Chapter 276: The Peak of Alchemy: Witnessing Lu Bu's Power, The Path Shatters Into Emptiness!
"Roar!"
At the brink of life and death, the purple black flame dragon made a swift decision. With a thunderous roar, its massive body suddenly halted as a miniature fire dragon, no longer than a meter, burst out from its thousand meter long frame.
As swift as lightning and burning like a blazing inferno, the flame dragon's tail whipped around, and it released a blast of dragon fire at Lu Bu.
Boom!
The dragon fire erupted with explosive force, cutting through the void like a blazing rainbow, leaving a scorched, pitch black scar in the space of the Star Region.
"Hahaha… Foolish human, die now!"
Faced with the sudden attack of otherworldly flames, Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. He appeared as if he had been startled into paralysis, unable to respond.
Boom!
The deafening sound of the explosion echoed as the violent purple black flames completely engulfed Lu Bu.
"Hahaha… Arrogant human! No matter how strong you are, you'll always fall before me. Hahaha!" The purple black flame dragon tilted its head back, laughing triumphantly.
But in the next moment, its golden yellow eyes widened in shock, and its majestic dragon face froze in utter disbelief.
"Impossible… Absolutely impossible!"
Within the roaring dragon fire, a figure slowly emerged. The terrifying heat and raging flames hadn't caused the slightest harm not even a strand of hair was singed.
"Not bad," Lu Bu said, his lips curving slightly upward. "You were quick to abandon your physical body and rely on your soul to counterattack, but… that's the extent of it." His hand, holding a condensed black palm imprint, remained raised but had yet to strike.
"What… what's going on?" The Three Thousand Burning Flame roared, its mind in turmoil. Its flames were lethal even to peak Dou Zuns, so how was this human unharmed?
In the next instant, it realized the answer. A faint, eerie black glow shimmered on Lu Bu's skin like a thin, unnatural membrane.
Whenever the scorching flames touched the membrane, they were devoured and dissolved completely, unable to penetrate its defense.
"What… what is this?" the flame dragon cried out.
"Devouring Membrane," Lu Bu replied with a faint smile. "Don't worry about understanding it now. When your consciousness is reborn, you'll figure it out."
With that, Lu Bu's figure vanished and reappeared above the flame dragon. The black Devouring Seal in his hand descended with terrifying force.
Puff!
A muffled sound echoed as the deep black seal transformed into a vortex, violently tearing into the miniature flame dragon.
"Argh!" The purple black flame dragon twisted and writhed in pain, desperately trying to escape. But the vortex's furious suction force left it powerless to break free, forcing it to watch as it was gradually shredded apart.
Lu Bu closed his eyes slightly, sitting cross legged in mid air. The black light surrounding him surged as countless Devouring Chains shot forth like sharp swords, embedding themselves deep into the dragon's massive body. These chains began to devour and refine the immense energy that the Three Thousand Burning Flame had accumulated over countless years.
Time passed slowly. Hei Qing, bored out of his mind, sat cross legged in the void, idly scratching at the air with a faint scowl.
Of course, he wasn't actually scratching himself but had instead begun cultivating to pass the time.
As the hours stretched on, a dark golden light suddenly tore through the void and emerged before Hei Qing, accompanied by the faint sound of spatial rifts cracking.
"Huh?" Hei Qing furrowed his thick eyebrows and instinctively caught the light. The moment it landed in his hands, his expression changed dramatically.
"Dragon… Dragon Emperor's bloodline?"
"No, wait… something's off," Hei Qing muttered, inhaling deeply to calm himself as he examined the information more closely. A moment later, his brows furrowed tightly.
Lu Bu had once mentioned that his Dragon Might was the result of cultivating a special Dou Technique. He had even borrowed some dragon blood from a young Void Dragon cub during the cultivation process, promising Hei Qing that they would visit the cub together soon.
Now, as he calculated the timing, nearly a month had passed. Could it be…?
Hei Qing's eyes gleamed sharply. Could Lu Bu's exceptionally potent Dragon Might stronger and purer than his own bloodline have such origins?
"If that's the case, whether this Dragon Emperor's descendant will willingly return to the clan is hard to say…" Hei Qing muttered, the corners of his mouth twitching. Glancing at the endless black radiance ahead, he sighed.
In the end, this matter would still require Lu Bu's intervention. Forcing the Dragon Emperor's descendant back against its will might lead to rebellion, which would spell disaster for the Eastern Dragon Island in the future.
"Fine… I'll wait a month. If he hasn't emerged by then, I'll handle it myself," Hei Qing murmured with a faint sigh.
Northern Region of Central Plains – Sky Eye Mountain
Boom!
A powerful aura suddenly erupted from the blood pool within Sky Eye Mountain. Brilliant purple golden light surged upward like a blazing sun, dazzling and radiant.
In the mountain, countless birds and beasts cried out in fear, trembling under the overwhelming Dragon Might.
Even low level Gold Eating Rats were so terrified that they collapsed, foaming at the mouth and fainting on the spot.
