A red-haired woman stood suspended in the void, a crimson chain trailing from her hand. The chain seemed to stretch on endlessly, its length beyond measure, and at this moment it was coiled around the jiao dragon.
It was this chain that had restrained the jiao dragon, rendering all its struggles futile.
The jiao dragon had long since noticed the red-haired woman, but at first it hadn't considered her a threat whatsoever.
However, when the red-haired woman moved to block its attack, it realized that she was a genuine danger.
And so, its massive eyes—eyes as large as the sun—held no ferocity. Instead, they were filled entirely with desperation.
"I have no idea who Your Excellency might be, but I bear no grudge against you. Why would you attack me?"
The jiao dragon spoke, its voice shaking heaven and earth. Even Chu Feng and the others, standing far away, felt a violent impact on their eardrums when they heard it speak.
But in truth, its tone was deeply deferential—it was clearly admitting defeat.
"No grudge?"
"Just now, you attacked intending to capture those juniors, and among them were this deity's younger siblings. You say you bear no grudge against me?" the red-haired woman asked.
"My lady, as the saying goes, ignorance should not be held against one."
"Besides, your younger siblings were not harmed."
"If I offer some treasures as compensation, would Your Excellency be willing to let this matter go?"
As the jiao dragon spoke, one of its enormous scales opened, and several Universe Bags shot out from within.
The Universe Bags all radiated an ancient aura, clearly bearing the marks of ages past.
The Universe Bags landed in the red-haired woman's hand, and she collected them without hesitation. This gave the jiao dragon's enormous eyes a glimmer of hope.
She had accepted his offerings—perhaps there was still room for negotiation. After all, the treasures he had offered were no mere gesture; they were genuinely generous.
But when the red-haired woman spoke again, the light that had just surfaced in the jiao dragon's eyes was snuffed out completely.
"The Primordial Hidden Jiao—legend says it originated in the primordial era. Though it possesses the ultimate jiao bloodline, it is tormented by an obsession to transform into a true dragon."
"The reason for this obsession is that records speak of a Hidden Jiao from the primordial era that transformed into a true dragon. Its might surpassed that of ordinary true dragons, and for a time even many true dragons had to bow before it."
"Precisely because of this, true dragons began hunting Primordial Hidden Jios to prevent their transformation and the emergence of a great enemy."
"But there are also legends that when a Primordial Hidden Jiao reaches the final step of its transformation, its flesh, blood, and soul become a supreme tonic for true dragons. True dragons capture Primordial Hidden Jios to raise them, waiting until they reach that final step before consuming them."
"However, the Primordial Hidden Jiao earned its name because it possesses a unique concealment ability that even true dragons cannot detect—unless the Hidden Jiao reveals itself, it is virtually impossible to find."
"Therefore, even for beings as powerful as true dragons, capturing a Hidden Jiao is no easy task."
"In the ancient era, there was a Hidden Jiao that had already completed the jiao dragon transformation, needing only one more step to become a true dragon. All it lacked was an opportunity."
"But that opportunity eluded it, no matter how long it searched."
"Then it heard that those who possessed Celestial Energy could enter the Celestial Palace, where boundless opportunities awaited—and so the Hidden Jiao conceived a plan."
"As a mere demon jiao, it naturally could not gain the Celestial Palace's recognition. So the Primordial Hidden Jiao devised a scheme."
"It concealed itself outside a relic within the Celestial Palace that could bestow Celestial Energy, using its ability to hide completely, waiting for someone who could obtain Celestial Energy to appear—then it would seize it."
The red-haired woman gazed at the jiao dragon.
The jiao dragon's expression had become one of absolute terror. It roared, demanding: "Who exactly are you?!"
"This deity did not come here today for Celestial Energy. I came specifically for you."
"Because the legends are true. When a Primordial Hidden Jiao reaches the final step of transformation, its flesh and blood are indeed a supreme tonic for true dragons."
"This deity is currently weakened and in urgent need of recovery. Today, I will consume your flesh and devour your soul."
The red-haired woman's tone was calm—even a trace of joy could be heard in her words. She was... genuinely excited.
"You are from the True Dragon clan!!!"
A furious roar shook the heavens. And then, aside from that palace connected to the Celestial Palace...
The boundless mountains and the vast sky were all torn apart by several black lines—cracks!!!
The moment the cracks appeared, all things collapsed.
The land where they stood was swallowed by endless darkness.