As the Sun-Moon Dragon Spring vanished, the vast underground space darkened, falling into dead silence with nothing else present.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor wasted no time, opening its mouth to devour all the lingering mist in the space. After all, this mist, emanating from the Sun-Moon Dragon Spring, was equivalent to dozens of drops of ordinary holy spring water when condensed.
It had gained immensely this time. The mass of holy spring water it swallowed earlier contained over a thousand drops, including nearly a hundred drops of essence, enough to restore much of its strength and fully refine the Child of Darkness.
With this, it might soon regain its peak power.
A flash of holy light appeared as Zhang Ruochen produced an exquisite jade ring, a high-quality spatial ring belonging to Dan Huang.
As one of True Dragon Island’s five overlords and an expert treasure hunter, Dan Huang’s collection was surely vast, making it essential to inspect.
Scanning the ring with his mental power, Zhang Ruochen’s expression shifted. As expected, despite Dan Huang refining many treasures, the remaining items were countless, exceeding a hundred million, though no holy pills were among them.
With a flip of his hand, Zhang Ruochen extracted an item from the ring—a seven-leafed grass, each leaf shimmering with strange radiance, vibrant and dreamlike.
Above the grass, various lights converged, forming a seven-coloured dragon soaring through the heavens, vivid and lifelike.
“Roar.”
The grass trembled, emitting a tangible dragon roar, deafening and resonant.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor’s gaze locked onto the grass, astonished. “I can’t believe the Sun-Moon Dragon Spring actually nurtured a stalk of Dragon Grass. Dan Huang was truly lucky to obtain it.”
Dragon Grass was an extraordinarily unique holy medicine, more valuable than cosmic holy medicine for beings with dragon bloodlines.
For ancient species with potent dragon blood, like the Heaven-Devouring Demon Dragon or Azure Heaven Saint Dragon, a stalk of Dragon Grass was coveted, potentially transforming them into true dragons with limitless potential.
“This Dragon Grass was likely harvested by Dan Huang recently and hasn’t been squandered yet—quite fortunate,” Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
Had Dan Huang not been using the Sun-Moon Dragon Spring to refine its pill aura, it might have already consumed the grass.
As a former emperor-grade holy pill crafted by the Dragon Clan, imbued with dragon energy, the grass would have greatly benefited Dan Huang.
Surveying their surroundings, Zhang Ruochen said, “Let’s recover here first and leave once our injuries are healed.”
In the chaotic spatial rift earlier, both he and the Dragon Fiend Emperor had sustained significant injuries. Sensing the spring’s aura, they hadn’t healed immediately.
With dangers lurking on True Dragon Island, staying in peak condition was critical.
With a wave, Zhang Ruochen produced the Sundial, activating it to envelop a two-hundred-zhang radius with time energy.
He had much to do and couldn’t afford to linger long. Healing with the Sundial was the best option.
Sitting beneath the Sundial, Zhang Ruochen took a small amount of holy spring essence from the Mercury Gourd, swallowing it to heal and cultivate simultaneously.
Three months passed in a blink. Both Zhang Ruochen and the Dragon Fiend Emperor fully recovered, their cultivation slightly improved.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor, in particular, refined the holy spring and the Child of Darkness, nearing its former peak strength.
Three months under the Sundial equated to three hours outside, unlikely to cause major changes.
Emerging from the underground space, Zhang Ruochen observed the surroundings, murmuring, “It seems the divine power eruption on True Dragon Island is subsiding.”
The space around them was stabilising, likely to return to normal soon.
“Divine power eruptions typically don’t last long—days at most, hours at least. This one was short, so fewer treasures likely emerged,” the Dragon Fiend Emperor said.
Zhang Ruochen wasn’t too concerned. Suppressing Dan Huang had already yielded immense gains. His current focus wasn’t on finding more treasures but on locating the Key to the World Gate.
He and the Dragon Fiend Emperor set off to rendezvous with Xiao Hei and the others.
Having left a spatial mark on Xiao Hei, Zhang Ruochen could vaguely sense its location despite the spatial rifts.
The Key to the World Gate was critical and needed to be secured quickly to prevent complications.
As the island’s space stabilised, traversing rifts became easier for them.
Along the way, they encountered many groups from both the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm.
Zhang Ruochen showed no mercy to Hell Realm forces, killing them all.
After some time, they finally found Xiao Hei, Ao Xinyan, and the others, including Moyin, who had consumed all the Nether Snake souls.
“Did you catch that old fellow?” Zhang Ruochen asked immediately.
Xiao Hei raised its head proudly. “With me acting, it was a sure thing. But this old guy’s tight-lipped. Mention the Key to the World Gate, and he plays dumb.”
As it spoke, Xiao Hei produced the array, revealing the short, thin old man.
Seeing him, the Dragon Fiend Emperor’s eyes flashed with surprise. “You actually caught him.”
“You know him?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor said, “Not long ago, an upheaval on True Dragon Island released a strong origin aura, alerting all five overlords. When we arrived, we saw him emerge from the ground. We all tried to capture him, but he escaped.”
“He appeared during the origin aura surge?” Zhang Ruochen pressed.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor nodded. “Yes, that’s why we were interested. We suspected he held some secret.”
Zhang Ruochen’s mind raced, a bold hypothesis forming.
“Could it be…”
His eyes gleamed sharply as he studied the old man. “Is the Key to the World Gate necessarily a key? Could it be a person? Or perhaps a key that took human form?”
Xiao Hei’s eyes widened. “What? That’s impossible!”
Ao Xinyan and the others looked shocked, staring at the old man in the array, puzzled by Zhang Ruochen’s conjecture.
