Chapter 786: Long Yuan and Dragon Splendor
"Human prodigies? Nothing more than this!"
The sudden appearance of the two caused the world to fall silent.
As the dust slowly settled, Holy Light Son struggled to stand up from among the rubble.
His face was as pale as paper, and the clothes on his back were shredded, revealing a shocking wound.
Blood trickled down his spine, staining his tattered golden robes red.
Propping himself up with his golden scepter, Holy Light Son barely managed to stand steady. He looked up at the figures in the sky, his voice hoarse and weak.
"Who are you people?!"
From high above, the burly figure looked down, a contemptuous smile playing on his lips. "The Dragon Race, Long Yuan!"
He stood with his hands behind his back, his dragon might surging through the hall like a tide.
Beside him, Dragon Splendor stepped out from the shadows. She had just attacked, and her strike on Luo Shui Xian had inflicted significant injuries.
However, faint ice crystals still shimmered on her dragon claws, causing her beautiful face to frown almost imperceptibly.
Beside the two, Dragon Race cultivators appeared one after another, quickly surrounding the entire hall so tightly that not even a drop of water could leak through.
"The Dragon Race?"
Holy Light Son's pupils constricted slightly.
Ever since the war in the Middle Ancient Era, the Dragon Race had remained in seclusion. Their appearance in a human secret realm now surely meant they were plotting something.
"People of the Dragon Race, how dare you trespass into our human secret realm! Have you forgotten how miserably you were driven out by the humans back then?!"
Holy Light Son shouted sternly. That war back then concerned the survival of the races, and the humans had been unprecedentedly united.
The Three Great Aristocratic Families, the Five Great Imperial Dynasties, and the Ten Immortal Palaces.
Almost all of them had joined the fray, finally crushing the Dragon Race and forcing them into seclusion.
"Heh."
Dragon Splendor gave a cold laugh and spoke, "As for what happened back then, you humans simply had the advantage of numbers."
"When it comes to true strength, you aren't even half as good as our Dragon Race warriors."
"Now, two so-called human prodigies can't even block a casual strike of mine."
"Since the humans have declined to this point, these prodigies ought to return... to the embrace of the Ancient Dragons!!"
Holy Light Son's face turned ashen. What did she mean by not being able to block a strike? The opponent had merely taken advantage of a sneak attack.
But bringing that up now would seem petty.
Just then, Luo Shui Xian spoke up, "Dragon Race, you've come here for that dragon tendon, haven't you?"
Long Yuan raised an eyebrow. "You're quite clever."
He turned toward the stone box suspended in the hall and flicked his finger, causing the lid to fly off instantly.
Inside the stone box, a golden dragon tendon lay quietly, emitting a faint dragon might.
"This is a relic of our Dragon Race ancestors, stolen by that Great Emperor Bailian and refined into a bowstring."
"Today, it should be returned to its rightful owner."
Long Yuan reached out to take the dragon tendon, but was blocked by a barrier.
A bolt of pitch-black lightning shot out from within, forcing him to take half a step back.
"A restriction?!"
His expression became extremely unsightly.
"Heh."
Seeing his disheveled state, Luo Shui Xian gave a soft laugh. That smile was like the first crack opening on a surface of ice—cold and sharp.
"Back then, your Dragon Race ancestor was slain here by the Gu Family ancestor."
"Dragon Blood scattered like rain and waterfalls."
"Dragon roars echoed through the nine heavens, filled with sorrowful wails."
"The once high-and-mighty, overbearing Dragon Race experts fell from the sky one by one."
"Their corpses were skinned and their tendons pulled, used to create two supreme emperor weapons."
"Their remains turned into this Dragon Bone Star Ring, wandering through the void. Great Emperor Bailian specifically chose this place as his final resting spot; how could he give petty Dragon Race scoundrels like you a chance to touch the peerless treasures he left behind?!"
"Bastard!!"
The scar the Dragon Race had long hidden was thus torn open by Luo Shui Xian. Whether it was Long Yuan, Dragon Splendor, or the other Dragon Race cultivators, every single one of them was beyond furious.
"I'll tear your mouth apart!!"
Dragon Splendor let out an angry shout and transformed into a giant silver dragon, charging toward Luo Shui Xian.
Luo Shui Xian did not hesitate. Despite her injuries, she activated her ice soul token to meet the enemy.
The two sides collided instantly. For a moment, the void trembled and pressure filled the sky.
"Still stubborn even at death's door. You human cultivators are as loathsome as ever."
Long Yuan's face was also extremely grim as his gaze locked onto Holy Light Son.
"W-What are you doing?"
"She's the one who said those things; it has nothing to do with me."
"I'm sorry..."
A cold smile curled on Long Yuan's lips as six or seven figures surrounded the area.
"My sister only likes to fight one-on-one, and I truly don't enjoy hitting women."
"So, it's better to let them settle the battle on their side themselves."
"As for you, my friend."
"Now, let's have a hearty duel between real men!"
Long Yuan roared as he charged toward Holy Light Son, and the six or seven black-robed figures around him also attacked simultaneously.
Holy Light Son's face changed drastically. "Screw your sister! You call this a duel between real men?!"
"If you have the guts, don't call for help."
"You dare insult my sister?! Preposterous!!"
Long Yuan ignored the question, his face darkening as the dragon might around him surged.
He gave a thunderous shout and pounced toward Holy Light Son like a bolt of lightning.
The six or seven Dragon Race cultivators also struck together, their dragon might surging like a tide and killing intent filling the air.
Holy Light Son's pupils constricted sharply.
He was already heavily injured, with less than ten percent of his spiritual power remaining. Facing Long Yuan alone was difficult enough, but being besieged by seven or eight people was simply a death sentence.
But he was, after all, the Holy Son of the Sacred Radiance Immortal Palace, an Ancient Freak who had lived for countless millennia.
At the brink of life and death, his reactions were incredibly fast.
The golden scepter slammed into the ground in his hand, and a golden halo spread out in all directions with him at the center.
A slowing effect was applied; even Long Yuan's movements couldn't help but become a bit sluggish.
"Sacred Light Wall!"
Holy Light Son let out a low shout and raised his scepter high. Golden holy light erupted from his body, condensing into a translucent wall of light around him.
Long Yuan threw a punch at the light wall, his fist wind carrying dragon might like the tearing claws of a giant dragon.
The light wall shook violently but managed to withstand the blow.
"Interesting."
Long Yuan sneered, withdrew his fist, and struck again, this time with even greater power and speed.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three consecutive punches slammed into the same spot, coordinated with the attacks from the other Dragon Race cultivators.
The light wall ultimately could not hold and shattered upon impact.
"Pfft—"
Holy Light Son was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth as he slammed heavily against the wall.
He slid to the ground, the golden scepter flying out of his hand and landing several yards away.
Long Yuan walked up to him and looked down with eyes full of contempt. "Even trash like you can be called an Ancient Freak?"
"It seems the human race really is finished."
He raised his foot and stepped on Holy Light Son's chest.
Turning his head toward the other side, he called out loudly, "Dragon Splendor, how's it going? Is it done?"
