The figure that stepped out of the spatial crack possessed a towering, muscular build—broad like a tiger's back and sturdy like a bear's waist. An oppressive, ferocious aura lingered around him, one that spoke of both strength and bloodline power. His features bore a striking resemblance to the Ancient Void Dragon expert Xiao Hua had once met—Hei Qing.
"Elder Hei Qing… why have you come?" Xiao Hua asked, his brows furrowing in puzzlement.
Wei Jie was equally startled by the sudden appearance. His tone carried disbelief as he muttered under his breath, "Hei Qing...? Without Zi Yan at his side?"
Clearly, none of them had expected this Ancient Void Dragon tribe's elder to arrive alone.
"Ugh, don't mention it," Hei Qing groaned, his expression a mix of grievance and exhaustion. "I've come to find you regarding some troubling matters. The old geezers back in the tribe threw this errand onto me, saying it had to be me. Damn those stubborn fossils! Thankfully, Zi Yan handed me the communication jade—otherwise, I would've been wandering the Central Plains aimlessly till I dropped dead."
His eyes locked onto Xiao Hua with the look of a man who had found salvation after a long and frustrating journey. He hurriedly stepped forward, releasing a long sigh of relief.
"Looking for me?" Xiao Hua's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone growing colder. A knot of unease began forming in his heart. What kind of matter would force even the Ancient Void Dragon Clan to send someone like Hei Qing personally?
A possibility suddenly flashed through his mind.
His gaze sharpened instantly, and his voice turned deep and solemn.
"Did you… did you let Zi Yan swallow the Dragon-Phoenix Fruit?"
"It wasn't us—it was her," Hei Qing replied with a wry smile, a trace of helplessness surfacing in his expression. "We thought we'd hidden it well, but she somehow discovered the location… and consumed it while the rest of the old fogies were in secluded retreat."
Even he hadn't anticipated Zi Yan would act so decisively without informing anyone. That spirited girl who always laughed and played freely… had quietly stepped into that forbidden place and swallowed the Dragon-Phoenix Fruit on her own.
Little Fairy Doctor's soft voice echoed behind Xiao Hua. "Zi Yan visited you before, back at Burning Flame Valley," she whispered, her tone tinged with reflection. "Now that I think about it… she did seem a little different after that."
Xiao Hua's heart trembled. 'So, it's because of me…?'
His jaw clenched tightly. He hadn't imagined that his words, his presence… would push her into making such a drastic decision just to grow stronger.
Drawing a long breath to steady himself, Xiao Hua slowly lifted his gaze. His voice was calm, but a heavy resolve ran through every word.
"Then… I'll have to trouble Elder Hei Qing to bring me—and the others—to her."
"Naturally," Hei Qing nodded without hesitation. "To tell the truth, I've been told not to return without you. Besides… we'll need your help. All of you."
Xiao Hua exchanged glances with the others. Without a word, each of them gave a firm nod—their thoughts aligned. They, too, wished to see Zi Yan's condition with their own eyes.
Without delay, Wei Jie waved his hand, and the invisible Cloud-Void Steering Ship dissolved into motes of light before vanishing into his storage ring.
"Since time is short, let's depart now," he said calmly.
Hei Qing gave a sharp nod, then turned to face the air ahead. With a single motion, his hand sliced through space, tearing open a pitch-black spatial crack that pulsed with fluctuating energy.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the rift.
Xiao Hua and the others followed closely, their figures vanishing into the spatial fissure in a blink.
The moment the last figure disappeared, the crack slowly sealed itself shut, leaving behind only a faint ripple—soon swallowed by the stillness of the void.
…
After traveling for what felt like only a moment through the long, winding spatial tunnel—one that stretched across a vast, unimaginable distance—the five of them finally emerged on the other side.
Xiao Hua's vision turned blurry the instant he stepped out, the aftereffects of spatial travel lingering in his eyes. But as his sight gradually cleared, the scene before him caused his breath to catch.
Countless islands of varying sizes floated silently in the sky, each one suspended as if held aloft by some unseen force. Above them, a faint silver outline traced a massive circular arc across the heavens, forming a bowl-shaped dome that wrapped around the entire region like a protective shell.
Xiao Hua's gaze swept upward, and his heart skipped a beat—the area beyond the silver dome was nothing but endless void. A vast, hollow emptiness stretched in all directions, cold and silent, as though they had stepped beyond the boundaries of the world.
