Systemless Villain

The onlookers stood in awe as Long Gongyu underwent his transformation into a towering black dragon, a sight that commanded both respect and admiration.

Among the members of the Long and Xia families, murmurs of astonishment rippled through the crowd. To witness the grand Elder in his draconic form was a rare privilege, and for many, it was a momentous first.

In his majestic dragon guise, Long Gongyu descended gracefully before the wounded creature, locking eyes with his adversary with unwavering resolve.

Beneath them, the earth quivered in anticipation as they braced for the impending showdown. Despite its grievous injuries, the dragon snarled defiantly, its razor-sharp teeth bared, poised for one final struggle.

Yet, Long Gongyu wasted no time. With fluid precision, he surged forward, jaws snapping shut around one of the dragon's remaining limbs, hoisting it into the air effortlessly.

The wounded beast thrashed in agony, its futile attempts to break free met with resistance as its three other limbs lay incapacitated.

Undeterred, Long Gongyu clamped down firmly, his formidable fangs sinking deep into the dragon's flesh.

Ascending skyward, he deftly maneuvered, inflicting devastating wounds upon the dragon's appendage with calculated precision.

Though the dragon unleashed a torrent of flames in retaliation, its fiery onslaught proved futile against Long Gongyu's impervious dragon scales, as resilient as those of any genuine dragon.

As Long Gongyu soared through the air, a sharp "crack!" resounded, signaling the shattering of the dragon's bones, eliciting a deafening roar of agony from the beast.

A sly grin crept across Long Gongyu's features as he deftly manipulated his wings, sending the dragon hurtling towards the earth below.

With a resounding crash, the colossal creature collided with the ground, its limbs limp and powerless, immobilized by the severity of its injuries.

Descending upon the fallen dragon, Long Gongyu wasted no time, launching a relentless assault with his razor-sharp claws, each strike a merciless blow.

The once tumultuous sounds of battle now gave way to a macabre symphony of claws and fangs, as Long Gongyu unleashed a brutal onslaught upon the helpless dragon.

In one swift motion, a final, decisive blow from Long Gongyu's claw severed the dragon's wing, rendering it utterly incapacitated.

Yet, Long Gongyu's onslaught showed no signs of abating. With unwavering precision, he unleashed a forceful strike with his tail, sending the dragon hurtling through the air with a resounding impact.

A thick cloud of dust billowed, shrouding the scene from view as the onlookers shielded their eyes.

A few moments later, the dust cleared, revealing Long Gongyu, now back in his human form, standing next to the unconscious dragon.

A triumphant grin graced his lips, his objective achieved; he had incapacitated the dragon without resorting to fatal measures.

Responded to the defeat of the dragon, about 50 people approached Long Gongyu and the fallen dragon, their expressions filled with admiration and respect.

Among them were the younger members of the Long and Xia families, their expressions a mix of awe and pride at witnessing a member of their lineage emerge victorious.

"We've vanquished the dragon, Grand Elder. What's our next move?" inquired Long Jin, his voice resonating with a sense of accomplishment.

"Yeah, our goal has been achieved. For now, we just need to wait for the family envoy to arrive here. While waiting, anyone who can still fight can go and fight the roaming soul beasts, and those severely injured can rest," Long Gongyu responded.

His words were met with unanimous agreement and nods of approval from the gathered crowd.

"And to all of you, I extend my heartfelt commendations. Your efforts will not go unrewarded once we return to the Long family residence," he continued, a warm smile gracing his features.

Everyone became even more cheerful upon hearing this. Not only did they gain fighting experience, but they would also receive rewards. Just that alone ignited a fiery spirit within them.

As some volunteers dispersed to confront the remaining soul beasts, others approached Long Gongyu, offering words of praise and gratitude.

For now, Long Gongyu still had to wait here for the family envoy to arrive; he still needed the spatial orb.

In this moment, four people dressed in modern cultivator attire approached Long Gongyu, wearing warm expressions with smiles.

"What an extraordinary battle, grand Elder of the Long family. I've been observing since the onset and must say, I'm thoroughly impressed," one of them, Lin Jiang, a middle-aged man with a fairly thick mustache, praised.

Long Gongyu regarded the newcomers with a measured gaze, particularly focusing on Lin Jiang. Their attire was quite familiar, clearly indicating they were from the imperial side.

"What is the imperial side doing here? Helping to deal with the roaming soul beasts, or just observing?" he inquired casually, arms crossed over his chest.

Lin Jiang smiled, "Unfortunately, we're not from the military. We're here solely to see the condition of Tianzhou and report back to the center," he responded.

"If that's the case, then you should go to another location because there are worse situations elsewhere. This place is already under control, and the biggest threat has been dealt with," Long Gongyu suggested nonchalantly.

Lin Jiang maintained his smile, though a flicker of annoyance danced in his eyes at Long Gongyu's tone.

"Well, precisely because it's safe here, grand Elder..." he countered, stepping closer to the fallen dragon and running a hand over its scales.

He couldn't contain his admiration for the extinct creature. Unconsciously, a thin grin formed on his lips.

'If I manage to bring this creature to the emperor, I'm sure to get a promotion,' Lin Jiang mused enthusiastically.

