Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 861: Hunting the Dragon

The Kui Dragon was not a true dragon race, only a divine beast whose body resembled a dragon. It had the shape of a dragon with feet and a human-like face.

According to Daoist Fang, this Kui Dragon merely carried a trace of a divine beast's bloodline. Its form bore some resemblance to a Jiao, with a single leg sprouting from its abdomen. It danced with lightning, as if striding upon it.

Whenever storms came, this Kui Dragon would leave its lair to devour the power of lightning.

The crystal tablets of the Heavenly Cold Wind Array were refined from the cold qi of frozen pools. The array could transform endlessly, evolving into extreme cold yin qi, which happened to restrain the supernatural abilities of the Kui Dragon.

"This Kui Dragon dared to hide so close to Tianxing Island. Its courage is remarkable. I have never heard anyone mention that a great demon roamed nearby," Qiu Ji remarked. He was well connected and had many friends.

Daoist Fang’s gaze flickered. "That is hard to say. The seas here are barren, immortal cultivators rarely come, so perhaps no one has seen it. Moreover, that beast is cunning. It appears only briefly, leaving its nest at the peak of lightning’s strength, devouring lightning and returning at once. It is no surprise no one has discovered it. Because of this, the chance to hunt it passes in an instant."

As they spoke, the clouds above grew ever heavier. It was as if the heavens had split open, rain poured down in torrents. Violent wind and rain, thunder rolling endlessly. Bolts of lightning struck across the distant sea, illuminating the stormy night.

They infused their true essence to form protective shields, standing atop the mountain, gazing toward the Kui Dragon’s lair.

At first that place looked no different from any other.

But after watching for a while, they saw the lightning fall more densely in that direction, its power greater than elsewhere.

The Kui Dragon’s lair was still hundreds of li away, so what they saw was faint.

Daoist Fang suddenly waved his hand, and the group silently followed him, flying toward the lair.

To avoid alerting the Kui Dragon, once they left the island they restrained their aura, cloaked their forms, and skimmed noiselessly over the sea, hidden within the storm.

When they neared the demon’s lair, the strange scene became clearer.

From afar, a shadow rose upon the sea. It was an island. Though still distant, the constant flashes of lightning revealed its highest peak.

Whether due to the terrain or some other cause, the lightning in this region seemed strangely guided, most of it striking the island’s center.

As they were about to arrive, Daoist Fang raised his hand to halt them. His sharp eyes gleamed as he fixed his gaze forward, transmitting his voice, "It is not yet the peak of lightning. The beast should not have emerged. Stay here and prepare the array. I will first investigate its movements. Wait for my signal..."

"Daoist Fang, hold on. We are about to slay the Kui Dragon. Should you not fulfill part of your promised reward first?" Ma Debao called out, his expression sly.

The others quickly voiced their agreement.

Daoist Fang turned, looked around with a smile. "How could I break my word? The treasures have long been prepared."

He drew out five jade boxes and tossed them over.

Qin Sang caught the box flying to him. With a sweep of his spiritual consciousness, he sensed the abundant spiritual qi within, a water-attribute spirit stone commonly found in Canglang Sea. This was half the agreed payment.

Without fuss, he stored the jade box into his Thousand-Jin Ring, not caring what treasures the others received. Some of them remained expressionless, others showed delight, clearly satisfied with their rewards.

"Then I shall go first," Daoist Fang said, before vanishing into the storm.

Watching his figure disappear, Qin Sang and the others immediately produced the crystal tablets, channeling their true essence.

The storm and crashing waves masked their actions as the tablets glowed with faint blue light. They expanded in their hands until each was three chi tall and heavy enough that they had to hold them with effort.

With Chu Heng as the Array Eye, the five took their positions. Guided by their spiritual consciousness, the tablets aligned, forming the embryonic form of a spiritual array. In its center, blue mist gathered and slowly turned pale white.

While they prepared the array, Daoist Fang was already nearing the island.

From his robe he drew a red gauze. Its silken threads gleamed like jade. The treasure was as thin as cicada wings, only palm-sized, its edges marred with cracks.

This was the Red Origin Gauze, bestowed by his master, used to conceal one’s identity.

He tapped the gauze, and red light stirred within. The cloth unfurled with the wind, transforming into a thin robe.

At the same time, more cracks spread across it.

Pain flashed through his eyes as he muttered, "Each time I draw forth its full power, the damage worsens. At most it can be used twice more. Without this treasure, I could never walk so freely in human lands. This hunt must succeed." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Donning the gauze, his aura completely vanished. He flew onto the island, landing atop a peak, eyes fixed where lightning struck most fiercely. The display was terrifying, yet no demonic beast appeared.

He frowned. "The Kui Dragon has not come out?"

Suddenly, as though sensing something, he jerked his head upward, then vanished into the storm. Moments later, the clouds churned violently. A long shadow darted among the clouds, chasing lightning, heading straight for the island.

"Finally!"

Suspended above the sea, he watched the shadow, joy flickering in his eyes. He circled wide, moving behind the Kui Dragon, scanning the area as though searching for something.

"Only the Kui Dragon, the others are not here..."

It was as he expected, yet out of caution, he still circled far around.

By then, the Kui Dragon had reached above the island. Its enormous body moved with startling agility, descending on lightning itself to land at the heart of the storm.

The young man glanced at the island once, then leapt forward. With a flick of his finger, two black lights shot into the sea, one toward Qin Sang and the others, the other to an unknown place.

Roar!

Sensing the intrusion, the Kui Dragon bellowed in fury.

In the rain-filled night, its single foot pressed upon the mountain peak, its body rising tall. Two vast eyes gleamed like lightning, within them thunder writhed, their ferocity piercing the soul.

The young man betrayed no fear. He cast off the Red Origin Gauze, and golden light fell into his palm. It was a golden rope-shaped astra.

"Die, beast!"

With a thunderous shout, he streaked forward, whipping the rope. Golden light surged, transforming into a giant python that lashed fiercely at the Kui Dragon.

The Kui Dragon’s fury erupted.

A deafening crash split the air as boulders atop the peak shattered and the ground quaked violently.