I apologize for the lack of updates over the past few days. My schedule became unexpectedly busy due to the Eid celebrations with my family. I understand it may seem unusual for the celebrations to stretch over several weeks, but with family and friends spread across different places and schedules, it has been difficult to coordinate everything.
As a result, I've been traveling to multiple gatherings to celebrate with different relatives and friends. Balancing this alongside my studies and part-time work left me with little time to properly prepare and upload new chapters.
I also realized only recently how to schedule chapter uploads on Webnovel, which is something I should have learned earlier, so I take responsibility for that as well.
Once again, I sincerely apologize for the delay in updates, and I will do my best to manage things better and maintain a consistent release schedule moving forward. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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"Moreover, refining the Dragon Phoenix Crystal will not be a simple task," Elder Zhu Li said gravely. "It will consume an immense amount of time and drain your Dou Qi at an alarming rate."
As he finished speaking, he clenched his hand. A dense-white jade bottle emerged from his palm. He caressed it gently for a moment before handing it to Xiao Hua and continued in solemn manner.
"There are five drops of Ancient Dragon Essence Blood inside. They were personally refined by this old one. Each drop contains an astonishing amount of energy. Not only can it instantly restore a vast portion of your depleted Dou Qi, but it also holds the mysterious ability to temper one's veins and bones. During the refinement, if your Dou Qi cannot keep up, consume a drop."
Xiao Hua accepted the jade bottle with care. The moment it touched his hand, he felt the overwhelming energy pulsing from within—it was vast and domineering. He naturally understood the rarity and value of such a treasure.
If these five refined drops were to appear in the outside world, even elite experts would tear each other apart to claim them. After all, beyond restoring Dou Qi, they could strengthen the body to a level comparable to certain high-tier Magical Beasts.
"This matter carries great weight—I will not speak empty words. Although this Ancient Dragon Essence Blood is exceedingly precious, I shall accept it for now with sincerity," Xiao Hua said calmly. He did not waste time with false modesty. With a solemn cupped-fist salute, he inhaled deeply.
The next instant, his body transformed into a streak of light, ascending into the skies above the volcano. He came to a halt beside the massive cauldron, seated cross-legged in midair.
Elder Zhu Li's expression gradually turned solemn as he watched Xiao Hua prepare to begin. He murmured softly, "From this point onward, everything will depend on you..."
…
"This refinement is not a matter of speed," he thought. "What matters is ensuring that the slumbering princess fully absorbs the energy of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit—without allowing the flames to harm her. This will truly test one's patience and control over fire…"
Xiao Hua sat cross-legged before the towering cauldron, his gaze fixed upon the delicate, slumbering figure within. His expression was grave, and his breathing slow and steady. After several deep breaths, once his heart had fully settled, he parted his lips.
Bang!
With the tension within him released, he spat out five flames, each radiating a distinct hue. The flames soared into the air, intertwining as they converged into a single, monstrous five-colored blaze. Without hesitation, he guided the flame into the heart of the massive cauldron.
With the emergence of the five flames, the surrounding temperature surged. Wisps of burning white smoke began to rise from the towering trees across the mountain forest.
The flames howled as they poured into the enormous cauldron, gathering under Xiao Hua's nearly flawless control. In mere moments, the raging flames twisted and condensed—forming the magnificent shape of a colossal fire phoenix within the cauldron.
Miiing——!
A melodious yet piercing phoenix cry echoed across the heavens the instant it took form. The cry reverberated through the air, causing the massive cauldron to tremble violently.
"Refine!"
With a sudden hand seal and a soft yet resolute command, Xiao Hua begin the refinement.
At his call, the blazing fire phoenix soared toward the slumbering Zi Yan. Just as it was about to crash into her, the phoenix abruptly changed direction, circling gracefully around her. With a sweep of its fiery wings, it coiled its blazing body protectively around her delicate frame.
In that instant, the temperature inside the cauldron soared to a terrifying level—blazing enough to warp the air, and melt even the sturdiest of metals.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
As the temperature spiked sharply, numerous rays of light shot out from all corners of Eastern Dragon Island. One after another, figures appeared above the surrounding mountain peaks, their expressions solemn and focused.
They were members of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe, clearly having been informed of the event taking place today. Yet none uttered a word—they feared even the slightest disturbance might disrupt Xiao Hua's concentration.
