47: Little Dragon Man

Deep beneath Burial King City, the sudden surge of the golden guide and the fleeting glimpse of those cold, dark-gold eyes instantly tensed the atmosphere in the entire Cross-Realm Passage Stabilization Anchor Laboratory!

"Stabilize the energy pools!" Chu Xinghe's face turned pale as he frantically manipulated the array's core, trying to calm the eight wildly oscillating Chaos Energy Pools.

Su Yuan's eyes were practically glued to the deduction compass, his fingers moving like afterimages as he rattled off data: "Unknown energy impact source, intensity unquantifiable! It carries an extremely pure will of destruction, a hundred times more terrifying than the abyss eyeball from before! It's forcefully interfering with the guide coordinates! It wants to lock onto us in reverse!"

Lin Xuan narrowed his Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes, staring intently at the gradually fading dark-gold giant eyes within the golden light, a chilling smirk spreading across his lips: "Reverse lock-on? Heh, trying to pinpoint me through a realm barrier? Dream on!" He stomped his foot, and a surge of profound Chaos Demonic Energy roared into the platform array beneath him!

Buzz!

The entire silver metal platform erupted in dazzling silver light! The runes flowing across the platform instantly became wild and violent, like countless glowing chains, fiercely coiling around the violently fluctuating golden guide! The golden light was forcefully suppressed and contracted, and the phantom of the dark-gold giant eyes, under the strangulation of the rune chains, let out a silent, furious roar before completely dissipating!

"Cut off! Coordinate lock-on disengaged!" Su Yuan let out a long breath, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. "That was close! It almost tracked us through our aura!"

Chu Xinghe also slumped to the ground, still shaken: "Master, the place this guide leads to is too deep! That big shot over there seems very displeased that we're poaching from his territory!"

Lin Xuan retracted his power, and the platform returned to calm. The golden guide also stabilized again, though its light seemed a touch dimmer. He snorted coldly: "Displeased? It's good that he's displeased! The more anxious he is, the more it proves that place is a big piece of fat meat! I'm going to devour it!" He rubbed Yu Lin's small head; she had been standing quietly by his side, her silver-white eyes fixed on the direction where the golden light had disappeared. "See? Good things are always fought over. If you want to eat, you have to rely on your own ability."

Yu Lin nodded as if she understood, her small hand instinctively grasping Lin Xuan's sleeve.

The crisis was temporarily averted, but Lin Xuan knew that a grudge had been formed. Just as he was about to tell Chu Xinghe and the others to strengthen their defenses, a strange, rhythmic vibration, like a heartbeat, suddenly came from deep within his system space! The vibration grew stronger and more urgent, carrying an indescribable life rhythm!

"Hmm?" Lin Xuan was startled, then realized something and instantly immersed his consciousness into the system space.

In the corner of the system space, specifically used for nurturing, the Five-Clawed Divine Dragon egg, which had been quietly resting, the size of a millstone, with dark-gold dragon patterns flowing across its surface, was now vibrating wildly as if having a seizure! On the surface of the eggshell, the previously dim dragon patterns now seemed alive, shimmering with golden light, dazzling and brilliant! Fine cracks were spreading across the eggshell at a visible speed! An ancient, majestic life fluctuation, carrying an aura of primordial chaos, surged out from the cracks like an erupting volcano!

"Holy crap! It's going to hatch?" Lin Xuan was both surprised and delighted. With a thought, he directly pulled the violently vibrating dragon egg out of the system space!

The millstone-sized dragon egg hit the floor of the main hall with a dull thud, shaking the entire hall. The cracks on the eggshell instantly widened, spreading like a spiderweb across the entire egg! Dazzling golden light shot out from the cracks, illuminating the entire hall in a golden splendor! An indescribable Combined-Body Stage aura, carrying the might of a true dragon, permeated the air without reservation!