"Almost!"
Although Luo Shui Xian's strength was formidable, she had just been seriously injured.
That palm strike to her shoulder had damaged her meridians, causing spiritual energy to run wild in her body. Every time she activated the ice soul token, she had to endure the pain of her meridians being torn apart.
Her face grew paler and paler, and her movements became slower and slower.
Dragon Splendor's battle strategy was focused on her already injured left shoulder, leaving Luo Shui Xian struggling to cope.
"The Saintess of the Cold Frost Immortal Palace? Nothing more than this!"
Dragon Splendor sneered and swept her dragon tail out, sending Luo Shui Xian flying.
She walked closer slowly, her voice cold. "Well? Do you still dare to be so insolent?"
Luo Shui Xian said mockingly, "The higher some people fly, the harder they will fall."
"Just like those worms at the peak of their power who ran into the people of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family... it's the same."
"What a foul mouth."
Dragon Splendor said coldly, "Even if the people of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family were here today, I, Dragon Splendor, would kill them all the same!"
//787//
Chapter 787: Battling the Two Dragons
"Since you're so intent on seeking death, then... let's start with you!"
Dragon Splendor's voice echoed through the hall, carrying the arrogance and disdain unique to the Dragon Race.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"It seems the members of the Dragon Race have their tails held quite high in the sky."
Before her voice had even faded, a cold voice drifted in from the entrance of the hall.
Dragon Splendor's pupils constricted abruptly as she snapped her gaze toward the entrance.
She saw a figure in ink-colored robes walking slowly toward them, black hair flying and sleeves fluttering.
Following behind him were four women, each with a graceful bearing and a sharp aura.
Long Yuan's eyes lit up instantly. He moved his foot off Holy Light Son and turned to look at the newcomer. "Someone from the Immortal Ancient Gu Family?"
"You've come at the perfect time. We were just talking about you, and now you've come running to your deaths."
He was incredibly calm. Because he was of the Dragon Race, a pure-blooded True Dragon, possessing the most noble bloodline in this world.
Within this All Beings Are Equal formation, everyone's cultivation was suppressed to the Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer. The physical and bloodline advantages of the Dragon Race were enough to crush any human cultivator.
Even the Immortal Ancient Gu Family was no exception.
"A few more dragon tendons have arrived."
Gu Yun smiled faintly, his tone as calm as if he were remarking on the nice weather.
The women beside him also showed knowing smiles, though only Xu Lingwei appeared slightly nervous.
The pressure Long Yuan exerted on her was incredibly intense; his aura was as deep as an abyss and as heavy as a prison, like a mountain about to collapse pressing against her chest.
Long Yuan raised an eyebrow, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes. "Arrogant!"
He took a step forward, his dragon might crushing toward Gu Yun like a physical weight.
The pressure was so strong that the air in the hall became thick. Xu Lingwei subconsciously took half a step back, and the expressions of Flame Princess and Snow Thousand Years turned slightly solemn.
Gu Yun, however, remained motionless.
He simply stood there quietly. As the surging dragon might approached within three feet of him, it was as if it hit an invisible wall and dissipated on its own.
"Somewhat interesting."
Dragon Splendor chuckled. "As expected of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family; no matter the era, you are always the leaders of the human race."
"You truly aren't comparable to those small fry."
On the ground, Holy Light Son, who had just managed to catch his breath, was nearly driven to death by Dragon Splendor's words. A sweetness rose in his throat, and with a crack, he fainted again.
Luo Shui Xian leaned against the wall, watching this scene. Her lips twitched slightly, but she said nothing.
"Small fry?"
"My apologies, but to me, the members of the Dragon Race don't seem to pose much of a threat either."
Long Yuan's face darkened, killing intent surging in his eyes.
"This arrogant streak... is exactly the same as your ancestors!"
Before his voice finished, his figure suddenly vanished from the spot.
The speed of the Dragon Race was already unsurpassed in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, and now, erupting with full power, he was as fast as a bolt of lightning.
In the blink of an eye, he arrived before Gu Yun and threw a punch!
The fist wind was wrapped in dragon might, like a true giant dragon opening its massive maw to devour him.
Gu Yun looked up at the approaching fist, his expression as calm as water.
"To speak big words is arrogance."
"But if one's actions match their words, then this Dragon Bone Star Ring, formed by your dragon ancestor, shall be your burial ground!"
Just as the fist wind reached his body, he moved.
Raising his right hand with fingers spread, he blocked Long Yuan's punch.
Boom—!!
Fist and palm collided, erupting in a deafening explosion.
A violent shockwave swept out in all directions from the two of them. Stone slabs on the floor were flipped into the air, and cracks spread across the walls like a spiderweb.
Long Yuan's fist stopped in Gu Yun's palm, unable to advance even an inch further.
His pupils shrank slightly. "Your strength has actually reached such a level."
"Mere brute force is not worth mentioning."
Gu Yun spoke indifferently.
"Bastard, you only blocked one punch; it's nothing."
Long Yuan's face was ashen as he retracted his fist and struck again.
The fist wind howled like the roar of a giant dragon.
Boom—
After another loud explosion, Long Yuan's attack was blocked once more.
The veins on his arms bulged and his muscles strained, yet he could not force Gu Yun back a single step.
The fierce offensive that had defeated Holy Light Son in one blow was now completely ineffective against Gu Yun.
At that moment, the sound of breaking wind suddenly reached Gu Yun's ears.
The angle was tricky, and the speed was extremely fast.
Dragon Splendor had somehow circled behind Gu Yun. Her dragon claws extended, five cold glints aiming straight for the back of his heart.
This strike had been planned for a long time, and the timing was perfect—Long Yuan pinning him from the front while Dragon Splendor ambushed from behind. The two coordinated seamlessly, clearly not the first time they had fought together.
"Watch out!"
Xu Lingwei turned pale with fright. Dragon Splendor's speed almost exceeded her imagination; she couldn't fathom how she would have blocked that strike if she were in his place.
"No need to worry, let's just do what we need to do."
Flame Princess said indifferently, her gaze locked onto several nearby Dragon Race cultivators.
"Little beauties, don't worry. That human brat will soon be defeated by our Young Master's hand."
"There's no need for you to cling to any unrealistic fantasies."
"Is that so?"
Flame Princess smiled gently. "Why don't you take a closer look?"
The few people were stunned and turned to look, only to see Gu Yun shift his body slightly as if he had eyes in the back of his head.
Dragon Splendor's claw wind brushed past his robes, tearing a hole but failing to injure his skin.
"What?"
Dragon Splendor's pupils shrank. She had calculated this strike for a long time and thought it was a guaranteed hit, yet it had missed.
However, her reaction was also fast. Seeing the strike fail, she immediately tried to pull away.
But how could Gu Yun give her that chance?
"Since you've come, why be in such a hurry to leave?"
A faint smile curled on Gu Yun's lips. In the next instant, Dragon Splendor felt the surrounding space pressing in on her, leaving her with no way to escape.
In a disorienting blur, she unexpectedly reappeared right in front of Gu Yun.
