Chapter 46

"Is there really a dragon?"

Zhao Yun crouched on the ground, listening for a long time. A faint dragon's roar, like the breath of a dragon, was long and powerful, especially the rising heat.

When he stood up, he used the techniques of earth penetration and wall penetration.

Alas, the mountain rocks were too hard and heavy, making both secret techniques useless.

Buzz!

He rolled up his sleeves, picked up the Longyuan Sword, and started chiseling downward. With his limited strength, he could only chisel like this; if his cultivation were sufficient, one strike could split the mountain.

"Kid, what are you doing?"

Niu Hong arrived, carrying a basket filled with wine and food, apparently to bring Zhao Yun his meal. The smell of alcohol and meat could be detected from a distance.

"There seems to be a dragon in the mountain," Zhao Yun replied.

"Who would believe you?" Niu Hong sneered and turned to leave.

"It's real," Zhao Yun insisted.

As night fell, he sat down, exhausted, but had already chiseled a large hole. The dragon's roar was clearer, and the rolling heat was like a surging river, making him feel his blood boil.

He took a sip of the spirit liquid and then stood up.

This time, he discarded the Longyuan Sword and took out a stack of explosive talismans to blast.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Then, the explosions echoed one after another, with debris flying everywhere. The already large hole was blasted even deeper.

"Again."

Zhao Yun took a few sips of the spirit liquid and buried more explosive talismans. This method, besides consuming true essence, had no other drawbacks. As long as there were enough explosive talismans, he could flatten the mountain.

"You must be crazy!"

From the direction of Niu Family Village, Niu Hong's curses could be heard. Although the distance was not far, an ordinary person might not hear, but as a martial cultivator, his hearing was extremely sharp, and he could faintly hear the curses. He was woken up by the explosions in the middle of the night.

In response, Zhao Yun only sent more explosions.

The little fatty cursed under his breath, blocked his ears with true essence, and fell asleep.

Here, Zhao Yun stopped again.

He couldn't continue; he had used too many explosive talismans and his true essence was exhausted.

Looking at the large hole, it was now much deeper.

Zhao Yun sat inside, absorbing the rolling heat, which was like absorbing spiritual energy. The heat was so intense that it was even more refined than spiritual energy. In just half an hour, his true essence was restored, much faster than the spirit liquid.

"Dragon aura?"

Zhao Yun raised an eyebrow, looking at his body, where dragon breath was swirling. Inside his body, it was the same. The continuous dragon roars, due to the dragon aura, made his meridians more flexible, reinforcing his belief that there was something extraordinary in the mountain, and possibly a real dragon.

After resting, he buried more explosive talismans.

The explosions echoed again, causing birds to fly in all directions.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Zhao Yun was not just dedicated; he was obsessed with the explosive talismans. When his true essence was exhausted, he absorbed the dragon aura and then continued blasting.

The large hole was now deep enough.

As Zhao Yun said, given enough time, true essence, and explosive talismans, he could flatten a mountain, provided he had the strong willpower.

He had such willpower and continued blasting for three days.

For this, he received no shortage of curses. The little fatty came every day, blocking the mountain's base, cursing loudly, and not bothering to go up to talk to Zhao Yun.

"There really is a dragon."

Zhao Yun held firm to his belief, blasting diligently. The explosive talismans he had accumulated over many days were now almost depleted, at a great cost.

Crack!

In the night, amidst the explosions, it seemed a barrier had shattered.

"Is it open?"

Zhao Yun whispered, approaching step by step. He passed the Longyuan Sword, pulling it out, and prepared to flee at any moment, in case of danger.

Roar!

Just as he reached the cave entrance, he heard a powerful dragon roar, and a surge of dragon aura rushed out. Perhaps due to the proximity, he was knocked over and fell down the mountain, the Longyuan Sword flying out of his hand, landing who knows where.

In mid-air, Zhao Yun cursed.

The mountain was not low, and climbing up took time, but falling down was a matter of moments. Such a height, if he fell, he would surely be smashed into a pulp.

He was not foolish and formed a hand seal.

In such an awkward situation, water escape would be very useful. He transformed a pool of water at the point of impact, landing with a splash.

Before he emerged from the water, he looked up at the sky.

There was no dragon, just a drop of golden blood. The so-called dragon aura was flowing from that drop of blood. The dragon aura surged and rolled, sometimes forming clouds, floating in the sky; sometimes forming a dragon, circling the heavens. Regardless, it produced a powerful dragon roar, shaking the heart.

"Dragon blood?"

Zhao Yun murmured, his expression dazed. Now he understood why the mountain was golden. It was likely due to the reflection of the dragon blood, which only glowed at night. Previously, he had not noticed because the dragon blood was blocked by the mountain. Only after he blasted open the barrier did the dragon blood fly out.

Roar!

As he watched, the dragon aura in the sky dissipated and converged into the dragon blood. Not only the dragon aura, but also the spiritual energy within a few thousand feet was absorbed by the dragon blood. Then it fell from the sky, bathed in starlight and moonlight, shining even more brilliantly.

