Chapter 204: Taming the Dragon, the Ancient Road's Layout

Chapter 204: Taming the Dragon, the Ancient Road's Layout

The massive dragon's body surged through the black mist, heading towards the ancient castle in the depths.

A flash of blade light extinguished, carrying the intent of all things returning to silence and decay, causing the dragon's scales to tighten in fear.

It hurriedly turned around, ready to face the challenge.

But in that moment, Ji Jingqiu and the others had already blocked its path.

Sen Luo, understanding the situation, took a step back as usual, ready to assist his older brother.

The scene of this mythical creature's tail whipping Zhong Nanzhu and breaking the bones and muscles of countless martial artists was still vivid in his mind. He certainly didn't think his physique could compare to Zhong Nanzhu's.

The dragon's roar suddenly rang out, deep and powerful, shaking the air with a mix of anger from being toyed with and a burning, dignified aura.

It wasn't stupid; when it saw Ji Jingqiu heavily wounding the leader of that group, it realized it had fallen into the trap of "Driving Out the Wolves to Swallow the Tiger."

Although its painful wails gradually weakened, leaving it on the brink of death, it stubbornly survived. It was barely breathing, perhaps because its life essence was strong enough.

At this moment, her expression was unusually solemn, her inner energy surging, and she had been injured in the previous confrontation.

As the last remaining branch of the Star Refining Divine Lineage, how could it possibly submit to a human? Its tail lashed out fiercely, striking its own face.

The so-called Spirit Mechanism is the "Reflection of Heaven and Earth," or the divine form between heaven and earth. Refining the Spirit Mechanism into one's body is both imprinting the divine form into one's own martial dao and refining the underlying principles and laws.

The Moon Palace originally had this opportunity as well...

Zhong Nanzhu looked at the martial artists still following him, his face pale.

"Is it confirmed that he is the descendant of Wan Cheng?" someone asked.

But the gains were also substantial. His spine, like a great dragon, slightly moved, and the sound of dragon roars resonated within him, crackling with a certain ultimate principle. This allowed him to grasp a unique way of exerting force that belonged only to him.

Among them, the Sun Moon Alliance, a powerful force, had two members in the Forbidden Sequence.

The saying about the Three Great Treasures is that after countless people tried, these three were chosen as the most suitable treasures for the human body, progressing sequentially and influencing and stabilizing each other.

"What's the strength of this person?"

Even though the kingdom he established lasted only a century and collapsed with his disappearance, no one could ignore those years.

For her at that time, having someone challenge Zhong Nanzhu to the death was the best thing that could happen.

That was the Great Mustard Seed Mountain True Form Chart obtained from the Mu family ancestral hall.

Zhong Nanzhu took a deep breath and calmed down, saying, "I know. After this recovery, I will attempt the second transformation of the Heaven Tyrant. You go and prepare."

But at that moment, there was no room for retreat. It forcefully withstood the killing array, killing over a hundred people, but it had reached its limit.

Yue Huansha nodded, thinking to herself, no wonder.

Ji Jingqiu found the 'Floating Cloud Vessel', the land of nurturing that Sen Luo had mentioned.

"Young Lord, don't think about anything else for now. Focus on recovering as soon as possible."

Sen Luo had returned to the transformed Void Vessel City.

"Currently, there are several versions of the circulating news. Some say that Zhong Nanzhu was suppressed by Sen Luo and another young powerful warrior; others claim that Zhong Nanzhu was critically wounded by a mythical creature while pursuing Sen Luo and was then picked up by the Sun Moon Alliance. The most outrageous rumor suggests that Zhong Nanzhu was disarmed by a warrior backing Sen Luo, who then fled in a panic..."

Just then, a dazzling and brilliant blade light appeared, stirring the power of heaven and earth, embodying the essence of cutting through everything. It followed the wound left by Zhong Nanzhu earlier, cutting deeper! The dragon writhed in pain, its massive body rolling on the ground, causing a kilometer-wide fissure in the earth, like an earthquake, with dust and stones flying up, mixing with the black mist and blocking out the sun.

"There's another piece of news, Your Highness."

"Most of the younger generation's pride in our Heavenly Kingdom did not enter this ancient path. Even if they wanted to take a shot, they would have to wait until the final stage."