Long Yuan felt himself stumble. He turned back in horror, only to see that his sister's head was already being held in Gu Yun's hand.
"Now, it's my turn!!"
//788//
Chapter 788: Deterrence
Dragon Splendor's pupils contracted sharply; Gu Yun's mastery over the Dao of Space had exceeded their expectations.
Whether it was herself or Long Yuan, neither possessed the slightest power to resist in the face of this great spatial inversion.
Long Yuan's expression also became extremely unsightly: "Let her go!!"
He roared furiously, lunging at Gu Yun like a man possessed, his fist wind howling, even thirty percent stronger than before.
Gu Yun, however, showed no intent to retreat.
His left hand still gripped Dragon Splendor, while he raised his right, fingers splayed, meeting Long Yuan's fist head-on.
A thunderous boom accompanied a rolling airwave, sweeping up Holy Light Son from the ground and tumbling him through the air several times before he slammed heavily back down.
He seemed to have hit his head, the pain causing him to twitch as he woke up once more.
As a result, he witnessed this heart-shaking scene.
Long Yuan's supposedly certain-kill attack stopped in Gu Yun's palm, unable to advance even a fraction further.
The veins on his arm bulged, his muscles flexed to the limit, and his face turned a deep red.
The man was like a volcano about to erupt, yet he was being forcibly suppressed by that single hand.
"Is this all the strength the physical body you're so proud of has?"
Gu Yun looked at him, his expression as calm as still water.
Just like that, the two previously arrogant Dragon Race experts were now held in mid-air, one in each of Gu Yun's hands.
The air suddenly went silent, and even Luo Shui Xian's originally cold eyes now flickered with a different kind of luster.
"This... how is this possible?"
Holy Light Son's throat felt bitter. When Long Yuan dealt with him earlier, it was a total crush, even if he did have the advantage of a sneak attack.
But he had been holding a supreme emperor weapon; he could clearly sense the opponent's tyrannical strength.
Yet now, before Gu Yun, the combined efforts of the siblings couldn't gain them any advantage.
As the saying goes, there is always a higher mountain, but such a massive gap was still a significant blow to this Sacred Radiance Immortal Palace Ancient Freak who had dominated for many years.
One must know that the two great Immortal Palaces, Sacred Radiance and Shadow, both considered themselves not inferior to the Immortal Ancient Families.
But now, such a vast gap existed between himself and Gu Yun.
At this moment, he regretted everything; it seemed that waking up in this era was destined to be a mistake.
"Could it be that only that person has the possibility of defeating this fellow?"
Luo Shui Xian leaned against the wall, the wound on her shoulder already sealed by ice to stop the bleeding.
After a short period of rest, her aura had also calmed significantly.
Right now, her gaze toward Gu Yun was fervent and strange: "The Immortal Ancient Gu Family truly lives up to its reputation."
Meanwhile, the Dragon Race cultivators fighting the four women were all scared witless.
"How is it possible? How could the Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter lose when fighting together?"
"Why wouldn't they? With these little tricks of your Dragon Race, you're not even fit to carry my Brother Yun's shoes!"
Moon Dance flipped behind a Dragon Race member, using a graceful over-the-shoulder throw to send the burly man—several times her size—flying, slamming him heavily against the wall and creating a deep crater in the already cracked stone surface.
He slid to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his eyes full of disbelief.
How powerful was the Dragon Race's physical body? They were almost invincible among their peers, yet this young girl before him looked as if she were barely trying.
"How is this possible?!"
He hissed, struggling to stand up, only to find a piercing pain coming from his spine.
That throw had seemed light, but it had precisely neutralized his entire body's strength, dislocating bones and twisting meridians, making it impossible to recover his combat power in a short time.
At this moment, seeing the girl land nimbly and continue to approach, in his desperation, he could only invoke his Dragon Might to face the enemy.
"Just a mere half-breed, and you dare to bark in front of me?!"
Moon Dance spoke coldly, her aura also releasing without reservation.
Boom—
The bloodline power of the Nine-Life Demonic Cat was released, directly forcing back that messy and impure Dragon Might.
In terms of grade, the Nine-Life Demonic Cat was on the same level as a pure-blooded True Dragon.
If it were Long Yuan or Dragon Splendor, they might have been able to cause a tiny bit of harm, but this mixed-blood demon dragon was simply asking for trouble.
"Pfft—"
Failing his attempt and suffering for it, blood seeped from the man's mouth. He wanted to transform into his original form to escape, but it was already too late.
With a flash of a blade, the dragon head rolled down.
Moon Dance's movements were clean and efficient as she easily extracted the dragon tendon.
"I don't even know what you're mixed with, your dragon tendon is actually this short."
She spoke with quite a bit of disdain; if she wanted to give it to Chu Ruoyao for a zither string, this kind simply wouldn't do.
Having lost a companion in an instant, the remaining Dragon Race cultivators felt a chill in their hearts.
"Don't be afraid!"
One of the Dragon Race cultivators gritted his teeth and shouted low, "That woman's strength is great, but we've already seen her methods. She has plenty of agility but insufficient attack power. As long as we join forces and leave no openings, she won't be able to seize an opportunity."
"As for that so-called pressure, it's only slightly stronger than ours and can't produce a decisive effect."
"We... still have a chance to win!"
"Insufficient attack power?"
Moon Dance smiled charmingly: "Then how about this, I'll let someone with sufficient attack power face you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she slowly backed away.
Two figures then appeared before them.
Flame Princess held the departing fire tassel, flames dancing in her palm like living creatures.
Snow Thousand Years stood with her sword, the frost snow divine sword trembling slightly in her hand.
One cold and one hot, one ice and one fire.
But in the eyes of these Dragon Race cultivators, it was like purgatory.
"Form the array!"
The leader still wanted to put up a desperate struggle, but under the merciless offensive of Flame Princess and Snow Thousand Years, it all became a joke.
High in the air, Long Yuan and Dragon Splendor saw this and their eyes nearly split: "You dare harm my Dragon Race youths, do you know the consequences?!!"
"Consequences?"
Gu Yun chuckled: "It seems that over these years, the Dragon Race has lived far too comfortably in the Void Crevice."
"When I return, I can discuss it with my Second Uncle and the others, and... move your nest again!"
"Madman!!"
Long Yuan roared, his voice full of extreme fury.
The provocative meaning in Gu Yun's words was something every Dragon Race member absolutely could not tolerate.
At this moment, he could no longer care about anything else; his only thought was to kill Gu Yun right here.
He exchanged a glance with Dragon Splendor, and then the Dragon Might around them surged violently.
Golden light erupted from his body, dyeing the entire hall golden.
His body began to swell, his clothes tearing apart to reveal skin covered in golden scales beneath.
Dragon Race Secret Technique—Half-Dragon Transformation!
This was the Dragon Race's strongest combat form, situated between human form and their true body.
It could retain the flexibility and speed of a human while unleashing the tyrannical physical body and terrifying power of the true body.
Muscle density, bone strength, and meridian toughness would all increase several times over in a short period, and the innate divine abilities within the Dragon bloodline would be pushed to the limit.
