And just like it was going to happen regardless, a friendly match between Yang Xiao and myself began in earnest. Two dragons fighting is guaranteed to be a rare spectacle. The only issue was I had to hold back considerably. Yang Xiao had only recently become a great dragon. He was powerful for sure, much better than the average 7th rank open heaven realm cultivator.
But, I had just become an Ancient Dragon. I could have gone a bit further into the realm had I not been heavily restricted by my human cultivation. And on top of that I possessed an overwhelming advantage in battle experience. Yang Xiao has fought in a few conflicts, but none of them were as bad as the Ink Clan. Horrible, yes, but comparing it to fighting open heavens as a brand new emperor realm…
That is to say, the battle experience I've had thus far is against superior opponents, not peers. It is not something that comes along often, but on a battlefield as chaotic as the Ink Battlefield… Not knowing how to deal with a superior opponent coming for you, is a painful weakness to have and infinitely hard to survive.
"Hmm, that boy of yours… He makes a good point. A point that cuts so deep it makes me rethink a few of my previous actions. Perhaps pursuing power isn't the flawed idea. It is the opposite. Pursuit of power for others, is what should be done…" Six Wood Divine Monarch mentioned, stroking his beard watching the fight.
Yang Kai looked at Six Wood with a worried look. "Sorry, but did you just realize this now?" He said, clearly surprised by the words spoken.
"Not all of us here are that dumb. It's just we had a different approach. It didn't seem like there was a difference in strength either. So we never paid attention to it. Or at least, I never thought to question it. I was focused on improving my cultivation, not so much reflection of something I decided thousands of years ago." Six Wood Divine Monarch explained. "Though it isn't that good of an excuse, is it?" He chuckled slightly.
"No, no it's not. But at least we discovered what the other overwhelming weakness of the open heaven method actually is now. To think that its greatest strength is the very same thing that holds us back. Time taken." Yang Kai sighed.
It was around this time that Zhu Qing had finished her improvement. "Husband, I'm, I grew into an Ancient Dragon just like that… This is quite something. We should teach this method to our children as soon as we can." She said, reassuming her human form.
"You think so too? Good, I had that thought when I experienced it myself, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. How about you, Su Yan?" Yang Kai asked, realizing Su Yan was still holding the scroll, his eyes bulged. "Su Yan, are you alright?" He said frantically.
"Don't worry Husband, I'm alright. I wanted to hold it as long as I could. To know just how much my darling son went through. I also feel like something is happening to my Small Universe." Su Yan answered with a pained smile. She was the kind of woman to bear all the troubles her family did. One who wanted to understand and appreciate the effort they put in. "I think I've hit my limit though. Mother… How long did my son hold this for?" She asked Dong Su Zhu.
"Much longer than you have. And he did so while in a heavily weakened state. I suspect it was able to work its way into the very roots of his existence." Dong Su Zhu answered, explaining her observation.
Su Yan sighed painfully. "I see…" She said, with a tear coming to her eye. "My son dealt with such pain and spared us the shared sensation." She continued with a tear coming to her eye.
Zhang Ruo Xi came over and placed her hands on Su Yan's hand, in which the scroll was held. "Sister, please. Any more and it will cause problems. I'll hold onto this for now. You go and do your breakthrough." She said, in a gentle and worried tone.
Su Yan nodded painfully, letting go of the scroll. Zhang Ruo Xi backed away, knowing how this was going to go.
And just like clockwork, Su Yan began her breakthrough. Assuming phoenix form she flew around growing stronger by the moment. It came to a head when she passed the Ancient Phoenix marker. But, she continued to grow. It was as if she still wanted to be a role model for her boy. At least that's the sensation Yang Kai and I both felt.
Su Yan's breakthrough was short, but powerful. She was now closer in strength to a well established 8th rank. Though she wasn't too far into the Ancient realm, she was further than Zhu Qing.
"Having inherited a Divine Source, I'd expect nothing less of you sister." Zhu Qing said, giggling at Su Yan. "Congratulations. On breaking through, you look even more beautiful." She added, holding Su Yan's hand.
"Thank you sister, I see you've grown more beautiful too. And… hmm, do you feel that?" Su Yan asked, with a curious look.
"Is that what you're feeling? Interesting, it makes perfect sense now. I had some questions about Leiji's birth circumstances but… Now I can feel it, there is no doubt that this wonderful boy is your precious adorable little boy." Zhu Qing said, loud enough so I could hear.
I blushed a bit while I was sparring with Yang Xiao. A sparring match that was quickly coming to an end. "Uncle, let's end this with a dragon breath. Try your best to match my output." I said, in a slightly embarrassed tone.
"I see, so it isn't just me who gets teased like that…" Yang Xiao chuckled. "Ow." The laughing hurt a little. "I'll do my best with this as thanks for helping get control over this new power…" He finished saying as he began preparing for a massive breath attack.
I prepared for a breath attack as well. My body swelling up in circumferential size. And then released. Two mighty breath attacks clashed. Mine was clearly not remotely close to what I could dish out. I was simply equaling Yang Xiao's. Well, I was slightly increasing the strength of it slowly, to bring out Yang Xiao's maximum.