"A water serpent transforms into a jiao after five hundred years. A jiao transforms into a dragon after a thousand years. Another five hundred years turns it into a horned dragon, and a thousand more into a winged dragon."

"A Flood Dragon is not a true dragon; it is still a step away. When the rains pour down, the process of a Flood Dragon riding the floodwaters down to the East Sea is known as the ’Flood Dragon’s Passage’."

"The Flood Dragon’s Passage is the final step for a Flood Dragon—or other enlightened creatures like turtles and terrapins—to transform into a true dragon."

"When a Flood Dragon undergoes its ’Passage’, it often triggers cataclysmic floods."

"If this happens in some remote, uninhabited part of the wilderness, it doesn’t really matter."

"But if it occurs in a densely populated area, it often leads to terrible disasters, hence the saying: ’Where the jiao rides the flood, devastation spreads to all four corners’."

"Furthermore, during its ’Passage’, if it encounters a bridge, it cannot pass underneath. Instead, it must let the river water surge over the stone bridge and swim across the top."

"..."

Fang Yang beat his wings, soaring high above the mystical realm of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

He was currently recalling records related to the "Flood Dragon Riding the Waters."

In his view, this was essentially a ritual to petition the heavens, sacrificing living beings and mountains to win the favor of great destiny from the world.

Witnessing such a method didn’t surprise him much.

After all, during the Xuan Yu War, he had already surmised that Sen Yue had performed a blood sacrifice of thousands of tribes!

The "Flood Dragon Riding the Waters" erupting in the Ten Thousand Mountains this time involved a Python Beast transforming into a Flood Dragon, becoming a Desolate Beast, and stepping into the Saint Realm.

’Phoenix Peak and Celestial Dragon Peak are very far apart. It’ll be difficult for me to travel back and forth when the dragon’s blood stains the great sun black.’

Fang Yang looked down from on high, surveying the mountains and rivers below.

But now, the vast mountain range was inundated with water, resembling a boundless ocean.

Basically, every famous mountain and great river was guarded by prodigies from the Heaven, Earth, and Human rankings.

He had seen Lin Yaoguang, Ji Juyun, and others on his way here.

And the closer he got to Phoenix Peak and Celestial Dragon Peak, the more frequently powerful experts appeared.

Seeing this, even with the guidance of his divined fortune, he couldn’t help but become more vigilant.

Fortunately, he knew that after dealing with suppressing and sealing the Water Eye, he would still have time to wait for the moment when "the dragon’s blood stains the great sun black."

How did he know this?

Because this Flood Dragon’s escape was all a game of Saints raising a fish only to slaughter it. Now, they were just waiting for the Flood Dragon to fully mature and gather its power!

...

Yellow Worm Ridge was the site of Mo Ran, Xuezhi, and the others’ mission assessment.

It was also the location for Fang Yang’s commissioned task.

After observing Phoenix Peak, Celestial Dragon Peak, and the other mountains, Fang Yang arrived at Yellow Worm Ridge at the appointed time.

Water, water, water.

A boundless expanse of water, stretching as far as the eye could see.

This wasn’t a place of high mountains and perilous peaks at all; it was a vast ocean.

"Fang Yang, you’re finally here." Mo Ran had a look of weary relief.

Cyan Aura shook his head helplessly. "The mission assessment details clearly indicated it wasn’t this serious. But the reality still exceeded our imagination."

"Sigh, it’s a bitter story," Lin Tianxue said, lightly waving her hand. Flames sprang into existence, dispersing the dense, watery mist.

They used to be able to stand on the mountain peaks, but in just a few days, there wasn’t even a place to set foot.

Who could they even complain to? There was no one!

Facing their welcome, Fang Yang offered a faint smile and chatted pleasantly with the group.

Among them, Xuezhi didn’t clash with Fang Yang as everyone had worried they might.

And just as they were sizing up Fang Yang, he was silently observing them as well.

’Cyan Aura, Mo Ran, Xuezhi, Nanyu, and Lin Tianxue.’

’The five of them are basically at the Tier Three realm, and Nanyu just broke through to the Tier Four Elementary realm. They’re all prodigies from their respective families.’

’A small group like this could very well produce one or two Saints in the future.’

’And the alliance that binds them is likely their shared goal of dealing with Black Tower City and Muri Guanglong...’

