138: Dragon Domain Prisoner, Black Knight Appears

The thick fog, like a living curtain, slowly parted to both sides, revealing the true appearance of the newcomers. They were not the expected groups of Ancient Dragon warriors, but three figures.

Leading them was an exceptionally tall and muscular strong man. His skin was dark, his muscles were bulging, and he wore simple leather armor. His exposed arms were covered with a layer of fine black scales, radiating a heart-stopping sense of power.

His face was rugged, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. His gaze swept over Li Ao and the two others, carrying undisguised scrutiny and a hint of... curiosity? His aura was vast and mighty, clearly having reached the level of a Six-Star Dou Zun!

Following him were two Ancient Dragon Clan warriors, also possessing strong auras and dressed in standard armor. Their eyes were stern and full of vigilance.

"Humans, and... a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python?" The muscular strong man's voice echoed through the mountains like muffled thunder. "You have immense gall, daring to trespass into the Dragon Domain! Tell me, how did you bypass the outer defenses and sneak in here?"

His gaze finally settled on Li Ao, clearly sensing that he was the leader of the three. Moreover, from this young human, he felt an extremely subtle yet strange fluctuation that caused his Bloodline to tremble slightly.

Li Ao’s heart was solemn. The strong man before him was extremely powerful and clearly a high-ranking member of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. He took a step forward, cupped his hands respectfully yet without subservience, and said, "Senior, please understand, we did not intend to trespass. We were being hunted by the Hall of Souls' Dou Sheng, Hun Qianmo, and fled in desperation. Fortunately, a Senior from your Clan offered assistance, and we were sent here by spatial force. It was truly unavoidable."

"Hun Qianmo?" The muscular strong man raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, clearly aware of the gravity of that name. "He was repelled by one of our Clan's Elders. You are quite lucky. " He scrutinized Li Ao again. "You said a Senior from my Clan offered assistance? Which Elder was it?"

Li Ao shook his head: "That Senior did not show himself, we only heard his voice when he drove back Hun Qianmo."

The muscular strong man’s confusion deepened. Why would an Elder of the Clan intervene for these few humans and a Sky Swallowing Python? His gaze shifted to Medusa, and when he sensed the pure Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline within her, his expression subtly changed. The Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline was extremely rare and had some connection to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.

"Regardless, trespassing into the Dragon Domain is a serious offense." The muscular strong man's tone remained firm. "Come with me. How you are to be dealt with must be decided by the Elders."

The two Ancient Dragon warriors behind him stepped forward, and an invisible pressure locked onto the three, clearly intending to forcibly take them away.

Medusa's purple eyes narrowed coldly, and Seven-Colored Dou Qi faintly circulated. Xiao Yi Xian also clenched her fists.

Li Ao reached out and stopped them, saying to the muscular strong man, "May I ask for Senior's esteemed name? We will follow Senior, we only hope that Senior can report the true situation, as we truly harbor no ill will."

The situation was beyond their control; resisting on the Ancient Void Dragon Clan's territory was certainly not a wise move. Furthermore, he vaguely felt that this might be an opportunity.

Seeing Li Ao's cooperative attitude, the muscular strong man's expression softened slightly. He snorted and said, "I am Commander Hei Qing! Remember my name! Let's go, don't try any tricks!"

Hei Qing! Li Ao’s heart stirred. He recalled the frank and straightforward Ancient Dragon expert Xiao Yan had befriended in the Ancient Void Dragon Clan in the original work. It seemed this was the person. This eased his mind slightly; at least Hei Qing was not an unreasonable person.

Under the "escort" of Hei Qing and the two Ancient Dragon warriors, the three traversed the fog-shrouded mountain forest. Along the way, Li Ao could sense many powerful auras lurking in the shadows, all watching them, the uninvited guests. The defenses of the Dragon Domain were indeed tight.

About an incense stick's time later, a massive valley appeared ahead. Inside the valley, instead of the imagined palaces and towers, there were huge caves carved into the mountainside, along with some rough structures built from giant stones. The air was filled with a dense Dragon might and an ancient aura.

Hei Qing led them to a relatively spacious stone cave entrance and shouted inside, "Third Elder, the people have been brought! These are the trespassers, and one of them is a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python. They claim they were being pursued by a Hall of Souls' Dou Sheng and were saved by an unknown Elder, which is how they ended up here by mistake."

From inside the stone cave, an aged voice containing immense power slowly emerged: "Oh? Bring them in."

Hei Qing motioned for Li Ao and the two others to enter, while he stood guard at the entrance.

The interior of the stone cave was quite simple, containing only stone stools and tables. On the main seat sat an old man dressed in linen robes, with white hair and beard, and a simple, ancient face. The old man looked ordinary, but when his slightly narrowed eyes opened and closed, a sharp light flickered, as if he could see through people's hearts. His aura was unfathomable, far vaster than Hei Qing's, and the feeling it gave Li Ao was not much weaker than that of Hun Qianmo!

