“My father is the Mountain Lord of Grand Heaven Mountain. Are you sure you want to fight me?” Xu Zimo looked at Zhang Erhe and asked.
“You’re Lin Qiu, Young Master Lin?” Zhang Erhe instantly realized.
Then he smiled and said, “Your brother is actually a guest at my residence right now. Looks like this is a misunderstanding between allies.”
“He’s him. I’m me. Still want to fight?” Xu Zimo asked again.
“No need for that. We’re all from the same sect, nothing that can’t be talked out,” Zhang Erhe laughed.
Then he turned to Zhang Zehao and said, “Zehao, greet your Senior Brother Lin.”
“Greetings, Senior Brother Lin,” Zhang Zehao said politely, cupping his fists.
Seeing Xu Zimo’s cold attitude, Zhang Erhe smiled again and said, “Then I won’t bother you anymore, Young Master Lin. You’re always welcome at my mansion.”
As Zhang Zehao and his group left, Jiang Changsheng snorted coldly.
“Bullies who fear the strong,” he said.
“That man is deep and calculating. Honestly, I kind of wish he’d actually fought,” Xu Zimo shook his head.
After saying goodbye to Chu Shanhe and her brother, Xu Zimo and Jiang Changsheng headed for Blue Moon Pool.
Meanwhile, after leaving, Zhang Zehao looked unhappy and asked, “Father, why are you afraid of him? He’s just some useless rich kid. We’re not even part of Grand Heaven Mountain. What can he do to us?”
“You don’t get it,” Zhang Erhe said, eyes thoughtful. “Even if you join Nine Heavens Sect and become part of Jade Heaven Mountain, power struggles among the higher-ups are complicated. There’s no need to create enemies for nothing.”
Then he looked at the old man beside him and asked, “Elder Qing, what do you think?”
“You’ve peaked. Being City Lord of Bright Moon is already your limit. Enjoy your current life. Don’t push too hard,” the old man replied calmly.
…
Blue Moon Pool lay ten miles outside Bright Moon City.
It was the only dangerous place in the area.
Rumor had it that a thousand-year-old green flood dragon lived here. It used to attack travelers centuries ago, but had been quiet in recent years.
Xu Zimo and Jiang Changsheng walked for half a day to reach it.
They found it nestled in a small forest, with trees growing tightly around the pool.
It was early summer, so the forest was lush and full of life.
The area was eerily quiet, not a single bird in sight. Only the blazing sun overhead broke the silence.
“Senior Brother, let’s just go. There’s nothing to see here,” Jiang Changsheng said.
“What are you so scared of? Don’t be a coward,” Xu Zimo replied.
“I’m not a coward, I’m cautious,” Jiang Changsheng argued. “You know why my name is Changsheng? Because I want to fulfill my grandfather’s wish and live a long life.”
“You’ll be fine if you stick with me,” Xu Zimo said, walking into the forest.
Inside, it was cooler and calmer.
Not long after, they heard water flowing nearby.
They followed the sound and soon found a pool about several dozen square meters in size, filled with clear, greenish water.
Smooth pebbles lined the bottom.
In the middle of the pool stood a large tree, thick, tall, and very old.
“Go to the edge and yell. Let’s see if the dragon comes out,” Xu Zimo said.
“I thought we were just looking! Why call it out?” Jiang Changsheng asked, panicking.
Xu Zimo smiled, picked up a big rock, and threw it into the water.
With a loud bang, water splashed everywhere.
But the surface quickly calmed again, no movement at all.
“Maybe it’s gone?” Jiang Changsheng said, puzzled.
“Or maybe it’s just ignoring us,” Xu Zimo replied. Then he picked up another rock and threw it at the giant tree in the center.
Before the rock could hit the tree, it was smashed midair by a tail.
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from the bottom of the pool, and the water erupted skyward like an explosion, spraying hundreds of feet high.
“We’re screwed!” Jiang Changsheng yelled, trying to run.
But the water split into sharp arrows, shooting at him. He had no choice but to dodge and defend.
Xu Zimo looked up. A massive creature had emerged from the pool.
It was a real flood dragon, nearly 100 meters long.
Its tail was bare, and its scales were deep green, lined up like armor.
Most terrifying of all, it had two heads. Its mouths were narrow and sharp, with hair running from its necks to its heads.
Both heads had cold, piercing eyes and roared, spitting thunder and wind.
“Humans. Are you looking to die?” the dragon said in a cold voice.
“Senior Brother, you’ve killed us,” Jiang Changsheng muttered in despair.
“Changsheng,” Xu Zimo said calmly, eyes locked on the dragon, “do you remember what you told me when we left the mountain?”
Jiang Changsheng looked at him, his calm, unshaken posture in front of the dragon.
Something felt different about Xu Zimo, but he couldn’t say what.
“I… what did I say?” Jiang Changsheng stammered.
“Let me remind you,” Xu Zimo replied softly. “Life is like a play. Don’t believe everything your eyes see.”
“What do you mean?” Jiang Changsheng asked in confusion.
Right then, a powerful aura erupted from Xu Zimo’s body.
Before Jiang Changsheng could react, Xu Zimo shot into the sky at a speed too fast for the eye to follow.
Next moment, the massive dragon was slammed down from the sky and crashed to the ground with a deafening boom.
It sounded like a huge earthquake. The dragon let out a pained scream as the earth cracked beneath them.
Xu Zimo grabbed its tail and began to spin it in a full circle.
Boom boom boom, explosions echoed as the dragon was repeatedly slammed into the ground.
By the time Jiang Changsheng recovered from the shock, Xu Zimo had already pinned the dragon by its neck.
No matter how it struggled, it couldn’t escape.
“Se… Senior Brother,” Jiang Changsheng stuttered, eyes wide in disbelief.
“In the Four Regions of the Eternal Lands, there are countless so-called geniuses,” Xu Zimo said. “I ask them all, can any of you withstand one punch from me?”
With that, he brought his fist down like a hammer, smashing it into the dragon’s head with unstoppable force.