"What is that kid trying to do?"

"Not only is he not running away, but he's actually walking towards the Earth Dragon. Is he challenging it? Does he have a death wish?"

Voices filled with shock and suspicion rose one after another.

The heavily injured Clan Leader of the Tomb Guardians coughed blood as he shouted at Zhang Xiaoshan.

"Kid, I have a cultivation at the Late Stage of Qi Transformation, and I am no match for the Earth Dragon. What weight do you think you hold? Step back now, and you may keep your life. If you remain stubborn, you're definitely going to die."

The old hyena added sharply.

"Clan Leader, you don't know. This Miracle Doctor Zhang is young and reckless, eyes above his head. Because of him, so many of our clansmen have died. If he hadn't forced me to lead people here, the Earth Dragon wouldn't have awakened, and we wouldn't have died in such numbers. You could say he's the true culprit. If he dies in the jaws of the Earth Dragon, it would be vengeance for our clansmen."

Jiang Qin felt some reluctance and hurriedly shouted to Zhang Xiaoshan.

"Miracle Doctor Zhang, don't act rashly, stop immediately."

Zhang Xiaoshan did not stop nor did he turn back. He just casually said,

"Don't worry, I'll slay this beast right away."

"What?"

Zhang Xiaoshan's words first startled everyone, then elicited sneers.

Feng Qing, bound by chains, sneered coldly and said,

"Brat, I admit you have some skills to kill Zhu Changxiong, but this Earth Dragon is unusually powerful. Even seven or eight Zhu Changxiongs wouldn't necessarily be its match, and you dare to boast? You're overestimating yourself! Soon you won't even know how you got killed."

Protector Luo Ji chimed in.

"Hmph, I initially thought you were a talent with potential, but turns out you're just someone with an inflated sense of capability and no real strength. I'll personally watch how you get devoured by the Earth Dragon."

Then he whispered to Feng Qing,

"Young Master, this arrogant boy is doomed. Once chaos ensues, we'll find a way to escape."

Feng Qing nodded.

The two scanned their surroundings, searching for an escape route.

"Woo."

This Earth Dragon is more intelligent than the twin serpents in the back of White Dragon Village, at least with the intelligence of a human teenager, no different from ordinary people.

Looking at Zhang Xiaoshan, striding towards it with ease and composure, the Earth Dragon howled madly.

Because it felt it had been provoked and humiliated.

Such a weak human actually dared to disregard it.

"Roar."

The Earth Dragon opened its bloody maw and roared at Zhang Xiaoshan.

Boundless sound waves surged towards Zhang Xiaoshan.

"Crack... Crack..."

"Whirl... Whirl..."

The surrounding stones shattered under the sound wave attack, and waves several feet high rose from the lake. Everyone present covered their ears tightly; even the Tomb Guardian Clan Leader and Luo Ji with Qi Transformation Cultivation struggled mightily against the sound wave attack.

Yet, Zhang Xiaoshan, who bore the brunt of it, did not even waver in the slightest.

Like Mountain Tai, he stood firm.

He even continued to walk forward.

As if those sound waves had no effect on him at all.

"Sssss..."

"Look, an inch around his body, sparks are flying, that's him using his True Qi to resist the sound waves."

"He has managed to resist it so easily while continuing to move forward. This kid might not be arrogant; he might really have some strength."

Amateurs watch the fun, experts watch the art.

The Protector Luo Ji and the Tomb Guardian Clan Leader, as the two most cultivated individuals present, naturally had the sharpest insights and began to see some clues.

Sitting paralyzed on the ground, covering her ears and trembling, Jiang Qin looked at Zhang Xiaoshan with some admiration and anticipation in her eyes.

"Miracle Doctor Zhang, you can do it; you definitely can."

Her words drove Feng Qing to extreme jealousy. Why was the young lady, whom he couldn't woo, so devotedly admiring another guy? He couldn't help but sarcastically jeer.

"This is just the beginning. Using True Qi like this, he won't even make it to the Earth Dragon before he's exhausted his True Qi. How will he fight then?"

"I think he's just putting on a facade; he's already at the end of his rope."

"All he's doing is futile, like smashing an egg against a rock."

"Indeed."

The Tomb Guardian Clan Leader also sighed.

"Although this kid's courage is commendable, making it this far shows extraordinary talent. Among the younger generation, he's a rare prodigy. However, the Earth Dragon's power is terrifying. Even top-tier Qi Transformation Martial Artists find it hard to shake it. To kill the Earth Dragon, only Divine Realm Experts would suffice."

"The Divine Realm is like a myth. In all of Huaxia, there are only just a few Divine Realm Experts. For someone this young to reach the Early-stage Transformation Realm is already impressive. Throughout history, Huaxia has never had a Divine Realm Expert under forty. How old could he be?"

"Therefore, no matter how extraordinary his talent, he needs time to grow. If given another ten years, he might be able to slay the Earth Dragon. But here and now, he's no match for it, doomed to face utter defeat."

When the Tomb Guardian Clan Leader finished speaking, Jiang Qin and the clan members of the Tomb Guardians looked utterly disappointed.

No matter what, Zhang Xiaoshan was on their side right now. If Zhang Xiaoshan could win, there still existed a ray of hope for them. If he lost, they were doomed.

The Clan Leader's words snuffed out the last flicker of hope for survival for everyone.

Each face turned pale, filled with despair.

And just at this moment, Zhang Xiaoshan reached the Earth Dragon.

Man and beast.

One hovering in the air, one standing on the shore.

One towering a hundred feet tall, the other as small as an ant.

Just one glance made the disparity clear.

Yet, Zhang Xiaoshan, standing on the shore, looked up at the Earth Dragon with utmost calmness.

"Beast, you've cultivated for a thousand years for your strength today; that's no easy feat. I'm willing to give you a chance. If you bow down to me now and become my steed, I will spare your life."

"If you force me to draw my sword, you will certainly die."

As he spoke, Qing Mei appeared in Zhang Xiaoshan's hand.