Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

It may only be a matter of time before they apostatize and join his ranks.

He only needs to wait for the right time.

The winds of change have already shifted; let's wait and see.

Chapter 7 What a fine sect of Chan!

Deep in the East China Sea lies an underwater hell.

The once gloomy and oppressive scene, filled with chains and churning lava, has been greatly changed.

The crimson magma still flows slowly, but it has lost its former ferocity. The heavy black iron chains are scattered all over the ground, still covered with traces of dragon blood and broken scales, silently telling the story of past suffering.

The scorching heat and stench of blood in the air had faded considerably, replaced by a suppressed, agonizing breath after a catastrophe, and a nascent, brewing power.

With Ao Guang completely siding with Qin Chuan and no longer using his own dragon essence to maintain the demon-locking formation, the suppressive power of this place was greatly reduced.

Countless imprisoned dragon sons and grandsons, as well as elite aquatic creatures, were able to break free of their restraints. Although they were weakened by the prolonged torture and could not fully recover their former supernatural powers, at least they no longer had to endure the torment of having their tendons and scales pulled out and their souls burned and refined.

At this moment, led by Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea, along with Ao Qin, the Dragon King of the South Sea, Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea, Ao Shun, the Dragon King of the North Sea, and many other core members of the dragon clan, all knelt solemnly before Qin Chuan, who stood with his hands behind his back, their expressions solemn and filled with heavy and complex emotions.

Their posture was extremely humble, as if they were worshipping a god who created the world.

"We, the dragons of the four seas, pay our respects to our lord! We thank our lord for his grace in giving us life!"

Ao Guang's voice trembled uncontrollably, a mixture of gratitude, humiliation, and determination, echoing in the empty purgatory.

He was finally able to release his people with his own hands. This long-awaited relief came from the unfathomable being before him, whose aura was as deep as an abyss.

Qin Chuan's gaze was calm, like a still well, as he slowly swept over the dark mass of dragons below.

Every dragon that caught his gaze felt a shiver run through their soul, as if they had been completely seen through.

He nodded slightly, his tone calm, yet it struck the hearts of every dragon like a thunderclap from the heavens or a heavy hammer:

"Get up. You dragons are too weak."

A seemingly casual remark caused all the dragons to feel ashamed and bitter, with many young dragons clenching their fists so tightly that their nails dug into their palms.

What a tragedy it is that a former overlord of the land has fallen to such a state.

Ao Guang lowered his head deeply, his dragon head almost touching the cold ground, his voice hoarse:

"Your Majesty, you are wise. Since the ancient Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, the top experts of our Dragon Clan have been almost entirely wiped out, and our lineage has nearly been severed. In addition, the Heavenly Court has suppressed us for many years and gradually eroded our power, leaving us only able to live a precarious existence in the four seas, controlling the clouds and rain, dependent on others, and barely clinging to life..."

He couldn't help but recall his secret and helpless plan, placing his slim hope of reviving the Dragon Clan on his son Ao Bing, who was destined to be the reincarnation of the Spirit Pearl. He hoped that Ao Bing could cultivate in seclusion and one day attain the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, so that the Dragon Clan's prestige could be restored.

However, this hope now seems so distant and fragile.

"All that has happened in the past is but smoke and clouds." Qin Chuan interrupted his thoughts, his voice still calm, yet carrying an undeniable conviction, "Now that you are under my command, you will surely have a new look."

After saying that, he didn't make any move, but simply raised his hand and flicked his finger.

"call out--!"

Four subtle rays of light, each containing supreme creation and fundamental principles, like the primordial light piercing through chaos, instantly entered the brows of the Four Seas Dragon Kings.

"Boom—!" "Boom—!" "Boom—!" "Boom—!"

Four immense and unparalleled auras erupted from the body of the Four Seas Dragon Kings, like a dormant volcano suddenly erupting!

The entire underwater inferno trembled, the remaining chains rattled, and the magma churned violently!

Ao Guang and Ao Run were surrounded by Daoist energy, and mysterious runes appeared on their bodies. The solid barrier that had been blocking them between the Golden Immortal Great Perfection and the Taiyi Realm was shattered like snow melting in spring under the impact of this external but same-origin force. The sound of dragons roared throughout the seabed, and they officially stepped into the Taiyi Immortal Realm!

The dragon's might was vast and far more pure and powerful than before!

Ao Shun and Ao Qin also experienced a surge in their auras, their dragon essence churning, reaching the level of half-step Taiyi, only a hair's breadth away from that crucial threshold!

Feeling the surging power within his body, far surpassing anything he had ever experienced before—a sublimation originating from the depths of his bloodline—the Four Seas Dragon Kings trembled with excitement, tears even welling in their eyes.

