BTTH: From Genius to Invincible

Word Count: 2,640 Words

******

"Could it be that the three Dragon Kings believe we lied to them?" A Half-Saint Elder who had recently returned from outside frowned deeply as he voiced the doubt weighing on everyone’s minds.

Seated at the head of the hall, First Elder Qingshan shook his head. "Impossible. When Lord Dragon Emperor completed the inheritance and assumed the throne, the inheritance sites on all three Dragon Islands would have transmitted word. There is no way they are unaware."

Everyone’s expressions sank at once. When events defied reason, something sinister invariably lurked beneath. By all rights, now that Zi Yan had returned and received the full acknowledgment of the ancestral Dragon Emperor souls within the Dragon Tomb, becoming the true Dragon Emperor, there was no longer any justification for the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe to continue its civil war.

Back then, the three Dragon Kings had split the Dragon Islands precisely because the previous Dragon Emperor had vanished without warning, and even Zi Yan had been lost to the outside world, her whereabouts unknown. On the grounds that ’a flight of dragons cannot go a day without a leader,’ they had demanded the election of a new Dragon Emperor.

However, the bloodlines and strength of all three fell far short of the requirements. Unable to gain the recognition of the ancestral souls and unwilling to submit to one another, they had fractured the tribe and ignited civil war.

That conflict had raged for thousands of years.

Now that Zi Yan had returned and reclaimed the throne, the three Dragon Kings had lost every justification for war. They should have returned to Eastern Dragon Island long ago.

The fighting had indeed stopped, yet the three Dragon Kings had not come to pay their respects. Something was undeniably wrong.

The Second Elder, who had been resting with his eyes closed until now, slowly opened them. His expression grew grave. "My covert agents on the three Dragon Islands have just sent word. A few days ago, the Southern and Western Dragon Kings dispatched subordinates to the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe and the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe."

!!!!?

Shock rippled through the great hall. Sending envoys to those two tribes at a time like this was definitely not good news!

Due to the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe’s fracture, the Beast Region had fallen under the control of those two magical beast tribes. After thousands of years of unchecked growth, their strength was no longer something a greatly weakened Eastern Dragon Island could afford to ignore.

"Do the three Dragon Islands intend to rebel?!" Hei Qing cried out, his eyes flooding with alarm.

If the original split could be excused as helplessness born from the absence of a leader, then scheming with outsiders against the true Dragon Emperor now that she had returned was nothing short of outright treason!!

"If the three Dragon Islands join forces with the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe and the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, then even if Lord Dragon Emperor has inherited the full legacy..."

The sentence trailed into silence, its conclusion too dire to voice. Unease and anxiety pressed down like a lid over the entire hall.

Hei Qing swallowed hard and spoke up again, his voice stammering. "Th-then... if the three Dragon Kings can seek outside help, so can we. Grandmaster Xiao Yan’s Yan Alliance is already one of the most powerful factions in the Central Plains. They even defeated the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe and occupied most of the Yellow Springs Mountain Range. He should be willing to help us."

Only then did Zhu Li react, clapping his hands together. "That’s right! With the Yan Alliance’s current strength, they far surpass the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe and might not even be inferior to the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe. With their support, Eastern Dragon Island would have nothing to fear even against such a coalition!"

"Xiao Yan... is that the man who brought Lord Dragon Emperor back?"

"That would be excellent."

"I remember Grandmaster Xiao Yan left a soul jade slip with us. Let’s contact—"

"No need."

A clear, resonant voice cut through the discussion.

!?

Zi Yan, who had not spoken a word until now, slowly opened her eyes. She wore a magnificent purple robe whose smooth, flowing lines accentuated her noble elegance. The fabric clung to her figure, outlining every generous curve: full breasts, a slender waist, and round, shapely hips that radiated an enticing, womanly allure from head to toe.

The Zi Yan of today looked incomparably exalted. A crown inlaid with countless precious gems and pearls rested upon her head, gleaming with dazzling radiance that made her the undeniable center of the great hall.

Her face was dignified and regal, her gaze carrying the natural majesty of a sovereign looking down from on high. The mischievous, willful little girl of old was nowhere to be found. Her long purple hair had been styled into an elaborate, towering bun secured with fine golden hairpins, completing her classical, aristocratic bearing.

The previously noisy hall fell deathly quiet.

Zhu Li understood why. Zi Yan refused to drag Xiao Yan into this. This was an internal matter of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe. Moreover, their opponents were all elite Dou Saints. The three Dragon Kings were late-stage 3-star Dou Saints, and the strongest among them, the Northern Dragon King, was nearing 4-star.

If the three united, their combined might would rival a 5-star Dou Saint. She simply did not want Xiao Yan getting involved.

