The Azure Ancient Secret Realm had changed.
Only a few minutes ago, the mountains had been silent.
Now—
Birds fled through the sky.
Spirit beasts roared from every direction.
Ancient trees shook violently.
And somewhere deep within the secret realm, an enormous pressure continued spreading.
Ye Xuan stood on a mountain ridge beside Su Lian.
His white hair moved with the wind.
His golden eyes stared toward the distant mountains.
"Senior Sister."
"Yes?"
"Do you know what kind of creature could create that pressure?"
Su Lian shook her head.
"No."
She paused.
"That is what worries me."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"You seem unusually nervous."
Su Lian looked at him.
"Because I have entered the secret realm twice before."
"And?"
"I've never felt anything like this."
Her expression became serious.
"The Azure Ancient Secret Realm is ancient. There are many things hidden here that even our elders don't understand."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Fair enough."
Suddenly—
ROOOOAR!
Another roar exploded across the sky.
This time, Ye Xuan felt something different.
His blood responded.
The newly formed
Golden Azure Dragon Emperor Bloodline
began circulating on its own.
His heart beat faster.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
Ye Xuan's expression changed.
Why is my blood reacting?
The system appeared.
[Warning.]
[Bloodline resonance detected.]
Ye Xuan frowned.
"With what?"
[Unknown.]
"Again?"
[Yes.]
Ye Xuan sighed.
"You've become very fond of saying 'unknown.'"
[The system is equally dissatisfied.]
Su Lian looked at him.
"Junior Brother?"
"I'm fine."
"You look pale."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Just hungry."
Su Lian stared at him.
"You're hungry?"
"Yes."
She sighed.
"How can you think about food at a time like this?"
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Senior Sister, food is important."
Before she could answer—
A strange sound came from his shoulder.
Grrrrrr...
Su Lian stared.
Ye Xuan stared.
Little Snow slowly poked its head out from behind his collar.
"Hungry."
Ye Xuan pointed at the rabbit.
"See?"
Su Lian covered her mouth.
A small smile appeared.
"You're both ridiculous."
They continued forward.
After walking for nearly an hour, they reached a valley.
The valley was filled with strange flowers.
Every flower had a faint golden glow.
Ye Xuan's Heavenly Alchemy Eye activated automatically.
His expression changed.
"These aren't ordinary flowers."
Su Lian looked at him.
"What are they?"
"Golden Soul Flowers."
Her eyes widened.
"Golden Soul Flowers?"
Ye Xuan nodded.
"They're extremely rare."
"How rare?"
"According to the knowledge I received..."
He crouched beside one.
"One flower can sell for several thousand Spirit Stones outside."
Su Lian immediately looked around.
"There are hundreds here."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Looks like we found our first treasure."
They began collecting them.
Little Snow helped.
Although "help" meant eating some.
Ye Xuan caught it chewing on a flower.
"Spit it out."
Little Snow froze.
"Tasty."
"That isn't food."
"Everything is food."
Ye Xuan sighed.
"You're impossible."
Su Lian laughed softly.
After collecting the flowers, Ye Xuan suddenly stopped.
His Battle Instinct activated.
Something was wrong.
He looked toward the trees.
"Senior Sister."
"Hm?"
"Don't move."
Su Lian immediately became alert.
"What happened?"
Ye Xuan stared at the forest.
"Someone is there."
A moment later—
Several figures stepped out.
They wore dark-green robes.
Their chests carried a strange emblem.
Su Lian's expression changed.
"Blood Moon Sect."
Ye Xuan looked at them.
"Enemy?"
"Not exactly."
She lowered her voice.
"But they're not friendly."
The leading young man smiled.
"Miss Su."
Su Lian's expression became cold.
"Zhou Han."
The man looked at Ye Xuan.
"And this must be the famous new disciple of Elder Mu."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Famous already?"
Zhou Han laughed.
"You defeated Zhao Tian and won the Alchemy Competition."
His eyes narrowed.
"Your name has spread quickly."
Ye Xuan shrugged.
"Can't help being talented."
Su Lian's mouth twitched.
He really doesn't know how to be humble.
Zhou Han's expression became colder.
"Give us the Golden Soul Flowers."
Su Lian immediately refused.
"No."
Zhou Han smiled.
"Then we'll take them ourselves."
Ye Xuan stepped forward.
"You could have asked politely."
Zhou Han stared.
"And would you have given them?"
"No."
"..."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"But at least we'd have had a pleasant conversation."
Su Lian couldn't help laughing.
Even Little Snow made a strange sound.
"Stupid."
Zhou Han's face darkened.
"You..."
He suddenly raised his hand.
"Attack."
Six cultivators rushed forward.
Their cultivation ranged from
Spirit Sea First Layer to Third Layer
.
Su Lian stepped forward.
Her sword appeared in her hand.
SHING!
A cold sword intent spread through the valley.
Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow.
Senior Sister is strong.
She moved.
WHOOSH!
One sword strike.
Two enemies were forced backward.
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Beautiful."
Su Lian glanced at him.
"Focus."
"I am."
"You're staring at my sword."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Of course."
Su Lian's cheeks became slightly red.
Then she turned away.
"Shameless."
Ye Xuan laughed.
Three cultivators rushed toward Ye Xuan.
The first swung a sword.
Ye Xuan dodged.
The second attacked from behind.
He used
Spatial Step
.
His body vanished.
He reappeared behind the second cultivator.
BOOM!
One punch.
The cultivator flew into a tree.
The third attacked.
Ye Xuan caught his wrist.
Then twisted.
Crack!
The man's face turned pale.
Ye Xuan released him.
"Go."
The man stared.
"You..."
"I'm giving you a chance."
The cultivator immediately ran.