"This isn't good!" Medusa's delicate face changed drastically as she immediately halted her cultivation. Her figure flashed, appearing above Zi Yan, where she unleashed a torrent of silver light from her palm. In mere moments, the terrifying aura was suppressed and concealed.
Deep within Sky Eye Mountain, a scrawny old man with sharp, rat like features wiped the sweat from his brow. That little girl… was also a magical beast?
What kind of beast was she? How could her aura be even more terrifying than that woman's?
This was too frightening. Even more terrifying was the fact that they had gathered together. Who in this world could possibly tame these two monstrous women?
Before he could finish processing this thought, another powerful aura flared to life. The wind roared and howled through the mountain range, and for the first time, the humid air turned refreshingly cool.
The majestic woman from before had advanced in rank!
"Wait… one broke through, and the other evolved?" The old man was dumbfounded. Was the blood pool of Sky Eye Mountain always this effective?
"I've soaked in it for years and never knew…"
"These women are terrifying," another elder muttered nearby. Who could possibly bring such formidable women together?
At that moment, a figure in white streaked through the air. Her hair was a dazzling silver, cascading like a waterfall.
"Ladies, I must apologize for the inconvenience I've caused during my time here. I have urgent matters to attend to and will take my leave," Xiao Yi Xian said, her voice as crisp and melodious as pearls falling onto jade. However, her tone was cold as ice, exuding an aura of untouchable frost.
"If you ever need assistance, feel free to seek us, the Gold Eating Mouse Clan," the elder laughed heartily, unfazed by her demeanor.
"Farewell," Xiao Yi Xian nodded slightly before flying toward Yun Yun and Medusa.
"Let's go to the Dan Region," Medusa said with a smile, noting that everyone had gathered. Her gaze shifted to Xiao Yi Xian, whose pale face made her frown slightly.
"Let's go find Lu Bu!" Zi Yan exclaimed excitedly. Now that she was a Dou Zong, she was certain she could surpass Lu Bu.
"Let's go," Medusa said softly, taking Xiao Yi Xian's hand as they flew ahead.
Yun Yun frowned slightly, her lips pressed into a thin line beneath her veil. Though concerned, she refrained from asking questions, silently following Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian with Zi Yan.
"What's wrong? Is it the Woeful Poison Body?" Medusa asked quietly, her tone filled with concern. Xiao Yi Xian's hand was icy cold, and her body seemed off.
"It's because of the energy tide in Sky Eye Mountain," Xiao Yi Xian replied softly, her lips pale. "The energy tide suppressed my Dou Qi and disturbed the seal on my Woeful Poison Body."
"Don't worry, just rest for a few days and adjust yourself. You'll be fine," said Xiao Yi Xian softly.
Hearing this, Medusa frowned slightly. "Then rest well for the next few days. Leave everything to me."
She didn't blame Xiao Yi Xian for not mentioning it earlier. After all, even if she had, it wouldn't have changed anything they couldn't separate!
In this foreign Central Plains, where they were already in conflict with the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, the area wasn't safe for them. On top of that, the Soul Hall's headquarters was also located in the Central Plains. If anything happened, it would spell major trouble.
Xiao Yi Xian was important, but so were Yun Yun and Zi Yan.
As for Lu Bu… once they found Lu Bu, all their problems would be resolved!
Medusa bit her red lips gently, her slender eyes flashing with longing and urgency. With him around, all difficulties in this world ceased to be real obstacles!
"Alright…" Xiao Yi Xian nodded slightly.
A Few Days Later, Sky Eye Mountain
"Thank the heavens, that woman is finally gone…" Jin Shi wiped the sweat from his forehead, exhaling a long sigh of relief. The heavy weight pressing down on his chest for the past few days had finally been lifted.
Beside him, Jin Gu also wore a look of relief. Even after those women left a few days ago, the Gold Eating Rat Clan hadn't dared to relax even slightly. Only when the younger rats in the clan reported that the group had entered the spatial wormhole did these two finally breathe a collective sigh of relief.
"Is there anyone else left in the blood pool?" Jin Gu asked, turning his gaze toward the Sky Eye Platform.
"There's one last person. His companion is still waiting for him," Jin Shi replied, glancing toward the platform.
"Huh?" Jin Gu frowned. "It's been so long. Why haven't we driven him out yet?"
The Sky Eye Blood Pool was meant to be absorbed, not a place to loiter indefinitely.
"Are you sure about that?" Jin Shi replied casually. "Not long ago, the Wind Venerable secretly met with our clan elder. That kid… was personally named by the Wind Venerable to be taken care of."
"What?" Jin Gu's eyes widened in disbelief. Such treatment was rare even Mu Qingluan, the Wind Venerable's personal disciple, hadn't received such attention. Who was this ordinary looking kid to wield so much influence?
"So, let him stay. If he's not afraid of the fire toxins, it's none of our concern," Jin Shi said with a shrug. Dead or alive, it had nothing to do with the Gold Eating Rat Clan.
Before he could finish speaking, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted through the heavens. A powerful aura surged out of the blood pool, shooting upward with an explosive force.
