Volume Two: Mountains and Rivers Block the Path Chapter Twenty-Four: Siege

Lin Bai’s sudden action startled everyone present, including Lan Shan and Lan Sheng inside the Azure Golden Bell.

While everyone else was still caught off guard, Lin Bai immediately turned and flew toward the Azure Golden Bell, reciting an incantation as he went, intent on escaping inside to recover his strength. He was painfully aware that his father, the Dragon King, had already reached the first or second rank of the divine level during the ancient wars. If not for Fairy Lanling’s defiance of fate and Lord Zhuohua’s formidable artifact, which nearly brought the dragon clan to the brink of annihilation, his father would never have surrendered so easily. He also knew that reinforcements from the Cloud Palace were almost there. So, his immediate priority was to enter the bell, recuperate, and await the arrival of Kui the Wolf and the others.

Jiao Mu Jiao had barely finished his incantation when a gap appeared in the Azure Golden Bell. Anxious, he desperately tried to channel his true energy with the Calm Spirit Pearl, but having been battered by the hurricane array for so long, now under the sunlight, the pearl could not operate at full force immediately.

Just as Jiao Mu Jiao was about to enter the bell, a purple-clad youth with a sharp nose, monkey-like cheeks, narrowed eyes, and a face thick with powder leapt out from beneath the sea before him.

With a sinister grin, the youth’s fingers secretly triggered a mechanism—there was a bang, and a row of Soul-Piercing Nails shot forth, propelled by a wave of force from his palms, whistling straight for Lin Bai’s face.

Lin Bai had no choice but to strike three times through the air, using his energy to deflect the sudden attack. He then flipped backward, narrowly evading two punches from the purple-clad youth.

He had barely steadied himself when a tidal force like a mountain swept toward him from behind. Alarmed, Lin Bai turned to see two burly giants standing behind him, sealing off his escape from left and right. Each gripped a weapon, but their stance showed no intent to fight to the death.

Regaining his composure, Lin Bai addressed the two giants behind him, “Brothers of the An family, step aside.”

One of the An brothers replied with a troubled look, “Third Prince, don’t make it hard for us. Please return to the Dragon Palace with His Majesty.”

Lin Bai glanced at the enemies closing in from three sides, lowered his head, and laughed coldly, “It seems that, this time, I, Lin Bai, cannot escape fate.”

The purple-clad youth sneered, “Traitor of the dragon clan, without Zhuohua’s protection, let’s see where you’ll run this time!”

Suddenly, Lin Bai’s eyes widened with fury. He lunged forward and slapped the youth hard across the face, then returned to his spot before the stunned youth could react.

The purple-clad youth trembled with rage, much of the makeup on his face flaking off. He pointed a quivering finger at Lin Bai and cursed, “Lin Bai, you despicable wretch, how dare you strike me by surprise!” Then, turning, he wailed to Lin Xiaoyun, “Father, look! Third Brother is bullying me! You must stand up for me, Father!”

Lin Xiaoyun immediately changed his tone, his face plastered with a sycophantic smile as he placated the youth, “Don’t cry, Liu’er. Once I’ve bound that unfilial son and brought him back to the Dragon Palace, you can spank him yourself, alright?”

Lin Liu instantly grinned through his tears, pointing at Lin Bai and jeering, “Lin Bai, don’t get cocky. Just wait and see how I’ll deal with you!”

Lin Bai watched all this coldly, then spoke to Lin Xiaoyun with a touch of mockery, “Father, are you truly at ease letting that fool inherit the throne of the dragon clan?”

Lin Xiaoyun shouted in anger, “Wretch! How dare you speak so insolently! Do you have no sense of filial piety?”

Instead of anger, Lin Bai laughed, shaking his head as he addressed the Dragon King, “Back then, you believed every word your fourth consort said and pampered Lin Liu endlessly. Whatever he uttered, you took as truth, ignoring the countless words of your eldest and second sons, and myself. He’d slander his brothers at will—was there ever any filial piety in him?”

The Dragon King’s face darkened. He barked at the two giants behind Lin Bai, “An Chenlei, An Chendian! Why are you still standing there? Seize this traitor to the Dragon Palace at once!”

The An brothers exchanged glances, clasped their fists to Lin Bai, and said, “Third Prince, forgive us.” With that, they moved left and right to surround Lin Bai.

