Chapter 1: The Holy Dragon’s Wraith

His energy surged like raging waves, his fists fell like mountains. When Mels channeled his full Qi and unleashed the ultimate technique of the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes, the heavens and earth changed color! In the dim thicket, a bloody battle between human and beast was about to reach its decisive stage.

Initially, the griffin had regarded Little One as its greatest threat, but as the aura emanating from Mels grew increasingly powerful, the griffin sensed the threat from Mels.

After swatting Little One away again with its talons, the griffin—still circling—did not give chase. Instead, it turned and began charging toward Mels! However, Mels had already entered the climactic stage of his technique. His body was now enveloped by the fluctuations of his Qi, a layer of white light shot through with cyan radiance tightly wrapping around him like sacred armor.

"Roar!" Unburdened by human fear, the griffin let out an angry roar and dove from high altitude toward Mels, simultaneously blasting a pale blue energy sphere from its mouth, aiming to gain the upper hand by striking first!

Although Mels was unfamiliar with the griffin's habits, his combat instincts ensured he wouldn't be hit. As the sphere shot down, about to strike him, Mels suddenly shifted backward several meters, his elegant and precise movement allowing him to evade the attack as if floating.

"Die, monster!" Having just dodged, Mels roared, raising his right fist to take aim at the griffin's head from a distance and threw a punch.

Despite the dozens of meters separating them, this punch was as unerring as Hou Yi shooting down the suns, accurately striking the griffin's head. Though seemingly unremarkable and without any visible Qi fluctuations, the griffin was sent reeling violently! Not only did blood flow from between its bell-sized eyes, but a piece of bone was visibly dented! Clearly, Mels's punch had inflicted significant damage.

A magical beast through and through—if an ordinary creature suffered such a severe head injury, it would surely die on the spot. Yet the griffin merely shook its slightly dazed head in fury, then, fixing its gaze on Mels, lunged at him again. By now, Little One had shaken off the pursuit. Seeing Mels under attack, he immediately flew forward, swiftly closing in and spewing strong acid from his mouth, aiming for the griffin's wings.

Faced with the dual assault, the griffin lost its earlier ferocity. While frantically dodging the acid, its lower abdomen was struck again by Mels's fists. The air above the thicket instantly filled with the soul-chilling cries of the beast.

"Little One, trap it, don't let it escape!" Seeing their combined attacks had prompted the griffin to flee, Mels bellowed. His body then moved of its own accord, soaring into the sky like a Heavenly God.

Little One knew Mels was preparing his final attack. He immediately bobbed his head and approached, trying to block the griffin's retreat with continuous acid sprays.

Meanwhile, high in the air, Mels crossed his fists before his chest, channeling the white-cyan light from his body into his fists before shouting: "True Nameless Divine Style, Fierce Flame Demon Fist!"

Before his words faded, Mels's fists shot toward the griffin. This time, a torrential surge of Qi energy rushed toward the battle-hungry beast. The white-cyan light instantly enveloped the griffin's body. Amidst flashes of light accompanied by mournful cries, within moments, the massive griffin was torn to shreds under internal and external pressure, raining down flesh and blood.

"Huff... huff..." After defeating the beast, Mels appeared utterly exhausted, breathing heavily as he slowly descended.

"Boss, are you okay?" Little One flew to Mels's side, asking with concern.

"I'm fine, just used too much energy at once, feeling a bit tired!" Mels wiped the sweat from his forehead and replied.

"That's good! Boss, you were incredibly brave just now, taking down such a huge beast in one go!" Little One said excitedly.

"Heh, just got lucky. Let's go check on Sol and the others!" Just as Mels was about to walk toward Sol, a faint groan came from the thicket. The dim light prevented Mels from seeing clearly, but his hearing told him this was no ordinary rustle of wind through grass.

"Could there be another beast?" Mels's brow furrowed in worry, his gaze fixed on the grass. His tightly clenched fists revealed his intense nervousness! Seconds ticked by as Mels and Little One prepared to battle again.

