t that be splendid?”

Though his face showed no change, the water leopard clearly saw through it. As a water and land amphibious creature, mostly living in water, he was sensitive to subtle movements. Though the Dragon Lord thought himself discreet, slight muscle twitches betrayed him, picked up instantly by the water leopard.

The water leopard thought, this Dragon Lord is too eager. Dongting Lake was already his domain. His mother had spoken of this matter before. Divine ranks, granted by the Way of the Gods, were both a blessing and a curse.

Though they could temporarily boost power, one with great strength would no longer practice steadily for a hundred years but would instead seek to gather faith and promote oneself to be worshiped, all to increase power. The Dragon Lord, hundreds of years ago, was at the Great Pillar stage, but after gaining divine rank, even a Golden Core immortal was no match for him.

With power comes status, and status can only rise, not fall. There are many who add glory, but more who kick one when down. If the Dragon Lord’s power were to decline, many would seek to kill him. Without his leadership, Dongting Lake would surely descend into chaos.

Watching the contemplative water leopard, the Dongting Lake Dragon Lord cautiously asked, “What does Young Master Leopard think we should do now?”

“Ahem,” the water leopard coughed twice before saying, “Is what you say true? That you won’t interfere in Tai Xuan Lake?”

“Indeed, I only wish to fully control Dongting Lake. Other places do not interest me,” the Dragon Lord reiterated, thinking that once the Dongting Lake forces were consolidated, and the two competitors weakened each other, he would come to clean up the mess.

“I will discuss this with my mother once I return,” the water leopard nodded without revealing emotion, then added, “But I suspect a fourth power may emerge in the future.”

As he spoke, he pointed towards Shengjing.