This island wasn't hovering in the sky.
It was suspended in the very heart of the void itself.
"What… grandness..."
Even Mei Ling couldn't help but draw in a soft breath of awe, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Though the scale of this floating island paled in comparison to the realms forged by elite Dou Shengs, its concealment surpassed even those legendary creations. Hidden deep within the void, this place was cloaked in seclusion. Not even a Dou Zun would dare to recklessly trespass into the emptiness outside—where space twisted and death lingered in silence.
Establishing a resting place in such a location was indeed extremely safe. No wonder so little was ever heard about the Ancient Void Dragon tribe in the Central Plains—they had long since withdrawn into this secluded realm of emptiness.
"Follow me," Hei Qing said calmly.
He cast his gaze downward, then with a flick of his sleeve, descended toward one of the larger floating islands. Without hesitation, Xiao Hua and the others followed closely behind.
"Xiao Hua… the auras here is terrifying," Little Fairy Doctor whispered softly at his side, her brows faintly furrowed.
Xiao Hua nodded slightly. "There are many powerful auras here—some faint, others deeply concealed. It seems the true strength of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe runs far deeper than what we've seen on the surface."
His voice carried a trace of astonishment, unable to fully mask his admiration for this hidden powerhouse.
Mei Ling and Wei Jie exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement. Just as Xiao Hua had sensed, there were countless formidable presences scattered across the island—most lying dormant, yet exuding an invisible pressure that made one's heart tighten.
This kind of discovery left them momentarily speechless. As expected of the peak existence within the Magical Beast world, the sheer number of powerful auras gathered under a single banner was truly overwhelming. It was the first time any of them had encountered such concentrated might within a single faction.
Silently taking in the atmosphere, the group followed Hei Qing toward a towering mountain at the center of the floating island. Along the way, they encountered several patrolling figures. Upon seeing Hei Qing, these individuals halted in surprise, casting wary glances over Xiao Hua, Little Fairy Doctor, Wei Jie, and Mei Ling.
However, after a brief pause, they quietly stepped aside and resumed their patrol, not daring to obstruct the group.
Soon, the five of them landed atop the massive mountain peak. No sooner had their feet touched the ground than a familiar figure clad in black robes trimmed with purple and gold appeared before them without a sound.
Hei Qing immediately cupped his fists with respectful ease. "Hei Qing greets Third Elder."
He then gestured toward Xiao Hua and the others. "I have brought our young friend Xiao Hua, along with the Hall Masters."
"Greetings, Elder Zhu Li. It has been some time since we last met," Xiao Hua and the others cupped their fists respectfully. They were already acquainted with Zhu Li, who had once aided them in the battle against the Hall of Souls.
"Heh heh, I hope young friend Xiao Hua and the others will not hold it against us for summoning you so urgently," Elder Zhu Li said with a warm smile, his tone courteous upon hearing Hei Qing's report.
"Elder Zhu Li is too courteous. Zi Yan is our friend. If she is in danger, I would naturally rush here without delay," Xiao Hua replied calmly.
Despite the tremendous pressure radiating from Elder Zhu Li—an invisible force that seemed to stir the very soul—Xiao Hua remained unaffected, his expression unshaken.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Hua took a step forward and asked, "Elder Zhu Li, though we've been informed of the situation… may I ask in greater detail—what exactly has happened to Zi Yan?"
"…Let me first speak of Zi Yan's origins." Elder Zhu Li hesitated for a moment before letting out a long sigh. "You may already have some idea, but Zi Yan bears the royal bloodline of our Ancient Void Dragon tribe."
"Her father was once the king of our tribe. However, he vanished without a trace, and Zi Yan disappeared along with him. It wasn't until a few months ago, when she arrived in the Central Plains, that we finally sensed her presence again… and in truth, that was only made possible because of all of you."
"Missing, huh…?"
Xiao Hua's gaze narrowed slightly as memories surfaced—of that ancient mansion buried deep beneath the magma world of the Inner Academy. He still remembered the overwhelming presence of Zhu Kun, who had forcefully become the mansion's Guardian... and who was, without doubt, Zi Yan's father.