Xiao Hua remained unmoved by the gathering gazes. His entire focus was locked onto the massive cauldron before him. Spiritual strength surged from between his brows, spreading outward to finely regulate the flame's temperature.
Within the cauldron, the five-colored flame burned fiercely, its intense radiance obscuring the view. Even so, Elder Zhu Li and the other experts—through their vast perception—could clearly sense the scene unfolding inside, every detail etched into their minds.
The fire phoenix coiled tightly around Zi Yan, its flaming form entrenched protectively. From its massive beak, countless scorching fire pillars erupted, surging forth and dancing around her delicate frame within the cauldron.
Under the relentless assault of such terrifying heat, the Dragon Phoenix Crystal embedded in her body began to emit a faint, otherworldly glow. Light rippled across its crystalline surface, like a flowing liquid that pulsed with waves of overwhelming energy—each one enough to make the hearts of onlookers tremble.
The five-colored flames continued to bombard Zi Yan's body, yet the crystal remained unchanged—unyielding, impervious. Even so, Xiao Hua's expression did not waver. He had already foreseen this outcome.
Calm and composed, his eyes slowly closed. A flicker of a mysterious flame danced faintly within his pupils, as if resonating with the origin of all fire.
If ordinary Heavenly Flames could incinerate all under heaven—
Then nothing could defy the will of Primordial Heavenly Flame, the very source from which all Heavenly Flames were born.
…
The temperature within the mountain range had risen to an alarming degree, distorting the very air itself. Not a trace of moisture remained—leaving the entire region unbearably dry and scorching, as though a sun had descended upon the peak.
Yet no one paid any heed to the searing heat or the shifting landscape. At this moment, every gaze was fixed upon the massive cauldron at the volcano's mouth—or more precisely, on the lean, solitary figure seated before it.
The young man's hands moved in an unceasing flow of shifting seals. With each change, the temperature subtly rose and fell in rhythm, clearly showing that the searing flames were entirely under his control.
High above, Elder Zhu Li hovered in the sky, his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze remained locked onto the enormous cauldron, his expression solemn and unmoving, as if unwilling to miss even the slightest fluctuation in this critical refinement.
"This young man's skill is truly remarkable… But Zhu Li, do you truly believe he can refine the Dragon Phoenix Crystal?"
A calm, aged voice rang out from behind. Elder Zhu Li turned his head to see an old man with a head of black and white hair standing quietly behind him. The elder wore simple robes, and though he said little, his silence and unsmiling face gave him an imposing, almost strict presence.
"There is no need for excessive worry, Elder Qi You," Elder Zhu Li replied calmly, his gaze shifting back to the thin figure seated before the massive cauldron. "Though he is only at the Dou Zong level, little friend Xiao Hua has already succeeded in refining a Tier 9 Treasure Pill. That feat alone makes him more qualified than most we know to undertake this task."
"It's astonishing," Elder Qi You muttered with a soft sigh. "To have achieved such mastery at such a young age, and still only be a Dou Zong… I can't imagine the depth of his energy reserves. And to think there are two more like him within the same faction…"
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward a distant peak where three figures quietly stood, observing from afar.
"Originally, I would have preferred Hall Master Mei Ling or Hall Master Wei Jie to assist in this refinement," Zhu Li said, his tone turning a shade more serious. "But after learning of the recent developments… it's far better they focus on preparing for the coming battle, rather than being tied down here."
With that, a quiet sigh escaped his lips as he turned his gaze back toward the blazing cauldron.
Mei Ling and Wei Jie have already stepped into the Ban Sheng realm. Their strength is crucial in resisting the invasion from the united front formed by the other three dragon islands. Even they cannot afford to be careless. For the sake of this refinement, they've pledged to defend the process with their lives, should it come to that.
"Moreover…" Zhu Li added in a quiet murmur, "Zi Yan left a message before she lost consciousness—requesting Xiao Hua's aid in this matter. Though she is still young, she wouldn't gamble with her own life. For her to say such a thing, it means she holds great confidence in him."
Qi You shook his head and sighed. "With such accomplishments, I have no complaints about the young fellow. I merely sought reassurance from you, since you've spoken with him personally."
He paused, his gaze turning heavy.
"Zi Yan is the only one in our Ancient Void Dragon tribe who possesses a complete royal bloodline. If anything happens to her… the unification of our tribe may forever remain a dream."