"Awoo!" The Lie Tian Divine Tiger, who had been napping on the table, was instantly startled by this pure dragon might and leaped up, its reddish-gold eyes fixed on the dragon egg, a low, threatening growl rumbling in its throat.

"Master! This is...?" Yun Qingyao, Leng Yuechan, and others, who had just entered the hall to report on work, were also stunned by this sudden turn of events.

"Shh! Keep it down! Don't scare the child!" Lin Xuan made a shushing gesture, his eyes unblinkingly fixed on the violently trembling, golden-light-emitting dragon egg, a look of anticipation on his face. "Our little dragon is about to come out!"

Crack!

The sound of the eggshell cracking became more and more frequent! Finally!

Bang!

With a loud explosion! The top of the eggshell was pushed open by a tremendous force! A sky full of golden light flashed, and a small figure wobbled to its feet.

It was a small boy, appearing to be about five or six years old! He had a delicate, chubby face, and his large eyes were pure gold with majestic vertical pupils! Two small, exquisite, golden-glowing dragon horns grew on his head! A small tail covered with fine golden scales trailed behind him! The little guy was naked, covered only by a faint golden aura, exuding a pure and powerful early Combined-Body Stage dragon might!

The little guy shook his head, his golden vertical pupils filled with the innocent confusion of a newborn, curiously surveying this unfamiliar world. When his gaze swept over the bristling Lie Tian Divine Tiger, his small mouth curved, revealing two sharp little dragon fangs, and he let out a tender roar, full of a milky voice and dragon might: "Awoo!"

This cry, though childlike, contained a true dragon's might that made the Lie Tian Divine Tiger instinctively take a step back, then growl in annoyance and embarrassment.

"Pfft!" Feng Qiqi was the first to burst out laughing. "What an adorable little dragon-human!"

"This is a Five-Clawed Divine Dragon?" Mo Sha scratched his head, looking at the naked little tyke, a look of existential doubt on his face.

"A Combined-Body Stage hatchling..." Leng Yuechan's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Lin Xuan was beaming, his teeth practically showing. He strode over and scooped up the little dragon cub, wiping his chubby face haphazardly with his sleeve: "Hahaha! Good boy! Combined-Body Stage right out of the egg! Worthy of being my disciple, Lin Xuan! From now on, you'll be called Jin Bao! Lin Jin Bao! How about it? Sounds grand, right?"

The little dragon-human, Jin Bao, seemed to like Lin Xuan's aura. He squirmed in his arms, stretched out his tender little hand, and grabbed a lock of Lin Xuan's hair, mimicking him in a milky voice: "Jin Bao, awoo?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Jin Bao!" Lin Xuan chuckled, holding his freshly hatched little disciple as if he were holding a golden ingot.

Just then, Yu Lin, who had been standing quietly by the side, her pure silver-white eyes also fell on Jin Bao. She seemed very interested in this shimmering, warm-aura little thing, and reached out her equally tender, but slightly cool, small hand to gently poke Jin Bao's chubby cheek.

Jin Bao was startled by the poke. His golden vertical pupils looked at Yu Lin, showing no fear, but instead curiously extended his small hand, also wanting to grab Yu Lin's silver-white hair.

Lin Xuan saw the interaction between the two little ones and was even more delighted. He held Jin Bao with one hand and naturally took Yu Lin's cool little hand with the other: "Come, come, let's get acquainted! Jin Bao, this is your Senior Sister Yu Lin! Yu Lin, this is your Junior Brother Jin Bao!"

Holding a little zombie in one hand and a little dragon-human in the other, Lin Xuan felt like a super dad. He was about to call his disciples for a welcome party when, in the corner of the main hall, the Myriad Realms Spirit Spring Eye, where the Ghost Princess You Ye had been soaking, suddenly began to fluctuate violently!

Gurgle, gurgle!

The previously calm spring eye bubbled wildly like boiling water! A dense, almost palpable, chilling soul energy permeated from it! In the center of the spring eye, the translucent soul body of You Ye, which had been dormant, was now solidifying at a visible speed! Her pale skin gained color, and her tightly closed eyelashes trembled slightly!

