Chapter 36

"Dragon? What kind of dragon? Where is it?" Zhao Hao asked urgently.

Wang Hao smirked, feeling a bit superior. "You don't know about the Dragon residing in the Dragon Vein?" He raised his hand and looked up, adopting a know-it-all demeanor.

"Lower your head and speak properly," Zhao Hao scolded, his eyes wide with frustration. How dare Wang Hao act so arrogantly in front of the emperor?

Wang Hao sighed inwardly but corrected his posture. "We are only at the periphery of the Dragon Vein. The real treasures lie at its center. Legend says it contains infinite treasures, but no one has ever entered."

"Why not?" Zhao Hao pressed.

"Because the gate to the Dragon Vein is guarded by a colossal dragon. It's incredibly powerful, and capable of causing earthquakes with a mere movement. Anyone attempting to steal the Dragon Vein's treasures is devoured."

"There are dragons here?" Zhao Hao was thrilled. Monsters were one thing, but dragons—legendary creatures—were something else entirely.

"This place is called Dragon Island for a reason," Wang Hao explained.

"Where exactly is it?" Zhao Hao asked.

"Follow the concentration of the spiritual fog to reach the Dragon Vein's center," Wang Hao replied quickly, secretly hoping Zhao Hao would be killed by the dragon, eliminating his junior sister's infatuation with him.

"Die Wu, let's go hunt a dragon," Zhao Hao declared, ignoring the Heavenly Dragon Gate disciples.

"Yes, young master," Huang Diewu said, obediently following him.

"He really intends to slay the dragon!" the disciples were shocked.

"That's a real man," one of them murmured as Zhao Hao disappeared into the mist.

"Should we follow?"

"What if we anger the dragon?"

"I'm scared."

...

With the Beast King defeated, the monsters outside the Dragon Vein had fled. Zhao Hao encountered no obstacles as he approached the center, his sword ready. Suddenly, an ancient ruin loomed before him. A massive dragon-shaped archway stood among the ruins, exuding an aura of antiquity and mystery.

"This is the gate to the Dragon Vein," Zhao Hao thought, his heart pounding. He looked around but saw no dragon.

"Was that kid lying?" Zhao Hao stepped onto the ancient stone steps of the ruins.

Abruptly, he halted. A sense of danger flooded his mind. Using his 'danger prediction,' he saw the entire area ahead glowing red. What the hell?

"Young Master, there's a powerful presence here," Huang Diewu said, her expression wary.

"Who dares trespass here?" An ancient and majestic voice echoed.

"Who are you?" Zhao Hao demanded, narrowing his eyes.

"This dragon is the guardian of this place," the voice replied.

"A dragon?" Zhao Hao said and continued to add, " Hiding in the shadows like that, are you really a dragon or a snake?"

His heart raced. He knew there was a dragon here and he even heard its voice but saw no trace of it.

"Small human, you dare insult the mighty dragon," the voice thundered, and the ground began to shake.

"Show yourself!" Zhao Hao shouted, convinced he was facing an arrogant dragon.

"You dare insult this dragon?" The ground shook violently.

"Your mother!" Zhao Hao retorted, his defiance unwavering.

"You've angered the dragon!" The earth cracked, creating deep chasms.

"Come out and bite me!" Zhao Hao taunted, his defiance growing.

"..." The dragon remained silent.

"Get out here, you wretched dragon!" Zhao Hao roared.

A blinding white light burst from the cracked ground.

Zhao Hao squinted due to the brightness of the light, realizing the dragon was underground. The light took the shape of a dragon but seemed ethereal.

"Boom. Boom."

Massive boulders flew toward the white light, merging to form a giant stone dragon in the sky. Hundreds of meters long, it exuded a majestic aura.

"It's a stone dragon," Zhao Hao realized. An earth dragon using ancient relics to form its body.

Seeing the dragon excited Zhao Hao, but its immense presence was suffocating. He used his 'Heavenly eye Appraisal': "Stone Dragon, a seventh-order beast!"

"Fuck!" Zhao Hao gasped. The stone dragon was a seventh-order sacred beast, its power rivaling, or even surpassing, that of a war emperor.

"Weak specks of dust, in the presence of Shenlong, do you realize your own insignificance?"

Behind the dragon appeared a towering figure, standing proudly above the earth. Its majestic voice sent waves of tremors through the ground.

Zhao Hao muttered, annoyed by the dragon's arrogance. "I am the emperor. I wouldn't bother to fight a mere snake like you. I'll send a young girl to fight you just to show my contempt."

"Die Wu, come on."

Despite his grandiose boasting, Zhao Hao was exhausted from just killing a Tier 5 monster. Facing a Tier 7 sacred beast seemed impossible.

"How dare you call this dragon a snake!" Shi Long roared, humiliated and furious. "Mortal, tremble!"

The massive dragon body vibrated, its majestic mouth opening to spit a stone cannonball towards Zhao Hao.

"Boom!"

The stone cannon shot from the dragon's mouth like a flying meteor, incredibly fast.

"What? A stone cannon?" Zhao Hao was startled. Dragons typically breathed fire, water, or lightning, but stone cannonballs were unheard of.

"Young Master, be careful!" Huang Diewu's graceful figure flashed pink as she pulled Zhao Hao aside.

"Boom!" The stone cannon hit the ground, creating a bottomless hole.

"Damn, that could've killed me," Zhao Hao thought, grateful for Huang Diewu's intervention.

"If you want to harm my master, you'll have to go through me first," Huang Diewu said, raising her chin defiantly.

"How sweet of you..."

"How dare you flirt under the majesty of this dragon!" Shi Long the dragon raged, his voice echoing as he shot three more stone cannonballs towards Zhao Hao.

"Enough with the theatrics," Huang Diewu said, her patience wearing thin.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three colored lights streaked into the air, smashing the stone cannonballs mid-flight. The impact sent shockwaves, even pushing back Huang Diewu.

"Die Wu, are you okay?" Zhao Hao asked, concerned.

"I'm fine," she replied coldly. " The dragon is powerful, but I can defeat it."

"Great!" Zhao Hao exclaimed, pointing at the dragon. "Show him, Die Wu."

With a leap, Huang Diewu transformed into a colorful light, soaring above the stone dragon.

"How dare you stand above this dragon!" Shi Long roared, raising his head and charging skyward.

"earthly Nine Heavens!"

Huang Diewu's voice echoed as she extended her arms, releasing a dazzling colorful light that enveloped the sky. In an instant, she transformed into a giant colorful butterfly, wrapped in burning flames.

The butterfly's wings released a destructive aura as it dived towards the dragon like a flaming arrow.

"Boom!"

The entire dragon's head exploded upon impact. The butterfly's light continued downward, causing the dragon's body to shatter completely.

As the debris settled, Huang Diewu stood amidst the ruins, her hair and ribbons fluttering.

Zhao Hao watched in awe. Die Wu's skill was stunning, piercing through the seventh-tier beast's defenses with ease. He regretted not inheriting her magical skills.

Amid the falling debris, Zhao Hao heard the system prompt.

[Ding!]

[Hint: You have killed the stone dragon and gained 500,000 experience points.]

[Congratulations, you killed the stone dragon and obtained a 'Dragon Gun'.]

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, you have leveled up to the fourth tier of the warrior realm.]

Despite not delivering the final blow, Zhao Hao was pleased with the experience boost and the treasure drop. He quickly examined the new weapon.