Within the purple-golden light, a young man stood silently, his figure motionless as he observed it in quiet contemplation. His gaze was filled with both curiosity and astonishment, as though pondering the mysteries hidden within the light.
"You still have no intention of absorbing the Dragon-Phoenix's essence blood, child? It holds great benefits for your body."
As he remained lost in thought, a cool and melodious voice echoed through the space, gently drawing his attention.
Before him stood two celestial beauties—so radiant that even the darkest of realms would seem to brighten, as if the sun had pierced through the gloom and the cold world had welcomed the first breath of spring.
"I'm simply puzzled, Sister Azure," Xiao Hua replied with a faint smile and a light chuckle, his eyes drifting back to the purple-golden light. "With my bloodline being so tyrannical, I don't understand how the Dragon-Phoenix's blood essence can remain within me without being rejected."
"Just as the Heavenly Lightning Bloodline can devour your Xiao Clan's Dou Di Bloodline, it can also consume the Dragon-Phoenix Bloodline—thereby inheriting its traits," Lady Azure said with a gentle smile.
"I see…" Xiao Hua rubbed his chin, his expression thoughtful. "So you wish for it to devour the Dragon-Phoenix's blood essence to gain its abilities…"
He paused briefly, pondering for a moment before turning toward Lady Azure with faint curiosity. "If it succeeds in devouring the Dragon-Phoenix's essence and inherits its traits… would I still be human, or would I become a Dragon-Phoenix?"
Lady Azure rolled her eyes, a trace of disdain flickering in their depths. "Simply possessing a bloodline does not make you a Dragon-Phoenix," she replied coolly.
After a short pause, she raised a slender, jade-like finger and continued with a faint smile, "To truly become another race, you must remember one thing—bloodline alone is not enough. You need the soul and bones of that race."
"For instance, that little dragon girl is capable of becoming a true Dragon-Phoenix—a mysterious creature that carries both the Ancient Void Dragon and Ancient Heavenly Phoenix bloodlines—not merely because of her blood. Her soul is that of an Ancient Void Dragon, and it has fused with the spirituality of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix contained within the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit."
"Her bones were originally those of an Ancient Void Dragon. However, after undergoing the absorption and purification of the exceptionally rich and dense essence blood of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix within that heavenly fruit, her bones naturally underwent a metamorphosis—transforming into a fusion of both the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix and the Ancient Void Dragon."
"And thus, through this process, the existence of the mysterious and legendary creature known as the Dragon-Phoenix was born."
"That's quite fascinating…" Xiao Hua's eyes widened slightly, a smile spreading across his lips, rich with intrigue at the idea of racial transformation—or perhaps more accurately, the evolution of one's very nature.
Naturally, he understood that the essence blood of each races would carry with it the spirituality of its origin. Be it human or magical beast, most blood essences contained such imprints—there was nothing unusual about that.
"Hm? But wait… my soul is…" Xiao Hua murmured, his voice trailing off as he turned slightly. With a thought, three pairs of wings unfurled from his back, each radiating a distinct aura and bearing their own unique color.
His soul had long diverged from that of an ordinary human, altered by the third technique within the Four Mysterious Body. That profound art had not only transformed his physique, but also reshaped his soul in subtle, irreversible ways.
After the fusion of the three pairs of phoenix wings, it became clear that his form leaned more toward that of a phoenix than a human. Yet, his soul lacked the innate transformation ability possessed by true phoenixes—an ability all members of the phoenix race were born with. Without that defining trait, he could not truly call himself a phoenix either.
As a result, based on Lady Azure's earlier explanation, his current state placed him in an awkward position—caught between races, neither wholly human nor entirely phoenix.
"Your soul is indeed peculiar, shaped by the uniqueness of the Four Mysterious Body," Lady Azure said with a thoughtful nod. Then, with a light chuckle, she added, "A strange soul, a tyrannical bloodline, and the bones of a human… Even though I was the one who created the technique, I can't help but find your condition rather amusing. Truly, you are a unique existence, child."
"Unique doesn't always mean fortunate, Sister…" Xiao Hua replied with a bitter smile, clearly unsettled. Even he felt troubled by the state of his body and soul, uncertain whether it might one day bring about backlash—or leave behind some hidden affliction…
"Rest assured, nothing will happen to you."
The one who answered his concern wasn't Lady Azure, but Lady Xue Yue, who had remained silent at her side until now. Her gaze landed on Xiao Hua as she spoke in a voice both cold and gentle—like an elder sister quietly reassuring her younger brother.
"As long as you can unlock the second level of the Chaos Mantra, you'll be fine. I can't explain the details, but that Qi Method of yours will certainly aid you when the time comes."