In this form, a Dragon's combat power would grow exponentially.
Long Yuan's body swelled to over ten feet, his arms as thick as tree trunks, his fingers turning into sharp dragon claws with nails like curved blades glinting with a cold light.
His face also became ferocious, dragon horns growing from both sides of his forehead, and golden flames burning in his dragon eyes.
"This feeling... it's been a long time."
//789//
Chapter 789: Half-Dragon Form
The tyrannical power of the Half-Dragon Form erupted in an instant, directly breaking free from Gu Yun's restraints.
The young man raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.
After this Dragon Clan bloodline power combined with a human body, it could actually erupt with such terrifying strength in an instant.
On the other side, Dragon Splendor also activated her Half-Dragon Form.
Silver scales covered her entire body, her figure becoming slender and vigorous, and a dragon tail extended from behind her, its tip as sharp as a spear.
Her speed was very fast; having escaped Gu Yun's control, she pulled away to a distance of about three zhang.
Two streams of Dragon Might overlapped, crushing toward Gu Yun like something physical.
Gold and silver light intertwined like a brilliant curtain of light, enveloping the entire great hall.
The spiritual energy in the air was squeezed out, leaving only the overbearing pressure unique to the Dragon Clan, pressing heavily on everyone's chest.
Holy Light Son's face was pale, feeling as if a giant rock were pressing on his back; he lay prone on the ground, gasping for breath.
Luo Shui Xian looked slightly better; she leaned against the wall, the ice soul token suspended in front of her, barely protecting the three inches of space around her body.
Even Flame Princess and Snow Thousand Years, who originally held the upper hand, were inevitably affected, giving those Dragon Clan cultivators who were in peril during the encirclement a moment to breathe.
"What a terrifying aura."
Suppressing her urge to transform into the Swallowing Heaven Divine Python to resist this pressure, Flame Princess used the departing fire tassel to set up a fire domain, firmly trapping those Dragon Clan cultivators within.
"The Half-Dragon Form has appeared; this is now the strongest form of the Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter."
"Human cultivators, prepare to meet your end, hahaha!!"
Although that cultivator was already howling from the burning flames, he still puffed out his chest with pride at the thought of Long Yuan and Dragon Splendor unleashing such a powerful attack.
"Shut up."
Moon Dance flashed in front of that person and swiped down with her claws, scratching the person's face.
A tearing pain followed, leaving a small cat paw print on the face.
The damage was minor, but the insult was immense.
"You damned bastard!!"
That person clawed toward Moon Dance but missed, instead lunging straight into a flame trap Flame Princess had prepared long ago.
He rolled on the ground in pain, looking quite miserable.
"Gu Family brat, to be able to force us to use our Half-Dragon Form, you can die in peace."
High in the air, the siblings Long Yuan and Dragon Splendor stood side by side once more, their every movement filled with the arrogance and disdain unique to the Dragon Clan.
"You've simply gone from being fake humans to being half-breeds; what is there to be proud of?"
"You're just being stubborn with your words."
Long Yuan spoke coldly: "It is meaningless. Young Master of the Gu Family, in the war of that year, some of my Dragon Clan's powerhouses did indeed die at the hands of the Gu Family ancestors."
"But Gu Family cultivators who died under the claws and teeth of my Dragon Clan are not few in number either!"
"In today's battle, I want to see what progress you, a Gu Family cultivator from hundreds of thousands of years later, have made!"
As the words fell, Long Yuan's figure cut through the void.
Crossing a distance of several zhang in an instant, his dragon claws extended five cold glints that tore through the void, aiming straight for Gu Yun's throat.
This strike was both fast and ruthless; the power boost brought by the Half-Dragon Form was demonstrated to the fullest at this moment.
Gu Yun narrowed his eyes, and the origin divine spear appeared in his palm. With a shake of the spear's body, the tip accurately struck the center of the dragon claw's palm.
The sound of clashing metal exploded, and sparks flew in all directions.
Long Yuan only felt a massive force transmit from his palm, making his entire arm go numb.
But he was a pure-blooded True Dragon after all; in the Half-Dragon state, his physical recovery ability and combat instincts had reached their peak.
Almost at the moment of retreating, his other dragon claw had already swept out, heading straight for Gu Yun's waist.
Gu Yun held the origin divine spear vertically to block, and his figure was shaken back several steps.
The pure-blooded True Dragon was indeed one of the most powerful bloodlines in the world; after the Half-Dragon transformation, Long Yuan's attack speed and power had a qualitative leap.
He was by no means comparable to ordinary freaks; that claw strike just now would have disemboweled someone like Holy Light Son.
Without giving Gu Yun a chance to breathe, Dragon Splendor had already attacked from the side.
Her speed was even faster than Long Yuan's; her figure pulled out a silver afterimage as her dragon claws came whistling through the air.
Her dragon tail was even more like a steel whip, lashing toward the center of Gu Yun's back.
The siblings cooperated with tacit understanding, sealing off all of Gu Yun's paths of retreat.
Gu Yun wanted to use the Law of Space to shift his position, but he found that the two were already prepared.
Under the lockdown of the Dragon Might, it was impossible to perform a leap relying solely on a Law of Space that had not yet entered the Dao.
Gu Yun seemed to see a smug smile in Long Yuan's eyes, and the corner of his own mouth couldn't help but curl into an arc.
He practiced the Law of Space only because most of the time he wanted to solo the opposition without taking damage.
As it turned out, you're actually not letting me use it now.
Then there's no other way; I'll just have to let our insufferably arrogant Dragon Clan brothers know what a truly terrifying physical body is!!
Without hesitation, Gu Yun held his spear horizontally in front of him to block.
"So you still want to cut your tail to survive?"
"But unfortunately you don't know that Xiao Wei's dragon tail is her true killing weapon!"
A smile curled on Long Yuan's lips; seeking advantages and avoiding harm was human nature.
When injury was unavoidable, choosing to block the side with the greater threat was indeed beyond reproach.
But... Gu Yun was wrong from the start.
He had fallen into their trap; while the dragon claw attack seemed fierce and overbearing, it was merely a feint to attract attention.
The true killing move, from beginning to end, was that dragon tail that had been gathering strength for a long time.
The silver dragon tail was like a steel whip, carrying power sufficient to shatter stars as it lashed fiercely toward the center of Gu Yun's back from the side.
If this strike hit, even a pure-blooded True Dragon would have its bones and tendons snapped, let alone a human cultivator.
The smile on Long Yuan's lips could no longer be hidden.
Who said the Dragon Clan only understood brute force? With just a small trick, he could make this so-called human genius Gu Yun be toyed with.
He could almost see Gu Yun being sent flying by this tail strike, vomiting blood in a wretched state.
But Gu Yun was not motionless; he directly turned his body and reached back, accurately grabbing Dragon Splendor's dragon tail.
"Heh, you're really seeking death!"
Long Yuan spoke with a cold laugh, not expecting Gu Yun to be so overconfident.
Xiao Wei's dragon tail was the most powerful weapon on her entire body; tempered by Dragon Clan secret methods, its hardness far exceeded that of ordinary Imperial Weapons.
