As the spear descended toward the dragon’s forehead, a piercing screech tore through the air as a burst of light swallowed the battlefield. A violent shockwave surged outward, sending dust and debris across the clearing as Lin Xiao Tian and the others reinforced their Qi shield to withstand the impact.

As the dust began to settle, their vision cleared enough to reveal what had truly happened at the final moment. Just before the strike connected, the dragon had twisted its body and dipped sharply, forcing the attack to miss its head by a narrow margin.

The spear tore past where its skull had been an instant earlier, grazing along its upper body as it redirected its force. The wound that followed was not clean, but dragged across its shoulder as it completed that evasive movement.

Ji Wuchen hovered in the air at a distance, his face pale as his breathing turned uneven under the strain. That attack had consumed a massive portion of his energy, and its failure had pushed him into a dangerous position.

The dragon rose slightly as if to stabilize itself, its massive form lifting unevenly before its strength gave out again. It dipped lower the next instant, its body losing balance as the injury and impact caught up to it.

For a brief moment, it remained suspended between ascent and collapse, its wings faltering as its altitude fluctuated uncontrollably. Then its body tilted and began to fall in a heavy, uneven descent.

It struck the ground with a crushing impact that fractured the earth beneath it, sending loose stone and broken trees outward in a rough wave. Dust surged up again, forcing Lin Xiao Tian and the others to maintain their Qi shield as the pressure spread across the clearing.

As the dust settled once more, the dragon lay grounded with its injured shoulder exposed, the torn flesh revealing bone beneath the wound. Blood flowed steadily from it, dripping down its body and falling in heavy drops that stained the fractured ground.

Despite the injury, it remained alive, its body shifting slightly as a low growl rumbled from within. The failed strike had not ended the battle, it had only pushed it into a more dangerous state.

The formation had already collapsed as the others hurriedly approached Ji Wuchen, gathering around him with tense expressions. Lin Xiao Tian, however, swept his gaze across the surroundings and noticed several prying eyes hidden at the edges of the clearing.

Every one of them was fixed on the dragon.

It was not difficult to understand why, as every part of its body held immense value, from its claws and scales to its teeth and even its blood. This was no ordinary beast, but a true treasure trove that could shake entire sects if divided properly.

So many eyes already locked onto it... this will not stay simple for long.

Just as that thought settled, the dragon’s body shifted again as it forced itself upright despite its injuries. It raised its head and released a deep roar toward the heavens, the sound carrying a force that rippled through the air.

In the next instant, the sky within a wide radius darkened rapidly, turning into a deep black as if the entire area had been sealed. The surroundings felt isolated, like they had been pulled into a confined space under the dragon’s control.

At the same time, the wound on its shoulder began to close at a visible rate, the torn flesh knitting together as the exposed bone was gradually covered. The blood that had scattered across the ground started to evaporate, rising upward as strands of black gas.

That gas gathered around the dragon’s body, swirling slowly as it was drawn back into it, reinforcing its presence once again.

Seeing the situation shift so abruptly, panic spread across the clearing as those who had been hiding were forced out into the open. The darkened sky sealed overhead like a dome, leaving no path of retreat as the pressure within the area grew heavier.

Ji Wuchen descended quickly with his subordinates, abandoning the air as the dragon regained control and rose once more. Its massive body lifted steadily before it opened its jaws and released a stream of black breath, the roar behind it carrying a suffocating weight.

The moment that air spread outward, Lin Xiao Tian’s expression hardened as recognition struck him immediately. Miasma... as the information said but how the fk is this lizard here.

The black gas expanded rapidly, filling the space without delay as it pressed against everyone present. Those who inhaled even a trace felt their circulation slow, their spiritual energy turning sluggish as if weighed down by an unseen force.

Panic deepened as the effect spread, disrupting formations and breaking whatever composure remained among the gathered cultivators. Ji Wuchen’s expression shifted as well, his earlier confidence replaced by urgency under the sudden change.

Even the opportunists who had waited like cicadas stalking a mantis were dragged into the same danger, their advantage disappearing as the entire battlefield turned against them.

As panic spread, many turned toward Ji Wuchen and Lin Xiao Tian’s group, their expressions filled with urgency as they searched for direction. In contrast, Lin Xiao Tian merely glanced at his disciples and gestured calmly.

"Sit."

His group followed without hesitation, lowering themselves with unhurried ease as if the situation held no urgency for them at all. That single act only deepened the unease among the others, who could not understand such composure under pressure.

At the center, Ji Wuchen stepped forward and called for assistance, his voice carrying authority as he ordered others to support him in restraining the dragon. However, instead of stepping forward, the crowd hesitated almost instantly.

Several cultivators began retreating subtly while others spoke up with strained voices, citing injuries or depleted energy as reasons to avoid involvement. A few even tried to slip away entirely, clearly unwilling to risk their lives in a fight that was no longer certain.

Before the hesitation could spread further, one of Ji Wuchen’s subordinates stepped forward, his expression turning cold as his gaze swept across the crowd. His voice was not loud, yet it carried a sharp edge that cut through the noise.

"You dare would refuse Young Master Ji’s command?"

The words struck like a warning, causing several to stiffen as the air grew tense with unspoken pressure. The man allowed that moment to linger before continuing, his tone turning heavier.

"Young Master Ji comes from the Upper Seven Regions, a place beyond your reach, and even the Lords you serve would not dare show him disrespect."

The implication settled clearly, pressing down on the crowd far more effectively than force alone.

Only then did his tone shift, easing slightly as he added, "Those who step forward will be rewarded, resources, techniques, and opportunities that you would never obtain otherwise."

The change was immediate as fear forced their hesitation to crack, and greed finished what intimidation had begun as one after another stepped forward. Their earlier reluctance vanished, replaced by forced determination under the combined weight of pressure and reward.

Lin Xiao Tian watched the entire exchange with a faint chuckle, his eyes carrying quiet amusement at the predictable shift.

First fear, then benefit... and they fold without resistance tch what a cliche plot .