The seven-dragon alchemy furnace moved as if alive, unleashing terrifying power, shattering spatial barriers one after another as it forged ahead, its destination unknown.
Zhang Ruochen and the Dragon Fiend Emperor, working in tandem with precise spatial techniques, could only barely keep up.
“It’s not the furnace itself releasing power to break space; there’s likely a royal-grade holy pill inside. We can’t let it escape,” Zhang Ruochen thought.
Royal-grade holy pills were incredibly rare. The Dragon Fiend Emperor had collected over a hundred million treasures, yet only possessed two such pills, one of which had been refined by the Child of Darkness.
With a thought, Zhang Ruochen mobilised his spatial laws, unleashing powerful spatial energy toward the furnace. He didn’t want to keep chasing, especially with the uncertainty of what might happen next.
Bound by spatial energy, the furnace’s speed slowed significantly.
“Swish.”
A spatial chain appeared, tightly wrapping around the furnace.
Under this restraint, the furnace was pinned in midair, unable to move.
But as Zhang Ruochen prepared to pull the chain, a small flame dragon burst from the furnace, releasing ferocious power.
“Crack.”
The spatial chain snapped, and the furnace smashed through the spatial barrier ahead.
A glint flashed in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes. “A royal-grade holy pill wielding such potent Dragon Flame. If I refine it, my Purifying Divine Flame could improve significantly, perhaps even transforming into Emperor Flame.”
The Purifying Divine Flame had three levels: Common Flame, Minister Flame, and Emperor Flame. Most wielded only Common Flame, few reached Minister Flame, and Emperor Flame was near-mythical, rarely cultivated even by Great Saints who practiced the path of fire.
Long ago, Zhang Ruochen had elevated his flame to Minister Flame, but reaching Emperor Flame seemed a distant goal.
Now, he was almost certain the royal-grade holy pill in the furnace could enhance his flame’s essence, making it all the more critical to secure.
At Zhang Ruochen’s command, the Dragon Fiend Emperor surged forward at full speed, breaking through before the spatial barrier could reform, locking onto the furnace’s aura to prevent its escape.
Due to the complex spatial structure ahead, the furnace’s reckless charge slowed. As it broke free from a spatial rift, the Dragon Fiend Emperor caught up.
“Seal.”
Zhang Ruochen acted, unleashing powerful spatial energy to lock down a vast area.
The furnace trembled violently, spewing vast amounts of Dragon Flame like a volcanic eruption.
“Bang.”
The furnace lid was blasted off by immense force, and a blue fire dragon, over a thousand zhang long, burst out, breaking the spatial seal and fleeing swiftly.
“As expected, a royal-grade holy pill with a powerful spirit. But can you escape?” Zhang Ruochen’s eyes lit up as he used spatial teleportation.
Instantly, he appeared dozens of miles away, blocking the blue fire dragon’s path.
Employing the Luoshui Fist Technique, a vast heavenly river manifested, winding toward the dragon.
“Roar.”
The blue fire dragon let out a deafening roar, unleashing torrents of Dragon Flame.
As water and fire clashed, the flame incinerated the river, raising clouds of steam as if to evaporate it entirely.
“Swish.”
The river flowed more fiercely, growing stronger, soon overpowering the flames.
It wasn’t that the Dragon Flame was weak, but Zhang Ruochen had refined a top-tier water-attribute divine object, mastering the Luoshui Fist Technique to its peak. The river he conjured was endless, perfectly countering the Dragon Flame.
Even surrounded by the river, the blue fire dragon refused to yield, struggling fiercely, releasing bursts of deep blue flames that formed strange dragon seals, bombarding the river.
“Rumble.”
The seals’ attacks caused the river to quake, stirring massive waves.
“What a formidable pill spirit, nearly as strong as the Child of Darkness before his breakthrough. But without mastering any holy techniques, it can’t wield its power effectively,” Zhang Ruochen said, shaking his head.
As he spoke, he tightened the river, forcefully crushing the blue fire dragon.
