Chapter 144: The Mighty Azure Dragon [Please Subscribe]

The term "Azure Dragon" has never been unfamiliar within the lands of ancient China. Throughout history, countless legends have surrounded the Azure Dragon, evolving into various sects such as the Four Divine Beasts and the Five Auspicious Beasts.

Of course, even the extant records from texts like the Classic of Mountains and Seas categorize these creatures differently.

Based on current assessments, the strange beasts emerging now belong to a widely known group of seventy-five mythical creatures.

Among them, the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise are classified within these seventy-five beasts. Although they possess traits reminiscent of the Four Divine Beasts, the notion that they serve as guardian creatures for humanity is somewhat misplaced.

This incident originated from a massive assault by sea monsters along the coastal line. The sentinels reported layer upon layer of disturbances until they uncovered the involvement of these strange beasts.

The reason behind the Azure Dragon’s sudden hostility remains unclear. In any case, several explorers have already perished in this calamity. Adding to the concern, reports from the Coordination Bureau reveal an increasing number of these strange beasts appearing. Rumors even suggest that killing such beasts grants one their bloodline powers, naturally pitting humanity against these creatures.

At this moment,

In the East Sea,

About thirty kilometers from the shore, over eighty explorers had gathered in the sky.

Some hovered directly above the ocean’s surface, while others relied on specialized equipment.

In the distance, helicopters and armed drones hovered in support.

“Watch out and dodge! Clear out the sea monsters first!”

“Stay away from the Azure Dragon; it’s charged with electricity. Prioritize healing! Move toward the priests and paladins!”

“Interrupt its skills! No casualties allowed! Sea monsters! Focus fire on the sea monsters first! If they group up, we’ll be in serious trouble!”

The battle over the ocean had already raged for more than an hour.

Since detecting the Azure Dragon’s trail, Song Yangcheng had rushed here with reinforcements.

But since this was the open sea, beyond human territory, the combat was notably difficult.

The Azure Dragon was far stronger than anticipated. Not only did it unleash a unique breath attack, but it also charged with lightning and could generate electric force fields. It was as if it commanded storms and tempests over the ocean.

Fortunately, Song Yangcheng was no weakling either. As the empire’s bulwark, he withstood the majority of the Azure Dragon’s assaults.

Moreover, this time, the acclaimed top divine healer of China, known as “Duoduo,” had joined the fray.

However, as the battle dragged on, Song Yangcheng’s expression grew increasingly grim. Their damage output against the Azure Dragon was too low. Unexpectedly, even with over fifty top-tier explorers above level seventy, they couldn’t overwhelm it. The Azure Dragon’s level was just over fifty, yet its health surpassed that of ordinary lord-level monsters, and its defense was even thicker.

The frontline was nearing the deep sea. If the Azure Dragon wanted to escape, it could simply dive into the depths, leaving them powerless.

To make matters worse, more and more sea monsters swarmed the area, forcing them to assign personnel specifically to handle these threats.

“Not good!”

After suppressing the Azure Dragon’s health to fifty percent, Song Yangcheng suddenly felt a surge of pressure. It seemed the Azure Dragon had triggered some special passive ability.

The surrounding sea monsters abruptly multiplied. Song Yangcheng realized the Azure Dragon had been drawing them in to set a trap. These lord-level monsters possessed consciousness and were far from mere beasts.

The battle quickly intensified again. Though Song Yangcheng didn’t understand how the Azure Dragon controlled the sea monsters, it became clear the mission was likely doomed.

After a fierce struggle, Song Yangcheng ordered a retreat.

The good news: despite the pursuit, they sustained no major losses.

The bad news: this creature couldn’t be dealt with in the short term. That meant the eastern coastal regions would face ongoing assaults for a long time to come.

And it wasn’t just the Azure Dragon.

As time passed, more and more safe zones reported sightings of strange beasts, all possessing unique abilities making them difficult to handle.

Over forty such beasts had been identified throughout China, with sightings not limited to the region but also extending north and south.

For example, near a small Southeast Asian nation, there were rumors of the gluttonous beast’s presence. That small safe zone had since gone silent, with whispers that most of it had fallen.

The strange beast upheaval swept across China at an alarming pace. Not only the Coordination Bureau but regional forums were rife with panic among the populace.

Meanwhile, Yi Shen, after dealing with the Spiral Turtle, felt somewhat exhausted. Once he uploaded the information, many at the Coordination Bureau added him as a friend, hoping for more intelligence.

Yi Shen, however, only replied briefly to Song Yangcheng’s message and communicated with Zhan Yu and the others before disengaging. The intelligence he had was limited, and some details were strictly confidential. He didn’t want to waste time.

He returned to Xuping Town.

After a circuit around the area, though the Spiral Turtle was dead, the rivers still bore traces of the blood clan’s presence, albeit somewhat diminished.

Yi Shen met again with the female mayor, who clearly recognized his strength and showed much more respect than before.

Under her arrangement, Yi Shen rested in a room for a while, adjusted the energy within his body, then left town. He instructed that if any further creature attacks occurred, the mayor should report directly to him.

Yi Shen’s next destination was the Human Emperor’s Tomb far to the northeast. Having obtained the bloodline of the mountains and seas and realizing these presences were related to the blood clan, he sensed many faint energies to the north, likely connected to the strange beasts.

Coincidentally, this area matched the “Human Emperor’s Tomb” secret realm recently reported by the Coordination Bureau, heightening Yi Shen’s curiosity.

Due to the mountainous terrain, Yi Shen chose not to drive but to fly swiftly through the sky, honing his physical techniques.

Occasionally, he would stop in the forests and encounter monsters ranging from level one to forty, including a small elite monster.

Once, these regions had belonged to the realms of human civilization—scenic spots now long reclaimed by nature, with only a few ruined buildings testifying to past inhabitants.

(End of chapter)