Dong Zhengyang noticed Qin Feiyang acting strangely and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Qin Feiyang said, "If those thirteen Alligator Kings attack, can you, in your current state, hold them off?"
Upon hearing this, their expressions changed; they had actually overlooked the thirteen Alligator Kings!
Dong Zhengyang pondered for a moment, then said, "We can hold them off, but I’m worried the Crocodile Empress and the Black Dragon might also come to attack us."
Shen Long said solemnly, "The Black Dragon doesn’t have Dragon Scales, so it’s not a major concern. The key is the Crocodile Empress."
"Wrong," Qin Feiyang stated.
"What’s wrong?" Shen Long asked, puzzled.
Qin Feiyang said, "The Black Dragon’s scales will regrow within an hour. Given its temperament, I’m certain it will come back for us."
"An hour!" Shen Long exclaimed, his face paling.
An hour might seem long, but in a situation like this, it was actually very short.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Feiyang said, "Since there’s no way to leave the island for now, I’ll go and subdue the Black Dragon first, to prevent further trouble."
Dong Zhengyang and the others nodded. The hidden threat of the Black Dragon indeed needed to be dealt with first.
Qin Feiyang added, "And while I’m at it, I’ll investigate another question."
"What other question?" the group asked, surprised.
Qin Feiyang said, "Why was the Crocodile Emperor hiding in that low mountain before?"
Murong Xiong nodded. "That’s a very strange matter; it really does need to be investigated. But it’s too dangerous for you to go alone. How about Dongfang Wuheng and I go with you?"
As he spoke, a hint of murderous intent flashed deep within his eyes.
"So kind of you?" Qin Feiyang said, surprised. He cupped his hands and smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Murong, but you’re needed more here."
Murong Xiong’s expression stiffened. He nodded. "Alright then, be careful."
Qin Feiyang smiled. He took out over a dozen Healing Pills and Bone-renewing Pills, all with four-star Elixir Patterns, and handed them to Dong Zhengyang. "Call out if there’s danger," he instructed, "I’ll come immediately."
"You too," Dong Zhengyang said, accepting the pills.
Qin Feiyang nodded, glanced at Fatty, then turned and skirted the battlefield, retracing his steps.
With Fatty here, there shouldn’t be much of a problem.
「Several hundred moments passed.」
Qin Feiyang arrived near the low mountain and hid in a ditch, observing the area.
But as far as he could see, there was no trace of the Crocodile Empress, nor could he find the Black Dragon.
Strange,
Qin Feiyang frowned.
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
The Crocodile Empress was severely injured when she fought Dong Zhengyang and the others. She must have left a lot of blood on her way out. And since flying is impossible here, there would definitely be footprints on the ground. As long as I find the footprints, I’ll surely find where the Crocodile Empress has gone.
He stood up and scanned his surroundings. To his left, he was surprised to find several enormous footprints.
There were bloodstains on the footprints.
WHOOSH!
Qin Feiyang immediately activated Phantom Step, silently following the footprints.
After about five or six hundred meters, he suddenly stopped, his brow furrowed as he looked at the ground ahead.
The footprints in front of him had vanished!
Moreover, the shrubs and wild grass along the path were severed, forming a wide, messy trench.
Qin Feiyang bent down and picked up a piece of shrub. He found that the break was as smooth as a mirror, as if sliced by a knife.
This was clearly not right. The Dragon Crocodile walked on four limbs. At most, it would have trampled the shrubs and wild grass, not cut them.
What’s going on?
Qin Feiyang was puzzled for a moment.
Suddenly, the image of a beast flashed in his mind.
The Black Dragon!
Thinking of this, he scanned the trench before him; its width was almost identical to the Black Dragon’s body.
Qin Feiyang muttered, "It seems it really was it."
These shrubs and wild grasses must have been severed by the Black Dragon’s scales.
He turned to look at the jungle beside him; there was a trench there too, connecting to the one before him.
Evidently, the Black Dragon had initially lurked in the nearby jungle. When it saw the Crocodile Emperor arrive, it had trailed after it. He just couldn’t figure out why the Black Dragon would do that. Still, this was a good thing. He had been wondering where to find the Black Dragon. Now, all he had to do was follow this path, and he would surely find it.
