Ultimate Fighting

TL: GoldenLung

The Lord of Fenglong City was without a doubt one of the powerhouses of Celestial Dragon Planet. Lan Xuanyu didn't dare to use his spiritual sense to probe the other party's cultivation, but there was no question—this man was definitely a God-rank expert. His courteous demeanor and warm smile gave the impression of a spring breeze.

If not for Huang Yuanlang's little test with the dragon-blood tree sap at noon, they might truly have believed him to be a benevolent elder. That dragon-blood tree sap was indeed a fine thing—Bai Xiuxiu could already feel its benefits while cultivating that afternoon. But if she hadn't possessed dragon blood, that single cup might well have been the death of her.

Bai Xiuxiu followed half a step behind, walking alongside Huang Yuanlang as they headed inward. Lan Xuanyu and the other two trailed farther back with Elaysion.

As they walked, Huang Daoqi smiled and asked, "Xiuxiu, have you gotten used to life in Fenglong City?"

Bai Xiuxiu nodded. "It's been fine."

"Good. From now on, Fenglong City is your home. Do you have any parents?" Huang Daoqi asked.

Bai Xiuxiu shook her head with a trace of confusion. "My memories of them are hazy. I think they passed away when I was very young."

The sadness that rose within her needed no acting—it was her true past.

They entered the city lord's grand hall, resplendent in gold and jade, filled with opulent decorations that dazzled the eyes.

Bai Xiuxiu was guided directly to the main dining hall, where everyone took their seats. Huang Yuanlang then introduced the people who had joined him in greeting her—they were his two younger brothers and three younger sisters.

From his words, it was clear that Huang Daoqi had six children in all, a rare feat among the Higher Dragons.

Moreover, all of Huang Daoqi's offspring were Higher Dragons capable of taking human form.

Huang Yuanlang smiled. "Dragon Knight Mokong has always hoped one of us could become his successor. Now, with Xiuxiu joining, the chances are much greater."

Lan Xuanyu and his companions were not sent elsewhere; they, too, entered the main dining hall. Servants bustled about, and Elaysion stationed them some distance away.

Thanks to his Purple Demon Eyes, Lan Xuanyu could see clearly despite the distance. When Huang Yuanlang mentioned producing a Dragon Knight successor, he noticed all the Huang Family members glance toward Huang Daoqi.

Huang Daoqi smiled. "Our Huang Family ranks among the Ten Great Clans of the Celestial Dragons, but in truth, we've become the laughingstock of the ten. They say we're known only for reproduction—that all our talents are spent in that direction."

At this, his children laughed, and the atmosphere lightened.

Huang Yuanlang chuckled. "Father, though they mock us, they also envy us. Only you have so many descendants. Without you, we wouldn't even be here. You are our pride."

Huang Daoqi laughed heartily. "We're the only one of the Ten Great Clans without a Dragon Knight. If you're truly proud, then work harder—when our clan produces a Dragon Knight, that will silence them for good. Also, none of you have inherited my greatest reproductive ability—I don't even have a single grandchild yet. You'd better work on that."

Everyone laughed again. Huang Yuanlang instinctively glanced at Bai Xiuxiu.

She merely smiled faintly, keeping her gaze on Huang Daoqi rather than meeting his eyes.

"All right, enough of that. First, on behalf of the Huang Family, I welcome our new member." Huang Daoqi raised his cup and stood; the others followed suit. Bai Xiuxiu sat at the first seat on his right, opposite Huang Yuanlang.

The cups were again filled with dragon-blood tree sap, which seemed not overly rare to the Royals. They drank, then sat down as dinner began.

Huang Daoqi ate a few bites before asking, "Xiuxiu, do you have any plans for your future?"

Bai Xiuxiu shook her head. "Not really. I just wanted to make some money and buy the things I like, and then I ran into Yuanlang."

"Dragon-horse coins are merely worldly possessions," Huang Daoqi said. "With our status, such things are easy to obtain. To gain higher status and greater wealth, strength is what matters most. Yuanlang tells me you are a rare dual-attribute Higher Dragon. Perhaps later you could give us a demonstration?"

"Of course," Bai Xiuxiu replied without hesitation.

Huang Yuanlang's younger siblings looked at her with open curiosity. The third brother, introduced as Huang Yuanchao, said eagerly, "Then let me be your opponent. I'll test you myself."

Compared to Huang Yuanlang, Huang Yuanchao's aura was far less restrained.

Bai Xiuxiu glanced at him. "I'd rather not fight you—I might not be able to hold back, and I don't want to injure you."

He curled his lip. "Pretty confident, aren't you? If you can injure me, I'll be impressed."

"Enough, eat first," Huang Daoqi said, tapping a finger on the table.

Though his tone was mild, his children clearly feared him. Huang Yuanchao immediately fell silent and lowered his head to eat.

During the rest of the meal, Huang Daoqi asked nothing further, though Lan Xuanyu—watching from a distance—could sense the city lord was quietly observing Bai Xiuxiu, as if gauging the fluctuations in her aura.

With the Demon Queen helping to regulate her energy, Bai Xiuxiu kept her presence tightly restrained—it would not be easy for Huang Daoqi to find anything amiss.

Dinner ended in a relaxed atmosphere, with Bai Xiuxiu speaking little and exuding an air of cool detachment. Huang Daoqi, meanwhile, kept the mood light with witty remarks.

When the meal concluded, Huang Daoqi said, "Let's rest a bit, then we'll see Xiuxiu's abilities so we can arrange her future training."

They followed him into the reception hall, where fruit and drinks were set out.

Through casual conversation, Bai Xiuxiu and the others learned more about the Huang Family.

Celestial Dragon Planet had sixteen great cities, Fenglong City being one of them. Each was ruled by its own city lord, who held absolute authority in that city—other cities could not interfere.

Celestial Dragon City was the central city of all sixteen. To build a new city required the unanimous consent of all city lords, with Celestial Dragon City's lord as the presiding authority, and a new city lord would be chosen.

The so-called Ten Great Clans were powerful families of the Celestial Dragons. With the dragon race being rare, only ten of the sixteen city lords were Celestial Dragons—one of them being the lord of Celestial Dragon City, the Head of Celestial Dragon Planet, and the foremost of the eighteen Dragon Knights, possessing unrivaled power and absolute rule.

The Celestial Dragon bloodline placed the Ten Great Clans at the pinnacle of political power. Huang Daoqi's earlier self-deprecation wasn't wrong—the Huang ranked last among the Ten Great Clans, holding onto their influence only by supporting the Seventeenth Dragon Knight and by virtue of their Celestial Dragon heritage. No family needed a Dragon Knight of their own more than the Huang clan.