A deathly silence fell over the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion. The Pavilion Master and the others were in despair.

Yunxi cried, her voice choked with guilt. "It’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have brought the Young Master here. If I hadn’t, he wouldn’t have died... I killed him."

Overwhelmed with regret, she knew that if she had another chance, she would never have brought Lin Xuan here. It was her fault the Young Master was dead, and she was prepared to pay for it with her own life. As Yunxi prepared to commit suicide, the black hole slowly vanished, and a figure walked out.

When Yunxi saw him, she froze. "Young Master, is that you? Am I dreaming?"

Could the Young Master still be alive? The others all looked up, their eyes widening in disbelief.

The Grand Elder was stunned. The Pavilion Master was stunned. Everyone was stunned.

A moment later, they erupted in roars. "Young Master, it’s really you!"

"Young Master, you’re alive!"

"That’s wonderful!"

The crowd wept with excitement. The Grand Elder was so ecstatic he nearly jumped for joy. The Pavilion Master threw his head back and roared at the sky, "Heaven has not forsaken our Dragon-Seeking Pavilion! Thank the heavens!"

Yunxi ran over, throwing her arms around Lin Xuan, laughing and crying at the same time.

"Of course it’s me," Lin Xuan said. "How could a mere python be my opponent? I’ve already taken care of it."

As he spoke, he pointed behind him.

Yunxi and the others looked over and saw a tattered scroll on the ground. It was the Python Sparrow Dragon-Swallowing Map.

The crowd was ecstatic. The terrifying scroll had finally been destroyed. This was wonderful!

Lin Xuan then moved, shattering the chains binding everyone. Once they were free, they rushed to his side, shouting excitedly, "Thank you, Young Master!"

"Young Master is mighty!"

"Young Master is invincible!"

"Hahahaha, you want to harm our Dragon-Seeking Pavilion? Dream on!"

"With the Young Master here, our Dragon-Seeking Pavilion will never fall!"

Once everyone’s excitement had subsided a little, Lin Xuan said, "All of you, hurry back and recover your strength."

The disciples scattered.

Lin Xuan turned to the Pavilion Master. "Do you know who was behind this? Also, what is the origin of this Python Sparrow Dragon-Swallowing Map?"

The Pavilion Master shook his head. "We don’t know who was behind it. As for the origin of the Python Sparrow Dragon-Swallowing Map, I only have a vague idea. It’s said that this thing specifically targets Dragon Warriors and their techniques. It’s unclear who created it, but it first appeared on Dragon Island thousands of years ago. Back then, many powerful experts on the island were swallowed by this map. Even true Dragon Warriors suffered heavy blows and never recovered. Later, as Dragon Island fell into decline and the Dragon Warriors vanished, so too did the Python Sparrow Dragon-Swallowing Map. I never expected it to reappear now."

Lin Xuan’s brow furrowed tightly as he listened. So this thing really is designed specifically to target Dragon Warriors like us.

The big black dog warned, "Kid, you need to be careful. The waters of Dragon Island run deep!"

Lin Xuan nodded to show he understood.

At that moment, the Grand Elder said, "I have a guess. The mastermind might be someone from the Fang Family. To be specific, it could be Fang Cangsong."

Fang Cangsong? Lin Xuan was puzzled.

The Pavilion Master asked in confusion, "Why him?"

The Grand Elder then recounted what had happened near the Ye Family’s estate. "That Fang Cangsong has always wanted to make a move against the Ye Family, but I stopped him. He must hold a grudge, which is why he decided to target our Dragon-Seeking Pavilion. Of course, this is just my speculation."

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment before saying, "Alright. For now, none of you should go out, and don’t take down the Array. Also, don’t let the news that the threat has been resolved get out. We’ll create the illusion that the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion is still in crisis. I suspect the mastermind will show up again. When he returns, we’ll know exactly who’s behind this."

"That’s a good idea," the Pavilion Master and the others agreed, nodding.

Afterward, they returned to their respective palaces to recover their strength as quickly as possible so they could be ready to capture the mastermind. As for Lin Xuan, he left the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion to spread certain rumors related to the pavilion’s "crisis."

「Three days passed.」

The news spread like wildfire, and soon, people were gossiping in every street and alley on Dragon Island.

"Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"You don’t know? It’s about the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion!"

"They say the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion is finished."

"What? For real?"

"But the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion is a top-tier power! How could they be finished?"

"I heard a rumor about this before, but I thought it was fake. Is it actually true?"