However, he couldn't reveal this yet. Speaking of it now would only invite suspicion. Besides, even if they knew the truth, none of them possessed the strength or means to rescue Zhu Kun. In the face of such a sealed fate, silence was the only choice—for now.
"The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit is a mysterious and rare treasure, born under exceptionally unique circumstances. It only forms when it absorbs the blood of both an Ancient Void Dragon and a Heaven Phoenix. Once matured, it possesses the power to transform the bloodline of either race, allowing the body to inherit the traits of both and awaken the true blood of a king among Magical Beasts…" Elder Zhu Li explained calmly, while Xiao Hua remained lost in thought.
"Ever since young friend Xiao Hua entrusted us with the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, we have followed your suggestion and agreed to let Zi Yan consume it once she reaches the peak of the Dou Zun class, or perhaps Ban Sheng class."
"If the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit is truly so rare and powerful, why must it be Zi Yan?" Wei Jie furrowed his brows slightly, his tone laced with curiosity. "Why can't someone else take it instead?"
"I understand your doubts." Zhu Li nodded and offered a patient explanation. "There are two reasons. First, Zi Yan carries the royal bloodline of the Ancient Void Dragons. Once she fully matures, she is destined to become the next Queen of our tribe. It is only fitting that such a supreme bloodline should belong to her."
"Second, she is still young. Her body is more adaptable, and this makes it easier for her to absorb and harmonize with the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit. If it were someone older, even with strength, it would be far more difficult—perhaps even impossible—to withstand the transformation."
Elder Zhu Li let out a bitter chuckle as he spoke to this point. "However… what we didn't expect was that Zi Yan actually consumed the fruit without informing us. Not only that—she devoured it while we are in retreat…"
"The outcome has somewhat exceeded our expectations. The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit's energy was far too immense. Zi Yan's body was unable to fully absorb such a terrifying surge of power… and as a result, she has entered a deep slumber."
"Her body actually endured all that without collapsing?" Wei Jie raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with disbelief. He wasn't surprised she failed to absorb it completely—what startled him was that her body didn't explode under the strain.
"Zi Yan inherited part of the ancient dragon legacy. Though it is incomplete, her strength and physique have risen dramatically, allowing her to step into the peak Dou Zong class. With that, she can barely endure the frightening energy." Zhu Li nodded and responded.
"That's incredible, in a sense…" Wei Jie murmured, genuinely impressed by the Ancient Void Dragon's inheritance.
At that moment, Little Fairy Doctor interjected, her expression calm but eyes sharp. "Elder Zhu Li, you mentioned she entered a slumber… but what exactly happened for you to summon Xiao Hua? It must be more than just her slumbering state."
"She failed to fully absorb the overwhelming energy… and now, the energy has begun to solidify," Zhu Li said with a weary sigh, his voice carrying a trace of helplessness.
"Energy is solidifying?"
Mei Ling's expression shifted in alarm. "What do you mean by that?"
Zhu Li exhaled softly and turned away. "Come with me. It'll be easier to show you."
Without further explanation, he began walking toward a stone hall situated deeper within the mountain. Xiao Hua and the others exchanged glances before quickly following.
They moved through the quiet, echoing corridors of the stone hall, the air growing colder and heavier with each step. Eventually, the group arrived at the heart of the hall—a spacious chamber carved from a single massive boulder. At its center stood a tall, ancient altar that radiated a faint, primordial aura.
And upon that altar… lay a small, delicate figure, silent and unmoving. Zi Yan's lovely form rested there peacefully, as though asleep, her aura barely perceptible.
Everyone's gaze instinctively turned toward the small figure atop the altar. The moment their eyes landed on that adorable little body, their expressions shifted—shock and worry surfacing in their eyes.
Xiao Hua narrowed his eyes. A translucent crystalline layer, faintly resembling ice, enveloped Zi Yan from head to toe. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the crystallization wasn't limited to her outer body—her internal meridians, bones, even her blood vessels were all sealed in the same crystal-like substance.
In other words… Zi Yan had transformed into a being of pure crystal, devoid of any visible signs of life.
"This… what happened to her?" Little Fairy Doctor's face turned visibly pale. No matter how she tried, she couldn't sense the slightest trace of vitality. Alarmed, she turned toward Zhu Li, her voice trembling.
"Rest assured, Xian'er." Xiao Hua gently reached out, embracing her trembling shoulders as he reassured her softly. "Zi Yan is still alive. Her life force is simply buried—sealed beneath the dense crystalized energy."
