C1 The Battle of the Dragon Clan!

Legend speaks of nine celestial layers in the sky: Red Heaven, Blue Heaven, Azure Heaven, Crimson Heaven, Yellow Heaven, Purple Heaven, White Heaven, Black Heaven, and Scarlet Heaven.

At the pinnacle of these celestial realms resides a distinguished race—the Dragon Clan!

Dragons are divine creatures with noble lineages, sovereigns of the cosmos, gazing down upon all beings with an air of supremacy.

Within the Dragon Clan, there exists a hierarchy of bloodlines: Four-claw, Five-claw, Six-claw, Seven-claw, Eight-claw, and the legendary Nine-claw.

The greater the number of claws, the more exalted the bloodline.

Four claws signify a Pseudo Dragon, five claws a True Dragon, six claws a Dragon Emperor, seven claws a Dragon Monarch, and the rare eight claws denote a Dragon God.

The ninth claw is exceedingly scarce, virtually mythical, symbolizing the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline.

Above the vast skies, amidst swirling clouds, lies this sacred domain, unseen by ordinary mortals—only those of the Dragon Clan may traverse these heights.

The current Patriarch of the Dragon Clan is a formidable being with the Eight-clawed Dragon God Bloodline—Loong Xiangyun, a preeminent warrior of the Golden Dragon Clan and the supreme ruler over all dragons.

Atop the nine heavens stand several magnificent palaces, their golden walls radiating a blinding brilliance.

The grandest among them is the Golden Dragon Palace, the seat of the Dragon Clan's Patriarch.

Within the Golden Dragon Palace, several clan patriarchs convene, seemingly engrossed in weighty matters.

"Patriarch Xiangyun! Loong Aotian has fallen for a human woman, and together they have brought forth a child—a grave transgression! Such an act demands judgment," declared an elder in the hall, clad in a red robe marked with a blood character on his left shoulder. His long red hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his blood-red eyes fixed upon a young man—Loong Ba, Patriarch of the Blood Dragon Clan.

Loong Ba, too, is a bearer of the Eight-clawed Dragon God Bloodline, wielding the formidable might of the Blood Dragon Clan.

"I don't need your reminders about how to handle my affairs!" At that moment, an elder was seated upon a golden dragon throne in the great hall, clad in a golden robe with his golden locks cascading down to his waist. Anger flickered across his face, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes as piercing as blades.

This was none other than Loong Xiangyun, the Patriarch of the Dragon Clan.

"Patriarch Xiangyun, I assure you, that wasn't my intention. Please, calm your anger," Loong Ba implored, a hint of fear in his voice upon witnessing the fury in Loong Xiangyun's tone. Though Loong Xiangyun's power surpassed his own, a sly smirk still played at the corner of Loong Ba's mouth.

"Loong Aotian, are you aware of your transgressions?" Loong Xiangyun demanded sternly.

"What transgression, Father? I beg of you to clarify!" a young man spoke up.

His skin was pale, his features strikingly handsome, with piercing golden eyes and long golden hair that fell to his waist. Adorned in a golden robe with a golden emblem on his left shoulder, he was the eighth son of Loong Xiangyun, Loong Aotian.

"Ha! Loong Aotian, you've committed a grave offense, and yet you refuse to acknowledge it?" Loong Ba sneered at Loong Aotian.

"I and Xiaoyu share a true love! What right do you have to forbid our union?" Loong Aotian retorted, his eyes blazing with passion.

"Dragons and humans are forbidden to love—it is the law of our Clan! You not only ventured into the human realm without permission but also fathered a child with a human woman. How can you deny your guilt?" Loong Ba raised his voice.

"Silence, all of you!" Loong Xiangyun commanded with authority.

"Aotian, if you confess and accept your punishment, it may yet lighten your sentence," Loong Xiangyun said, his eyes betraying a touch of reluctance. After all, Loong Aotian was his flesh and blood.

"I'm not wrong! Why should I admit to a mistake? I love Xiaoyu! If you want to punish me, then do it!" Loong Aotian declared defiantly.

"Fine! Then don't say I didn't give you a chance!" Despite Loong Aotian being his son, as the Patriarch of the Dragon Clan, he couldn't let such defiance go unpunished without an explanation to his people. His leadership would be at stake.

"Loong Ba, you handle the execution." Loong Ba was responsible for meting out punishment within the Dragon Clan, so the task naturally fell to him.

"By your command! Guards! Execute Loong Aotian's child first!" Loong Ba was ruthless, ordering the immediate execution of Loong Aotian's offspring.

Hearing this, Loong Aotian's golden pupils contracted sharply, and a powerful aura burst forth from him.

"Loong Aotian! Are you daring to rebel?!" Loong Ba bellowed in anger upon witnessing Loong Aotian's reaction.

"What does my mistake have to do with my child?!" Loong Aotian, looking at his peacefully sleeping child cradled in his arms, protested.

"You have no right to resist! Guards! Seize him!" At Loong Ba's command, several Blood Dragon Clan guards charged at Loong Aotian.

"Such audacity from mere guards!" Loong Aotian shielded his child with his energy, and with a gesture, a golden spear materialized in his hand.

"The Brilliant Golden Battle Dragon Spear! Loong Aotian! Do you truly intend to rebel?!" Loong Ba's eyes widened with surprise and greed at the sight of the weapon in Loong Aotian's grasp.

The Brilliant Golden Battle Dragon Spear was the Dragon Clan's most formidable weapon, capable of apocalyptic destruction.