Scorching heat filled the air as a purple brown flame spread across Sky Eye Mountain.
"Someone else has broken through to Dou Zong?" Jin Shi and Jin Gu were stunned. How could this be? When had the blood pool become so powerful that one person after another was breaking into the Dou Zong realm?
Why hadn't anyone from the Gold Eating Rat Clan ever managed such a feat?
"Something's off. That flame isn't normal!" Jin Gu said, his gaze sharpening. He could sense an incredibly violent fire attribute energy within the purple brown flames, far surpassing the blood pool's ordinary fire toxins.
"Could it be… an Heavenly Flame?" Jin Shi muttered as a possibility occurred to him.
"Should we take a look?" Jin Gu suggested.
"Of course!" Jin Shi's narrow eyes gleamed. If this person was an alchemist, it might be a great opportunity to establish a connection.
In the sky above, Xiao Yan floated with his eyes tightly shut, waves of soul power surging from him. Following the fiery mark left by Yao Lao on his brow, a sliver of thought began to search for his master.
However, just as he was about to find him, a sharp pain tore through his soul, and that thread of thought was forcefully crushed and obliterated.
Xiao Yan's eyes shot open, his aura fluctuating wildly as a shadow of resentment flashed in his gaze.
"Damn Soul Hall! You've abducted my father and hurt my master. If I don't avenge this, I'm no longer human! Just wait!"
Below, Lin Yan looked up at Xiao Yan standing effortlessly in the air, sighing with envy and frustration.
It wasn't fair. Senior Sister Zi Yan's advancement to Dou Zong made sense she was the number one on the Strong Ranking and already incredibly powerful. But how had Xiao Yan managed to break through as well?
It was infuriating!
No, this wouldn't do. Lin Yan clenched his teeth. If he had to suffer, everyone else needed to share in the misery too.
Just as Xiao Yan descended and prepared to leave with Lin Yan, two figures darted toward them from the distance.
Xiao Yan frowned but quickly scanned the newcomers with his soul power. Confirming that there wasn't a terrifying elder sister who could kill him with a single slash, he sighed in relief.
With a raised eyebrow, a faint smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face. "Senior Lin Yan, could I trouble you to help me with something?"
"Huh?" Lin Yan blinked in confusion. "What?"
Whoosh!
Two gray cloaked old men with shifty eyes appeared before Lin Yan and Xiao Yan in a flash.
"Hahaha! Congratulations, sir, on advancing to Dou Zong!" Jin Gu exclaimed, his small eyes narrowing into slits. He could tell they were alchemists their scent was unmistakable.
"I am Jin Shi, the leader of the Gold Eating Rat Clan…" Jin Shi began.
But before he could finish, Xiao Yan's lips curved into a faint smile. "Clan Leader Jin Shi, I sense that you don't have much longer to live."
"What?" Jin Gu's face twitched, his whisker like mustache trembling violently as he nearly bit his tongue.
"Young man, what do you mean by that?" Jin Shi's expression darkened as he asked sharply.
"Hehe… Perhaps the two seniors don't know who my brother here really is," Lin Yan interjected, shaking his head dramatically.
"This man is the greatest alchemical prodigy on the Dou Qi continent in a millennium! Allow me to recite a poem in his honor:
'At the peak of alchemy, who stands supreme?
One glance at Lu Bu, and the path fades to emptiness.
Boundless is the alchemist's road, endless its horizons,
Yet his Heavenly Flames and divine cauldron subdue the cosmos!'"
"What?"
Jin Shi and Jin Gu were utterly dumbfounded. Such an audacious proclamation! The last time they'd heard something this bold, it had come from that so called Dou Di material, Xiao Yan.
Moments later, the corners of their mouths twitched as mocking smiles appeared. Was this boy trying to mimic the infamous Xiao Yan to gain fame?
As the two Gold Eating Rat elders stared at them, Lin Yan shifted uncomfortably, curling his toes inside his shoes. How embarrassing!
"Ahem… Seniors, please don't mind him. My brother tends to speak his mind," Xiao Yan coughed lightly before adopting a serious tone. "But Clan Leader Jin Shi's condition is indeed no exaggeration."
"If I'm not mistaken, it's due to the fire toxins in the Sky Eye Blood Pool, correct?"
At these words, the two elders immediately froze, their earlier derision vanishing. Their expressions turned solemn.
He had pinpointed Jin Shi's ailment with just one statement. Not even seventh tier alchemists had managed that. His boldness aside, this young man was clearly no ordinary figure!
"Master Lu Bu, I beg you to save me!" Jin Shi quickly straightened his robes and bowed respectfully.
"No need for such courtesy, Senior. If I can help, I will not refuse. Please, have a seat so I may examine your condition," Xiao Yan said, gesturing with a wave of his hand before sitting cross legged on the Sky Eye Platform.
Seeing this, the two Dou Zong elders of the Gold Eating Rat Clan were filled with reverence. Truly, a genius of alchemy so unpretentious and extraordinary!
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen