The four dragons exchanged glances, their hearts filled with despair.
Indeed, with the Ancestral Dragon gone, the demon race harbored no further reservations and had begun hunting them, the former overlords of heaven and earth.
These four, along with a contingent of dragons, had ventured out to find a new home for their kind. Unintentionally, they discovered an acquired spiritual treasure, which not only attracted the demon race but also brought forth their doom.
Apart from these four, all their fellow dragons had perished at the hands of the demon race.
Currently, they were merely at the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, while the leading demon was at the early stage of the Da Luo Golden Immortal cultivation, and many of their subordinates were also Taiyi Golden Immortals.
In such a situation, their fate was self-evident – they were destined to become sacrifices for their fallen brethren.
"Fine, I have no desire to waste words with you pathetic remnants."
The demon leader waved his hand, issuing orders immediately.
"My subordinates, kill these four dragons, seize the treasure, and transport their corpses back for a grand celebration!"
After the demon leader gave his command, he retreated backward. A few Taiyi Golden Immortal dragons were hardly worth his personal attention.
His subordinates, the demons, responded to the order and swarmed forward, attacking instantly. A barrage of spells and divine abilities flew out, illuminating the surroundings.
"Hmph! Bullying dragons, are you? Very well, let's fight to our heart's content!"
"Brothers, even if we die today, we'll drag a few down with us!"
"Indeed, our dragon race is not to be trifled with!"
The four dragons naturally would not wait for slaughter. Facing countless attacks, they knew escape was impossible and resigned themselves to their fate.
Since they were to be killed anyway, they decided to show the demon race the glory of the dragon race before their demise!
They roared, transforming into their true dragon forms. Relying on their formidable physiques, they attacked the demons without even bothering with defense.
Boom!
Immediately, the sea surface resonated with dragon roars, and the light flared, stirring up countless turbulent waves!
The dragons' desperate, all-out assault caught the demons off guard, and for a moment, the dragons gained the upper hand.
Especially the elder dragon, who wielded an iron staff, swinging it with formidable power. Any demon struck by the staff was either killed or gravely injured, and a large number soon lay fallen.
"Oh? This acquired spiritual treasure is quite impressive!"
The demon leader observed the iron staff in the elder dragon's hand and nodded with evident satisfaction.
He had initially believed it to be a mere acquired spiritual treasure with limited power. Now, it seemed he had underestimated the artifact.
Seeing his subordinates in retreat, he immediately reprimanded them.
"Useless cowards, you can't even deal with a few dragons?"
As the demon leader spoke, he flew forward again, engaging the elder dragon.
The other demons, seeing their commander enter the fray personally, dared not delay and their fighting spirit surged.
This spelled dire straits for the four dragons. They were already outnumbered, and their previous advantage was merely a desperate surge born from facing death. Now that the demon race had adapted to the situation, they were no match for them!
Soon, the dragons were pushed back, forced to retreat by the demon race and huddle together once more.
"A cornered beast's struggle, a futile resistance."
The demon leader shook his head. With him, a Da Luo Golden Immortal, present, how could there be any surprises?
The dragons, already injured, sustained numerous new wounds after the battle, making them even less capable of facing these demons.
"Alright, let me send you on your way!"
The demon leader ascended into the sky, extending his right hand. Demonic energy surged from it, gradually coalescing into a colossal ball of light.
The surrounding demons wisely retreated, not wishing to steal their commander's thunder.
The dragons, witnessing this, knew their final moments had arrived and could not help but sigh to the heavens.
"Must we truly perish here?"
"Alas, even if we die, what of the dragon race!"
"Heaven is unjust! When will our dragon race rise again!"
Hearing the dragons' unwavering ambition for their race's resurgence even in the face of death, the demons erupted in laughter, while the demon leader scoffed.
"Rise again? Heh! The dragon race is merely a stepping stone for the rise of the demon race!"
"Now, you shall become a part of that stepping stone!"
The demon leader sneered as he unleashed the massive ball of light, sending it hurtling towards the four dragons.
The four dragons exchanged smiles. So be it. Death was inevitable; fighting side by side, living and dying together, was perhaps not so bad!
Just then.
"Stop!"
A voice suddenly boomed, and a beam of light streaked rapidly through the air.
Boom!
With a deafening crash, the four dragons remained unharmed, staring dumbfoundedly at the luminous barrier before them that had blocked the demon leader's attack.
"Who?"
The demon leader, astonished, quickly scanned his surroundings.
"Who dares to interfere with the affairs of the demon race? Do you not fear reprisal?"
The surrounding demons were also enraged, looking around frantically for the one who had saved the dragons.
"No need to search, I am here."
The voice spoke again, and a figure appeared in front of the four dragons, addressing the demon leader.
"Born of spiritual grass? Da Luo Golden Immortal?"
The demon leader, observing the newcomer who had suddenly appeared, immediately discerned his origins and cultivation realm and inquired.
"You are a transformed spiritual grass, belonging to the category of spirits and monsters, and should be under the dominion of our demon race. Why do you not aid the demons but instead protect these four dragons?"
"I'm afraid I, Xu Fang, am neither of the demon race nor the dragon race."
The person was Xu Fang. In intervening, he had no intention of siding with anyone. His gaze fell upon the iron staff in the elder dragon's hand.
"I am here solely for this object. Your battle is of no concern to me."
Xu Fang had no desire to get involved in the conflict between the demons and dragons. The dragons had committed immeasurable transgressions during the War of the Three Tribes and would eventually be suppressed by the Heavenly Dao. He did not wish to become entangled with them.
As for the demon race, they were destined to be the protagonists of the Lich Tribulation, their glory ultimately fading.
His intervention was purely coincidental, as the treasure he sought happened to be in the possession of the dragons. Otherwise, he would have long since given them a wide berth.
However, while Xu Fang thought this, the demon race did not.
"Hmph!"
The demon leader snorted coldly, "Empty words! Since you have intervened in our affairs, you have offended the demon race, and offending the demon race is an unforgivable crime. You shall die!"
With that, the demon leader waved his hand. The scattered demons, receiving the order, once again surrounded Xu Fang, along with the four dragons.
"Alas, it seems the demon race's downfall is not without reason!"
Xu Fang sighed. He had explained himself clearly, yet the demon race insisted on fighting. They deserved their eventual expulsion from the Primordial World.