Under the river’s pressure, the dragon’s massive form began to shrink.
Soon, it was only a zhang long before vanishing, revealing a deep blue pill the size of a fingertip.
A dragon pattern writhed on the pill’s surface, struggling to break free.
“Seal.”
Zhang Ruochen swiftly applied a powerful seal.
“Buzz.”
The pill trembled, then stilled.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, grasping the pill. After much effort, the royal-grade holy pill was his.
Without his current strength, he might not have subdued its spirit.
“I’ll refine it after leaving True Dragon Island,” he murmured.
Refining a royal-grade holy pill was no easy task, especially one containing such intense Dragon Flame. Even he would need considerable time.
With True Dragon Island’s volatile situation, it wasn’t the place for such a task.
The Child of Darkness had refined one quickly due to his mastery of the Path of Darkness, one of the nine eternal paths, excelling at absorption.
Carefully storing the pill, Zhang Ruochen approached the seven-dragon furnace.
This treasure couldn’t be overlooked.
A furnace capable of crafting royal-grade pills was invaluable. In Xiao Hei’s hands, it could produce many high-grade holy pills.
“Boom.”
Abruptly, a vast area of space shattered, destructive forces surging.
Zhang Ruochen quickly stored the furnace and turned toward the source of the disruption.
Countless massive black tentacles entered his view, each thousands of zhang long, adorned with blood-red patterns. They appeared fragile but were incredibly tough, capable of piercing anything.
“Mu Zu.”
Zhang Ruochen reacted instantly.
Having recently encountered the sinister children, he was familiar with Mu Zu’s aura. He hadn’t expected to face its true form so soon.
He couldn’t see Mu Zu’s form, as it was shrouded in pure dark divine energy, revealing only its tentacles.
Battling Mu Zu was a cold, striking man in black, with sharp brows and starry eyes, exuding powerful sword intent. He wielded a blunt, edgeless sword that unleashed astonishing sharpness.
With a thought, Zhang Ruochen identified him as the Sword Emperor, one of the five overlords.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor had told him the Sword Emperor was formed from a supreme sword god’s lingering intent on True Dragon Island, with peerless swordsmanship and unmatched offensive power.
The blunt sword was a potent kingly artefact.
The sword god’s intent had fused with the sword, birthing the Sword Emperor over eons, making them perfectly attuned, invincible with a single strike.
“Master, the Sword Emperor and Mu Zu are sworn enemies. They fight every time the island undergoes upheaval. We should steer clear,” the Dragon Fiend Emperor warned.
The five overlords were never amicable, especially Mu Zu, which sought to devour or enslave all life on the island to dominate it.
In its weakened state, the Dragon Fiend Emperor facing Mu Zu was risky.
Truthfully, Zhang Ruochen wanted to use the Reverse God Monument to suppress both Mu Zu and the Sword Emperor, seizing their treasures.
But unlike subduing the Dragon Fiend Emperor, he wasn’t confident he could target their true forms with the monument.
If it were just one of them, he might try.
As he pondered, a chill ran through him, a strong sense of danger surging.
“Swoosh.”
Black tentacles, like war spears, tore through the air, striking like lightning.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t expected Mu Zu to target him and the Dragon Fiend Emperor while fighting the Sword Emperor.
Before the tentacles arrived, a terrifying mental attack hit first.
Compared to the sinister children, Mu Zu’s true form’s mental assault was exponentially more potent.
Despite his preparation, Zhang Ruochen felt sharp pain in his mind, overwhelmed by bloody, eerie visions, his eyes faintly glowing red.
“Hiss.”
He gasped, truly sensing Mu Zu’s terror.
“Break.”
Zhang Ruochen roared, fully mobilising his mental strength.
His mental holy form, the Thunder God Venerable, carried a righteous, yang aura, perfectly countering Mu Zu’s sinister mental energy.
Instantly, the bloody visions in his mind were torn apart.
Enduring dizziness, Zhang Ruochen released a torrent of Purifying Divine Flame, engulfing Mu Zu’s tentacles.