They prostrated themselves deeply once more, this time with genuine submission, their voices loud and firm:

"We thank our Lord for His grace! We swear to serve our Lord to the death, even if it means facing mountains of knives and seas of fire!"

Qin Chuan accepted their bow with composure, then said calmly:

"The power has been given to you, and the time for its verification will come soon. Go and send away those noisy 'immortals' outside."

In the depths of his eyes, a scene of ethereal beauty seemed to flow, clearly reflecting the tragic state of Chentang Pass at this moment.

What was once a prosperous pass has now become a living hell.

Broken walls and ruins, scorched earth stretching for miles, smoke of war rising everywhere. The once bustling streets are now littered with the corpses of innocent people, and blood flows like rivers.

In the air, numerous members of the demon-hunting team, dressed in the attire of the Chan Sect, were like hunting vultures, relentlessly pursuing and killing the few surviving mortals. With flashes of sword light, they brought up sprays of blood.

The leader was an old man with white hair, a youthful face, ruddy complexion, and a high forehead, resembling the God of Longevity.

Holding a gleaming white whisk, he watched the massacre below with indifferent eyes, as if observing ants fighting. He was none other than the eldest disciple of the Chan Sect and the first disciple of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable—Wuliang Immortal!

Amidst the ruins of Chentang Pass, bloodshed and carnage reigned.

Shen Gongbao knelt on the ground, holding a small leopard demon, Shen Xiaobao, who was barely breathing, with charred fur and a body that had shrunk to almost nothing.

His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at the Boundless Immortal Elder in the sky, who seemed to be playing with a mouse like a cat. His voice was hoarse with extreme anger and grief.

"Immeasurable Immortal! Why did you capture my father, Shen Zhengdao?! He was merely a reclusive cultivator who devoted himself to cultivation and lived a life of peace, and he never offended you! Why do you have to exterminate him?!"

With a gentle flick of his whisk, the Boundless Immortal Elder easily dispelled the demonic aura emanating from the ruins. His face held a hint of feigned pity as he spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice clearly reaching Shen Gongbao's ears:

“Shen Gongbao, don’t you understand? If it weren’t for my ‘careful arrangement’ that Nezha ‘coincidentally’ subdued the ‘troublesome’ leopard demon Shen Zhengdao during the ascension test, how could we have so easily discovered that it was you, Shen Gongbao, who colluded with the East Sea Dragon Clan to flood Chentang Pass and slaughter the people?”

He looked down at the ravaged, corpse-strewn land, his tone carrying a cold, superior indifference, as if he were in control of everything:

"All of this is for a reasonable 'evidence'. The dragon clan is arrogant and needs to be suppressed, and you, Shen Gongbao, this disobedient pawn who may even turn against you, also need to find a reason to clean house."

"For evidence? Just for this fabricated charge, you slaughtered the entire city's inhabitants?! They were utterly innocent!"

Shen Gongbao nearly bit his teeth to pieces, and blood spilled from the corners of his mouth.

The Boundless Immortal Elder smiled slightly, but that smile was colder and more chilling than ten-thousand-year-old black ice:

"Not entirely. The bones, flesh, and blood of dragons, and the inner cores and souls of great sea demons, are all excellent materials for refining the 'Heavenly Origin Pill.' This pill can greatly help my disciples of the Chan Sect advance their cultivation, giving them a head start and an advantage in the upcoming Investiture of the Gods war. Of course..."

He paused slightly, a barely perceptible hint of melancholy and longing flashing deep in his eyes:

"As the eldest disciple, I have worked diligently for the sect, but I have been stuck in the Taiyi realm for too long and have not been able to see the path to the Daluo realm. I must do more for the sect and for my master and accumulate more resources."

What he truly sought was to use this great achievement to win the favor of the Primordial Celestial Venerable, hoping that his master would grant him an opportunity or treasure to break through to the Great Luo realm.

"What dedication! What a fine example of the Chan Sect! What a reputable and righteous sect!"

Shen Gongbao laughed bitterly, his laughter filled with endless sorrow and hatred.

As he watched his younger brother in his arms lose his last bit of life and his body grow cold, he thought of his father, who had long been "subdued" by Nezha and whose soul had probably already been scattered. The last bit of illusion he had about the Chan Sect and his expectation of the so-called "righteous path" vanished completely.

With his family gone and his home destroyed, what purpose does Shen Gongbao have in living alone in this filthy world?

“Shen Gongbao, considering that you have worked hard for the Chan Sect, even if you have not made any great contributions, if you repent now, hand over the evidence of your collusion with the Dragon Clan, and continue to serve the Chan Sect, I may spare your life.”

