Chapter 403: The Ancient Dragon Tomb and Dragon Qi Training
"Lord Xiao Ze, ladies, ahead lies the Ancient Dragon Tomb of Ancient Dragon Island, the resting place of generations of Void Ancient Dragons, thus the dragon qi is extremely dense here," Hei Qing explained as he guided everyone through Ancient Dragon Island, arriving at the Ancient Dragon Tomb.
"Speaking of the Ancient Dragon Tomb, I forgot to mention, we previously obtained the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit in the ruins," Xiao Ze said, gazing at the imposing grandeur of the Ancient Dragon Tomb, where the mountain range twisted like a dragon, and dragon qi billowed, collecting above the mountains like a massive dragon of fate.
"We also brought back the remains of a fallen Void Ancient Dragon elder, planning to lay them to rest in the Ancient Dragon Tomb, allowing the elder to return to their roots," Xiao Ze continued, producing a storage ring.
Earlier, when they dealt with the Jiuyou Di Ming Python clan, Zi Yan, worried about losing the ring, had entrusted it to Xiao Ze for safekeeping. Having been busy upon their return to Ancient Dragon Island, Xiao Ze had kept the ring with him all this time. Now that Zi Yan was in seclusion to refine the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, it seemed appropriate to hand the ring over to Hei Qing for handling.
Hei Qing was momentarily taken aback but quickly accepted the ring. After confirming with his soul force that it indeed contained the remains of a Void Ancient Dragon elder, a grateful expression appeared on his face.
Hesitating briefly, Hei Qing then said to Xiao Ze and the others, "Since Lord Xiao Ze and the ladies have brought back our clan's elder, I'll take you inside the Ancient Dragon Tomb to take a look."
"Due to its status as the resting place for generations of ancient dragons, the tomb has accumulated extremely rich dragon qi. Entering it will help you adapt to the dragon clan's aura in the future," he added.
Xiao Yi Xian, Medusa, and the others exchanged looks, their interest in the Ancient Dragon Tomb evident. Given the majestic and vibrant dragon qi just outside the mountain range, they could only imagine the splendor inside. However, they refrained from acting rashly, waiting instead for Xiao Ze's decision.
After a moment's contemplation, Xiao Ze nodded. Traditionally, it was a resting place for dragon ancestors, and it wouldn't be appropriate for them to enter. However, in the original story, Elder Zhu Li had allowed Qing Lin to enter to suppress the Ancient Heavenly Snake's soul with the tomb's dragon qi, aiding her in further refining the snake.
This precedent meant the Void Ancient Dragon clan likely had no strict taboo against such an act. With this in mind, Xiao Ze expressed his thanks to Hei Qing.
"Thank you, Elder Hei Qing. I, too, am quite eager to see the Ancient Dragon Tomb, especially given the allure of such potent dragon qi," Xiao Ze said.
Hei Qing nodded with a smile, carefully stowed the storage ring in his chest, and then led the group to the front of the Ancient Dragon Tomb. He conjured silver spatial energy with his hands, slicing through the void to form a spatial pathway.
Seeing this familiar form of spatial control, Xiao Ze was internally impressed; the Void Ancient Dragon clan's command over spatial abilities was evident. They could manipulate space at will, a trait evident in the architectural style of Ancient Dragon Island, marked by spatial seals, especially in crucial places like the Dragon Hall and the Ancient Dragon Tomb.
Following Hei Qing into the tomb, the group discovered that unlike typical tombs, the Ancient Dragon Tomb was incredibly bright. Dragon qi filled the air, casting a brilliant light that illuminated the entire space, leaving Xiao Yi Xian, Medusa, and the others in solemn awe.
Unlike other parts of Ancient Dragon Island, the tomb demanded a respectful demeanor due to its significance as the resting place of ancient dragons. They observed their surroundings with curiosity but maintained a respectful silence.
Inside, the tomb was vast, with large, neatly arranged graves stretching into the distance. Despite the long lifespans of the Void Ancient Dragons, the sheer antiquity of their lineage meant many had fallen over the eons, hence the numerous graves.
Hei Qing led them to an unoccupied grave site, where he skillfully placed the remains of the ancient dragon from the storage ring.
"It's unfortunate that the name of this elder is no longer known," Hei Qing said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Condolences," Xiao Ze offered, patting Hei Qing's shoulder before they both bowed to the newly filled grave. As Xiao Ze was not a member of the Void Ancient Dragon clan, a simple bow sufficed, a gesture Xiao Yi Xian and the others mimicked.
After leaving the Ancient Dragon Tomb and the closure of the spatial pathway, Xiao Yi Xian, Medusa, and the others relaxed their solemn expressions.
"Whew... I think after this, other magical beasts' pressures will hardly register," Xiao Yi Xian remarked.
"Indeed, after spending so much time in such dense dragon qi, facing other high-level magical beasts should feel like a breeze," Medusa agreed.
Their experience in the tomb was profoundly beneficial. However, for Xiao Ze, the visit was less fruitful. His own mighty Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python and the Primordial Emperor Flame nearly immunized him against all forms of pressure.
"Elder Xiao Ze, it turns out you were inside the Ancient Dragon Tomb; no wonder I couldn't sense you," Zhu Li appeared, apparently having settled Zi Yan's seclusion.
"Elder, it went like this..." Hei Qing quickly explained the situation to avoid any misunderstanding about their respect for traditions.
"Ah, I see. Thank you, Lord Xiao Ze, for helping our clan's member return to his roots," Zhu Li said solemnly after understanding the situation, expressing his gratitude towards Xiao Ze.
"No need for formalities, Elder. If it wasn't me, Zi Yan would have done it," Xiao Ze responded, light-heartedly advocating for Zi Yan as well.
Pleased, Zhu Li smiled warmly. "By the way, here is a collection of our clan's pill recipes, which I hope Lord Xiao Ze will accept," he said, handing over a storage ring. The previous dragon essence blood was in thanks for giving the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit to Zi Yan.
"As an eighth-grade peak alchemist, the cost for you to produce a single pill is exorbitant," Zhu Li continued. "Moreover, you also provided over a thousand ingredients on your own, which is quite humbling."
"Although you might not care about these things because of Zi Yan, our clan cannot take such actions for granted," he added.
Initially, Xiao Ze intended to decline, especially considering the extreme value of the saint-level ancient dragon blood. However, Zhu Li's firm attitude and thorough explanation prompted him to accept the storage ring after a brief hesitation.
Upon scanning the ring with his soul force and discovering it was filled with numerous pill recipes, even Xiao Ze couldn't help but feel a slight thrill.