Chapter 1977 — The Mystic Empress’ Rampage

After hearing the Mystic Empress’ words, the Third Elder fell silent, no longer daring to utter another word.

Instead, he glared at Yuan with a hateful gaze.

’It was all because of that bastard! If he hadn’t shown up, we wouldn’t be in this situation!’

The Third Elder blamed everything on Yuan, who showed up out of the blue and purified their poison. Unfortunately, the only thing he could do was complain about it.

After scolding the Third Elder for his incompetence, the Mystic Empress returned her attention to Yuan and spoke calmly, "So, what do you think about my offer?"

"I’m flattered by it," he said. "Unfortunately, I cannot join the Mystic Sea Dragon Clan."

"What is the reasoning behind your decision?" The Mysic Empress asked with narrowed eyes.

"First of all, I don’t belong to the Azure Dragon Clan."

"What? Then why are you fighting for them?"

"They have something I want, and I am helping them to acquire it."

"In that case, wouldn’t it be better to fight for us? Besides the Tear of the Azure Heavens, I can help you get whatever you want after we defeat them."

"While that does make logical sense, I do not like to take things by force if I don’t have to. And while I enjoy fighting, I dislike needless bloodshed. Now allow me to tell you the second reason why I cannot join you."

"The Tear of the Azure Heavens that you’re looking for… it no longer exists."

"What are you talking about?" The Mystic Empress instantly frowned.

"It no longer exists because I took it and already absorbed it, so you wasted your time by coming here," Yuan said.

"..."

Everyone standing behind the Mystic Empress froze, dumbfounded by Yuan’s claim. A heavy silence followed as they exchanged uneasy glances with each other. If what Yuan said was true, they wasted an immense amount of time and resources.

The Mystic Empress trembled slightly before speaking in a low voice, "Tell me that you’re joking…"

Yuan shrugged and said, "We’ve already tried telling the Third Elder, but he didn’t want to believe us either. I’m sorry, but it’s true."

He extended his arm, and with a flicker of will, conjured a beautiful blue flame upon his palm.

"This is the Heaven-Freezing Flame that I acquired from consuming the treasure. You wanted it because you knew what it really was—the Heaven-Chilling Ice Phoenix’s heart, right?"

When the Mystic Empress saw the flames flickering above Yuan’s palms and heard his words, she trembled again and coughed up a mouthful of blood as numerous emotions surged through her being.

"M-Mystic Empress—!"

"YOU… HOW DARE YOU?!?!?"

The Mystic Empress suddenly let out a thunderous roar as her cultivation erupted uncontrollably, surging outward like a tidal wave.

The immense force of her outburst instantly swept through the ranks behind her, sending her own army reeling, even damaging many who were unable to withstand the immense power of her uncontrolled pressure.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?! WHAT I HAD TO SACRIFICE JUST TO GET HERE?!?!"

The Mystic Empress continued to scream, her voice laced with fury and anguish as her mind began to unravel, her composure quickly rumbling under the weight of rage and frustration.

"M-Mystic Empress! Please, you must calm yourself!" the God Ascension cultivators with her pleaded, their voices tinged with urgency and fear.

"CALM DOWN?!?!? CALM DOWN?!?!?!?!??!"

However, it only enraged her even further.

Yuan swallowed nervously. He knew it would anger her, but he never anticipated such a drastic reaction from the Mystic Empress.

"I’M GOING TO KILL YOU! I’LL KILL YOU ALL!"

Suddenly, the Mystic Empress shot toward Yuan with blinding speed—so fast that, though his eyes followed her movement, his body couldn’t react in time.

Her hand clamped around his neck like an iron vice, and in the next instant, she dragged him down in a streak of fury, slamming him violently into the ocean floor with a thunderous crash.

"I’ll get the Tear of the Azure Heavens even if I have to forcefully remove it from your body!"

Even as he was pinned to the ocean floor, Yuan tried to get the Mystic Empress off him by striking her with the Dragon God’s Vengeance. However, the difference in their Celestial Qi was simply too overwhelming for Yuan’s attacks to have any effect. It was akin to trying to break down a metal door with a toothpick.

Suddenly, two figures shot toward them before working together to remove the Mystic Empress from Yuan.

"Father! Mother!" Jiao Zhenhai exclaimed after seeing his parents’ arrival.

"Are you okay?" Jiao Longfei asked Yuan.

"Yes. Do you think you can hold her off for a minute?"

"A minute…? It’ll be difficult, especially when she’s like that, but we’ll try," said Jiao Xuanji.

The two of them were both at the fifth level of God Ascension realm, but even if they fought together, they wouldn’t be able to defeat the Mystic Empress.

"How dare you intervene! I’ll swallow all of you!"

In a flash of divine light, the Mystic Empress transformed into her true form—a majestic silver dragon, radiating an overbearing presence that shook the sea itself.

Not daring to underestimate her, Jiao Xuanji and Jiao Longfei responded in kind, assuming their dragon forms without hesitation.

Moments later, the three titanic beasts collided, and the sheer force of their clash unleashed violent currents in every direction, hurling nearby cultivators like leaves in a storm.

While that happened, Yuan ignored everything around him and focused his attention solely on the Dragon God’s Vengeance.

"Yeyou, I need your help. You’re the only one who can stop her rampaging," he sent his voice into the Soul Weapon, speaking directly to Dragon Goddess Yeyou.

"..."

However, there was no response.

"I know you’re upset, and I’m sorry, but I could really use your assistance here."

"..."

Yuan sighed and continued, "The Nine Dragon Symbols… I remembered our promise. Although we couldn’t fulfil it last time, let’s do it properly this time. I promise."

Though Dragon Goddess Yeyou didn’t speak, the Dragon God’s Vengeance began to tremble in response.