Lord of the Earth

"These two men both possess the ability to command a large army independently! Moreover, they are both top-tier military talents... Having them command the army for Qianxia is like adding wings to a tiger!"

"The only pity is that both Huo and Xue come from other dynasties with different fortunes..."

Inside the military headquarters, the remaining observers were discussing the matter animatedly.

"It's alright. Since Qianxia is determined to 'build a Heavenly Court,' any human or even alien prodigy who is willing to serve Qianxia can be appointed as an official of the Heavenly Court!"

"It seems that the top three, and even the top scholar, of our military affairs department in this imperial examination should already be decided."

"Hmm, no, look at this exam room..."

The Skynet feed switched for the third time.

This time, it's an archipelago deep in the "Endless Sea" in the western part of the Eternal Land—the Dragonscale Islands.

It covers an area of ​​30 billion square miles, with more than 3,000 large islands, which are closely distributed like dragon scales.

Originally, this area belonged to the "Jiaolong Clan" of the Divine Dragon Clan, but during the last unlocking of the heavens and earth, a group of extremely powerful demonic dragons, the "Black Dragon Clan," descended upon this area!
The Black Dragon Clan is said to be descended from the bloodline of the progenitor god of the Demon Dragon Clan. They are born extraordinary, reach the Saint level upon adulthood, and their physical strength is even comparable to that of a demigod!

This black dragon clan, led by a quasi-true god known as the "Black Dragon King," seized control of this sea area and established a dynasty-level "Dragon Court"!
They used the dragon's might, derived from the superior dragon race, to intimidate all races, forcing all races on this archipelago, including the abyssal fishmen, merfolk, sea turtles, shellfish, Naga, snake people, and more than 180 other intelligent races with dragon bloodlines, to submit to them and pay tribute. Any slight resistance was met with slaughter and extermination!

Even some of the dragon races that once had an "alliance" with Qianxia were forcibly subdued by him!

Today, a man dressed in a blue robe in the style of the Han Dynasty, looking like a scholar, arrived at the outer edge of the Dragonscale Islands aboard an ordinary merchant ship.

This man had a face like jade, three long wisps of beard under his chin, and a sharp, piercing aura between his brows.

He stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the distant, faintly visible Dragon Court, his eyes calm as still water, as if that fearsome "dragon's den and tiger's lair" was nothing more than a gentle breeze!

He wasn't even accompanied by many soldiers, just thirty-six of Qianxia's Imperial Guards.

These thirty-six people were disguised as caravan guards. The highest cultivation level they revealed was only at the Saint Realm. However, the swords at their waists had faint patterns flowing around them. They were "Dragon-Slaying Blades" specially made by the Qianxia "Heavenly Crafts Hall", which were designed to break through the scales of dragons!
In addition, these candidates were also temporarily granted official seals and the titles of officials of the Qianxia Immortal Dynasty!

After landing on the island, the scholar in blue robes did not rush to summon the leaders of various tribes. Instead, he first ordered thirty-six Imperial Guards to split up and go to various parts of the archipelago to gather intelligence and visit the oppressed tribes.

He sat alone on an inconspicuous little boat, flipping through the intelligence brought back by the Embroidered Uniform Guard page by page, examining each page in great detail.

The fish-men have made their living by fishing for generations, but they are forced by the Black Dragon Clan to pay tribute with 90% of their catch. If they refuse, their entire village is slaughtered and their entire clan is wiped out.

The Merfolk are skilled at weaving mermaid silk and controlling the waves, but they were forcibly conscripted into slavery by the Black Dragon Clan and forced to weave cloth and control ships for the dragons all day long.
The Clam Clan can produce pearls and cure all diseases, but the Black Dragon Clan steals young clams from their clan every year and raises them in the Dragon Court, all for the sake of obtaining pearls.

