The reason why the offspring are named "miscreants" rather than "dragons" is that these creatures haven’t evolved due to the blood of True Dragons but have mutated under its influence.
The rotting dragon blood flows within them, harboring immense hostility towards other dragon descendants, even thirst from deep within their souls.
"Three hundred years ago, a dragon descendant came from the depths of the East Sea intending to bring the dragon descendants of the Celestial Abyss back to the East Sea. Unfortunately, as soon as he appeared, he incited a riot among the Celestial Abyss miscreants, where that Golden Core dragon descendant was eaten alive and skinned."
Tuoba You stared at the dense mist below, his eyes wary.
"These miscreants possess extraordinary strength, further tainted by external heretic influences. They are not only traitors to the dragon kind but also a tumor of the Qi Kingdom... The Holy Sect has long wanted to eradicate these miscreants occupying the Celestial Abyss, but is powerless to do so, ultimately having to feed them great blood sacrifices."
"If not for being pressed, I wouldn’t willingly see the blood sacrifice at Chouyun Pass wasted... If these miscreants go too far, I will seize the opportunity to act."
Since many Artifact Refiners and Alchemists have fled to the Yan Kingdom, the upper echelons of the Duqing Sect realized that in the early period, rapid accumulation could rely on exploiting every last resource, but now things are different; the Duqing Sect has become a colossal force, and just relying on a short-sighted plunder style is ultimately unsustainable.
The steward, astonished at what he heard, responded quietly:
"What the master said is indeed true. The Sect Master has also lamented that if the Qi Land continues to remain barren, they won’t be able to nurture any blood sacrifices, and disciples of the Holy Sect might not even have pills for daily cultivation. If not for the huge disturbance at the Celestial Abyss this time, we’d be reluctant to throw all these hundreds of accumulated good meat in at once."
Tuoba You nodded, contemplating:
"In recent years, the cultivators of the Holy Sect have suffered heavy casualties... If there are any standout performances among this group of loose cultivators, you should pay attention. Afterward, permit them to join the Holy Sect. This way, it may inspire the loose cultivators’ morale."
"This..."
The steward hesitated at those words, cautiously saying,
"Master, but currently, Yan and Qi are at war. Recruiting loose cultivators may attract spies. Moreover, if the loose cultivators hear this information, they’ll likely be more anxious than excited, considering the Holy Sect is at war with Lingyin..."
If he were a loose cultivator, he would certainly feel that the Duqing Sect is recruiting disciples just to use them as cannon fodder in the war against Lingyin.
"Makes sense. I remember Lingyin has a regulation that new cultivators can practice at the sect for some time."
"Learn from Lingyin. If loose cultivators join Duqing Sect, allow them to train in the sect for three years and promise them ample benefits!"
"Such generous rewards shouldn’t be feared by those cowardly loose cultivators who won’t risk their lives."
Tuoba You let out a cold laugh, his gaze falling on the mist where the faint shadows of the loose cultivator team were,
"But right now, let’s see if they can survive the mouths of these miscreants. If they can’t even pass this test, they’re not qualified to enter the mountains of my Holy Sect."
...
At this moment, in the middle of the team.
Chen Ye’s steps were exceptionally steady, with Qing Jun gripping his left hand tightly and his right hand holding the fragile Jin’er. To outsiders, he looked like a destitute old man leading stragglers into the abyss to meet their deaths.
But in reality, his divine sense, capable of covering an area of two hundred feet, had already allowed him to hear Tuoba You and the others’ conversation clearly.
Miscreants?
Dragon descendant lineage?
Chen Ye’s brows slightly raised. He glanced at the little sloth hanging on his arm, feeling a strange sensation rise within him.
When it comes to dragon descendants, who could compare to the genuine little dragon beside him?
But according to Tuoba You,
these miscreants are different from ordinary dragon descendants, seemingly harboring intense hostility towards other dragon descendants.
"Ah—!"
Screams rang out again from the front, and due to the thick fog blocking their view, those behind couldn’t see what was happening; they only heard the sound of heavy objects falling and the grating noise of sharp claws scraping against stone.
"Don’t panic! Use your magical artifacts! Spread out to the sides!"
Someone from the front line loose cultivators shouted fiercely, followed by the sound of spiritual light explosions.
A few meager magical artifacts flickered in the mist but quickly dimmed again.
"Master..."
Jin’er’s small hand trembled slightly; she could feel the nauseating stench in the air growing stronger.
"This smell is so unpleasant that even the Divine Fire is repulsed by this odor."
The little girl shrank her neck: "It’s really stinky! Qing Jun feels like vomiting..."
This was the first time Qing Jun had encountered such a foul smell,
causing her to feel physically repulsed.
"Bear with it, stay close to me."
While Chen Ye comforted them, he secretly honed his divine sense into a focused beam.
This time, in the mist a hundred feet ahead, he clearly saw the three massive miscreants.
Unlike the small humanoid creature before,
these three miscreants, with limbs on the ground and backs bristling with dense bone spikes, agilely jumped through the mist, killing loose cultivators at ease.
"These three, they have the level of Fourth-Layer Foundation Establishment??"
Chen Ye was secretly shocked.
The Fourth-Layer Foundation Establishment was already significant, considered notable in various sects.
"Quick! Use the magic disc and retreat towards the master!"
In panic, several loose cultivators desperately retreated towards the high platform where Tuoba You and other Duqing Sect cultivators were located.
But they hadn’t run far.
"Pfft—!"
A barbed long tongue suddenly shot out from the dense fog, piercing a loose cultivator’s skull like lightning.
Then, the entire loose cultivator was forcibly dragged into the shadow of the abyss, only to hear his continuous screams.
"Chirp chirp!"
A little white fox stealthily popped out half of its head from Qing Jun’s pouch, its gaze heavy.