Chapter 153: Breakthrough!
A long while later, the reluctant Zi Yan was forcibly suppressed and dragged away by Zhu Kun. With her turning her head back every three steps, Zhu Kun looked every bit the ultimate villainous boss!
Once the two had left, Jiang Yun looked at Medusa and the other two and gave serious instructions: "Dragon blood is extremely overbearing. Know your limits. Cultivation follows gradual progression—do not act recklessly!"
"Understood, Jiang Yun gege!"
"Understood!"
Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian nodded obediently, looking like two well-behaved little sisters.
Medusa, on the other hand, shot a sidelong glare at Jiang Yun's lips. Her alluring figure swayed and transformed into the enormous Nine-Colored Devouring Heaven Python. With a swing of her giant tail, she charged headlong into the Dragon Blood Pool without a backward glance, sending up sky-high waves.
"Gurgle, gurgle—"
After Medusa entered, the blood pool immediately began bubbling as if boiling over.
Jiang Yun could sense that all the energy within the Dragon Blood Pool seemed to have been stirred into motion in that instant.
"That woman!" Standing by the pool's edge and recalling Medusa's look just now, Jiang Yun shook his head helplessly.
"Jiang Yun gege is a big lecher!"
Off to the side, Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian were giggling as they watched this scene. Qing Lin even looked at Jiang Yun and teased playfully.
"You little girl—asking for a beating!" Jiang Yun's face darkened. Pointing at Qing Lin, he put on an 'angry' expression.
"Blehhh—" Making a funny face, Qing Lin leapt up, transformed into a streak of light, and flew toward the Dragon Blood Pool.
"Lucky you ran fast!"
"You really are a hidden lecher." Xiao Yi Xian walked up beside Jiang Yun and, under his astonished gaze, delivered these parting words.
Before Jiang Yun could recover, Xiao Yi Xian followed closely behind and plunged into the Dragon Blood Pool.
"So I've been collectively certified?" Coming back to his senses, Jiang Yun rubbed his nose as he watched the now-calm Dragon Blood Pool, thinking to himself.
The next moment, he cast aside all distracting thoughts. His figure moved, directly transforming into a blur of light as he rushed into the Dragon Blood Pool.
Splash!
Purplish-red pool water splashed up, but every single drop seemed to weigh a thousand catties. When it fell back down, it stirred up wave after wave within the pool.
And as Jiang Yun rushed into the Dragon Blood Pool, he also abruptly felt his body grow heavy. The surrounding pool water pressed down on his form like mountains, so much so that every muscle in his body began radiating waves of stabbing pain.
Faced with this situation, Jiang Yun did not panic. He slowly sank to the deepest part, which was where the pressure of the entire Dragon Blood Pool was greatest.
The energy of the whole pool bore down upon him, directly causing fine cracks to split open across the surface of his skin.
Sensing that terrifying pressure, as if mountains were piled one atop another, Jiang Yun slowly spread his arms. Then, his hands formed seals, and a suction force began erupting from within his body.
Weng!
A massive vortex formed at the bottom of the Dragon Blood Pool. Purplish-red pool water howled around him. The dense energy landed on Jiang Yun's skin and burrowed in through his pores. Instantly, dazzling purple light radiated from within his body. Faintly, the sound of dragon roars could be heard.
And on his skin, some dragon markings slowly appeared. But just as they emerged, nine streams of light resembling the Milky Way bloomed within Jiang Yun's body. In an instant, the dragon markings slowly faded, as if what had just appeared had been nothing but an illusion.
The dense energy seeped into his flesh and blood thread by thread, causing his very flesh to writhe as it slowly began to strengthen.
Time quietly slipped away as Jiang Yun and the others each sank into their respective closed-door cultivation.
After an unknown period, the flesh and blood within Jiang Yun's body had actually become tinged with faint purple light. It was spread throughout every corner of his body, and faintly, an exceedingly terrifying vitality seemed to radiate from it.
And on the surface of Jiang Yun's skin, purple light surged as well, finally slowly converging toward his arms. Faintly, what seemed to be fine, dense purplish-gold scales began emerging on his skin.
His entire body seemed, at this moment, to be undergoing an immense transformation!
Boom!
Dazzling, brilliant light abruptly shot out from Jiang Yun's suddenly opened eyes.
Above the calm surface of the Dragon Blood Pool, a black-robed figure shot up into the sky at this moment.
Then, tilting his head back, he let out a long howl—and the howl was actually accompanied by the sound of a dragon's roar.
Outside his body, as dense, vigorous Dou Qi spread, an enormous dragon silhouette formed behind him, flickering in and out of existence. A terrifying oppressive force pervaded this stretch of heaven and earth at that moment.
The black-robed figure stood in the air, a giant black-and-white dual-colored dragon following behind him, like a deity—unparalleled in dominance.
"Four-star Dou Zun!"
