Chapter 99: Dragon Bone

Zu Long, gazing into the calm eyes of the stranger before him, knew that whether he handed over the dragon bone willingly or not, he would have to part with it today. There was no room for refusal; the moment he did, the other party would undoubtedly take action. And if that happened, he would be utterly powerless to resist.

"Very well, I agree," Zu Long finally nodded in defeat.

Nearby, the dragons stood in silence, their fists clenched and teeth grinding in frustration. They loathed their own weakness, knowing that their master, Zu Long, was being bullied, and yet they were powerless to intervene. This was the most humiliating day in the long history of their proud race.

At that moment, Xian Yue spoke casually, "I've heard that the Heavenly Court plans to use the power of faith to assist Immortal Emperors like you in ascending soon?"

Zu Long's eyes narrowed as he replied, "Why? Does senior wish to catch a ride as well?"

"Catching a ride?" Xian Yue was taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Why would I need to hitch a ride with you? I could ascend to that world you desire at any moment. It's laughable to think I'd need help from you."

Zu Long's suspicion grew as he looked at Xian Yue, wondering what kind of person he truly was and what his intentions were in bringing up the Heavenly Court now.

"I'll tell you this," Xian Yue continued, "The so-called ascension is nothing more than a trap. It's a scheme to sacrifice you Immortal Emperors through the power of faith, just to fulfill someone else's ambition."

Zu Long shook his head in disbelief. "Sacrificing Immortal Emperors? Impossible. Not even the current Heavenly Emperor has that kind of power."

Though many Immortal Emperors perished after the ancient wars, there were still over half of them remaining in the immortal world today. Who had the strength to eliminate all of them in one go?

"Believe what you will," Xian Yue said calmly. "I've given you a warning. Whether you live or die now depends on your own choices and actions."

His eyes drifted over to Xian Li, who was soaking in the Dragon Transformation Pond. By now, she had completely shed her human form, transforming into a young dragon about a meter long. Unlike ordinary dragons, her scales shimmered with the intricate marks of yin and yang, making her appearance quite unusual.

"Is this the Yin-Yand Divine Dragon?" Zu Long's pupils contracted. This kind of dragon was exceptionally rare, a natural wielder of the forces of yin and yang. Yet, even with her rebirth through the Dragon Transformation Pond, the memory of her being a deformed dragon left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The dragon race had always held contempt for deformed dragons. Even though Xian Li had undergone a complete transformation, it didn't erase her past, and Zu Long felt a lingering disdain.

"A Yin-Yang Divine Dragon?" Xian Yue chuckled. "No, this is not a mere Yin-Yang Dragon. If that's all she were, why would I bother with her?"

Zu Long's brow furrowed.

"This," Xian Yue continued, "is the Yin-Yang Infinite Dragon, a being far beyond any ordinary divine dragon. Not only does she command the forces of yin and yang, but she also holds the power of Infinity, an ability rare even in this vast world. When she matures, she'll master the Law of Infinity, the same law that governs my own Dao of Wuji."

The Dao of Wuji and the Dao of Void or infinity are supreme paths, surpassing even the highest Shinto teachings. They are essential for entering the Heavenly Emperor Realm. It was for this reason that Xian Yue had chosen Xian Li as his disciple.

With a wave of his sleeve, Xian Li flew out of the pond and landed beside him, transforming back into a small girl dressed in a pink robe. Her dragon horns were now perfectly balanced, and her bloodline had become immeasurably pure. No one, unaware of her past, would ever suspect that she was once a deformed dragon.

Zu Long's expression softened slightly, but confusion remained. Was there something about Xian Li that he hadn't noticed? Still, no matter how much he observed, he couldn't uncover the mystery.

"Now, can you give me the dragon bone?" Xian Yue extended his hand toward Zu Long.

Without hesitation, Zu Long severed his right arm, handing it over. He knew there was no other choice. If he dared refuse, Xian Yue would have taken it by force, and not just his arm—but perhaps his entire spine.

The severed arm morphed into a colossal dragon claw covered in golden scales. Golden dragon blood gleamed where it had been cut, radiating an unmatched power. A single drop of this blood could obliterate a star system, so vast was the energy it contained.

Satisfied, Xian Yue stored the bone and turned to leave with Xian Li.

"Senior," Zu Long called out from behind. "Was what you said earlier true?"

Zu Long couldn't fathom why Xian Yue would lie. What did he stand to gain by preventing the dragons from ascending?

Could it be that there really was a hidden conspiracy behind the ascension?

"Whether it's true or not is for you to decide," Xian Yue's voice echoed as his figure disappeared into the distance, leaving Zu Long deep in thought.

Zu Long's arm rapidly regenerated. For an Immortal Emperor, regrowing a limb, even a full body, was a trivial matter.

"Master Zu Long, should we investigate this man's origins?" Qinglong, who had stood nearby, asked.

Zu Long cast a glance at him and replied calmly, "Do you even have the means to do so?"

Even for an Immortal Emperor, finding any trace of Xian Yue was impossible. After leaving the dragon's lair, Xian Yue had completely erased his presence, and not even Zu Long could sense where he had gone.

"When did an existence greater than the Immortal Emperor appear? Who exactly is that person?" Zu Long pondered, gazing up at the Heavenly Dao Golden List. The name ranked first on the list was now glowing with resplendent divine light.

"The name is indescribable, unknowable, beyond control, and unseen!" This was the Heavenly Dao's description of the figure ranked first.

"If we Immortal Emperors cannot ascend the Golden List, how could anyone possibly surpass it?"

Zu Long contemplated, his thoughts turning to the concept of three thousand Immortal Emperors corresponding to three thousand Daos. They were, after all, under the rule of heaven, and nothing in this world could be beyond control. Yet, if Xian Yue was indeed stronger than any Immortal Emperor, he might very well be the one who held the top rank on the Golden List.

"Xian Yue?" Zu Long whispered to himself. "But why has he suddenly appeared now, after being absent for so long? Is it due to the Heavenly Ascension? Or is it because of that deformed dragon? Could it be that he was only interested in my dragon bone?"

Zu Long was full of questions but no answers. Still, Xian Yue's warning about the ascension being a trap gave him pause. It would be wise to exercise caution.

"It's never a bad thing to keep your cards close to your chest," Zu Long muttered.

Turning to his gathered kin, he issued a command. "If any of you dare speak a word about today's events, you'll be punished according to clan law!"

"Yes!" The dragons responded in unison, vowing their silence.

Meanwhile, Xian Li looked at the distant Dragon City with excitement.

"Master, where are we headed now?" she asked. It was the first time she had ever left the city that had caused her so much pain and oppression. Free from the contemptuous glares of other dragons, she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. A sudden surge of emotion overwhelmed her, and though she wanted to cry, she held back, fearing she might dirty her new clothes.