Even he himself wouldn't dare to take it head-on, let alone a human cultivator with a body of flesh and blood.
Gu Yun's behavior had only one ending... his palm would be shattered, and he would be severely wounded...
"How... how is this possible?"
//790//
Chapter 790: Slaying the Dragon (Two-in-One)
"H-how is this possible?!"
Long Yuan's smile froze on his face.
Gu Yun's palm firmly gripped that silver dragon tail, his fingers tightening like iron pincers.
The expected snapping of bones and tendons did not occur; instead, Long Wei let out a muffled groan, her entire face instantly flushing red.
That dragon tail, capable of shattering stars, was now like a snake caught in an iron vice; no matter how Long Wei struggled, she couldn't break free.
Long Wei's expression changed completely; she could feel that the strength in Gu Yun's hand far exceeded her imagination.
When did human cultivators gain such formidable strength?
"You—"
She opened her mouth, but before she could finish, Gu Yun had already moved.
With a sudden twist of his hand on the dragon tail, Long Wei began to spin in the air like a top.
Long Yuan was pale with shock and tried to rush forward to save her, but was forced back by a thrust of Gu Yun's spear.
"I'm kindly letting you watch a performance for free, so why are you still unhappy?"
Gu Yun chuckled as the tip of the Origin Divine Spear drew a bloody line across Long Yuan's chest. Had the scales protecting his heart not been hard enough in his semi-dragonized state, this single thrust would have been enough to pierce right through him.
Long Yuan stumbled back, watching helplessly as Long Wei continued to be swung around in the air by Gu Yun.
The youth showed no mercy to the fair maiden; his methods were appallingly cruel.
"Brother Yun, he..."
Moon Dance's lips twitched; she had originally thought a great female dragon like Long Wei might pique Gu Yun's interest.
After all, he wasn't picky when it came to cats or snakes; there was no reason for him to personally throw away such a golden opportunity to become a dragon rider.
However, Gu Yun's actual actions slapped them in the face.
"This guy..."
A rosy flush touched Flame Princess's pretty face. Logically speaking, dragons and snakes shared certain structural similarities.
Seeing Long Wei being spun like a top gave her an awkward feeling.
"Fortunately, my tail is usually wrapped very tightly; even if he had such an idea, he could never pull it off!"
Flame Princess felt smug as a streak of fire shot out, instantly incinerating a similarly dumbfounded Dragon Clan prodigy.
In the sky, the high-speed rotation was fast enough to create the sound of whistling wind.
Long Wei felt dizzy and lightheaded; the world before her eyes had dissolved into a chaotic blur of gold and silver.
She wanted to struggle, but Gu Yun's palm was like it was welded shut; every time she tried to gather spiritual power, it would be completely torn apart by the high-speed rotation.
"You bastard, let her go!!"
Seeing his sister treated this way, the rage in Long Yuan's eyes almost burst forth.
Blood was still seeping from the wound on his chest, but he no longer cared.
He charged toward Gu Yun like a madman.
"Since Brother Long wants her so badly, then... I'll give her back to you."
Gu Yun's lips curled into a smile as he suddenly released his grip on the dragon tail.
Long Wei shot out like a silver meteor, crashing straight toward Long Yuan.
Long Yuan's pupils constricted as he hurriedly reached out to catch her.
Long Wei slammed into his embrace, and the rotational momentum sent them both stumbling back several steps. Long Yuan's back hit a stone pillar before he finally managed to steady himself.
"Xiao Wei! Xiao Wei, how are you?!"
Long Yuan looked down at the sister in his arms; her face was deathly pale, her eyes were tightly shut, and her long eyelashes were beaded with fine sweat.
The silver scales had lost their luster from the friction of the rotation, with several edges curled up to reveal the tender pink flesh beneath.
Her chest heaved violently, and every breath was accompanied by a slight tremor; she had clearly been severely shaken by the spinning.
Her body swayed, and she actually fainted right then and there.
"Gu Yun!"
"A warrior can be killed but not humiliated. You've gone... too far!!"
Long Yuan looked up, his golden eyes fixed on Gu Yun, filled with murderous intent.
His figure suddenly blurred, appearing directly in front of Gu Yun, as he lashed out with a kick toward the youth's heart.
A strike fueled by fury, its power was nearly triple his normal state; he was absolutely determined to land it.
However...
This time, his foot was caught by Gu Yun again. A playful curve hung on the youth's face: "What, do you also want a desperate power-up?"
"But unfortunately, you don't have that kind of destiny!"
Forget being a Child of Destiny; with Long Yuan's pathetic fate, he was nothing more than a cannon fodder villain.
Before a Heavenly Destiny Villain like himself, it was unrealistic to expect to cause any ripples. As for a desperate power-up or a comeback victory?
Don't make your Brother Yun laugh!
The youth's palm firmly locked onto Long Yuan's ankle, his fingers tightening until the joints emitted a faint cracking sound.
Long Yuan felt a massive force transmit from his ankle, and he was hoisted upside down in mid-air, his once-handsome face turning beet red from the blood rushing to it.
"Let me go!"
He roared, his other foot kicking violently toward Gu Yun's face.
Gu Yun tilted his head to avoid it and reached out to pin it down directly.
Long Yuan's expression shifted drastically. In his rage, he had forgotten even his basic combat techniques, allowing himself to fall into such a passive position.
He tried to spin, attempting to execute a death roll, but it was to no avail.
He wanted to transform into his true form to break free from Gu Yun's control, but that too was futile.
"I recall that the Gu Family's ancient records once mentioned that extracting the tendon directly from a living dragon yields the highest quality."
"Long Yuan, why don't you let me give it a try right now?"
"You wouldn't dare!"
Long Yuan's face instantly turned deathly pale.
Extracting a tendon from a living dragon was undoubtedly the most severe form of torture.
"I'm sorry, but I've always been quite bold. In these Three Thousand Dao Domains, there is nothing I wouldn't dare to do!"
As Gu Yun finished speaking, countless eerie powers surged from the hand gripping Long Yuan's ankle.
They instantly pierced through Long Yuan's body.
"Stop, stop at once!!"
Long Yuan struggled frantically, his hands clawing at the air and his legs kicking desperately.
Yet he could not stop it. A long wound appeared out of nowhere on his back, followed by a brilliant golden light.
"Brother—!!!"
Long Wei's shrill scream echoed through the air; everyone was shocked by the scene before them.
Holy Light Child leaned against a pillar, staring wide-eyed at everything, forgetting even to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He swallowed hard, his hand resting on the ground trembling slightly.
Luo Shuixian was equally shocked, her red lips slightly parted, her expression stirred.
Long Wei struggled to her feet, ignoring her disorienting injuries as she tried to move toward Gu Yun.
However, her figure was abruptly halted in mid-air.
An invisible hand formed of spiritual power gripped her neck directly, preventing her from moving an inch further.
"Don't be in such a hurry. I'll deal with your brother first, then you're next!"
Gu Yun said coldly, then gave a forceful yank.
A golden-glowing dragon tendon was extracted alive by him.
