Chapter 144: Do not come any closer, absolutely do not come any closer!

The military trucks sped along at an astonishing pace. Due to the frequent Dream Disasters plaguing this world, traffic on the highways was sparse. Before escorting the Black Dragon King, the Dream Crossing Association had cleared the roads, leaving no vehicles to obstruct their path. This allowed the convoy to move faster than anyone could have imagined.

Like streaks of dark green, the trucks roared out of Jiangling City, heading swiftly toward the capital. These military vehicles were specialized creations from the Research Office’s Experimental Division. Not only could they travel at exceptional speeds, but when necessary, they could channel Dream Spirit energy, surging through the Dream Spirit to achieve a quantum leap in velocity. Inside, the cabins were remarkably quiet and comfortable.

Du Fang sat calmly inside one of the vehicles, surrounded by several others—his assistant, Zhao Lingyin, and members of the Azure Wolf Squad. Except for the captain, Cang Yuan, the rest of the squad shared the same vehicle with Du Fang. He remained composed and serene, while his assistant appeared a bit restless.

The Azure Wolf Squad was the capital’s premier Dream Crossing team, far stronger than any gold-tier team from Jiangling City. Captain Cang Yuan was a national-level Dream Cross Master, and every member of the squad ranked at the city-level or higher. Such a team was formidable beyond imagination, arguably the best in the entire Daxia Nation. No gold-tier team from Jiangling, not even the Wildfire Squad, could compare.

Du Fang closed his eyes slightly, resting briefly. Sitting beside him, Luo Luo played with a small pink pig toy, molding it into various shapes. His wife’s hand quietly rested atop his own, while his sister-in-law leaned against the cabin wall, legs elegantly crossed with a sketchpad on her lap, softly drawing with a pencil.

Despite appearances, the cabin was far from silent. His assistant and Zhao Lingyin chattered excitedly. Though there had been some tension between them before, the simplicity of female friendship soon dissolved their awkwardness. Even the somewhat straightforward Zhao Lingyin happily joined the conversation. The journey was anything but lonely for the two.

Suddenly, Du Fang, who had his eyes closed, slowly opened them and raised an eyebrow. A strange emotion flickered across his face. With his strength having grown, his sensitivity to Dream Spirit fluctuations was no longer weak. Through his perception, he detected multiple terrifying auras rapidly approaching, their intentions clearly hostile.

“We’ve barely left Jiangling City, and trouble’s already brewing...” Du Fang muttered.

Zhao Lingyin, chatting animatedly with the assistant beside her, looked over in confusion. “Du Ge, what did you say?”

Perhaps feeling more familiar with the assistant, Zhao Lingyin also addressed Du Fang as “Du Ge.” She didn’t mind the title, for among her peers, anyone who could defeat her deserved that respect; others were just juniors.

“Nothing much, just that... some trouble is likely ahead,” Du Fang replied with a smile. “But we’re being escorted by the capital’s gold-tier squad. They should be able to handle it—no big deal.”

Zhao Lingyin nodded, half-understanding, then turned back to continue her lively chat.

***

Inside the military truck imprisoning the Black Dragon King, the drowsy figure suddenly snapped his eyes open. His eyes flickered with confusion, then blankness, and finally terror.

“Damn it!” he growled. “What’s going on? Who let you come? What the hell are you here for?”

The Black Dragon King’s usual elegance was gone, his face black as ink with rage. As the Dream Demon Dragon King of the Celestial Demon Organization, he was naturally highly attuned to the presence of his kind. When other powerful members of the Celestial Demon Organization appeared, he instantly sensed them.

Why were they here? Without a doubt, he knew—Old Chang, the driver, had escaped back to the organization and summoned reinforcements.

But… the Black Dragon King didn’t want help!

“Old Chang, you’re gonna get me killed!” he howled in despair.

He was well aware that Du Fang was among the convoy; if Du Fang suspected betrayal, the Black Dragon King feared he wouldn’t even know how he’d die.

He had always been cautious—was he really going to be undone by his own driver?

“Don’t come any closer! Stay away!” he shouted, stirring his Dream Spirit to warn the approaching Celestial Demon members.

***

In the second truck, Captain Cang Yuan of the Azure Wolf Squad sat upright, flipping through books and documents. As a national-level Dream Cross Master, his sensitivity to Dream Spirit fluctuations was acute. He, too, sensed the upheaval coming from the Black Dragon King’s vehicle.

He turned his gaze toward that truck, narrowing his eyes. “Such intense Dream Spirit fluctuations... is this a message?”

“Of course,” he thought. “The Celestial Demon Organization’s Dragon King wouldn’t be so willingly captured. Trouble is brewing as soon as we leave Jiangling City.”

