Chapter 11: Duel of the Dragon Knights

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The Mage gripped his staff, softly chanting a series of incantations. With a wave, arcs of lightning split the air toward the Dragon Knight, the intense electrical current crackling and popping.

Without waiting for its master’s command, the flying dragon swiftly dodged to the side. The missed lightning bolts struck the ground, blasting a huge, deep crater.

The dragon swooped toward the Mage, stirring up a fierce gale. The Mage swiftly drifted sideways, his staff waving again. Dozens of ice spears, screeching as they tore through the air, glinting with a cold, murderous light, surged toward the Dragon Knight in a wide arc.

There was no time to dodge. Brandishing his Dragon-Slaying Spear, the Dragon Knight unleashed bursts of crimson fighting aura from its tip, shattering the ice spears, which fell to the ground in pieces. Then, urging his dragon forward, he charged at the Mage. The spear danced, sending out slivers of fighting aura like sword blades, hissing toward the Mage.

The Mage dodged frantically, chanting a spell and erecting a shield of water-blue magic to protect himself. But the Dragon Knight’s fighting aura was abnormally powerful, seemingly capable of piercing anything. Cracks appeared in the magic shield, drawing startled cries from the Mage.

The Dragon Knight laughed heartily. “Didn’t I say? Dragon Knights are the bane of Mages. You’re finished!” The dragon relentlessly pursued the Mage through the air.

A cold smile flickered at the corner of the Mage’s mouth. The instant the magic shield shattered, he gently waved his staff. A flurry of wind blades, glinting coldly, shot toward the Dragon Knight, followed by massive lightning bolts. Waves of intense magical fluctuations rippled through the air.

The Dragon Knight’s expression changed drastically. In haste, his body erupted with a blinding burst of light. A crimson fighting aura blocked the ice blades and lightning. But after a moment, the aura’s brilliance began to dim.

The watching Chu courtiers showed pleased expressions. But the high-level talents of the Qishi Mansion remained utterly expressionless.

This was Chen Nan’s first time witnessing a duel between a Dragon Knight and a Mage. This aerial combat felt novel. He pondered silently, “Just what level must a martial artist reach to fly through the air under their own power?“

Suddenly, the situation reversed. The Dragon Knight’s robes exploded into tatters, his hair stood on end, and a crimson fighting aura blazed around him like raging flames.

“Die, weak mage!”

Enveloped in the crimson aura, the Dragon Knight and his dragon charged forward. The wind blades slid aside, and the lightning’s energy weakened, crackling and sputtering out.

Terrified, the Mage had no time to dodge. He hastily raised another magic shield, but it was useless against the Dragon Knight’s powerful charge, shattering in an instant. The Mage was struck by the dragon’s massive body, screaming as he plummeted toward the ground, leaving a trail of blood in the air.

Gasps rose from the onlookers. Rescue personnel rushed to the scene. Upon close inspection, they found the Mage’s ribs completely shattered; he was already dead.

The Dragon Knight threw his head back with a long roar. His dragon followed with a cry, soaring and dipping through the air, a majestic sight.

No one had expected the powerful Mage to be defeated in an instant. The Dragon Knight strutted and swaggered in the sky. The faces of the Chu ruler and his subjects were uniformly grim.

At that moment, perhaps only the little princess was smiling. Gazing at the flying dragon, she muttered, “Never thought such an ugly fellow could be so strong. If only I had one too, I could fly anywhere. Sigh… But this dragon is probably in for it. When that scoundrel Chen Nan’s turn comes, he’ll definitely shoot it down with an arrow.”

Thinking of Chen Nan’s restored strength gave the little princess complex feelings. Initially, she hadn’t the slightest fondness for him. Later, after reducing him to a state of powerlessness, a tiny flicker of guilt had stirred within her. But recalling the ordeal of being captured by him filled her with such shame and anger that she wished the ground would swallow her.

“That hateful, wretched thief! Sooner or later, I’ll teach him a proper lesson. Don’t think what happened before is just over.”

If Chen Nan knew the little princess was scheming against him again, who knows what he’d think?

The Empress asked, “Yu’er, what are you muttering about?”

“Oh, nothing.”

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By now, Sima Lingkong had already flown in on his dragon from outside the palace. The watching crowd cheered. Sima Lingkong felt utterly exhilarated, as if he had transformed into the legendary hero saving the day.

He searched the crowd and finally spotted Nalan Ruoshui. To his disappointment, she didn’t seem to be looking at him at all, which infuriated him. Turning his head, he looked toward Chen Nan, who was watching him with a faint, mocking smile. Rage surged in Sima Lingkong’s heart; he longed to rush over and crush that detestable fellow.

Two Dragon Knights faced each other in the sky, their flying dragons glaring fiercely at one another.

Suddenly, a long roar rose from the ground, piercing the clouds. Another flying dragon, summoned by the cry, flew in from the distance. Circling once above the training grounds, it descended. Another Tianyang Dragon Knight leapt onto it and soared into the air.

“Junior Brother, go down and rest. I’ll handle this one.”

“Second Senior Brother, I’m not tired. Let me finish this guy off first, then I’ll rest.”

“No. Go down and rest immediately. This one is mine.”

Sima Lingkong was so angry he could almost feel his nose twisting. These two acted as if he weren’t even there, treating him with utter contempt. He bellowed, “Are you two done bickering? Which one of you wants to die first?”

The Dragon Knight who had battled the Mage earlier glared at him, then turned to the newly arrived one. “Second Senior Brother, I’ll leave this one to you. Take him and his dragon out.” With that, he rode his dragon down to the ground.

Sima Lingkong was livid. He sneered, “We’ll see who takes out whom!”

Both Dragon Knights wielded the long, broad greatswords typical of the West, their cold glint daunting.

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

They urged their dragons forward simultaneously. The two dragons stirred up fierce gales. Blasts of fighting aura erupted from their greatswords, the dazzling aura like twin bolts of lightning, a faint rumbling echoing through the sky.

The watching Chu court officials were mesmerized, as if they themselves were in the thick of battle.

The bursts of fighting aura collided mid-air, erupting in a blinding flash of light, sending waves of intense energy rippling out.

Both dragons, affected by the energy, swayed before flying off to either side.

Sima Lingkong and the other Dragon Knight felt their chests and abdomens heave. The first exchange was evenly matched; their strength seemed on par.

Once more, they drove their dragons toward each other. Fighting aura crisscrossed and clashed violently as the two combatants joined battle.