"Aaaaah—!!!"
Long Yuan screamed in agony, but Gu Yun humanely gave him a quick end—
by having him 'cosplay' Yuwen Chengdu.
Tossing the corpse aside, he slowly walked toward Long Wei.
The dragon girl was still being choked by the invisible hand, suspended in mid-air.
She struggled desperately, her hands grabbing at the invisible hand, trying to pry it open.
But the strength of that hand was too great, so great that she couldn't even budge a single finger.
Her face turned from flushed red to a purplish-blue, her breathing became increasingly difficult, and her consciousness began to fade.
"Let... let me go..."
Seeing Gu Yun arrive in front of her, she rasped, her voice hoarse and weak.
Gu Yun stopped and looked over this first dragon girl he had seen in his life.
With bright eyes, white teeth, and skin like snow, she was indeed a peerless beauty of the mortal realm.
"P-please, let me go..."
Her silver scales glimmered faintly in the dim light. Her eyes were beautiful, a rare amber color, now filled with tears like two shattered gemstones.
"As long as you let me go, I'll do anything."
"Anything?"
Gu Yun looked at her for a long time, a playful smile curling on his lips.
Long Wei nodded frantically, tears streaming down her cheeks: "As long as you let me go... anything is fine... I, I can be your attendant, I can be your guard, I can..."
As she spoke, a rosy blush touched her pretty face.
She looked truly pitiable. To be honest, having just arrived in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, Gu Yun was quite interested in becoming a glorious dragon rider.
However—
Gu Yun reached out and gently stroked Long Wei's face, asking with a smile, "Really, anything?"
"Yes, yes!"
Long Wei nodded vigorously, trying her best to appear sincere.
However, the hatred deep in her eyes could not be hidden no matter how hard she tried to mask it.
Gu Yun chuckled, not buying her clumsy acting for a second.
Not to mention he had already noticed the signs, even if he hadn't, with the system showing a favorability rating as low as -100, Gu Yun could never let such a person sleep by his side.
"I'm truly sorry, but I don't see even a hint of affection in your eyes."
Gu Yun said, placing his hand over Long Wei's face, his fingers tightening slightly.
Long Wei's body stiffened abruptly, her amber eyes widening suddenly, filled with terror and indignation.
"N-no..."
After a flash of darkness, Long Wei completely lost consciousness.
Gu Yun was a gentleman after all; Long Wei's death wasn't as gruesome as her brother's. He simply removed her head.
Then, while it was still warm, he ripped out a dragon tendon and sent her to the Western Paradise to be reborn in ultimate bliss.
He held the two dragon tendons in his hands; one was supremely firm and the other supremely supple, complementing each other perfectly.
"Purely from the perspective of repairing the thousand illusions pipa, the one from Long Wei is more suitable."
Gu Yun had made his decision.
He arrived at the side of Flame Princess and Snow Thousand Years.
Seeing the two remaining Dragon Clan cultivators, he said with dissatisfaction, "Why haven't you finished them off yet?"
"You're being a bit slow."
"Hmph, wasn't that because we were worried about you?"
"I didn't expect that even a pure-blooded True Dragon couldn't out-wrestle a brute like you."
"What, wasn't Long Wei beautiful?"
"I thought you were going to spare her life. Don't you want to be a dragon rider anymore?"
"A dragon rider? Of course I do."
Gu Yun said with a smile, "It's just that this Long Wei wasn't qualified."
"Uh..."
"But Brother Yun, Long Wei is already an Ancient Freak of the Dragon Clan. Isn't she the strongest of the Dragon Clan's younger generation?"
Moon Dance asked curiously.
Gu Yun chuckled: "As the former number one power in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, the Dragon Clan's foundation is naturally extraordinary."
"Moreover, from the Middle Ancient Era until now, the Dragon Clan has remained in a semi-secluded state, and they were never seen during the journeys on the Emperor Road."
"So, any random pure-blooded dragon can claim to be a so-called Ancient Freak now, regardless of whether they're actually just some nobody."
"The truly supreme experts of the Dragon Clan wouldn't be as powerless as these two."
"If you encounter them on the Emperor Road in the future, don't let your guard down."
"Okay, we get it..."
Moon Dance stuck out her little tongue.
"You girl, watch out or you'll be the one suffering for it later!"
Gu Yun rubbed her head firmly, then said, "Alright, go help Flame Princess and Snow Thousand Years with the cleanup."
"I'll go see how our fellow Daoists from the Immortal Palaces are doing."
Gu Yun turned and walked toward Holy Light Child and Luo Shuixian.
Holy Light Child leaned against the pillar, reflexively shrinking back as he saw Gu Yun approach. Where was the former composure and pride of this Holy Son of the Sacred Radiance Immortal Palace? With his clothes in tatters and his body covered in blood, he was in a pathetic state.
"Brother G-Gu..." He forced a smile that looked worse than crying. "I will remember your life-saving grace today, and I will surely repay you handsomely in the future."
Gu Yun glanced at him but didn't speak.
He simply raised his hand, and a strand of Myriad Transformation Power entered Holy Light Child's body.
Holy Light Child felt a gentle power circulating within him; his torn wounds began to heal, his broken bones reconnected, and his parched spiritual power slowly started to recover.
He was stunned, a flicker of gratitude rising in his heart. He hadn't expected Gu Yun to be such a chivalrous person.
Not only did he intervene when he saw injustice, but he even treated his injuries.
Considering the past friction between the Sacred Radiance Immortal Palace and the Immortal Ancient Gu Family, Gu Yun's actions were practically returning good for evil!
"Thank you, Brother Gu..."
Just as he was about to thank him solemnly, he suddenly noticed something wrong.
His heart suddenly tightened. Damn it, this bastard actually placed a restriction on him while he was heavily injured!
Holy Light Child's face instantly darkened, but Gu Yun didn't spare him another glance.
Planting a mole inside the Sacred Radiance Immortal Palace was just a convenient task; right now, the more important matter was clearly Luo Shuixian.
The Goddess of the Cold Frost Immortal Palace was currently leaning against the wall, the ice soul token floating before her, emitting a faint glow.
Her face remained pale. Although the wound on her shoulder had stopped bleeding, the remnants of that Dragon Clan power were still rampaging through her meridians, causing her aura to fluctuate wildly and remain extremely unstable.
Gu Yun stood before her, but he didn't directly offer help as he had for Holy Light Child.
Luo Shuixian didn't ask either, merely whispering, "Thank you for your help, Prince Gu Yun. Shui Xian is deeply grateful."
"Goddess Luo, how much longer do you intend to keep up this act?"
"What does Your Highness mean by that?"
Luo Shuixian looked up at Gu Yun, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Long Wei's entire cultivation is concentrated in that dragon tail of hers."
"Goddess Luo, you only suffered a single strike from a dragon claw earlier, and in the subsequent battle, most of the impact was blocked by the ice soul token."
"Yet you ended up with such severe injuries. Doesn't Your Highness the Goddess find that rather strange?"
//791//
Chapter 791: Traveling Together
Luo Shuixian's pupils contracted slightly, and a flicker of emotion appeared on her cold and stunning face.
