The demonized dragon, now in human form, wore a smile on its scaled, cold face. It was an ill-intentioned smile. With a flick of its flowing, dark, and ethereal robes, light was extinguished. Within this black domain, the dark energy was almost palpable, making the surrounding vision difficult to grasp.
As if dust was dancing in the darkness, the tall demonized dragon stretched out its arms. In the "Dragon Island Secret Realm," the "True Dragon Divine Remnants" hidden in various locations throughout the island seemed to be summoned and pulled. One after another, dazzling white lights shot towards the demonized dragon.
Gu Junshi’s “Eye of the True Dragon” in her arms trembled. It curled up tighter, its cyan flames closing like a flower bud.
It absolutely would not become fertilizer!
The demonized dragon waited with excitement and profound eyes. Its outstretched arms eventually “swallowed” all the scattered "True Dragon Divine Remnants" within the "Dragon Island Secret Realm" into its body. Absorbing such immense power, its face contorted into a ferocious grimace. Its form expanded and then shrank, expanded and then shrank again, like an overstretched rubber band, before finally contracting back.
"It... it can swallow itself?"
Lu Ziyin, stunned, almost dropped his jaw.
Yan Tianjiao felt that the spiritual energy of the "Dragon Island Secret Realm" was being drained, leaving very little. If this continued, their situation would become very dangerous.
Without a continuous supply of spiritual energy, a spiritual cultivator was akin to a vessel whose water had run dry. Once empty, apart from those who also cultivated their bodies and could withstand more physical blows, the rest would be no different from mortals.
"It has to drain all the spiritual energy of Dragon Island to defeat the black-cloaked figure. It seems this demonized dragon is nothing special!" Yan Tianjiao commented sarcastically.
At this moment, Dan Ya walked alongside them. The cold wind and the turbid, dark energy around him made him frown in disgust. "Whether it can defeat the black-cloaked figure, I don't know. But if this Dragon Island loses its spiritual energy and becomes a ruined mortal land, it won't be the black-cloaked figure in danger, but us."
This statement struck their pride like a heavy blow.
Lu Ziyin, after holding back for a long time, finally uttered a sour remark: "You say... when we are all people, why can others single-handedly fight demonized dragons, while we can only worry about not having spiritual energy to survive here?"
Dan Ya and Yan Tianjiao: "..."
Only you are noble, only you are amazing, only you know how to point out facts without regard for whether others can accept it.
Was this their intention?
They, too, had been chosen from tens of thousands, had gone through round after round of selection, battle after battle, finally winning the "Newcomer Ranking," receiving rewards, and arriving at the "Dragon Island Secret Realm." They had thought it would be a place where opportunities for breakthroughs were found at every turn, treasures picked up at every glance, with an endless sea behind them and countless treasures ahead... Who would have known that in the end, they would be left with injuries and now face a potential catastrophe spanning twenty-eight days.
They were merely newcomers, as green as onions compared to true cultivators who had lived for thousands of years. Therefore, it depended on whom they were compared to; one should not ask for the impossible.
Dan Ya, Yan Tianjiao, and Lu Ziyin, who only cared about going to check the situation, actually had no better plan, harboring shallow ideas like finding opportunities for sneak attacks if they couldn't win, observing closely, or meticulously searching for the opponent's weaknesses.
As for Gu Er, who was in front, his heart was about to stop.
Watching Gu Junshi’s every exchange with the demonized dragon made him panic and worry. His heart pounded wildly, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his steps quickened, gradually forming a black line even faster than the wind.
"Sister—"
Stop it—
At the same time, the demonized dragon let out a dragon's roar to the sky. A colossal energy circle erupted violently, the wind raging and powerfully suffocating everything around.
It turned its eyes with a sinister coldness. Its beastly vertical pupils were locked onto Gu Junshi’s direction, filled with malice, predatory intent, and killing intent. Its body, like a unleashed river, surged forward, with streams of black dragons baring their fangs and claws, charging towards Gu Junshi.
The previously pure "True Dragon Divine Remnants" had completely changed. They were now pitch black, like viscous ink, with cloud-like patterns. Their sharp claws on their four limbs were now demonic. Their vertical pupils, no longer noble and sacred, were like those of ravenous beasts, devoid of everything but the primal instinct for slaughter and cruelty. These demonic "True Dragon Divine Remnants," driven by the demonized dragon, charged ferociously.
