107: Refining the dragon bones, further improving skills

Inside the Stone Cave, it was deathly silent.

Only the gray-white finger bone lying quietly on the stone platform, and the lingering sound of the System's cold notification in Li Yinglong's Sea of Consciousness, declared the earth-shattering Origin of the object before him.

An ancient true-dragon finger bone!

Within Li Yinglong's chest, the heart that had experienced the weathering of two lifetimes and had long been calm as water was now beating violently, unable to be suppressed, while his Qi and blood surged like a tide.

That was the instinctive throb of the true dragon source blood sensing something of the same Origin.

A true dragon!

This supreme divine object, which only existed in ancient legends and had not appeared for tens of thousands of years, had actually appeared before his eyes without any warning!

His gaze locked tightly onto that finger bone. The wisp of true dragon source blood within his body, as if having received the most primordial summons, boiled and trembled with unprecedented intensity, emitting a silent yet impassioned roar, filled with longing and closeness.

There was no need for the System to provide any further prompts; he already understood that this item was precisely the next supreme cornerstone he had dreamed of for his "Nine Transformations of the True Dragon" Dao path!

"Clan Chief?"

Song Shuyao was delicate in her thoughts and was the first to notice the violent fluctuations in Li Yinglong's Aura, as well as the burning, intense light in his eyes that was almost about to materialize. She could not help but call out softly, her tone filled with inquiry and concern.

Li Yinglong took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his roiling emotions, and turned abruptly, his voice heavy as iron:

"This item is a tremendous Opportunity, crucial to this old man's Dao path, and is even more the key to clearing the source of the evil filth in this place. This old man needs to go into seclusion here immediately to refine and fuse with it. The three of you, act as my Protectors and strictly forbid any living creature from approaching within ten zhang of the stone platform!"

"Yes! Clan Chief!"

Hearing this, the three of them were invigorated. Although they did not know what kind of treasure that 'withered bone' really was, seeing the Clan Chief being so solemn, they knew it was a matter of great importance. They immediately responded in unison, without any hesitation.

Song Shuwen and Song Shuyao's figures flickered, and they spread out like streams of light, occupying two crucial points of the Stone Cave, one on the left and one on the right. The True Fire of the Sun and the Grand Yin Clear Radiance flowed faintly, weaving into an invisible warning net.

Li Changxing let out a low roar, his feet firmly planted on the ground, his Qi and blood erupting throughout his body. He guarded the path leading to the cave entrance like a rock, as if he were a prehistoric Vicious Beast ready to strike.

Seeing that the protective formation was in place, Li Yinglong no longer hesitated.

He walked slowly to the stone platform, looked one last time with complex emotions at the finger bone that carried the vicissitudes of eternity, and then slowly closed his eyes.

"System, help me fuse with this dragon bone and advance the 'Nine Transformations of the True Dragon'!"

【Command confirmed. Target: Ancient true-dragon finger bone (distal phalanx). Detected high compatibility with the host's 'Nine Transformations of the True Dragon' Cultivation Technique and existing dragon source, compatibility 99.9%. Starting to guide the Fusion procedure...】

Hum~

The finger bone trembled slightly, and the gray and defeated color on its surface rippled like water waves, revealing a hint of its jade-like, yet indestructible essence from within.

The next instant, it actually floated up on its own, turning into a stream of light that shone toward Li Yinglong's heart, sinking into his body without any obstruction!

"Boom!"

It was as if thunder from the Nine Heavens had exploded within his body!

Li Yinglong's body shook violently. He suddenly spread his arms, tilted his head back, and let out a long, satisfied roar that he could not suppress!

A force, far more majestic, ancient, and heavy than when he had fused with the source blood before, erupted within him like a volcano that had been silent for eternity!

Dazzling, yellowish-brown divine light instantly erupted from every pore of his body, illuminating him like a glaze treasure body. It was brilliant and holy, yet contained the supreme heavy implication of suppressing the earth and bearing all things!

The entire Stone Cave shook violently, and gravel fell with a rustle, as if it could not withstand this suddenly descending, magnificent Dragon Qi!

"Clan Chief!"

The three Protectors were shocked by this sudden, earth-shattering phenomenon, their minds swaying. Song Shuyao cried out in alarm, subconsciously wanting to step forward, but was stopped by a low roar from Li Changxing:

"Do not disturb the Clan Chief! This is a sign of a Breakthrough!"

Only to see that on Li Yinglong's body surface, within the erupting divine light, countless dense, profound, earth-yellow dragon patterns that looked like they were naturally generated were rapidly emerging, spreading, and weaving together. It was as if an invisible master craftsman was using Heaven and Earth as a hammer and the Dao laws as an anvil, re-forging his bones!

The second transformation of the "Nine Transformations of the True Dragon" — Earth-Traveling Dragon-Bone Transformation, officially began!

Excruciating pain! It was as if every bone in his body was being crushed inch by inch, and then reshaped into a more perfect, tougher form!

Majestic! Boundless, heavy energy poured into his limbs and bones. Every bone was greedily absorbing it, becoming increasingly crystal-clear, dense, and heavy!

His stature seemed to have grown slightly taller in the divine light. His spine, which had been slightly hunched due to age, was now as straight as a pine, standing upright like a dragon, supporting the sky and the earth.

Beneath his skin, the outline of a skeleton flickering with warm yellow light could be vaguely seen, exuding a heart-trembling sense of stability and power.

