STNS: Chapter 555 (Patreon)

Wu Jian entered the vast, circular chamber alongside Wu Meiying and Hou Jingshu. There were no visible pillars in this room. The ceiling was instead suspended by formations that bent space. Wu Meiying had made these with Wu Jian’s help. It seemed they were an old formation that one of his previous incarnations had taught her. Fifteen thrones sat arranged in a circle around a glowing yin-yang platform.

This room had been built recently, within the last year, and it had been the last building they had created. It was simply known as the meeting hall, though he’d heard some people refer to it as Dragon Palace. He didn’t think it made sense. This place was just where the dragon clans met to discuss important issues.

Each leader of the dragon clans were already present. They stood up as he, Wu Meiying, and Hou Jingshu entered the room. All of them placed their right hands against their left breasts and bowed in respect.

While it wasn’t official, Wu Jian and Hou Jingshu were considered the de facto leaders of the twelve dragon clans. Hou Jingshu was the descendant of their ruler, the great Qinlong, who had ascended to the heavens long ago. While she had been weak before, she had quickly grown in strength and now stood among the most powerful people here. Wu Jian, despite not being a dragon, had killed the former Azure Dragon’s clan leader and defeated just about every dragon clan leader in single combat. He had proven his strength. So despite having the blood of Byakko, they granted him due respect.

Wu Meiying was the odd one out.

She had not earned respect through combat but cunning.

Dragons were not only symbols of strength but also wisdom, and Wu Meiying had proven herself to be exceedingly wise in matters of both governance and proactive protection. Thanks to her clairvoyance, the dragon clans had managed to avoid being overtaken after the Azure Dragon Clan’s defeat at Wu Jian’s hand. Every member of the Azure Dragon Clan, from the elders to the leader had been killed. They were the strongest among all the dragons. Their deaths had left a huge power vacuum that many magical beasts had tried to capitalize on. It was only thanks to Wu Meiying’s guidance that they had managed to avoid the worst. Better still, the dragons remained near the top of the foodchain in the Da Continent.

The Da Continent had no kingdoms, sects, or formal political alliances like the Xaio Continent. As a land ruled by magical beasts, its power hierarchy was determined by bloodline strength, cultivation level, and raw dominance. No nations. No sects. Only power.

While there were no kingdoms or sects, there were magical beast families and clans. These families formed factions and took control of various territories. Among the many magical beasts, there were four families that controlled the largest and most dangerous territories. Their influence was absolute within their regions. While the borders were ever-shifting due to power struggles, internal conflicts, and the like, these four families continued to reign supreme.

The Twelve Dragon Clans.

The Heavenly White Tiger Clan.

The Tortoise Clan.

The Vermillion Bird Clan.

It made sense that they were among the most powerful. Each one was born from the progenitors of their species, the Four Auspicious Beasts, who had all ascended to the heavens after achieving godhood--according to legend. Among these four great families, the Twelve Dragon Clans held the largest amount of territory.

“Everyone, sit down,” Wu Meiying said, and everyone followed her orders.

Wu Meiying was known by many as The Advisor due to the number of disasters she had helped avert. When she spoke, everyone listened.

Of course, there were a few who disliked her because she was human, and some who coveted her beauty. Many of those people were squashed by Wu Jian. Magical beasts were territorial. This didn’t just extend to actual land but people too, and because this was a world where strength ruled everything, if someone was stronger than you, they could claim you for themselves. Wu Jian had claimed Wu Meiying as his at the first sign of someone else coveting her. Now, nobody among the dragon clans dared to touch her.

“I’ve called this meeting to let you all know of something important that has happened,” Wu Meiying began. “The Xaio Continent, and more specifically, the Zhou Clan, has finally sent people into the Da Continent. Several of our guardsmen found a pair of humans wandering through Azure City. One of them was killed, but the other was apprehended. Due to circumstances, we cannot kill him, so we have him restrained with seals. He will be confined for the rest of his natural life.”

“Why can’t we kill him?” asked one of the dragon clan leaders.

He was a mountain of a man with a strong jawline, eyebrows like swords, and a thick beard of yellow hair. His masculine appearance was complimented by his short, spikey hair that appeared to crackle with electric discharges every few seconds, and he had eyes that pulsed as he spoke. While his clothes were simple, they were made from expensive fabrics. The only accessory he had was a golden necklace that dangled around his chest.

His name was Fēngbào Fènnù. The name meant “raging storm” in the ancient tongue. He was not only one of the clan leaders here, but also one of the men who had coveted Wu Meiying. In fact, he was the person who had forced Wu Jian to stake his claim on her. This man had foolishly challenged Wu Jian for the right to bed Wu Meiying and had gotten the snot beaten out of him. He’d been beaten so badly that it had taken him two weeks to physically recover even with his enhanced dragon strength. Nothing could be said for the mental scars, however. This man was now so afraid of Wu Jian that even a slight glare from him caused the other man to wilt like a flower without water.

