Chapter 82: Hou Yi's Wrath Unleashed

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“Great Shaman Hou Yi, come with me.”
Chang’e’s father, surrounded by the clanspeople of the Youqiong tribe, beamed as he extended his invitation to Hou Yi.

“Very well.” Hou Yi hesitated only briefly before nodding in assent.

He followed them to the grand hall at the very heart of the Youqiong tribe, where a lavish banquet had already been prepared in anticipation.

“Please, be seated.” Chang’e’s father smiled warmly, gesturing for Hou Yi to take his place, then sat with the elders of the Youqiong tribe.

Hou Yi, who rarely partook in mortal food, could not withstand the enthusiastic hospitality of the tribe. Yielding to their customs, he joined the feast.

As cups were raised and toasts exchanged, the gathering gradually let down their guard.

“I hereby declare, from this day forward, Hou Yi shall be my son-in-law!”

At the banquet, Chang’e’s father, emboldened by wine, made his announcement to all present, proclaiming Hou Yi as his daughter’s betrothed.

Hearing this, Hou Yi opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately said nothing in protest; his silence spoke of acquiescence.

The others, witnessing this, regarded Hou Yi with even greater warmth. After all, if Hou Yi were to marry Chang’e, he would henceforth be considered half a member of the Youqiong tribe.

...

But at that very moment, outside the tribe’s borders, the sky suddenly grew heavy with dark clouds. Gale winds swept in with torrential rain, encroaching slowly yet inexorably!

“Hou Yi!”

A thunderous voice boomed from the heavens, accompanied by peals of thunder that shook the earth.

Countless residents of the Youqiong tribe, upon hearing it, hurriedly shut their doors and windows, cowering in their homes, trembling with fear.

Inside, Chang’e heard the commotion and furrowed her brow. She moved to the window and opened it, but the howling wind forced her to shut it again at once.

In this moment, anxiety for Hou Yi gnawed at Chang’e’s heart.

For ever since she learned that Hou Yi had slain Han Zhuo, she had accepted him as her destined one.

Yet how could a young maiden like her hope to sway the tempests of the world beyond?

...

“Who goes there?”

At the same time, Hou Yi too heard the voice outside and frowned slightly.

“My good son-in-law...”

Chang’e’s father rose in concern.

He was entirely satisfied with Hou Yi and naturally did not wish any harm to befall him.

“It’s nothing,” Hou Yi replied. Glancing back at the anxious faces of the Youqiong tribespeople, he felt a quiet warmth in his heart.

But he had confidence in his own strength; at the very least, here, he feared no rival.

“I shall return shortly,” he said, gripping his longbow as he strode from the hall.

Stepping into the deluge, Hou Yi looked up at the sky, his eyes gleaming as he stared unflinching at the colossal shadows churning within the endless storm clouds.

“Who dares disturb me? Show yourself!”

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“So you are Hou Yi?”

From the boundless black clouds, a massive dragon’s head emerged. Lantern-sized eyes glared down at Hou Yi, and a rumbling voice echoed.

“I am. What is your intent?” Hou Yi’s gaze flashed, his words sharp and firm.

He was perplexed—why had the dragons come here? He had never wronged their kind.

“You slew my son Han Zhuo!” Ao Luan, recognizing Hou Yi before him, glared with eyes ablaze.

Yet as he sensed the power of a nascent saint radiating from Hou Yi, a twinge of regret struck him. He regretted coming alone, without gathering more allies.

Still, knowing that the Wu tribe did not cultivate their souls, and with his own formidable dragon blood and a postnatal treasure—the Dragon Pearl—shielding him, his courage returned.

“Even if I cannot win, surely I can escape,” Ao Luan thought, emboldened.

Without warning, he unleashed a breath of dragonfire at Hou Yi and bellowed, “Kill with me!”

“Kill!”

At Ao Luan’s command, countless aquatic warriors emerged from the swirling clouds, charging toward the earth with a deafening roar.

“Hmph!” Hou Yi crossed his arms, sweeping aside Ao Luan’s dragon breath with ease. With a cold snort, his body began to swell, transforming in an instant into a giant that towered ten thousand feet high.

His mighty hand reached out, grasping at the void!

“No!”
“Dodge, quickly!”

Terrified, the aquatic warriors scattered, but beneath Hou Yi's colossal palm, they were as helpless as ants. He seized a great handful and crushed them as one might squash insects; corpses rained down.

“Die!”

At that moment, Ao Luan, seizing the opportunity while Hou Yi was engaged with the aquatic army, hurled his Dragon Pearl toward him.

“Hm?”

Sensing the sudden surge of power behind him, Hou Yi spun and snatched at the air with both hands.

Boom!

The force drove Hou Yi back two steps, his arms tingling with numbness, his eyes wide with astonishment.

“Haha, it worked!” Ao Luan rejoiced, unfamiliar with real battle, and flush with pride at having momentarily gained the upper hand.

Hou Yi merely sneered.

“Courting death!” With a flash in his eyes, Hou Yi leapt forward, seized Ao Luan’s claw, and yanked fiercely.

“No!” Ao Luan panicked as his claw was caught, his massive form writhing to break free. Yet Hou Yi did not let go; instead, he leveraged his strength and tore the dragon claw clean off!

“Aaargh!”

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With a thunderous scream, Ao Luan’s claw was ripped from his body by Hou Yi’s sheer might.

“Roar!”

Freed, Ao Luan threw back his head and howled. Feeling the emptiness where his foreclaw had been, he lost all reason. Flames of hatred blazed in his eyes; in this moment, only one thought consumed him.

Hou Yi must die!

“Hmph!” Hou Yi regarded him with contempt, tossing the severed claw aside. Scalding dragon blood splashed across his face, stirring the ferocity of his Wu tribe lineage.

“Damn you, die!”
Ao Luan, seeing his claw discarded so disdainfully, was driven to madness. With a furious roar, he lunged at Hou Yi.

Yet in his frenzy, his attacks were full of openings.

Hou Yi, far from alarmed, was pleased. He leapt high, then came crashing down upon Ao Luan.

“Die!”
Pinning Ao Luan’s neck with his left arm, Hou Yi balled his right fist and pummeled the dragon’s head.

“Release me! My father is the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea!” Ao Luan cried out, but the only answer was Hou Yi’s merciless fists.

With a crash, Ao Luan’s head was driven deep into the earth, yet Hou Yi did not relent. Fist after fist fell.

At first, Ao Luan resisted, but as the blows rained down, his resolve crumbled.

“Let me go!”
“Stop, please!”
“No, how can you—?”

But Hou Yi paid no heed.

At last, with a final, crushing blow, Ao Luan’s skull burst open, and in an instant all life left him.

Seeing this, Hou Yi ceased his assault.

“The Fifth Prince... is dead?”

The scattered remnants of the aquatic army stared in disbelief, then were seized by terror.

None dared avenge Ao Luan. Only one thought filled their minds—flee!

“Run!”
A panicked cry arose, and suddenly the aquatic warriors scattered in all directions, desperate to escape.

“Where do you think you’re going!” Hou Yi rose and stomped the ground, each step crushing countless fleeing soldiers beneath his feet.

Even so, a cunning few managed to slip away through the chaos. Hou Yi, deeming them beneath his notice, did not pursue. After slaughtering the greater part of them, he dismissed his divine form and returned to his normal size.

...