Cracking his neck with a crisp pop, a flash of deadly intent sparked in his eyes. The Celestial Demon Organization wanted to rescue the Black Dragon King? If they dared to show up, they must be ready to pay the ultimate price.

Cang Yuan’s truck would not be so easily taken.

Closing the book, he took out a large cleaver and rested it across his lap, his palm tracing its cold blade. This was no ordinary weapon; it was a Forbidden Sequence 088 armament, imbued with unfathomable power.

He did not act immediately, nor did he move.

Instead, he waited.

He wouldn’t startle the prey. He would wait for it to come willingly.

***

In the dense woods flanking the highway, leaves trembled softly. A figure passed by with hands behind his back, lightly stepping on the foliage to stir it like fluttering silks. His movement was graceful and effortless.

Within the forest, several figures raced swiftly, lifting their feet to muffle footsteps. Old Chang, the driver, clad in a black suit and sunglasses, crouched behind a group of Celestial Demon Dream Demons.

This time, the crisis in Jiangling City had escalated to a new level.

Hence, so many powerful reinforcements had been summoned.

Two exiled Dragon Kings at the national-level and several city-devastating Celestial Demon Dream Demons.

To rescue the Black Dragon King, the Celestial Demon Organization had truly put their all on the line.

This was all out of respect and friendship for the Black Dragon King.

Everyone recognized him; all were his friends, which was why they were here to rescue him in Jiangling City.

A faint buzzing suddenly filled the air.

It was a unique Dream Spirit signal—the Demons’ secret communication method. By shaking the air with Dream Spirit waves and decoding the resulting patterns, they could transmit messages covertly. Only members of the Celestial Demon Organization used this method.

“It’s the Black Dragon King! He sensed our arrival and sent a message!”

“Begin cracking the secret transmission now!”

The Golden Dragon King and the Crimson Dragon King exchanged a glance, both revealing a hint of joy.

Among all the Dragon Kings, these three shared the closest bond.

Unfortunately, the Black Dragon King’s path had been fraught with hardship. He had focused on perfecting his physical form, resulting in his power plateauing at the advanced city-devastating level for a long time.

Unlike them, who had repeatedly changed bodies, their strength had long surpassed the city-devastating level, reaching national exile-level.

The Golden Dragon King closed his eyes, beginning to decrypt the message.

From the intensity of the Dream Spirit ripples, he discerned the content.

“Don’t come near! Stay away!”

“Go away!”

The Golden Dragon King opened his eyes.

The two Dragon Kings looked at each other, speechless.

The message was unexpected.

“The Black Dragon King… still so kind-hearted. He doesn’t want us to risk ourselves for him. He’s telling us to leave, not to come!”

“Indeed, the escorting Dream Crossing squad heading to the capital is formidable—the Azure Wolf Squad, with Captain Cang Yuan, a national-level Dream Cross Master…”

“This lineup is strong! Yet the Black Dragon King underestimates us.”

“He is kind-hearted, but since we’re here, we won’t abandon him. We can’t just watch him be escorted to the capital’s Dream Demon prison. Once there, he may never see the light of day again.”

“Moreover, at the capital’s Dream Demon prison, the Research Office might take him away for dissection, bone extraction, experiments, torment… worse than death!”

“No. We must rescue the Black Dragon King today!”

The Golden Dragon King and Crimson Dragon King made their decision.

Their forces were certainly no weaker than the Azure Wolf Squad.

The chance to save the Black Dragon King was very high.

“Let’s move!” the Golden Dragon King said, turning to the Crimson Dragon King.

The Crimson Dragon King nodded.

In the next moment, a surge of Dream Spirit burst from between their brows, like a blazing inferno sweeping across everything.

Behind the Crimson Dragon King, the shadow of a fiery red dragon spread its wings, blotting out the sky—the national exile-level Celestial Demon Dragon King!

Its aura was so overwhelming that even the heavens seemed to tremble.

Boom!

The highway cracked and collapsed instantly, stones heaving and the ground becoming uneven and treacherous.

The screech of tires against the rough road echoed loudly.

The convoy was forced to halt.

The Crimson Dragon King hovered, the fiery dragon shadow roaring behind him.

The Golden Dragon King stepped forward, golden light dazzling like the sun itself ascending.

The two Dragon Kings floated above the highway, towering and imposing.

“Black Dragon King… don’t be afraid. We’ve come to save you!”

Inside the prison truck, the Black Dragon King listened to the roaring voices and looked through the window at the two dragons floating above, their oppressive presence and proud arrogance filling the air.

He slowly raised his hand, covering his face.

“You two are the hidden dragons and phoenixes, aren’t you? Can’t you understand Dragon-speak? Didn’t I say, don’t come near, don’t come near?! Are you taking me for someone polite?”

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