"Zhong Nanzhu of the Heavenly Net Palace... was defeated and fled, even abandoning the battle spear of the Heavenly Net Palace?"

Ji Jingqiu's eyes flickered, and after a moment of thought, he approached the dragon. With kindness and an unrefusable tone, he said:

The Moon Palace warrior below didn't understand what the Palace Master meant by this sudden action and continued reporting the news she had just gathered.

"Recently, due to the pressure from the Heavenly Net Palace, some warriors chose to withdraw from the Sun Moon Alliance and even turned to side with the Heavenly Net Palace."

In contrast to her, there was a tall figure in a white robe and bare feet, with an aura of dominance and arrogance that made others look away.

During these days, Ji Jingqiu, while observing the dragon form, had gained a new understanding of the Subjugating Dragon Pillar he had once practiced.

"Go and verify this information!"

The dragon wearily lifted its eyelids and saw the tiny human before it, then slowly closed its eyes again, preparing to wait for death.

Ji Jingqiu's promotion in the Water Moon Domain was to fully integrate the Divine Form within his Spirit Mechanism.

A hoarse and deep voice came from a white-haired youth.

This seemed to be the embryo of an ancient god... It couldn't be sure, but it was shocked by the extremely deep power source hidden within the human.

Sen Luo broke the taboo, and even though his transformation speed was not as fast as theirs, he still managed to gain enough strength for a fight. With the two of them joining forces, it was normal for Zhong Nanzhu to be defeated.

It released a mental force and formed a contract with Ji Jingqiu.

Unexpectedly, this dragon did not die with the previous demonic descendant, nor did its Heart Nightmare perish with its host.

As for now, he was destined to be slowed down...

Calculating the time, Ji Jingqiu might not even have a few days left before the outcome was decided?! The Heavenly Net Palace was not just Zhong Nanzhu; the four from the Southern Wilderness Continent had come well-prepared. As far as she knew, the Heavenly Net Palace had invested heavily this time, nurturing a batch of Killing Array seeds in the True Seed Realm to be commanded by Zhong Nanzhu...

Not only because of that tail, but also because this human showed him a Void Seal on his back.

In the Yanhuang Federation, mythical creatures were often evolved from ordinary beings, starting their evolution after being imbued with divine nature, gradually transforming into legendary beings.

However, this was obviously not easy to achieve. Some thresholds were too high to cross, like a single cell being equivalent to a star.

Zhong Nanzhu spoke in a low voice,

Information transmission was inconvenient on the ancient path, and it often took more than a few days for news to travel between the two neutral cities.

He felt that if he continued down this path, he would eventually unlock a different Divine Treasury.

For instance, in terms of physical body alone, Zhong Nanzhu was probably even stronger than him!

Zhong Nanzhu paused and said, "No, he's stronger!"

After refining the Spirit Mechanism and further enhancing his physical qualities, Ji Jingqiu planned to cultivate another secret technique to assist in the sculpting of his inner world.

...

It suddenly shook its head vigorously, struggling to break free. Its already chaotic mind became even more furious, leaving only a single emotion: killing.

When Sen Luo casually planted the battle spear that Zhong Nanzhu had dropped before his final defeat in the center of Void Vessel City, the Heavenly Net Palace's dominance over Void Vessel City became a historical fact.

The ancient path had been opened for more than a month. Under the search of the Moon Palace warriors she had dispatched, the situation around Qingnang City and the surrounding dozen or so neutral cities had become clear.

In the system of civilization under Hera, it was believed that the stars were infinite, and the Milky Way was boundless. The human body was like a universe, containing countless Divine Gates, each leading to a treasure. If one could open them all, they would be comparable to a creator god.

Just as Ji Jingqiu reentered his cultivation,

An island filled with a primitive aura.

Once his inner world was established and his life essence increased, he would be able to try to open the second layer of the Divine Treasury.

He knew that Zhong Nanzhu, once determined, would not change his mind, and at this moment, breaking through the second transformation of the Heaven Tyrant... might not be a bad thing.

It angrily opened its eyes and saw a pair of blood-colored, dark dragon eyes, causing a chill to run down its spine.

"What else can we do if we don't admit defeat? The Sun Moon Alliance has two taboos. Tell me, how can the Heavenly Net Palace turn things around?"

For example, when wandering in the divine mountains and waters, one could refine the spirit mechanism of the mountains and waters, greatly increasing the speed of refinement.

