From now on, Ling Xiao didn’t need to worry about what would happen next. With the Shanhe Martial Soul working alongside the Ancient Golden Dragon, taming the Ancient Hell Dragon was only a matter of time.
His current task was to quickly control the wild energy surging within his body.
After the orb exploded, it released a vast amount of black hellfire. If he didn’t guide it in time, even his recovery ability wouldn’t keep up.
Using his soul force, he forcibly directed a wisp of black hellfire to circulate within his body. Wherever it passed, the remaining hellfire was absorbed into it.
The energy of the Ancient Hell Dragon, which had been scattering chaotically in Ling Xiao’s body, was gradually being merged and moulded by him step by step.
When the final wisp of black flame was integrated, Ling Xiao discovered that all nine of his martial veins had turned into black true essence—Hellfire True Essence.
Moreover, this true essence appeared extremely viscous, resembling black magma. Both in density and quality, it far surpassed any true essence Ling Xiao had possessed before.
However, this newly formed true essence wasn’t entirely obedient, as remnants of the Ancient Hell Dragon’s soul force were still mixed within it.
These remnants, desperate for freedom, became even more ferocious.
Ling Xiao felt as if his body was about to explode, experiencing a tearing pain.
From the outside, his body was visibly cracking inch by inch, like parched earth.
Most terrifyingly, what seeped from those cracks wasn’t blood but black magma.
At this moment, Ling Xiao looked like a shattered porcelain figure, pieced together with something adhesive, liable to completely break with the slightest touch.
Dai Yuling, standing nearby, felt her heart ache at the sight.
In truth, ever since Ling Xiao avenged her at the Moonflower Sect and reclaimed her martial soul, she had begun to harbour feelings of admiration for this boy.
Unfortunately, she had never expressed these feelings openly, as she wasn’t someone skilled at voicing her emotions.
She kept this affection buried deep in her heart, hoping that as long as Ling Xiao was well, she would be happy.
Seeing him in such a painful, wretched state now, she wished she could take his place.
She wanted to help, but as she approached, a terrifying force threw her back, blood seeping from her mouth.
“What’s going on? Ling Xiao, you can’t let anything happen to you!”
Dai Yuling’s eyes were already brimming with tears.
Just then, waves of energy fluctuations suddenly came from outside.
Dai Yuling stood up abruptly, closed her eyes, and manipulated the surrounding plants to investigate.
She discovered that the steel warship, which should have been at the third stage, had inexplicably appeared at the fourth!
Not only that, but all the black spirits on the ship were attacking the Ten Thousand Thunder Absolute Ground.
This included the Ancient Ship King.
Tantai Lingzi!
Dai Yuling also spotted a familiar figure—it was Tantai Lingzi!
The woman didn’t appear to be under control. She stood close to the Ancient Ship King, almost leaning against him, chatting and laughing.
Due to her low cultivation, Dai Yuling could only see this scene and couldn’t hear what they were saying.
But that wasn’t important.
What mattered was that Ling Xiao was at a critical moment and absolutely could not be disturbed in his plan to absorb the energy.
Fortunately, the Ten Thousand Thunder Absolute Ground’s defences were strong enough to hold for about fifteen minutes under the current circumstances.
If Ling Xiao hadn’t completed the absorption by then, she would have to fight desperately.
At worst, she would face death!
Whether it was elimination or actual death, Dai Yuling wasn’t afraid!
Her mind was filled only with Ling Xiao!
Protect Ling Xiao, defend Ling Xiao!
Ling Xiao, fully focused on dealing with the crisis within his body, was unaware of the situation outside.
Despite the constant risk of his body collapsing, he firmly believed the most dangerous moment had passed.
In fact, the instant he shattered the black orb, he had essentially secured victory.
Though the subsequent ordeal was excruciating, having a clear goal made it bearable.
Under the control of his powerful soul force, the restless Hellfire True Essence gradually calmed, like a wild beast being tamed.
Ling Xiao’s persistent practice of soul cultivation paid off immensely at this moment.
The once ferocious aura quickly dissipated, replaced by a sense of familiarity and closeness.
The lingering soul force of the Ancient Hell Dragon within the black Hellfire True Essence was completely purged, leaving only Ling Xiao’s own soul force.
“Success?!”
Dai Yuling was overjoyed to see Ling Xiao’s body beginning to heal, no longer trembling, and even showing a faint smile of triumph.
Other than success, she couldn’t imagine what else it could be.
“As expected of Ling Xiao, maintaining his sanity through such pain. I definitely couldn’t do it. He’s too extraordinary, too incredible.”
Dai Yuling now understood why Ling Xiao always stayed ahead of others, always one step ahead.
“Only by enduring the greatest hardships can one rise above others!”
Those words were so true.
Though Ling Xiao’s talent wasn’t exceptional, he could endure hardship like no one else, in a nearly fanatical way.
Boom!
Suddenly, a loud explosion came from the thunderstorm below, blasting a massive crater.
Disaster! The Ten Thousand Thunder Absolute Ground was about to collapse!
The enemy’s attacks were too ferocious.
Though the thunderstorm hadn’t been fully breached yet, it would become a dangerous place in just two or three minutes.
“Let’s go!”
Dai Yuling glanced at Black Dragon King and Fan Daoke, then rushed down the mountain.
She couldn’t disturb Ling Xiao’s cultivation. If the enemy broke through, she would hold them off as long as she could.
Though the Ancient Ship King was formidable, a First Heaven Realm expert, they had two Half-Step Heavenly Venerables on their side, which should hold for a while.
Combined with the powerful support abilities of her new martial soul, she hoped Ling Xiao could complete the absorption of the Ancient Hell Dragon Martial Soul in time.
Boom!
Within the Shanhe World, the shadow of the Ancient Hell Dragon was pinned under the Ancient Golden Dragon’s foot, completely stripped of its ferocity.
At the same time, the Shanhe Will surged in, replacing its soul and merging with Ling Xiao’s own.
From the outside, Ling Xiao was enveloped in a mass of black light, resembling a giant black cocoon.
When this cocoon broke, Ling Xiao would surely emerge as a butterfly.
Within his body, repair and strengthening were happening simultaneously.
The black hellfire had previously ravaged his body.
But now, working with the Heavenly Dragon Golden Body, it was repairing and reinforcing his damaged meridians, organs, and tissues.
After this repair and strengthening, Ling Xiao’s physical strength would see a significant boost.
This would pave the way for his future advancement to the Heaven-Human Realm.
Many mortal realm martial artists died at the critical moment of breaking through to the First Heaven due to insufficient physical resilience.
For Ling Xiao, this was no longer a concern.
