Chapter Fifty-Four: Meeting the Azure Dragon Once More

The blood of the Sea Emperor Beast emitted a foul, fishy stench as it slowly dripped down into the ocean.

Everyone felt that the crisis had finally passed, but their hero of the hour, Lu Qingyun, was now slowly plummeting from mid-air toward the ground.

His entire physical state appeared to have plunged into extreme weakness!

Old Hong forcibly pulled him back and shouted loudly to everyone, "Those of you with the ability, try to salvage the carcass of this Sea Emperor Beast. We will definitely offer a generous reward for it!"

"Once this Sea Emperor Beast is transported back, Hanhai City will certainly give everyone a most satisfying reply!"

Encountering a Sea Emperor Beast was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; such a creature had not been seen for countless years.

Every part of the Sea Emperor Beast was a priceless treasure, and even its scales could be used to forge divine artifacts.

Therefore, if they could bring the Sea Emperor Beast back, every single component could be put to proper use, making its value extraordinarily high!

Although these people had just been fighting with all their might, the prospect of earning substantial rewards naturally filled them with excitement.

Such rewards were not easily obtained. Even though the most crucial beast core was already gone, it did not dampen their enthusiasm in the least.

After consuming a vast number of medicinal pills, everyone perked up.

Every single person joined in the effort to salvage the Sea Emperor Beast, as this creature was of paramount importance to them!

Meanwhile, Meng Li and the others rushed over quickly, for Lu Xingyun was their backbone and pillar of strength.

If Lu Qingyun were to die as a result of this, many of their subsequent plans would be impossible to carry out.

Old Hong looked at them and said with utmost solemnity, "His current condition is rather perilous. His aura is far too weak; the slightest misstep could cost him his life."

"My suggestion is to bring him back to my quarters. I will do everything in my power to preserve his life, though whether I shall succeed is something I cannot guarantee..."

Old Hong spoke with complete sincerity, and every word he uttered was the absolute truth.

A wave of oppressive anxiety settled over everyone. Gazing at Lu Qingyun’s tightly closed eyes, each person was consumed with worry.

Unable to maintain formalities any longer, Meng Li asked anxiously, "Is his life in danger? What is needed to wake him up?"

Old Hong shook his head gravely. "I am not sure of his exact condition right now. You all witnessed his state just moments ago; it defies any simple explanation."

"I believe we must proceed with the utmost caution. Safeguarding his life is the most important task for us right now!"

Old Hong was speaking the truth, and everyone nodded with exceptionally stern expressions.

Unsure of what else to do, since Old Hong was a trusted figure, they naturally chose to place their faith in him.

Meng Tianhai spoke earnestly, "Then we must trouble you..."

Old Hong’s own condition was far from ideal. Though uninjured, he had exhausted almost all his physical strength and spiritual energy.

Consequently, his overall state was also somewhat weakened.

Old Hong slowly continued, "If not for him, I might well be dead by now. You saw what happened earlier—I truly could not hold on much longer..."

"The power he displayed is something ordinary people could never achieve. I am truly glad to be able to help him now. We can chat when there is more time; saving lives is urgent!"

Thus, they followed Old Hong to his quarters, their eyes filled with deep anxiety.

Lu Qingyun’s aura was extremely faint. Old Hong attempted to channel his own spiritual energy to supply him with vitality.

However, the moment the spiritual energy was transferred, Old Hong was violently repelled, crashing heavily against the wall.

Everyone was stunned, completely unprepared for such an unexpected turn of events.

Shock was plastered across Old Hong’s face as he exclaimed in disbelief, "What on earth is going on here? Why would something like this happen? There is a terrifyingly fierce power within his body that is rejecting my spiritual energy, and even..."

Old Hong trailed off, leaving everyone hanging in suspense as they waited for him to finish.

With a troubled expression, Old Hong said, "Since we are all family here, I have nothing to hide. There is an immensely formidable power inside his body, and I have no way to contend with it at all."

"That power actually gave me a strong sense of contempt, an extreme disdain. It felt as though I were being insulted..."

Experiencing such a bizarre phenomenon brought a look of profound distress to Old Hong's face.

It felt as though he had tried to help someone only to be insulted in return, a sensation that left him deeply unsettled.

The others were thoroughly bewildered, unable to fathom what kind of power could cause such a reaction.

Yet, judging by the shock in Old Hong's expression, it was evident just how tyrannical that power truly was.

At that moment, Xu Feng spoke up quietly from the side, "Could it be from the lingering soul of the Azure Dragon?"

Hearing this, everyone present turned to look at him with puzzled expressions. Since Xu Feng had entered the sacred grounds alongside Lu Qingyun, he understood what had happened there better than anyone else.

Though he had already mentioned it several times, Xu Feng recounted the events of that day once more.

Upon hearing his words, realization dawned on everyone's faces.

Everything Lu Qingyun had demonstrated earlier was truly astonishing—it could even be described as earth-shattering!

Lu Qingyun had conquered an existence that no one else could defeat and had absorbed its power.

Meng Li murmured softly, "It seems his loss of control was caused by the Azure Dragon martial soul taking over, or this situation wouldn't have arisen!"

"Though his cultivation speed initially seemed slower than ours, he suddenly leaped forward, reaching speeds we could never attain. That must be because of the Azure Dragon martial soul, right? How truly enviable..."

It was indeed an enviable fortune, but everyone's predominant emotion right now remained one of deep concern!

After all, Lu Qingyun had yet to wake up, and whether he would live or die remained unknown. All they could do was stay behind and worry.