His tone turned even more solemn as he continued, "Especially now, with both the First Elder and Second Elder having entered long-term secluded cultivation. No one knows when—or if—they'll emerge. Without their presence, Eastern Dragon Island holds no advantage among the four dragon islands in terms of strength…"
Zhu Li let out a soft sigh. "There's no point dwelling on what-ifs," he said quietly. "Since the other three dragon islands have begun to stir, we must respond accordingly and ensure they do not interfere with the refinement. Fortunately, they remain unaware of the full situation. For now, they'll only send a few experts to probe."
He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"The chiefs of those three islands are all men of great ambition. They would never allow someone with a true royal bloodline to rise. Even if they themselves can withstand the suppression of such a bloodline, their tribe members will instinctively submit. Should Zi Yan awaken with her bloodline fully refined, the tribes will inevitably unite beneath her."
"Indeed."
Qi You gave a silent nod. His gaze lingered on Xiao Hua, who remained seated motionlessly in front of the massive cauldron. Then he turned his eyes toward Mei Ling and Wei Jie, stationed firmly in the distance. As if reassured by the formidable protection surrounding the site, Qi You's figure flickered and slowly vanished into the sky.
At that moment, many hidden auras scattered throughout the mountains began to fade, silently withdrawing as if they had heard and accepted Zhu Li's words.
Zhu Li stood alone in the sky. He exhaled a long breath before shifting his gaze toward Xiao Hua once more. With a voice too soft for anyone else to hear, he murmured, "Xiao Hua… the future of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe now rests in your hands."
…
Unbothered by the commotion around him, Xiao Hua's focus remained entirely locked onto the purple crystal before him. Suddenly, his brow twitched slightly, and a wave of searing heat slowly escaped from his throat with his breath.
"Coagulate!"
The soft command left his lips like a whisper carried by fire.
Within the massive cauldron, the blazing fire phoenix trembled violently. As the command echoed, its body began to change—its flames becoming even more radiant, more brilliant, as though infused with a new level of purity.
Miiing!
The phoenix let out a melodious cry. Though it shrank in size, its elegance and brilliance intensified. Yet, despite its diminished form, the flames within it didn't weaken. On the contrary, its internal temperature surged to an astonishing degree—blazing with terrifying might.
The sheer heat radiating from the cauldron caused even some of the experienced members of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe to shift uneasily, their expressions changing as they instinctively retreated half a step.
Chi!
The five-colored flame surged continuously from the fire phoenix's beak, latching fiercely onto the Dragon Phoenix Crystal that encased Zi Yan's body. The moment the blazing flame made contact, waves of sharp sizzling echoed through the air.
Under this intense collision, the incomparably tough crystal finally began to react—before the eyes of countless tense onlookers, a single drop of purple-gold liquid slowly emerged.
"The Dragon Phoenix Crystal is beginning to melt!"
Though the drop was minuscule, it did not escape the keen eyes of the gathered experts. Suppressed exclamations of joy quietly rippled through the surroundings, their excitement barely contained.
"Hu…"
Elder Zhu Li let out a long breath of relief. His tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed as he gazed at the cauldron with a rare hint of satisfaction. Though it was only the beginning, this one drop proved that Xiao Hua's flames were capable of melting the Dragon Phoenix Crystal.
It was a promising start. So long as Xiao Hua could endure, the entire crystal would inevitably be refined.
"What's even more astonishing…" Zhu Li murmured to himself, eyes flickering with a trace of admiration, "...is that it took less than two hours to reach this point. And despite such terrifying heat, not a single trace of Zi Yan's body was harmed, nor was any of the crystal's energy burned away. His control over flame... it's already comparable to those old monsters from the Yao Clan."
His gaze swept over the gradually softening crystal, genuinely impressed.
"He said it would take four weeks. But from the look of things… the entire refinement might not even take three."
With a smooth beginning, all that remained was to wait patiently—until the Dragon Phoenix Crystal fully melted.
...
Fifteen days passed in the blink of an eye.
Throughout this entire period, Xiao Hua had not rested for even a moment. His Dou Qi had only been completely depleted once—yet even that single instance caused the expressions of several Ancient Void Dragon tribe experts to twitch uncontrollably, their faces becoming rather amusing to behold.