The Naga, brave and skilled in battle, were enslaved by the Black Dragon Clan using their dragon might, serving as cannon fodder in their conquests; the Serpent People, proficient in curses, were imprisoned by the Black Dragon Clan in a poisonous swamp, where they were forced to extract venom for them day and night…

Ten days later, the scholar in blue put away the bamboo slips and got up to go ashore.

After gathering various intelligence, he personally selected seventy-two advanced races and thirty-six top-tier races to visit, doing the same thing for each race.

First, present the official seal of the Qianxia Emperor.

Then, he read the letter of credence aloud to the public.

That was the official letter from the Qianxia Immortal Dynasty, opening up trade with these foreign races, reducing tariffs, returning sacred objects, releasing hostages, and protecting their safety. It was stamped with the imperial seal of the Immortal Dynasty, and every clause was written clearly.

Then, he asked only one question:

"Qianxia wishes to pacify the Black Dragon Clan, and needs your assistance."

"After this is accomplished, Qianxia, ​​in the name of the Celestial Dynasty, will guarantee you five hundred years of peace and prosperity, and you will forever remain a vassal state of Qianxia, ​​free from any bullying by foreign tribes. Gentlemen, are you willing to trust me?"

The alien leader was initially surprised, but then he couldn't help but be tempted.

After all, even today, Qianxia is still the only immortal dynasty with great fortune in the entire Eternal Land, and its prestige is closely associated with the caravans of the "Merchant Alliance".

Spreading throughout the entire Eternal Land...

Even the creatures within the "Dragon Abyss Islands" have all heard of Qian Xia's formidable reputation!
"Where is the Qianxia army? If there is no army, and we rise up, the Black Dragon Clan will counterattack, and we will surely die."

The supreme deity of the Merfolk tribe hesitated slightly.

He had heard that there was also a branch of the Merfolk in Qianxia, ​​and that the level of wealth of their lives was such that an ordinary Merfolk could surpass that of the high-ranking members of his own clan!

The scholar smiled and pointed to the official seal in his hand.

"The name Qianxia itself signifies a large army."

"Why should we believe you? You should know that Qianxia, ​​as a human, was originally our enemy. Now, with just one sentence, you want us to become enemies with the Black Dragon Clan... Is this a joke?"

The leader of the alien tribe was highly skeptical, gripping his weapon tightly.

“As I hold the official seal of Qianxia, ​​I represent the Qianxia court. Every word and action I take is like thunderbolts striking the earth, leaving a mark on the heavens! How can it be described as a joke!”

The middle-aged scholar put away his smile and said seriously:

"This Black Dragon Island originally belonged to the Jiaolong clan, who had already submitted to Qianxia. The fact that the Black Dragon clan has occupied it is truly a provocation against Qianxia..."

"Those who offend Qianxia, ​​no matter how far away, shall be punished. Qianxia has long intended to eliminate them... but in recent years, various matters have delayed our actions."

"But today is different."

"Today's dry summer is not the same as the dry summer of the past. If you don't believe me, I can do one thing first—"

He took out the scroll of state documents, tore off a corner on the spot, and handed it to the leader.

"This is a corner of the official document I tore off. If, after the Black Dragon Clan is pacified, Qianxia fails to fulfill its promises to you, you may use this to question Qianxia's emperor in front of the entire world!"

The leader was stunned.

This is a "state letter".

Tearing up the official letter is a great disrespect to the Immortal Dynasty itself.

But this person tore it up so openly and without hesitation... what gives them such confidence?
Hiss, it seems this person holds a high position and wields great power within Qianxia, ​​even capable of influencing national affairs... The words of such a person are probably worth considering!

Of course, the main reason is also Qian Xia's reputation, which is now widely known throughout the Eternal Land... especially when the Immortal Dynasty was promoted, he single-handedly faced ten alien imperial dynasties and hundreds of alien dynasties.