At the Minister Flame level, the flame’s power varied greatly by the wielder’s strength. With Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation, it could incinerate most Nine-Step Saint Kings.
As expected, Mu Zu’s true form feared flames, and the tentacles targeting him halted.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor, though weakened, handled a few tentacles with ease.
Zhang Ruochen appeared atop its head, saying, “Let’s get out of here.”
Having caught Mu Zu’s attention, they couldn’t risk the Sword Emperor targeting them too.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor didn’t hesitate, diving into a spatial rift with Zhang Ruochen, unwilling to be devoured by Mu Zu.
“Boom.”
Mu Zu’s dozen tentacles struck like lightning, missing them but shattering the rift.
This plunged Zhang Ruochen and the Dragon Fiend Emperor into an even more chaotic spatial maze.
Even with their spatial mastery, they faced trouble.
“Damn Mu Zu, I’ll devour you one day,” the Dragon Fiend Emperor roared.
In moments, it endured multiple attacks, its body cracking, nearly swallowed by a spatial fissure.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes grew grave as he pushed his spatial mastery to the limit, seeking a way out of the chaotic rifts.
Mu Zu’s interference had landed them in serious trouble.
“Formed from a Hell Realm deity’s heart, it’s a major threat. We must find a chance to eliminate it,” Zhang Ruochen thought.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor suddenly cried, “Oh no.”
Mu Zu had extended dozens more tentacles, aiming to obliterate the rift entirely.
At that moment, the Sword Emperor struck, slashing out dozens of razor-sharp sword energies.
“Pfft.”
Mu Zu’s newly extended tentacles were severed, failing to destroy the rift.
Seizing the chance, Zhang Ruochen and the Dragon Fiend Emperor escaped the rift, vanishing to an unknown destination.
“Bang.”
Space rippled slightly, and they crashed heavily to the ground.
Navigating the rift had left them battered.
Without the Sword Emperor’s timely intervention, they might have been trapped.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor fumed, “If my strength weren’t diminished, I’d team up with the Sword Emperor to kill that wretched Mu Zu.”
“No rush. We’ll settle this score eventually,” Zhang Ruochen said, eyes cold.
Nearly killed by Mu Zu, he wouldn’t let it slide.
Though powerful, Mu Zu had weaknesses, and he’d make it pay before leaving True Dragon Island.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor said, surprised, “This place feels different. There are no spatial rifts for miles, and I sense a peculiar yet familiar aura.”
Zhang Ruochen surveyed their surroundings. Understanding their environment was crucial.
Given their experience, True Dragon Island should be riddled with chaotic rifts, nearly impassable without high spatial mastery.
Yet this area was different. Sensing with spatial power, no rifts existed within a thousand miles.
“I remember—it’s the aura of the Sun-Moon Dragon Spring,” the Dragon Fiend Emperor said suddenly.
As an overlord, it had encountered the spring once, obtaining a small amount of its water, making it familiar with its aura.
At the mention of “Sun-Moon Dragon Spring,” Zhang Ruochen’s eyes lit up. One of True Dragon Island’s most renowned treasures, it could forge an unmatched physique and had other miraculous effects.
Legend held that the spring produced three types of water. The most common, yet abundant, holy spring was for Saints and Saint Kings.
The rarer holy spring was for top Saint Kings and Great Saints.
The rarest, divine spring, was coveted even by deities.
The transformative Dragon Grass, said to grow beside the spring, absorbed its divine essence and vast dragon energy, taking tens of thousands of years to form a single stalk.
For those with dragon bloodlines, refining a stalk could fully awaken their blood, potentially evolving them into true dragons.
Though True Dragon Island was now in ruins, with the spring and lingering dragon energy, Dragon Grass might still exist.
“Locate the Sun-Moon Dragon Spring immediately,” Zhang Ruochen ordered.
Having stumbled upon it, he couldn’t miss the chance to obtain some of its water, no matter what.