The attendant was startled and then exclaimed in horror, "You mean the former Lord of Cangnan?!"

Once the taboo was broken, it consciously began to "make up for it," convincing itself.

"For now, the information is limited. We only found out from the Moon Palace that the successor of Wan Cheng Cang is named Ji Jingqiu. This person should have settled in Void Vessel City, and the one accompanying him is Sen Luo, a Quasi-Taboo from the Southern Wilderness Continent's Crystal Clan."

...

Once the physical body Divine Treasury is fully opened, according to the predictions of several Divine Lords, his physical body will surpass most Shackles Realm warriors.

Witnessing this, Ji Jingqiu seized the opportunity, activated the Mind Flame Omnipotent Lamp, and rushed straight towards the wound he had expanded, pressing down with his hand. A lamp wick, long prepared, was planted within.

The black mist, upon encountering the Heart Lantern, immediately emitted a loud hissing sound.

He needed to take action personally to stabilize the situation and reshape the landscape.

This process was painful, as the spine, being the dragon meridian of the body, required a full-body transformation.

This plane would become their territory, and having a dragon guarding it seemed quite fitting.

...

"It shouldn't be wrong, so we must never allow him to enter the Heavenly Kingdom's sight. Once he enters the Divine Temple as a Divine Son, our backing forces will have no chance!"

With two taboos in one sect, the balance of power had already shifted.

"The ancient path has been opened for over a month now, and based on past progress, the overall layout of the entire path will be revealed in another month..."

"That's not important. What matters is that he has replied, and he will personally take action to eliminate this person in advance!"

The dragon descended with thunderous force, its eyes blazing like torches, locking onto Ji Jingqiu. It stirred up a violent aura, about to strike, when it suddenly opened its massive jaws, attempting to swallow the young man whole.

Some bodies and cultivation methods in the Yanhuang Federation's martial arts were created based on legendary creatures.

Even the supreme Void Beast in the heavens chose to submit to this insignificant human. It, born of the Star Refining Divine Lineage, had lost the right to be arrogant before this human.

No one is stupid. With two Taboos in one family, the Sun Moon Alliance will undoubtedly become one of the most powerful forces on the ancient path.

The two women stood face-to-face, their auras clashing. The mere ripples of their power were enough to make some True Seed Realm martial artists vomit blood and retreat.

"The Sun Moon Alliance has already given them face by not continuing the pursuit. The Young Lord of the Heavenly Net Palace was even severely injured. After recovering, anyone with a brain would not continue to pester them. The ancient path is vast, and there are many places to go in the early stages. Insisting on a confrontation only hinders the transformation speed in the early stages, completely losing the chance to turn things around in the later stages. That's true stupidity!"

Those who reach the Taboo realm are not just strong in all aspects; they have almost no weaknesses. Moreover, they surpass the Sealed King Realm in certain domains, and he, in particular, surpasses the Sealed King Realm in terms of physique.

Both from the Southern Wilderness Continent, the two had never fought before, but she was well aware of the difficulty of dealing with the Celestial Beast Body. This lineage, when passed down to the end, was said to be immortal and invincible, burying enemies with their bodies.

The old master abandoned and fled, and a new master was about to take over.

...

Moon Palace.

Called a "vessel," it was actually a mysterious pool, containing a certain mighty power. By sinking to the bottom, one could free oneself from the constraints of the physical body and let the spirit wander in heaven and earth.

...

At this moment, the most troubled people in the Empty Vessel City were not the former members of the Heavenly Net Palace.

They had missed the opportunity to become "Elders," forever parting ways with one of the future's strongest forces.

In his dream, it was sleeping, but its mind was invaded by a spirit malevolent pest. It used the power of the ancient castle to suppress itself, but the pest still slowly invaded until this moment.

Over the past few days, Ji Jingqiu had thoroughly studied this mythical creature, inside and out, from its bones to its tendons and Divine Will, under the pretext of helping the dragon cleanse its body and mind.

Yue Huansha sighed softly.

For the overlord-level forces in the Southern Wilderness Continent, this was a moment of utmost darkness.

"It's not clear yet, but it's definitely not below the Near Forbidden level."

"Go and inform Yue Huansha and You Chengkong. They will have their own conclusions."