"Your Highness must be joking. That Long Wei is a pure-blooded True Dragon; taking a direct hit from her..."
"Shui Xian is already fortunate to have kept her life; I wouldn't dare hope to escape unscathed."
Seeing her like this, the smile at the corner of Gu Yun's mouth deepened: "So that's how it is."
"Goddess Luo possesses monstrous methods and can fuse the power of three Ancient Freaks; it really shouldn't just end at this."
As he laughed, he directly grabbed Luo Shuixian's fair wrist and lifted her up.
Luo Shuixian's expression wavered as she hung in mid-air, her arms crossed and held high above her head. Those cold eyes remained as calm as water, save for a slight hint of confusion.
"What is Your Highness doing?"
She asked calmly.
A playful smile played on Gu Yun's lips. The thumb of the hand gripping her wrist gently stroked the skin of her wrist.
"If Goddess Luo still wants to remain stubborn, then this Gu will have to take some unusual measures."
"You..."
"You had better not threaten me."
"After all, the title of Gu Yun the Lecherous Demon should have spread throughout the upper echelons of the Three Thousand Dao Domains by now."
"Even if I really did something to you, would the Cold Frost Immortal Palace even dare to say anything?"
Gu Yun laughed, one hand moving over Luo Shuixian's body, carefully sensing everything about the girl: "Your power is peaceful and your aura is stable. It seems Her Highness the Goddess is currently..."
"Enough!"
Before he could finish, a violent aura erupted from Luo Shuixian's body.
A cold glint suddenly appeared, and Gu Yun took two steps back.
"Your Highness, please show some self-respect."
A faint blush stained Luo Shuixian's cheeks. Her voice remained cold, but it carried an imperceptible tremor.
She hadn't expected Gu Yun to actually dare to get handsy at the slightest disagreement, showing no regard for her status.
Gu Yun's previous act of helping those in need, combined with his self-sacrificing behavior on the Ancient Continent where he stayed behind alone to cover the retreat, had led her to a false judgment. She had believed him to be a noble righteous man. She had assumed the rumors circulating in the various Imperial Dynasties and Immortal Palaces were deliberate slanders. Even the destruction of the Eternal Imperial Dynasty was judged as them being in the wrong first, and she approved of the Gu Family's attitude of only killing the royalty without harming the commoners.
But now—
All her previous illusions were shattered. Gu Yun was just Gu Yun; he was neither a saint nor pure evil.
Only one thing was very clear: trying to show off her cleverness in front of him was extremely foolish.
Perhaps from the very beginning, he had seen through everything as clearly as a fire.
"Her Highness the Goddess doesn't plan to continue the pretense?"
Gu Yun teased.
"My apologies, Prince Gu Yun, but Shui Xian is not yet prepared to lose her virtue here."
Luo Shuixian said flatly.
"Pfft."
Flame Princess and the other girls had approached by now, and upon hearing this, they all covered their mouths and giggled.
Only Xu Lingwei remained oblivious, her head tilted as she looked at everyone.
Gu Yun's mouth twitched; he clearly hadn't expected Luo Shuixian to be so direct.
He withdrew his hand from the air and the youth resumed a stern expression: "Why would Goddess Luo say such a thing? Even if Gu Yun were desperate, I wouldn't take care of you right here."
"At the very least, I would have to kill Holy Light Child first."
Holy Light Child: "???"
So, my being alive is getting in the way of your performance, is it?
Luo Shuixian's mouth also twitched. This Gu Yun really was quite different from what she had imagined.
However, this might provide even more opportunities.
With her thoughts racing, Luo Shuixian moved past the matter: "Since this is over, Holy Light Child and I no longer have the strength to compete with Your Highness."
"It would be better to quickly open this final room. Although we will only bring back one supreme emperor weapon, it will be enough to report back to the Immortal Palace."
Holy Light Child also struggled to stand up.
"It should be so. Consider it a way to repay Your Highness for saving our lives."
Gu Yun wasn't too surprised by their attitude.
Just two supreme emperor weapons that had already recognized new masters were far less important to Gu Yun than the dragon tendon.
Currently, he had four emperor weapons in hand, plus one plundered from Qin Xiang, and two dropped by the siblings Long Yuan and Long Wei.
Including the nine emperor weapons in their hands, excluding the sun-shooting bow, all had now appeared.
It was time to leave this place.
"Very well, follow me."
Gu Yun said calmly, leading them through many twists and turns.
As they moved quickly through this labyrinthine Bronze Great Hall, Gu Yun seemed as if he were returning home.
At first, Holy Light Child and the others wanted to follow closely, but after triggering several small killing formations that left them in a sorry state, they became completely obedient.
Following step by step behind Gu Yun, the group formed a winding snake and soon arrived at an ethereal hall.
The hall was extremely spacious, with a high dome from which stars seemed to hang.
On the four walls, continuous reliefs depicted the artifact refining murals of Great Emperor Bailian's life.
Furnace fires rose, and the sound of hammers shook the heavens.
Dragon Blood tempered the edges, and stars were forged into the blades.
Every scene was lifelike, as if they would burst out of the walls at any moment.
They were all masterpieces.
The floor was paved with mystic black stones, as smooth as a mirror.
Light and shadow intertwined, and brightness merged with darkness. The entire hall was like a star palace that had slept for eternity, silent and profound.
There were no pillars or beams in the hall; there was only void between the dome and the floor.
In the center of the void hung a deep well that caught everyone's eye.
"Is this the burial ground of Great Emperor Bailian?"
Flame Princess sensed everything with great interest. Beautiful things always have a special attraction for people, especially women, and even Flame Princess, with her strong personality, was no exception.
As for Moon Dance, she was already immersed in it, staring blankly in awe.
"Do you like it?"
Gu Yun patted her head.
"Yes! It's so beautiful."
Moon Dance nodded vigorously.
"Then later, I will specifically build one for you inside the Great Luo Dao Pagoda, how about that?"
Moon Dance's eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded hard: "Okay, you can't lie to me."
Gu Yun laughed and rubbed her hair, then turned his gaze to the deep well in the center of the hall.
"This place isn't entirely Great Emperor Bailian's burial site; inside that well is."
Hearing this, everyone looked over.
The mouth of the well was perfectly round, with a rim made of Star Iron. It was engraved with dense formation patterns, layered and complex to the extreme.
Inside the well, there was no water, only silver-white light slowly flowing, emitting faint spatial fluctuations.
In the depths of the light, a golden speck of light could be seen flickering, like the most distant star in the night sky.
"Another formation. How do we open this place?"
Holy Light Child asked.
//792//
Chapter 792: Nine Keys
The group drew closer, frowning as they gazed at the complex, overlapping, and interlocking formation patterns.
Xu Lingwei's eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
"How is it, Lingwei? Have you seen anything?"
Xu Lingwei nodded. "I have seen a similar formation in the ancient texts of the Xuanji Sacred Sect."
"The formation here should be the Nine-Star Alignment."
"In the past, Great Emperor Xuanji's arm should have been sealed behind this gate using nine supreme emperor weapons as keys."
