Jared spun toward Everett, determination blazing in his golden eyes. “Everett, take everyone inside! Grab everything that isn’t nailed down. Leave these five to me!”
“But Mr. Chance, they’re five Level Nine Wandering Immortals!” Everett gasped.
“Move, or there won’t even be soup left for us!” Jared roared and swung the Dragonslayer Sword. A thunderous golden arc blasted the thick iron gate to powder.
Flaxseed whooped and bolted through the opening. “Hurry up! If we’re late, there won’t be anything left for us to loot!”
Realizing hesitation would be fatal, Everett grit his teeth and waved his arm. “Azurecloud Sect disciples, with me! Empty the vault!”
Hundreds of disciples poured in, some hauling celestial ores, others sweeping up magical items. The treasury erupted into frantic activity.
“Think you can rob us?” Ghostmask sneered. The black flame on his fingertip flared into a serpentine torrent that shot toward the vault entrance. “Stay where you are!”
Clang!
Jared flashed before the doorway, sword crosswise. The Dragonslayer Sword met the black fire, sparks exploded.
A brute force flooded Jared’s arm, numbing it. He slid three steps back before steadying himself, and a faint scorch mark marred the swords gleaming surface.
Strange… Days ago was beneath me. Why the sudden surge in power?
Jared frowned. Then noticed the subtle current of energy linking Ghostmask to his four companions. He’s siphoning strength from the others.
“Interesting…” The crimson-clad woman giggled, stepping forward. Her nine ribbons surged like a tide toward Jared.
“Young man, my Allure Binding Silk is nothing like those petty seductions you met in the Bloodshadow Palace…”
Even before the ribbons reached him, a cloying, metallic scent invaded Jared‘s senses. His vision swam, but forced his Focus Technique to life, golden light burst from his brow, scattering the charm.
By then, the ribbons were upon him, every strand edged with spatial-rending sharpness.
He had no time to weigh his options. Snapping his left hand into a rapid seal, summoned a shimmering Golden Dragon that burst to life behind him.
Facing five formidable opponents, Jared dared not swagger; all could do was hurl every last ounce of strength into the fight.
The Golden Dragon roared, its draconic energy crashing into the scarlet ribbons with a sky-splitting explosion.
The blood-red ribbons snapped apart under the furious gale.
The woman staggered, blood trickling from the corner of lips. “A Golden Dragon? So you really are a Draconian!”
“He’s from the Golden Dragon clan?” Ghostmask let greed flicker in his eyes. “No wonder you can fight beyond your cultivation level and wipe out whole sects. That body will benefit us nicely!”
The bare-chested giant behind him, could no longer restrain himself. Swinging his massive axes, bellowed, “Who cares what blood he’s got! Split in two first!”
The axes, heavy enough to fell mountains, hurtled down. The Golden Dragon opened Its Jaws and bellowed back in defiance.
With a sickening crack, the dragon’s radiant body split open, the wound so deep bone flashed beneath scales of light.
Jared felt a dull thud in his chest, and a bitter wash of blood surged into his throat.
Just then, the figure shrouded in white mist struck without warning, a silent ice-blue blast of wind shooting toward Jared’s back.
“Watch out!” Flaxseed’s shout echoed from the vault as a charm streaked out to deflect the icy wind.
The rescue left Jared exposed, Ghostmask’s Black Fire Serpent lashed forward again, striking for his face.
At that critical moment, Jared bit through his tongue and spat blood essence across the Dragonslayer Sword.
The blade erupted in blinding gold; the Golden Dragon instantly regenerated, soaring aloft with a roar that rattled heaven and earth.
“Attack!” Jared roared, sending the dragon lunging, Jaws wide, at the Black Fire Serpent.
Boom!
The impact seemed to tear the sky apart; what little remained of Bloodshadow Palace crumbled to dust in the shockwave.
