Early the next morning.
The people of Black Island had stayed up all night, expecting a fierce battle with the Dragon Emperor himself. Yet, as dawn broke, there was no sign of movement. After exchanging bewildered glances for a while, no one had any better ideas, and they could only turn to Yi Feng with respectful bows.
"Sir, the Sky Dragon Merman Clan must be exceedingly arrogant, which is why they disdain a night ambush. In my humble opinion, you should rest first. We have already sent scouts to monitor the surroundings within a thousand miles of the island."
"If there’s any movement, we will notify you immediately!"
Shi Tianchuan’s steady words immediately drew nods of agreement from the crowd.
At the forefront, the North Sea Emperor and the Sturgeon Dragon Celestial Emperor pretended to concur, chiming in with feigned sincerity.
"The island master speaks wisely."
"Sir, you must preserve your noble health. We will rely on you when the battle comes."
These two old foxes were cunning indeed.
They had already taken action earlier, and it wasn’t hard to guess that the Sky Dragon Merman Clan was likely terrified out of their wits!
A night ambush?
Even if Ao Budong were given ten thousand times the courage, he wouldn’t dare come!
Their minds were as clear as a mirror, yet they pretended ignorance, blending seamlessly with the island’s inhabitants as they advised Yi Feng. This was their brilliance.
Sometimes, playing the fool is the wisest move!
Having lived for so long, this emperor and celestial emperor had weathered countless storms. They understood the principle of going with the flow. Whatever Yi Feng intended to do with the Sky Dragon Merman Clan was beyond their speculation—they only needed to follow his lead.
Over tens of thousands of years, those who achieved greatness were never solely reliant on talent or cultivation. True geniuses were one in a million, not something mere effort could attain.
Compared to such monstrous talent, shrewdness and discernment could be honed—and were far more attainable for most on the path to enlightenment!
What good was brute strength alone?
In the vast journey of immortal cultivation, the most crucial thing was having an unshakable backer—knowing which side to stand on. Otherwise, even the most formidable cultivators would remain nothing but small-time thugs.
Like Ao Budong—a mere plaything in someone else’s hands!
The two exchanged a knowing glance.
Their eyes brimmed with silent amusement. Such truths needed no explanation. The glory of clinging to a mighty leg overflowed in their gazes, steady as an old dog.
Seeing everyone rise to persuade him, Yi Feng nodded solemnly.
"You make a fair point."
"It seems this Dragon Emperor is indeed proud, disdaining a night ambush. His cultivation must be formidable. For the battle ahead, we must all remain vigilant!"
The three sea clan leaders were the first to clasp their fists, obediently echoing his words.
"Sir speaks with great wisdom!"
Even if it was just lip service, they dared not show the slightest arrogance, wholeheartedly playing their roles in this charade until the very end.
To follow this man was an immense honor.
Whether it was acting to toy with the foolish Ao Budong or even playing house, they would gladly indulge!
Just as the group finalized their strategy—
Suddenly!
An urgent report came from outside the hall!
"Sir Yi Feng! Island Master!"
"Disaster has struck!"
"The Sky Dragon Merman Clan has appeared in full force—their numbers are unprecedented!"
The shockwave of the announcement sent the entire hall turning in alarm!
The North Sea Emperor and the Sturgeon Dragon Celestial Emperor were no exception, exchanging glances filled with disbelief.
Ao Budong actually came?
That shouldn’t be possible…
That old fool knew the three of them were on Black Island—yet he still dared to come courting death? Even if he was used to swaggering as the Dragon Emperor, he couldn’t be this stupid! Had he swallowed the courage of bears and leopards?!
Before they could make sense of this absurdity, Yi Feng had already strode out with fervor!
"I’ll go take a look!"
The two had no choice but to shelve their thoughts, following closely with the island’s inhabitants. The air of dawn already reeked of impending bloodshed—a great battle was about to erupt!
……
By the time Yi Feng stepped out of the grand hall and soared to the city gates, he saw a vast procession of mermen advancing in the distance. Stretching like an endless dragon, they kicked up clouds of dust, their imposing aura unlike anything before!
At a glance, the endless line numbered at least tens of thousands!
Even more striking were the mermen at the forefront.
Each wore resplendent armor, standing several zhang tall. Their golden radiance outshone even the morning sun, marking them as anything but ordinary!
Even from afar, many were awed by the majestic procession.
Shi Tianchuan’s expression turned grave as he whispered to Yi Feng with a bow.