However, when the "enemy" emerged, the duo realized their worries had been unnecessary.

"Boss!" It turned out the figure in the thicket wasn't a beast, but Rek and Bagina, who had followed the sounds!

"Whew... it's you guys! I thought another damn beast had come!" Seeing it was Rek, Mels let out a long sigh of relief.

"Magical beast?" Rek looked around and spotted the scattered pieces of the griffin! He took a few steps forward, exclaiming, "My god! Such a huge griffin?"

"Let's not talk about that now! Sol and Akafir are over there. Let's check on them first!" Mels nodded slightly, then turned toward Sol.

Though shocked by the griffin's size, Rek and Bagina quickly followed Mels to the two unconscious figures. Shortly after, Sol and Akafir regained consciousness and briefly explained their encounter.

It turned out that shortly after entering the thicket, they had been attacked by the griffin's hypnotic gas and lost consciousness. If Mels hadn't found them quickly, the situation would have been unthinkable! However, although the griffin was eliminated, the real problem now lay before them.

"Rek, what do you think we should do? Leave or continue forward?" After returning to camp, Mels and his companions ate some rations and gathered around the campfire to discuss their next move.

"Well... if all the griffins in Dragon Valley are that large, completing our mission would be extremely difficult! But if we only want to enter to investigate why the beasts are gathering here, that would be much simpler!" After some thought, Rek said.

"Big Stupid Ox makes sense! Just one griffin already gave us a huge headache. If every griffin in Dragon Valley is that big, even ten times our number wouldn't be a match! But I'm thinking such huge griffins are very rare. It's likely they aren't as terrifying as we imagine! If all the beasts in Dragon Valley were super-sized monsters, Governor Park should have told us. Since he never mentioned it, I think today's griffin was just a special case!" Sol nodded.

"You fools! None of us know how big the griffins there really are! But we must complete the mission to return to the capital! Since we've come this far, we can't retreat because of one oversized griffin! No matter how powerful they are, we should go and see. If we can handle them, we will. If not, then even discovering why they gathered is better than running away without doing anything!" Bagina glared at them.

"Bagina is right. Fleeing without a fight isn't our style. We'll continue toward Dragon Valley. Everyone must be fully prepared, ready to fight those damn beasts to the death!" After hearing her, Mels made up his mind.

In truth, no one intended to flee; they were just worried after the first encounter. Seeing Mels's determination, everyone stopped objecting.

Early the next morning, after packing, they set off again. Unlike the first day's relaxed pace, they paid closer attention to their surroundings and potential dangers. Perhaps the first attack had left a deep impression, as the five youths spoke little, focusing on the scenery.

Mels had hoped to find traces of merchants in the following days to learn about Dragon Valley. However, after three days, not only were there no merchants, but even the beasts that should have appeared were nowhere to be seen. With less than ten kilometers to go, danger would only increase.

At noon on the third day, after reaching their intended campsite, Mels decided to halt, resolving to search the area first.

Although eager to find beast traces to infer their habits, their efforts were in vain. The entire afternoon yielded not a single trace or bone. The desolate land was eerily quiet, sending chills down their spines. It seemed nothing like a beast haunt; instead, it resembled a lifeless hell!

In the evening, the exhausted youths gathered to discuss entering the valley. As Bagina had said, they couldn't leave empty-handed. As leader, Mels knew his decision might bring harm, but with his skills and boldness, he believed their unity could face any threat!

"Walking about three kilometers further, we'll see Dragon Valley's outline. According to the map and Governor Park, the perimeter is desert, while the interior is an oasis. The terrain is complex. Since beasts might be present, we cannot enter from the main entrance. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, we'll detour from the Kamo Mountains behind the valley to the north and enter the center from the only flat spot there! If my theory is correct, the reason we haven't seen beasts is because the 'thing' inside is about to appear, and they've already gathered within!" Mels pointed at the map.

"Boss, if the beasts are all in the center, why detour from the back? Wouldn't going straight in be faster?" Sol scratched his head, puzzled.