After a moment’s thought, Zhang Ruochen said, “None of us know what the Key looks like. This old man appeared when it emerged, carries the Kunlun Realm’s origin aura, is highly attuned to heavenly rules, and has elusive abilities. He’s too extraordinary.”
When Qianxing Heavenly Maiden mentioned the old man’s origin aura, Zhang Ruochen had already grown suspicious.
“Perhaps Zhang Ruochen’s guess is right. We assumed the Key was an object, but with the Kunlun Realm’s origin involved, anything’s possible,” Xiao Hei said gravely.
Ao Xinyan and the others fell into thought. They didn’t doubt Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei but feared a mistake.
If they were wrong and the real Key fell to the Hell Realm, it would be catastrophic for the Kunlun Realm.
Zhang Ruochen suddenly said, “Xiao Hei, let me in.”
Unsure of his intent, Xiao Hei quickly sent him into the array.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen, the old man panicked, pleading, “Saint Lord, spare me! Give me another chance!”
“We’re Kunlun Realm cultivators seeking the Key to prevent it from falling to the Hell or Heavenly Court Realms. You don’t need to be so guarded,” Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
The old man’s small eyes darted. “But I truly don’t know where the Key is. I—”
Before he could finish, Zhang Ruochen struck with a palm, unleashing a powerful holy energy seal that hit the old man’s chest squarely.
This unrestrained strike could overwhelm even ordinary Immortal Great Saints.
A mere One-Step Saint King should have been obliterated.
Yet, though the old man tumbled several times in disarray, he was unharmed.
“Saint Lord, let’s talk. I can get you anything except the Key,” he said, eyeing Zhang Ruochen warily.
Zhang Ruochen said faintly, “You’re still pretending? If I’m not mistaken, you are the Key to the World Gate.”
The old man’s heart jolted, his face betraying a slight change despite his efforts to hide it.
Noticing this, Zhang Ruochen sent a mental message to Xiao Hei to bring the Dragon Fiend Emperor into the array.
As the Dragon Fiend Emperor appeared, the old man’s face paled, and he instinctively retreated.
At Zhang Ruochen’s signal, the Dragon Fiend Emperor swallowed the old man.
Moments later, it spat him out, saying to Zhang Ruochen, “Master, his body is entirely composed of the Kunlun Realm’s origin energy.”
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes lit with a smile. “Anything else to say?”
“I shouldn’t have come to watch the spectacle,” the old man sighed helplessly.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “You’re wrong. The Hell Realm came in force. No matter how well you hid, they’d have found you. The Kunlun Realm would face ruin. Only with us can you be protected.”
Leaving those words, Zhang Ruochen and the Dragon Fiend Emperor exited the array, saying no more to the old man.
Whether he agreed or not, Zhang Ruochen would take him from True Dragon Island, thwarting the Hell Realm’s plans.
At this point, everyone believed the old man was the Key, breathing a collective sigh of relief.
Having secured the Key, they knew it was time to leave True Dragon Island to avoid further complications.
The awakened ones, however, showed hesitation, reluctant to leave so soon.
After brief discussion, Zi Xin spoke up. “We plan to stay on True Dragon Island to seek the Sun-Moon Dragon Spring.”
“You need it that much?” Zhang Ruochen asked curiously.
Zi Xin explained, “We need it to baptise ourselves, restoring strength while erasing the aura of our long slumber, making it easier to move in the Kunlun Realm.”
With the realm’s increasingly complex situation, the awakened ones didn’t want to remain hidden in the Yin-Yang Sea but aimed to play a greater role.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, producing the Mercury Gourd and pouring out a large mass of holy spring water—ten thousand drops.
These were ordinary holy spring water, not essence.
“Is this enough?”
All eyes locked onto the water, time seeming to freeze.
“Leader, how do you have so much Sun-Moon Dragon Spring water?” Ao Xinyan asked, astonished.
The spring was sentient, and legend held that, except for Dragon Clan deities, others could only take small amounts.
Zhang Ruochen taking out ten thousand drops made Ao Xinyan wonder if he’d claimed the spring’s eye.
He laughed. “I stumbled upon the spring’s emergence and used the gourd to collect some. Since you all need it, that’s perfect.”
“No need to hold back. Take what you need. If this isn’t enough, I have more in the gourd.”
The awakened ones’ eyes gleamed with emotion, yet none moved to take the water.
Born in the Kunlun Realm’s glorious Middle Ages, they were all proud geniuses and initially looked down on Zhang Ruochen.
But his battle with the Child of Darkness, showcasing immense strength, had profoundly impacted them.
Even the Crimson Gold King and Thousand Severance Blade King now gazed at him with awe.
Both had extraordinary origins—one guided by the Dragon Lord, the other taught by the Ten Tribulations Heavenly Monarch. After centuries of cultivation and numerous opportunities, they reached the peak of the Saint King realm, invincible in their eras, seen as legends.
Yet Zhang Ruochen, with far less cultivation time and a harsher environment, surpassed them, perhaps the true legend.
After a brief silence, the Crimson Gold King said, “Restoring strength and erasing our awakened aura doesn’t need much—fifty drops per person is enough. Thank you.”
He took fifty drops.
“I look forward to you becoming a second Saint Monk Xumi,” Thousand Severance Blade King said with a rare smile, taking fifty drops as well.
Seeing them act, Zi Xin and the others no longer held back, as they truly needed the water.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t reclaim the remaining water, turning to Ao Xinyan. “Keep these. They’ll be useful later.”
The dozen awakened ones took only a few hundred drops, leaving enough for over 180 more to restore their strength.
Ao Xinyan didn’t protest, collecting the remaining water. With more awakened ones in the Yin-Yang Sea, these drops would be invaluable.
