Chapter 499: Chapter 499: The Serpent-Que Swallows the Dragon-Swallowing Map

Furious, Fang Cangsong charged toward the Ye Family’s estate. He quickly arrived nearby, but just as he was about to storm the premises, a figure blocked his path.

It was an old man in a white robe, exuding an extremely powerful aura. He was, in fact, a Grandmaster.

"You are the Grand Elder of the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion!" Fang Cangsong’s expression changed upon seeing him. "Why are you stopping me?"

The Grand Elder of the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion chuckled. "I am not here to stop you, but to guard the Ye Family. I must obstruct anyone who intends to threaten them."

Fang Cangsong frowned. He had heard that when the Fang Family tried to move against the Ye Family before, elders from the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion had come to help. He never expected them to send a Grandmaster this time.

Damn it, when did the Ye Family and the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion become so close?

"Why is your Dragon-Seeking Pavilion helping the Ye Family?"

"I cannot disclose the reason. Fellow Daoist Fang, I suggest you return. Otherwise, do not blame me for being discourteous."

Fang Cangsong’s face darkened. Suddenly, a possibility occurred to him. The Dragon-Seeking Pavilion is adept at hunting for treasures. Could it be that they’re also plotting to get the Dragon Pearl? Is that why they’ve allied with the Ye Family?

At this thought, Fang Cangsong’s eyes instantly turned red. He let out a roar and charged forward.

The Grand Elder’s face turned grim, and he retaliated. The two clashed, soaring high into the sky as their power erupted like an abyssal sea.

The members of the Ye Family were alarmed and looked up at the sky.

"What’s happening? What a terrifying aura!"

"That’s the aura of a Grandmaster! Two Grandmasters are fighting!"

"Quick, activate the family’s defensive array! Don’t let the shockwaves reach us!"

The Ye Family hastily activated their protective array. Not just the Ye Family, but other clans and sects also sensed this power and turned their attention to the battle.

"What’s going on? Are Grandmasters fighting?"

High above the nine heavens, the two fought for dozens of exchanges, their battle an even match. After another clash, Fang Cangsong was thrown back.

He gritted his teeth. "Ye Family, Dragon-Seeking Pavilion, just you wait."

With that, he turned and left.

The Grand Elder of the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion was indifferent to the threat. His figure flickered as he returned to the vicinity of the Ye Family, concealing himself to continue his silent watch. He was here on Lin Xuan’s orders, of course.

Previously, the Grand Elder had been puzzled. The Ye Family was merely a second-tier family. Did it truly warrant being guarded by a Grandmaster like himself? In his view, sending a Nine-Star Grandmaster would have been more than enough. But now, Fang Cangsong himself had come to their doorstep.

This left him incredibly shocked. So a Grandmaster really did make a move against the Ye Family. It seems the Young Master truly has divine foresight.

「Elsewhere,」

Fang Cangsong returned empty-handed. With a Grandmaster guarding it, he couldn’t breach the Ye Family’s defenses. Not unless he could gather more Grandmasters.

His Fang Family certainly had more than just one Grandmaster. However, he didn’t want this news to become common knowledge. After all, he wanted to monopolize all the Dragon Pearls and had no intention of sharing them.

He didn’t seek out the other Grandmasters of his family. Instead, he went to another place. He now understood that to enter the Ye Family and reclaim the Dragon Pearls, he first had to defeat the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion. The Dragon-Seeking Pavilion was also a first-rate power on Dragon Island. Under normal circumstances, even if the Fang Family went all out, they might not be able to defeat them.

But it wasn’t entirely impossible. There was someone who could deal with the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion. The only problem was that he might have to pay a great price.

Fang Cangsong arrived at Dragon Abyss. This was a Life Forbidden Land, and it was utterly still. He waited in silence. After several days, the night of the full moon arrived. He took advantage of the moonlight to enter Dragon Abyss.

It seemed the knowledge of how to enter Dragon Abyss on a full moon wasn’t exclusive to the Young Master of Misty Rain Pavilion; others knew as well. However, knowing was one thing, but being able to enter and exit safely was another matter entirely. Fang Cangsong had no absolute assurance and normally wouldn’t dare to come here. But this time, to deal with the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion, he had no other choice.

Fang Cangsong pushed his speed to its limit while taking out a mirror to capture the moonlight. Using the mirror to channel the moonlight, he flew swiftly toward the depths of Dragon Abyss.

Finally, he arrived. The depths of Dragon Abyss were as dark as ink, with only the patch of moonlight from his mirror emitting a faint glow.

