Jiang Chen placed his hand on the Flood Dragon’s corpse.
Although all the Essence Blood within its body had vanished, the Flood Dragon’s corpse was still massive and as tough as iron.
Its scales alone were comparable to Celestial-tier Profound Weapons!
Jiang Chen recalled the protective fortress Ma Jun had assembled from a few shields—a defense that even the Celestial Sword Elder, a Late-stage Emperor, had been unable to penetrate.
Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up. ‘There are so many Dragon Scales here. If I refined them all into Profound Weapon Shields, wouldn’t that be like a great wall of steel? And the Dragon Horns could definitely be refined into two Profound Weapon Long Swords, not to mention the Dragon Bone and Dragon Sinew… This whole Flood Dragon is a treasure trove! Still, since Duann Tianya told me to eat it, he must have had a reason. I’ll give it a try!’
With this in mind, Jiang Chen took out the Ancient Azure Dragon Sword and began to cut into the Flood Dragon’s corpse.
CLANG!
The Ancient Azure Dragon Sword struck the Dragon Scales, producing the shriek of metal on metal, but it failed to cut through.
Jiang Chen grimaced. ‘It’s this tough even in death? Fine, I’ll just devour it whole!’
HUM!
The God-slaying Sword and his Chaos Bloodline activated simultaneously.
WHOOSH!
The Essence of Life within the Flood Dragon’s corpse surged into Jiang Chen’s body. As the essence transformed from the Flood Dragon entered him, the God-slaying Sword inside him trembled violently.
The figure of the Holy Dragon coiled around the God-slaying Sword grew increasingly bright. It opened its eyes, its icy gaze seeming to pierce through everything. A bizarre smile spread across its ferocious draconic head as it opened its gaping maw and began devouring the Essence of the Flood Dragon, causing Jiang Chen’s eyes to go wide. “Wh-what’s going on? Fuck, leave some for me!”
The entire process lasted a mere four hours, after which the Flood Dragon was nothing but skin and bones.
Satisfied, Jiang Chen stored the Flood Dragon’s corpse in the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle.
The God-slaying Sword pulsed with light, seeming to digest the Essence of the Flood Dragon. It felt as though a strange transformation was occurring within the blade.
Jiang Chen, however, paid it no mind. He could feel his body brimming with energy. Taking a deep breath, he sat down cross-legged. ‘I can finally attempt to break through to the Emperor Realm!’
HUM!
Mystical Power swirled around Jiang Chen as he began his assault on the next stage—the Emperor Realm!
「Meanwhile…」
In the center of Heaven’s Edge Island, inside the Heaven’s Edge Sea Pavilion Main Hall.
Duann Tianya stood respectfully to the side. Before him was a child, as delicate as a porcelain doll, wearing a red undershirt and holding a shepherd’s flute.
Had Jiang Chen been there, he would have recognized the child as the Cyan Ox Child!
Duann Tianya spoke respectfully, “Master, I have followed your instructions and given the Flood Dragon’s corpse and the Ancient Azure Dragon Sword to Jiang Chen.” As he spoke, he cautiously observed the Cyan Ox Child, seemingly hesitant to continue.
The Cyan Ox Child’s crisp voice rang in his ears. “My disciple, are you wondering why I had you help Jiang Chen?”
“Yes.”
Duann Tianya hesitated, a look of confusion on his face. “Master, Jiang Chen’s talent is indeed impressive, but he’s still just one of many peerless geniuses. Compared to him, the young dragon he possesses—the one suspected to have a Divine-level Bloodline—is the true treasure. I don’t understand…”
As it turned out, when Duann Tianya first learned of the young dragon’s existence, he too had been tempted to snatch it for himself.
But the Cyan Ox Child had stopped him.
The Cyan Ox Child smiled. “My disciple, there’s more to Jiang Chen than meets the eye. You’re aware that I traveled to the Eastern Continent a while ago, aren’t you?”
“I am, Master.”
Duann Tianya nodded.
The Cyan Ox Child usually stayed in the Holy Realm. He was only visiting the Heaven’s Edge Sea Pavilion because he was passing through the Azure Sky Sea on his return from the Eastern Continent.
The Cyan Ox Child chuckled. “I went to the Eastern Continent on my master’s orders, to help Jiang Chen overcome a crisis.”
