After enduring and enduring, and then enduring some more, Grand Elder Qing Shan still couldn't hold back his tears.
It was evident he had done his best to maintain composure in front of the younger generation, but even so, his emotions were still greatly affected. It took several minutes before he finally managed to calm down.
Chen Xiao, while unable to empathize completely, could understand.
When the old Dragon Emperor was still around, the Void Ancient Dragon clan's strength was by no means inferior to those ancient races. But ever since the old Dragon Emperor disappeared, Dragon Island had gradually fallen apart. A large number of elders left, and their strength was reduced to less than a tenth of what it once was. They were even almost surpassed by the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan.
This immense decline was something only those elders who had truly experienced it could comprehend.
"Heh heh, I've made a spectacle of myself in front of you, young friend."
Having regained his composure, Grand Elder Qing Shan slowly picked up the dignity he had shattered, then solemnly clasped his fists.
"Please tell me, young friend, where is His Majesty the Dragon Emperor currently located?"
Seeing the Grand Elder's formal demeanor, Hei Qing beside him also quickly bowed.
Even Zi Yan, while appearing calm on the surface, stared intently at Chen Xiao, her ears subtly perked.
Sensing their urgency, Chen Xiao saw no need to beat around the bush and directly revealed the answer.
"Northwest!"
"Under Jia Nan Academy. That's also why Zi Yan appeared there. When I was helping Jia Nan Academy resolve the Fallen Heart Flame, I went underground and found some clues."
"I had Zi Yan invite the Grand Elder out this time because there are some dangers in that underground magma world. Without Dou Zun level strength, it's difficult to go deep. Also, it concerns the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit. Zi Yan said this item hasn't appeared for a very, very long time, and not many people know how to use it perfectly now. So, I thought I'd go ask the old Dragon Emperor."
Listening to Chen Xiao explain the reason, Zi Yan blinked her eyes and immediately understood.
Grand Elder Qing Shan and Hei Qing, however, harbored no doubts.
After all, since Chen Xiao was willing to reveal such important secrets as the old Dragon Emperor and the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, why would he deceive them on minor details?
"So that's how it is. To be honest, young friend, even Dragon Island doesn't have much information recorded about the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit. If we were to obtain this item, we wouldn't be able to guarantee its proper use. Asking His Majesty the Dragon Emperor is indeed the best approach. Why don't we go see His Majesty the Dragon Emperor first, and then go search for the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit in the ruins you mentioned!"
Grand Elder Qing Shan was already impatient, but he tried his best to maintain a calm expression, not wanting to lose his composure.
He already knew that the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit was in ruins that had yet to be unearthed, so no one else would get it first. Therefore, this matter could be slightly delayed to prioritize seeing the old Dragon Emperor.
"Alright, please wait a moment, Grand Elder. I'll go make some arrangements."
With that, Chen Xiao gave Zi Yan a look, and the two of them headed towards the backyard together.
"Zi Yan, why didn't Qing Lin come back?"
Along the way, Chen Xiao asked curiously.
When Zi Yan left, he had given her instructions to bring Qing Lin back as well, but he didn't see Qing Lin today, which made him a bit concerned.
"Don't worry, Sister Qing Lin is fine. No, it should be something good. After I contacted her, I went to find her, but when I got there, I found that Sister Qing Lin was breaking through. It wouldn't be over in a short while. Grand Elder and Uncle Hei were in a hurry to come over, so I could only return first. However, before we came, Grand Elder set up a barrier around Sister Qing Lin's breakthrough location, so she can't come out but can't enter."
Hearing this, Chen Xiao finally felt relieved.
When Qing Lin obtained the soul of the Ancient Heavenly Serpent, she had already reached the peak of an eight-star Dou Zun. It had been so long, it was normal for her to be on the verge of breaking through.
"That's good."
Without further ado, Chen Xiao brought Zi Yan, informed Cai Lin and Little Fairy Doctor, and then returned to the plaza.
As for Cao Ying, she had been busy researching the Spirit Nurturing Dust pill recipe for the past two days, preparing for refinement. A "no battle" sign was hung outside, so Chen Xiao didn't want to disturb her.
"Uncle Hei, I'll leave the hidden ruins in Tian Bei to you. Please search for them diligently and notify us if you find any news."
Before leaving, Zi Yan did not forget to instruct Hei Qing.