The Boundless Immortal, looking down from his lofty position, offered his final act of "mercy," as if it were charity bestowed upon a stray dog ​​by the roadside.

"Would you be my dog? Ha... Hahahaha..."

Shen Gongbao slowly laid down his younger brother's still-warm body, trembling as he stood up. Violent and unstable lightning began to surge around him, crackling and popping. A lightning whip appeared in his hand, crackling with electric snakes.

"I, Shen Gongbao, would rather be a shattered jade than a whole tile!"

He roared, like the mournful cry of a dying beast, and brandished his whip as if to pounce, as if he wanted to take everyone down with him!

However, in the next instant, lightning suddenly exploded around him, dazzling and instantly engulfing his figure!

When the light faded, the spot was empty, leaving only a distorted afterimage of lightning, pointing directly towards the East Sea!

The Boundless Immortal Elder did not intervene; instead, he revealed a smug smile of triumph, as if everything was under his control, and muttered to himself:

"Run away, run away as much as you want, run to the East Sea, that will confirm your crime of colluding with the Dragon Clan. It will also save me a lot of trouble. I can take this opportunity to wipe out all of you unruly wicked creatures in one fell swoop! The East Sea needs a thorough cleansing."

Just then, a roar, filled with boundless rage, grief, and disbelief, resounded from the sky like a thunderclap:

"Who did this?!"

Having completed the ascension test and reshaped his physical body, Nezha, whose aura surpassed that of the past, rode on his Wind and Fire Wheels, wielding his Fire-Tipped Spear, and rushed back to Chen Tang Pass with the anxious and worried Taiyi Zhenren.

What came into view was the tragic scene of my hometown turned into scorched earth, and the despairing sight of familiar neighbors and fellow villagers turned into cold corpses.

Nezha's eyes instantly turned blood red, and the ferocious aura brought by the Demon Orb in his mind could no longer be suppressed. It erupted like a volcano, and his killing intent soared into the sky, stirring up the winds and clouds in all directions!

The Boundless Immortal's eyes flashed, and he immediately adopted a compassionate and deeply sorrowful expression. He pointed his whisk towards the East Sea, his voice heavy with grief and highly persuasive:

"Nezha! You're too late! It was the Dragon Clan of the East Sea, with their wolfish ambitions, who colluded with the evil Shen Gongbao to summon the waters of the four seas, flooding Chen Tang Pass and slaughtering all the innocent people in the city! We noticed the disturbance and came to the rescue, but it was too late! This blood feud is irreconcilable! We must hurry to the East Sea to slay the demon and appease the souls of the dead!"

A hint of smugness and coldness flickered deep in his eyes.

By completely smearing the dragon race and then inciting the simple-minded and violent Demon Orb to seek revenge, regardless of which side suffers heavy casualties in the end, it will greatly benefit the Chan Sect.

Upon hearing this, Nezha's flames surged three zhang with a "boom," his Hun Tian Ling rolled like a blood-red wave, and his Fire-Tipped Spear hummed incessantly, the tip of the spear pointing towards the East Sea condensing a killing intent that was almost tangible.

His gaze was fixed on that azure sea, which he now loathed utterly, and he forced out a few words through gritted teeth:

"Donghai...Ao Guang...Shen Gongbao...I will make you pay with your lives!"

At this moment, Ao Guang and Ao Run, who had just broken through to the Taiyi realm, simultaneously sensed something, their gazes as cold as knives piercing through the layers of seawater, looking towards the direction of Chentang Pass.

They clearly sensed the undisguised, overwhelming hostility, as well as the rapidly gathering and surging aura of immortals and gods.

The storm is already poised to strike the East China Sea.

Inside the Dragon Palace, the newly empowered dragon warriors gripped their weapons tightly, their long-suppressed fighting spirit and flames of revenge burning in their dragon eyes.

Chapter 8 The Monkey's Iron Rod

Shen Gongbao transformed into lightning, his momentum frantic and fierce, like a dark blue electric snake tearing through the deep sea, leaving a dazzling trail in the inky water.

He had pushed his lightning technique to its limit, but the lightning arcs swirling around his body were dim and chaotic, each flash accompanied by excruciating pain as his muscles tore apart.

He forcefully broke through layers of thick water curtains, leaving behind a lingering, scorched smell of ionization, mixed with the pale golden blood mist seeping from his own wounds, creating a gruesome atmosphere in the seawater.

He finally collapsed from exhaustion and stumbled into the now greatly transformed underwater hellscape.

Beneath our feet lie strange rock formations, a mix of scorching heat and chilling cold, replacing the former filthy swamp.

The thick chains that once imprisoned the demon beasts have all broken and scattered all around. The broken edges are as smooth as a mirror, and there is still a chilling aftertaste of the laws.