Fang Yang’s thoughts churned.

This small group wasn’t very conspicuous right now, but as time passed, they would form a solid interest bloc.

If he could make them work for him, that would be for the best.

At the very least, leaving behind a good impression wouldn’t hurt.

Sen Yue and Sen Wei had the idea of uniting the eight great Golden Clans to consolidate destiny and power, and deep down, Fang Yang had a similar ambition.

After all, this was a viable path to becoming a Young Venerable!

Fang Yang said, "Have you prepared the materials for the Array to suppress and seal the Water Eye?"

"Of course," Mo Ran replied.

Hearing this, Fang Yang nodded lightly and said no more.

Then, under everyone’s watchful gaze, he tapped his foot lightly on the empty air. His Thunderfire Wings vibrated with a HUM.

He was about to cast a Magic to suppress and seal the Water Eye.

"First Lifebound Skill—Fire Domain Skill!"

Behind Fang Yang, eighteen balls of Anomalous Flame suddenly rose up, fanning out like Flying Swords ready to be unleashed at any moment.

With a resonant HUM, the eighteen balls of Anomalous Flame suddenly swelled, igniting the river water and burning rapidly, each one forming its own illusory Fire Realm.

Layer upon layer, they were like eighteen inverted mountain peaks, making the very earth shake.

It was a terrifying sight. As he sank into his stance and performed the Tai Chi Cloud Hands, the eighteen illusory Fire Realms descended into the river, seeming to set everything ablaze.

Boundless flames burned fiercely.

Thick plumes of white smoke transformed into white serpents and pythons, writhing wantonly, but they too were quickly ignited by the flames.

In an instant, only an intense heat remained.

"It’s receding! The water is really receding!" Nanyu’s eyes filled with pleasant surprise as he watched the empty chasms no longer fill with water.

"To think it would be this easy... Sigh, why do I still feel the sting of having to give up a Tier Five Spiritual Object?" Lin Tianxue lightly bit her lip and patted her chest.

’He’s incredible. If I could derive my own Lifebound Divine Techniques, I wouldn’t have had to ask Fang Yang to intervene,’ Cyan Aura sighed internally.

Yet, just like everyone else, he raised his head to gaze at the figure in the void.

Wreathed in Anomalous Flame, he looked like a Fire God!

Seeing Fang Yang handle the flood so effortlessly, everyone present was filled with mixed emotions.

Meanwhile, with Mo Ran’s guidance, Fang Yang quickly located the Water Eye of Yellow Worm Ridge.

At this moment, he maintained his Sea of Fire Skill while silently watching Mo Ran take out various materials and begin to lay the Array.

When he first started laying the Array, Mo Ran’s posture was extremely relaxed.

But as he continued to plant the array flags, beads of cold sweat visibly appeared on his forehead.

Anyone could see that something was wrong!

"ROAR—"

Suddenly, the roar of a Flood Dragon erupted from the Water Eye. A fierce wind kicked up, threatening to send the array flags scattering.

Fang Yang acted at the perfect moment, forming a Flaming Giant Shield to block the blast.

Gradually, a faint cyan light flickered within the Water Eye, forcing Mo Ran to retreat uncontrollably.

The dao-rhythm of a Flood Dragon!

The spectral image of a ferocious cyan Flood Dragon slowly materialized within the Water Eye, its pair of cold, vertical pupils staring down at them.

This was a wisp of oppressive aura from a Desolate Beast!

With the exception of Fang Yang, the others couldn’t withstand the pressure and retreated one after another.

"Let me lay the Array," Fang Yang said in a low voice.

Before the wavering gazes of Xuezhi, Nanyu, and the others, he casually released an electric python.

He intended to use the Flood Dragon’s dao-rhythm to temper the electric python, letting it absorb this powerful essence.

Immediately, a speck of golden light appeared above his head, then rapidly expanded into a Golden Tai Chi Diagram, bringing a sense of warmth to everyone.

To everyone’s astonishment, he steadily resisted the pressure from the Flood Dragon’s dao-rhythm and calmly laid the Array.

「A quarter of an hour later.」

The moment he finished setting up the Array, the Flood Dragon’s dao-rhythm let out an unwilling, mournful cry.

In that instant, heaven and earth roiled with violent energy.

Seeing this, Nanyu’s expression grew solemn.