Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Sudden Emergence of the Flood Dragon Spirit, The Clash of the Six Titans

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Zuo Lang sat cross-armed opposite the Taoist He Ting and General Luo. After the three parties finished reconciling their accounts, the Crown Prince’s faction received about 40%, Sixth Lord’s faction about 40%, and Third Lord’s faction about 20%.

“Hah, it seems that every year the Weaving Bureau and the Merchants’ Association profit the most. Brother Zuo, please arrange for half of that twenty percent to be shared with me, so that I can report back to His Highness the Crown Prince properly,” General Luo said, fixing his gaze on the man with the hanging hair.

“Haha, General Luo, you flatter me. In previous years, His Highness the Crown Prince alone took sixty percent of the profits, which was understandable. But this year, since His Highness borrowed a million taels of silver from Sixth Lord, surely that must be deducted by ten percent, otherwise I won’t be able to explain to Sixth and Seventh Lords when I return,” the man with the hanging hair smiled lightly.

“Hmph, Brother Zuo, you speak of that loan, but borrowed money must be repaid. As brothers, accounts must be clear. I have orders from His Highness to secure sixty percent of the silver profits; I have no authority to repay on His Highness’s behalf. Or, do you suspect the Crown Prince is someone who borrows silver without returning it?” the other’s tone grew cold and uncompromising.

“Of course not,” said the man with the hanging hair, his eyes darkening. The atmosphere became tense and oppressive.

Han Chong’s heart burned with anxiety. He had not expected the three factions to dispatch their top experts, each no weaker than himself. Moreover, the nearly translucent dark scholar beside Taoist He Ting gave him an extremely dangerous feeling.

But once the three parties agreed on profit sharing, the accounts would be destroyed immediately, leaving very little time.

If he acted to seize the accounts, he would surely be besieged. Even with Little Grey’s help, escape would be nearly impossible.

“Very well, Qi the Weaver, Chairman Gu, issue the receipts,” the man with the hanging hair finally nodded and spoke gravely.

The others smiled smugly, about to offer comforting words.

Suddenly, a sound resembling a dragon’s roar came from outside the courtyard. A jade-green flood dragon, over seventy feet long, dug its two claws into the temple roof, tearing it off with a thunderous crash.

Its enormous head was thicker than a water jar, topped with a foot-long sharp horn, filled with razor-sharp teeth, ferocious beyond measure.

“How is this possible!” Everyone was stunned into chaos.

Several officials from the Inspector’s Office, Weaving Bureau, and Salt Transport Department fled outside the temple, only to see hundreds of various large demons surrounding the place heavily.

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The dragon’s claws directly reached for the account books on the table, emanating a strong demonic aura that pushed everyone back.

It turned out the flood dragon came specifically for the account books. If it succeeded in seizing them, it could threaten the princes!

All present were seasoned and scheming individuals who naturally understood the gravity of the situation.

Zuo Lang, Taoist He Ting, and General Luo were furious—how dare a demon stir trouble right under their noses! Even one flood dragon was no match for the top experts present; three or more would be unthinkable.

Without further ado, they each unleashed sword qi, fire talismans, and blade energy, intending to burn all the account books on the table.

Han Chong’s heart was filled with suspicion, but he suddenly saw Little Grey and the nearly transparent dark scholar strike simultaneously—not toward the dragon’s claws, but at the three envoys!

“Evil Lord, what are you doing?”

“Ghost Immortal, you!”

Zuo Lang and Taoist He Ting were both furious and shocked, forced to protect themselves as the dragon’s claws closed in on the ten ledgers.

Han Chong’s heart tightened. Little Grey must have recognized the dragon as one of the vengeful spirits, and the scholar was surely one as well!

In the next moment, the ten ledgers on the stone table suddenly vanished. The jade-green flood dragon’s wicked grin froze.

Turning its head, it saw a wealthy merchant in a golden cloak standing in a corner of the temple, white spiritual light radiating from his hands, all the ledgers grasped tightly in his palm.

“Shopkeeper Jin!” the man with hanging hair whispered. Could it be he, too, came to seize the ledgers?

Yet Han Chong did not move further, clutching the ledgers in place. He knew that if he fled now, he would be besieged by the three top experts and two vengeful spirits.

“Shopkeeper Jin, destroy the ledgers quickly!” Zuo Lang shouted.

But Han Chong ignored him and remained still.

His action was intriguing.

To the many experts, Han Chong was just a merchant with some magic. Even if he had schemes, how could he escape the pursuit of six powerful opponents?

So no one bothered with him, focusing instead on their own fights.

Zuo Lang and General Luo were top-tier masters of the Tianhua Realm, vigorous and formidable, far stronger than the aged Mi Laoye. One wielded a sword, the other a blade. For a short time, they even held their own against the green flood dragon and Little Grey.

Taoist He Ting wielded a jade ruyi-shaped treasure that could project a white jade-like light shield. With his left hand forming seals, he continuously launched explosive magical pellets—a top-tier Qi refiner.

Opposite him, the elegant ghostly scholar was even more peculiar. His body shimmered with black-gray ghostly light, seeming almost immaterial. The Taoist’s explosive pellets passed through him, detonating behind.

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At the same time, the scholar calmly waved his sleeves, releasing black, lustrous ghostly qi that cut like bone-chilling wind toward the Taoist.

Han Chong clearly saw the ghost was not completely evading the attacks; where his body was struck, it instantly tore open holes that immediately healed, still paying some price.

Nevertheless, this fiend was the hardest to deal with among the three vengeful spirits!

The six powerful figures fought fiercely, leaving no room for ordinary experts. The dilapidated temple had collapsed on all sides, revealing hundreds of demons and ghosts surrounding but not attacking.

Under such circumstances, Han Chong was in no hurry to flee. If these two sides turned on each other, causing mutual destruction, it would be a fortunate outcome.

Within moments, Taoist He Ting could no longer hold out. The ghostly scholar’s ceaseless ghost qi attacks numbered over a hundred, with undiminished power, while the Taoist’s vital energy was nearly exhausted.

This place was no longer suitable to linger. As a guest official of the Third Prince, he had no need to fight to the death. Without a word, he turned and left. The ghostly scholar chuckled lightly and joined the battle against Zuo Lang and General Luo.

Both cursed the fleeing Taoist and felt reluctant to continue.

Han Chong thought to himself how all these old Taoists were the same—timid as mice. He immediately transmitted a voice order to Little Grey to pursue the Taoist, restoring the numbers to two against two.

“Evil Spirit, do not pursue!” the ghostly scholar barked. Yet Little Grey dared not defy Han Chong’s command.

Trapped between the vengeful spirits’ organization and Han Chong, Little Grey dared not offend either, or risk being destroyed. Pursuing the Taoist was the best way to break away.

Then General Luo swung his great blade in a fierce strike, a golden blade aura nearly seventy feet long, forcing the jade-green flood dragon to retreat. His figure transformed into a gust of wind, charging toward Han Chong.

Han Chong thought with regret, this man really was impulsive, turning to flee into the wild mountain.

The jade-green flood dragon roared angrily, having been hit with true fire. It had been long since anyone dared challenge it. Its serpentine body swiftly pursued.

Zuo Lang and the elegant ghost scholar were also uneasy and gave up the duel.

For a moment, Han Chong ran wildly ahead, with four powerful figures chasing at lightning speed behind him—a truly spectacular scene.