"Sir, I’ve never seen such a display. The Dragon Emperor must be leading them personally. This battle will be perilous—please take care!"
His words sent a ripple of tension through the Black Island cultivators.
The sight of the towering mermen marching in disciplined formation, their dragon banners fluttering, filled them with overwhelming pressure. A life-and-death struggle was upon them!
Even the two sea clan leaders watched with growing suspicion.
This scale…
It truly resembled the grandeur befitting Ao Budong’s arrival!
Had that old fool lost his mind?
Knowing the three of them stood with the humans, he still led his entire clan to attack? They’d seen fools before, but never one who dragged his entire race into a pit of fire!
With such a pair of absurd father and son,
The Sky Dragon Merman Clan was truly beyond saving!
The two sea clan leaders sighed inwardly, but not a trace of their thoughts showed.
Stealing glances ahead, they saw Yi Feng standing calmly, his eyes gleaming with starlight, his aura profound and unfathomable. Even after witnessing it before, the pressure he exuded was immense.
Without hesitation,
They had already resolved in their hearts: if Ao Budong truly came seeking death, they would take the field themselves. First, to distance themselves from blame, and second, to demonstrate their loyalty.
Yi Feng hadn’t spoken—likely waiting for them to declare their stance!
Even if they pitied the Sky Dragon Merman Clan’s impending doom, survival took precedence now. They had no better choice!
Gritting their teeth, their reverence for Yi Feng deepened further.
However,
The "Sir Yi Feng" they perceived as inscrutable remained silent simply because he was mesmerized—utterly captivated by the spectacle of the approaching merman army!
Golden armor gleaming, dragon banners heralding their arrival!
Just a casual movement, and tens of thousands of clansmen followed in majestic unison!
Tsk tsk.
Now this was style.
The epitome of imperial grandeur, putting any historical drama to shame—no exaggeration!
Such flair was unmatched by anyone before!
Truly worthy of the mermen who dominated the East Sea!
Their actions might be despicable, but their power and presence were undeniable!
As the procession drew nearer, Yi Feng’s excitement grew.
When they halted less than a hundred zhang away,
The golden-armored mermen suddenly parted, forming two impeccable rows!
The dragon banners crossed overhead, creating a regal arched passage. Then, a deep, resonant drumbeat echoed like the roar of tidal waves, carrying the weight of ancient echoes!
"Boom! Boom!"
A terrifying pressure swept over the Black Island leaders, their fists clenching involuntarily.
In that instant,
Everyone held their breath, eyes locked on the noble figure emerging from the procession!
A long robe embroidered with golden dragons, hair and beard cascading like waterfalls.
Though his stature paled beside the towering mermen, he exuded an innate majesty, striding forward as if the world itself bowed before him!
The Dragon Emperor!
This was the legendary might of the Dragon Emperor!
The moment they caught sight of that majestic face, everyone's hearts leapt into their throats, nearly gasping out that terrifying title!
Yi Feng was especially overcome with excitement.
At last.
At last, he had laid eyes on the legendary Dragon Emperor—a truly domineering and ruthless figure!
Feeling the heavy breaths behind him,
Yi Feng's eyes also brimmed with solemnity. He quietly drew his Primordial Greatsword, his entire body burning with fervor, swept up in the tense atmosphere!
The Dragon Emperor, striding forward, had now stepped out from the ceremonial procession and halted.
Slowly raising his hands, he seemed to be gathering a terrifying, world-ending technique!
In an instant!
The Black Island magnates paled in horror, while the North Sea Emperor and the Sturgeon Heavenly Emperor secretly channeled their Great Dao power, ready to strike at any moment!
Yi Feng watched with rising excitement, gripping his greatsword and preparing to step forward into battle!
But then—
With a sudden thud!
The fearsome Dragon Emperor dropped to his knees on the spot, clasping his fists and declaring loudly:
"Ao Budong, Dragon Emperor of the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk, leads his entire clan to offer our deepest apologies!"
As his voice echoed across the tense city gates, no one reacted at first. Only their eyes widened in shock, disbelief and astonishment flooding forth like a tidal wave!
saw a female celebrity tied up and stuffed in the trunk! Little did he know, countless cameras were aimed at him at this moment - this was a new type of reality show. The first randomly selected passerby was caught in less than an hour. But when Xu Moru was selected, things started to take an unexpected turn. "Damn, this isn't how the script goes. This Xu Moru is too bold, he's not following the rules at all." "Crap, is this guy taking it seriously?" "The female celebrity has been scared to tears!"
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
