The Dragon King’s bat-like wings flapped. A fiendish grin curled his lips. Dyon wasn’t very shocked to see a sharpened row of shark teeth, but he was a bit off put by the fact they were black as well.

“Never mind. That’s not scary, that’s just gross.” Dyon grimaced and cringed.

Crystella’s gaze slowly turned toward Dyon, as though scared that if she moved too quickly, the Dragon King would kill her first. She simply couldn’t understand what was going on. Dyon knew this Dragon? And even dared to call him an old lizard? What was going on?

Dragons, even the weakest of them, were untouchable existences. They were a Hegemon that stood on par with Pill Sword Mountain. Crystella didn’t dare to offend such a person.

On top of this, even if the Dragon King didn’t have such backing, she still wouldn’t dare to offend him lightly. The Dragon King’s cultivation was far below hers, but lineage was far too important on the immortal plane. Suppression didn’t just happen between those of the same race, but happened across all races here.

One shouldn’t take Dyon as an example. A normal mortal could only grovel before an Immortal. It wasn’t just a matter of power, but of a difference in quality.

It had to be remembered that immortals could instinctually point out a mortal by the movement of the air, qi and earth around them. This logic extended toward Immortals as well. Different qualities of Immortal Bodies received separations in the support they received from the Heavens.

Just by existing, Crystella suppressed Tedric and Kywen because she was born with a higher grade Immortal Body. By the same token, despite the fact the Dragon King received the weakest of Dragon blood Immortal Bodies due to the fact he transcended from the mortal plane, he was still several levels superior to a weaker bloodline like the Nightwell Clan.

The difference between Crystella and the Dragon King was already so large, yet Dyon had already strolled by her, in the air no less as though an Immortal Law expert, and stood a mere meter away from the Dragon completely unperturbed.

“… It took me 70 years to make it here… You’ve become quite famous in that time… Congratulations on your third place finish, I feel like I’ve watched you grow up.”

Dyon wasn’t very surprised by the Dragon King’s casual and light demeanor despite his appearance. After all, the Dragon King was a known prankster. Why else would he keep half his spirit on the mortal plane for entertainment?

Instead, he tilted his head in confusion for another reason. “Third place?”

“Oh? You’re unaware, shame. You placed third on the certification exam leader board. Your name is already known far and wide. But unfortunately, I’m going to need you to come with me without taking advantage of that.”

“Third place? What the hell?” Dyon’s lip twitched.

In truth, those watching trying to breathe as softly as possible felt a bit bad for him. They believed he was lamenting how quickly his life of fame was ending. But, his next words left them speechless.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me there was a leader board? You’re telling me there’s two people who think they’re better than me? What bull**.”

The Dragon King, seemingly used to Dyon, laughed uproariously.

“Indeed, you should have put in a bit more effort instead of messing around. Unfortunately, there’s only one chance to take your first certification exam.”

“Tsk…” Dyon’s lip curled, clearly not very happy. “… So you know what this thing is? Is that what the three means?”

Dyon pulled out the cauldron paper weight that had held the number 3 on it.

No matter what Tedric and Kywen had said before, it was only because there was still some room to doubt that Dyon was in fact who he said he was. But, after seeing this ‘paperweight’, their faces turned as pale as a white sheet. Even Crystella uncontrollably trembled.

That thing Dyon called a paperweight held a level of authority they couldn’t fathom. In a lot of ways, maybe Dyon was lucky that he hadn’t gotten first place because there was no way Pill Sword Mountain would give the number 1 cauldron to him. They’d likely find some roundabout way to make it impossible for him to lay his hands on it.

“Of course. There are only 100 of these, each one with a higher level of authority than the last. Well, 100 per leader board, that is. You’re effectively an Elder of Pill Sword Mountain. Every alchemy guild beneath a certain level of power must listen to your commands without a word of dissent. You can take out as many heavenly herbs below the God grade as you please. You’re entitled to receiving a God grade alchemy cauldron from Pill Sword Mountain… The list of benefits are endless.

“Don’t worry, I’ll allow you to use it. But, it’ll just have to be toward meeting my goals.”

Dyon still didn’t look very happy. “There are other leader boards?”

“Of course. But there are only three more and those three are related to your battle record versus other alchemists. Only your first battle versus a given alchemist counts, and the leader board is decided by number of wins and win percentage.”

“Mhm, mhm. I see. Thanks for that. It saved me a lot of time.”

Dyon observed the Dragon King with a smile. “Old lizard, you’ve done quite a number on your body, huh? That can’t be comfortable.”

His gaze focused on the pulsing red veins on the Dragon King’s bare chest.

“What can I say? Not everyone can be as talented as you. We lesser people have to take risks.”

Crystella and the others almost choked at these words. Was this the way a mighty Dragon spoke to a mortal human?

“Then I’m sure you know the kind of risk you’re taking by coming here and pissing me off, right?” Dyon’s gaze narrowed.

The Dragon King’s fiendish grin came back. “If I can’t stand atop the world, I might as well die. All things considered, dying by your hand isn’t so bad. But… I don’t plan to die.”

“… Good.”

Dyon flashed forward before the Dragon King could react, appearing above him and striking down with a force that made the skies tremble.

Dyon’s strength made Kywen and Tedric cower. The fear they felt in their hearts multiplied several times over. Crystella could only stand there in a daze as the Dragon King slammed into Mount Volaire.

A moment later, the roar of a Dragon’s pride sounded.