Old Hong slowly stood up, pondered for a moment, and said, "If you trust me, I will take him to see someone. Perhaps we can find the answers there, for blindly guessing here seems to serve little purpose, does it not?"

"I know how important he is to all of you, but my abilities are limited, and I fear I may not be able to help him..."

Old Hong had fallen into a profound dilemma. As one of the highest-cultivated individuals among them, if even he could not make an accurate judgment, seeking the help of a true master was their only remaining recourse.

Meng Tianhai slowly replied, "Of course we trust you. You intend to take him to see the person who spoke earlier, do you not? Their strength must be above yours. If they are willing to help..."

"I still have some materials for forging divine artifacts, and even blueprints. I can give them all to him. Do you understand my meaning?"

To save Lu Qingyun's life, he was willing to offer immense guarantees, sparing absolutely nothing.

He no longer possessed vast wealth and was not as powerful as he used to be.

However, the guarantee he offered was by no means an empty promise.

Old Hong nodded solemnly. "I have known him for many years; perhaps he will grant me a sliver of respect and take a look. If even he is helpless, then any reward we offer will be entirely useless, would it not?"

Filled with hopeful anticipation, everyone watched as Old Hong quickly departed with Lu Qingyun.

Lu Qingyun's current state was naturally exceptionally peculiar.

He had been drawn into an extraordinary environment. Upon closer inspection, he realized that this place was none other than the sacred grounds he had visited before!

Confusion filled Lu Qingyun's eyes. He wanted to speak, but found himself completely powerless to do so.

Within his mind, a deep, resonant voice echoed.

"Kid, I thought you could endure it. To think you are so weak that a mere fraction of power could knock you unconscious."

"If you faced a far more formidable force, wouldn't you die a miserable death? A mere petty beast dared to style itself a Sea Emperor Beast."

"In this world, aside from me, they actually dare to call themselves sovereigns. I truly do not understand what you insignificant humans are thinking..."

As the voice faded, the phantom of an Azure Dragon began to coil across the sky.

Its colossal body inspired a chill in the heart, and Lu Qingyun naturally felt intensely nervous.

Although this was not his first time facing the Azure Dragon, the tension remained palpable.

After all, the pressure emanating from the Azure Dragon was terrifyingly oppressive, suffusing the air with an asphyxiating weight.

Even though what he saw within his mind was merely an illusion,

he still felt profoundly tense, unsure of what to say for a moment.

The Azure Dragon's massive eyes stared fixedly at Lu Qingyun, a gaze that felt utterly petrifying.

How could anyone remain calm under the unblinking stare of such a gigantic monster?

Overwhelmed by the crushing pressure, Lu Qingyun felt as though every part of him was gripped by tension.

After a few seconds, the crushing weight suddenly subsided significantly, and Lu Qingyun finally blurted out, "What has happened to me? Why am I in this state? Will I die from this? Why did you choose to help me?"

"Is my current condition good or bad? What must I do to regain consciousness?"

Lu Qingyun was genuinely panicked, for the current turn of events filled him with dread.

Genius though he was—and a transmigrator to boot—he cherished his life above all else.

Having managed to live a second life and reach his current heights, he had yet to experience the splendor of the world before running headfirst into a new mortal peril.

It was hard for him to accept, especially since such a high-stakes gamble was not something he had chosen, breeding an intense sense of crisis within him.

The Azure Dragon's phantom spoke slowly, "You displayed such resourcefulness and formidable strength earlier. Why are you so terrified of death now? You certainly didn't look like this when we first met."

"I recall you launched a desperate, all-out attack against me back then, exuding a fiercely bloodthirsty aura. Yet your behavior this time truly leaves me quite displeased..."

Lu Qingyun understood the implication behind those words and why the dragon spoke thus.

It was because Lu Qingyun had indeed chosen not to fight this time, having had no intention of taking the initiative.

That was why the Azure Dragon had taken control of his body to strike; otherwise, Lu Qingyun truly had no intention of fighting at all!

That explained why the Azure Dragon intervened, though the alternative outcome was something Lu Qingyun dared not imagine.

With a very serious expression, Lu Qingyun retorted, "What you did placed me in extreme peril! Do you have any idea how terrifying the consequences could be? If I lose my life, you won't fare well either!"

"Since you chose me, I believe you should respect me, respect my wishes, and act according to my intentions. Isn't that how it should be?"

"Your utter lack of respect for me could lead to unimaginable consequences. If I truly die one day, won't you vanish from this world as well?"

Lu Qingyun was genuinely angry; otherwise, he would never have spoken with such reprimand.

In contrast, the Azure Dragon lingering in the sky remained completely unconcerned.

It continued to coil and circle across the heavens, its movements fluid and unhurried.

The dragon scales on its body radiated a dazzling light, and the sacred aura it emitted made it feel inviolable.

This was, of course, the innate aura of a divine beast—an overwhelming presence that could not be resisted.

A deep, rumbling laugh issued from the Azure Dragon.

"Ha-ha-ha, this is the first time I've been lectured by a human. It gives me a rather unique feeling. Selecting you turns out to have been my good fortune after all."

"Very well, I shall pay more attention next time. There is no need for you to lecture me so harshly. I do indeed depend on you, but do not let me down."

Lu Qingyun replied earnestly, "Whether I let you down or not, I cannot say. But if you keep acting like this, I'm afraid I won't survive..."

"You took such a reckless risk—just how much of my cultivation base has been enhanced this time?"