Chapter 386: "You're Only Five-Star? I'm About to Hit Seven-Star!"
The moment Zi Yan entered the area, her gaze locked directly onto the massive stone altar. After a moment of silence, she lightly pushed off the ground and soared toward the altar, seemingly unaffected by the overwhelming pressure.
Seeing this, Xiao Yuan and the others quickly followed, landing atop the stone altar moments later.
Up close, the altar exuded an ancient and desolate aura, causing everyone to momentarily compose themselves in reverence.
They stood near the altar's midpoint. From there, they could clearly see a stairway of blue stone extending to the top.
Zi Yan's eyes were fixed on the top of the stone steps. That sense of being called grew stronger with every second.
Hu...
Exhaling softly, her expression grew serious. With a stomp, she vanished in a flash, speeding up the steps and reaching the altar's peak within a few flickers of light.
Xiao Yuan and the others arrived soon after—only to be met with Zi Yan's shocked face. Following her gaze, they saw a stone platform at the altar's center, colored gold and violet. In the middle of this platform was a half-foot-deep indentation. From within it, a sapling grew—about the thickness of a thumb—its twisted form curled like a sleeping dragon.
At the top of the sapling hung a fruit, golden and violet in color. Upon closer inspection, one could see that the golden side resembled a miniature curled-up Taixu Ancient Dragon, while the violet side took the form of a dancing Heavenly Demon Phoenix.
Xiao Yuan and his companions exchanged stunned looks. Even he had never seen such a mystical fruit before.
But he had read of it. This was one of his secret objectives—the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit!
"It feels like the pressure is coming from the fruit…"
Cai Lin whispered in disbelief.
Only now did everyone realize that the aura blanketing the plain was indeed radiating from that bizarre golden-violet fruit.
"That's the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit," Zi Yan murmured, "only mentioned in the ancient records of the Ancient Dragon clan. And that phoenix… that's not a Heavenly Demon Phoenix. It's their progenitor—an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix. This fruit forms when the life essences of a Taixu Ancient Dragon and an Ancient Phoenix are absorbed by a rare tree. The chances of it forming are less than ten percent. In our clan's entire recorded history, only five have ever appeared. This… is the sixth."
She stared at the fruit in awe, then slowly turned. From the altar's summit, she could see the entire blood-red plain below—and at last, the pale shapes hidden in the red soil became clear: two colossal skeletons—one of a dragon, the other of a phoenix.
Here, once upon a time, a Taixu Ancient Dragon and an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix had died together.
Their massive bones circled the entire plain, forming a perfect ring. The altar stood precisely at its center.
Xiao Yuan and the others were stunned as they too realized the truth. Gasps echoed in succession.
"No wonder such a fruit could be born. So this is where a dragon and phoenix fell…"
Mu Qingluan muttered.
"Both races were apex beings in the magical beast world. But their natures were incompatible—each encounter ended in war. Most likely, they died here after a brutal battle."
Zi Yan said softly.
"But the phoenix's life force must've been weaker. Otherwise, this Beast Spirit Barrier would've had a phoenix's aura instead."
Xiao Yuan nodded, then looked at Zi Yan. "So what now?"
"The Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit must not fall into the hands of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan. If they obtain it, they could create a beast that fuses both bloodlines. That would threaten the Ancient Dragon clan."
Zi Yan's tone grew firm.
"Then take it now."
Xiao Yuan smiled.
Zi Yan nodded and turned—but just as she was about to act, her expression changed. Spatial fluctuations erupted around them, and powerful auras surged in.
Xiao Yuan and the others sensed it too. Their eyes turned toward the source—where the Beast Spirit Barrier now tore open, and a group surged inside like hungry wolves.
It was the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan.
Led by Feng Qing'er, the group entered, scanning their surroundings in confusion—until their eyes locked on the altar and the glowing fruit.
A stunned silence.
"…Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit?!"
Feng Qing'er shrieked in disbelief.
The silver-haired man beside her also froze—then his gaze burned with madness.
Zi Yan's face turned cold. She withdrew her hand. Collecting the fruit required a precise and complex method—if these intruders weren't dealt with, there'd be no way to concentrate.
Hu… Xiao Yuan exhaled lightly and looked at the newcomers.
"Don't worry," he said. "You just focus on the fruit. These small fry won't get past me."
Everyone nodded. Xiong Zhan cracked his knuckles and grinned savagely.