"The records of the elders in the palace mention that this person once unintentionally revealed that he came from a force called Yanhuang."

"Hey, the world is vast, and the emperor's subjects change with each dynasty. The Empty Vessel City is now under the control of the Sun Moon Alliance."

But Zhong Nanzhu lacked the Embryo of Dao Field, the ability to temporarily unify the physical body. His power was not as concentrated as his own, so he was completely suppressed.

That was a grand and vast era. No one could stop the expansion of the Cangnan Alliance, just as no one could block the sun and moon's light from shining upon the earth.

There was no choice but to comply.

But now, the Empty Vessel City was in a state of "ruin and revival."

In the majestic ancient mountains, a group of over a hundred people halted, many of them injured.

The dragon was now on its last breath, but the darkness, violence, and malevolence in its eyes had vanished.

But she never imagined that the outcome would be decided so quickly!

Over the past few days, he had tried to refine the Subjugating Dragon Pillar again, gaining insights and adjusting the subtle differences in his spine, eventually achieving a dragon-like state. He then attempted to refine the dragon's Divine Form into his spine.

Some, with thick skin, tried to return, but were sternly refused and driven out.

Of course, this didn't stop her from continuing to pursue You Chengkong.

Having found the existence of the Heart Nightmare, Ji Jingqiu sighed, "I told you, you're sick. You wouldn't listen, and now look how serious your illness is?"

The attendant asked quietly, "What about Lin Jie of the Eternal Night Kingdom?"

The attendant's expression was concerned, about to say something, but then forcibly restrained himself.

Today's humiliation... Zhong Nanzhu would remember it forever!

Yue Huansha's eyes narrowed.

The sudden change startled the dragon, its pupils shrinking as it looked at its "kinsman," sensing a power within him that made its heart tremble.

He had guessed that Sen Luo might have broken through to the Taboo realm, and he also vaguely guessed that Ji Jingqiu, as Sen Luo's older brother, might be above the Near Forbidden level.

Especially the Sacred Mountain Spirit Mechanism.

At this moment, she suddenly understood You Chengkong's thoughts.

Before their departure, he had carefully selected a thousand elite warriors, but in the end, only a hundred or so disciples of the Heavenly Net Palace followed him, most of them injured.

And just at that moment, behind Ji Jingqiu, a black mist rose, like a corner of the night's curtain being lifted. A ten-meter-long black dragon soared through the clouds and mist, its scales glowing with a deep and mysterious fire. It suddenly leaped out, its claw gripping the dragon's lower jaw and forcefully pinning it down.

The attendant watched Zhong Nanzhu with concern, worried that this setback in battle would affect his morale.

Qingnang City.

And in a sense, the other party had indeed saved him from the spirit malevolent pest.

"I understand. We've sent people to confirm, but it will take some time."

For a martial artist aiming to be the strongest, this would be a huge blow.

Zi Rixin walked through the crowd, listening to the discussions and evaluations of the Empty Vessel City's martial artists, a bright smile on his face.

Subsequently, the Sun Moon Alliance began a rapid expansion, even as Sen Luo repeatedly raised the threshold and took the elite route. Countless geniuses still rushed to join.

Floating in the cold and desolate universe, the contract was simple: absolute obedience.

"I heard that the Divine Lord recently issued a divine decree to bring the Divine Son back to the Ten Thousand Phenomena Divine Temple. Could he be the one they're talking about?"

Unfortunately, such mythical creatures find it difficult to break free from the constraints of their plane.

The original layout of Void Vessel City had been severely impacted. Sen Luo personally took charge, effortlessly defeating the leaders of other influential forces, solidifying his reputation as a Forbidden One.

Heaven Tilt City.

Among them was a peerlessly beautiful woman, her body translucent, emitting an immortal divine radiance. She exuded a sacred and untouchable aura, and was none other than Sopa from the Sky God Tribe.

At this moment, in the main hall of the Divine God Palace...

Ten thousand years ago, he first achieved the second rank on the Eternal Monument, and within a few hundred years, he rapidly rose to prominence, forming a massive alliance and dominating the southern part of the Nine Provinces, including the Southern Wilderness Continent.

This time, not only did the dragon speak, but another voice resonated within its body.

"Next, the various forces will clash, vying for creation resources. Alas, if we hermits don't band together, it'll become increasingly difficult for us."