Furthermore, it repelled the ten True Gods, leaving behind an arm of the Blood Clan True God and the leg of the mount of the top True God, the Spider Queen... Such a feat is enough to be celebrated for millions of years, even in the myriad realms!
Now that the envoy from Qianxia has come to their door with a corner of the official letter as a "promise," the races of the Dragonscale Sea are naturally tempted.
"The Black Dragon Clan is a branch of the Supreme Race, and in terms of strength, it is even stronger than ordinary quasi-Supreme Races... Not only does it possess an extremely powerful physique, but it also possesses the Dragon Might that can greatly weaken our combat power. Even if we join forces, we cannot break through the Dragon Court!"

Then, a leader of another tribe raised a more practical question.

The scholar nodded and took out a document from his sleeve.

"This is a 'loan agreement' from my Qianxia Merchant Alliance. You can use the resources and territory you gain after the Black Dragon Clan is wiped out as 'funds' to borrow money from the 'Tianyuan Bank' of my Qianxia Merchant Alliance, and then use these loans to purchase war supplies from the Alliance..." "For example, my Qianxia currently possesses over a million different types of war machines and mechanical beasts, among which 360 types possess demigod-level combat power... These mechanical beasts are sufficient to replace you in directly confronting the Black Dragon Clan, preventing you from suffering too much loss!"

"Of course, if you want to take revenge on the Black Dragon Clan in person, it's not impossible... This item is a special product of my Qianxia Clan. This is the 'Star Dragon-Slaying Crossbow' newly developed by the Qianxia Ministry of Works. It can kill Black Dragons at the second level of the God Realm!"

Immediately, another object appeared in his hand, about a hundred feet long, resembling an enlarged version of a crossbow... and numerous runes on it were densely packed and scattered like stars, as if a whole starry sky had been condensed onto an arrow!

"A second-level deity? Most of the powerful beings among the black dragons are at the third level of cultivation, and that Black Dragon King has even reached the fourth level of quasi-true god. Who can defeat him?"

Another leader of a foreign tribe asked.

"This is the token of the 'King of Zhen,' of the Qianxia Dynasty. On the day you all rise up in rebellion, the King of Zhen will personally appear outside this Dragon Court—to help you stop the Black Dragon King and, incidentally, slay him!"

The scholar smiled slightly.

He took out a token from his bosom, which shimmered with golden light and transformed into a human-headed dragon with eyes and a golden robe, exuding an aura of arrogance!
"Xia Wushuang, the King of Zhenxia in Qianxia?"

Upon hearing this, the many dragon races were overjoyed.

Especially some of the "Dragonborn" races, who were particularly excited!
Simply because everyone knows it.

Xia Wushuang's identity is the "elder brother" of the Qianxia Kingdom's ruler, but his true form is not human, but a "five-clawed golden dragon" that has activated the ancestral dragon bloodline.

Furthermore, it has now condensed its own "prototype of Dao Fruit" and stepped into the realm of quasi-true god!
If we say that the Black Dragon race belongs to the "Gods of War" in the Demon Dragon faction.

Therefore, the "Five-Clawed Golden Dragon" clan belongs to the "King" in the Divine Dragon camp!
For these thousands of dragonborn, the choice suddenly turned into a decision about whether to side with the "divine dragon" or the "demon dragon"!

In this way, the doubts that he had previously had about abandoning the dragon race and turning to the human race would naturally disappear.

"Gentlemen, is there anything else we need to think about?"

“My Qianxia ‘King of Suppression’ has already suppressed and killed more than three quasi-true gods over the years, and even once suppressed an incarnation of a true god… This Dragon King of the Black Dragon Clan is nothing more than a quasi-true god…”

The middle-aged scholar in blue robes spoke with icy coldness.

Qianxia's status as the "King of Zhen" is a true "trump card" for these dragon beings!
"What you all need to do is to break through the Dragon Court and kill those Black Dragons who have oppressed you for hundreds of years... And what I, Qian Xia, need to do is to help stop the Dragon Emperor and bring him to his death!"

"I've finished speaking. Who agrees? Who disagrees?"

Then, he looked at everyone present.

Although, it did not express much of a threat.

However, the token in his hand, representing the "King of Zhenxia," was enough to make many alien races gasp for breath!