The Ghostly Green Demon Ox naturally had to protect its master.
Its lower body was bound by chains from the nine hells of the abyss. Once the contract ended, it would be dragged back to hell to continue its punishment. It shook its majestic horns, the sweeping force knocking down a group of demonic dragons.
But these demonic dragons were not so easily dispatched. They steamed with toxic smoke. One's tail coiled around, lifting the Ghostly Ox's arms. While it was struggling to defend itself from both sides, they used their claws and sharp teeth to savagely tear into the Ghostly Ox.
They tore off pieces of the Ghostly Green Demon Ox's flesh. This "flesh" was equivalent to the materialization of the Ghostly Ox's power. The Ghostly Ox's muscles bulged, and the flames beneath seared and sprayed. Naturally, the demonic dragons would not escape unharmed.
But they were no longer individuals with self-awareness. They felt no pain, nor any fear or dread of death. They were entirely controlled by the demonized dragon, acting heedlessly. Even if they were smashed and dispersed by the Ghostly Ox, they would reform and continue, in a cycle, tireless.
In this way, the Ghostly Green Demon Ox’s power became insufficient. As piece after piece of its flesh was torn and shredded, its ghostly energy continuously dissipated and leaked out, until its power withered.
Gu Junshi was not as indifferent as she appeared. She remembered the demonized god’s words: the more primal power she used, the more discomfort her unborn child would experience. Therefore, she summoned the Ghostly Ox instead of acting directly, largely to reduce the number of times she had to act.
When her belly was still flat, even though she knew there was a child within, the feeling wasn't profound. Now that it was protruding, coupled with the fact that the child was connected to her consciousness and would occasionally whine, the reality struck her.
Now, with the Ghostly Ox being bitten by the demonic dragons like a deflating inflatable doll, its ghostly power depleted by more than ninety percent, Gu Junshi’s back manifested a pair of agile fiery wings. Flames, fanned by the wind, swayed as if under the moonlight. The long mace in her hand transformed again, becoming a long sword radiating a deathly glow. Its trailing sword energy stretched for miles, its cold light piercing the nineteen continents.
"Where is the Dragon Marrow?"
The demonized dragon’s purple-black hair, symbolizing its demonization, fluttered. Its feet tread on floating clouds. It seemed to have been waiting for this moment to tell her, so it declared with great excitement, "The Eye of the True Dragon lost its power to traverse time long ago, and the Dragon Pill is in my belly. As for the Dragon Marrow you've been searching for... can't you tell? It is this entire White Tower City. Unfortunately, they are also almost destroyed now."
The sigh of commiseration in its tone contrasted sharply with the pleased smile on its lips.
Gu Junshi’s expression froze upon hearing this. She exhaled softly, "White Tower City..."
With its reminder, she realized she had indeed overlooked some signs. Due to the demonization of the demonized dragon, the "Dragon Island Secret Realm" was in disarray and ravaged. Only White Tower City seemed unaffected. These white, towering city clusters were, in the context of the "Dragon Island Secret Realm," an abrupt and special existence.
But earlier, the demonized dragon had intentionally directed volcanic magma to destroy White Tower City, and their fight had shown no restraint or avoidance. The White Tower City below was now like a heavily disaster-stricken area. If it was truly a manifestation of the Dragon Marrow’s power, then at this moment... it was almost completely destroyed.
Gu Junshi slowly and deliberately lowered her eyes, looking at the White Tower City, which had transformed from her "Dragon Marrow." In the end, they could not endure it. The white towers, from their spires, gradually turned into star dust and flying sand that couldn’t be held, becoming hazy and ethereal. The once imposing and solemn fortifications turned to ashes in an instant.
So, after all her painstaking efforts, was there ultimately no way?
Gu Junshi’s hand gripping the sword tightened abruptly, her eyes darkening to the point of ink.
Her heart felt as if it had become empty.
The wind passing through the gaps in her hair, her earlobes, and her cheeks, brushing against the wisps of black mist before her eyes, made everything seem to slow down.
At this moment, the demonized dragon, seizing the opportunity of her vulnerability, secretly ordered ten demonic dragons to shed their bones with wind and thunder. Their tails swished, and they charged with malevolent intent.
