Hearing Lin Xia's words, Larvitar lifted its small head and blinked its big eyes. Although it still looked a little disappointed, it obediently nodded its tiny chin.
"Larvitar…"
It stretched out a small claw and pointed toward a nearby area covered by the shadow of a massive weathered rock formation, where the temperature was noticeably cooler.
"Mm, let's rest there first."
Holding it in his arms, Lin Xia quickly walked over into the shade of the rock wall.
The scorching sand, once touched by the coolness of the shadow, finally allowed them a moment of relief.
Lin Xia carefully placed Larvitar on a relatively cool patch of ground. He then sat down cross-legged and began circulating the Meditation Technique, easing the discomfort in his body caused by the oppressive aura of the Dragon Graveyard.
At the same time, he turned his soul power inward, inspecting the heavy dragon bones stored within his soul tool.
Just brushing them with his intent allowed him to feel the violent energy within, enough to overwhelm even a Soul Douluo.
These were peerless materials for forging divine weapons.
Of course, they could also serve as food, but more importantly, they were undeniable proof of their connection to the Dragon Graveyard.
After regulating his breathing for a while, Lin Xia felt his condition stabilize somewhat. He then turned his gaze toward the little one beside him.
Larvitar was lying on the ground, its small tail listlessly sweeping the sand, clearly still brooding over having missed its "big meal."
"Larvitar."
Lin Xia's voice was gentle, yet probing.
"How do you feel? After absorbing that blood cloud, has your body changed in any way? Aside from… well, it looks like your armor has gotten a bit darker?"
He observed closely. Larvitar's armor, which had once been dull like cooled lava, now faintly emitted a restrained dark-red metallic sheen even in the shade, like it had been tempered by the finest dragon blood.
The edges of the red-gold Phoenix Divine Mark had also gained an extremely faint dark-red outline, almost imperceptible without careful observation.
It was like a thin border of blood had been drawn around it, making the entire mark appear even more mysterious and profound.
The aura of two supreme bloodlines formed a subtle balance and fusion within its body.
Hearing this, Larvitar immediately sat up straight, its expression turning serious.
"Larvitari!"
It responded, then closed its eyes, its small face tensing as it began carefully "examining" its internal state.
Time passed little by little.
At times, Larvitar's brow furrowed slightly; at others, it relaxed.
It lightly tapped its chest armor and back armor with its claw, then clenched its fist tightly, as if testing its strength.
After a while, it even tried to circulate its soul power. A faint earthy-yellow glow appeared around its body, and its aura became steady and heavy.
Lin Xia waited patiently, his heart filled with anticipation.
A baptism of dragon blood, even just a trace was undoubtedly a heaven-defying opportunity!
Strength, defense, physique, even attribute evolution all were possible!
However, after a long while, Larvitar opened its eyes.
Yet in its crimson gaze, there was a trace of… confusion and bewilderment.
"Larvi? Lar.. Larvitar…"
It called out a few short sounds to Lin Xia, gesturing with its small claws, seemingly trying to express that its strength had increased a bit, its body had become sturdier, its bones harder.
And then nothing else?
As Lin Xia interpreted its gestures and transmitted intent, his brows gradually furrowed.
"Only your physical foundation has become stronger? And perhaps the effect of Dragon Dance has improved?"
Lin Xia murmured softly, his tone filled with disbelief and a faint, hard-to-notice disappointment.
"That's… all?"
This was far from the earth-shattering transformation he had expected.
Dragon blood essence, this was the purest origin left behind after the fall of divine dragons!
Even if Larvitar had only absorbed a trace, it shouldn't have merely strengthened its already formidable physical foundation.
The energy contained in that blood cloud had been terrifying!
Had most of it been wasted?
Or had the transformation occurred at a deeper level, not yet visible?
That thought made Lin Xia's heart sink slightly.
Their journey into the Dragon Graveyard had nearly cost them their lives. If this was all they had gained, though those dragon bones were invaluable, it still felt like they had missed the greatest opportunity.
The image of that giant egg lingered stubbornly in his mind.
Just as Lin Xia sank into contemplation, repeatedly analyzing the possible hidden changes brought by the dragon-blood infusion.
Larvitar also seemed unwilling to accept its "lack of change." Or rather, it instinctively felt that the new power within it shouldn't remain so dormant.
The little one suddenly stood up, took a few steps back, and walked to a small patch at the edge of the shade where the ground was still scorching under the sunlight.
Its small face tensed once more, and a determined glint flashed in its crimson eyes.
"Larvitar!"
It let out a low growl, its body lowering sharply as a heavy, ancient aura carrying a primordial presence spread out instantly!
Dragon Dance!
There was none of the overwhelming spectacle from the Dragon Graveyard that had drawn in the blood clouds, but this time, its movements carried far more of Larvitar's own will, rather than being driven purely by instinct!
Its actions still held the clumsiness of a young creature, yet every step, every twist of its body, every extension of its claws seemed to contain a rhythm that resonated with the earth and stirred its bloodline!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The deep, rhythmic stomping grew heavier and more forceful than before, like war drums beating at the heart of the desert.
The surrounding sand trembled and bounced lightly in response to its rhythm.
Lin Xia's attention was instantly drawn in, watching intently.
He could feel that as Larvitar danced, the newly acquired power within its body, born from the dragon blood was fully awakened, resonating and merging intensely with its original earth power and the power of the Phoenix Divine Mark!
Just as the Dragon Dance reached a critical turning point, Larvitar spun powerfully and leaped into the air, about to stomp down with full force.
A sudden change occurred!
Buzz!
On the left side of Larvitar's chest and abdomen, where its lava-like armor covered its body, beside the original Phoenix Divine Mark another light suddenly ignited!
It was not the golden-red of the Phoenix Divine Mark, but a deep, restrained dark gold that carried supreme majesty!
The light rapidly took shape, condensing into a clear mark!
It formed an extremely simple yet profoundly mysterious pattern:
A dragon-shaped outline!
It was not the image of an Eastern divine dragon nor a Western dragon, but rather an abstract totem symbolizing power, majesty, and eternity.
Its lines were smooth yet forceful, the dragon's head raised high, its body coiling, its claws fierce, seeming to contain the power to tear apart the very cosmos!
The entire mark radiated an ancient, primordial, and supreme aura of terrifying authority!
This dark-gold dragon mark was now engraved upon Larvitar's armor, perfectly mirroring the red-gold Phoenix Divine Mark on the right side of its chest, whose edges were now traced with faint dark-red lines of dragon blood.
A dragon and a phoenix!
One dark gold, one crimson gold!
One as steady and heavy as the ancestral veins of the earth.
The other as sacred and blazing as the sun in the highest heavens!
Two completely different, yet equally supreme bloodline totems now shone together upon Larvitar's small body, forming a breathtaking balance and harmony!
"This is…!"
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