dognovel Chapter 1000: What the hell is "Hidden Dragon Island"?
Chapter 1000: What the hell is "Hidden Dragon Island"?
Quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes.
After three months of seclusion deep within its cave, Long Yunmang finally faced the crucial tribulation of transforming from a Chilong into a Qiulong.
On that day, the sky above the nameless island in the East China Sea suddenly changed color. The originally azure sky was covered by dark clouds, and lightning flashed within the clouds. Every bolt of lightning that struck caused the entire island to tremble violently. Even the red coral forest outside the cave was uprooted and fell into the sea.
At this moment, Long Yunmang was sitting cross-legged at the core of the Dragon Pattern Gathering Spirit Array. The dragon energy around him had condensed into a blue phantom of a dragon. The head of the phantom was constantly crashing against the invisible barrier, which was the shackles of breaking through the dragon stage.
His scales had lost their former luster, turning a sickly grayish-white. Every breath he took carried the smell of blood—hidden injuries within his body began to stir under the pressure of the breakthrough, his meridians felt as if they were being pierced by thousands of steel needles, causing him to convulse in pain, his sweat soaking the bluestone beneath him.
"Hold on." Yu Shuheng stood at the entrance of the cave, his gaze fixed on the figure of Long Yunmang. The pale golden life energy at his fingertips had condensed into a golden thread, ready to strike at any moment.
He was well aware of the dangers of the Chilong transforming into a Qiulong. Ordinary dragons only needed to endure the tribulation of lightning when breaking through, but the Longyun Python, due to the hidden injuries accumulated in its early years, not only had to resist the tribulation of heaven and earth, but also had to suppress the hidden injuries churning within its body, which was equivalent to being attacked from both sides.
The first lightning tribulation, like a ferocious beast, finally opened its blood-red maw and fiercely pounced on the Dragon Cloud Python.
The bolt of lightning was as thick as a bucket, carrying a world-destroying force, and it pierced through the top of the cave like a sharp sword cleaving through the dragon-cloud python.
The dragon-cloud python let out a deafening roar, and the phantom of the dragon rushed forward like a burning meteor.
However, at the moment of collision with the lightning, the phantom was shattered as easily as a piece of fragile paper.
The residual force of the lightning struck the Dragon Cloud Python like a raging torrent, its scales shattering like broken porcelain, and blood splattering like a fountain.
His body trembled violently, like a candle flickering in the wind, and the blood that spurted from his mouth resembled a blooming blood flower. His breath instantly faded.
"Don't rush." Yu Shuheng silently repeated to himself. He knew that the Dragon Clan's breakthrough must rely on its own strength to overcome the tribulation, and too much external interference would affect its subsequent foundation.
The first few lightning tribulations, in particular, were like a severe test. Only by enduring them could the Dragon Cloud Python's body be tempered to its fullest extent.
After careful consideration, Yu Shuheng gently extended his finger and transformed a wisp of life energy into a thin veil, like a gentle breeze, which lightly covered the dragon-cloud python's body.
That thin veil, seemingly fragile and easily broken, was like a pair of gentle hands, repairing the damaged meridians of the Dragon Cloud Python and slowing down the onset of its hidden injuries.
If Yu Shuheng hadn't already integrated a portion of the Qingyuan Star's rules, he wouldn't have been able to interfere with other people's tribulations.
It has to be said that Long Yunmang is a rather lucky guy.
Before Long Yunmang could catch his breath, the second lightning tribulation arrived.
This lightning bolt was even more violent than the first one, and its color changed from silver-white to purple.
A resolute glint flashed in Long Yunmang's eyes. He suddenly mobilized all the dragon energy within his body, condensing it into a blue dragon scale shield in front of him.
With a loud bang, the dragon scale shield shattered instantly, and lightning struck his left arm, causing all the scales to fall off, revealing a skeletal wound.
Even more terrifying was that the hidden injuries within his body erupted completely under this attack. A sharp pain shot through his chest, and he felt as if his heart was being gripped by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
Just then, the golden thread at Yu Shuheng's fingertip finally moved.
The golden thread, like a nimble snake, burrowed into the body of the dragon-cloud python and precisely located the hidden wound in his heart.
That was an old wound left when the Dragon Cloud Python evolved from a python into a dragon, and it was severely injured by a thousand-year-old tiger demon. Now, under the stimulation of the lightning tribulation, it is constantly expanding.
Golden threads wrapped around the old wound, and pale golden life energy slowly seeped in, like spring rain nourishing parched earth. The flesh and blood of the old wound began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Long Yunmang felt a warmth in his chest, which relieved the intense pain.
He was puzzled, but had no time to think about it, as the third lightning tribulation had already quietly descended.
This lightning tribulation was no longer a single bolt of lightning, but transformed into countless tiny lightning threads, enveloping everything like a giant net.
Long Yunmang took a deep breath, mobilizing his newly recovered dragon energy, which condensed into a cyan tornado around his body, engulfing all the lightning threads within it.