"It requires nine people, holding nine weapons, standing in nine positions to open it."
"The nine supreme emperor weapons are scattered throughout this secret realm; it is currently unknown who holds them all."
Holy Light Child's brow furrowed upon hearing this.
"I have seven in my possession."
"Your Highness truly has impressive means, but if that's the case..."
"If that's the case, aren't they all gathered?!"
Holy Light Child was about to follow up with a few compliments, but halfway through, his eyes snapped wide open.
He had fought tooth and nail in this secret realm, barely managing to obtain one supreme emperor weapon before reaching the final gate.
Yet Gu Yun produced seven with a wave of his hand?
Holy crap, is there any justice left?
"The nine weapons are sufficient, but as for the wielders, we are still short by three."
Luo Shuixian said in a deep voice.
"Must we wait here to see if anyone else can reach this place?"
Holy Light Child frowned, harboring doubts about this.
The internal structure of this great hall was truly bizarre, filled with chaotic killing formations. If not for Gu Yun leading the way, even he wouldn't have been able to reach this spot.
Under such circumstances, rather than hoping for a lucky soul to appear, it was better to find a way to break Great Emperor Xuanji's formation directly.
"There is no need for that. We simply need a few people to hold the emperor weapons; how hard can that be?"
Gu Yun said indifferently as he pressed his hand down into the air.
A streak of green light shot out, landing in the hall and transforming into a slender figure.
His green robes fluttered, his expression cold and aloof. The faint sound of dragon roars echoed around him, and his pressure rolled out like a tide.
It was Qinglong.
Feeling that familiar aura again, both Holy Light Child and Luo Shuixian felt as if they were facing a great enemy. "A Dragon Race cultivator?!"
"There's actually one that slipped through the net!"
"Your Highness Gu Yun, please stay back and watch as Holy Light Child takes the lead!!"
Scepter in hand, Holy Light Child was ready to strike.
Luo Shuixian also surged with cold energy, the ice soul token hovering above her head, her gaze sharp.
"Your subordinate Qinglong greets the Master!"
To their astonished eyes, Qinglong dropped to one knee and cupped his hands in respect to Gu Yun.
"Qinglong is one of our own. His bloodline purity is far beyond what people like Long Yuan or Long Wei can compare to."
"There should be no issue with him serving as one of the weapon wielders."
"Since he is someone Your Highness trusts, then there is naturally no problem."
Holy Light Child laughed it off.
Qinglong remained arrogant throughout, never sparing Holy Light Child a single glance from beginning to end.
From his perspective, the man was nothing more than an ant from the lower realms, not worth noticing at all.
Holy Light Child grumbled inwardly, 'You've already been enslaved by a human, what are you acting so high and mighty for?'
However, the aura coming from the other party was indeed far superior to Long Yuan or Long Wei and certainly not someone he could rival, so he kept his mouth shut.
"In that case, we are still short by two."
Luo Shuixian put away the ice soul token and spoke calmly.
Gu Yun waved his hand again, and a spark of fire exploded from his fingertip, turning into a sky full of flowing flames.
Within the flowing flames, another figure slowly emerged.
Fiery red hair, a crimson dress, and blazing flames circulating around her—she was like a phoenix rising from the fire, radiant and magnificent, making her enchanting face appear brilliantly beautiful beyond compare.
As Zhuque landed, her skirt fluttered lightly, and the flames silently retracted, leaving only a faint wisp of warmth lingering around her fingertips.
"Tsk, what a show-off."
Flame Princess, Moon Dance, and the other women, who were long familiar with her temperament, all expressed their disdain.
"What's wrong? Isn't she a bright and moving beauty?"
Xu Lingwei asked, puzzled.
"Bright and moving?"
Moon Dance chuckled. "Just watch. In less than three seconds, she'll break character!"
"Huh?"
Xu Lingwei was skeptical, but then her eyes widened.
Zhuque's pose lasted for exactly one second before she went straight to Gu Yun's side and wrapped her arms around his. "Master~~~"
"Why have you called Little Sparrow out this time? Could it be... you want Little Sparrow to attend to your bed?"
As Zhuque spoke, she practically hung herself onto Gu Yun. Her red dress was like fire, and her flame-like hair fell over his shoulder with a scorching temperature.
Her voice was soft enough to melt water, and her eyes rippled with seductive intent.
"Hussy."
"Bad woman."
"Hmph..."
Xu Lingwei glanced at the three women with their varying expressions and then back at Zhuque, finally understanding what Moon Dance meant.
Three seconds?
That was an overestimation; she couldn't even last one.
"Get off."
Gu Yun pressed down on Zhuque's head and peeled her off of him.
Zhuque muttered in dissatisfaction but didn't dare to truly act out. However, as she stood up straight, she still cast him a glance with those seductive eyes.
"We'll discuss the matter of attending the bed later; official business is more important."
Gu Yun waved his hand again, and two more figures appeared.
Chu Ruoyao's injuries had healed; although her face was still slightly pale, her aura and overall state were much better than before.
"Why have you called me out again?"
"Could it be that you've encountered another unsolvable problem?"
She feigned an air of pride, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall. Seeing that they were almost all Gu Yun's women, she gave a light snort and imperceptibly puffed out her chest.
"Calling Senior out is, of course, because I have a favor to ask."
"I have already obtained the dragon tendon, and the path to leave is right beneath our feet. I ask for Senior's assistance."
"Is that true?!"
A flash of joy crossed Chu Ruoyao's eyes before vanishing. Taking the emperor weapon from Gu Yun's hand, her expression quickly returned to an icy mask. "My injuries aren't fully healed yet, so don't expect me to exert too much effort."
"Naturally, I wouldn't trouble Senior to that extent."
Gu Yun smiled.
Ji Yaojun didn't say as much as Chu Ruoyao did; she simply gave Gu Yun a gentle smile.
"Was the breakthrough successful?"
"Mm."
The young girl murmured softly, leaning quietly into Gu Yun's embrace.
She greedily inhaled his long-missed scent. She was like this every time; after a long separation, she would burrow into Gu Yun's arms to express the excitement in her heart.
Gu Yun raised his hand and gently stroked her waterfall-like black hair. Wherever his fingertips passed, the smooth strands flowed through his fingers like water.
"Alright, official business first."
"After today, I will spend more time with you."
He whispered in her ear, his voice gentle.
Ji Yaojun gave a soft response and stepped back from his embrace, standing to the side with her eyes lowered.
"Goddess Luo, is the number of people sufficient now?"
Luo Shuixian said, "Your Highness's attainment in the Dao of Space is truly admirable, to be able to open a small world for people to rest within this chaotic space."
"With such means, I fear it would be hard to find anyone in the entire Three Thousand Dao Domains who can compare to Your Highness."
Gu Yun smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying it.
Such means were naturally not something he could accomplish on his own.
No matter how much he defied the heavens, it was impossible to counter the rules set by two Great Emperors working together.
He had relied on the power of the Great Luo Dao Pagoda to achieve this.
"The nine weapons are gathered. I ask everyone to take their positions."