Jiang Yun lowered his head. His hands slowly clenched at this moment. The power within his body surged and howled like a raging flood. That sense of strength, so boundless it reached the extreme, seemed as though, once unleashed, it would shatter heaven and rend the earth.
With his strength greatly increased, Jiang Yun's mood was excellent. His gaze swept across the bottom of the pool, where three auras were rising and falling, ready to emerge from seclusion at any moment.
After musing for a moment, Jiang Yun tapped his toes and descended toward the ground. Behind him, the enormous dragon silhouette circled and finally, carrying a heaven-shaking dragon roar, plunged into his body and vanished.
Landing on the ground, Jiang Yun took out a pitch-black scroll and began studying it, while simultaneously waiting for Medusa, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yi Xian to emerge from seclusion.
The scroll in his hand was precisely the method of resurrection. Flame Sovereign Yao Tianhuo had been in his possession for some time now, but there had never been a good opportunity to resurrect him.
Add to that the fact that their own strength had been advancing far too quickly—a Dou Zun was, to Jiang Yun and the others, somewhat dispensable at this point.
But still, it was something he had promised to do. Taking advantage of the available time, Jiang Yun planned to resurrect him, thereby fulfilling that original commitment.
Having made up his mind, Jiang Yun took out a pure white ring. He undid the seal upon it. A wisp of mist drifted out and condensed into Flame Sovereign's form. At this moment, he was looking around at the surrounding space with a face full of bewilderment.
However, upon sensing the aura emanating from Jiang Yun, his entire body jolted. With some disbelief, he said, "Young friend, could it be that you have already broken through to Dou Zun?"
Although he could not probe Jiang Yun's exact realm, he could still tell that Jiang Yun's current, terrifying strength was considerably more formidable than his own peak period had been.
"Quite a few things have happened during this time. Now, it is time to fulfill the promise made back then," Jiang Yun did not directly answer Flame Sovereign's question.
But this, without a doubt, confirmed Flame Sovereign's guess in his heart. Thinking this, the look in Flame Sovereign's eyes as he gazed at Jiang Yun held, aside from gratitude, also deep reverence.
"Young friend, a great kindness needs no words of thanks. This old man will remember it firmly in his heart!"
Faced with Flame Sovereign's grand gesture of gratitude, Jiang Yun chuckled lightly. From his ring, he retrieved a previously refined Bone-Growing Blood-Melting Pill—of the two-colored variety—and handed it to Flame Sovereign.
"Take this pill in a moment. Then, give me a strand of your soul power. Later, follow my instructions. When I tell you to enter the body, you must not delay for even an instant!"
Flame Sovereign received the pill. With an utterly solemn expression, he nodded and said in a deep voice, "This old man understands!"
He then raised his other hand. Pressing his fingertip to his brow, he pressed and pulled, drawing out a fine strand of soul essence. The soul strand drifted toward Jiang Yun.
With a wave of his hand, Jiang Yun produced the corpse of an unidentified Dou Zun before him. This was something he had asked the Ancient Dragon Clan to prepare in advance.
With the Ancient Dragon Clan's massive power, handling certain matters was exceptionally convenient.
With a raise of his hand, Jiang Yun guided Flame Sovereign's soul strand into the corpse.
Swiftly, he retrieved a jade bottle from his ring. Within it was purplish-red blood, radiating astonishing, violent energy fluctuations. This was precisely the blood essence of the Taixu Ancient Dragon.
Mm... it had come from the diehard loyalists and traitors of the three Dragon Kings from before. Their crimes meant they could not be buried in the Dragon Tomb after death. Jiang Yun could take their essence blood without any burden on his conscience.
With a firm squeeze of his palm, the jade bottle burst apart. The large mass of blood within drifted out. Then, with a wave of Jiang Yun's hand, it was sprinkled onto the corpse suspended before him.
The moment the blood touched the corpse, a sharp "sizzle" rang out. Under the blood's corrosive effect, the corpse's skin began to rapidly decay.
Seeing this, Jiang Yun summoned the Undying Sacred Flame and enveloped the corpse within it. As the flames burned, the blood on the corpse's surface slowly began to seep inside...
Under the unending, soaking influence of the force of vitality, the skin and flesh that had originally been corroded by the blood began to gradually fill with life...
As the essence blood slowly seeped into the corpse, roughly half an hour later, the corpse's tightly shut eyes abruptly opened.
Within those hollow eyes, lifeless after death, traces of vitality now flickered, thanks to the infusion of Flame Sovereign's soul.
At that very moment, Jiang Yun immediately shouted: "Now! Enter the corpse!"
To the side, Flame Sovereign—who had long been standing by after consuming the pill—felt his entire body jolt upon hearing Jiang Yun's voice. His form then shot violently toward the corpse.
The instant his soul entered it, a peculiar dark-red ripple spread out like lightning, ultimately extending throughout the entire body.
In that split second, the whole corpse was shrouded in dark-red ripples. Flesh buds began regenerating where the blood had corroded the corpse. It had actually begun directly reshaping the body—this was precisely the medicinal power of the Bone-Growing Blood-Melting Pill.