"Good. Maybe it's my bloodline, but these birds have always pissed me off."
"Xiao Yuan," Feng Qing'er's voice rang out coldly, "leave the altar now—or be buried here forever!"
Xiao Yuan glanced at her indifferently. His gaze swept across their group—two unfamiliar two-star Dou Zuns, clearly from vassal clans.
Alongside them stood the silver-haired man and a black-robed elder. Xiao Yuan recognized the former, but the elder was new—yet his veiled aura indicated strength no less than the others.
That made four Dou Zun-level enemies.
"Four Dou Zuns…"
Xiao Yuan shook his head.
Still not enough.
Even if they had numerous peak Dou Sect followers, they were irrelevant to someone like him.
"Big talk, little girl. If you want that fruit, get through me first!"
Xiong Zhan roared, his body rapidly swelling until he stood ten meters tall. His ancient dragon-bear bloodline exploded in a wave of killing intent that made even some Dou Zun experts flinch.
"So it's a Dragon-Bear… You think a hint of dragon blood makes you worthy? Laughable."
The silver-haired man sneered.
"You guys focus on helping Zi Yan collect the fruit. As for these chickens... I could use the warm-up."
Xiao Yuan cracked his knuckles and strode forward. A surge of power erupted—his four-star Dou Zun aura fully unleashed!
"Hmph, arrogant fool. Do you think you alone can face all of us?"
Feng Qing'er scoffed. The two vassal Dou Zuns stepped forward, unleashing their auras. The air around them instantly became suffocating.
"Let's see who dares touch this altar!"
Xiao Yuan rose slowly, golden flames erupting from his body and forming a massive fire dragon above him. Its roar shook the skies.
Feeling his overwhelming power, the faces of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix cultivators darkened. He was definitely four-star—but clearly no ordinary one.
"Elder Huang Xuan… we'll need your help."
The silver-haired man looked toward the silent black-robed elder, who nodded calmly.
His eyes locked onto the fruit as he murmured:
"The Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit… Ha! Heaven blesses our clan!"
With a chuckle, he stepped forward. Each footfall made his aura grow heavier—until on the fourth step, his power surged dramatically—
Five-star Dou Zun!
"Youngster, leave now, and I'll spare your lives."
His cold voice rumbled like divine thunder, shaking the sky itself.
"Only five-star? And you think you can talk to me like that?"
Xiao Yuan sneered.
"Stubborn fool. Then stay here forever!"
The old man's expression darkened, killing intent overflowing. With his strength, few could rival him here. He hadn't wanted a fight—but if Xiao Yuan refused to back down, he would respond with ruthless force.
"Kill them all. Leave no one alive!"
He barked.
The Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's killing intent exploded!
The silver-haired man flew into the air, his gaze icy.
"Xiao Yuan, let me show you there's always someone stronger. You're not the only prodigy in the world!"
With a violent surge of power, he formed a massive golden fist dozens of meters wide.
"Heavenly Phoenix Tyrant Fist!"
The golden fist thundered toward Xiao Yuan, tearing through the air with explosive force.
Xiao Yuan casually waved a hand. A burst of force shattered the incoming attack like glass.
"You talk too much. Get lost."
His voice was cold as blue lightning crackled underfoot—and then he vanished.
The silver-haired man tried to react, but in the blink of an eye, Xiao Yuan appeared before him. A plain, unadorned punch struck straight at his chest.
Confident in his beastly physique, the man smirked and met the blow head-on with his own attack.
But the moment their fists collided—Xiao Yuan's terrifying strength surged forth.
Crack!
With a sickening crunch, the silver-haired man's arm twisted grotesquely. He didn't even have time to scream before passing out, sent crashing into the ground like a meteor.
Below, Xiong Zhan shrank back into human form and stood quietly to the side.
Holy crap. Brother Xiao Yuan… is just not human. Even a Taixu Ancient Dragon couldn't have a stronger body than this.
The Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan looked like they'd seen a ghost.
One punch had taken out a two-star Dou Zun!
"You said, 'leave no one alive,' right?"
Xiao Yuan grinned coldly and began forming hand seals.
"Threefold Heaven Flame Transformation—First, Second… Third Form!"
With each chant, his aura soared.
In mere moments, he reached…
Seven-star Dou Zun.
The entire field fell into stunned silence.
(END CHAPTER)
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