For the Yutian Dynasty, the exposure of their palace’s location was far from good news.
“Empress, what do you think?”
The Emperor consulted his wife.
Though the auspicious clouds and radiant light began to regather, the terrifying force lingered, its roaring sound scattering them once more.
“Just now, a roar came from the Tianlong Continent, likely a warning from a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert. A primordial beast has awakened,” the Empress said softly, her brow slightly furrowed.
“The Tianlong Continent?”
The Emperor’s brow creased at the mention of that continent. He hadn’t forgotten his ancestors’ teachings: no matter what, never set sights on that land.
It was where the human race rose, where the Human King was born.
Though now weakened, no one dared to tread there lightly.
“Empress, it seems the prophecy is coming true. This is the ninth primordial beast to awaken recently! Nine is the number of supremacy. Should we send someone to the Tianlong Continent? We can’t let this beast fall into enemy hands,” the Emperor asked.
The Empress didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she removed her hairpin and slashed it through the air.
Amid the roiling clouds, a shimmering silver river appeared.
The river transformed into a蛟龙, surging toward the faint shadow in the sky.
Boom~~
The river shattered, disintegrating before it could even approach the shadow.
“Let’s not,” the Empress finally said. “Each primordial beast has strength rivaling a Human King. Once awakened, no one can control it. Forcing control will only invite endless calamity.”
“Very well. Hm? The sound’s gone!”
The dragon’s cry ceased, and the sky’s shadow vanished completely.
The auspicious clouds and radiant light once again shrouded the Yutian Dynasty’s palace.
…
On the Nine Nether Continent, darkness perpetually cloaked the land.
No sunlight, only shadow.
Everything here seemed steeped in evil and unease.
In the sky, a massive silhouette blotted out the heavens.
Upon closer inspection, it was an enormous bat.
Its wings spanned dozens of miles.
Strangely, the bat had three heads, each more ferocious than the last.
On its back sat a figure, shrouded in darkness, their appearance indiscernible.
Creatures below prostrated themselves, praying fervently.
Roar—
From the bat’s mouth came a beastly howl.
With that roar, countless souls were torn from their bodies, drawn into the bat’s maw.
“Little glutton, always so greedy,” the figure on the bat chuckled softly.
Roar~~
Suddenly, a dragon’s cry echoed through the sky, and a golden-yellow shadow flickered on the horizon.
The giant bat screeched, plummeting toward the ground.
The absorbed souls flew back to their bodies.
The figure on the bat remained unfazed, raising a hand lightly. The bat regained balance and soared again.
“An ancient Golden Dragon? Impossible, unless someone possesses the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul!”
The figure gazed at the distant shadow, eyes glinting with madness and malice.
“The Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul! The soul once wielded by the Human King! Heh, I’m quite intrigued.”
…
The full impact of the ancient Golden Dragon’s roar was unknown to Ling Xiao.
He only saw the dragon, after its bellow, lie back down, close its eyes, and fall into a deep slumber.
He knew its terrifying power was beyond his full control.
But through the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul, he could tap into even a fraction of it, greatly aiding his cultivation and combat.
“A primordial beast is but a fragment of eternity’s vastness. Though mighty, it cannot escape the dominion of the Mountains and Rivers. The Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul is the supreme, unparalleled soul of all ages. Since it chose you as its master, treat it well, and it will repay you.”
In a fleeting moment, these words flashed through Ling Xiao’s mind.
He didn’t know who spoke them; they appeared and vanished abruptly.
Ling Xiao exhaled heavily.
He was beginning to understand. Awakening the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul initially was merely a test by its original owner.
Many before him had awakened it but failed to fully fuse with their souls, so it remained another’s property.
Thus, it was natural for it to be taken.
But now, his Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul was different—it was wholly his.
Bound to his flesh, intertwined with his soul.
The primordial beast—the ancient Golden Dragon—was already terrifying, capable of shattering the Mysterious Realm’s laws.
So how powerful was the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul, surpassing even the Golden Dragon?
Ling Xiao was eager to find out.
For now, he wasn’t without gains. By activating the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul, he could clearly sense the Golden Dragon’s formidable power.
It was too immense for him to wield fully, so he’d only draw on it sparingly, like peeling back layers, unless absolutely necessary.
Though he lost five complete martial souls, he gained far greater power.
It was a worthwhile trade.
Most intriguingly, when he tapped into the Golden Dragon’s power, his body underwent unique changes.
His eyes turned golden, his hair white.
In this state, his combat strength soared.
He had two forms.
The Human-Dragon Form retained his human appearance but allowed use of some Golden Dragon powers, boosting true essence quality and speed, ideal for human martial techniques.
The Golden Dragon Form fully transformed him into the Golden Dragon, with vastly enhanced defence and strength but reduced speed, unable to use human techniques, only dragon ones.
Dragon martial arts could likely be found in the Golden Dragon’s divine runes. He wasn’t in a rush—mastering the dragon’s power came first before studying its arts.
In either form, he couldn’t use <Celestial Phenomenon>, as the two powers seemed to repel each other.
He wasn’t sure why, but it wasn’t a major issue.
After checking his body and confirming no problems, Ling Xiao began exploring what his transformed Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul offered.
Undoubtedly, after reaching the Mortal Realm and the soul’s transformation, his physical functions had greatly advanced.