"Next, I will use the power of flame to burn this body. You absolutely must not lose yourself. You must seize this opportunity to take control of this body—only then can the resurrection truly succeed."
Jiang Yun gave Flame Sovereign this instruction. With a thought, the white flames wreathing the corpse blazed up fiercely, incinerating the newly grown flesh and blood once more.
However, under the shroud of the dark-red ripples, the flesh and blood began to grow again. At the same time, the speed of regrowth grew faster and faster. With each cycle of reshaping, the compatibility with Yao Tianhuo's soul grew higher and higher...
After two days of this burning annihilation and regeneration, the body finally completed its reshaping of flesh and blood and the formation of skin. And the body's appearance had thoroughly changed, becoming Flame Sovereign's own appearance.
Moreover, a vast and mighty aura had gradually begun to brew within this body.
At a certain moment, Flame Sovereign abruptly rose from within the flames. Jiang Yun also timely withdrew the flames.
The next moment, the aura of a six-star Dou Zun explosively erupted from within Flame Sovereign's body. Jiang Yun had not only restored Yao Tianhuo to his former strength in life but had even allowed him to ascend to a higher level.
"Hahaha! Many thanks, young friend! Yao Tianhuo is eternally grateful!" A loud, excited laugh rang out. After landing, Flame Sovereign spoke to Jiang Yun with surging emotion.
But at this moment, Jiang Yun paid no attention to Flame Sovereign. He remained seated cross-legged on the ground. Black-and-white flames danced within his eyes. Black-and-white Dou Qi slowly intertwined within his body. The qi of life and the qi of death surfaced in his gaze.
From life to death, from death to life—the profound mysteries within it were all laid bare before his eyes.
To think that resurrecting Flame Sovereign would actually yield such a harvest!
The Saint Demon Flame was inherently a flame of life and death in opposition, brimming with wondrous mystery. This experience had allowed Jiang Yun to gain an even deeper understanding of the profound mysteries between life and death.
"An epiphany?" Sensing Jiang Yun's unusual state, Flame Sovereign was speechless for a moment. A look of envy flickered through his eyes. Then, he quietly came to Jiang Yun's side and stood guard over him.
Only at this moment did he realize they were in a gray, hazy space. The blood pool ahead radiated a terrifying aura that made one's heart palpitate, like an ancient primordial beast, causing the very blood in his veins to tremble.
"What exactly is this place?" Flame Sovereign murmured in a trembling voice. Had Jiang Yun not been behind him still in his epiphany, and had it not been for his trust in Jiang Yun himself—trusting that he would not resurrect him in a place of danger—he would likely have already scooped up Jiang Yun and fled.
"Tap."
Just within this silent wait, an almost imperceptible footfall came from behind, accompanied by a faint, alluring fragrant breeze.
"Who are you?" Medusa had soundlessly appeared before Jiang Yun and behind Flame Sovereign, her face icy as she looked at him.
"Hm?" The sudden voice from behind made Flame Sovereign's hairs stand on end. He turned his head and saw Medusa's ice-cold expression. Hastily, he spoke.
"This old man is Yao Tianhuo. I have been residing in Young Friend Jiang Yun's ring all along as a soul body and was only brought back to life by Young Friend Jiang Yun just now!"
"Mm." Hearing this, Medusa nodded. Still, she did not leave, only standing quietly before Jiang Yun.
"Whew—" Looking at Medusa, who had reined in her aura somewhat, Flame Sovereign wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Just moments ago, he had felt that if anything had gone wrong, his life would likely have been forfeit the very next second.
Truly a bunch of terrifying fellows!
"It seems your harvest was great!"
Time passed in this way while Flame Sovereign endured his torment. After an unknown period, Jiang Yun, having broken through another star and reached five-star Dou Zun, looked at Medusa—who had emerged from seclusion sometime unknown. A trace of surprise flickered through his eyes as he spoke softly.
"Mm." Medusa gazed at Jiang Yun and nodded gently. "The Ancient Dragon Clan's bloodline not only strengthened my physical body but also further stimulated the Heaven-Devouring Python bloodline within me. My strength has broken through to seven-star Dou Zun!"
"That's good. In the territory of the Nine Serene Deep Earth Python Clan, there is a great opportunity that will allow your strength to advance by leaps and bounds. Before that, the stronger you are, the better!" Jiang Yun looked at Medusa. After musing for a moment, he spoke with a serious expression.
"Alright." Shooting Jiang Yun a peculiar glance, Medusa nodded softly.
"Congratulations, Young Friend Jiang Yun, on your great advancement in strength!" At this moment, the awkward Flame Sovereign hurriedly stepped forward and offered his congratulations.
Looking at the tense Flame Sovereign, then at the icy Medusa, Jiang Yun seemed to understand what had happened. He explained with a smile, and only then did Medusa finally completely lower her guard.