"Everything I said is just my theory. Entering from the mouth is the quickest method, but if I'm wrong, we could be surrounded! For safety, we choose the safer route! Also, traveling via the Kamo Mountains helps conceal our tracks. Even if forced to flee, escaping is easier than in the desert! Sol, just tough it out a bit!" Mels explained.

Mels knew Sol asked because the mountain route was more arduous, so he explained to reassure him. Sol wasn't stubborn; after hearing the reasonable explanation, he nodded and raised no objections. Rek and the others had already agreed, so the itinerary was set!

The night passed uneventfully. Early the next morning, they stored their heavy luggage in a hidden spot and set off.

The terrain near Dragon Valley was as described. Less than three kilometers from camp, sand increased, and they soon entered a desert. Based on the map, Mels changed direction toward the Kamo Mountains. Approaching the mountains, horses became unusable, forcing them to proceed on foot. The long trek was nothing for the others, but for Sol, it was hell. Before halfway, Sol was panting and struggling.

"Let's rest. Sol, sit down. I'll carry your things." Seeing Sol's pained expression, Mels slowed and took the load.

"Whew... whew... Thanks, boss!" Sol exhaled wearily, wiped his sweat, and sat down.

Seeing Sol exhausted, Mels smiled, then walked to Bagina's side to drink and rest.

Rek handed his things to Akafir, then walked to Sol. "You brat, looking like this, truly useless! At this pace, we won't reach Dragon Valley by nightfall! Fine, I'll take one for the team and carry you!"

Hearing this, Sol was pleased, but said, "Big Stupid Ox, you really know how to act! This Young Master is pure as ice and dashingly handsome. Letting you carry me is a favor!"

"Oh! Looks like I'm getting a great deal!" Rek placed his hands on his hips, widening his eyes.

"Of course! Alright. This Young Master is always willing to grant requests. Seeing you so sincere, I'll reluctantly make a sacrifice and agree, so you won't dream about it!" Sol said smugly.

"You jerk! Dare say one more word, and see if I still bother with you!" Rek glared.

This immediately silenced Sol. He usually enjoyed bickering, but knew Rek meant what he said.

Knowing their personalities, and that Sol would slow them down, Mels laughed. "Alright, Sol, if you want Rek to carry you, say less! Rek, you know he just has a foul mouth. Carry him a bit. We have a stretch to go!"

"Boss, I only want to carry this jerk because he's slow. As long as he stops talking, it's fine!" Rek complained. He turned, saw Sol's "sincere" look, and his annoyance vanished. "Get on. Let's hurry!"

With mutual help, Sol didn't hold everyone back. They reached the fork by noon. After a brief rest, they began the path into Dragon Valley. Dragon Valley was south of the Chidora Desert, with desert to east, south, and north. Only the west connected to the Kamo Mountains. The valley had a rectangular east-west orientation. Stone cliffs rose dozens of meters high, filled with jagged, interlocking rocks difficult to climb. The valley overall resembled a gourd—small at the entrance, large inside. Perhaps due to a medium-sized pond at its center, the interior enjoyed spring-like weather year-round, with lush vegetation.

When they entered the northern passage, they found it bitterly cold, like the twelfth lunar month. Not only were there no exotic plants, but not even a wild blade of grass! However, what puzzled them most was the absence of any beasts. The hundreds rumored to be there showed no trace. "Boss, did we come to the wrong place? Is this really Dragon Valley?" Sol looked at the frost-covered, lifeless world.

"It shouldn't be wrong! This is the northern entrance. And look, the terrain matches the map perfectly! I think we just need to walk further to see the pond Governor Park mentioned!" Although puzzled, after checking the map, Mels still believed they were on the right path.

"Alright, everyone, stay on your guard! The masters once said that some magical beasts, in order to survive in new environments, can alter the local climate! This place is probably different now because many magical beasts suddenly appeared here!" Bagina said to the four of them after hearing Mels' words.