Lin Bai thrust his palms toward the sea, sending a surge of energy that launched him into the air. As he rose, he transformed into a dragon, circling once in the sky before fleeing westward.

Below, Lin Liu sneered and whistled piercingly. Two enormous black dragons burst from the clouds above, blocking Lin Bai’s escape. The dragons, their scales shining jet-black, barred his way with fangs and claws bared.

Lin Bai resumed human form and suddenly understood. “So that’s why I only saw An Chenlei and An Chendian just now. The other two of the An family’s Four Generals—Wind and Rain—were lying in wait above.”

The two black dragons raised their heads and howled, then transformed into human form. “Third Prince, forgive us. Please do not resist and return to Kunpeng Sea with His Majesty.”

Lin Bai, now calm, folded his hands behind him and said, “And if I refuse?”

The bearded An Chenfeng stepped forward, fist to palm, “The An family has served the royal house for generations. The king’s command cannot be defied. Third Prince, please do not make things difficult for us.”

Lin Bai sneered, “When I commanded the dragon clan’s elite guard, I trained you all myself. And now you turn on me—loyal warriors indeed.” His words brought a flush of shame to the two before him.

Below, Lin Liu grew impatient, shouting up at An Chenfeng and An Chenyu, “You two An family oafs, what are you waiting for? Bind Lin Bai and bring him here!” He then barked at An Chenlei and An Chendian below, “And you two fools, why aren’t you helping? If Lin Bai escapes, I’ll rip out the An family’s dragon tendons myself!”

At this, An Chendian’s blood boiled, and he nearly rushed up to argue with Lin Liu, but his three brothers restrained him. An Chenlei shook his head at his youngest brother and, pulling him along, leapt into the sky.

Lin Bai gestured at Lin Liu below. “So you’re content to risk your lives for that idiot? Old Lord An devoted his life to the dragon clan, only to end up like some discarded in-law. With such a heartless royal house, you still choose to serve?”

Though An Chenfeng harbored grievances at Lin Bai’s words, he still drew out a golden Dragon-Binding Rope and called, “Forgive me!” before lunging at Lin Bai.

Lin Bai sidestepped, swinging the Primordial Blade in a backhanded arc at An Chenfeng’s back. Hearing the blade whistle through the air, An Chenfeng twisted aside mid-flight, stretching the rope taut to block the blow.

Seeing this, An Chenyu had no choice but to assist his elder brother. Spreading his palms, he conjured two massive black hammers. Focusing his energy, he spun twice in the air before releasing them, sending the hammers hurtling toward Lin Bai’s back. At the same time, An Chenfeng kicked toward Lin Bai’s abdomen.

Just as Lin Bai was beset from both sides, Lan Shan unleashed two blades of energy, forcing back An Chenfeng, while Lan Sheng harnessed his power to arc the hammers back to An Chenyu.

Lin Bai, Lan Sheng, and Lan Shan formed a triangle, suspended in mid-air, surrounded on all sides—by the An family’s Four Generals, Lin Xiaoyun, Lin Liu, and even Li Tong and Li Da, who had just laid down Li Xian’s corpse and now glared with bloodshot eyes.

Trapped within the encirclement, Lin Bai asked, “Why didn’t you two take the chance to escape?”

Lan Sheng replied with righteous resolve, “We, of the Celestial Palace, can only die with honor, never live with disgrace.”

Lan Shan smiled, thinking, “Old Jiao, if you think you can ditch me and Zhuohua to die, it won’t be so easy.”

At that moment, Li Tong and Li Da, still grieving their brother’s death, roared in rage—one summoned a towering wave, while the other gathered countless bolts of lightning, both attacking ferociously. Instantly, heaven and earth changed color and a violent wind arose. The others hastily steadied themselves with their true energy.

Li Da shrieked, “Lin Bai, I’ll tear you limb from limb!”

A beam of golden light shone through a gap in the stormy clouds, gradually spreading until the entire sea was bathed in a peaceful, radiant hue. The waters calmed. From behind the clearing clouds, a group of figures appeared like scattered stars, drawing closer and forming a circular formation.

Their leader called down, “The Celestial Star Generals are here. Who dares act rashly?”