Qin Feiyang murmured softly, "This will save me a fair bit of time."
He then began to race along the trench.
「A moment later.」
A valley came into his view.
Qin Feiyang climbed a small hill. From there, he could clearly see enormous footprints leading straight into the valley.
Without a doubt, it was the Crocodile Empress!
At the same time, there was a trench leading to the right side of the valley.
Obviously, the trench was left by the Black Dragon. In other words, it hadn’t gone into the valley but had detoured to the right.
Qin Feiyang’s eyes flickered.
Suddenly, he leaped down the small hill and swiftly followed the trench.
「Soon.」
He arrived at the foot of the mountain on the right side of the valley. The trench led straight up to the summit.
Could it be planning something?
Qin Feiyang frowned and began to climb towards the summit, moving as swiftly as an ape.
The mountain peak was over three hundred meters high.
In just over ten breaths, Qin Feiyang reached the summit and immediately saw the Black Dragon.
It was lying in the grass ahead, its aura completely retracted, head outstretched, gazing intently down into the valley.
Qin Feiyang approached silently.
Ten meters.
Five meters!
Suddenly, the Black Dragon turned its head to look at Qin Feiyang, a flicker of surprise in its eyes, along with a hint of anger.
Qin Feiyang chuckled softly. "I was going to give you a surprise, but I didn’t expect you to find me."
"Surprise?" The Black Dragon scoffed and transmitted its voice, "Didn’t you leave? Why have you come back?"
Qin Feiyang smiled. "How could I bear to leave before subduing you?"
The Black Dragon said disdainfully, "You’d best give up on that idea. What kind of existence do you think I am? A tiny ant like you is worthy of my allegiance?"
"Really?" Qin Feiyang smirked. "Let’s put that aside for now. What are you peeking at?"
"Nothing." The Black Dragon shook its head and telepathically snapped, "Scram if you don’t want to die."
"Really nothing?" Qin Feiyang watched it with amusement.
"Why are you humans so damn annoying?" The Black Dragon was furious, its eyes shimmering with a dangerous light.
"Too bad you don’t dare hit me now," Qin Feiyang chuckled, striding towards the edge.
A trace of panic flashed in the Black Dragon’s eyes. It hastily transmitted in a low voice, "Softer! Don’t be discovered!"
"Oh?" Qin Feiyang paused, curious. "Is there some unspeakable secret down there?"
"Damn you! I’ll cripple you sooner or later!" The Black Dragon glared at him, its gaze extremely sharp.
"I’ll be waiting." Qin Feiyang smiled faintly and tiptoed to the edge, looking down.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Qin Feiyang’s gaze wavered, filled with disbelief.
The Crocodile Empress was lying on the grass in the center of the valley, her eyes closed, an expression of deep enjoyment on her face.
Above the Crocodile Empress floated a palm-sized flame.
The flame was entirely emerald green, and strands of green radiance cascaded down, enveloping the Crocodile Empress.
Nourished by the green radiance, the wounds on the Crocodile Empress were visibly healing at an astonishing rate!
Seeing Qin Feiyang’s expression, the Black Dragon immediately said fiercely, "I’m telling you, that thing is mine! Don’t even think about touching it!"
"Do you know what that is?" Qin Feiyang asked without turning his head.
"No. But I’m sure it’s an absolute treasure. And I don’t mind telling you, I’ve had my eye on it for a long time, but I never found the chance," the Black Dragon transmitted.
Qin Feiyang’s eyes gleamed. "You’re not wrong. It is indeed a supreme treasure. It can even repair a shattered Qi Sea and Sea of Consciousness."
"What?" The Black Dragon’s body trembled, its narrow eyes shining with brilliant light. It was a look of craving and greed!
That was right. The flame above the Crocodile Empress was the Flame of Life!
Legend had it that if one gathered nine Flames of Life, they would merge and transform into a Flower of Life.
The Flower of Life possessed boundless life force. It was said that whoever obtained the Flower of Life could achieve true immortality, undying for eternity.