“Because if we kill him, then our enemies will know where I am,” Wu Meiying said simply.

Fēngbào Fènnù went silent. He looked like he might have something to say, but one look at Wu Jian changed his mind. He slowly leaned back into his seat as though trying to make himself invisible.

“What are we going to do about this?” asked someone else, leaning forward. “I assume you have a plan?”

The person who had spoken was Bai Fei. She was an ethereal beauty with features that were both sharp but also delicate, as though she’d break at the slightest touch but also stab you. Her almost translucent skin had a pearlescent shimmer that complimented her silver and sapphire robes well. She had long silver horns that parted her equally silver hair. Both contained a beautiful, almost otherworldly glow, as though power was constantly radiating from her hair and horns.

She was the leader of the frost dragons, and also one of only two female leaders.

“I do, though I’d been hoping for more time,” Wu Meiying confessed. She pressed her hands upon the table. “We’ll be leaving soon. The enemy has found us. Even though we captured them before they could send word, one of them was killed, which means more will come. All the members of the dragon clan will remain here for now. Wu Jian, Hou Jingshu, Zhou Lihua, Youmei, and I are going to gather at least one more clan of allies. Then we’ll head back to the Xaio Continent and summon you all there.”

***

While Wu Meiying often pondered things deeply, once she had all the information she needed, she acted decisively. Nobody contested her decision, though a few expressed concern about how they’d fair without their strongest members present. Wu Meiying had reassured them, stating they saw nothing in their fear. The dragon clans were now stronger than ever,  so even without Wu Jian and Hou Jingshu, they need not fear defeat.

Not long after the meeting, she dragged Wu Jian and Hou Jingshu back to their home. Zhou Lihua was in the refining room, while Youmei was playing around in the backyard. She informed the two of their plans and asked them to get packed.

Packing was relatively easy. Wu Jian stored everything in his storage ring. He did not have much to pack--just his clothes and supplies like food. Zhou Lihua had a lot more to pack. She had gotten a new alchemy cauldron, and it was a massive construct many times bigger than her previous one. Taller than even Wu Jian, it reached the ceiling of her refining lab, and vents attached to the ceiling helped remove impurities from the room when she worked. The vents were directly connected to the alchemy cauldron. She had to detach the vents from the cauldron before she could store it in her ring. Wu Meiying and Youmei also did not have much to pack, but Hou Jingshu had a few nicknacks and some odds and ends that she wanted to take with her.

Because time waited for no one and Wu Meiying wanted to get a move on, they left their estate and traveled toward the city’s edge.

There were four exits to Azure City. They traveled to the one called The Dragon’s Tail. It was a less used entrance and exit. Most people passed through the much larger Dragon’s Mouth. They soon reached the much more modest Dragon’s Tail entrance, which was not only much smaller but also had far less decorations. It was rather plain all things considered.

“It looks like we have a send off,” said Hou Jingshu.

Wu Jian sighed. “Seems like it.”

The twelve dragon clan leaders had all shown up to see them off. Wu Jian supposed he should have expected that. While he had not necessarily grown close to any of them save Loong Mei, they considered him their leader even though he left most of the actual leading to them. He considered himself a figurehead at most. Wu Jian did not want the responsibility of ruling over the dragon clans. He had his own issues to deal with.

“It will feel strange to have you gone,” Loong Mei confessed.

Wu Jian shrugged. “Maybe, but you’ll also be able to breathe a sigh of relief, I’m sure.”

“No.” Loong Mei shook her head. “I might not have liked you very much at first, but I’ve come to recognize your power and dedication. I--we, the Flood Dragon Clan, will miss you.”

“As will the frost dragons,” said Bai Fei. She glared at Loong Mei, who glared back, sparks suddenly flying between them.

Loong Mei and Bai Fei had a strong rivalry as two women who were not only leaders of their respective clans but also powerful dragons in their own right. While they could set aside their differences when the time called for it, they would often fight at all other times. It wasn’t uncommon for them to get into arguments that came to blows. Fortunately, they were both responsible adults and would take  their fights far away. The areas they fought in often became uninhabitable warzones for months at a time.

“It won’t be forever,” Wu Jian said with a smile.

“We plan to summon the dragons and our other allies once we reach the Xaio Continent,” Wu Meiying added.

“Then do not tarry long,” said an older dragon. He had white hair, but his skin was dark like obsidian. “Be off and be well. We shall await the time you summon us.”

“We will,” said Wu Jian. “Goodbye for now.”

The group left the twelve dragon clan leaders, floating in the air and flying away. They flew for several li before the dragon clansmen vanished in the distance. The terrain beneath them changed periodically. Forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes passed underneath them in a rush.

“Where are we going first?” asked Zhou Lihua.

Wu Meiying was their guide on this quest, and she hadn’t told them their first destination yet. He, Hou Jingshu, and Youmei looked at the young woman.

“First, we are going to pick up Shuchang,” Wu Meiying began, “After that, we are going to meet with the Heavenly White Tiger Clan and convince them to join us.”