Jiang Yun's voice reached Qing Xuan's ears, causing her to breathe a sigh of relief. Immediately afterward, her face blushed involuntarily, and she shyly looked away.
"Can you find my little sister?" After a long time, a weak voice asked.
"I'll do my best!"
Subsequently, peace returned to the spaceship. Three days later, the two arrived at the Tianluo Continent.
Upon returning to the Ancient Heavenly Palace, everything had already returned to its usual state, with no sign of the recent fierce battle.
After arranging for Qing Xuan to become a Golden Dragon disciple, Jiang Yun no longer paid attention to her. At that moment, he was preparing to help Medusa, Little Doctor Immortal, and Qing Lin break through to the Heavenly Sovereign.
They were in a brilliant starry sky. Jiang Yun held Zi Yan's hand, walking in front while Medusa and the other two followed quietly, curiously observing their surroundings.
The surrounding starry sky presented a myriad of strange and fascinating scenes. There were gigantic whales radiating spiritual light soaring through the sky, massive Kunpeng spreading their wings as far as the eye could see, and towering ancient trees swaying and growing as if they reached the heavens. It seemed like an ancient world.
In this place, everyone could feel the extremely pure and ancient spiritual power of the world. This kind of spiritual power was entirely different from that of the outside world, as if it originated from primordial times.
Ancient and pristine.
"So this is the continent's heart of the Tianluo Continent? What a magnificent spectacle!" Little Doctor Immortal was stunned by the surroundings, her face filled with astonishment as she looked at Jiang Yun and the others.
"All those anomalies are formed by spiritual power. It's hard to imagine how profound and thick the spiritual power required to compose such a picture!" Medusa exclaimed, equally astonished.
"Heh, the Great Thousand Worlds are full of wonders. This place is where the spiritual power of heaven and earth converges in Tianluo Continent. It often takes hundreds of years of fusion to form such unusual phenomena, thus the saying about the continent's baptism."
"The power of Tianluo Continent has not been used for tens of thousands of years. With countless cycles, who knows how much energy has accumulated. This time you are in for a great fortune!" Jiang Yun, walking ahead, turned back to look at the three women, speaking softly.
At a certain moment, Jiang Yun stopped and looked at the three women. "Next, you will take the Heavenly Sovereign Pills and step inside to absorb the anomalies and break through. Don't rush; according to my calculations, even if we add three more people, the continent's power here is sufficient for your breakthrough. Take it step by step."
"Okay!" The three women nodded, gazing at Jiang Yun with gentle expressions.
"You each take a position. After one incense stick's time, the baptismal power of the continent will begin transforming into the Light of Baptism, starting the process." With a wave of his hand, a ripple spread through the space. Jiang Yun looked at the three women.
Upon hearing this, Medusa, Little Doctor Immortal, and Qing Lin glanced at each other. Without further ado, they transformed into streaks of light, quickly taking up one-third positions in the starry sky. After taking out the Heavenly Sovereign Pills Jiang Yun had prepared earlier, they quietly waited.
After one incense stick's duration, the ancient spiritual power in this starry sky transformed into a blinding light, enveloping Medusa and the other two.
Bathed in the light, the three felt the ancient spiritual power permeate their bodies like a flood. Their flesh began to boil, greedily devouring the ancient spiritual power.
It felt like an instinctive desire.
As the ancient spiritual power infiltrated their bodies, it collided with their own spiritual power. It felt like pure pond water being infused with rich ink, causing their spiritual power to gradually become denser.
Under the baptism of the ancient spiritual power, they felt every muscle, bone, blood cell, and even their spiritual power undergoing a revolutionary change.
At the same time, the medicinal power within their bodies began to dissolve, visibly enhancing their aura.
"Roar!"
Accompanied by a series of roars, the ancient starry sky suddenly revealed the phantoms of a Nine-Colored Swallowing Python, a Nine-Headed Heavenly Serpent, and a Bodhi Ancient Tree. Each occupied a region, with their auras growing fiercer over time.
"Everything is going smoothly. In a month, they should succeed!" Seeing everything stabilize, Jiang Yun smiled at Zi Yan beside him.
"So that means for the next month, you're all mine!" Zi Yan gently played with her purple hair, seemingly nonchalant, her gem-like purple eyes casually scanning the surroundings.
"I wonder, Lady Zi Yan, if you have any instructions?" Hearing this, Jiang Yun squinted slightly, then gently embraced her, his large hand placed on her waist, grinning.
The next moment, under Zi Yan's gaze of mixed emotions, Jiang Yun leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.
Seven days later.
At the Ancient Heavenly Palace, Jiang Yun and Zi Yan met with an old acquaintance—the super-powerful elder of the True Dragon Clan, the True Dragon Emperor.
"Senior, what brings you to the Tianluo Continent today?" Jiang Yun, sitting in the main seat, asked, looking at the True Dragon Emperor below.
At that moment, the True Dragon Emperor seemed not to hear Jiang Yun's words. He was gazing intently at Zi Yan beside Jiang Yun, his eyes revealing complex emotions such as fervor, regret, and unwillingness.
"Old man, what are you staring at!!!" The True Dragon Emperor's gaze finally irritated Zi Yan. She frowned lightly, her voice cold as she reprimanded him.
Behind her, a dragon and phoenix danced, roaring towards the True Dragon Emperor.
"Dragon-Phoenix… it really is the Dragon-Phoenix." Feeling the bloodline pressure erupting from Zi Yan, the True Dragon Emperor finally came to his senses, muttering.
The reaction of the True Dragon Emperor slightly eased Zi Yan's expression, yet she still frowned, watching him with disapproval.
"Sigh... What a pity." After a long time, the True Dragon Emperor regained his composure, sighing and shaking his head. Looking at Jiang Yun, he remarked, "I'm curious, what kind of lower plane produces so many geniuses?"
"Ha ha… Senior, if you're curious, you can always visit. I've already pulled the Dou Qi Continent near the Tianluo Continent and established a passage between the two worlds. If you go, I'm sure the Ancient Dragon Tribe there will be thrilled." Jiang Yun, having deduced the True Dragon Emperor's intentions and sensing no malice, responded with a kind smile.
Hearing this, the True Dragon Emperor chuckled but did not commit. Then, he turned to Zi Yan, speaking softly: "Child, you possess the Dragon-Phoenix bloodline, the only remaining in the Great Thousand Worlds. I wish to take you to the True Dragon Clan for dedicated cultivation. What do you think?"
The Ancient Heavenly Palace had grown to become a super force capable of contending with the True Dragon Clan. After absorbing the allied army brought by the Mohe Ancient Clan, Jiang Yun had more than twenty Heavenly Sovereigns under his command. Along with his top-level battle strength, the Dragon Clan dared not underestimate the Ancient Heavenly Palace.
Thus, even if he dearly wished to bind Zi Yan to the Dragon Clan, the True Dragon Emperor could not use forceful methods.
"I won't go. I'm perfectly happy staying with Xiao Yun. He's a Grand Master of Saint Grade spiritual pills. Whatever resources I need, I can get them. There's no need to go to the Dragon Clan." Unexpectedly, Zi Yan rejected the proposal outright, leaning into Jiang Yun's embrace, showing a close, unwilling-to-be-separated demeanor.
"Who'd have thought you're also a Grand Master in Saint Grade pills." The True Dragon Emperor, surprised, looked at Jiang Yun—he had already thought highly of him, considering he had reached such heights in a mere thirty years. However, discovering he excelled in both alchemy and martial arts left him astounded.
A Saint Grade pill grandmaster commanded respect even from the True Dragon Clan. Such a master could have Heavenly Sovereigns at their beck and call.
The Great Thousand Worlds originally had only two Saint Grade grandmasters—one at the Ancient Prairie and one at the Pill God Clan, making them the two sacred lands for alchemy.
Who'd have thought Jiang Yun had hidden such talents.
"It's mere luck; I haven't truly stabilized in the Saint Grade and still need years of rigorous training." Jiang Yun waved off the compliment nonchalantly.
The True Dragon Emperor, several times about to curse, ultimately restrained himself, taking deep breaths.
After a moment, he saw Zi Yan nestled in Jiang Yun's arms, paying no mind to him, their ancestor. His eye twitched—such negotiation tactics for extracting benefits were all too familiar to him, an old monster living for tens of thousands of years. Jiang Yun and Zi Yan's ploys were all too predictable to him.
The True Dragon Emperor was convinced he saw through them—they were leveraging interests for better terms, unaware that Zi Yan simply didn't want to part from Jiang Yun.
They had been separated for seven years and had only recently reunited. Asking her to leave for the distant Divine Beast Continent was indeed too much.
Finally, he shifted his gaze to Jiang Yun, believing he would make the right choice.
Sure enough, Jiang Yun lovingly rubbed Zi Yan's head, tightening his embrace around her, then looked at the True Dragon Emperor: "Senior, I sensed some regret in your words earlier. Could you elaborate?"
The True Dragon Emperor glanced at Zi Yan in Jiang Yun's arms, then spoke: "Records in the clan indicate that in ancient times, the Great Thousand Worlds saw the birth of a Dragon-Phoenix, born innately."
"When the Dragon-Phoenix reached its peak, it had already attained the pinnacle of the Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign—rumored to have possibly reached the realm of the Immortal Emperor. Back then, the Divine Beast Clan was under its rule, reaching an unparalleled peak. They were the strongest force in the Great Thousand Worlds, but..."
He sighed, showing regret. "But later on, no one knows what happened; the Dragon-Phoenix suddenly fell, and the Divine Beast Clan returned to a state of division. Since then, the legend of the Dragon-Phoenix Sovereign has spread among the Divine Beasts."
"For tens of thousands of years, our Divine Beast Clan has searched for signs of the Dragon-Phoenix's reappearance but found nothing, leading some to even doubt if the Dragon-Phoenix truly existed."
"Then who killed that Dragon-Phoenix?" Zi Yan, now peering out from Jiang Yun's embrace, asked solemnly.
"Unknown," the True Dragon Emperor shook his head. "It's been too long; no one knows what transpired. However, given the Dragon-Phoenix's near-invincible strength back then, apart from the Heavenly Evil God, no one could have killed it."
"The Heavenly Evil God..."
"Then, Senior, what were you lamenting just now?" Looking at the solemn Zi Yan in his arms, Jiang Yun continued to query the True Dragon Emperor.
In fact, Jiang Yun had his guesses, but having such an authoritative figure from the Beast Realm speak was more convincing.
"This involves the Dragon-Phoenix bloodline. The Dragon-Phoenix has appeared only a handful of times throughout history with scarce records..." The True Dragon Emperor began, gazing at Zi Yan.
"However, the Dragon-Phoenix is undoubtedly the strongest Divine Beast, with a natural bloodline suppression over all divine beasts. Yet, I didn't sense this oppressive power from Zi Yan or, rather, compared to my bloodline, it's insufficient to form an absolute suppression."
"Although with Zi Yan's current bloodline potential, she could reach my level, she might face the same predicament as me now. Perhaps... that's the difference between an innate Dragon-Phoenix and an acquired one!"
"Is there a way to compensate?" Jiang Yun asked the True Dragon Emperor earnestly.
"Difficult, difficult, difficult." The True Dragon Emperor shook his head, frowning.
"Xiao Yun, there's no need to fret over this. I've just broken through to Heavenly Sovereign, and there's a long way to go before reaching the Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign, let alone the Immortal Emperor realm. You're overthinking it!" Zi Yan, in Jiang Yun's arms, reached out to smooth his frowning brows, speaking gently.
In this moment, Zi Yan was no longer the domineering Queen of the Ancient Taixu Dragon Clan but exuded a gentle temperament akin to Little Doctor Immortal.
"We still have to strive!" Jiang Yun, seeing Zi Yan's tranquility, gazed softly at her, smiling.
"Senior, I heard that the True Dragon Clan has a clan-defining divine ability, the True Dragon Nine Transformations. During each transformation, it deeply excavates the dragon bloodline for cultivation. Each transformation is equivalent to a rebirth, and upon completing all nine transformations, one can directly ascend to the Saint Grade realm, ranking among the thirty-six unparalleled divine abilities. Is this true?"
Jiang Yun asked the True Dragon Emperor with a fox-like grin.
(The chapter ends here)