Chen Fan gazed at the dragon's massive form, his eyes brimming with anticipation. Faced with an unexpected opportunity, his hopes soared—perhaps he could restore what had been lost.
Without hesitation, he placed his left hand on the dragon's right arm. Recalling the battle from earlier, an idea surfaced in his mind—a way to harness the dragon's power efficiently.
Absorb.
At his command, inky shadows enveloped the dragon's arm, shifting and swirling before slowly detaching from the corpse. The process was surprisingly smooth, perhaps due to the dragon's soul already being within him. The arm drifted toward Chen Fan, the energy within it flowing seamlessly into his missing limb.
A sudden surge of power coursed through him. Dark shadows erupted where his right arm once was, twisting and coiling into a defined shape. As the shadows dissipated, a new limb emerged—black scales covered the entire arm, glistening under the dim light, while razor-sharp claws replaced his fingernails. Chen Fan clenched his fist, testing his grip. His new hand felt stronger, more resilient, and when he summoned his power, black energy gathered effortlessly at his palm. The dragon's abilities were now even easier to control through this arm.
For a brief moment, he considered absorbing more of the dragon's body, but he quickly suppressed the thought. Greed would only lead to disaster. He would wait until he had fully assimilated the dragon's soul before attempting anything further.
"I didn't expect the absorption to go this smoothly," the armored man remarked as he stepped forward, placing a hand on Chen Fan's new limb. He examined it briefly before asking, "Can you make it look normal?"
Chen Fan nodded, focusing inward. He willed the dragon's power to recede, and almost instantly, the black scales and claws vanished, leaving behind what appeared to be a perfectly normal human hand. However, he immediately noticed a slight drop in his ability to control the dragon's energy—it was still usable, but clearly stronger when he allowed the transformation to remain active.
The man smirked and turned toward Bai Mulan. "Satisfied now, lass?"
Bai Mulan exhaled, a wave of relief washing over her. Seeing Chen Fan not only safe but stronger than before lifted a burden she hadn't even realized she was carrying.
"Now, you two should get going," the man said, his tone firm, as if eager to see them leave.
Chen Fan frowned, looking at him with mild curiosity. "You really like being alone, huh, old man?" He hadn't expected the man to rush them out so quickly.
The man shook his head. "I need to stabilize the seal. Before, the dragon was confident that no one would be able to steal its power, so it simply waited for its eventual release. But now, knowing that you exist, I can feel its resistance growing stronger."
Chen Fan gave a slow nod, understanding the reasoning, yet something still felt…off. Why hadn't the dragon fought back more fiercely in the past? Of course, he considered the possibility that forcing its way out of the seal might have caused a backlash, but something about the situation didn't sit right with him. The man, however, clearly wasn't willing to explain further.
Sensing the conversation had come to an end, Chen Fan was about to ask how they would leave when the man simply snapped his fingers.
In an instant, their surroundings shifted.
The ancient chamber vanished, replaced by a vast expanse—a sea of blood stretched endlessly in every direction.
Chen Fan scanned his surroundings, his gaze lingering on the massive hole in the ceiling—the very place they had fallen from. Even as he extended his spiritual sense, all he could perceive was the endless expanse of crimson liquid stretching in every direction, an eerie silence accompanying the vast sea of blood.
His thoughts drifted back to the black blood from the dragon earlier. Now, as he stared at the boundless ocean of red, a chilling possibility surfaced in his mind. If this blood belonged to a single creature… just how enormous was it?
The sheer scale of it was unfathomable. But without any way to confirm his suspicions, he pushed the thought aside. Speculation wouldn't help him now. He had a more pressing goal—finding another token to access the remaining two doors. And if obtaining it meant facing another Nascent Soul cultivator, then so be it.
Feeling the raw strength coursing through his newly acquired limb, confidence surged within him. The absorption of the dragon's soul and body had drastically enhanced his cultivation, fortifying not only his spiritual power but also his qi and physical resilience. While his soul had gained the most significant boost, his body had also strengthened enough to put him on par with a Nascent Soul cultivator. If another battle awaited him, he was ready.
His eyes trailed upward to the gaping abyss above. Now, how do we get back up?
Flying was out of the question, which meant they would have to climb.