On Eastern Dragon Island, Zi Yan was the sky itself. No one dared contradict her. If she said there was no need, then there was no need, even if everyone present felt the decision was unreasonable.

The Ancient Void Dragon Tribe dared not oppose her. But someone else did.

"’No need’? I think it’s very much needed."

A voice drifted in from beyond the hall. In the same instant, a cluster of black flame manifested in the void and coalesced into a swirling black hole.

"Who’s there?!"

Crack, crack, crack.

One Dou Saint Elder after another shot to their feet. The First and Second Elders immediately positioned themselves before Zi Yan, shielding her. Someone had slipped through the void and infiltrated Eastern Dragon Island without a single Ancient Void Dragon noticing!

The Ancient Void Dragon Tribe were indeed masters of Spatial Strength, but the Nihility Devouring Flame, having evolved into a Heaven Seed Flame, was equally no trifle.

A black-robed man with slightly curled hair stepped out of the void. Xiao Yan looked at Zi Yan with a hint of reproach in his eyes. "Zi Yan, aren’t you treating me a bit too much like an outsider?"

A flicker of emotion flowed through Zi Yan’s eyes as she beheld that long-absent figure. Two words escaped her lips before she could stop them. "Xiao Yan!"

Realization dawned on everyone in the hall. So this is that Xiao Yan!

The powerhouses of Eastern Dragon Island exchanged glances, a shared thought passing between them. So this is the Dragon Emperor’s consort!

"You... how did you get here?" Zi Yan stared at him, surprise and poorly concealed delight mingling in her gaze.

"Why the shock?" Xiao Yan grinned. "Lord Dragon Emperor herself said I could come whenever I pleased. Or do your words not count anymore?"

Zi Yan might be the Dragon Emperor of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, but in Xiao Yan’s eyes, she was still the little girl who had pestered him endlessly for medicinal ingredients to refine into candy.

The tension Zi Yan had carried for years slowly eased from her body. She waved a sleeve in dismissal. "That’s enough for today. All Elders are to stand guard in every direction and recall every tribesman currently outside."

"Yes, Lord Dragon Emperor!"

The First and Second Elders, who had been in seclusion until recently, gave Xiao Yan a long, measuring look. Astonishment instantly flashed across their faces. They couldn’t see through his strength at all!

And these were both 2-star Dou Saints!

"This man is very strong!"

"Mm. He gives me a very dangerous feeling."

Once everyone had departed, Zi Yan slumped like a deflated ball and let out a long, weary sigh. "Ahhh..."

Xiao Yan couldn’t help but chuckle. "You’ve really grown up."

"Being an adult is exhausting." Zi Yan tore open the void and turned to him. "Let’s find somewhere to get some air. I hate it here."

In the blink of an eye, they appeared atop a quiet mountain peak on Eastern Dragon Island. Xiao Yan settled onto the grass, gazing out over the rolling hills that spread small and distant beneath them. "You’re doing a pretty good job as Dragon Emperor. Eastern Dragon Island looks much better than before."

Zi Yan drew a deep breath, and the Dragon Emperor’s majesty crumbled from her face in an instant. She puffed out her cheeks and whined, "Being Dragon Emperor is really tiring. It’s not fun at all!"

"Every day, if I’m not cultivating inheritance Beast Techniques, I’m drowning in administrative affairs. And the medicinal ingredients are awful; they taste so bad I want to throw up." Tears actually glimmered at the corners of her eyes, her expression one of utter hopelessness.

This was more painful even than the days she had spent fleeing through the forests beyond the Inner Academy. At least back then she could fight back when chased. This cultivation was just too tedious!

"Honestly, you..." Xiao Yan shook his head and retrieved a cold jade bottle from his storage ring. "Here, this is for you. I refined them using Bodhisattva Seeds."

Inside lay a handful of exquisite, emerald-green candies.

Bodhisattva Seeds! Refined into candy! What kind of extravagance was this?!

Feng Qing Er would cry herself to death.

But only candy refined from Bodhisattva Seeds was truly worthy of Zi Yan’s status as Dragon Emperor.

Zi Yan’s beautiful eyes sparkled brilliantly. She snatched the bottle from his hands, shook out a piece, and popped it into her mouth. A sweet aura brimming with life force surged across her tongue. The flavor instantly soothed her pent-up frustration.

Whoosh!

Zi Yan suddenly pounced at Xiao Yan, tackling him flat onto the grass. Her arms locked tightly around his neck as she vigorously rubbed her cheek against his, eyes crinkled with delight. "Xiao Yan, you’re the best~"

"Yes, yes, yes. Whoever gives you candy is the best, right?"

"That’s not true! I don’t want candy from anyone else."