However, there were simply too many lightning threads. The tornado held out for a short while before it began to dissipate. Several lightning threads broke through the defenses and landed on the back of the Dragon Cloud Python.
He groaned as the laser scalded his back, leaving deep, bone-revealing wounds. Blood flowed down his spine, pooling beneath him.
Other hidden injuries within the body also began to stir, and the tendons and veins in the limbs throbbed with pain, as if they were about to snap at any moment.
Yu Shuheng's expression gradually became serious. He could feel that the aura of the Dragon Cloud Python was rapidly weakening. If this continued, he might perish under the fourth lightning tribulation.
Without further hesitation, he released all the pale golden life energy around him, transforming it into a golden rain of light that enveloped the entire body of the Dragon Cloud Python.
Every drop of water in the rain contained pure life force. When it fell on Long Yunmang, it not only healed his wounds but also continuously nourished his body and dragon energy.
Nourished by the light and rain, the dragon-cloud python's aura gradually stabilized.
He felt that familiar warmth, and a strange flutter suddenly welled up in his heart.
He remembered feeling this warmth every time he was on the verge of death, but he could never find its source when he woke up.
Now, what is there that he doesn't understand?
"Is it you, Brother Yu?" he murmured to himself, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes, which was then replaced by determination.
He must succeed!
He must not let down Yu Shuheng's secret support. Without Yu Shuheng, his path would not have been so smooth!
He couldn't let down the Dragon Clan's Grand Elder's timely and much-needed help.
Back then, if the Grand Elder hadn't made an exception and allowed him to soak in the dragon blood pool, how could he have transformed from a jiaolong into a chilong so quickly?
You should know that the Grand Elder would rather endure his cultivation level falling all the way down to the fifth-order dragon than go into the Dragon Clan's Blood Pool for a soak.
Fortunately, the spiritual energy of Qingyuan Star has now recovered, and the Grand Elder has recovered to the eighth rank under the nourishment of abundant spiritual energy. It is only a matter of time before he reaches his former peak ninth rank dragon form.
Who knows, the Grand Elder might have already recovered by the time they return from this training trip.
Therefore, he must never give up on these relatives and friends who have treated him with sincerity.
As scenes from the past flashed before his eyes, Long Yunmang's resolve to follow the Dao grew even stronger.
At that moment, he understood his path—to protect!
He suddenly raised his head and let out a deafening roar, his voice filled with an indomitable will. The dragon energy around him surged again like a volcanic eruption, and the cyan dragon phantom re-condensed. This time, two small and exquisite horn sprouts began to emerge from the top of the phantom's head.
The fourth, the fifth...
The lightning tribulations came one after another like a tidal wave, each one more ferocious than the last, pouring down like a torrential downpour.
With unwavering resolve, Long Yunmang gritted his teeth and endured the ordeal.
How can he repay his debt of gratitude if he doesn't become strong? How can he protect those he wants to protect?
The thirty-sixth lightning tribulation finally descended; this was the last and most powerful one.
The lightning bolt, like a towering pillar supporting the sky, carrying immense divine power, crashed down on the Dragon Cloud Python like Mount Tai crushing an egg.
The dragon python stopped its passive defense and charged towards the lightning like an arrow. The phantom of the dragon was integrated with its body, and the horn sprouts on its head grew rapidly like bamboo shoots after a rain in the baptism of lightning, and in the blink of an eye, they transformed into two majestic dragon horns.
"The dragon transforms into a serpent, defying the heavens!" His roar was deafening, as if it would pierce the clouds. The dragon energy and lightning within his body were like two ferocious beasts, engaging in a breathtaking and intense collision.
The scales on the Dragon Cloud Python's body fell like snowflakes, but under the nourishment of life energy, they grew back like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The newly grown scales shone with a brilliant golden light, as hard as a rock and unbreakable.
As the lightning gradually dissipated, a colorful glow spread across the sky like a magnificent painting. A gentle rain, like spring rain, fell, nourishing the entire body of the dragon-cloud python, its bones and blood, making it radiate vitality.
The dragon-cloud python's figure, like a light feather, slowly floated down onto the bluestone.
At this moment, he had been completely transformed. The two azure dragon horns on his head were like two sharp swords, piercing the sky. The dragon energy around him condensed into a cyan dragon phantom, which hovered and danced above his head, emitting a deafening roar. It was majestic and awe-inspiring.
He finally succeeded in transforming into a dragon.
He didn't want to be sentimental, really.
However, my nose felt incredibly sore and dry.
His journey has been filled with hardship and setbacks, and he has even teetered on the brink of death several times.
He was originally an ignorant little python living deep in the mountains. By chance, he ate an enlightenment pill that was left behind by some unknown beast tamer, and from then on, he began to have a different snake body.
He learned to think, to observe, and to know that demons exist in this world.
Then, by chance, he swallowed a first-tier spiritual fruit and unexpectedly embarked on the path of cultivation.
As for the two first-tier demonic beasts that fought over the snipe and clam, they were already on the verge of death, and the demonic cores in their bodies naturally became the stepping stones for them to embark on the path to immortality.
Natural selection, survival of the fittest.