The system appeared.
[Host has demonstrated mercy.]
Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"Don't tell me there's a reward for that."
[No.]
"Good."
[The system is merely observing.]
"You're becoming nosy."
Zhou Han's expression became ugly.
He hadn't expected Ye Xuan to be this strong.
"Interesting."
His spiritual energy exploded.
Spirit Sea Fifth Layer!
Su Lian's expression changed.
"Junior Brother, retreat!"
Zhou Han disappeared.
A palm appeared before Ye Xuan.
BOOM!
Ye Xuan crossed his arms.
The impact sent him flying.
He landed several meters away.
His boots carved lines into the ground.
He looked at his arms.
No injury.
But the force had surprised him.
Zhou Han's eyes narrowed.
"You're still standing?"
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Unfortunately for you."
His bloodline activated.
Golden-blue light erupted.
A faint dragon roar echoed behind him.
ROAR!
Zhou Han's face changed.
"What is that?!"
Ye Xuan didn't answer.
He stepped forward.
Spatial Step.
He disappeared.
Zhou Han's pupils contracted.
"Where—"
BOOM!
Ye Xuan appeared beside him.
His fist struck Zhou Han's ribs.
CRACK!
Zhou Han flew backward.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
But he didn't fall.
He quickly stabilized himself.
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"Strong."
Zhou Han wiped the blood away.
Then smiled.
"You really are interesting."
Suddenly—
He pulled out a black talisman.
Su Lian's face changed.
"Junior Brother!"
"That's a Blood Escape Talisman!"
Zhou Han crushed it.
A terrifying spatial fluctuation appeared.
"I'm not interested in fighting you anymore."
His body began disappearing.
Before he vanished, he looked at Ye Xuan.
"We'll meet again."
Then—
He disappeared.
Ye Xuan stared at the empty space.
"He's gone."
Su Lian nodded.
"Yes."
"Annoying."
She looked at him.
"You should be careful."
"Why?"
"Because Blood Moon Sect remembers enemies."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Then I'll remember them too."
After the battle, they collected the remaining Golden Soul Flowers.
But just as Ye Xuan put the last flower into his storage ring—
The ground suddenly shook.
RUMBLE!
Su Lian immediately became alert.
"What now?"
Ye Xuan looked toward the mountains.
His bloodline was reacting violently.
The Golden Azure Dragon Emperor Bloodline began burning.
THUMP!
THUMP!
THUMP!
Ye Xuan's eyes widened.
A massive golden-blue light rose from his body.
Su Lian stared.
"Junior Brother!"
"I'm fine."
But Ye Xuan wasn't fine.
His consciousness suddenly disappeared.
Inside the mysterious space
Ye Xuan opened his eyes.
He was standing in complete darkness.
No sky.
No ground.
No sound.
Then—
A pair of enormous golden eyes appeared before him.
Ye Xuan's body froze.
The creature was so enormous that he couldn't see its full body.
A voice echoed.
Ancient.
Deep.
Majestic.
"Human..."
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
The creature remained silent.
Then—
"Why does the blood of the Dragon Emperor flow within you?"
Ye Xuan froze.
Dragon Emperor?
His bloodline?
He immediately asked,
"What do you mean?"
The enormous eyes stared at him.
"You carry the bloodline..."
The voice paused.
"...but you are not him."
Ye Xuan's expression became serious.
"Who is the Dragon Emperor?"
The creature didn't answer.
Instead—
It slowly lowered its head.
"Too early."
"What?"
"Your strength is insufficient."
Ye Xuan frowned.
"Then why bring me here?"
The creature's eyes narrowed.
"I did not."
Ye Xuan froze.
"...What?"
"You came because the bloodline called to me."
The darkness trembled.
The creature's voice became softer.
"When you reach the Upper Realm..."
A strange pressure surrounded Ye Xuan.
"...you will understand."
Ye Xuan's eyes sharpened.
"Upper Realm?"
The creature slowly closed its eyes.
"Grow stronger."
"Wait!"
Ye Xuan stepped forward.
"Tell me more!"
The creature's voice faded.
"Not yet..."
Everything went dark.
Ye Xuan suddenly opened his eyes.
He was back in the valley.
Su Lian was holding his shoulders.
"Junior Brother!"
Ye Xuan blinked.
"Senior Sister?"
She looked relieved.
"You suddenly collapsed."
Ye Xuan looked around.
The valley.
The flowers.
The mountains.
Everything was normal.
"How long?"
"Less than a minute."
Ye Xuan slowly stood.
His expression was complicated.
Su Lian looked at him.
"What happened?"
Ye Xuan remained silent for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Nothing."
She clearly didn't believe him.
But she didn't force him.
Instead, she said quietly,
"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."
Ye Xuan looked at her.
There was genuine concern in her eyes.
For some reason, his heart warmed.
"Thank you."
Su Lian smiled.
"We're fellow disciples."
She turned toward the path.
"Come."
"Where?"
"We should find the others."
Ye Xuan nodded.
He followed her.
But before leaving, he looked back at the distant mountains.
His golden eyes became serious.
The words of that ancient creature continued echoing inside his mind.
Dragon Emperor.
Upper Realm.
Not yet.
Ye Xuan clenched his fist.
"Fine."
He whispered.
"I'll become strong enough."
Then he turned away.
He didn't notice the faint golden-blue mark appearing beneath his skin.
And deep within the secret realm—
The ancient creature slowly opened its eyes again.
This time, it smiled.
"The first one has awakened."
A second voice suddenly echoed from the darkness.
"And the others?"
The creature looked toward the endless void.
"They will awaken soon."
The secret realm trembled.
But whatever was sleeping beneath it...
Had only just begun to stir.