On the snowy mountain, snowflakes fell from the sky one by one.
The snowflakes spun in the air and gently landed on the steps.
On both sides, the snow pear trees were in full bloom with red and white flowers, each with fist-sized, unripe snow pears hanging from them.
“There don’t seem to be any Black Dragon Guards here,” Xu Zimo said.
“I’m not sure, but let’s stay cautious,” Green Yun shook her head and replied.
The higher they climbed, the stronger the mysterious mist became.
By the time Xu Zimo reached halfway up the mountain, his eleventh extraordinary meridian had already been activated involuntarily.
“Someone’s intruding!” a loud shout erupted from halfway up the mountain.
A group of Yellow Lizards in yellow robes came rushing up from below.
They looked no different from ordinary humans, except for their yellow ears.
On their foreheads was a yellow circular mark with a six-pointed star carved inside.
“Who are you?” the leading Yellow Lizard said sternly. “Leave immediately, or die!”
“We’re here to rescue you,” Green Yun quickly said.
“To overthrow the Black Dragon’s rule and regain your freedom.”
The Yellow Lizards exchanged glances, and the leader frowned. “There are no Black Dragon Guards here. You should just leave.”
“What, same race and you won’t even invite us in for a meal?” Xu Zimo said.
“Who are you?” The Yellow Lizard leader finally took note of Xu Zimo and frowned.
“Let’s go up and take a look,” Xu Zimo said.
“Going forward means death,” the Yellow Lizard snorted and extended his hands, each fingertip bearing claws several dozen centimeters long, sharp and emitting a chill.
Xu Zimo looked up toward the mountain peak. He had a strong feeling that the source of the mist lay in that direction.
With a wave of his right hand, the Darksky Tiger stormed out from the void and stomped heavily on the ground.
Countless cracks split the earth, and the Yellow Lizards lost their footing, all collapsing to the ground.
The massive tiger’s head moved closer, its gaping maw exuding a fishy stench, stopping just a few centimeters from the Lizards.
“M-m-monster...” the Yellow Lizards huddled together, trembling in fear.
With the tiger clearing the way, Xu Zimo advanced toward the mountain peak with ease.
Some Yellow Lizard clansmen attempted to block the path, but the Darksky Tiger swatted them down the mountain effortlessly.
Xu Zimo noticed that the Yellow Lizards here all cultivated, and compared to the Green and Red Lizards, their strength was on a completely different level.
“Can you stop killing them?” Green Yun pleaded from the side, clearly disturbed.
“They’re the ones seeking death by blocking me,” Xu Zimo said coldly, glancing at her. “You should know your place.”
Green Yun nodded, not daring to speak further.
She suddenly felt that Xu Zimo was extremely cold at that moment.
As Xu Zimo continued upward, more and more Yellow Lizards tried to stop him.
But none were a match for the Darksky Tiger.
Just then, two distinct roars echoed from both sides of the mountainside.
A massive black panther and a black python coiled along the cliff appeared ahead.
“The Four Guardians?” Green Yun exclaimed. “Why are the Black Panther and Black Python here? Weren’t they guarding the Blue Lizards?”
“Looks like your intel isn’t so accurate after all,” Xu Zimo smiled. “Do you know where the Black Dragon Palace is?”
“Black Dragon Palace?” Green Yun shook her head. “No one knows. We can’t leave our territories. It’s a mystery.”
As the Darksky Tiger fought the Black Panther Xu Zimo walked up toward the peak without hesitation.
The two beasts tried to stop him, but it was futile.
As Xu Zimo neared the summit, the skies above the snowy mountain suddenly darkened.
Then came an earth-shaking dragon roar.
Thunder and lightning tore through the sky like a storm from hell. It felt like the entire mountain was about to be swallowed and destroyed.
A massive Black Dragon, carrying thunder and an overwhelming dragon’s might, emerged from the heavens.
A black storm swirled in the sky above, forming a vortex of devouring energy.
“Human, you should not have come here,” the Black Dragon King’s voice boomed like thunder.
“What is this mysterious power?” Xu Zimo said with some enjoyment, feeling the intensifying mist.
The Strange Meridian Sutra absorbed the mist, and with each meridian opened, his body transformed more and more.
“You can sense it?” The Black Dragon King looked at Xu Zimo in shock. “So, you’ve obtained that cultivation method too.”
“You mean the Strange Meridian Sutra?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Strange Meridian Sutra?” The Black Dragon King muttered, then said, “You humans sure know how to name things.”
“Looks like you know quite a bit,” Xu Zimo smiled.
“Human, since you’re here, you’re not leaving. Knowing too much won’t end well,” the Black Dragon King roared and lunged at Xu Zimo.
The enormous dragon head, brimming with thunderous might, lunged to devour Xu Zimo.
“You’re not qualified to be my opponent,” Xu Zimo said indifferently.
With a wave of his right hand, two dragons flew out from his God World.
One red, one blue, Twin Dragon Gods of Ice and Fire.
After being nurtured and cultivated on the God World, the Dragon Race had finally taken root and begun to flourish.
As the twin dragons appeared, their fusion of ice and fire suppressed the heavens. Their vast spiritual energy surged like a never-ending ocean.
The Black Dragon King’s head was smacked away by a single tail swipe.
“How... how is this possible?” The Black Dragon King stared in disbelief.
“Finish it,” Xu Zimo ordered, then walked up to the mountain summit.
Once at the peak, Xu Zimo closed his eyes, emptied his thoughts, and took a deep breath.
“I feel it... I can feel it. The source is right here,” he said.
Then, looking at the empty mountaintop, he smiled and said, “Still hiding? Do I have to blast you all out one by one?”
“Young man, arrogance leads to a bad end,” an aged voice echoed.
Then the space before him twisted, and four figures stepped out from the broken void with overwhelming presence.
Four elders, all wearing identical robes, though in different colors: red, blue, green, and yellow.
When the four elders appeared, Green Yun stood stunned.
She rubbed her eyes and stammered in disbelief, “T-the four Patriarchs?”