"You're making me even more curious about this Qi Method of mine, Sister Xue Yue…" Xiao Hua raised a brow, intrigued by her words.
He noted the mention of the second level of the Chaos Mantra but chose not to press the matter. Though his heart was filled with curiosity, he knew that Lady Azure and Lady Xue Yue either could not—or were not permitted to—reveal more.
Since the answer could not be forced, he silently shelved the thought in the back of his mind, choosing instead to let time unravel the truth when the moment was right.
"By the way, Sister Azure—will absorbing the Dragon-Phoenix's blood essence allow me to unlock the fourth technique within the Four Mysterious Body?" Xiao Hua asked with a flicker of anticipation in his voice.
The Fourth Technique—the final and most mysterious stage of the Four Mysterious Body. Among all four, this was the one he was most curious about. If the first three had already transformed both his body and soul in such profound ways, then it was only natural that he longed to uncover the final technique.
"It will, without question," Lady Azure replied. But her tone shifted, and her expression turned solemn as she added, "However, do not attempt to use it until you've unlocked the second level of the Chaos Mantra. Otherwise, it may bring about consequences you are not prepared for."
Seeing such a rare seriousness on her face, Xiao Hua's gaze sharpened. He nodded silently. Though he didn't fully understand the danger, he trusted that his two sisters would never mislead or endanger him. If they warned him—then the threat was real.
"Since everything that needs to be said has been said…" Lady Azure let out a soft sigh of relief at his response, then continued, "wake up first. Then consider how to acquire a pair of wings that are truly compatible with the Dragon-Phoenix's blood essence."
As her words fell, Lady Azure turned her gaze toward the purple-golden light and gently waved her sleeve. In an instant, a powerful suppressive force surged forth, sealing the Dragon-Phoenix's blood essence completely.
Once the blood essence was sealed, the two heavenly beauties quietly withdrew, vanishing into the depths of Xiao Hua's spiritual sea.
Xiao Hua watched their departure, then turned to face the sealed Dragon-Phoenix blood essence, a faintly complicated expression flickering across his face.
Finding a pair of compatible wings… that was essentially telling him to obtain and refine wings from a true Dragon-Phoenix—of which only two were ever recorded in history, aside from Zi Yan herself.
"Looks like I'll have to wait even longer to unlock the sealed fourth technique…"
He murmured softly, letting out a long, drawn-out sigh. A trace of disappointment and helplessness lingered in his heart before he, too, withdrew from this place and allowed his consciousness to return to reality.
…
Within a spacious room, four figures—two young men and two young women—stood quietly. One of them remained unconscious, lying motionless.
An ethereal and graceful beauty sat nearby, her gaze fixed upon the unconscious figure. Deep concern and quiet anxiety filled her eyes, as though her heart had been caught in a storm of unease.
"He's waking up…!"
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed, sharp with focus. In the next moment, her expression lit up with joy as she swiftly rose to her feet, exclaiming with barely contained excitement.
Just as her voice rang out, the eyelids of the unconscious figure trembled ever so slightly. The movement was faint—barely perceptible—but to her, who had been silently watching over him all this time, it did not escape her notice.
Then, with visible effort, the tightly shut eyes slowly opened. The sudden glare of sunlight caused Xiao Hua to frown. He shook his head slightly, but the moment he did, chaotic memories surged through his mind like a flood, leaving his thoughts spinning and a dull ache blooming in his head.
"Xian'er…? This place is…"
He murmured as he slowly sat up, only to feel a gentle hand support him. Turning his head, he saw Little Fairy Doctor had already moved beside him, her gaze tender as she carefully steadied him.
When his eyes drifted past her, he saw Wei Jie and Mei Ling standing nearby, watching him with faint smiles of relief.
As his gaze swept across the room, a trace of confusion passed through his eyes. The surroundings were unfamiliar—this place was clearly not where he had last been.
"We're in a room reserved for extremely important guests, apparently," Wei Jie replied with a light chuckle.
"Thanks to your efforts—and our protection—our treatment has been far better than before. Not that it wasn't already quite high," Mei Ling added with a soft laugh, her melodious voice warm and soothing.
"What about Zi Yan?" Xiao Hua ignored the comforts and status, his expression tightening as he asked about Zi Yan. "I can feel the Dragon-Phoenix's power within me. Does that mean she's safe… that she succeeded?"
"She's fine—and she did succeed," Mei Ling nodded gently. "However, she hasn't fully absorbed all the energy within the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit. After handling a few matters on Eastern Dragon Island, she entered seclusion. From what I can tell, her retreat might last a good while."
Xiao Hua gave a quiet nod at her explanation. Though he had already guessed as much, his heart couldn't rest easy without seeing her with his own eyes.