"It's rumored that Zhong Nanzhu personally confirmed that Sen Luo has broken through the Forbidden Sequence!"

"I'll fight you to the death!"

Zhong Nanzhu spoke with suppressed anger, "I cultivate the Sen Luo Inferno Celestial Beast Body, specializing in the physical path. Yet, this person is not far behind me in terms of physique, which is unforgivable. I must quickly transform..."

He yearned to immerse himself in cultivation like his older brother, who had left him with the legacy of Zhong Nanzhu.

Guessing either of these two would be enough to ensure the stability of the Sun Moon Alliance! And he got them both right!

...

Next, he planned to undergo two Spirit Mechanism refinements here, further advancing his physical transformation.

He also experienced a dragon blood bath, but the effect was minimal, likely because this dragon was too weak.

As the dragon writhed, black mist erupted from its wounds, accompanied by painful and angry roars, causing a chilling sensation.

She felt as if Ji Jingqiu's words before his departure still resonated in her ears.

Sopa's expression changed slightly. She had been puzzled earlier, sensing an extremely familiar and intense bloodline aura from him.

Zhong Nanzhu paused for a moment, then shook his head. "The Evernight Kingdom, there's still a group claiming to be allies of Cangnan. No need to inform them."

The young and powerful stranger who had fought with a blade, entangled with Sopa, was likely the true mastermind behind the Sun Moon Alliance.

The dragon roared and coiled its body to engage.

"Oh? Why did Holy Shore choose this Ancient Road?"

But in a recent battle, Ji Jingqiu had completely suppressed him in close-quarters combat.

After the fight with Zhong Nanzhu, he realized that no Forbidden One was an easy opponent. Those who reached the Forbidden Sequence had nearly perfected the True Seed Realm in various aspects.

"Understood. I'll take care of it immediately."

"Good."

For a warrior capable of opening such a Divine Gate, the treasures beyond were merely a confirmation of their strength, offering limited improvement.

Most importantly, this time, he had injured his essence, and in the end, had to throw his battle spear to retrieve his lost arm, buying time. Ultimately, he lost his spear on the battlefield!

She walked slowly, her tone cold, "I sensed my father's aura, it's from the Mixed Blood lineage."

The city had long been occupied by the Divine God Palace, established by the Sky God Tribe.

The dragon cooperated.

"Watermoon Cave, transcendent and detached, never mistaken."

After the attendant left, Zhong Nanzhu gazed at the newly acquired arm, his eyes deep and dark.

Preparing for the second transformation, the Young Lord would no longer engage in a bitter struggle with them, wasting precious time for his initial transformation.

"No, Holy Shore, a Candidate Divine Son, has also entered the Far East War Zone. He's a Forbidden Being, and we've informed him. He has responded."

In the end, it chose to surrender, lowering its noble head.

Despite losing an arm, with the special nature of the Celestial Beast Body, he could self-regenerate, and with some cost, grow a new one.

—In other words, Hel.

Moreover, having injured his essence in this battle, he couldn't afford further losses, or it would greatly impact his subsequent transformation.

By then, his physique would completely surpass Zhong Nanzhu.

As the lamp's light blossomed within the dragon, agonizing screams echoed once more.

Amidst the furious dragon's roar, its hundred-meter-long body suddenly uncoiled, coiling in the air, baring its fangs and claws, its dragon scales glistening with menace, casting a massive shadow.

It seemed as if the dragon had just experienced a vivid dream.

Ji Jingqiu left a warning, and with a clash of equals, the Azure Lord unsheathed, its blade shimmering like water, and the law domain following his every move. Facing this mythical creature trapped in a desperate struggle, he dared not be careless. Even at the dragon's peak, he wouldn't dare confront it head-on. Now, severely wounded by the friends of the Celestial Net Palace, its remaining strength was uncertain.

But this loss was secondary.

An eerie aura spread, chilling the air. "Be careful."

It was like ice meeting scorching sun, quickly melting and evaporating.

At that moment, the other party's words reminded her of an ancient legend within the tribe.

Just then, a third party intruded—Jiang Tun Hai, who had been entangled with Sopa for days, from the Hunter God Corporation.

He entered, his gaze fixed on Chi Ji, sensing the dominant intent within her. His inner energy rose spontaneously.

He scanned the area, surprised to find that this woman had been injured by the other party?

...

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end