Each of these evil dragons, dozens of times larger than Gu Junshi, approached. The entire sky was almost completely obscured by them, blocking out all sunlight. Darkness enveloped the land, and the black smoke exhaled raised the hairs on one's body.
The brim of her hat covered her face and nostrils. Her wide robes billowed in the wind, but something on her person seemed to be shattering, being destroyed, and finally, uncontrollably, rising, surging, and merging. The fiery wings behind her suddenly cracked and scattered, like flakes of red maple, or like a sky full of blood.
As the demonic dragons, seizing every opportunity, snarled and moved to tear apart that pale, cold, sheathed figure,
A white light, carried by the wind and spanning mountains far away, flashed irresistibly through this deep darkness. A figure, fluttering and ethereal, appeared and stood in front of her.
Her surroundings were originally a scene of complete darkness, but his arrival ignited a lamp for her, illuminating only her.
The wind passed through him, transforming into a gentle breeze that caressed her face softly.
Gu Junshi paused.
Slowly, coldly, she raised her eyes, the boundless darkness within them.
That piece of snow-white, elegant hem, bloomed with unparalleled luxury. The ornamental accessories at her waist... this time, the one standing in front of her was no one else.
From her angle and position, he seemed to have grown taller. She watched him grow from a young boy to his current appearance, the look of a mature man. His broad, slender chest was no longer delicate and beautiful; his bones were sculpted by the twilight, but there seemed to be an eternal youthful elegance and purity about him.
Gu Junshi’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before shifting away.
"Get out of the way."
Her voice, still rough and neither male nor female.
But the person in front heard it as if thousands of silver pearls were rolling by. He didn't turn around, his gaze fixed forward, his emotions mottled in his eyes. "Tell me... who are you?"
His trembling voice moaned in Gu Junshi’s ears, as if he could no longer see the light in his eyes, nor feel a trace of warmth. He was now entangled and enveloped by an inexplicable confusion and fear.
At this moment, Cheng Hong, Wei Li, Gu Er, and the others also arrived.
Cheng Hong, panting, looked at the black-cloaked figure. He now knew she was Gu Junshi and found it unbelievable that she was so reckless.
Wei Li had not transformed into human form. Its strength was suppressed by the "Dragon Island Secret Realm," so being in human cultivation form actually limited its performance.
But even with their arrival, they were still no match for the demonized dragon. Thus, they all attacked the demonic dragons circling Gu Junshi.
From his peculiar actions and the question he asked, Gu Junshi understood some things.
She said emotionlessly, "It seems... you already know."
Whether it was Lu Ziyin who told him, or he deduced it himself, it no longer mattered.
She suddenly flickered forward, moving to stand before Liu Jiang Fusheng, who was stunned after hearing her words, and pushed him away with a palm.
Liu Jiang Fusheng instinctively reached for her but grasped nothing. His entire body was uncontrollably pulled away from her. She turned her gaze and, with lightning speed, moved to the others, without a moment's pause, flinging everyone out of the battle between her and the demonized dragon.
How could they possibly resist what she intended to do? Everyone was pushed to the periphery of the battle—
The demonic dragons in the sky fiercely charged at her. Their twisting, coiling bodies formed a ring, blocking all blind spots and areas. But Gu Junshi stood there, neither dodging nor evading.
Liu Jiang Fusheng's eyes were almost splitting with rage. "Junshi—"
"Sister—"
"Gu Junshi—"
Just as they all thought the black-cloaked figure might be torn to shreds by the demonic dragons, darkness destroyed the light of the entire world. An aura that struck terror into the heart instantly enveloped everyone’s heads.
The bodies of the demonic dragons, coiled and swimming, seemed to be seized by something. The vast black tide formed an invisible wall of energy, and beyond that wall... stood Gu Junshi, her face expressionless, her demeanor utterly indifferent.
Unlike before, a black door had appeared behind her at some unknown time.
This black door was like an un-opened chaotic world. Its existence was beyond darkness, existing within the absolute domain of this darkness.
The black mist was so deep, so thick, like unflowable liquid, capable of making one float.
The black cloak she wore had shattered at some point, perhaps from the demonic flames of the demonic dragons earlier, or perhaps due to her state of power dissipation. Now, she revealed her form without reservation.
Her attire, resembling mountains, was usually understated and ordinary, yet even then, she looked like royalty. Now, this magnificent attire made her even more honored, unattainable.