C129 Scarlet Flame Dragon

With Purple keeping it occupied, Ning Qi launched a frenzied assault from behind. The HP of the Scarlet Flame Dragon plummeted at a rate visible to the naked eye. At that moment, the chieftain of Grey Wolf Village managed to stand with the assistance of his aides. Witnessing the scene, he was so astonished that his mouth hung open slightly.

"Where did this guy come from? Does he not realize the dire consequences of provoking the Dragon Clan?" the chieftain remarked icily.

"Chief, let's not bother with him. I'm confident Lord Chi Yan will deliver a harsh lesson," a robust young man at the chief's side suggested.

"Indeed. This fool, thinking he can act recklessly just because he has a demonic pet. The Dragon Clan is not something mere insects can challenge," the village chief agreed, nodding.

His gaze towards the Scarlet Flame Dragon brimmed with confidence and zeal.

To the onlookers, Ning Qi seemed to be prancing about like a jester. The true source of damage appeared to be Purple, but only the Scarlet Flame Dragon itself understood the immense harm the Dragon Devourer Hellfire inflicted upon it.

"You're down to your last 30,000 HP. Still feeling cocky?" Ning Qi taunted with a boisterous laugh, leaping aside.

The massive tail of the Scarlet Flame Dragon crashed down where Ning Qi had just stood, splitting the earth and leaving scorched traces.

"Curse it, that accursed Dragon Devourer Hellfire!"

The Scarlet Flame Dragon had never experienced the Dragon Devourer Hellfire before and had always believed Ning Qi's ability to inflict such significant damage was its own doing. Yet, it overlooked the Dragon Slaying Blade and Dragon Slaying Battle Power in Ning Qi's possession.

At this critical juncture, Purple's HP had dwindled to a perilous level. Its Haemal Strand was significantly shorter than that of the Scarlet Flame Dragon. Ignoring the intense Alien Flame scorching the dragon's hide, Ning Qi sprang forward, climbing up to its neck where a vital reverse scale lay exposed.

"Warning! The host is enduring the onslaught of the Scarlet Flame, losing 1,000 HP every second!"

Ning Qi popped a High-grade Earth Rank Revival Pill into his mouth and, with a swift motion, slashed at the Scarlet Flame Dragon's vulnerable reverse scale.

The Scarlet Flame Dragon, sensing its life hanging by a thread, unleashed its latent power in a desperate bid for survival. With a ferocious thrash, it sent Purple flying, who crashed heavily to the ground.

But Ning Qi, even as he was hurled through the air, managed to plunge the Dragon Slaying Blade into the dragon's vulnerable scale.

"Roar! Cursed insect!"

A damage value of 25,000 erupted above the Scarlet Flame Dragon's head, and its HP plummeted. It writhed in agony, charging at Ning Qi. Its teeth nearly grazed Ning Qi's head when the Haemal Strand above it emptied, signaling its defeat as the colossal body thundered to the ground.

Ning Qi's hand blazed with Dragon Devourer Hellfire, pressing it against the dragon's head. Soon after, a dragon shadow, invisible to the ordinary eye, was absorbed into the flames.

Feeling the Dragon Devourer Hellfire's might surge by over 30%, Ning Qi was confident that it wouldn't be long before he ascended another rank.

"Host, congratulations on your victory over the Fifth Rank Mid-grade Demon Beast, the Scarlet Flame Dragon. You've earned 180,000 experience points. With a 1.5x bonus for defeating a higher-ranked monster, your total comes to 270,000 experience points. Since you've yet to complete your advancement mission, these points will be stored."

"Host, congratulations on acquiring 500 Dragon Slaying Coins!"

"Host, congratulations on receiving the Gambling Gift Bag. Please open it within 24 hours."

Ning Qi glanced at his stats and grinned with satisfaction.

Host: Ning Qi

Rank: Peak Grand Battle Master

Experience: 500,000 / 500,000 (Stored Experience Points: 370,000)

Cultivation Technique: Dragon-shape Prajna Arts, Fourth Level, 45 / 100,000

Martial Technique: Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, Fourth Level, 19,000 / 100,000; Profound Rank Supreme Five Tiger Broken Door Blade, Third Level, 8,000 / 10,000

HP: 112,700

Alchemy: Fourth Rank Alchemist, Proficiency 100 / 1,000,000

Dragon Slaying Coins: 44,200

With a slight improvement in his skills and martial techniques, and an additional 500 Dragon Slaying Coins to his name, Ning Qi was content.

Meanwhile, the people of Grey Wolf Village watched in stunned silence. They couldn't fathom how the revered Scarlet Flame Dragon had been slain by a member of the Human Clan, just like themselves.

"Is Lord Chi Yan dead, Village Chief?"

A young man asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

The chief's face, already gaunt, now resembled that of a mummy freshly risen from the grave. He remained silent, not answering his subordinate's question, as his own mind was in turmoil.

After Ning Qi fed Purple a Spiritual Nourishment Pill, he tucked the creature safely into the Pet Space. He then turned to address the people of Grey Wolf Village with a stern gaze. "As members of the Human Clan, your actions are disgraceful. Offering a child as a sacrifice to the Dragon Clan is the height of cruelty. You've lost all sense of morality. Now, leave!"

"Sir, to kill a member of the Dragon Clan within the Shanhai Realm is an unforgivable sin. Mark my words, you'll meet an unmarked grave within days!"

The Village Chief of Grey Wolf Village dropped this chilling threat before leading his people away. To his rage, he noticed that at least thirty villagers remained rooted to the spot.

"What are you doing?" he demanded icily.

"We won't follow you anymore. You've never sacrificed your own children!"

"That's right, if we go back to the village with you, our children are sure to die!"

Those who stayed were the villagers whose children had been offered up as sacrifices. They looked towards the departing chief with a mix of anger and fear, instinctively drawing closer to Ning Qi, clutching their children.

The Village Chief of Grey Wolf Village let out a scornful laugh. "Fine! You'll regret this!" With that, he and his followers swiftly departed.

"You all should leave as well," Ning Qi said, gesturing dismissively to those who remained.

But they stood as if rooted to the ground. A middle-aged man, holding the child who had narrowly escaped the jaws of the Scarlet Flame Dragon, knelt before Ning Qi with his wife by his side.

"Benefactor, would you consider becoming our village chief?"

"What? Me, your village chief? Are you out of your minds?" Ning Qi responded, incredulous.

One by one, the others knelt as well, pleading with Ning Qi to take on the role of village chief and protect them.

Ning Qi weighed the situation. It was a thankless job, and though he felt sympathy for these people, he had pressing matters to attend to and couldn't possibly stay to lead them.

"Please, just go. I have no intention of becoming your village chief."

Ning Qi waved his hand resolutely.

"We've left Grey Wolf Village behind and have nowhere else to turn. Please, have compassion and help us!"

"I get it. You think I'm a good guy and decided to stick to me? Well, I'm telling you, get moving and leave!"

Ning Qi's voice was icy.

Seeing this, a look of utter despair crossed the faces of the others as they slowly rose to their feet.

"Where can we possibly go, husband? Maybe we should go back to Grey Wolf Village?"

The woman next to the middle-aged man spoke with uncertainty.

"We can't go back. The old village chief is unforgiving, and we've betrayed him. If we return, we might not be killed by a Demonic Beast, but he will surely torment us beyond recognition! We must leave the Shanhai Realm. I've heard that beyond it lies a kingdom of the Human Clan, free from the dominion of the Dragon Clan."

The middle-aged man first shook his head, then a resolute look appeared in his eyes.