"Of course, it’s true! I heard they ran into some massive crisis and no one can save them. They’ll probably be wiped out, turned to dust any day now."

"No way... A top-tier power, falling just like that?"

"It’s unbelievable."

"I wonder what kind of crisis it was to threaten a group like the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion!"

The various great families also received the news. The other top-tier families, in particular, watched with nervous anticipation. If the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion fell, could they get a share of the spoils? They were ready to carve up the pavilion’s territory and resources. However, one thing made them extremely tense: what kind of power could destroy the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion, and could that same power threaten them?

「Meanwhile.」

The members of the Fang Family were also discussing the matter excitedly, even preparing to head to the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion themselves after a little more time had passed.

When Fang Cangsong received the news, he couldn’t remain calm. He had to get there before anyone else and enter the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion first.

His figure flickered, transforming into a stream of light as he soared into the sky, heading straight for the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion. When he arrived nearby, he found the area eerily silent. A cold smile crept onto Fang Cangsong’s lips.

Hmph, Dragon-Seeking Pavilion, you’re all doomed! Competing with me? You’re far too out of your league!

After breaking through the Array, he stepped inside. The interior of the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion was even more silent than the outside; not a single person was in sight.

Could they all have been turned to dust? Fang Cangsong was utterly shocked. It seems the power of the Python Sparrow Heaven-Swallowing Poison is truly immense. Did it devour them so completely that not even bones were left behind?

He rushed toward the depths of the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion, intent on seizing its treasures and searching for an Earth Spirit Pearl. But the moment he made a move, the doors to all the surrounding palaces burst open, and countless figures surged out. At the very front were the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion Master and the Grand Elder.

"You’re not dead? How is this possible?" Fang Cangsong blurted out, utterly shocked. "Weren’t you all supposed to have your power drained by the Python Sparrow Dragon-Swallowing Map?"

The Pavilion Master’s face turned grim. "So, you do know about the Python Sparrow Dragon-Swallowing Map. It seems you were the one who set us up after all."

The Grand Elder was filled with killing intent. "Fang Cangsong, you dared to attack our Dragon-Seeking Pavilion! You must have a death wish!" With a furious roar, he charged forward.

"Attack with full force! Capture him!" the Pavilion Master commanded.

The surrounding pavilion members unleashed their attacks, and the Pavilion Master himself struck out with his palm. Fang Cangsong turned to flee; there was no way he could fight so many people at once.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Fang Cangsong unleashed his power to the absolute limit, simultaneously summoning several Spiritual Artifacts to protect himself. Nevertheless, he was sent flying, coughing up blood that stained the sky. The powerful Spiritual Artifacts he had summoned were shattered to pieces.

Like a beaten dog, he fled for his life.

"Where do you think you’re going?" the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion Master roared, leading his people in hot pursuit.

This sudden turn of events alarmed the entire Dragon Island. Countless people looked up at the figures streaking across the sky.

"Heavens! What’s happening?"

"Aren’t those people from the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion?"

"But weren’t they supposed to have been destroyed?"

"How are they still alive?"

"Damn it, looks like those rumors were fake!"

"I knew it! How could a top-tier power like the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion be destroyed so easily?"

For a time, all of Dragon Island was in an uproar. The various great families were stunned. They had been on the verge of making a move to carve up the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion’s assets, but now they were frozen in place.

Was that someone from the Fang Family who acted prematurely? What a pitiful sight, being hunted down by the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion. We were lucky we didn’t move first, or that would be us right now.

Fang Cangsong barely made it back to the Fang Family estate in a wretched state. The family had to mobilize all its forces to fend off the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion’s assault.

Eventually, the Pavilion Master led his people away.

Fang Cangsong finally let out a sigh of relief, glad to have escaped with his life. But his relief quickly turned to rage.

Damn it, what the hell happened? Why are the people from the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion still alive? How did they break free from the Python Sparrow Dragon-Swallowing Map?

「On the other side.」

「Dragon Abyss.」

Inside the Demon Hall, the Demon King was preparing his next move, ready to make use of Fang Cangsong.

Several days have passed. The Dragon-Seeking Pavilion should have been destroyed by now. After all, their strongest expert is merely a Grandmaster; there’s no way they could have withstood the power of the Python Sparrow Dragon-Swallowing Map. Next, I need Fang Cangsong to return the map... and do one more thing for our Demon Hall!