"Good stuff."

Zhao Yun hurriedly stepped forward and reached out to catch it.

It was dragon blood!

This catch was not trivial; the dragon blood immediately entered his body.

Um...!

Zhao Yun let out a muffled groan. A drop of dragon blood was small, but the power it carried was vast, like a pill entering the body and immediately dissolving. The overwhelming power instantly filled his body, rushing into his limbs, organs, and meridians. Each stream was like a raging fire.

Spit!

He spat blood, almost falling over. The dragon blood's power was too strong, wildly surging and colliding within his body, breaking many meridians and bones, and even causing his skin to crack, with blood flowing from the cracks.

It was terrifying, too terrifying.

From a distance, he looked like a blood-soaked figure, his body swollen, ready to burst.

Indeed, the dragon blood's power was too overwhelming.

And he was only at the Condensation of Essence realm, unable to contain it, and would surely be burst.

Ah...!

His low growl was filled with pain, unable to bear the power, not just physically but mentally, his head feeling like it was splitting, unable to distinguish reality from illusion.

Crack! Crack!

In a critical moment, he activated the Bone Washing and Sinew Changing Classic and the Primordial Heaven Thunder Technique, refining the dragon blood's power into martial cultivator's true essence.

This time, his dantian could not hold it.

The dantian, originally depleted, was filled with the refined true essence, causing it to rapidly expand. At this rate, once it reached a certain limit, it would surely burst.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Zhao Yun immediately waved his hand, throwing out the remaining explosive talismans and detonating them. Detonating the explosive talismans required true essence, reducing the pressure on his dantian.

However, this was far from enough.

The true essence drawn by the explosive talismans was just a fraction, with more true essence surging in, not just into his dantian but into every corner of his body.

Roar!

Zhao Yun clenched his teeth and used the Secret Technique of the Roaring Dragon, continuously striking to release the true essence, or he would surely burst.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Due to his wild strikes, the forest suffered, with countless ancient trees and rocks being destroyed.

Unfortunately, it was still not enough.

There was both the release of true essence and the influx of power, but it was not keeping up.

"Break, break for me."

Zhao Yun roared, using the dragon blood's power to forcefully break through his realm.

Pop!

The realm barrier was no obstacle. Yesterday, he was at the ninth level; now he broke through to the True Spirit realm. The advancement brought many benefits, a transformation, widening his dantian, thickening his meridians, and allowing the overwhelming power to be released.

"Close call." Zhao Yun swayed, his face pale.

Fortunately, he was smart and did not get distracted. Even a moment of hesitation could have led to his demise. From the start, he had underestimated that drop of dragon blood.

Boom!

Just as the crisis passed, the sky rumbled with lightning and thunder.

Zhao Yun lifted his eyes sharply.

This time, the lightning was different, not for rain but appearing out of nowhere, giving him a sense of unease, as if the lightning was targeting him.

"Is this my heavenly tribulation?" Zhao Yun's expression changed, recognizing what it was.

The Mystic Gate Heavenly Book stated that if a person was too extraordinary or defied the will of heaven, heaven would send down a lightning tribulation as punishment.

He was unsure which category he fell into.

Regardless, he could not escape, as the Mystic Gate Heavenly Book stated.

Surviving meant life; failing meant death.

Zhao Yun swayed, forcing himself to stand steady, activating the Primordial Heaven Thunder Technique. Since it was lightning, he could likely absorb it, possibly even enhancing its power.

Boom!

As he spoke, the lightning struck, tearing his skin and flesh. This lightning was far more powerful than ordinary lightning.

However, this lightning could indeed be absorbed.

Zhao Yun clearly felt the lightning's power increase, becoming more dominant.

Additionally, there were benefits.

The benefits were the refinement of his body. Tribulation was also a test, and tribulation was also a blessing, a rebirth. His muscles, bones, and flesh were all strengthened.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Unable to destroy the tribulation crosser, the heavenly tribulation's power increased, with each bolt of lightning stronger than the last, determined to kill him.

"Come."

Zhao Yun shouted resolutely, activating the Bone Washing and Sinew Changing Classic, refining his body in the lightning, healing the surface cracks, and reshaping his meridians. Even his bones were being refined, one by one, reconnecting.

Eventually, the thunder ceased.

When the smoke cleared, only his swaying figure remained, having narrowly avoided being burst by the dragon blood's power and nearly killed by the heavenly tribulation.

The night finally fell into silence.

The next day, Niu Hong came again, looking around with a strange expression. He remembered that the forest was fine yesterday, but today it was in ruins.

"Where is he?"

Niu Hong looked up, not seeing Zhao Yun on the mountain peak. Climbing up, he still saw no one. Looking down, the forest was in chaos, as if it had experienced a great disaster.

Niu Hong was puzzled and searched the entire forest.

He found Zhao Yun's Longyuan Sword but not Zhao Yun himself.

Indeed.

Last night, Zhao Yun had gone mad, using the Wind God Steps to run and fight, not knowing where he had gone. He was still unconscious and did not hear Niu Hong's calls.