Chapter 247 The Dragon Assault
Long Tian stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the ruins of the Liu family's residence. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, mingling with the drizzling rain, casting an ominous atmosphere over the scene.
Surveying the devastation around him, he observed other houses reduced to rubble, adding to the grim tableau.
"Where are you, Qian'er?" Long Tian muttered, his brow furrowing with concern.
He proceeded cautiously towards the remnants of the house, once a grand structure now reduced to debris. Among the wreckage, he spotted remnants of plants and vials of potion samples, remnants of Liu Hai's laboratory, now destroyed.
Anxiety crept into Long Tian's expression. "I hope you're all safe, Mr. Liu, Mrs. Alexia," he murmured under his breath.
After a moment of silence, he squared his shoulders, preparing to depart.
"Hey you!" a sudden shout pierced the air, causing Long Tian to freeze in his tracks.
He turned sharply, searching for the source of the voice. His eyes settled on three figures rapidly approaching him.
As they drew nearer, the figures clarified into two middle-aged men and one elderly individual, all clad in the attire of cultivators.
One of them furrowed his brow. "Why are you still lingering here? Seek refuge in a safer location," he advised with concern.
Long Tian's demeanor remained composed as he replied, "I've come to lend assistance, representing the Long family."
His statement caught the trio off guard. "The Long family? Are they aiding in this crisis as well?" the elderly man inquired.
"Hmm, I overheard discussions at another dragon attack site mentioning the involvement of the Long family. Seems like there's truth to it," the middle-aged man beside him remarked.
The elderly man nodded thoughtfully, then appraised Long Tian, sizing him up.
Though his initial impression might have been to underestimate, the Long family boasted a storied history of formidable descendants, and Long Tian appeared to be no exception.
"Very well, it would be impolite if we didn't introduce ourselves. I'm Yu, representing the Wuxia sect. And these gentlemen beside me are Jian and Yang. Like yourself, we've come to combat the soul beasts," he introduced, extending a hand in camaraderie.
Long Tian nodded in acknowledgment. "I'm Long Tian," he reciprocated the introduction.
Yu nodded in return. "Alright, Long Tian, the three of us are en route to the portal's location with the intention of entering it. We'd be glad to have you join us. Of course, the decision is yours, and if you prefer, you can continue battling the soul beasts here," he offered.
Pondering the proposition, Long Tian gently stroked his chin. While his initial objective was to locate Liu Qian and her family, the possibility of their entrapment within the portal seemed plausible upon reflection.
"Is it feasible to enter the portal?" he inquired.
This time, Yang fielded the question. "Indeed, several esteemed members of our sect and academy have ventured in, yet none have returned," he confirmed.
Long Tian nodded resolutely. "Then let's proceed there," he affirmed.
With unanimous agreement, Yu and his companions nodded in assent, signaling their departure from the current location as they set off towards the portal's whereabouts.
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Meanwhile, in another location, a group of about 30 individuals stood in awe, their eyes fixed on the spectacle unfolding before them.
Amidst the chaos of flames, billowing smoke, and swirling dust, a remarkable sight captivated their attention.
About 20 people were fighting a dragon. Their attacks were so coordinated that the dragon, which had previously overwhelmed everyone, could be handled by these 20 people.
They were none other than Long Gongyu and the young members of the Long and Xia families, working together to fight the 30-meter dragon.
The intensity of the battle was palpable, evident in the injuries sustained by some of the combatants, with a few bearing severe wounds. Nevertheless, their perseverance bore fruit as the dragon too displayed signs of injury, particularly in its legs.
Under the strategic direction of Long Gongyu, the group deliberately targeted the dragon's limbs, aiming to incapacitate the creature. Already, they had successfully rendered two of its legs useless.
"RAAAAAAARGH!" A thunderous roar erupted from the dragon, releasing a strong aura that knocked everyone back.
Yet, while everyone was knocked back, one member of the Xia family, Xia Feng, drew his bow and suddenly an arrow formed from concentrated blue energy.
His eyes narrowed as he aimed at the dragon. With steely determination, he released the arrow, propelling it toward the dragon with unparalleled speed.
Despite the creature's roar, the arrow found its mark, piercing the dragon's eye.
Yet, the dragon remained unfazed, seemingly unaffected by the attack.
The next moment, the arrow suddenly turned into gas, spreading into the dragon's head, causing it to stop roaring and shake its head.
Xia Feng reflexively shouted, "Attack now!" so loudly that everyone heard him.
Long Jin and three others quickly moved to the dragon. One of them leaped high into the air and raised his hand, creating concentrated purple energy in his hand that grew larger every second.
While Long Jin and the other two were still running, he threw the concentrated energy at the dragon.
The energy shot out very quickly and hit the dragon's leg, causing it to burst and become liquid that enveloped the dragon's leg.
While the dragon was still disturbed by Xia Feng's arrow, Long Jin and the other two were already in front of the dragon's right leg, each holding a weapon.
They promptly attacked the dragon's leg mercilessly, showing no mercy.
Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!
The sound of sword slashes sounded like an endless attacking melody. Although they knew the dragon's skin was very tough, they didn't give up on attacking it continuously.
Their efforts could be seen from their seriousness and sweating profusely. A few seconds were the only chance they couldn't miss.
Slash!
The dragon's leg was successfully torn, creating a long gash!
The dragon widened its eyes in pain.
"RAAAAAARRRRGH" the dragon roared loudly despite still being affected by Xia Feng's arrow, thrashing around.
But Long Jin and the others didn't flinch and continued attacking the dragon's right leg. This was actually a crucial time, attacking the wound to inflict more pain.
Slash!
Another slash that widened the dragon's wound!
The dragon lost its balance and eventually lost the function of its right leg, making three of its legs useless, causing it to almost fall but still able to support itself on one remaining leg.
The cultivators looked on in awe, especially at the unity of the Long and Xia families as they faced the dragon, proving the effectiveness of their attacks. Not to mention Long Gongyu's guidance.
The dragon's eyes flashed with anger, and fire spewed from its mouth, spraying downwards, immediately causing Long Jin and the others to scramble to save themselves.
The fire appeared like an Inferno waterfall, instantly scorching the ground.
As others retreated, Long Gongyu defiantly advanced toward the dragon, his presence radiating a palpable red aura of menace.
His eyes blazed with a fiery red hue, capturing the attention of all those present, who watched in anticipation to see what the esteemed Grand Elder of the Long family would do next.
With a graceful leap, Long Gongyu ascended into the air, drawing the gaze of onlookers as he soared higher.
In flight, his aura intensified, taking on a deep, ominous shade of blackish-red.
In an instant, his form underwent a remarkable metamorphosis. His flesh gave way to the resilient scales of a dragon, his stature expanding dramatically, while his appendages morphed into draconic limbs adorned with razor-sharp talons. His countenance shifted, assuming the fierce visage of a dragon with piercing crimson eyes. Towering wings unfurled from his back, casting a daunting shadow that blanketed the sky, completing his transformation into a magnificent black dragon!