Upon hearing Xiao Hua's words, Little Fairy Doctor gradually regained her composure. Even so, her hands clenched tightly as she bit her lower lip and muttered in a low, furious voice, "She's far too reckless…"
Though her tone carried anger, it was laced with deep concern and helpless anxiety toward Zi Yan's condition.
Standing beside Xiao Hua, Elder Zhu Li let out a long sigh. "The energy within the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit is simply too overwhelming. It has solidified and spread throughout every corner of her body. If she fails to refine it… she will remain in this state forever, like a living corpse sealed in crystal."
Wei Jie frowned and turned toward Zhu Li with a sharp gaze. "Don't tell me… Elder Zhu Li never warned her about the risks of devouring it while still at the Dou Zun realm?"
Zhu Li shook his head bitterly, a trace of regret flashing across his aged face. "Regrettably, even among the Ancient Void Dragon tribe, the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit has only appeared a handful of times. We possess little understanding of its true nature. This outcome… is a result of our ignorance."
"Then… has anyone ever successfully absorbed one before?" Mei Ling suddenly asked, as if recalling something from the depths of her memory.
Elder Zhu Li gave a slight nod, his gaze settling on Zi Yan as he slowly began to speak.
"There have indeed been successful cases… but only twice throughout history. One was obtained by the Heaven Phoenix tribe. As a result, they birthed an unparalleled expert—so powerful that even our Ancient Void Dragon tribe was completely suppressed during that era."
He paused for a moment, a faint sigh escaping his lips, tinged with distant regret.
"Fortunately, after several centuries, our Ancient Void Dragon tribe also acquired a Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit. With it, we cultivated our own supreme expert and finally turned the tide."
Zhu Li's voice turned heavier as he continued, "Yet… in the final, blood-soaked clash between our two tribes, those two individuals—each bearing a bloodline that defied the heavens—perished together in battle."
His expression grew distant as he stared toward Zi Yan. "From that point on, the Heaven Phoenix tribe began to fade from the world, vanishing little by little into the mists of time. As for the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit… it disappeared alongside them. Until now, this old one had never laid eyes upon it in his entire life."
Xiao Hua furrowed his brows before letting out a soft sigh. He knew there was little meaning in dwelling on the past. Shifting the topic, he asked calmly, "Since you've called me here, am I right to assume you require my flames to assist with this?"
Zhu Li was briefly startled, but soon nodded, a trace of relief flashing across his aged face. It was clear that Xiao Hua bore no intention of pursuing the matter further.
"Yes," Zhu Li replied. "The solidified energy formed by the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit is extraordinarily dense. Even with all my strength, I'm unable to break through it... Worse yet, if brute force is used, the energy will simply scatter and be wasted."
Little Fairy Doctor frowned and said coldly, "At a time like this, you're still thinking about preserving the energy?"
Zhu Li gave a bitter laugh and shook his head. "Young Lady Little Fairy Doctor, you may not be aware of the current state of my Ancient Void Dragon tribe. What we need most now is a tribe leader—one who bears the royal bloodline and possesses the strength to unify and stabilize the clan."
Little Fairy Doctor was taken aback. Her gaze swept toward Wei Jie and Mei Ling, but both merely gave a subtle shake of their heads, clearly just as unaware of the tribe's situation.
"Internal conflicts, huh…" Xiao Hua murmured as he let out a quiet sigh, his tone tinged with understanding. He could clearly see the sorrow etched into Zhu Li's expression—the kind of sorrow that only those who had witnessed the tribe's former glory could truly carry.
Back then, the Ancient Void Dragon tribe had once flourished under a single royal lineage, unified beneath the command of one emperor. That era of strength and order had now become a distant memory, leaving only thorns of regret in the hearts of the old generation.
Xiao Hua slowly lifted his gaze, his eyes falling upon Zi Yan's crystalized form atop the altar. A deep pang of guilt welled up in his chest. He knew all too well—it was because of his condition that Zi Yan had chosen to recklessly devour the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit.
"Just hold on, Zi Yan," he whispered inwardly, his voice like a silent vow. "I'll definitely bring you back from this state…"
A steely resolve gleamed within his eyes, burning steadily like a quiet flame in the depths of his heart.
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