Chapter Fifty-Two: The Black Serpent Mother and Child

“Then let me try first—let’s see just how formidable you are, monk!” In midair, the black dragon coiled and suddenly thrust down a massive claw, reaching straight toward Duyu!

That claw covered an area over thirty feet wide, enveloping not only Duyu but also Long Yun and the others within its shadow!

“Squeak squeak—”

“Roar—”

Little Black Jiao and Shadow Mink cried out in unison, for they had spotted Chu Xuan and Long Yun among those below.

Although the young serpent had not met Long Yun before, it recognized Chu Xuan and had learned from Shadow Mink that its rescue was thanks to a cultivator brought by Chu Xuan.

Thus, Little Black Jiao felt profound gratitude toward both Long Yun and Chu Xuan.

But now, the black dragon’s enormous claw descended, radiating an aura of unstoppable might!

Under this oppressive force, the expressions of Long Yun and his companions changed. A surge of overwhelming power pressed down on them, making their chests heave violently as they hurriedly raised their protective qi.

Long Yun even acted a heartbeat quicker, sheltering Chu Xuan within his own protective aura to shield him from harm.

“Amitabha!” Duyu intoned, bringing his thin palm up as if to support the heavens, rising to meet the dragon’s claw.

His hand moved slowly, but as it collided with the descending talon, a visible barrier of light spread out from his palm, covering a radius of over sixty feet.

Runes glimmered across the light screen, and waves of Buddhist chanting filled the air, bringing a warm sense of comfort to all who heard.

Then, the two mighty forces finally clashed. Like needle against awl, their immense powers canceled each other, and endless shockwaves raged outward in all directions!

Watching the battle between these two, Long Yun’s eyes betrayed a hint of confusion. When, he wondered, would he ever reach such heights? The strength of Divine Dragon Island surpassed even that of Cloud Gate. His own cultivation was worlds apart from that of the old monk Duyu—how could he hope to stand against Divine Dragon Island?

As Long Yun fell into these troubled thoughts, the first bout between Duyu and the black dragon ended.

At the midpoint where their energies had collided, it was as if fireworks had exploded—dazzling lights scattered through the sky, making the heavens beautiful beyond compare.

The black dragon’s massive body shuddered and drifted back over thirty feet. Yet, given its immense length, it had only moved back a few steps—barely noticeable, as if it had merely shifted its weight.

Duyu, on the other hand, had not moved a single step. He stood as calm and unmoved as before. The victory in this exchange was clearly his.

“Big monk, you are indeed worthy to challenge me! But you alone are not enough. I have no intention of harming the others—bring out those eight people and I promise not to damage a single thing here!” the black dragon said coldly.

Duyu pressed his palms together and replied quietly, “If not me to descend into hell, then who? Since I have intervened, it is with the intention to resolve this feud. If you refuse to yield, then you will have to step over my corpse.”

“Damn monk, do you really think I have a mild temper?” The black dragon flew into a rage, roaring, “Do you really think you alone can stop me? If I unleash a beast tide, not a soul here will survive!”

Duyu’s expression remained serene. “I seek only a clear conscience. Who lives or dies is not mine to decide. But I assure you, should you trample this town with your beast tide, I am fully capable of slaying you afterward.”

Though his tone was calm, a deadly intent flickered within his words, startling Long Yun. So the tales were true—not all Zen masters were gentle and rigid; when pushed to the brink, they too became fierce adversaries of evil.

Never before had the black dragon suffered such humiliation. With a sweep of its claw, it prepared to signal an attack, but just as it raised its talon, a voice echoed in its mind.

“Mother, the two humans who saved me are right below us. Let’s withdraw,” came Little Black Jiao’s plea.

The black dragon had heard before of its child’s rescue by two humans. Beasts, unlike humans, often held deep respect for their benefactors even as they abhorred their enemies.

Now, after Shadow Mink whispered that Long Yun was the one who had orchestrated its rescue, Little Black Jiao could hardly contain its urge to thank him.

“Was it you who saved my child?” the black dragon asked, turning its gaze to Long Yun and Chu Xuan.

Long Yun felt a chill—these beasts truly lacked subtlety. If they announced he had saved the child, wouldn’t that alert those eight from Azure Sect that he had aided the beasts’ escape?

Perhaps under the black dragon’s intimidation no one would speak now, but once the beast tide withdrew, he would become the target of endless resentment.

Long Yun could already feel the icy stares of those eight from Azure Sect burning into his back.

With a wry smile and a shake of the head, Long Yun spoke up, “Senior, this is my first time in Yan Dang Mountain. I only arrived late last night and haven’t even had a chance to step outside. How could I have rescued your child? Surely you are mistaken.”

He thought, the black dragon might not grasp the implications, but he had given a subtle warning; surely it should understand.

Yet the dragon’s next words left Long Yun speechless.

“My child could not be mistaken, nor could Little Shadow. If you hadn’t told them how to break the formation, my child would never have escaped. Rest assured, I would never repay kindness with enmity. Though I dislike all others here, I will listen to your word—if you allow us to leave, I will let this matter end here,” the black dragon declared firmly.

Long Yun shook his head with a pained smile. No explanation could clear his name now; with so many murderous glares behind him, his expression grew even more bitter.

“You really must be mistaken. My brother only arrived at my home last night and hasn’t left since. He even helped treat my mother’s illness—how could he have gone into the forest to rescue your child?”

Just as Long Yun was feeling most troubled, Chu Xuan suddenly spoke up beside him, filling Long Yun with gratitude. This old mudfish had lived for over a thousand years, yet he seemed less astute than a mere child.

The black dragon seemed not to catch Chu Xuan’s meaning, but Little Black Jiao understood at once. Its gaze swept past Long Yun and Chu Xuan, and its eyes burned red.

For it had seen, hidden among the crowd, eight figures—each one watching Long Yun, their killing intent spreading, which Little Black Jiao instantly sensed.

“Mother, it’s those eight over there—it’s them!” Little Black Jiao’s voice echoed in the black dragon’s mind.

Following its child’s signal, the black dragon fixed its gaze in their direction, catching the evasive looks among the eight. With a thunderous roar, it swept a claw across the sky, tearing through layers of space as it struck at them.

Even before the claw arrived, its overwhelming force locked onto all eight, rendering them utterly immobile, as helpless as stones sinking in the sea.

Their faces drained of color as they stared up at the massive talon descending from the heavens, caught in bitter despair.

“Benefactor, I said I would protect their lives,” Duyu said softly, thrusting out his palm. A great Buddhist seal appeared, blocking the black dragon’s claw once more.

Their second clash ended in a draw—not because Duyu held back, but because the black dragon had attacked with cunning restraint, knowing Duyu would intervene and thus saving part of its strength to counter him.

Likewise, seeing the cunning flicker in the dragon’s eyes, Duyu too had reserved some power, resulting in a stalemate.

But the black dragon’s real target was not those three. As Duyu retreated, the dragon’s other claw suddenly swept out in a wide arc.

Duyu’s expression flickered—he had no choice but to form his hand into a claw and strike with a Zen Dragon Claw technique, aiming to intercept.

A sly glint appeared once more in the dragon’s eyes. With a mighty twist of its tail, it swept over a hundred cultivators into its grasp.

“Not good!” Duyu cried, unleashing a vast surge of true energy.

P.S. From today, regular updates resume: one chapter every morning and evening. Thank you all for your support these past days! Binggun just returned last night—wishing everyone a belated New Year and a happy Spring Festival!