The System's notification sound echoed coldly and efficiently in his Sea of Consciousness:

【Fusion progress 10%... Bone density increased by 300%... Total Dragon Yuan increased by 150%...】

【Fusion progress 30%... Deriving Divine Ability 'Earth Vein Sensing'... Physical Body strength increased by 400%...】

【Fusion progress 50%... Life Origin transformation... Lifespan significantly increased... Realm elevated to correspond to the tenth level of the Qi Refinement Stage...】

【Fusion progress 80%... Foundation consolidated, potential increased... Can attempt to draw upon Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, condense the Dao Foundation, and impact the Dragon Yuan Foundation Establishment Realm...】

【Fusion progress 100%! 'Nine Transformations of the True Dragon' second transformation · Earth-Traveling Dragon-Bone Transformation, Perfection!】

Rumble!

The final surge of vast energy was completely integrated into the depths of his bones, and the divine light around his body retreated like a whale swallowing water, sinking into his body.

The terrifying pressure and phenomenon in the Stone Cave disappeared suddenly, as if nothing had ever happened.

Li Yinglong landed slowly, his feet touching the ground.

"Crack..."

The hard reef under his feet could not withstand the heavy power he was unconsciously emitting, and it instantly cracked, with cracks spreading like a spider web.

He stood quietly, closing his eyes to feel the earth-shattering changes within his body.

Power! An unprecedented sense of power filled his whole body, as if with a single thought, he could shake mountains.

Defense! He felt that his bones had surpassed the category of ordinary Magical Artifacts and were indestructible.

More importantly, he had developed an unprecedentedly intimate connection with the earth beneath his feet, as if he could perceive the faint flow of the earth veins and could absorb that thick and boundless earth Qi to nourish himself.

And his cultivation, under the dual promotion of the Water-Wood Dragon Yuan Transformation and the Earth-Traveling Dragon-Bone Transformation, had soared to the Peak of the tenth level of the Qi Refinement Stage, only a thin line away from the Dao of Foundation Establishment!

The Dragon Yuan in his body was vast and surging, more than ten times that of a Cultivator of the same level, and it was extremely pure.

【Prompt: The host's current Realm has reached the equivalent of the tenth level of Qi Refinement. The Dragon Yuan is vigorous, and the Foundation is solid, meeting the conditions for Dragon Yuan Foundation Establishment. However, the 'Nine Transformations of the True Dragon' has infinite potential. If you can find more true dragon remains and continue to accumulate during this period, reaching the Great Perfection of the twelfth level before breaking through, the strength of the Dao Foundation will be far beyond imagination. In the future, you will benefit infinitely when synchronizing to the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and even higher Realms.】

The System's prompt sounded at the right time.

Li Yinglong opened his eyes. The light in his eyes was brilliant, as if it contained the entire starry sky, deep and incomparable.

He slowly clenched his fists, his joints making thunderous explosions, and the air around him trembled because of it.

The Opportunity for Foundation Establishment was right before his eyes, and the temptation was huge.

But he knew deeply that what the System said was the absolute truth.

The accumulation during the Qi Refinement Stage was directly related to how far he could go on his future Dao path.

The "Nine Transformations of the True Dragon" was a supreme Dao. Since he had this Opportunity, he should naturally pursue the legendary extreme state — equivalent to the Great Perfection of the twelfth level of Qi Refinement!

"Foundation is paramount; there is no need to rush."

He instantly suppressed the urge to break through and made a decision.

At this time, the three Protectors dared to step forward cautiously.

When they saw Li Yinglong's appearance at this moment, they were all dumbfounded, too shocked to speak.

Where was there any sign of old age in the Clan Chief before them?

His face had further transformed from an imposing elderly posture to that of a man in his forties in his prime.

His features were ancient and simple, with hard lines. When he opened and closed his eyes, the light was like electricity, and he was awe-inspiring without being angry.

His full head of white hair had completely turned pitch black, with only a few strands of frosty color left at his temples, adding a few more points of steady demeanor.

Compared to his first rejuvenation in the Angry Dragon Clan, he was even younger.

The most astonishing thing was that his temples on both sides of his forehead were slightly bulging, and there was a faint sign of ruggedness. His whole body naturally exuded a majestic Aura of standing like an abyss and a mountain, like a dragon in hibernation, making people feel awe at the sight of him, almost not daring to look directly at him.

This... was this still their kind and steady Clan Chief grandfather?

It was clearly a prehistoric Dragon Lord in his prime, a hidden dragon in the abyss!

"Clan... Clan Chief... you..."

Song Shuwen opened his mouth, his voice a little dry.

Li Changxing's eyes were even wider. He could clearly feel that the vast, sea-like Qi, blood, and power in the Clan Chief's body were countless times more vigorous than his own physique, which had been tempered by fighting sea beasts all year round. That was a transcendence in essence.

Li Yinglong looked at the three people's shocked expressions and smiled slightly. With this smile, his majesty subsided slightly, but he appeared even more unfathomable:

"I had a fortuitous encounter and made a slight advancement. Now that the matter here is finished and the evil source has been removed, it is time for us to return."

His gaze swept over the stone platform that had become ordinary, and his sleeves brushed lightly, a formless energy wiping away the last trace of dust remaining on the stone platform.

The true-dragon finger bone had been fused, and this place had returned to silence.

Although he did not know why it had manifested here, the harvest this time had far exceeded expectations.

The three of them heard this and slowly recovered from the shock. They looked at each other and saw the horror in each other's eyes.

It turned out that the path the Clan Chief cultivated was so miraculous and extraordinary!

Far more powerful and mysterious than they had imagined!

"Yes! Clan Chief!"

The three suppressed the monstrous waves in their hearts, responded respectfully, and guarded Li Yinglong, whose Aura was already completely different and who had begun to show the appearance of a dragon, as he walked toward the cave entrance.