He then redirected his gaze to Long Gongyu, "Grand Elder, you've done an excellent job defeating the dragon. The emperor will surely be delighted to see such a rare creature," he remarked, his smile widening.

Long Gongyu furrowed his brow, "If the emperor wants to see it, then he needs to come here," he responded.

"Come on, don't you know the position of an emperor? Grand Elder, I've made up my mind; we'll take over this dragon," Lin Jiang declared, a wide smile on his face.

A wave of disapproval washed over the members of the Long and Xia families as they listened to Lin Jiang's audacious claim.

Long Gongyu's expression also looked grim. "We worked hard together to defeat this creature, and you want to take it away without proper consent? Are you kidding?" he retorted, his aura swelling with an intimidating presence that sent shivers down the spines of those present, a testament to the authority he wielded as a grand Elder of the Long family.

Lin Jiang also felt it, but he calmed himself, reminding himself of his position in the empire as the deputy head of soul beast research and development.

Nevertheless, Lin Jiang rallied, his voice steady as he pressed his case. "Grand Elder, this creature holds immense value for our civilization's advancement. I assure you, the emperor will be eager to utilize it for our collective benefit," he argued, though his resolve faltered slightly under the weight of Long Gongyu's unwavering gaze.

Long Gongyu remained unmoved. "Then tell the emperor to come here and speak with me. I will inform him that the dragon belongs to the Long family," he declared.

Long Gongyu stood his ground, unwavering in his resolve. "Then inform the emperor to come here and converse with me. I will make it clear that the dragon rightfully belongs to the Long family," he declared firmly.

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiang's eyes widened with anger, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. "You! Do you not honor the emperor's authority?" he bellowed in fury.

Long Gongyu's gaze flickered with a blend of intimidation and frigidity as he responded, "I have always shown due respect to the emperor's authority. However, I refuse to allow our hard-

earned victory over the dragon, a testament to our diligent efforts, to be stripped away without proper consent," he stated with icy precision.

Lin Jiang clenched his teeth, visibly vexed by Long Gongyu's unwavering stance.

"But I am willing to relinquish custody of the dragon to the empire under one condition..." Long Gongyu interjected, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

"What condition?" Lin Jiang inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Long Gongyu's grin widened, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Convey to the emperor that the Long family must be granted the Seal of the Six Paths, and then I shall surrender the dragon," he proclaimed with a mischievous smirk.

Upon hearing this proposition, Lin Jiang was dumbfounded, his eyes widening in disbelief at Long Gongyu's audacity.

"Are you out of your mind? You dare to demand a national treasure? Grand Elder, acknowledge your place as merely a subject in the emperor's eyes. It would be wise for you to relinquish custody of the dragon to the emperor, who will undoubtedly reward the Long family handsomely," he retorted sharply.

Long Gongyu sneered in response, anticipating such a reaction. With deliberate steps, he advanced towards Lin Jiang, his imposing aura growing more palpable with each stride.

Lin Jiang felt a surge of panic grip his heart. Under Long Gongyu's overwhelming aura, he found himself rooted in place, each step of Long Gongyu's approach bearing down on him like the inexorable advance of death.

"W-what do you intend to do?" Lin Jiang stammered, his voice trembling with apprehension.

Long Gongyu's expression remained as cold as ice as he spoke, "In this world, there are those who have been on the mountaintop for too long that they can't see below because of the clouds. Some have just arrived at the mountaintop, not even the highest, and think themselves mighty. So, which one are you?"

Lin Jiang fell into a stunned silence, his complexion drained of color as panic gripped him."

D-don't you dare come any closer! Do you even comprehend who I am?" he exclaimed in a desperate panic.

Unperturbed, Long Gongyu continued to advance towards Lin Jiang with measured steps.

Then, in the blink of an eye, his hand darted forward...

Slap!

The resounding slap echoed through the air as Long Gongyu's palm connected with Lin Jiang's cheek with brutal force, sending him hurtling backward until he collided with a nearby building, which crumbled upon impact.

Long Gongyu's visage remained stoic, displaying no hint of concern for Lin Jiang's well-being or status.

Everyone who witnessed this fell silent, creating a tense atmosphere amidst the chaos. No one dared to speak, considering the parties involved were titans—the Long family and the Empire, two top powers.

In contrast, the young talents of the Long family smiled proudly because Long Gongyu didn't hand over the dragon to the Empire, but rather slapped their envoy. The Xia family members shared the same sentiment, as their family had a very close relationship with the Long family that had lasted for thousands of years.

With a stern gaze, Long Gongyu turned his attention to Lin Jiang's three companions. "Remove that trash from my sight," he commanded with authority.

The trio dared not protest, hastily rushing to Lin Jiang's side. With careful hands, they lifted his unconscious form, his shattered teeth a testament to the force of Long Gongyu's blow, and swiftly carried him away from the scene.

Standing tall and resolute, Long Gongyu exuded an aura of dignified composure. He understood the ramifications of his actions—attacking an imperial envoy—but such concerns paled in comparison to the unwavering loyalty he held for the Long family.

As Long Jin, Xia Jun, and others approached him, his expression softened, a silent acknowledgment of their unwavering support.

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