After all, that little girl had entrusted him with something astonishing—the blood essence of the Dragon-Phoenix itself—before entering her retreat. How could he not be concerned about her condition?
"Are you alright?" Xiao Hua asked, shaking his head lightly before turning his full attention to Little Fairy Doctor. He hadn't forgotten the grievous wound she suffered in order to delay Qing Yan, even for a moment. Naturally, he couldn't help but feel deeply concerned for her.
"I'm fine," Little Fairy Doctor replied with a gentle smile, her eyes softening as she nodded. She was touched by Xiao Hua's concern—especially when he didn't even spare a glance for his own condition and instead examined her with a serious expression and careful spiritual probing.
"Thanks to the pills you gave me, my injuries weren't too severe. With Elder Brother Wei Jie and Elder Sister Mei Ling taking care of me, I've already recovered to my peak." She smiled again, her tone reassuring.
Only then did Xiao Hua let out a long sigh of relief, the tightness in his chest easing. Still, he didn't stop checking her condition. This was Little Fairy Doctor, after all—he wouldn't rest easy until he had confirmed her well-being with his own hands.
Creak—!
Just as Xiao Hua was still focused on her, the door to the room swung open with a soft sound.
Two figures stepped in quickly, joy lighting up their faces the moment they saw him awake.
"Haha! Little friend Xiao Hua, you've finally awakened!" one of them said with a hearty laugh, unable to hide his delight.
"Elder Zhu Li, it seems the mood on Eastern Dragon Island has grown much brighter."
Xiao Hua rose calmly when he saw the old man enter, with Hei Qing following behind. He cupped his hands toward the two and smiled.
"Haha, little friend Xiao Hua, there's no need to be so courteous. As for the brighter atmosphere, it is thanks to the efforts of you and your companions. The Moonlit Chaos Mansion has rendered our Ancient Void Dragon clan a great favor—we are the ones unworthy of such formality." Elder Zhu Li waved his hand with a hearty laugh.
"By the way, Elder Zhu Li…" Xiao Hua's smile deepened slightly as a thought surfaced. "Do you know of any place within the void where thunderbolts gather?"
Wei Jie, Mei Ling, and Little Fairy Doctor all raised their brows, exchanging knowing glances. They understood the reason behind Xiao Hua's question and wisely chose to remain silent.
Elder Zhu Li was slightly startled by Xiao Hua's words. He pondered for a moment before slowly nodding, meeting Xiao Hua's expectant gaze.
"There is indeed a place within the void near Eastern Dragon Island where thunderbolts gather…"
…
Swoosh!
Two streaks of light tore through the emptiness like lightning. Strange ripples spread from their bodies, shielding them from the omnipresent tearing force of the void.
As the figures drew closer, their outlines became clear—it was Hei Qing and Xiao Hua.
'He truly is astounding… To think he can command spatial strength on par with us, the Ancient Void Dragons.'
Hei Qing cast a sidelong glance, a wave of astonishment and admiration surging within him. Never would he have imagined that Xiao Hua possessed such mastery over spatial strength—equal to that of his tribe.
Yet, he was not overly surprised. He had witnessed countless times how the young man achieved the impossible. Thus, his heart soon steadied, burying the initial shock deep within.
"Little Brother Xiao Hua, we should be able to reach the Void Lightning Pool that Third Elder mentioned…" Hei Qing spoke after taking a deep breath.
"Aye." Xiao Hua gave a slight nod, his voice calm and steady. Yet, beneath that composure, his heart could not help but stir with deep anticipation.
The Void Lightning Pool, as Elder Zhu Li had described, contained the strength of the Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning. Though Xiao Hua was uncertain whether it had already been born, he still wished to pinpoint its location and would return in the future should it appear.
'Besides… there's still a chance I might obtain it through a Gacha Draw… or at least a Pity Draw,' Xiao Hua mused silently.
However, he had already checked its rarity, and the odds were abysmally low—slightly higher than acquiring a Tier 9 Golden Pill Formula or a Tier 9 Golden Pill, but still far from favorable.
Thus, he could only hope for a miracle… that the Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning truly lay within this Void Lightning Pool.
Chi!
After a short while, a whistling gale suddenly swept across the space, snapping Xiao Hua out of his deep train of thought.
He lifted his head, narrowing his eyes. At the distant edge of the void, a faint silver radiance began to seep through, flickering like a restless flame. Alongside it, an unusually wild and violent energy was taking form.
"It seems… we've arrived."
Sensing the somewhat familiar aura, Xiao Hua's heart stirred. He slowly rose atop the massive dragon head, his gaze firmly locked on that growing silver glow.
The luster swelled rapidly, accompanied by a deafening rumble of thunder that shook the very air around him.
