Within this world there exists certain places known as 'Chaos Plains'. They are environments that have been seeped in large amounts of natural energy for hundreds of years and as a result, adopted anomalous behavior. Strange weather patterns, unknown plants and magic beasts, sudden explosions or spatial distortions, these are just some common examples of what might be awaiting those who dare to enter these chaotic lands. They are considered to be amongst the most dangerous places one might find themselves in. The 'Equestrian Mountains' are considered to be the most dangerous place on the 1st martial continent, but aside from its large size and possibly the dragon that Nox slayed, there is nothing noteworthy about it when compared to other Chaos Plain.
With that in mind, one might wonder why anyone would want to ever step foot in such a dangerous place. However, where there is danger, there are also opportunities. There is no shortage of reasons for someone to risk their lives in such places. Inheritance trials, lost artifacts, rare herbs and magic beasts, even just the high energy concentration in the air is enough of a reason for a cultivator to camp out in such a place. There is even a chance you might discover a 'Spirit Spring', a natural elemental energy generator, as they are prone to create Chaos Plains. However, occasionally you will find those who wish to lose something rather than gain something.
"Hey, is this really okay?"
"Shut up and help me get him into the boat before someone sees us!"
Somewhere within the Straw Mountain range, there exists a forbidden lake within a Chaos Plain. It is rumored to be the home of a great and powerful dragon, and as such, has been deemed a restricted area. Due to Chaos Plains often possessing its own climate, it often does not conform to the seasonal changes in the weather. That is why, despite it being in the middle of December, there was not a single ice cube to obstruct the two figures who rowed out to the middle of the forbidden lake on this warm winter day.
"Okay, now help me tie these rocks to him, Akio!"
"Are you sure about this, Ryusei? What if someone finds out?"
"It is too late to turn back now! If we let him go, do you really think he will just let us go! It is either him or us at this point!"
"But still!"
"There is no need to feel bad for these bastards! Don't forget, they were the ones who took away your father and my brother, not to mention all the other broken families that they are responsible for! It's only fair they pay for what they did!"
"You're right!"
The two men were dressed like servants of the Yang estate, however, in truth, they are wannabe assassins out for revenge. When the city lord took in the Yang clan, it sparked a bloody war that claimed the lives of many good men. Their deaths caused many people to harbor resentment towards the dragonewts, as most were of the opinion that they were responsible for the war. This resentment spread like a plague amongst the masses, as malicious rumors about them spread that only furthered the hatred towards them. It got to a point where the city lord had to hide them in a secluded Chaos Plain to prevent the angry populace from storming their abode to lynch them.
These two had been amongst those who lost their loved ones in that war and wished to take revenge on the Yang clan. So, they had infiltrated the estate as servants, intending to assassinate the dragonewts. However, never could they have imagined that they would have been beaten to the punch by a certain someone. That person had handed them the corpse of Yang Xing and ordered them to dispose of it in the forbidden lake. However, …
"Okay, so let's-!"
*SPLASH**SPLASH**SPLASH*
*boom**boom**boom*
"WHOA! WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Just as they were about to throw the body bag overboard, 3 large balls made of qi came flying into the lake illuminating the murky waters as they exploded, showing the silhouette of the giant snake directly below the boat.
"OH MY GO-!"
*SPLASH*
*ROAR*
By the time the two noticed the creature, it was already too late, as it swallowed them, the boat and the suspiciously glowing body bag, whole.
This creature was the rumored dragon that lived inside the forbidden lake. It was a legendary beast known as the colossal sea serpent. It is a giant blue and white snake with gills, sporting a fan like fin at the tip of its tail. They usually lurk in the deepest depths of the ocean, using its color changing scales as camouflage as they wait for something tasty to swim over them so they can catch it by surprise with their incredible speed. They only ever swim to the surface while chasing after prey, as they usually prefer to live under intense water pressure, surrounded by large amounts of water energy.
Colossal water serpents are mostly aquatic and won't last more than a day out of water. This one had gotten swept up during a tsunami several centuries ago and gotten stranded in this Chaos Plain. Unable to leave, it had made itself at home in the forbidden lake, chomping down on any thirsty magical beasts that come to take a sip of the lake.
However, a few years after it had settled in, some of the locals had mistaken it for a dragon due to its snake-like body somewhat resembling one if you only glimpse parts of it. This led to countless experts coming to slay or tame it, wishing to gain a powerful pet or the title of dragon slayer, only to become its meal in the end. After a certain amount of deaths, the lake became a forbidden zone, and the serpent was finally left alone as the rumors began to die down. However, due to the sudden appearance of the Yang clan, many started speculating that the rumored dragon was actually just Yang Ming in his dragon form and the annoying creatures that was not nearly big enough to fill its stomach, began harassing the poor snake, once more.
Unfortunately, it had mistakenly thought that the stray shots from the battle between Yang Ai and the Dark Lord came from the people on the tiny boat in the middle of its territory, and swiftly retaliated by swallowing them whole. It is unfortunate, for the serpent that is.
*ROAR*
*Sizzle*
*SPLASH*
Burning a large hole through the colossal serpent, was a white laser coming from within the beast's stomach. Moments later, a radiant figure as a bright as a thousand suns suddenly shot out of the creatures stomach and landed on the shore of the lake, watching the giant snake collapse while he held the two men who had been swallowed.
This man was once hailed as the greatest talent in the history of the Yang clan. He had no rivals amongst his peers, as he was one of the youngest to reach the peak of nascent soul. He was considered both a great leader and a strategic genius as he nearly led his clan to victory against a force more than eight times stronger than his own. He even achieved what most experts can't within their entire lifetime, the 3rd stage of aura. A man that was so radiant, the heavens themselves feared his potential. He was Yang Xing, and he was finally back.