Qin Feiyang had never imagined he would encounter a Flame of Life here!
Qin Feiyang turned to the Black Dragon. "Are you very familiar with them?"
The Black Dragon rolled its eyes at him. "Nonsense. I’ve lived with them on this island for several hundred years. How could we not be acquainted?"
Qin Feiyang asked doubtfully, "Then how come it seemed like you didn’t know the Crocodile Emperor was hidden in that low mountain before?"
"That old fox knew I was after that flame, so it often hid to mess with me. But who do you think I am? Would I fall for its tricks?" The Black Dragon sneered dismissively.
Qin Feiyang smiled. "Then why aren’t you snatching it now?"
"Isn’t it because of you? If you hadn’t destroyed my outrage, I would have snatched it long ago! Would you even have had a chance to meddle?" the Black Dragon fumed.
"Do you think you’re a divine dragon, having an outrage?" Qin Feiyang rolled his eyes and teased, "Losing your Dragon Scales has made you this timid. Looks like you’re not all that great!"
"Damn it! Are you brain-dead? Although she’s heavily injured, she’s still a Two-star War Ancestor. Besides, my injuries are no lighter than hers. Look for yourself, the dragon tail you all smashed hasn’t even healed. How can I fight her? If you’re so capable, you go!" The Black Dragon roared, telepathically, of course.
Qin Feiyang glanced at the Black Dragon’s tail and couldn’t help but chuckle silently.
The Black Dragon, furious and embarrassed, roared telepathically, "Damn it! Laugh again, and I dare you! At worst, I’ll give up that flame and team up with her to kill you!"
"Alright, alright, I won’t laugh." Qin Feiyang quickly waved his hands, suppressing his amusement. "Listening to you, does that mean you plan to cooperate with me?"
The Black Dragon paused, then sneered, "You’re thinking too much. Me, cooperate with you? Are you worthy?"
Qin Feiyang said, "I don’t know if I’m worthy, but I do know that if we delay any longer, her injuries will fully heal, and by then, even if we team up, we won’t stand a chance."
The Black Dragon’s pupils contracted.
"I know what you’re hesitating about. You’re just afraid I’ll take the opportunity to plot against you. Actually, I’m afraid too! So, to put both our minds at ease, why don’t we make an agreement?" Qin Feiyang smiled.
"What agreement?" The Black Dragon looked at him suspiciously.
Qin Feiyang said, "I’ll help you get that flame, but as a condition, you have to follow me for ten years."
"Impossible!" The Black Dragon refused without hesitation. The anger in its heart had reached an uncontrollable point.
This human is despicable, taking advantage of my predicament!
Qin Feiyang laughed. "If you don’t agree, then, just as you threatened, I’ll team up with the Crocodile Empress to kill you. Who knows, maybe she and I will become friends then!"
"You bastard!" The Black Dragon seethed with fury. If it weren’t for the Crocodile Empress below, it would have attacked already.
"Actually, ten years isn’t that long. Besides, I swear on my father’s name that when the ten years are up, if you want to leave, I absolutely won’t stop you. And during these ten years, you won’t be a servant, and I won’t be a master. We’ll be friends. Furthermore, I’ll give you many things you desire, like Transformation Pills and Barrier Breaking Pills," Qin Feiyang said with a smile.
Hearing this, the Black Dragon was somewhat tempted but still couldn’t make a decision.
"Beyond that, I can also take you away from the Netherworld, to the world outside," Qin Feiyang pressed on, striking while the iron was hot.
The world outside...
the Black Dragon muttered to itself, a nostalgic look in its eyes. Upon closer inspection, one could even detect a hint of resentment.
Qin Feiyang urged, "If you don’t decide soon, the Crocodile Empress’s injuries will truly be healed."
The Black Dragon looked down at the Crocodile Empress.
Indeed, the wounds on the Crocodile Empress had all scabbed over.
It, too, began to feel anxious. Looking at Qin Feiyang, it asked, "Are you sure you’re not deceiving me?"
Qin Feiyang nodded.
"Fine." The Black Dragon no longer hesitated. "I agree."

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