Dragon Tamer

Chapter 144 - 145: The Siege of the Chess Master

When I was at the Dragon Taming Academy, none of the teachers mentioned that the main and secondary bloodlines could be converted.

“So, what aspect of the Divine Green Holy Dragon should I focus on strengthening next? It can’t just be about watering more frequently or applying more fertilizer, can it?” Zhu Minglang continued to ask.

“The Method of Driving requires a great deal of the Essence of the Wood Element. Those servings of Nanmu Juice you fed it before can only be considered water. What actually has effects is the Essence of the Wood Element. As for the nourishing resources for strengthening, it’s best to seek out Divine Tree fruits or the Holy Dew of Ten Thousand Woods. There’s still hope to raise the strength of your Divine Green Holy Dragon to the Monarch Level,” said Mr. Jinli.

Zhu Minglang grimaced.

Am I supposed to consume the Essence of Elements as regular sustenance?

This substance is used to fortify the spiritual resources of Dragon Sons and Dragon Generals, and yet, just moving up a level, it’s turned into mere sustenance!

But seeing the current state of the Divine Green Holy Dragon, Zhu Minglang felt that any expensive food was worth feeding.

He felt that Little Qingzhuo’s strength should now be on par with Little White’s!

Once Big Black Tooth’s set of Volcanic Dragon Armor is complete, all three of my dragons will possess Dragon Lord Level strength!

In this upcoming major power competition, I reckon there won’t be a need for the Sword Spirit Dragon to take action; I could sweep through those so-called big disciples of the major powers!

Moreover, with the enhancement of the Spirit Realm, the growth rate has reached twenty times faster. The time it takes for Little White to reach the Complete Period has been significantly shortened. There’s no need to wait for the annual celebration; she will likely evolve by winter!

The weather was still intensely hot.

But the Central Imperial City was as bustling as ever.

Today’s competition was no longer just preliminary selections, but rather for those who had already qualified to enter the second round.

Again, only a hundred people were allowed, and each power could only send in three contestants at a time.

With the Ancestral Dragon City-State of the Li Chuan Continent also integrating its competition into this major power clash, numerous golden tents could be seen on the walls of the Imperial Palace, and some major powers and members of the Royal Family began paying attention to this event.

As the initiator of the competition, Zhu Gate naturally became the focus. When Zhu Minglang emerged from the Daguan Pavilion, he could already feel the attention from those on the walls and inside the pavilion fixated on him.

Lu Bin from the Azure Dragon Palace also stepped out from the pavilion, heading straight towards Zhu Minglang.

“Brother, you must fight hard and avenge our sister!” shouted Fu Jinguo.

Lu Bin nodded.

When Lu Bin approached Zhu Minglang, he couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

His gaze swiftly swept over the individuals surrounding Zhu Minglang, sensing that something was amiss.

These people appeared to be standing idly in random spots, but they were actually choosing positions advantageous to themselves, yet they formed an encircling stance akin to a game of Go…

In Go, many of the pieces are placed in positions that seem unrelated to the current battle, appearing to serve no great purpose. However, as more pieces populate the board, they often create key synergies…

“Chess Sect’s Encirclement Strategy, are all these people targeting Zhu Minglang?” Lu Bin from the Azure Dragon Palace said in surprise.

Lu Bin had a good friend who was a member of the Chess Sect, who had discussed their methods with him.

In the eyes of a Chess Master, the battlefield is like a vast, real chess game, where every person on the field is one of their pieces.

If those under their command can stand on the designated spots in their line of sight on the board, even a group of untrained farmers armed with weapons can exhibit greater power than some elite soldiers!

This is the power of the Chess Sect’s Ordinary and Divine; the entire world is their chessboard, and all creatures are their pieces.

People of the Chess Sect often appear in the lands of war, with the Chess Sect present, it is common to witness them winning against the odds with fewer numbers…

However, what Lu Bin had not expected was that the people from the Chess Sect would appear here, and with a killing formation, they had trapped Zhu Minglang alone in a corner of the battlefield!

“Isn’t it that each force can only send a maximum of three members… How many forces have joined together to get Zhu Minglang directly eliminated?” Lu Bin stopped walking forward.

Originally, Lu Bin wanted to personally experience the skills of this young man who was once quite famous in the Supreme Court Imperial City by sparring with him.

But looking at this scene.

His going there would be taking advantage of someone’s precarious situation.

His enemies were already numerous enough!

Lu Bin’s gaze swept over the crowd and finally spotted a man with unusually bright eyes.

One of his pupils was black, and the other was white.

Just like the black and white stones on a Go board!

As for whether the battlefield he saw in his Spiritual Sense was also perfectly divided, and whether those who obeyed him were standing exactly on the positions of the battle formation, Lu Bin could not tell.

He had only carelessly stepped half a step in.

