Chapter 572: Little Marten Appears, Brotherly Bonds
The resonant cry of dragons reverberated across the sky as two figures materialized in front of Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander. Behind these newcomers, a powerful presence formed into the shadowy silhouette of an enormous dragon, its oppressive aura dominating the entire region.
The sudden appearance of these two figures instantly drew numerous astonished gazes. Members of the usually elusive Dragon Clan were now unexpectedly present, causing the situation to shift dramatically.
"The Dragon Clan, huh..."
Lin Langtian observed the two figures with a slight frown, then unconsciously glanced toward Lin Dong. In a certain sense, as Qing Zhi's disciple, Lin Dong indeed had considerable connections with the Dragon Clan.
Under everyone's attentive gaze, the dragon-shaped energy behind the two newcomers gradually dissipated, revealing their stern, middle-aged faces, each radiating undeniable authority. The aura emanating from them clearly indicated they had reached the Samsara Stage. Such cultivation levels granted them considerable status even within the Dragon Clan.
Upon arrival, the two individuals first glanced at the heavily wounded and bedraggled Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander, before turning their attention to the calm Lin Langtian and the enormous, sinister wolf claw hovering in mid-air. Their expressions turned solemn, wary of the terrifying abilities exhibited by this young man who was only at Perfect Profound Death Stage yet capable of unleashing such astounding power.
"Brother Duan, save me!" Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander shouted urgently, seeing the newcomers.
"Haha, my human friend, I am Duan Tao of the Dragon Clan. Could you perhaps enlighten me on what Heavenly Dragon has done to deserve such harsh treatment?" one of the middle-aged men, Duan Tao, asked politely with a faint smile.
"He attempted to kill me and ended up defeated. Survival of the fittest—this principle is commonplace on the Tianxuan Continent, isn't it?" Lin Langtian replied nonchalantly.
"My friend, Heavenly Dragon is already heavily injured. If your intent was to punish him, your goal has surely been met. Can we consider this matter settled here?" the other middle-aged Dragon Clan member urged calmly, clearly inclined to support Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander.
"I prefer not to leave loose ends," Lin Langtian replied coldly.
Though in another timeline, Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander eventually joined Lin Dong and Little Flame's forces, right now, he was still an unrestrained threat. Naturally, Lin Langtian wouldn't casually spare him.
Duan Tao frowned at Lin Langtian's stubbornness. Their respectful approach had already been a significant concession. Yet, Lin Langtian showed no willingness to compromise.
"Heavenly Dragon is considered a member of our Dragon Clan. Due to his contributions, despite his mixed blood, he was personally granted the Dragon Totem by our Third Elder. If we allowed him to be killed publicly, what would become of our clan's prestige?"
Duan Tao fixed his gaze on Lin Langtian. "Do you truly intend to provoke the Dragon Clan over such a minor grievance?"
"Hmph! Who cares about your damned Dragon Clan? If someone dares harm my brothers, even the Dragon Clan won't stop me!"
Just as tensions escalated, an exceptionally domineering voice echoed through the skies. Hearing this familiar voice, Lin Dong and Little Flame both stiffened momentarily, then abruptly turned their heads.
Far away in the sky, a surge of majestic purple-black light descended. Amid the glow, four figures strode forward in mid-air. Leading them was a slender, handsome youth in black clothing, whose familiar, attractive features were twisted slightly by an intense, violent killing intent.
Absolute silence descended upon the mountains. The sudden appearance of these unknown figures radiated an undeniably dangerous aura.
No one recognized these unexpected visitors' identity, yet their mere presence was suffused with menace.
The handsome youth halted, raising his head and staring defiantly at Duan Tao and his companion from afar. He revealed a charming yet sinister smile, declaring arrogantly, "This mixed-blood bird is mine. Even if your Dragon Clan objects, my decision stands!"
The shocking phrase "mixed-blood bird" echoed distinctly across the quiet mountain range, causing everyone's lips to twitch involuntarily. No one could have imagined someone openly disrespecting Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander—especially right in front of members of the Dragon Clan.
Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander was not only a Samsara Stage expert but also a Six-winged Flying Dragon with dragon blood coursing through his veins. Even if diluted, his dragon heritage was a point of pride and intimidation.
Yet now, this supposedly honorable bloodline was mockingly reduced to "mixed-blood bird" by the smiling youth, publicly disgracing him before true Dragon Clan powerhouses.