Hei Qing was somewhat helpless; he also wanted to see the old Dragon Emperor.
However, Zi Yan had already told him about the mission this time, so he could only comply.
"Don't worry, you'll see His Majesty the Dragon Emperor when he returns."
Grand Elder Qing Shan was in a good mood, patting Hei Qing's shoulder with a smile to comfort him.
"I understand, Grand Elder." Hei Qing clasped his fists in response, accepting the outcome.
"Yes, let's go!"
Grand Elder Qing Shan nodded, waved his sleeve, and the space in front of him was torn open like paper, revealing a massive spatial tunnel. He stepped into it first.
Chen Xiao and Zi Yan exchanged a glance and followed closely behind.
...
Northwest Continent, Jia Nan Academy.
As Chen Xiao and the other two crossed hundreds of millions of miles to enter the Inner Academy, it was precisely the closing time for the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower.
One could see figures swarming out of the tall tower and scattering in all directions like sheep leaving a pen.
After most of the crowd had dispersed, two girls with red dresses and red hair, who looked almost identical, emerged from within.
It was at this moment that Su Qian appeared, like a parent picking up their child from school, walking towards them with a kind smile.
"Grand Elder."
"Old Man Su, we both broke through to the sixth stage today, aren't we amazing?"
The two girls greeted him one after another. As soon as they spoke, their distinct personalities were immediately revealed.
In the void, looking at the harmonious scene below, Zi Yan wore a rather melancholic expression, as if reminiscing about the glorious years of the past.
Without lingering too long, Zi Yan was the first to emerge from the void, her figure flickering as she arrived before the three of them.
"Qing Huan, Xing Yao!"
"Wow, Little Mistress!"
Seeing Zi Yan, the two little ones were quite surprised and quickly came closer to greet her.
Zi Yan grabbed one in each hand, as if holding two balls of flame.
Chen Xiao and Grand Elder Qing Shan also appeared, and just after greeting Su Qian, they heard the two little ones call out.
"Mister."
"Teacher!"
The address was a bit mixed up, but Chen Xiao glanced at Zi Yan, the instigator, and didn't pay too much attention, nodding in response to the two.
After the spatial wormholes between the Purple Firmament Pavilion and the Northwest were opened, Zi Yan personally came to the Northwest to pick up Cai Lin and Hai Bo Dong and others. It was also at that time that Zi Yan met Qing Huan and Xing Yao.
After returning to the Purple Firmament Pavilion, Zi Yan had privately told Chen Xiao that she got along well with the two little ones and quite liked them.
But looking at it now, there was clearly another story.
It's worth mentioning that the bodies of these two little ones seemed somewhat special, with maximum fire resistance. Although they were still in the Dou Qi stage, they could cultivate peacefully in the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower. Not only would they not suffer any damage, but their cultivation speed would also increase. This was also why they were able to reach six-stage Dou Qi so quickly.
"Cultivate well, and when you condense your Dou Qi Cyclone, I will come to pick you up."
Knowing that Grand Elder Qing Shan was eager to see the Old Dragon Emperor, Chen Xiao didn't delay too long with Su Qian and the two little ones. After chatting for a while, he began to get down to business, heading towards the depths of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower.
After a long absence, the magma world was still a sea of crimson, with no end in sight.
The boundless reef that Chen Xiao had solidified with Dou Qi in the past was gradually being swallowed by the magma, leaving only a landing spot the size of a football field.
As soon as they arrived here, Chen Xiao noticed that the expressions of Grand Elder Qing Shan and Zi Yan had changed, as if they had sensed something simultaneously and were somewhat dazed.
"This bloodline fluctuation..."
"Dragon Emperor Your Majesty! It's definitely Dragon Emperor Your Majesty!"
Zi Yan grabbed Chen Xiao's arm and murmured to herself.
Grand Elder Qing Shan also became excited again.
"Let's go in and take a look first."
Looking at the magma sea below, Chen Xiao's eyes flashed, and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame surged out of his body, forming a flame shield around him and Zi Yan.
"Yes, yes, we'll go in first, you follow me closely."
Grand Elder Qing Shan snapped back to attention, instructed, and was the first to plunge into the magma, stirring up waves of lava.
Chen Xiao pulled Zi Yan and followed closely behind.
