Chapter 126: Humanity and the Myriad Races

Outside the formation, the little old man, transformed from the Nether Demon Flood Dragon, wore an expression of astonishment. Due to his close proximity, he could sense a profoundly powerful formation beneath him.

He had felt puzzled earlier, sensing strange fluctuations in the vicinity that had vanished in an instant. Given that he was only a step away from the Divine Realm, few things in this world could evade his perception, yet this formation before him...

Frowning slightly, the Nether Demon Flood Dragon pressed his hand against the barrier and closed his eyes.

A terrifying aura began to emanate from him. One could clearly see a pitch-black energy pouring out from his body, rapidly blanketing the bowl-shaped exterior of the formation. Had it been a clear day instead of the dead of night, one would have seen a massive, inverted grayish-black bowl sitting atop the empty surface of the ocean.

A moment later, the Nether Demon Flood Dragon opened his eyes, his astonishment deepening. He discovered that the formation was truly uncanny, as it drew upon the natural power of the sea to maintain its operation. Furthermore, the stronger the natural forces outside, the more potent the formation became—such ingenious craftsmanship was rare indeed.

However, the Nether Demon Flood Dragon quickly realized that this formation could not have occurred naturally. Based on his knowledge of the world’s various species, he concluded instantly that this was the work of humans; it could only be the work of humans.

Humans? At that thought, his gaze turned cold and sharp. In the entire cultivation world, if there was one race that all others loathed above all, it was humanity.

Human resilience, their omnipresence, their bizarre and ingenious ideas, and their insatiable greed—everything about them was an indelible nightmare in the eyes of all other races.

The Nether Demon Flood Dragon had visited human cities after he gained the ability to shapeshift, staying for a long period. It was during that time that the terror of humanity was deeply branded into his mind.

He had read many human books, and the one that incited his greatest fury was a volume titled "The Record of Ten Thousand Beasts." He recalled that the book contained almost every insect, bird, fish, and beast on the Tianfeng Continent, detailing their appearances, habits, and habitats.

If it had merely recorded these, he would not have been angry. What truly enraged him was that, beneath each entry, the book detailed methods of hunting, which parts of their bodies could be harvested for materials, what artifacts could be crafted from them, and even, most egregiously, whether they were edible and what effects consuming them might have.

What did humans take the myriad races for? Mere materials and food?

Finally, when he reached the page detailing the Nether Demon Flood Dragon, he went berserk. That day, he reverted to his true form and razed the city to the ground, leaving not a single survivor.

Watching the fear in the eyes of those humans as they faced death, the Nether Demon Flood Dragon had felt immense satisfaction. That day, blinded by bloodlust, he leveled several neighboring towns as well. He believed that such creatures as humans had no place in this world; he would slaughter them all.

Yet, reality taught him a harsh lesson. The very next day, he was ambushed by two peerless human experts. He fled in defeat, and had he not been close to the sea, he would never have survived. It was then that he realized the depth of human concealment, their patience, and the unfathomable nature of their power.

Peerless experts gone? Rubbish! A massive group of ancient, decrepit monsters lay in wait, merely biding their time for a chance to reap a great profit. Even now, he could remember the crazed words of those two pursuers and the faint, green-tinged glow in their eyes as they looked at him.

After that incident, he never returned to a human city. After all, the land was not his domain; he dared not gamble that he would be so lucky a second time.

Though he could no longer venture onto land to slaughter human towns, his hatred for them only grew more intense. He began to roam the seas, and every ship or flying vessel he encountered met the same fate. Because the ocean was his domain, he even managed to kill two top-tier human experts, which filled him with excitement.

In his view, no matter how resilient humans were, they could never conquer the ocean. This was the only thing he took comfort in.

Yet, he had believed this all along, only to discover a human-made formation here in the middle of the ocean, amidst the raging hurricanes and tsunamis.

Had humans already found a way to conquer the sea? How could this be allowed!

Instantly, an even more terrifying aura surged from his body, and the very sky seemed to darken under its influence. However, the Nether Demon Flood Dragon soon retracted his pressure.

Staring at the grayish-black barrier, he fell silent for a moment before flickering and appearing where the formation met the seawater.

While beasts might lack the imagination and creativity of humans, it did not mean their intelligence was inferior—especially not for a Nether Demon Flood Dragon who had lived for three thousand years. If the formation relied on the power of the sea to operate, then the source of that power must be its weak point.

Others might not know what to do even if they found this point, but the Nether Demon Flood Dragon could, for the ocean was his home, and his understanding of its power was unmatched.

With a thought, a vast wave of black energy spilled from his body into the water. He pressed his hand against the invisible barrier once more and closed his eyes.

"Boom!"

Driven by the hurricane, a monstrous wave crashed against the formation. At that moment, the Nether Demon Flood Dragon’s brow furrowed; he had felt it.

As the wave receded, a nearly imperceptible trace of black energy followed the natural currents of the sea into the formation protecting the island. As the formation continued to operate, this black energy rapidly spread throughout it. Within the span of a single incense stick, the entire formation was permeated by it.

"So that is how it is," the Nether Demon Flood Dragon muttered.

Through the circulation of the black energy, he gained an understanding of how the formation functioned. He could not help but admire human imagination and creativity; such an exquisite method of borrowing the power of nature for one’s own use was something only humans could conceive and execute. He even realized that, despite now having full knowledge of the formation, he could never construct one himself if he tried.

Humans were truly terrifying.

The Nether Demon Flood Dragon remained silent for a moment, then a fierce glint erupted in his eyes. He raised his hand and tore through the barrier.

So what if they were terrifying? On this sea, they would still die.