This must be a Dou Sheng Elder of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan!

Standing beside the Third Elder was an arrogant-looking, sinister-eyed middle-aged man in green robes. His aura had also reached the Peak Five-Star Dou Zun level. He was coldly scrutinizing Li Ao and the two others, his gaze lingering particularly on Medusa, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Third Elder, Elder Zhu Li," Hei Qing added from the entrance.

Elder Zhu Li’s gaze calmly swept over the three, finally resting on Li Ao. He slowly spoke, "Young man, recount in detail the events of your encounter with Hun Qianmo and how you were saved by someone from my Clan. Do not omit anything."

His voice carried a strange hypnotic power, making people involuntarily want to obey.

Li Ao composed himself and briefly recounted the entire process: leaving the Ancient Domain of Extinction, encountering the Hall of Souls' soul-searching squad, being chased by Hun Qianmo, being saved by the Dragon roar, and finally being teleported here. He merely omitted the specific details of the heart of annihilation and black iron, only stating that he possessed a special kind of power.

After listening to Li Ao's narration, a hint of understanding flashed in Elder Zhu Li's eyes, and he nodded slightly: "So that is the case. The person who intervened should be an ancient existence residing deep within the Void Realm who did not wish to see the Hall of Souls act recklessly near the border of our Dragon Domain; he did not intervene specifically to save you."

His words served to explain why an Ancient Dragon powerhouse had intervened.

However, the green-robed middle-aged man standing beside him, the Ancient Dragon Commander named Savage Rock, coldly snorted and said sinisterly, "Third Elder, how can we trust their one-sided story? These humans are highly suspicious, especially this woman. She possesses the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline; this kind of Bloodline has been outside our Clan, and now she suddenly appears in our Dragon Domain. Who knows if she harbors other intentions? In my opinion, we should first imprison them and interrogate them severely!"

His words carried an inexplicable hostility directed at Medusa.

Li Ao’s brow also furrowed; this Savage Rock seemed ill-intentioned.

Elder Zhu Li waved his hand and said plainly, "Savage Rock, calm down. Their claims align with the energy fluctuations Hei Qing detected earlier; they are not false. As for this Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline..." His gaze returned to Medusa, a profound look flashing in his eyes. "It is indeed rare. Girl, where are you from?"

Medusa responded coolly: "Jia Ma Empire, Tagor Desert."

"Jia Ma Empire..." Elder Zhu Li seemed thoughtful, as if recalling something.

Savage Rock interrupted again, his tone carrying a hint of provocation: "Third Elder, even if their words are true, trespassing into the Dragon Domain is a fact! According to Clan rules, they should be imprisoned in the Dragon Dungeon and await judgment! Furthermore, this man!" He abruptly pointed at Li Ao. "The power he possesses is extremely strange; it makes even me feel uneasy. He is definitely not benevolent! We must investigate thoroughly!"

The atmosphere inside the cave instantly grew tense due to Savage Rock's aggressive demeanor.

Li Ao sneered inwardly; this Savage Rock clearly wanted to make an issue out of nothing. He looked toward Elder Zhu Li, wanting to know how this Third Elder, who truly held the authority, would decide.

Elder Zhu Li pondered for a moment, his gaze shifting between Li Ao and Medusa, before finally saying slowly, "Clan rules cannot be abolished. Since they trespassed into the Dragon Domain, they must be punished. Hei Qing."

"Present!" Hei Qing responded from the entrance.

"Temporarily settle the three of them in the Hidden Dragon Abyss. Without my command, they are not allowed to enter or leave freely, but they must be treated with courtesy and not neglected." Elder Zhu Li made his decision.

Hidden Dragon Abyss? It sounded like a place of soft confinement, but it was much better than being thrown directly into the Dragon Dungeon.

Savage Rock seemed dissatisfied with this result, but seeing that Elder Zhu Li had already decided, he did not dare to say more, only giving Li Ao and Medusa a cold glare.

"Yes, Third Elder!" Hei Qing accepted the order and said to Li Ao and the two others, "Follow me."

Li Ao knew this was the best possible outcome for now, and he cupped his hands toward Elder Zhu Li: "Thank you, Elder."

Immediately, he left the stone cave with Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian, following Hei Qing.

Watching their retreating figures, a hint of unwillingness flashed in Savage Rock's eyes, and he whispered to Elder Zhu Li, "Third Elder, the power on that young man..."

Elder Zhu Li slightly raised his hand, interrupting him, a sharp light flashing in his cloudy eyes: "I have my own judgment regarding this matter. The Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python... and the meaning of annihilation on that young man... It seems the Dragon Domain, silent for many years, is about to face turbulence again. Go and check if there have been any recent movements from the North Dragon King."

Upon hearing this, Savage Rock's expression tightened, and he bowed, saying, "Yes!"