"Stop!" Long Tian roared, his eyes bloodshot.
As more dragons perished within the secret realm, the Dragon Clan leader Long Tian was overwhelmed with grief. Everything he had done was for the Dragon Clan, dreaming of leading them to unprecedented heights. But now, he realized he had been deceived by the Dragon Clan elders all along.
These elders, who had lived for so long, no longer cared for the clan's welfare; their sole concern was prolonging their own lives. Their actions were driven purely by selfish desires, using the entire Dragon Clan, including him, as tools.
The humans in the secret realm were never enough to truly activate the Dragon Pool. The real nourishment needed was the essence blood and dragon essence from the dragons themselves. Thinking back, it was obvious that Long Xiaoxiao's blood and dragon essence, along with the humans' inferior bloodlines, couldn't transform the entire Dragon Clan into true dragons.
Blinded by the clan's glory, he had failed to see the truth until now. The elders' true goal was likely to sacrifice the entire Dragon Clan to break through their own limits and transform into true dragons.
Realizing this, Long Tian charged at the elders, determined to stop them. The Dragon Clan couldn't be destroyed under his leadership.
However, the elders had set up a barrier, impervious to Long Tian's attacks. No interference was allowed during the activation of the Dragon Pool. It was clear they had prepared for this eventuality.
Noticing Long Tian's actions, Xiao Fan and Long Xiao halted their fight.
"Clan leader, what's going on?" Long Xiao asked, panic evident in his voice. His cultivation had been mostly drained, and if this continued, he would be completely absorbed.
"We've been deceived!" Long Tian revealed the truth to Long Xiao.
"What?!" Long Xiao's eyes widened in shock.
"Clan leader, what should we do now?" Long Xiao asked urgently.
"Should we try to escape with the surviving dragons?" he suggested.
"It's no use," Long Tian shook his head, his face ashen. "All the exits have been sealed. We're trapped like fish in a barrel, waiting to be absorbed."
Hearing this, Xiao Fan understood why Gongsun Yarou hadn't yet led the demon army inside. The exits were sealed.
Just then, the secret realm trembled again.
Long Tian's face lit up with hope. He sensed a powerful force trying to break into the secret realm. If they could coordinate from the inside, they might break through.
Sharing his plan with Long Xiao, Long Tian said, "Long Xiao, gather all surviving dragon warriors. Ensure our clan's future hope escapes!"
"What about you, clan leader? Won't you come with us?" Long Xiao asked, his voice filled with sorrow.
"I'll stay and buy you time," Long Tian said with a bitter smile. He had failed his duty, leading the clan to this disaster. He couldn't face the shame of survival.
"Take care, clan leader," Long Xiao said solemnly before turning to fulfill his duty.
After Long Xiao left, Long Tian approached Xiao Fan, who was desperately trying to break the barrier to save Long Xiaoxiao.
"Xiao Fan, it's no use. This barrier was set by our saint-realm elders. You can't break it," Long Tian sighed.
"Do you have a way?" Xiao Fan asked, frowning. He had overheard the plan and hoped Long Tian had a solution.
"I can create a temporary opening, but after that, it's up to you," Long Tian said with a cold determination.
Xiao Fan nodded, understanding what this meant.
"Alright," he agreed.
Long Tian revealed his true form, transforming into a massive black dragon over a hundred feet long. Gathering all his power into the two horns on his head, he charged at the barrier.
Boom!
The impact was like a thunderclap, shaking the heavens and earth. Long Tian's massive form shattered, turning into blood mist. The barrier cracked, but it began to heal rapidly.
Seizing the moment, Xiao Fan rushed through the opening.
Inside, the overwhelming pressure from the elders hit Xiao Fan like a tidal wave.
"Ah!" Blood spurted from Xiao Fan's mouth as his knees buckled, his body trembling violently. Long Xiaoxiao was within reach, but the few steps felt like an insurmountable distance.
His joints creaked under the pressure, and finally, his bones gave way.
With a thud, Xiao Fan collapsed, his body shattered. Face pressed to the cold ground, he could no longer lift his head. Despite this, he didn't think of giving up.
Inch by inch, he crawled toward Long Xiaoxiao, dragging his broken body, leaving a trail of blood.
The elders' pressure intensified as they tried to speed up the Dragon Pool's activation, splitting their focus to deal with Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan's bloodied form inched closer, his eyes locked on the silent Long Xiaoxiao in the pool. Tears of blood streamed down his face.
"Xiaoxiao... I'm sorry... It's the master's fault..."