"No way? What auspicious day is it today? Group awakening?" Chu Xinghe's mouth hung open.

Under everyone's gaze, You Ye in the spring eye's long eyelashes suddenly fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes!

They were a pair of extremely unique eyes! Her pupils were a deep, ethereal purple, like the purest amethyst, while the whites of her eyes were surrounded by a faint gray-white soul mist! Her gaze initially held the confusion of tens of thousands of years of slumber, but soon, the cool aloofness of a Netherworld Royal and a hint of innate charm emerged. Her soul body completely solidified, transforming into a slender maiden of about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a translucent black gauze dress, barefoot, floating above the spring eye. A powerful soul energy fluctuation, somewhere between the peak of the Soul Transformation Stage and the early Void Refinement Stage, quietly spread.

You Ye's gaze slowly swept over everyone in the hall, finally landing on Lin Xuan, who was holding the little dragon-human and leading the little zombie. She tilted her head slightly, as if recalling something. After a moment, her crimson lips parted, her voice ethereal and distant, like an echo from the Nine Nethers: "Was it you who saved me?"

Lin Xuan looked at this freshly awakened Ghost Race Princess, feeling the pure and powerful soul energy emanating from her, and his heart bloomed with joy! What a blessed day this was! He cleared his throat, adopting the demeanor of a master: "Ahem, it was merely a small effort. Since you've awakened, from now on—"

Before he could finish speaking, the long-dormant system prompt in his mind began to ring wildly, as if injected with stimulants!

Ding! Detected special physique: SSS+ Grade · Nine Nether Soul Emperor Physique!

Ding! Detected potential disciple target: Ghost Race Princess · You Ye!

Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully taking a disciple!

Ding! Triggered ten-thousand-fold return critical hit!

Ding! Returning... Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Chaos Soul Crystal!

An indescribable, vast, and supremely pure power of soul origin, like the Milky Way pouring down from the nine heavens, surged into Lin Xuan's Sea of Consciousness! This power was gentle yet immense, instantly nourishing his divine soul, which had been slightly depleted from previous battles and breakthroughs, and even subtly loosened his divine soul realm, pushing it towards a higher level! In the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, the Chaos Nascent Soul even stretched comfortably, its surrounding chaotic airflow becoming even more condensed and profound!

"Holy crap!" Even with Lin Xuan's extensive experience, he was a little stunned by this sudden, super-sized gift package. Chaos Soul Crystal! Immortal Monarch-grade! The nourishing effect of this thing on the divine soul was simply heaven-defying! This little Ghost Race Princess was practically a walking treasure!

You Ye also seemed to sense the fleeting soul energy fluctuation from Lin Xuan, which made her soul feel incredibly comfortable and close. A hint of surprise and curiosity flashed in her ethereal purple eyes.

Lin Xuan suppressed the wild joy in his heart, looking at the graceful Ghost Race Princess before him, his smile growing even brighter: "Uh, You Ye? Meeting is destiny! I see your bones are extraordinary, and your soul power is pure; you're a good candidate for cultivation! Interested in becoming my disciple? Food, lodging, and cultivation resources are all covered! And you'll have a group of senior brothers and sisters to look out for you!"

You Ye looked at Lin Xuan's sincere face, felt the warmth and stability emanating from him that comforted her soul, and recalled how he had saved her during her slumber. After a brief contemplation, she gracefully floated to the ground, bowing deeply to Lin Xuan, her voice ethereal: "You Ye, greets Master."

"Good, good, good!" Lin Xuan beamed, reaching out to gently support her. "From now on, we're family! Come, meet your senior brothers and sisters!" He pointed to Jin Bao and Yu Lin, who were curiously observing You Ye beside him. "This is your Junior Brother Jin Bao, and Senior Sister Yu Lin!"

Jin Bao chirped in his milky voice: "Awoo?"