Once inside the magma, the three of them headed towards the depths at an extremely fast speed. The surrounding magma, upon approaching within half a zhang of their bodies, was automatically pushed away, unqualified to cause any obstruction.
Grand Elder Qing Shan led the way, his speed increasing. Even Chen Xiao and Zi Yan, who had now reached the Dou Zun level, almost couldn't keep up several times, which showed his eagerness.
In just a few minutes, Chen Xiao sensed that many hidden auras were rapidly approaching them.
"They are Flame Lizardmen, strange creatures that live in magma. They cannot leave the magma and have a Fire Pill within them. I collected quite a few last time."
Grand Elder Qing Shan in front nodded slightly, his speed not slowing down at all. Only a vast Dou Qi fluctuation swept across the path.
In an instant, the surrounding magma exploded, and figures hidden within the magma let out piercing screams.
Chen Xiao and Zi Yan followed behind, not needing to do anything but collect Fire Pills. They had never been so relaxed!
"Sizzling!"
This state continued for an unknown amount of time when the surrounding magma suddenly churned violently.
The next moment, the three saw dense crimson figures converging from all directions, finally surrounding them.
Chen Xiao's gaze swept over these Flame Lizardmen, finally settling in the distance.
There, there were two lizardmen with milky white bodies. They looked much older than the other lizardmen.
Most importantly, both Chen Xiao and Zi Yan felt immense pressure from these two Flame Lizardmen.
"Half-Saint!"
Zi Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. The Third Elder Zhu Li of Eastern Dragon Island was a Half-Saint, and Zi Yan had a lot of contact with him. She was very familiar with this level of pressure.
"Leave it to Grand Elder."
Chen Xiao's expression was calm, without any panic.
He hadn't come alone. He had specifically asked Zi Yan to invite a Dou Sheng level expert for this matter.
"Humans, this is the God's Graveyard, a place you cannot come to. Retreat quickly, or you will awaken the Guardian, and you will be buried here forever!"
While Chen Xiao and Zi Yan were whispering, one of the two white lizardmen actually spoke human language. Although it was a bit awkward, the intermittent voice still reached the ears of the three.
"God's Graveyard? Guardian? What nonsense is this? Get out of my way! If you dare to block my path, I will show no mercy!"
Grand Elder Qing Shan frowned. He didn't have the time to care about any God's Graveyard or Guardian right now. He just wanted to find the Old Dragon Emperor as soon as possible.
"Human, how dare you..."
The two Flame Lizardmen, their bodies bone-white and their pupils icy cold, stared intently at the trio. Before their enraged threat could be fully uttered, Grand Elder Green Mountains had already made his move.
He extended a palm, which seemed to carry no force at all, yet it caused the two Half-Saint Lizardmen to become as immobile as if they had been struck by acupuncture. They could only watch helplessly as death approached.
"Grand Elder, spare their lives. They still have some use."
At the critical moment, Chen Xiao spoke up to dissuade him.
It wasn't out of concern for the two lizardmen; they were of different races, and there was no affection between them.
He simply felt that these Flame Lizardmen could serve as a barrier for the Ancient Emperor Cave.
Although the Ancient Emperor Cave was hidden here, making it extremely unlikely for outsiders to detect, it wasn't an absolute impossibility.
Just as Xiao Yan in the original timeline had discovered this place, the current timeline had changed significantly, and it was impossible to guarantee that such an exception wouldn't occur again.
Hearing Chen Xiao's voice, Grand Elder Green Mountains didn't overthink it. He reined in the ferocity of his palm strike, reducing its killing intent, and slammed the two Half-Saint Lizardmen into the depths of the lava.
He wasn't in the mood to question the usefulness of keeping these two lizardmen alive, but since Chen Xiao had spoken, Grand Elder Green Mountains was willing to give him that face.
Half-Saint and Dou Saint – a single word difference, yet they were like beings from two different dimensions.
Whether to kill them or not, Grand Elder Green Mountains didn't care.
"Let's continue deeper!"
Ignoring the surrounding Flame Lizardmen, Grand Elder Green Mountains spoke, then his figure moved, transforming into a rainbow light that streaked like lightning towards the bottom of the lava.
Chen Xiao and Zi Yan followed closely behind.
Watching their retreating figures, the Flame Lizardmen hesitated for a moment before ultimately not daring to attack again.