Loong Aotian was the preeminent warrior among the younger members of the Golden Dragon Clan, second in strength only to Loong Xiangyun. His prowess was the reason the Golden Dragon Clan held the highest esteem within the Dragon Clan, and why Loong Xiangyun held the title of Patriarch.

"Punish me however you see fit! But as for my child—don't you dare!" Loong Aotian, spear in hand, pointed it directly at Loong Ba, his voice seething with rage.

"Hmph! You have no idea of your place, young one! To be so insolent! Today, I will show you the true meaning of power!" Loong Ba, incensed by Loong Aotian's insolence, felt his own status as the enforcer of the Dragon Clan's laws—and as Patriarch of the Blood Dragon Clan—was being challenged by a mere junior. His pride would not allow this affront to go unanswered.

A Dragon Roar echoed as a crimson glow enveloped Loong Ba, and a formidable aura of murderous intent billowed around him.

Crack! A sharp sound shattered the air as a blood-red whip materialized in Loong Ba's grasp. Named the Blood Rage Nine-joint Whip, it may not rival the Brilliant Golden Battle Dragon Spear, but it was nonetheless a weapon of rare caliber.

"Aotian! Cease this at once!" Loong Xiangyun implored upon witnessing the scene.

"Hmph! I, Loong Aotian, would rather die than let any of you harm my child!" Loong Aotian declared, standing tall and fearless within the Golden Dragon Palace.

"Your arrogance knows no bounds! Patriarch Xiangyun, allow me to discipline him on your behalf today!" Loong Ba's eyes gleamed with malice, his mind racing with thoughts of seizing control of the Dragon Clan once Loong Aotian fell.

"Loong Aotian! Meet your end!" With those words, Loong Ba lashed out with the Blood Rage Nine-joint Whip, aiming straight for Loong Aotian.

But Loong Aotian was swift, sidestepping the strike. He countered with a thrust of his spear aimed directly at Loong Ba's throat. In response, Loong Ba's left hand morphed into a blood-red dragon claw, scales rapidly encasing his limb. The Eight-Clawed Dragon Claw gathered a surge of potent energy, hurling it at the Brilliant Golden Battle Dragon Spear.

Boom! The collision sent shockwaves through the air, a fierce wind swirling between them. Both warriors staggered but regained their footing.

"The Brilliant Golden Battle Dragon Spear truly is formidable," Loong Ba conceded, inspecting his left hand where the scales were shattered, blood seeping from the wound.

"Aotian! Enough with the combat. Accept your punishment promptly; you are indeed in the wrong here," Loong Xiangyun interjected, seeing that Loong Ba was no match for Loong Aotian.

"Hmph! I will face punishment if I must, but my child shall not suffer even the slightest harm!" Loong Aotian retorted.

"Loong Aotian, your overconfidence will be your downfall. Elders of the Blood Dragon Clan, prepare the formation!" Loong Ba commanded, resolute in his intent to inflict grave injury upon Loong Aotian.

Six red-robed elders burst forth suddenly, swiftly encircling Loong Aotian.

"Loong Ba! Do you intend to kill Aotian?" Loong Xiangyun's eyebrows knitted in concern.

"Rest assured, Patriarch, I'm merely subduing him."

The elders exuded a formidable presence, their murderous aura enveloping Loong Aotian.

"Blood Dragon Seven Killing Formation!" Loong Ba seamlessly integrated into the formation.

Loong Aotian tensed up, aware of the formidable might of the Blood Dragon Seven Killing Formation and braced himself for a cautious response.

A sinister blood dragon emblem materialized within the formation as one of the elders, brandishing a long sword, unleashed a crimson blade of light seething with rage, striking at Loong Aotian.

"Holy Dragon Protective Barrier!" A sphere of golden light enveloped Loong Aotian, with the Brilliant Golden Battle Dragon Spear positioned defensively before him.

The blade of light clashed against the golden barrier, emitting a sharp clang of steel. Loong Aotian staggered back a step, followed by a succession of sword lights from the other five elders.

"You've brought this upon yourselves!" Anger flashed across Loong Aotian's face as he bellowed, and the sound of a dragon's roar filled the air.

"Holy Dragon Dancing in the Sky!" A dragon's cry echoed as a white dragon's phantom twined around Loong Aotian.

"Aotian has actually mastered the Holy Dragon Dancing in the Sky?" Loong Xiangyun marveled at the sight.

Meanwhile, Loong Ba leaped into the air above Loong Aotian, concentrating the five sword lights into his right palm before hurling them down. A crimson dragon surged towards Loong Aotian.

Loong Aotian raised his spear skyward, and the white dragon phantom met the blood dragon's charge with a ferocious collision.

Boom! The impact of the two dragon phantoms set off a massive explosion, sending waves of heat and ripples of energy in all directions, causing the entire Golden Dragon Palace to shudder.

"A perfect opportunity!" Loong Ba seized the moment when Loong Aotian was unguarded, lashing out with his Blood Rage Nine-joint Whip directly at the child cradled in Loong Aotian's arms.

Loong Aotian was quick to spot Loong Ba's maneuver and swiftly responded.

"It's come to this." With a decisive move, Loong Aotian infused the child with the Brilliant Golden Battle Dragon Spear, then spun around to fend off Loong Ba's assault.

A thunderous crash echoed as Loong Aotian was sent sprawling, and without hesitation, he hurled his child from the heights of the Golden Dragon Palace.

"Well played, Loong Aotian! Seize him and take him to the dungeons! Confine him for five hundred years!"

Loong Aotian offered no further resistance. Instead, a faint smile played at the corners of his mouth as he was subdued and led away.