After a brief pause, Xiao Hua's eyes settled upon a vast 'lake'—nearly ten thousand feet across—its surface formed not of water, but of countless bright silver lightning bolts surging and intertwining.
This was the second lightning pool he had ever seen, yet the uniqueness of this one was truly striking.
Loud, rolling thunder bellowed from within the pool, its sound reverberating through the void as Xiao Hua stood before it. The sheer pressure made one's heart quiver, and anyone who set foot here would feel unbearably small before its might.
"This is a nightmarish place…" Hei Qing muttered, his voice tinged with shock. Fear flickered in his eyes as he studied the Void Lightning Pool, the oppressive danger seeping into his very bones.
Turning to Xiao Hua, he asked gravely, "Little brother Xiao Hua, are you truly certain you wish to train here?"
The violent energy here was enough to unsettle even him. He had not expected this empty space, so close to the Eastern Dragon Island, to conceal such peril.
Xiao Hua merely chuckled and nodded. Having endured Heavenly Lightning Tribulations and the descent of five Heavenly Lightnings, the destructive might of this Void Lightning Pool was far from enough to deter him.
"Old brother Hei Qing, I will enter first. If something happens, I'll send the signal," Xiao Hua said with a faint grin, his impatience to step into the pool clear in his eyes.
Seeing Xiao Hua's eagerness, Hei Qing could only shake his head helplessly. "Very well. I'll guard the lightning pool until you complete your training. If anything unforeseen occurs, release the signal we agreed upon earlier, and I will come to drag you out."
"Ha ha, in that case, I'll trouble Old Brother Hei Qing."
Xiao Hua grinned, fully aware that these were instructions Elder Zhu Li had entrusted to Hei Qing.
Without saying anything further, he offered one last smile and a nod. Then, with a light press of his toes against the empty void, his figure shot forward like a bolt of lightning. Five flames—each born by the fusion of Primordial Heavenly Flames and Heavenly Lightning—swiftly surged forth, intertwining and wrapping around his body.
The instant Xiao Hua plunged into the lightning pool, countless silver-hued thunderbolts seemed to shudder in fear. The moment they neared him, they recoiled as if facing a supreme existence, for within the six flames cloaking Xiao Hua's form, six terrifying thunder presences could be faintly sensed—each exuding the majesty of an emperor of lightning.
Thus, nothing impeded his advance toward the deepest reaches of the Void Lightning Pool. From the looks of it, the Heavenly Lightnings—rightly hailed as the king of thunder and lightning—truly lived up to its name.
The pool within the empty realm stretched endlessly, yet Xiao Hua merely unfurled his three pairs of phoenix wings. With their immense boost, his speed skyrocketed, and within less than ten minutes, he had reached its deepest depths.
"This is truly a perilous place…"
Xiao Hua swept his gaze over the dim surroundings after reaching the deepest region. His eyes soon shifted toward a black cluster of lightning, shaped like a colossal dragon, its body slowly writhing within the darkness.
Yet there was no sense of panic in his expression and wave his sleeves. Six enormous Lightning Beasts emerged from his body. Their presences spread across the Void Lightning Pool causing the Black Demon Lightning to tremble and becoming silence.
"Since this place is brimming with lightning energy, devour as much as you wish," Xiao Hua said with a light chuckle upon seeing the Black Demon Lightning grow docile.
However, the Lightning Beasts made no move. Their stillness caused Xiao Hua's brows to knit in confusion, unable to fathom their unusual behavior.
"Child, there is a presence of Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning up ahead."
Just as he was pondering, Lady Azure's calm yet resonant voice echoed within his mind.
Xiao Hua was momentarily startled by her words. Before he could inquire further, the depths of the lightning pool began to stir. Black lightning flickered wildly, surging from every direction toward the pitch-dark region at the center.
Seeing this, a faint yet joyous smile curved Xiao Hua's lips. His gaze swept across the deepest point of the pool, sensing an unusual pressure steadily rising. Though its nature resembled that of the Black Demon Lightning, its strength was many times greater.
His eyes locked onto that region, a faint glimmer flashing within them. A moment later, the golden Lightning Beast beneath him lifted its head, allowing Xiao Hua to mount it. Without hesitation, the six Lightning Beasts charged toward the dark heart of the pool.
With every breath of distance closed, the strange pressure grew heavier, until at last the six beasts abruptly halted. Xiao Hua's eyes narrowed, his attention fixed on the source.
Within his heterochromatic gaze—crimson on the left and cyan on the right—an intense joy burned as he beheld the scene before him. In the very heart of the lightning sea coiled a massive dragon wrought entirely of gold, its body shrouded in dazzling arcs of golden thunder.
"The Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning… it truly is here!"
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