His gaze flickered toward Bai Mulan, and he quickly noticed the exhaustion in her expression. He didn't even need to probe her qi reserves—her current state made it obvious. Most of her energy had likely been spent using protective qi during the fall, ensuring she survived the descent without injury.
"What's wrong?" Bai Mulan asked, feeling a bit self-conscious under his silent scrutiny.
Without a word, Chen Fan stepped forward and crouched down in front of her. "I'll carry you."
"W-What?" she stammered, her face heating up instantly. Ever since acknowledging her feelings for him, she had become painfully aware of every interaction between them. And now he was suggesting something so… intimate?
"I'm stronger and faster," he explained patiently. "We'll be able to get out of here more efficiently this way. Besides, we don't know what's lurking in the darkness. If we get separated, it could be dangerous."
He paused before adding, "We're also low on energy pills. We don't know how deep we fell, and we need to conserve as much strength as possible."
His reasoning was sound, leaving Bai Mulan with no logical argument against it. She took a steadying breath, trying to push down the strange fluttering in her chest before nodding in agreement.
Slowly, she climbed onto his back, but once she was in place, she hesitated, unsure where to put her hands.
Before she could decide, Chen Fan took the initiative. With a firm yet careful touch, he guided her arms around his chest, then reached back to adjust her legs, securing them around his lower abdomen.
The moment their bodies pressed together, Bai Mulan felt a shiver run through her. She was keenly aware of every point of contact—the warmth of his back, the firm muscles beneath his clothes, the steady rise and fall of his breathing.
But she wasn't the only one affected.
Chen Fan, despite his composed expression, felt his thoughts momentarily waver. The faint floral fragrance that clung to her skin drifted to his senses, and the soft warmth against his back made his heartbeat quicken against his will.
Focus, he reminded himself firmly.
Pushing all unnecessary thoughts aside, he leaped into the air, propelling them both toward the opening above. With each bound, he released bursts of flame to illuminate the darkness, ensuring he had a clear view of where to land next.
Time stretched as they ascended. Bai Mulan, having finally regained some of her composure, turned her head slightly, stealing glances at Chen Fan's face.
His sharp eyes remained locked on their path, his expression calm yet intensely focused. Every movement was precise, every leap calculated.
A soft smile touched her lips. Unknowingly, she found herself depending on him more and more.
"Give me an energy pill," Chen Fan's voice suddenly pulled her from her thoughts.
She blinked, taking a moment to process his request. Her eyes flickered down to his hands—both were occupied, gripping onto surfaces as he climbed. The only way for him to take the pill was if she fed it to him.
Her heart skipped a beat at the realization.
Still, there was no time to hesitate. Quickly retrieving an energy pill, she carefully brought it to his lips.
For the briefest moment, her fingertips brushed against them.
A jolt shot through her, and before she could stop herself, her grip around him unconsciously tightened. The warmth of his lips lingered on her skin, sending her thoughts into disarray.
Chen Fan, who had been wholly focused on climbing, suddenly found himself distracted. The fleeting touch, the way she clung to him—it all made his mind waver for a split second. His grip faltered slightly before he quickly steadied himself.
Then he felt her bury her face against his shoulder, as if trying to hide her embarrassment.
His focus slipped even further.
Damn it, he cursed inwardly, trying to force himself back into the moment. But the more he tried to ignore the sensation of her warmth against him, the more aware he became of it.
It was frustrating.
And yet, a small part of him… didn't mind.
For the first time in a long while, Chen Fan found himself wishing that time would slow down, if only for a little longer.
After what felt like an eternity, a faint glow appeared above them.
Chen Fan's eyes lit up, and with a final, powerful leap, they burst through the opening and landed on solid ground.
Glancing around, he immediately recognized the familiar landscape. They had returned safely.
He crouched down, preparing to let Bai Mulan dismount. "You can get off now," he said, keeping his tone neutral.
Yet when no response came, he frowned slightly and turned his head—only to find Bai Mulan fast asleep, her head resting peacefully against his shoulder.
He stared at her in surprise for a moment, watching the gentle rise and fall of her breathing. Then, a quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
Shaking his head slightly, he muttered, "Let's rest for a bit."
Making no move to wake her, he simply adjusted his posture, allowing her to remain comfortably nestled against him.