A chilling intent surged from nowhere, as if there were thousands of troops standing in that tiny area, wielding bloodthirsty weapons.

Strangers keep out, swords drawn and crossbows cocked.

In the end, Lu Bin from the Azure Dragon Palace still left the area of the killing formation, not wanting to muddy the waters.

Gazing at Zhu Minglang, Lu Bin couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity for the man.

Today, this young master from the Zhu Gate was likely in grave danger!

…

Zhu Minglang quietly waited for the judge to announce the start.

He had already felt the aggressive momentum surrounding him, but he was not very familiar with the Power of God and Mortality of the Chess Sect.

He only knew that these people were coming fiercely, and the position of each of them seemed to have been meticulously considered, making it impossible for him to overlook any one of them.

“Boom!!!!!!!!”

Finally, the second round of the tournament began.

Shouts rose from the spectators all at once.

Just from the Dragon Beasts summoned by each person, they were much more formidable than those from the previous days.

Some were as large as a small meaty hill, with robust physiques.

Some were shrouded in flames, lightning, flying stones, and golden light, all showing a degree of extraordinary.

Some Dragon Beasts appeared small and well-proportioned but exuded a nimble quality, and many had a somewhat eerie and strange charm, concealing who knows what unique skills…

Just looking at these Dragon Beasts was pleasing to the eye, not to mention the excitement of seeing them fighting and displaying their War Skills, Magic, and Profound Arts during combat, lighting up the entire battlefield like celebratory fireworks. How could that not be exciting?

Zhu Minglang was, in a sense, isolated and without support.

The round in which Nan Lingsha was competing did not coincide with Zhu Minglang’s.

So even though he knew that some of the forces were colluding dishonorably to take him out in this second round, Zhu Minglang currently had no one to aid him.

Fortunately, the profession of a Dragon Shepherd is not one to struggle alone.

Zhu Minglang summoned the Divine Green Holy Dragon.

As the seal opened, a green light bloomed like a giant orchid, highlighting the Divine Green Holy Dragon as it stepped out from the Spirit Realm.

The Divine Green Holy Dragon was of massive stature, standing tall like an ancient tree reaching for the sky.

When it spread its wings and soared, circling in the sky, it gave off an overwhelming presence as if it could block out the sun.

It could be said that the moment the Divine Green Dragon of Divine Wood made its appearance, it captured everyone’s attention. They watched in shock as this green dragon with divine wood attributes seemed to overpower all the Dragon Beasts present just by its appearance!

“Has anyone seen his Dragon Beast before??” In the Daguan Pavilion behind the curtain, a man dressed in the Imperial Brocade Robe furrowed his brows.

Hao Shaocong, at his side, stared in a stupor!

This Divine Green Holy Dragon…

Could it be of High-level Dragon Lord cultivation base!

Could it be that during the first round, Zhu Minglang was merely training other young dragons and didn’t reveal his true strength?

“Fortunately, we were prepared in advance. We had Gu Feijun from the Chess Sect set up the Tian Luo net. Otherwise, with this Holy Dragon, Zhu Minglang could have easily made it into the third round,” Zhao Xi said with a lingering fear in his heart.

“Hmph, it’s normal for a Dragon Shepherd to hide his strength. I want to see how he breaks through this Chess Sect’s Killing Array of Ten!” Zhao Yin Ge declared.

The Divine Green Holy Dragon looked down at the ancient bronze-colored earth. After circling for a while, it took the initiative to fly into the large group of Dragon Beasts targeting Zhu Minglang.

Its proud green vertical pupils swept over each Dragon Beast, and the slightly raised head, much like that of a divine deer, seemed to be challenging every opponent present.

Within the chess formation, there were ten people in total.

This formation, also known as the Killing Array of Ten, is generally used against the most heinous criminals to prevent them from escaping again—a powerful strategy.

Apart from the chess player Gu Feijun, the other nine members were all Dragon Shepherds. Each summoned two to three Dragon Beasts, with a few even summoning Lord-level Dragons!

Twenty or thirty Dragon Beasts stood within the chess formation, yet in the face of the Divine Green Holy Dragon, they did not dominate but seemed extremely cautious of the threat.

The bronze-colored battlefield ground softly undulated.

Some roots, like underground Rock Snakes, burrowed out from the hard soil, spreading densely. In just a few seconds, this area was covered with these squirming python roots…

The feathers on its body, iridescent like Liuli glass, brushed gently against the root-filled earth. Like enchanting seeds planted, these feather seeds began to grow rapidly under the illumination of the Divine Green Holy Dragon’s teal light.

From sprouting to robust trees, it all happened within mere seconds.

Rootstocks, wood buds, moss, and flowers quickly covered the ancient bronze battlefield. The green vines, unbeknownst when, had filled the rocky columns and were intricately intertwined above the ground, forming a massive vine canopy.