Bagina's reasoning was sound, so the four nodded in agreement and followed behind Mels as they continued walking deeper into the valley. However, the closer they got to the center of the valley, the more the surrounding environment changed. The temperature dropped even further, and a faint, icy mist began to appear, gradually obscuring their view of the surroundings.

"The world is full of wonders! The desert outside is so hot, yet it's so cold here! If I'd known, I would've brought more clothes—otherwise, I might freeze to death!" Sol complained as he walked. Just as he finished speaking, Rek, who was walking ahead of him, suddenly stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.

Sol, who loved to gloat over others' misfortunes, wouldn't miss such a perfect opportunity. As he approached Rek, he burst into laughter and said, "Haha, Big Stupid Ox, you're always so tough, but now you can't even walk a few steps without..." Before he could finish his sentence, his own foot slipped. Unlike Rek, who had some martial arts foundation, Sol had no such skills and couldn't adjust his posture in time, causing him to fall flat on the ground!

"Ouch!" Sol's cry of pain made Mels, who was walking at the front, think his brother was in danger.

He hurried to Sol's side, pulled him up, and asked, "Sol, are you okay?"

"Boss, what kind of cursed place is this? Why did the ground suddenly become so slippery?" Sol asked pitifully.

"The ground is slippery because there's ice! I almost slipped earlier too, and I wanted to warn you, but you were too busy laughing at me to notice. Now you've fallen yourself—serves you right!" Rek laughed heartily upon seeing that Sol was unharmed.

"You... are you even my brother? You didn't even try to help me up when I fell!" Sol grumbled. "Alright, stop arguing. There's no body of water here, so where would the ice come from?" Mels said irritably, trying to stop their bickering.

"Boss, it's true! Look at the ground—it's covered in ice!" Rek was about to pick up a piece of ice to show Mels when he suddenly noticed that the ice on the ground was different from what he'd seen before—it was red!

"This... this is blood!" Rek exclaimed in shock, throwing the bright red ice in his hand away and stumbling back several steps.

"Blood?" Sensing something was wrong, Mels released Sol and walked over to where Rek had picked up the ice. He crouched down to examine it carefully and said, "You're right, this is indeed blood! And it's not just here—there's a large patch of it ahead!"

The mist in the valley had blocked their view, preventing them from noticing the blood that had already frozen into ice on the ground. However, the source of such a large area of "blood ice" remained a mystery to Mels and the others.

"Come here quickly! There are so many magical beast corpses!" Just as Mels and the others were puzzling over the situation, Bagina, standing on a large rock not far away, pointed into the distance and shouted to the group. Everyone immediately rushed over to her.

Standing on the large rock and looking out, they couldn't help but gasp in shock. In this frigid space, at the center of the valley near the pond, thousands of magical beasts of various kinds lay scattered everywhere! Some were already decapitated, others had missing limbs, and some were locked in combat with each other, though all of them were dead and lay fallen in the valley.

"Is this... is this... a magical beast graveyard? Is that why they all died here together?" Rek said in disbelief.

"Impossible. They all died from fighting each other—it can't be a graveyard! Creature burial grounds usually contain only one species. Although these are all magical beasts, there are many different kinds here, and they don't seem to have died naturally. It looks like they were fighting over something and killed each other in the process!" Bagina shook her head, refuting Rek's words.

"That makes sense! Graveyards for creatures are usually in very hidden places, not in a valley where humans often appear! Besides, Governor Parker once said that there were no magical beasts here a few years ago, so it's even less likely to have become a magical beast graveyard now. But there really are a lot of magical beasts here—easily ten times more than what Governor Parker described!" Mels said.

"Brother Mels, come over here and look! Some of these magical beasts died in a strange way!" Akafir's voice came from another direction. Everyone hurried over to Akafir, who was standing beside the charred remains of several magical beasts, carefully examining their bodies.

"What's strange about this?" Sol asked after scanning the charred magical beasts on the ground.

"No, Brother Sol, look—they don't seem to have died from fighting each other like the others," Akafir said.