Yu Lin blinked her silver-white eyes, still concise: "Hungry."

You Ye looked at the two little ones, a dragon and a zombie, and a faint smile couldn't help but appear on her cool face.

With Yu Lin's hand in his left, Jin Bao in his right, and his newly taken Ghost Race disciple You Ye standing beside him, Lin Xuan felt his life had reached its peak! He waved his hand with high spirits: "Let's go! Take your new junior sister to the Merit Hall to register with Huang Yan! And... have her get your junior sister some decent clothes!" He glanced at You Ye's translucent black gauze dress. Hmm, it was pretty, but as a master, he had to consider appearances! She needed to be more covered!

The group majestically headed towards the Merit Hall.

The Merit Hall was still bustling with activity. Huang Yan was buried in a pile of account books, her small face serious. Suddenly, she felt the light dim. She looked up and was immediately stunned.

She saw the Hall Master with the silver-eyed little zombie in his left hand, a naked little boy with dragon horns in his right, and a black-dressed girl with a cool temperament, too beautiful to be real, floating beside him! Behind them followed a group of core disciples watching the spectacle!

"Hall Master?" Huang Yan was a little bewildered.

"Huang Yan!" Lin Xuan smiled brightly. "Let me introduce you! This is our new disciple, You Ye! The Ghost Race Princess! Hurry and register her! Give her an identity token! Also—" He pointed to Jin Bao and Yu Lin, "—get this little fellow some sturdy small clothes! And Yu Lin, stock up on more snacks for her! The high-grade kind!"

Huang Yan looked at this peculiar combination, then at Lin Xuan's proud, patriarch-like expression, and felt a strange pang of jealousy. She pouted, but still efficiently took out the jade slip and token: "Junior Sister You Ye, right? Come, register your name, race, cultivation..."

After registration, You Ye received a token and several sets of brand new disciple robes. Jin Bao was fitted with a special small-sized combat suit, and Yu Lin's snack allowance was upgraded to the highest level. As Huang Yan watched Lin Xuan leave with his new disciples, she finally couldn't help but mutter sourly: "Hall Master, your speed at taking disciples is faster than our bookkeeping..."

Lin Xuan chuckled at her words, and casually ruffled Huang Yan's head: "The capable do more work! Head Steward Huang is the hardest working! I'll give you a bonus later! Triple!"

Huang Yan's small face flushed again from the ruffle, and her little bit of jealousy instantly vanished into thin air, leaving only the warmth on her head and the promise of a triple bonus shining brightly.

Just as this harmonious and joyful atmosphere enveloped them, deep beneath Burial King City, the golden guide, which had been forcibly suppressed by the rune chains, once again subtly and violently fluctuated!

This time, the fluctuation was even more intense! Within the golden light, it was no longer a phantom of eyes, but the faint outline of an incredibly huge, ferocious claw covered in dark-gold scales! That claw seemed to be frantically tearing at the spatial barrier! A destructive evil aura, far more violent and pure than before, penetrated through layers of obstruction, like cold steel needles, fiercely piercing towards Burial King City!

The alarm instantly blared! A piercing shriek echoed throughout the city!

"Enemy attack! Highest level enemy attack! Spatial barrier under forced attack! Target: deep beneath Burial King City!" Su Yuan's voice, filled with unprecedented gravity, roared through the emergency communication channel!

Lin Xuan's smile instantly vanished, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes! He shoved Jin Bao, who was still curiously looking around, into Yun Qingyao's arms, and handed Yu Lin's small hand to Leng Yuechan: "Watch them!"

He took a step, and his figure appeared in the sky above Burial King City! His Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes instantly activated, penetrating through layers of rock, locking onto the violently fluctuating golden light of the guide and the terrifying, faintly visible claw deep underground!

"Heh, you really dare to come?" Lin Xuan's body surged with chaotic airflow, and a terrifying pressure, surpassing the mid-stage Tribulation Transcendence, erupted with a roar!