After I stopped trying, a rich woman trained me into a demon emperor.

Under the protection of the three golden-armored corpses, he had already approached within ten feet of the old dragon's head.

Before the echo of the chains snapping had faded, Miao Laoshi completed his action, exerting all his strength with a resolute posture.

The old man bit his tongue, and the sweet and pungent taste spread instantly. His blood and essence sprayed into the silver bell as if he were trying to kill himself.

Not just a small sip, but three sips in a row.

Each bite cost him five years of his lifespan.

As Miao Laoshi's emaciated body gushed out his semen, it shriveled up at a visible speed.

His face, which was already pressed against his skull, became even more sunken, and his eyes were vacant, making him look like a skeleton on the verge of death.

The sound of the silver bells has changed.

It was no longer the urgent and piercing death knell it had been, but instead flowed out a long and deep melody.

The sound it emitted was unlike that of ordinary ritual implements; it was more like an ancient lullaby.

The melody was imbued with the vicissitudes of time, as if the first generation of Miao corpse drivers were whispering.

The tadpole-like patterns on the bell shone brightly.

A golden line of spirit control contract extended from the surface of the silver bell, piercing straight into the old dragon's broad forehead.

The old dragon abruptly stopped in its excitement at being freed.

Its vertical pupils flickered with a tyrannical scarlet light.

This was not due to the silver bell's instantaneous and powerful control, because the golden thread had not yet touched its dragon horns.

Rather, it is the Miao people's bloodline spirit contained in the folk songs that, across four thousand years, touches the memories deeply hidden in their blood.

That kindness spanning hundreds of generations flashed through his memory like fragments, causing the old dragon's body to hesitate for a moment.

It was this moment of hesitation.

Miao Laoshi's blood essence imprint, through the silver bell, forcibly covered the original blood pact within the old dragon's body.

The golden patterns of the Spirit Control Contract rapidly spread from the dragon's horns to its head, taking root and firmly embedding themselves into the old dragon's soul.

Upon seeing this scene, Miao Laoshi was overjoyed.

He spat out a mouthful of saliva mixed with black blood, and a look of the greatest pride and satisfaction in his life appeared on his face.

Silver Bell is under control; the overall situation is settled.

His first priority was to eliminate potential threats.

Zhou Ran is already at his limit and is no threat to us!

With the Black Witch Village's Holy Maiden and Grand Elder both fallen, they were no match for them!

The first thing he wanted to deal with was the Japanese pirates from the island nation!

Then there was the coach who repeatedly opposed him!

"go."

Miao Laoshi pointed a finger.

The old dragon's massive tail, hundreds of feet long, swept outwards, carrying with it a deafening surge of water.

The target was the Susa submarine.

Although the master holds the broken eight-foot-long magatama in his hand, if he were still alive, he would be an unstable factor that could change at any time.

The speed at which the dragon's tail swept past far exceeded everyone's expectations.

The overwhelming power of a four-thousand-year-old dragon cannot be easily compensated for by any level of cultivation.

The Susanoo's 200-meter-long steel hull was struck by the katana's tail, instantly deforming and twisting.

The armor plates were stacked and intertwined, the keel was broken, and the compartments were crushed flat.

The entire submarine was pulled sideways for dozens of meters, the middle of the hull was severely damaged, and unsettling net-like cracks appeared on the protective layer of the nuclear power compartment.

The enormous steel behemoth made a tearing sound that echoed continuously from the bottom of the water.

Mr. Da had no choice but to stop his confrontation with Zhou Ran.

He retreated swiftly, almost at the last moment the tail of the dragon touched the Susanoo, and disappeared into the remaining emergency passage inside the submarine.

He formed hand seals and quickly activated the final protective formation.

The formation spread out a faint golden light screen inside the submarine, barely withstanding the impact of the remaining force of the dragon's tail squeezing inward.

The battlefield situation reversed at this moment.

The complex situation of multiple parties fighting each other has completely transformed into one person in charge.

That person was none other than Old Corpse Miao, standing on the shoulder of the golden-armored corpse, looking radiant.

The three golden-armored corpses rearranged their positions, pinning Zhou Ran and Pai Jiao down firmly.

They are not adopting an aggressive encirclement posture, but rather a defensive formation.