“What? The Saint Master himself is watching that boy?” Duann Tianya’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The Saint Master!
The absolute overlord of Zhongzhou!
He ruled the Holy Realm and was the number one powerhouse in all of Zhongzhou!
For a titan like that to be concerned with Jiang Chen… Duann Tianya grew even more curious about Jiang Chen’s identity.
The Cyan Ox Child glanced at him, as if seeing right through his thoughts. He said faintly, “My disciple, years ago, your entire family was exterminated. I happened to be passing by and, feeling it was fate, I saved you and raised you to manhood. Now, you have established a great enterprise in the Azure Sky Sea. However, if we Martial Artists fail to transcend our mortal shackles, death is inevitable. Jiang Chen is indeed weak now, but even my master pays him close attention. This boy is blessed by immense heavenly fortune. In helping him, I am also paving the way for your future. Do you understand?”
A tremor ran through Duann Tianya.
Although the Cyan Ox Child looked like a mere brat, Duann Tianya had been raised by him personally and knew just how terrifying his master truly was.
He took a deep breath and said in a solemn voice, “Disciple thanks Master for this opportunity!” After a pause, he looked out toward the sea and asked hesitantly, “Master, the news that Jiang Chen has a young dragon has already spread. The other nine great powers are all sending people to Heaven’s Edge Island. Shall I take care of the matter?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
The Cyan Ox Child, however, shook his head. He slowly floated up and gazed out the window, as if watching the warships speeding across the Azure Sky Sea. The corner of his mouth quirked into a mysterious smile. “A fine sword is born from the whetstone. Let the little fellow handle this himself. All you need to do is lend him a hand when those old geezers decide to intervene.”
“I understand, Master.”
Duann Tianya thought for a moment but said no more.
The Cyan Ox Child’s gaze was distant and profound.
At that very moment, countless factions and powerhouses from across the Azure Sky Sea were converging on Heaven’s Edge Island.
News that Jiang Chen—the new vice-pavilion master of Heaven’s Edge Sea Pavilion, who possessed a young dragon with a Divine-level Bloodline—was on Heaven’s Edge Island had spread like wildfire throughout the Azure Sky Sea.
Countless powerhouses flocked to the island.
The smile on the Cyan Ox Child’s face shifted slightly. As if sensing something, he looked toward Unrivaled Sword Valley, his lips curling into a knowing smile. ‘Is he finally breaking through? Little fellow, since my master holds you in such high regard, let me see just how powerful you become after reaching the Emperor Realm!’
…
Deep within Unrivaled Sword Valley.
Terrifying rays of light erupted from Jiang Chen’s body as waves of Mystical Power pulsed around him. He had long since reached the threshold of the Emperor Realm and was now finally unleashing his full power.
BOOM!
An incredibly terrifying wave of energy erupted from his body.
WHOOSH…
A terrifying aura filled the entirety of Unrivaled Sword Valley.
The Mystical Power was seething.
“Break through!”
Jiang Chen let out a low roar. His body trembled as a terrifying shockwave of energy rolled out, and all the Mystical Power within him rushed forth. Eight-colored Mystical Power filled the entire cavern. Jiang Chen’s gaze was sharp and chilling. “Domain—Form!”
HUM!
HUM!
Each stream of Mystical Power transformed into a Celestial Stele. They shot out, flying to the eight cardinal directions to settle at the very edges of his domain.
Jiang Chen’s domain was a full hundred times larger than that of an ordinary Emperor Realm Powerhouse, extending over ten thousand zhang!
A ten-thousand-zhang domain, guarded by eight Celestial Steles!
A terrifying power erupted in an instant. A corner of Jiang Chen’s mouth lifted. ‘After breaking through to the Emperor Realm, the Profound Yellow Undying Technique allows one to condense the supreme Celestial Stele domain. With all eight steles present, no powerhouse below a Late-stage Emperor can withstand a single blow from me. Now, I, Jiang Chen, have finally stepped into the Emperor Realm! Xiang Tianwen, it won’t be long before I head to Zhongzhou, ascend to the peak of the Demon God Palace, and cut you down! But for now…’
Jiang Chen’s gaze swept toward the sea beyond Heaven’s Edge, and a cold smile touched his lips. ‘You want to kill me and take the Little Dragon Maiden? Then you’ll have to pay the price!’