"Elder Dragon, we are here to assist you."

In the distance, seven figures approached swiftly.

It turned out there was a banquet a thousand miles away. Upon hearing the commotion, they quickly came to help.

Su Yu asked, "Who are you all? In such circumstances, do you have any strategy?"

The Python was greatly exhausted, currently lying in the river, recuperating and gathering strength. The river was unusually calm, and the Dragon Ship was steady, hovering in the river.

But the rain hadn't stopped, and thunder was accumulating. Once the water begins to flow, it can drown, strike, kill... impossible to pause halfway.

The seven looked at one another and said in a loud voice, "We are the Seven Brothers of the Bihui Sect."

Wen Caishang said, "The Seven Brothers of the Bihui Sect... employed by Zhang's Fish Market on Yu Nan Dao, are well-versed in water techniques. How will you assist? Tell us."

The leader of the seven said, "It's rare to have the honor of Madam knowing our reputation. Extremely honored, extremely honored. We are not talented but know some 'Wave Dancing' skills. We can assist Elder Dragon with empowering the waves!"

The Python raised its head and said, "Good! You all create a wave for me!"

The seven stood by the riverbank, forming a peculiar formation known as the "Bihui Seven Stars Formation." Anyone among the Seven Brothers, alone, would have average strength.

Yet united, they could form a formation that had captured Third Realm Martial Artists. The ingenuity lay within the Bihui Seven Stars Formation.

The seven had no blood relation but shared deep fates. They met in Jianghu, feeling a strong connection. By sheer chance, they received a legacy and practiced the long-lost martial arts of the Bihui Sect.

They trained to connect hearts, and the Bihui Seven Stars Formation contained the way of Bihui and changes of the stars. The seven each stood in seven places, their Inner Qi connecting mystically. Suddenly, one person pushed with both palms, sending Qi into the river, creating a tide. Another 'caught' the tide and passed it to the next person.

They pushed the tide among themselves, stacking the wave force. The river waves grew larger, rolling and surging, mixed with strong Qi power. At this point, the Seven had united to control the waves, sweating profusely as it was extremely taxing.

As their Inner Qi was fully exhausted, the seven gathered their strength and sent the tide towards the water's edge, shouting, "Elder Dragon, now is the time!" The Python was carried by the tide, effortlessly sent more than a hundred feet high.

Boosted by this force, it soared nearly five hundred feet, its momentum like a dragon. It created a fierce airflow, enveloping the Dragon Ship and lifting it upwards.

The Python made several efforts and finally crossed the water cascade. At that moment... the rain intensified, and thunder rumbled more fervently as golden hues emerged between its scales.

From Python to Dragon, the first transformation.

The Dragon Boat was swept by the giant waves, carried by the airflow from the Python's ascend, also crossing the water's edge.

The Seven Brothers of Bihui watched as the Flood Dragon left with courageous momentum, feeling slightly relieved.

...

...

Along the way six thousand miles, seven thousand miles, eight thousand miles... the momentum was strong, unobstructed by danger.

The Flood Dragon's dark green scales were tinted more deeply with golden hues.

February the third.

A hundred-mile journey, a day and night passed.

Arriving at a flat terrain, the river was straight and wide. The Python frolicked in the water, feeling joyfully free.

As the sky brightened, enjoying a moment of tranquility.

Turning into a bend.

Suddenly, over a dozen boats quickly moved from the shore. On each boat, tens of people wielding swords, guns, sticks, iron nets, and hooks of silver moved rapidly.

Approximately a hundred people.

They threw iron nets, intending to enter the river and hunt the Flood Dragon. Nearly a hundred were excellent swimmers, with considerable skill, daring to jump into the water to battle with the Dragon.

The leader was named "Shan Qingdao," with exceptional sword skills, a master of the Shan Shipyard.

The Python was furious, thrashed its tail, and splashed waves. A gentle flick caused dozens of casualties. Though small like ants, they were numerous and formidable. Some lucky ones managed to slash and cut the dragon's skin.

"Kill!"

Suddenly, from another direction, several large ships arrived. The soldiers aboard were brave, jumping into the river to fight with Shan Qingdao's soldiers.

Both sides were deadlocked.

Shan Qingdao waved the flag, commanding the soldiers to form a water battle formation. They were highly organized, practiced numerous times, and entangled deeply, delaying the water flow.

Li Xian understood, "This must be the hunt and slaying of the dragon. Elder Dragon traveled ten thousand miles, transforming its serpentine body, but true peril likely just began. Unfortunately, my skills are lacking, so I remain an observer. Yet... such grand events, even as an observer, I am content!"

Zhu Butong, observing from the boat, glimpsed at Li Xian and thought, "This lad has been on the boat for a day. Yet he's not a master, nor of any use. Wandering here and there, truly an eyesore. We struggle to protect the dragon, only for this boy to take advantage!"

Feeling disgruntled, he noticed the intense battle in the water and approached with a smile, saying, "Brother Li, what do you think of the battle in the water? Isn't it magnificently grand? Isn't it exhilarating?"

Li Xian truthfully replied, "The battle and fight are perilous and fierce, not grand nor exhilarating."

"A fine man shouldn't fear such things," Zhu Butong said. "In my opinion, at your age, you should experience these trials. Why not jump into the river, shed some blood, and put forth some effort? It will make sitting on the boat truly settling."

Li Xian heard the implied meaning, suggesting he was unworthy of his place on the boat. He replied, "Why doesn't Elder Zhu go down?"

"You go first, then I'll go," Zhu Butong coerced subtly.

Wen Caishang walked over gracefully, her gaze calmly sweeping.

Zhu Butong stepped back slightly and said, "Madam Wen, I harbor no ill intent. It's just your young son looks fair and pristine, benefiting from your status as the Lady Zhe Jian. Just by being here, he enjoys all advantages. Truly enviable, truly fortunate. But we martial artists shouldn't be idle beneficiaries; thus, he should exert some effort, make the name right, and words settled."

Wen Caishang said, "You look down on him?"

Zhu Butong laughed and said, "Do I, the Golden Saber Earth Flood Dragon, need to take a youngster seriously?" He was always arrogant, but after a day on the boat, he came to respect the martial experts aboard.

Except for Li Xian, whose strength was weak, yet he had a close relationship with Lady Zhe Jian and could share the same boat with him. The more he looked at him, the more annoyed he became, but unwilling to offend Wen Caishang, he dared not speak harshly.

Therefore, he meant to provoke.

"What if I say... his usefulness is greater than yours?" Wen Caishang smiled and said.

"What a joke." Zhu Butong repressed his anger, thinking, "Wen Caishang, you act too arrogantly, comparing me, Zhu Butong, to this boy."

He snorted coldly, flung his sleeves, and left. Yet he dared not do anything.

Wen Caishang smiled and said, "Wait."

"What now?" Zhu Butong said angrily.

Wen Caishang said, "I wasn't joking. If you don't believe me, how about comparing with Li Xian?"

"I'll stand right here. If your young man dares to come within half a step of me, then he wins." Zhu Butong stood with his hands behind his back, staring at Li Xian. He had practiced the very powerful "Flood Dragon Kuang Qi Absorption Technique," which involved no physical moves but concentrated the force around his body.

Glaring at an opponent could intimidate their heart and obstruct their Qi flow. Zhu Butong had studied the Flood Dragon, which greatly benefited his martial arts. Naturally, he applied it now, aiming it at Li Xian.

Li Xian snorted coldly, took a step forward, and said, "Senior Zhu, what about now?" Though he felt his pores stand and his body grow cold, Li Xian had tempered a tenacious martial spirit through many life-and-death situations since he started practicing martial arts.

This kind of Qi absorption technique, no matter how strong, was useless against him.

"You..." Zhu Butong was taken aback.

Wen Caishang looked over appreciatively and softly said, "I'm sure Zhu Bro's defeat in this way will leave him unconvinced. This won't count; there should be another comparison."

"Say it again, how should we compare?" Zhu Butong said gruffly.

Wen Caishang walked to the edge of the boat, pointed to the river, and said, "Simple, whoever makes Shan Qingdao fall into the water first wins."

"Really?" Zhu Butong asked suspiciously, thinking, "Your young man is only in the Food Essence Realm. I fear he won't withstand a single slash from Shan Qingdao, how dare he say he'll make him fall into the water." He dared not voice this thought.

"Of course." Wen Caishang said.

Zhu Butong said, "Good!" and leaped. The golden saber was drawn, shimmering in light, as dragons roared and tigers howled.

Wen Caishang said, "Shoot his left leg." Li Xian, carrying a longbow, took an arrow and shot it at Shan Qingdao's left leg.

Shan Qingdao was startled, swung his saber to block, and deflected the arrow. He frowned toward the Dragon Ship. Wen Caishang said, "When I say shoot there, you shoot there."

"Seven arrows in succession, shoot at... the Spirit Platform, Xuanji... and other acupoints."

As soon as Wen Caishang finished speaking, Li Xian shot an arrow, without a moment's pause, coordinating perfectly.

"Four arrows in succession, aiming for the neck, eyes, torso, back."

The four arrows almost fired concurrently, with unmatched precision and great force.

"Very good, use three parts strength to shoot his forefinger, four parts to shoot his right shoulder. Lastly, with full force, shoot into the air."

Li Xian skillfully controlled the power. The last arrow was shot into the air; the wonder of it was that Shan Qingdao, with a splash, fell into the river, utterly astonished.

He was horrified, "Such terrifying swordsmanship, such terrifying archery!"

Using archery to execute sword techniques, Shan Qingdao, as if dueling with someone, retreated step by step, his weaknesses, flaws, and gaps fully exposed. In a last desperate attempt, he struck nothing but empty air.

And so, with a natural splash, he fell into the water.

Zhu Butong of the Golden Saber Earth Flood Dragon, hadn't even reached there when victory was already decided. But looking back, he dared not look down again.

He saw behind Li Xian, Madam Wen stood elegantly, suddenly smiling and whispering a few words. Li Xian turned his arrow and shot it towards Zhu Butong.

Zhu Butong deflected the flying arrow and realized it was extraordinary. The archery was exquisite, though not powerful in force. More impressively, the arrow targeted the flaws in his martial skills, breaking through with pinpoint accuracy. In a real fight, Wen Caishang could defeat him with a single arrow.

And with a splash, he too fell into the river, embarrassed beyond measure. The other experts on the boat: Su Yu, Qi Kaiyan, and others, all gasped.

Everyone thought the same, all feeling Li Xian had gained a great advantage. After this incident, they all thought, "Lady Zhe Jian's young man, so young, how did he hone such archery skills? Shooting precisely wherever pointed, with no hesitation, the control over power extremely detailed, and the arrows containing momentum... Such archery, in Lady Zhe Jian's hands, is like adding wings to a tiger!"

"This Lady Zhe Jian's swordsmanship is also extremely formidable. With just a showcase or two, it made Shan Qingdao lose his edge and Zhu Butong fall into the water."

Wen Caishang had a slight smile, having subdued the situation with invisible force.

Zhu Butong leaped out of the water, grabbing the boat's edge, and climbed aboard, feeling cramped inside but dared not act up.

The combat in the river continued.

On the Dragon Ship, Wen Caishang said, "The Flood Dragon crossing the water directly involves relying on the Benhua River for future trades."

"The most involved include the fishing and shipping businesses... Those relying on the river, they are most afraid of losing momentum. One family wants to help the Flood Dragon cross the water, while another wants to slay the dragon, eager for the Flood Dragon's death."

"Little Immortal, this Dragon Riding Boat was crafted by the Hong Shipyard. Earlier, I introduced you to Hong Muya, who is an expert from the Hong Shipyard. Now, the person who came to hunt the Flood Dragon and was shot into the river by you is Shan Qingdao from Shan Shipyard."

"In the Flood Dragon crossing the water, disputes arise. Treasure disputes, trade disputes... there will be more, just watch slowly."

Wen Caishang casually imparted Jianghu knowledge.

Li Xian muttered, "Jianghu relationships, benefits are complex. In the Jianghu, one can never truly avoid it."

As the Flood Dragon crosses the water, the further it goes, the more exhausted it becomes. Thus, in the miles ahead, although the Dragon Slaying Banquet setters have arranged obstructions, they rarely face the kill head-on.

Miles later, as the Flood Dragon gradually tires, the guests of the Dragon Slaying Banquet sharpen their blades, all ready, coming ever more fiercely!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.