"That's not strange at all! Many magical beasts can use fire magic attacks. For example, this 'Snake-Headed Dragon' can attack with fireballs, and this 'One-Eyed Fire Ox' is a purebred fire magical beast. Of course, they'd burn each other to a crisp when fighting!" Sol casually pointed out a few magical beasts as he explained to Akafir.

"No, that's not it! Even though I don't know what they are, look—these few magical beasts were killed by flames burning through their bodies. This bull-like monster has no other external injuries, only a charred hole in its head. And this ball-shaped monster has five or six holes burned through its body!" Akafir pointed at the corpses of the two magical beasts.

"You're right, that is strange! Their wounds don't look like they were caused by magic attacks—more like they were pierced by red-hot swords. But judging by how they died and the nature of their wounds, it doesn't seem like they were attacked by something like Bagina's magic knight. It's really strange!" Sol said thoughtfully after carefully examining the corpses.

"Yeah, and these dozen or so monsters over here are much larger than the ones that died earlier, so they should be more powerful. If the earlier ones died from fighting each other, then these corpses are scattered so far apart—it doesn't look like they killed each other in a brawl!" Mels also remarked in surprise.

"If they didn't die from fighting each other, and they weren't killed by a magic knight, then how did they die?" Sol slowly stood up, looking at the scattered magical beast remains on the ground.

"Hmm... that's indeed a big question! Forget it, let's not worry about these dead magical beasts for now. Maybe there are still some alive further inside! I think we should keep moving inward. Once we find other magical beasts, we might understand what happened!" Rek suggested.

Hearing Rek's words, everyone thought it made sense. So, under Mels' leadership, the five of them cautiously made their way toward the pond at the center of the valley. However, they didn't realize that they had already reached the deepest part of the valley—it was just that the mist obscured their view of the surroundings. They had only walked a few hundred meters forward before finding no further path ahead. Apart from a pool of emerald-green water, there was nothing else worth searching for in the area.

After splitting up to search in all directions, Mels and the others regrouped by the pond. Sol was the first to speak up: "Boss, aside from the magical beast corpses all over the ground, there's nothing else here! I really don't know what could have attracted the magical beasts here, and I don't understand why they all died here for no reason!"

"Yeah, if we told people about what happened here, I don't think anyone would believe us!" Bagina nodded in agreement.

"Brother Mels, actually, I think this is fine too. Our mission was to find the magical beasts and eliminate these monsters. Now that the magical beasts are all dead, even if we didn't kill them ourselves, we've still completed the mission! We can safely return to the capital and report to Uncle Xiulan!" Akafir said to Mels, shaking his head.

"Yeah! Ah... you usually seem so clumsy, but who knew you were actually this smart!" Sol said happily after hearing Akafir's words. However, his expression quickly turned regretful: "It's just a shame we thought we'd find some treasure this time, but now there's nothing here. What a pity!" Just as Sol finished speaking, Bagina, who was standing by the pond, suddenly pointed at the emerald waves ahead and said, "Treasure? Do you think this could be the treasure?" In the center of the pond, not far from where Bagina stood, a green light was radiating from the bottom of the water, like a pearl resting at the bottom of a lake, eager to show its brilliance to the world!

As Mels and the others watched the strange changes in the lake and were about to step forward for a closer look, many small bubbles began to appear on the water's surface. Just as everyone was curiously trying to get a better look, a deafening roar echoed from the valley entrance! The sound was like thunder, awe-inspiring and powerful. Amidst the series of tremendous tremors, Mels and the others could barely keep their balance! At the same time, more and more bubbles appeared in the pond, as if the entire water body was about to evaporate, leaving Mels and the others utterly astonished. "Boss, I think the real treasure is about to appear! The sound from the valley entrance earlier was probably the giant monster that killed all these magical beasts returning. I think we should find a place to hide first and decide what to do next once we see what's happening!" The naturally timid Sol, seeing that they were surrounded, urgently suggested to Mels.

Unfortunately, before Mels could make a decision, a massive black shadow had already appeared in their line of sight through the white, misty fog!