"Uh… Master, I really think you should calm down," Xiao Yao said with a dry expression, glancing at the Ninefold Golden Thunder Dragon hovering in the air ahead. The creature's presence alone exuded a pressure far superior to theirs. Though she was also interested in devouring something so rare and powerful, the ancient saying echoed in her head—those who recognize the situation are true heroes. And right now, the situation screamed danger. This thing wasn't something they could afford to mess with. Charging in would be suicide, plain and simple.
"Relax, I know what I'm doing. Just watch over Cai Lin for me," Xiao Yan replied, casually tossing the colorful Heaven Swallowing Python hidden in his sleeve toward Xiao Yao. As he launched himself forward, Xiao Yao's lips twitched.
"'You know what you're doing' my ass..."
"Roar!" Seeing Xiao Yan charge forward without hesitation, the Ninefold Golden Thunder Dragon bellowed in fury. In the blink of an eye, countless arcs of golden lightning erupted from its massive form, lashing out toward Xiao Yan like a thunderstorm unleashed by the heavens.
But Xiao Yan's feet flowed with the mystical rhythm of the Demonic Lotus Burial Steps, his body weaving through the lightning like a phantom. The technique wasn't being used for trap-setting this time, so he could push its speed to the absolute limit. Even the seemingly omnipresent arcs of lightning couldn't touch him. Within moments, Xiao Yan had already closed the gap with the dragon.
By now, the Ninefold Golden Thunder Dragon had undergone a peculiar transformation. It had evolved into something akin to a Heavenly Flame—an existence no longer merely elemental but spiritual, possessing will and instinct. Normally, something like this would be impossible to tame. But Xiao Yan knew one critical truth: beneath the beast's colossal form, a hidden source essence had to reside. If he could refine that core, he could claim this terrifying lightning force as his own.
The dragon clearly sensed Xiao Yan's intent. It released a furious roar, and the golden lightning around it began to compress violently. The storm of scattered lightning bolts condensed into heavy golden liquid droplets, which gathered into a tidal wave of thunderous destruction that surged toward Xiao Yan.
The sheer magnitude of this wave was enough to terrify even a Five-Star Dou Saint. Its force could easily obliterate someone at the Six-Star level. There was no room to dodge—the tidal wave covered everything.
Facing the sky-swallowing wall of golden lightning, Xiao Yan flicked his fingers. A peculiar purple-gold fruit appeared in his palm—the second Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit he had nurtured using the Life Spirit Flame. Without hesitation, he swallowed it whole.
The moment the fruit entered his mouth, it dissolved into a torrential surge of energy that raced through his body. Xiao Yao, who sensed the unrefined, volatile power, nearly moved to help him refine it—but was stopped cold by Xiao Yan's firm voice. A moment later, the fruit's unrefined energy began to leak from Xiao Yan's skin, crystallizing into a glistening layer of translucent armor. His entire body was encased in something that looked like living ice.
The energy of the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit was absurdly powerful. Normally, trying to absorb it raw would lead to the energy hardening into a permanent, life-extinguishing crystal shell. Had Xiao Yan not helped Zi Yan previously, she too might have ended up like that. But now, Xiao Yan was using that same energy to shield himself from the onslaught.
Boom! The thunder tidal wave struck Xiao Yan head-on. The crystalline armor shattered instantly under the blow—but more energy continued to seep from his body, reinforcing the broken layers with new ones. Gritting his teeth, Xiao Yan simultaneously activated Nirvana Demon Body and the Demonic Lotus Burial Steps, threading his way through the chaotic torrent of thunder with breathtaking speed.
Despite the sheer size of the thunder wave, Xiao Yan pierced through it in an instant. Now, he was heading directly for the golden dragon. Xiao Yao's voice rang anxiously in his mind.
"Master! Your body is crystallizing internally too!"
"I know," Xiao Yan replied flatly. Instead of slowing, he pushed himself faster.
The Ninefold Golden Thunder Dragon, sensing the escalating threat, roared once more. A thousand-zhang-long pillar of lightning tore through space, flashing toward Xiao Yan with impossible speed and destructive force. This time, it was no test. It was a kill shot.
"Black Dragon Devours the Soul!"
"No, Master, you can't absorb more energy right now!" Xiao Yao shouted in panic, but Xiao Yan ignored her. He executed Black Dragon Devours the Soul, and the golden lightning bolt was sucked into the void-like dragon-shaped vortex above him.
A moment later, Xiao Yan's entire body convulsed as the thunder exploded within him. The crystallized energy shielding his organs burst apart. His internal meridians and flesh were shredded by the force. But just as his body approached collapse, the Life Spirit Flame flowed out, soothing his wounds. Alongside it, the Three Thousand Burning Flame erupted, further stabilizing his body.
Then, stepping forward despite the internal chaos, Xiao Yan surged upward. Above the golden dragon, he thrust out his hand. A golden brilliance burst from his palm, coalescing into a titanic hand that seemed capable of blotting out the heavens—the Heavenly Gold Grasp.
The Ninefold Golden Thunder Dragon felt its first pang of dread.
It howled, frantically discharging more lightning in every direction. But the heavenly hand ignored it. Majestic and absolute, it descended slowly, its fingers closing in like the judgment of a god.
In just a few heartbeats, the hand had grasped the enormous dragon. Golden lightning flared, crackled, and was silenced. What remained in Xiao Yan's palm was a palm-sized golden miniature dragon, its body still pulsing with thunderous energy.
This was the source essence of the Ninefold Golden Thunder Dragon.
It was powerful—but mindless. Despite its immense strength, it lacked intelligence and the ability to unleash its potential through techniques. If it had known even basic combat arts, Xiao Yan would never have dared such a gamble.
But he had gambled—and he had won.
"I really… did it?" Xiao Yao's voice trembled with awe as she stared at the dark-robed youth holding the lightning dragon's core in his hand. Even she had underestimated her master.
"Now then…" Xiao Yan's lips curved into a confident smile. Without hesitation, he raised the miniature dragon and swallowed it whole.
A moment later, an indescribable agony erupted from the depths of his body. The true test had only just begun.
(End of Chapter)
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