Xiao Yan could only accept her exuberant affection. She had truly worked hard these past few years. For a young girl to suddenly bear the survival of an entire tribe on her shoulders, the pressure was unimaginable.

"Xiao Yan."

"What?"

"Why don’t you become the Dragon Emperor instead?" Zi Yan asked around the candy in her mouth, still clinging tightly to his neck. Her words were nothing short of explosive.

"Huh?!"

Zi Yan released him and rolled back and forth on the grass, wailing, "Ahhh! I don’t want to work! I don’t want to be Dragon Emperor! Why do I have to be the one?!"

Xiao Yan sat up and watched the legendary Dragon Emperor, the very same who was rumored to make the three Dragon Kings quake in fear, rolling around on the grass. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The three Dragon Kings had warred for a thousand years, all for the chance to become Dragon Emperor! And she had claimed the seat only to be unhappy about it!

If those three ever learned of this, they’d probably vomit blood from sheer rage.

"Who hands their own kingdom over to someone else? Even if I were willing, your Ancient Void Dragon Tribe would never accept a human as Dragon Emperor." Xiao Yan shook his head with a bitter smile. What a nice dream.

"Hehe." That long-missing crafty grin spread across Zi Yan’s face. "Zhu Li said I can choose my own husband. So how about I marry you, and then you become the Dragon Emperor? Wouldn’t I be free then?"

Xiao Yan was so exasperated he laughed. You’re not looking for a husband; you’re looking for free labor!

However, he completely missed the faint blush that crept across Zi Yan’s cheeks when she mentioned marriage, or the way her voice softened ever so slightly.

Clearly, that hadn’t been entirely a joke.

"You tried to trick me into refining a Body Transformation Pill for you back then, and now you want to trick me into working for you? I refuse!" Xiao Yan turned his head away, ignoring the Dragon Emperor who clearly wanted to go on strike.

"Ah..." Zi Yan’s face crumpled with instant grievance. With a soft hum, she shrank back down into the tiny form she had worn at Jia Nan Academy. She leapt onto Xiao Yan’s back, her little arms and legs locking around him like a koala, and wheedled, "Just help me, pleeeease?"

Meanwhile, out in the void, the First and Second Elders watched the scene with fond, fatherly smiles. Although Xiao Yan had used Spiritual Strength to block sound, he hadn’t sealed the surrounding space.

"Hehehe. This Xiao Yan really does seem quite good. No wonder that fellow Zhu Li has always spoken so highly of him," the First Elder remarked, stroking his beard with a gratified smile.

"The most important thing is that Lord Dragon Emperor is happy," the Second Elder agreed with a nod. "Since I came out of seclusion, I’ve never once seen her look like this."

Just as the two were plotting how to abduct this married man for their Dragon Emperor—

Crack, crack, crack!

A series of sharp sounds suddenly echoed through the void surrounding Eastern Dragon Island.

The entire island had been sealed!

Wave after wave of powerful auras surfaced from the void. The weakest among them were Dou Venerates; the strongest approached 4-star Dou Saint!

Whether Dou Venerate or Dou Saint, their numbers far exceeded the forces of Eastern Dragon Island!

Woooo—!

Sirens wailed across the island. The First and Second Elders’ faces changed dramatically as they flashed into the sky above Eastern Dragon Island. They stared at the three figures standing at the forefront, their expressions turning incomparably dark.

"Do the three of you intend to betray the Dragon Emperor?! You dare bring forces to besiege Eastern Dragon Island?!" First Elder Qingshan’s face flushed crimson, his eyes blazing with killing intent as he glared at the Southern, Western, and Northern Dragon Kings.

The worst-case scenario had come to pass!

The three Dragon Islands truly intended to rebel!

The Northern Dragon King, standing at the center, let out a cold laugh. "Betrayal? Qingshan, your Eastern Dragon Island used forbidden arts to drag some random girl from who-knows-where and pass her off as bearing the Dragon Emperor’s bloodline, scheming to overthrow our Ancient Void Dragon Tribe. We have come specifically to set things right. The true traitors to the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe are you, Eastern Dragon Island!"

"Hmph! The Northern Dragon King speaks the truth," the Western Dragon King added with a cold snort. "Hand over that false Dragon Emperor. Otherwise, don’t blame us for disregarding the bonds of kinship."

The Southern Dragon King, who had yet to speak, turned his gaze toward a certain mountain peak on the island. Although Xiao Yan had used Spiritual Strength to block sound, the Southern Dragon King still recognized Zi Yan at a glance.

And beyond the three Dragon Islands, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe, led by the Three Phoenix Saints, and the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, brought by Yao Ming, were also arrayed in force.

Xiao Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly as a flicker of icy cold passed through his gaze.

It seemed certain people still didn’t know the meaning of death.

Did they truly think he was dead?