They knew well that, under normal circumstances, a Dou Zong would have exhausted their Dou Qi at least twice—perhaps more. Even a Dou Zun would have shown signs of deep fatigue multiple times by now. Just how vast was this young man's Dou Qi reservoir?
Despite this, many began to feel a growing sense of admiration. During these fifteen days, Xiao Hua's Dou Qi had circulated without pause, as steady and tireless as a river flowing through the mountains.
Naturally, Xiao Hua understood he could not rely on willpower alone to endure the entire refinement. Long before the exhaustion struck, he had prepared accordingly—taking out several Phoenix Breath Pills. As he consumed them, his depleted meridians were swiftly refilled with surging Dou Qi, as though a tide had rushed back into an empty sea.
"Fortunately, I still have plenty of Phoenix Breath Pills. Otherwise, I'd have been forced to use those precious blood essences…"
A soft sigh of relief escaped his lips, and a faint smile appeared on his slightly pale face. His eyes remained steady, firmly fixed on the interior of the enormous cauldron before him.
The Dragon Phoenix Crystal that once encased Zi Yan's body had completely vanished from the surface. However, its disappearance did not mark the end of the refinement—far from it. Deep within her body, layers of solidified Dragon Phoenix Crystal still remained. Only after each internal layer was thoroughly refined could Zi Yan truly awaken.
"I expected this," Xiao Hua murmured softly, his voice tinged with fatigue. "But refining the Dragon Phoenix Crystal with my current strength as a Dou Zong… it's proving far more troublesome than I imagined."
He recalled that even Xiao Yan had refined this very crystal while at the Dou Zun level—and even then, it had taken him an entire month. Now that he was experiencing it firsthand, Xiao Hua finally understood the sheer difficulty of this task.
After quietly voicing his complaint, he steeled himself and resumed the refinement process. The flames blazed once more, and under the excruciatingly intense and prolonged effort, another five days passed—bringing the total to twenty days since the refinement had begun.
During this time, the entire Ancient Void Dragon tribe watched with bated breath. They were pleasantly surprised to see the crystal layer around Zi Yan grow thinner with each passing day. And finally, on the twentieth day, the last traces of the crystal completely vanished from her body.
With this encouraging progress, a wave of joy began to spread across Eastern Dragon Island. At this pace, it wouldn't be long before the remaining Dragon Phoenix Crystal layers within Zi Yan's body were fully refined. When that moment came, the Magical Beast world would once again welcome the birth of a being bearing the true royal bloodline.
In front of the enormous cauldron sat a lone figure—his posture weary, his presence silent. The air around him shimmered faintly with heat, revealing a pair of bloodshot eyes that radiated exhaustion… yet also an unwavering, frightening tenacity.
Countless gazes from the surrounding peaks fell upon that thin silhouette. Within the eyes of the once-proud Ancient Void Dragon tribe members was a newfound respect. Over the past twenty days, this young man had displayed a level of endurance and determination that left even their pride subdued.
Elder Zhu Li gently stroked his beard as he studied the figure's back. Despite having not rested for over half a month, the young man still manipulated the Heavenly Flame with practiced ease—his control flawless, his will unbroken.
"Truly… this young man's perseverance and strength could make one question their own foundations," Zhu Li murmured, a faint sigh escaping his lips. A trace of envy flickered in his eyes.
"Elder Zhu Li. Members of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe. The uninvited guests have arrived…!"
Wei Jie's voice echoed across the mountain range, solemn and heavy, reverberating through the hearts of all who heard it.
Zhu Li's expression darkened the moment those words reached his ears. Turning toward the sound, he saw Wei Jie and Mei Ling standing at the edge of the protective formation, their gazes fixed on the empty space beyond. From their bodies, a monstrous aura began to stir—dense with killing intent, like a storm quietly brewing beneath calm waters.
Following their line of sight, the expressions of the surrounding experts turned grim. In the next instant, powerful auras surged forth one after another. Like a rising tide, waves of fighting intent swept across the mountain, warning all that the moment of battle had come.
They needed no confirmation—they already knew. The other three dragon islands had arrived.
None doubted Wei Jie's words. His and Mei Ling's senses were far sharper than most. Whether as Tier 9 Treasure Alchemists or as elite Ban Sheng experts, their insight could not be questioned. Wei Jie would never issue such a warning lightly.
Zhu Li narrowed his eyes as his voice dropped to a low murmur.
"So... they've come at last."
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