Everyone anxiously glanced at Duan Tao and his companion, awaiting their reaction. Surprisingly, rather than anger, the faces of Duan Tao and his partner grew increasingly solemn.
"The Celestial Demon Marten Clan? Why have you intervened in this matter?" Duan Tao asked cautiously, recognizing the youth immediately.
As one of the Four Overlord Clans alongside the Dragon Clan, the Celestial Demon Marten Clan was equally formidable. Thus, the appearance of Little Marten complicated matters immensely.
"The Celestial Demon Marten Clan?!" Shocked murmurs erupted from the gathered crowd. Today's events were truly astounding, as two of the Four Overlord Clans had now appeared simultaneously!
"Hmph! Only your Dragon Clan can protect your allies, but my brothers cannot seek backing? This bird harmed my brothers, and today, he must pay the price!" Little Marten coldly retorted, glancing protectively toward Lin Dong, Lin Langtian, and Little Flame.
"These are your brothers?" Duan Tao's expression darkened slightly, troubled by this unforeseen complication.
"Brother Duan…" Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander anxiously looked toward Duan Tao, deeply concerned now that the Celestial Demon Marten Clan had involved itself.
Duan Tao calmly patted Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander's shoulder reassuringly, then turned toward Little Marten with a conciliatory tone. "My friend, there must have been some misunderstanding. Heavenly Dragon is severely wounded already. Could we perhaps resolve this peacefully to maintain harmony between our two clans?"
"You wish! I'll repeat myself clearly—if you insist on protecting him, bear the consequences yourselves!" Little Marten's eyes flashed dangerously.
The overt threat made Duan Tao's expression harden instantly. "Do you truly have the authority to speak this way?"
"Haha, our young lord, Little Marten, is one of the future candidates for the next Patriarch of the Celestial Demon Marten Clan. What do you think?" A middle-aged man beside Little Marten chuckled lightly.
"Patriarch candidate?"
Hearing this, Duan Tao's pupils contracted sharply, his expression turning grim. They had suspected Little Marten's status was significant but had underestimated him entirely.
As fellow Overlord Clans, they clearly understood the profound implications. If Little Marten truly became the next Celestial Demon Marten Patriarch, today's events could seed future animosity, potentially affecting relations between their clans significantly.
Duan Tao and his companion exchanged grave glances, deeply conflicted. Allowing Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander's public execution would disgrace their clan, yet offending the future leader of the Celestial Demon Marten Clan was equally perilous.
The oppressive atmosphere persisted. Just as Little Marten prepared to advance, Lin Langtian exchanged a glance with Lin Dong. Understanding Lin Langtian's intention, Lin Dong immediately appeared beside Little Marten, gently holding his arm.
"Let's leave it at this for today," Lin Dong said softly.
Lin Langtian appeared as well, smiling warmly. "Dong is right. There's no need to escalate this further. Heavenly Dragon has already suffered greatly."
Little Marten hesitated briefly before the hostility gradually faded from his eyes. Though unafraid of conflict, he agreed it was unnecessary. Clearly, they had already won decisively, as evidenced by Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander's wretched state.
"Truly magnanimous," Duan Tao hastily expressed relief. "Allow me to apologize on Heavenly Dragon's behalf."
"There's no need for apologies," Lin Langtian replied with a slight smile. "The treasure I took from him earlier is sufficient compensation."
"Lin Langtian, you!" Heavenly Dragon Demon Commander exploded furiously upon hearing this, recalling his stolen Nine Heavens Heavy Peak.
"Quiet!" Duan Tao scolded sternly, silencing him immediately.
"Very well, let it be settled. Heavenly Dragon won't trouble you again," Duan Tao declared diplomatically.
Little Marten nodded coldly. "Make sure of it, or next time, I won't be so merciful."
The tension diffused as Little Flame joyfully greeted Little Marten, warmly calling him "Second Brother." Little Marten smiled affectionately, lightly teasing Little Flame's impressive cultivation progress.
Finally, Little Marten turned toward Lin Langtian, respectfully addressing him as "Brother Langtian," acknowledging the deeper bonds shared through Lin Dong.
Then, turning directly to Lin Dong, Little Marten hesitated momentarily before finally shrugging off his usual reservations. Under countless astonished gazes, he comfortably and openly addressed Lin Dong, finally calling him what he had previously found slightly awkward:
"Big Brother."
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