The old dragon's might overwhelmed the entire area.

Miao Laoshi stood on the shoulder of the tallest of the three golden-armored corpses, looking down at Zhou Ran.

"Young friend Zhou".

His voice was calm, but his tone was casual, as if he were talking to someone casually.

That calmness revealed a composed demeanor that indicated complete control.

"As I said, I meant no harm."

The silver bell rang steadily in his palm, and golden patterns had already climbed onto one-third of the old dragon's head.

My control over the old dragon is steadily improving.

"You can leave now, since you saved Yingying."

Miao Laoshi's words even revealed a trace of sincerity.

He had no intention of exterminating them all.

"This dragon belongs to my Miao family."

The Miao people have been sacrificing their blood to nourish this dragon for generations, so it is only right and proper for them to reclaim what belongs to them.

Take your friends and go back.

I can pretend that nothing happened tonight.

Zhou Ran stood still.

He understood Miao Laoshi's "goodwill" and also sensed his determination to succeed in his words.

He shifted his gaze and surveyed the entire battlefield.

Zhou Ran weighed the options in his mind and realized that Miao Laoshi's suggestion, while seemingly "fair," had in fact completely stripped him of all the goals and efforts he had made on this trip.

Wang Pangzi collapsed beside the reef, his bandages soaked in blood, almost becoming one with the reef.

Miao Yingying stayed by his side, her face still wet with tears, her expression a mixture of despair and guilt, and she dared not look Zhou Ran in the eye.

Su Qingwu held the unconscious Xiao Rou in her arms. Although the dagger wound on Xiao Rou's chest had been temporarily sealed, blood continued to seep out, staining the surrounding water red.

Su Qingling stood beside her sister, her shoulders trembling slightly, but the tidal light in her hand did not go out, stubbornly flickering underwater.

In the distance, Zhang Xuansu heard Miao Laoshi's words.

The sword formation slowed down.

He turned to Zhou Ran, his eyes questioning.

Should we turn our attention to the Miao people instead?

In his eyes, there was both doubt and respect for Zhou Ran's decision.

A two-second pause.

Zhou Ran opened his mouth, having already made up his mind.

He had no time to concern himself with the generations-old feuds of the Miao people.

But the Jiao Dan was the key to his saving Li Zhiyao.

He will never back down.

"Need not."

Zhang Xuansu frowned, clearly surprised by Zhou Ran's reply.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, you lead your men to continue attacking the Pai Sect."

Zhou Ran's gaze returned to Miao Laoshi, his eyes filled with a chilling killing intent that could freeze the river.

"I will personally come to deal with Old Man Miao."

Upon hearing this, Old Man Miao raised his sparse white eyebrows.

He looked at Zhou Ran, who was covered in wounds, and at the fact that he only had 70% of his strength left after being suppressed by the dragon's might. He also looked at the group of people behind him who were either lying down, kneeling, or unable to stand steadily.

Then he laughed.

That smile held not mockery, but only regret.

It's a pity that a young man in his early twenties doesn't know his own limitations.

In his view, Zhou Ran was undoubtedly throwing an egg against a rock.

"Since you're not leaving, this old man has no choice but to see you off."

Miao Laoshi raised his hand.

The silver bell's tone suddenly became sharp, transmitting a penetrating power that shook the very soul.

The old dragon's enormous vertical pupils slowly rotated under the pull of the Spirit Control Contract, locking onto Zhou Ran.

The dragon's head then turned.

Its gaping maw opened wide, revealing its menacing fangs.

Deep within the mouth, a mass of deep blue dragon breath, condensed from the essence of a four-thousand-year-old dragon, was gathering.

Light surged from the depths of the old dragon's throat, turning the surrounding river water a deep blue. The water temperature rose sharply where the dragon's breath condensed, and strings of bubbles rose from the mud bottom, making a gurgling sound.

This is a sign of death!

Miao Yingying saw it from a distance.

She saw the silver bell in her grandfather's hand, and the dragon's head slowly turning.

And that dark blue death light that was gathering, enough to evaporate the entire river.

Miao Yingying's breath caught in her throat; her grandfather was actually going to kill Zhou Ran.

She let out a piercing scream, which contained endless despair.

"Grandpa, no!"