"You understand the Array better than me?" Earth Dragon laughed heartily, as if he had heard the most hilarious joke in the world. "Kid, you really know how to brag. Do you even know the origin of this Array? It was left behind by the Dragon Emperor and has been lost for many years. Even the Sect Leader of the True Dragon Sect has never laid eyes on it, let alone you. On the entire Dragon Island—no, in the entire world—I am the only one who has mastered the Nine Dragons Guarding One Pearl! I am the one who understands this Array best. You think you understand it better than me? What a joke."

Earth Dragon simply didn’t believe him. He had no more patience to waste on Lin Xuan’s nonsense, so he activated the Array. The nine giant dragons erupted with a terrifying power that seemed capable of destroying the heavens and the earth.

Faced with this power, the Snake King’s body trembled. He exclaimed, "As expected of an Array left by the Dragon Emperor, it’s truly too powerful! Young Master, can you withstand it? If not, just admit defeat!"

In the Snake King’s eyes, if even he couldn’t withstand this force, Lin Xuan surely couldn’t either.

It’s over. Lin Xuan is going to be defeated this time. He might even be completely annihilated!

Yet Lin Xuan remained perfectly calm. Watching the nine giant dragons charging at him, he slowly raised a finger and pointed forward.

"You think you alone can resist the Nine Dragons? How foolish!" Earth Dragon sneered upon seeing this. "A mayfly trying to shake a tree. You don’t know your own limits." He still wants to resist? What a joke!

Lin Xuan’s finger moved lightly, seemingly without any power, as he pointed casually into the void. In the next instant, however, the entire void began to shake violently.

RUMBLE...

The shaking grew increasingly intense until the entire world trembled in response. The bodies of the nine giant dragons also shook violently. A moment later, they began to dissolve rapidly like melting snow and ice, then vanished into thin air.

What’s happening? The Snake King was stunned by the scene.

Earth Dragon was utterly dumbfounded, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. How is this possible? What did I just see? The Nine Dragons are gone! The Nine Dragons Guarding One Pearl has been broken! How can this be?

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!" Earth Dragon roared again and again. "This can’t be real!"

He rushed out, looking all around. At the same time, he pushed the Earth Dragon Pearl, trying to summon the Nine Dragons once more. But there was no longer any sign of them in the void. Only Lin Xuan stood there, completely unscathed.

"How could this happen? Where are the Nine Dragons? Come out! Come out now!" Earth Dragon roared frantically.

Lin Xuan watched this spectacle coldly. Looking at the clown-like Earth Dragon, the corner of his mouth curled into a smirk. He snorted, "I told you. Your Array couldn’t harm me at all because I understand Arrays better than you."

"To be precise, your Array is not the true Nine Dragons Guarding One Pearl. It’s far too inferior, with too many flaws."

"How can this be? Who are you? Who on earth are you?" Earth Dragon roared, spiraling into madness. If the boy had pulled out some astonishing Divine Weapon and split the Array in two, he would have been shocked but could have accepted it. But what was this? The kid just waved a finger and the Array turned to dust! It was far too easy. Far too unbelievable!

Could it be that he really understands the Nine Dragons Guarding One Pearl better than I do?

At that moment, Earth Dragon completely broke down. "Who are you? Who in the world are you?" he roared frantically. "What divine being are you?"

Lin Xuan withdrew his finger and said coldly, "Who am I? You’re not worthy of knowing, nor do you need to know. Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve? If not, I’ll be sending you to hell."

As he spoke, the two Dragon Souls within Lin Xuan erupted once more. An overwhelming Dragon Power swept across heaven and earth. Earth Dragon’s body trembled. His most powerful Array had been defeated; how could he possibly fight now? He was no match at all!

Lin Xuan snorted coldly. It was all over. He began to channel the Candle Dragon Celestial Light again, preparing to kill Earth Dragon.

Terrified, Earth Dragon was scared witless. He quickly fell to his knees and begged, "Spare me, Young Master! Please spare me! I was wrong! I’m willing to submit!"

Earth Dragon was truly afraid. It had taken him so long to gain sentience and cultivate to his current level; he didn’t want to die just like this. Before, Lin Xuan had spoken of erasing him, but Earth Dragon hadn’t believed it. To him, the idea of a mere ant erasing him was nothing but an arrogant, ignorant boast. But now, he realized he was wrong. Horribly wrong. This opponent truly had the strength to kill him.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

He kowtowed repeatedly, causing the ground to tremble again. But Lin Xuan had no intention of holding back. The Candle Dragon’s eyes began to glow with a terrifying light.

In this life-or-death moment, Earth Dragon spoke rapidly, "Young Master, I can help you absorb the power of the Earth Dragon Pearl to make your cultivation faster! Even if you don’t absorb the Earth Dragon Pearl now, I can help you find the other Dragon Pearls! I’m still very useful! Please spare my life, and I swear I will follow you until death!"

Hearing this, Lin Xuan waved his hand. The Candle Dragon in the sky gave a cold snort and refrained from attacking.

Lin Xuan fixed his gaze on Earth Dragon and said sternly, "Oh? You know the whereabouts of the other Dragon Pearls?"

"Well..." Earth Dragon shook his head. "No, I do not."

Lin Xuan’s expression darkened. "Facing death, you still dare to play games with me? It seems you’re looking for a fate worse than death!"

"Young Master, calm your anger! I’m not deceiving you!" Earth Dragon pleaded. "Although I don’t know their exact whereabouts, as long as I am near a Dragon Pearl, I will be able to sense it. If Young Master knows a general area, I can quickly pinpoint its specific location."

Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes. It seems this Earth Dragon does have some use after all.

"Alright then, I’ll spare your life," Lin Xuan said.

"Thank you, Young Master!" Earth Dragon was overjoyed.

But Lin Xuan snorted coldly. "I can spare you, but I must place a brand on your Soul. If you ever dare to betray me, I will ensure you are turned to dust."

With that, Lin Xuan activated the Candle Dragon Celestial Light again. The Candle Dragon’s gaze descended, piercing through Earth Dragon’s Soul and leaving a Candle Dragon brand within it.

"Greetings, Young Master." This time, Earth Dragon prostrated himself completely. Now, Lin Xuan could decide his life or death with a single thought.

Ignoring Earth Dragon, Lin Xuan turned his gaze to the Earth Dragon Pearl floating in the sky. With a wave of his hand, he reached out and grasped it.

Finally, a Dragon Pearl was his!

「Outside.」

The members of the Fang Clan and the Netherworld Stone Race were also waiting. This time, however, their mood was exceptionally relaxed. When they heard screams coming from inside the palace, they all laughed heartily.

A Fang Clan member said, "Listen! That’s the kid’s scream. He’s definitely being tortured by Elder Earth Dragon."

Someone from the Netherworld Stone Race snorted coldly. "Of course. He dared to scheme for the Earth Dragon Pearl. The Master will absolutely not spare him. Just watch. He’ll wish he were dead."

How could it be like this? Fang Qingyu’s heart filled with despair. Is Lin Xuan really defeated? Is he really going to suffer a fate worse than death? No! She shook her head wildly.

Fang Hai sneered, "Not only will that kid suffer a fate worse than death, but since you dared to betray the family, your end will be the same!"

After speaking, Fang Hai glanced at Elder Vajra. "Come, let’s go in and see."

The two strode toward the Underground Palace together. They wanted to witness the boy’s tragic fate with their own eyes.