“Act now, we can’t wait any longer!” At this moment, the chess player Gu Feijun began to panic, urgently addressing the Dragon Shepherds within the chess board.

The longer the Divine Green Holy Dragon stood on this battlefield, the more the strength of the greenery would take over everything around it…

Prospering and thriving!

This was the Divine Green Holy Dragon’s natural talent from Divine Wood. No matter how barren the land, no matter how harsh the surroundings, its power of nature would convert any area into a scene of thriving life.

So even if not in a dense forest, the Divine Green Holy Dragon could still use its formidable power to drive all things!

Gu Feijun could see that their group was being trapped by an ever-growing dense forest, which only added to his anxiety.

“Moo!!!!”

The Barbaric Bull Flame Dragon!

That was a red barbaric dragon whose whole body was filled with scorching flames. It sported a pair of exaggeratedly huge, sky-piercing bull horns and its physique was no less formidable than the predators among ancient dragons.

Rude and wild with a flame-possessed body, the Barbaric Bull Flame Dragon seemed unstoppable as it charged towards the mountains!

It hurled itself at the Divine Green Holy Dragon, essentially becoming a colossal, rolling fireball.

The Divine Green Holy Dragon did not retreat. It remained standing in the area like a nest of python snakes, its green pupils dilating. Its Method of Driving was even mightier than before. A particularly fast-growing seed was seen shooting upwards at an accelerated pace, transforming into a towering silver fir!

The silver fir stood across the path of the rolling Barbaric Bull Flame Dragon. Suddenly, the silver fir came to life; its branches turned into wooden palms, one after another, all reaching out to embrace the chaotic Barbaric Bull Flame Dragon!

The Silver Fir Demon Guard possessed immense strength and managed to halt the Barbaric Bull Flame Dragon’s onslaught. Its bark, branches, and leaves were unafraid of the flames, showing no signs of igniting no matter how the Barbaric Bull Flame Dragon spewed fire.

Essence of Water and Wood Element!

Witnessing the Silver Fir Demon Guard’s indifference to fire, Zhu Minglang immediately realized something.

No wonder Mr. Jinli needed the Essence of Water and Wood to complement the Yinsu Sacred Dew. On one hand, it allowed the Holy Dew to be absorbed more efficiently; on the other hand, it bestowed the wood attribute with the moisturizing effect of water, protecting it from the suppressive power of intense flames!

The strength of the Silver Fir Demon Guard was leagues beyond the tree spirit guards. The barbaric bull was lifted by the Silver Fir Demon Guard and hurled towards another Giant Frost Dragon!

Without lifting a finger, the Divine Green Holy Dragon had severely wounded two formidable dragons.

But soon, more dragon beasts charged forward, some heading straight for the Divine Green Holy Dragon, others targeting Zhu Minglang.

Zhu Minglang glanced at the vicious dragons assaulting him and sneered, about to command Little White to strike.

However, a beam of green light appeared before Zhu Minglang, striking the soil where a seed had been buried unnoticed. That very seed rapidly expanded and grew, swiftly turning into a gargantuan silver fir tree!

The Silver Fir Giant Tree came to life, standing protectively in front of Zhu Minglang. It swung its immensely thick wooden arms, throwing a punch that sent the vicious dragons targeting Zhu Minglang flying onto the vine umbrella!

Little White’s claws were ready to launch an attack, but upon witnessing this scene, it silently withdrew them and resumed its perch on Zhu Minglang’s shoulder, with its bright and shiny eyes examining the Silver Fir Giant Demon Guard.

Zhu Minglang too was left with his mouth agape in amazement at the Divine Green Holy Dragon’s Method of Driving.

This Silver Fir Giant Demon Guard might have reached the strength of the Lord Level.

He had consumed so much Yinsu Sacred Dew over the previous decade, yet it only granted the Divine Green Holy Dragon the ability to command tree spirit guards.

Now, having consumed the century-old Yinsu Sacred Dew, the effects were immediate. Not only did the Divine Green Holy Dragon’s Method of Driving improve significantly, but it was also able to summon a Silver Fir Demon Lord with the power of a lower-level Sovereign right away!

What’s the big deal with feasting on the Essence of Wood Elements?

Zhu Minglang now profoundly understood that the Essence of Wood Elements was not overpriced at all!

The talent for thriving growth was still ongoing.

Waves of green light rippled from the Divine Green Holy Dragon, spreading out in concentric circles. The seeds of the Silver Fir Demon Guards buried in the soil continued to grow.

Roots, sprouts, branches, tendrils, and moss were still invading, as a mysterious ancient forest was taking shape…

Chess Master Gu Feijun had begun to panic!

His formation should have been encircling to kill…

But now the forest vegetation was covering his vast formation, shrouding it.

In turn, it was they who seemed to be trapped inside this rapidly growing thicket maze!