Fang Cangsong stood within the light, using the weak illumination to gaze at his surroundings. He was surrounded by jagged rocks and trees that twisted like monsters with bared fangs and claws. The oppressive atmosphere in the air sent shivers down his spine, even as a Grandmaster.

Having come this far, he no longer dared to move quickly. Holding the mirror to capture the moonlight and illuminate the path, he advanced little by little. After walking a bit further, he stopped again. A palace had appeared before him.

The black palace stood there like a primordial beast. Its surface was covered in carvings formed by black runes, resembling countless Demon Kings. Their shapes varied—some roared, some screamed. The one thing they had in common was that they were terrifyingly lifelike, as if they could rush out from the palace at any moment and sweep across the world.

Is this the legendary Demon Hall?

Gazing at the palace, Fang Cangsong swallowed hard. He cautiously approached the front of the Demon Hall and looked at the closed stone door. He slowly reached out and pushed.

RUMBLE. The stone door was slowly pushed open, revealing a crack.

Peering through the gap, Fang Cangsong couldn’t make out the scene within. It felt like an abyss, capable of devouring everything. He didn’t dare to enter directly and was about to investigate further when an eye suddenly appeared in the slit.

A green eye.

It materialized out of thin air, locking eyes with Fang Cangsong. He was so startled that every hair on his body stood on end, and he nearly stumbled to the ground. A chill shot through him, and he turned to flee.

But then, a deep, raspy voice sounded. "I didn’t expect anyone would dare to come to the Demon Hall."

"Speak. What transaction do you wish to make with the Demon Hall?"

Hearing this, Fang Cangsong’s fleeing figure froze. He stopped running and turned back to face the palace. Within the green eye, he saw the flickering, sinister, and eerie flames of Netherworld Fire.

"What, are you not here to make a deal with the Demon Hall?" the deep, raspy voice asked again.

This must be the Demon King from within the Demon Hall, Fang Cangsong thought.

Taking a deep breath, he replied, "I am indeed here to make a deal. I want to annihilate the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion!"

As he spoke, Fang Cangsong began to explain, "The Dragon-Seeking Pavilion is an ancient sect. Though it’s in decline, its strength remains formidable..."

He wanted to elaborate on the Pavilion’s current power, but the Demon King in front of him let out a cold laugh. "No need. We know of the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion."

"You know?" Fang Cangsong was astonished. The Demon Hall can’t leave Dragon Abyss, so how could it know about the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion?

But the Demon King just laughed. "We have a way to annihilate the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion."

"Really? That’s wonderful! What do you require?" Fang Cangsong asked quickly.

The Demon King said, "We need the Fang Family to do one thing for our Demon Hall."

"What is it?"

"We cannot say now. We will tell you when the time is right."

With that, the Demon King tossed out a stone. It was black with golden patterns that flickered with a mysterious light.

"This is the Celestial Destiny Stone. Swear an oath to perform one task for us in the future, and our deal will be struck. I will then naturally help you dispose of the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion. If you dare to betray your vow in the future, you will be instantly struck down by heavenly lightning."

An oath sworn upon the Celestial Destiny Stone could not be betrayed. The consequence for doing so was complete obliteration. Fang Cangsong understood this well. But to obtain the Dragon Pearls, he would pay any price.

He grasped the Celestial Destiny Stone and swore his oath.

"Very good," the Demon King laughed. The next moment, he tossed out a scroll.

"Take this scroll and throw it into the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion. The Pavilion will soon be reduced to ashes."

Fang Cangsong caught the scroll, his face filled with doubt. Could such a small scroll truly obliterate a first-rate power? He was skeptical.

The Demon King said, "This scroll is a painting named the Serpent-Sparrow Swallowing Dragon Map."

"It is an extremely powerful weapon capable of devouring Dragon Dao Power. And the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion cultivates Dragon Dao Power, do they not?"

"With this Serpent-Sparrow Swallowing Dragon Map, you can consume the Dragon Dao Power of everyone in the Pavilion. When they are left extremely weak, killing them will be as easy as turning your hand!"

Fang Cangsong’s heart pounded in his chest. If it was truly that powerful, the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion was surely doomed.

The Demon King added, "However, you should know that the Serpent-Sparrow Swallowing Dragon Map is not invincible. On Dragon Island, there is a Divine Sword capable of destroying it."

"What sword?" Fang Cangsong asked nervously.

"The Spirit Dragon Nine Heavens Sword!"

Fang Cangsong breathed a sigh of relief. He said, "The Spirit Dragon Nine Heavens Sword rests at the bottom of Dragon Spirit Lake. It has been there for many years, and no one has been able to obtain it."

Since no one can wield the Spirit Dragon Nine Heavens Sword, no one can break this Serpent-Sparrow Swallowing Dragon Map