With each stage of advancement, a martial artist undergoes tremendous changes throughout their body. At this stage, the spiritual body is likely insufficient.
Thus, the nine elemental cores are always highly essential, no matter the circumstances.
“Indeed, it’s the Golden Spirit Core!”
Lin Bei nodded and said.
Ling Xiao hadn’t intended to accept the other’s gift, but upon seeing the Golden Spirit Core, he immediately changed his mind.
Such a thing was hard to come by, and he might never get another chance. As the saying goes, miss this opportunity, and there’s no second shop.
He wasn’t a hypocrite. If he needed it, he’d take it.
Moreover, he was currently in the Moonlight Pagoda’s tower-climbing ceremony, meaning this Golden Spirit Core could be considered part of his destiny. Others entering those secret realms might encounter similar opportunities.
How could he pass it up?
“Thank you, Elder Lin. I’m in need of this, so I’ll accept it.”
Ling Xiao took the Golden Spirit Core and temporarily stored it in his storage ring. Using such an item required a safer place, and now clearly wasn’t the time.
Seeing Ling Xiao accept the item, Lin Bei breathed a sigh of relief.
Evidently, people assumed that someone who accepted a gift wouldn’t harbour ulterior motives.
“Big brother, are you also from the Golden Dragon Clan?”
Long Chen asked eagerly.
Ling Xiao shook his head and said, “My name is Ling Xiao, a disciple of the Moonlight Sect! I’ve only inherited some Golden Dragon Clan bloodline, so I can’t be considered a true member, perhaps half at best.”
From the earlier conversation between the youth and the elder, he knew they were very friendly towards Moonlight Sect disciples, so there was no harm in revealing this.
Long Chen and Lin Bei exchanged a glance, both showing wild joy.
“We never imagined a successor of the Moonlight Goddess would enter the Dragon Lands. This is wonderful! The Black Dragon Clan and Black Spirit’s conspiracy can be thwarted.”
Lin Bei said excitedly.
“Can you elaborate?”
Ling Xiao had only caught fragments before, so he wasn’t entirely clear on the situation.
Lin Bei briefly explained the situation to Ling Xiao, concluding, “That’s the gist, Young Hero Ling. We absolutely cannot let the Black Dragon Clan and Black Spirit leave the Moonlight Pagoda, or the Moonlight Sect, and even the entire Heavenly Dragon Continent, will face trouble.”
Ling Xiao nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly asked, “Haven’t you ever thought of leaving?”
“Of course we have, but we would never betray the Moonlight Goddess!”
Lin Bei replied.
“It’s not exactly betrayal. From what you’ve said, the Moonlight Goddess brought you into the Moonlight Pagoda to protect your dragon clan from extinction. If you left, it wouldn’t necessarily be betrayal. But, to be blunt, you’re too weak. If you went out, you’d likely face serious trouble.”
The dragon clan in the Moonlight Pagoda couldn’t compare to those from the primordial era, or even the Moonlight Sect. If they went out, they’d likely be exterminated by martial artists.
After all, dragons were treasures from head to toe.
“We can fully transform into human form, indistinguishable from humans,” Long Chen said hurriedly.
It was clear the youth desperately wanted to see the outside world. The Moonlight Pagoda was so small compared to the wonders beyond.
“Moreover, in the Moonlight Pagoda, we can’t cultivate dragon clan martial arts, which is why we’re so weak. Only by leaving can we grow stronger.”
Ling Xiao’s mind flashed to the Divine Sword Sect.
If Long Chen could lead the dragon clan to join the Divine Sword Sect, it would be a powerful asset for him.
“Let’s discuss this later. If we can foil the Black Spirit and Black Dragon Clan’s plot, I’ll do my best to take you out. Once outside, you’ll follow my lead, agreed?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“No problem at all,” Long Chen replied.
Lin Bei also nodded, though with some hesitation. But Ling Xiao was the only person to enter the Dragon Lands in nearly a hundred thousand years, and he carried the bloodline of the Ancient Golden Dragon. If they couldn’t trust him, who could they trust?
“In that case, let’s head out together.”
…
Heavenly Dragon Mountain, as its name suggests, resembled a range guarded by a host of dragons, exuding majestic grandeur.
It was also known as Dragon Emperor Mountain.
This was because the dragon clan’s emperors resided here, and it was also the location of the Dragon Palace.
Long Chen’s father once lived here, but he was later assassinated by the Black Dragon King, who usurped the throne.
Though many dragon folk knew this, the Black Dragon King was too powerful, and with his alliance with the Black Spirit, almost no one dared challenge him.
Of course, the Black Dragon King was also adept at winning hearts.
Instead of massacring other dragon clans, he used bribery and appeasement, ensuring few dragon folk would rebel against him.
There was only one path to the Dragon Palace.
It wound and twisted, with numerous checkpoints along the way.
The road was busy with many people.
Most were dragon folk from various clans.
It was said that the dragon clan didn’t particularly favour human forms. They typically stayed in human-dragon form purely because it was more practical for living and conserved true energy.
In the primordial era, with abundant spiritual energy and plentiful food, maintaining massive bodies wasn’t an issue.
But the Moonlight Pagoda was just a small space. Surviving here with such large bodies would lead to starvation.
“Big brother, that’s Heavenly Dragon Mountain ahead. It’s now largely controlled by the Black Dragon Clan.”
Long Chen pointed towards Black Dragon Mountain.
“Mm.”
Ling Xiao nodded, lost in thought.
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently, and fierce winds whipped up along the road.
From the jungle came the screams and roars of beasts.
Faintly, the sound of a massive creature moving and trees snapping and falling could be heard.
“What’s happening?”
“Someone dares cause trouble near Heavenly Dragon Mountain?”
“This aura is terrifying!”
Travellers stopped in their tracks. Some dropped to the ground, others crouched and clutched their heads, while some readied for battle, warily scanning their surroundings with grave expressions.
Ling Xiao’s brows furrowed slightly. Releasing a true energy sphere, he could clearly sense a massive humanoid monster with a single eye in the dense forest, looking utterly terrifying.
“A ferocious beast? And it’s a peak Level Eight ferocious beast!”
Before he finished speaking, the giant monster leapt into the air and landed in the middle of the road. Fortunately, Heavenly Dragon Mountain had special restrictions, or it might have collapsed.
“A one-eyed giant beast!”
“A peak Level Eight one-eyed giant beast!”
“My heavens, how is it so powerful? We’re no match for it. How could such a monster appear at the foot of Heavenly Dragon Mountain? Weren’t one-eyed giant beasts tamed by the dragon clan?”
Up close, Ling Xiao saw it even more clearly.
The one-eyed giant beast was enormous, standing dozens of metres tall, like a towering mountain.
