"Venerable Dragon Sword, you can't protect him. Let go." Serena Xue's voice rang out again, calm and matter-of-fact, without any mockery or contempt.
"Don't even think about it!"
Venerable Dragon Sword wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression especially resolute.
"Why go to all this trouble?" Serena Xue shook her head.
Just then—
Ian Song suddenly stepped forward, looking calmly at Serena Xue: "Some people always think they can control everything, but in the end, they find out they can't control anything at all. Here and now, I, Leon Huang, will say it straight: if the military dares to keep pressing me, don't blame me for treating the entire army as my enemy!"
His third mission was to unite the sects and the Human Race. Before, he'd considered using the military's power, but now it was clear—the army's people were not only domineering, their need for control was way too strong. Even if he became one of the Nine Elders, he'd never truly be in charge. So instead of wasting years climbing the military ranks, it would be better to smash the current system and build his own team from scratch.
Just then, hearing Ian's words, Serena Xue was briefly stunned, then let out a "hehe" laugh.
Obviously, she didn't take Ian's threat seriously. More than anything, she thought this kid was just way too arrogant, so she couldn't even be bothered to reply.
Even Venerable Dragon Sword felt a little awkward.
Darian Long thought to himself, Little Leon's bragging is about to pierce the heavens.
The army's strength runs deep—so deep that even Sanctum Martial Academy can't shake it, not even a little. Besides, it's the military that keeps the Devil and Demon races at bay. So, all these years, no matter how domineering or outrageous the army acts, everyone just has to put up with it.
"You don't believe me?"
Ian continued, addressing Serena Xue.
"Heh!"
Serena Xue let out another soft laugh.
"Then how about a bet? If we want to leave, even if you send ten times as many people, you still won't be able to keep us!" Ian looked a little annoyed.
"You're not qualified."
Serena Xue shook her head: "All you rely on is that teleportation technique. Since we know you use it, did you really think we wouldn't be prepared? Now, you have two choices: fully submit to the military—we'll treat you well. Or, resist to the end—and you'll die!"
"I don't believe you can kill me!" Ian smiled and shook his head.
"Then go ahead and try!"
"Senior, let's go!"
Ian Song grabbed Venerable Dragon Sword's arm, and with a single use of the Art of Great Teleportation, they instantly appeared a hundred li away.
But almost immediately, six figures flashed into view, surrounding them—it was Serena Xue.
"Your Art of Great Teleportation can only shift a hundred li at most, but the spiritual artifacts we're carrying can teleport two hundred li! Now, you've lost your trump card, so it's time to obey orders!" Serena Xue smiled, her expression tinged with amusement.
"Heh!"
Ian Song laughed too: "Who told you my Art of Great Teleportation was limited to a hundred li?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ian vanished from where he stood, reappearing three hundred li away.
Back when he was just an early Grandmaster, his Art of Great Teleportation could only shift a hundred li. But after reaching mid-stage Grandmaster, it had already hit three hundred li.
But he'd kept this hidden all along, planning to use it as his secret trump card.
After two consecutive teleports, Serena Xue finally caught up with Ian—though only because Ian chose to stand still and not teleport away again.
"So? Do you really think you can control me now? With my Art of Great Teleportation, no matter how many people you send, you still can't catch me!" Ian looked at Serena Xue, a mocking smile on his lips.
"Ian, you're the real deal!"
At those words, Ian's expression instantly darkened, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. He drew a deep breath and spoke, his voice low and cold: "I hate being threatened more than anything. But I'll say this to you too—you all have family, you all have loved ones. If you dare touch mine, I'll slaughter yours. If I can't wipe them out right away, I'll disappear and cultivate in secret. Once I reach Martial Saint, I'll come back and settle every score—one by one."
Ian smiled, but his heart felt heavy. Now that he'd completely broken with the military, they were bound to make further moves. He had to rush back to New Dawn City and get his parents somewhere safe before they acted.
Ian's smile returned: "You forced my hand. Besides, if people don't look out for themselves, heaven and earth will destroy them. If you try to use my loved ones as leverage, that's your mistake!"
At that, Serena Xue frowned slightly: "You're just bluffing, aren't you?"
Ian replied coolly, "Call it talk, call it bluffing—either way, you can't do anything to me!"
"Such shameless boasting!"
Suddenly, a strange look flashed across Serena Xue's face. With a flick of her finger, a golden bead flew out and instantly transformed into a golden barrier, enveloping the area within three li.
"Did you really think the military only had this one trick? This is a Sky‑Lock Bead. Try your teleportation now and see if you can still use the Art of Great Teleportation!"
"Oh? And you think that's all I've got too?"
Ian didn't panic at all. He smiled and connected with the Little Flood‑Dragon Martial Soul in his sea of consciousness.
Thunderous dragon cries resounded from within Ian.
Waves of dragon roars erupted from Ian's body. Then, with a flash of blue light, Ian transformed into a flood dragon three zhang long, covered in black scales and sporting a single horn on his head—a truly fearsome sight.
"How... how is this possible? How could you fully fuse with a King‑Rank Martial Soul in such a short time?"
Seeing Ian transformed into a flood dragon, Serena Xue could no longer hide her shock. Normally, it takes years after fusing a Martial Soul to reach full integration; most hosts can only use part of its power. But Ian, in just a few days, had mastered it completely.
Dragons can grow or shrink, soar or hide—rising, they fly through the skies; hiding, they slip beneath the waves. Ian's fused soul may be just a flood dragon, much weaker than a true dragon, but it still carries the might of the dragon name.
A thunderous roar shook the air.
With a roar, Ian's dragon claw grabbed Venerable Dragon Sword, and his tail lashed out. With a crack, the Sky‑Lock Bead's golden barrier shattered. In a flash of black light, Ian soared into the sky with Venerable Dragon Sword.
Watching the flood dragon tear through the sky, Serena Xue's face twisted with fury and humiliation.
Thousands of li away, Ian—still in flood dragon form—descended from the sky, set Venerable Dragon Sword down, reverted to human form, and quickly pulled a set of clothes from his storage ring to put on.
"Kid Huang, you're the real deal!"
Venerable Dragon Sword gave Ian a thumbs-up.
Ian smiled, but his heart felt heavy. Now that he'd completely broken with the military, they were bound to make further moves. He had to rush back to Kaiyuan City and get his parents somewhere safe before they acted.
Otherwise, if the military really caught them, he wouldn't be able to be as cold and ruthless as he'd just claimed.