This is because the Dragon Abyss Islands are inhabited by dragon descendants. The aura of a dragon king that can be sensed from that token has caused every race to submit. It is the aura of a true "dragon king"!

"We, the Abyss Fishmen, are willing to offer three million water-controlling warriors!"

"Our Merfolk race is willing to provide two million Wave-Riding Cavalry!"

"My Bei tribe is willing to provide 500,000 sorcerers!"

"Our Naga race is willing to offer 800,000 extraordinary battle dancers!"

"My Serpent-People race is willing to offer 300,000 extraordinary curse priests!"

……

Three months later.

On the outskirts of the Dragonscale Islands, an unprecedentedly large allied force has assembled—

The water-controlling warriors of the deep-sea fish-men race, a dark mass, wielding tridents and treading on the waves, stood at the forefront of the allied forces; the wave-riding cavalry of the merfolk, riding deep-sea behemoths, patrolled back and forth on the sea.

The Turtle Clan's heavily armored infantry, carrying massive shields, stood in neat square formations; the Shell Clan's sorcerers, dressed in white and wielding staffs, stood in the center of the fleet; the Naga Clan's war dancers, with six arms flailing and flashing blades, exuded a ferocious fighting spirit; and the Snake-Man Clan's curse priests, clad in black robes, had strange curses swirling around them.

There are also elites from nearly a hundred advanced races, totaling 30 billion troops, and a million warships of all kinds, including coral warships of the fish-men, shell warships of the merfolk, and tortoise-shell warships of the turtles.

It was densely packed, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The scholar in blue stood at the bow of a warship that the Naga tribe had purchased from Qianxia.

Holding a scroll of bamboo slips, he read aloud, his voice amplified by spiritual energy, resounding throughout the entire sea, even reaching the Black Dragon King deep within the Dragon Court:
"Emperor Qianxia decrees: The Black Dragon Clan, originally a vassal of the Dragon Clan, has betrayed its faith, plundered merchants, and harmed its people. Their crimes are unforgivable! The false dynasty is hereby abolished, and the legitimate dynasty is re-established. Those who side with the rebels shall be demoted to lowly people; those who aid the rebels shall have their three clans exterminated; those who abandon darkness and embrace light shall be pardoned; those who present the heads of the Dragon Clan shall be granted titles and honors!"

After the imperial edict was read aloud, he waved his hand.

"How dare you, arrogant human, spout such nonsense?"

"Dare to rebel? Are you courting death?!"

On an island ahead, a black dragon at the demigod level awoke from its slumber, flapped its wings, and soared into the sky, its violent aura tearing apart the clouds within a hundred miles...

As a member of the supreme race, the black dragon has always been high and mighty.

Each black dragon's territory is comparable to a small world in the myriad realms. In the eyes of these black dragons, these dragon-born races are nothing more than their slaves, their property, and ants that they can kill or dismember at will.

Now, these "ants" under his command actually dare to rebel?

He roared and unleashed his full dragon might, preparing to suppress these rebels as usual.

In his memory, every time the dragon's might was unleashed, these inferior races would be so frightened that they would collapse to the ground, at the mercy of the beast.

But this time...

It did not see the result it wanted. The dragon-born races were so aggressive that they ignored its own pressure!

puff!
More importantly, a crossbow bolt pierced the air.

It was an arrow from a dragon-piercing crossbow, its tip gleaming with an eerie bluish-black light. The black dragon instinctively tried to dodge, but the arrow was too fast; even his dragon eyes couldn't keep up.

I only had time to see a flash of black light before a sharp pain shot through my chest.

"what?"

He looked down and saw a gaping hole the size of a bucket in his chest, from which blood was gushing. Even more bizarrely, the scales around the wound were rapidly softening and peeling off, as if corroded by some force!
Even his own vitality was rapidly waning.

"What...what the hell is this?!"

The demigod-level black dragon plummeted miserably from the sky, landing lifeless on the ground! (End of Chapter)