Without the obstruction of these Flame Lizardmen, the speed of the three increased again. However, no matter how terrifyingly their speed increased, they still seemed unable to touch the end of the lava. The path ahead, under the undulation of the lava, remained hazy and indistinct, as if it truly had no end.
Fortunately, Chen Xiao knew of the Ancient Emperor Cave's existence, and Zi Yan and Grand Elder Green Mountains could sense their proximity to the Old Dragon Emperor through their bloodlines, so they didn't have the slightest hesitation.
"Chichichichi!"
As they sped through, the color of the surrounding lava, from fiery red, had gradually transformed into a strange, dark red.
Upon arriving here, Grand Elder Green Mountains, who had been clearing the path, suddenly stopped.
Then, under Chen Xiao and Zi Yan's gaze, the Grand Elder's eyes flickered, and he slowly reached out his palm, gently pushing aside the blackish lava before him.
"Buzz!"
As the Grand Elder's palm swept across, the space before him actually rippled. His hand then disappeared from Chen Xiao and Zi Yan's sight, as if it had entered a different dimension.
"Found it! This must be the space created by His Majesty the Dragon Emperor!"
Looking at the scene before him, Grand Elder Green Mountains' eyes seemed to gleam with light, and he stated with absolute certainty.
In terms of constructing space, no one in the Void Ancient Dragon clan could surpass them. Yet, even for him, the Grand Elder, constructing space at the bottom of this lava would be impossible.
Naturally, he thought of the Old Dragon Emperor!
Only the Old Dragon Emperor could achieve this!
Listening to the Grand Elder's words, Chen Xiao, though he knew it was inappropriate, couldn't help but feel a slight urge to laugh.
After all, this space was not the Old Dragon Emperor's doing. On the contrary, it could be considered the Old Dragon Emperor's prison.
"Grand Elder, let's go in," Chen Xiao said, pulling Zi Yan forward to remind him.
"Mm."
Grand Elder Green Mountains nodded and stepped into it.
"Chih!"
As his entire body stepped into the mysterious space, the lava flow that had filled their vision immediately came to an abrupt halt.
What appeared before the trio was a dark and silent, boundless space!
This space had been silent for who knows how many years, and the entire area was permeated with an ancient and weathered aura.
The trio's gazes swept across the empty space. It was completely bare, with no objects present, as if this were a void.
"Let's move forward."
Having truly arrived here, Chen Xiao couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and excitement.
After all, this was the location of the Ancient Emperor Cave, which even the Soul Heavenly Emperor yearned for!
And Chen Xiao had always known about this ultimate dungeon but had never had the ability to come here.
"Be careful."
Zi Yan whispered, her rapid heartbeat audible even from beside him.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly, leading Zi Yan and the suddenly silent Grand Elder, they flew straight ahead.
After flying for about ten minutes, a faint, flickering light finally appeared within the trio's sight.
Without a moment's hesitation, the three of them quickly flew towards it.
Upon getting closer, they could clearly see that within the light was a colossal stone gate, tens of thousands of feet tall!
It stood silently in this space, exuding an ancient, wild aura, towering majestically!
In front of the stone gate was a vast square. The three of them landed within it, standing before the grand stone gate, as insignificant as ants.
At this moment, let alone Chen Xiao and Zi Yan, even the Dou Zun-level Grand Elder Qing Shan couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
The three pairs of eyes flowed over the stone gate, finally settling on the four ancient characters at the top.
The moment they saw them clearly, even Chen Xiao, who had already prepared himself mentally, felt his pupils contract and his heart pound.
"Ancient Emperor Cave!"
The four characters were simple and unadorned, yet within their plainness, they exuded an endless majesty that transcended heaven and earth.
After staring intently for a long time, Chen Xiao finally came to his senses.
He was only at the Dou Zun level. This Ancient Emperor Cave was not something he should be thinking or dwelling on at the moment.
Moreover, even if he one day reached a point where he was qualified to contend for the Origin Qi within, there was no need for him to stubbornly fixate on it here.
The pre-payment in his mind was his true confidence!
Having completely calmed down, Chen Xiao looked at Zi Yan and Grand Elder Qing Shan beside him, only to find that they had, at some unknown time, shifted their gaze away from the Ancient Emperor Cave. They were both tilting their heads back, blankly gazing up at the sky.
And in that dark, vast sky, a pair of purple-gold giant eyes hung like the sun!
The three of them stared at each other, unmoving!
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