It's not just talk.
The weak have no right to be compassionate.
Because people will not appreciate the compassion of the weak; instead, they will see it as humiliation and—a source of pride. Given the chance, they will only ruthlessly trample the weak into the mud, ensuring they can never rise again.
On the contrary, people are often moved to tears by the charity of the powerful, and rush to fawn over them.
This is the essence of human life.
Sometimes even Long Yunmang didn't know whether taking the Enlightenment Pill was a good thing or a bad thing.
Anyway, he's no longer just a simple demon.
However, it was precisely this wisdom that allowed him to dodge fatal blows time and time again.
It can be said that he faced countless life-or-death crises along the way, walking on thin ice...
If it weren't for Yu Shuheng, and if it weren't for the Dragon Clan's Grand Elder Long Aokui, how could he have achieved such brilliant success and successfully transformed into a dragon?
Yu Shuheng looked at Long Yunmang's figure, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.
He just watched silently, as if he hadn't done anything at all.
We should never forget to repay kindness we have shown!
After Long Yunmang's emotions finally calmed down, he slowly opened his eyes, feeling the surging power within his body and the pair of dragon horns on his head that symbolized his identity as a dragon. He was extremely excited.
He looked towards the entrance of the cave and met Yu Shuheng's gaze. He quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Thank you for protecting me, Brother Yu. Otherwise, I'm afraid the Cloud Python would have had a hard time breaking through today."
Yu Shuheng smiled slightly and waved his hand: "This is all the result of your own efforts. I only did some insignificant little things."
Yu Shuheng didn't mention the matter of life essence, but instead changed the subject, saying, "Now that you've broken through to become a dragon, your strength has greatly increased. What are your plans for cultivation next?"
A resolute glint flashed in Long Yunmang's eyes: "I want to stay in this cave and use the spiritual energy of the top-grade spirit-gathering array to stabilize my cultivation and increase my strength as soon as possible. Once I am strong enough, I will protect the dragon clan and the Su family."
After a pause, Long Yunmang continued, "The Grand Elder has treated me extremely well over the years. I am still the peak master of the Beast Taming Peak of the Su family's inner sect."
Yu Shuheng nodded: "Okay, I will continue to protect you."
He was secretly planning to find an opportunity to completely remove all the hidden injuries in Long Yunmang's body after Long Yunmang's cultivation had stabilized, so that he could break through to a higher realm without any worries.
Outside the cave, the dark clouds gradually dispersed, and the rising sun shone on the island once more. Golden sunlight shone through the hole in the cave's roof and fell on Long Yunmang, giving him a golden halo.
The phantom of the dragon became clearer under the sunlight, resembling a real azure dragon coiling in the cave, intimidating the entire East Sea.
Just then, a mysterious voice suddenly rang out in the cave: "Congratulations, little guy, you have successfully broken through. However, a great crisis is about to befall the East Sea, and your newly acquired dragon power is far from enough."
Long Yunmang and Yu Shuheng looked around warily, but saw no one.
"Who are you? How do you know about this crisis?" Long Yunmang asked loudly.
The voice came again: "I am the guardian spirit of this island."
Do islands have guardian spirits?
Never heard of it?
Yu Shuheng looked in the direction from which the sound came, his eyes full of scrutiny—forgive him, he really had never heard of islands having guardian spirits.
Isn't this treating them like fools?
Long Yunmang also had the same questioning look on his face.
Perhaps sensing the doubts of Yilong and Yishu, a phantom slowly appeared in the air.
Uh!
It was the phantom of a coiled dragon.
Long Yunmang looked at the other party with a puzzled expression.
The dragon phantom stopped being cryptic: "This nameless island is actually a divine artifact forged by the Ancestral Dragon. And I am the spirit of this divine artifact, 'Hidden Dragon Island'."
Wow, the case is solved.
But what on earth is this "Hidden Dragon Island"?
If the occasion were inappropriate, Yu Shuheng would burst out laughing.
The dragon phantom ignored the expressions of the man and the tree, continuing its explanation. "We've been holding back for a hundred thousand years. We've finally caught a contractor who can take us away from here; only a fool would let him go."
"The Ancestral Dragon left 'Hidden Dragon Island' as a contingency plan for the Dragon Clan. Just now, I sensed an evil force sealing the ancestral tomb of the East Sea Dragon Clan, which has been continuously absorbing the fortune of the East Sea Dragon Clan."
hiss!
Long Yunmang gasped. No wonder the dragon race hadn't produced a descendant with pure bloodline in the past 100,000 years, while he, a little python, had defied the odds and successfully transformed into a dragon.
"The target of this force is the entire East Sea Dragon Clan. Now that you have successfully transformed into a dragon, your destiny has been bound together with the East Sea Dragon Clan the moment you became a serpentine dragon."
"If you wish to protect the dragon race and reclaim the fortune of the East Sea dragons and yourself, you must go to the Valley of Ten Thousand Abyss in the South Sea to find the Ten Thousand Year Dragon Marrow."
After saying that, the phantom of the dragon disappeared.