222: Dragon Island Incident and the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon

True Dragon Realm, the deepest part of the Endless Sea Region.

This is a Forbidden Ground for all aquatic Yao Beasts in the Spirit Realm. The sea surface for hundreds of millions of miles is as calm as a mirror, without a single ripple, because beneath this sea region lurks the most powerful True Spirit race in heaven and earth—the [Dragon Clan].

"Boom—"

The calm sea surface suddenly shattered like a mirror.

A massive black crab with spatial runes flashing on its shell, carrying violent thunder power, forcibly tore through the Void Realm and plunged into this sea region.

"Ugh..."

Xiang Zhili lay prone on the crab's back, his face as pale as paper.

"Junior... Junior Brother Han, can we switch to a gentler mode of transportation next time? Although this 'Void Traverse' is fast, this overload pressure... my internal organs are all about to be displaced."

Zhou Wannian (Han Li) stood on the crab's head, his green robes fluttering, his expression indifferent.

"Senior Brother Xiang, overcome it."

"Dragon Island is located at an independent spatial node. Without this crab to crash through the barriers, we wouldn't even find the door."

Zhou Wannian's gaze was like lightning, scanning the seemingly empty but actually murderous Void Realm ahead.

"And..."

"The host has already arrived."

"Buzz—!!!"

Before his voice fell.

The originally calm Void Realm suddenly vibrated violently.

Several terrifying Dragon Qi Auras that could change the color of heaven and earth crushed down from all directions.

"Who dares to trespass on Dragon Island?! You're looking for death!"

Accompanied by deafening roars, the seawater exploded.

Seven Dragons, each over a thousand zhang long and entirely covered in green, red, and black scales, burst out of the water. They circled in mid-air, each emitting the terrifying Aura of the Body Integration Late Stage!

True Dragon Guard!

This lineup would be enough to sweep through any super-large race in the outside world, but on Dragon Island, they were merely security guards.

"Human Race?"

A Red Dragon at the lead spoke in human tongue, its massive dragon eyes staring intently at Zhou Wannian, its eyes full of disdain and disgust.

"Another greedy Human Race bug, come to steal 'Dragon Flame Grass'?"

"Take them down! Throw them into the Ten Thousand Dragon Cave to feed the Dragonlings!"

"Yes!"

The seven Dragons simultaneously extended their giant claws, tearing through the Void Realm, grabbing towards the tiny crab with world-destroying power.

"Oh my god! Attacking right away?!" Xiang Zhili shrunk into the crab shell in fear, "Junior Brother Han! These are seven Dragons! Crab Number One can't hold out!"

"Who said we're going to fight?"

Zhou Wannian stood with his hands behind his back, facing those seven sky-blotting dragon claws without even blinking.

"I'm here to visit relatives."

"Visit relatives?!" Xiang Zhili was dumbfounded, "You have relatives on Dragon Island? Were you born from a Dragon too?"

Just as the dragon claws were about to fall.

"Stop!"

A clear yet majestic woman's shout came from the depths of the Void Realm.

A flash of golden light.

A woman wearing a golden palace dress, a dragon horn hair ornament, and possessing an extremely beautiful but cold and elegant appearance appeared out of thin air in the center of the battlefield.

What she emitted was a Golden Dragon Aura even purer and more noble than those seven Dragons.

Dragon Clan Elder—Jin Yue (Body Integration Late Stage Peak).

"Elder Jin!"

The seven Dragons hastily retracted their claws and bowed respectfully.

Jin Yue ignored them, her golden eyes staring fixedly at Zhou Wannian, her eyes flashing with complex emotions: surprise, anger, and a hint of deep wariness.

“Han Li...”

Jin Yue gritted her teeth as she uttered the name.

"Is it really you?"

"Back in the Human Realm, you snatched my clan's reverse scale; in the Spirit Realm, you've repeatedly ruined my clan's affairs."

"I didn't go looking for you to settle the score, yet you dare to deliver yourself to my door?!"

"Fairy Jin, long time no see."

Zhou Wannian smiled slightly and cupped his hands, as if meeting an old friend he hadn't seen in years.

"A few misunderstandings from back then, why mention them?"

"I have come today because I want to do a big business deal with your noble clan."

"Business deal?"

Jin Yue sneered, her mockery unconcealed.

"You, a member of the Human Race, what qualifications do you have to discuss business with the Dragon Clan?"

"Do you think this is your Human Race's Tianyuan City?"

Jin Yue waved her hand, and Dragon Qi erupted.

"Men! Activate the 'Dragon-Trapping Grand Array'!"

"Capture him! I want to pull out his tendons and skin him alive to see what secrets lie within his legendary 'Becoming a Saint through the Physical Body' Physical Body!"

"Roar!"

The seven Dragons roared again, and this time, the entire sea region lit up with golden array patterns. This was a restrictive grand array specifically targeting high-level Cultivators; below the Mahayana Stage, it was impossible to escape!

"Junior Brother Han! This time we've really overplayed it!" Xiang Zhili looked at the dense Restrictions all around, cold sweat pouring down.

"Sigh."

Zhou Wannian sighed and shook his head.

"I originally wanted to get along with you as an ordinary person, but all I got was estrangement."

"You're forcing me to use cheats."

Zhou Wannian unbuttoned the collar of his robe, revealing his lean and strong chest.

"Tiezhu."

"Present."

"Load 'True Spirit Transformation Protocol'. Target: Dragon Clan · Imperial Family Sequence."

"Confirmed. Retrieving 'Five-Clawed Golden Dragon' genome... Fusion level 100%."

"Jin Yue."

Zhou Wannian suddenly looked up at the high-and-mighty woman in gold.

His pupils turned into pure vertical slits in an instant.

"You say I have no qualifications?"

"How about now?"

Boom——————!!!

A Supreme Aura originating from the ancient primordial era, overriding all True Spirits, erupted from within Zhou Wannian's body.

Twelve Transformations of the Awakening of Insects · True Dragon Transformation · Imperial Form!

Golden light.

Endless golden light.

The brilliance was so intense that it instantly suppressed the spiritual light of the "Dragon-Trapping Grand Array", dyeing the entire sea region golden.

"Aow————————!!!"

A dragon's cry.

But this dragon's cry was different from the roars of the seven Dragons before. It was more vast, more overbearing, as if the ancestor of all Dragons was issuing an order!

The light dissipated.

A Dragon over three thousand zhang long, entirely covered in purple-gold scales, with five sharp claws beneath its belly, coiled in the Void Realm.

On each of its scales, natural Dao runes flowed.

Its pair of dragon horns were crystal clear, emitting seven-colored divine light.

Especially that fifth dragon claw; just by hanging in mid-air, the surrounding space began to collapse on its own.

Five-Clawed Golden Dragon!

The sovereign among the Dragon Clan! The ultimate form that legend says can only be evolved into after Ascension to the True Immortal Realm!

"Thump! Thump!"

Those seven originally aggressive Dragons, under this absolute suppression from the depths of their Bloodline, were like mice seeing a cat; they fell uncontrollably from the sky and crawled tremblingly on the sea surface, not even daring to lift their heads.

This was instinct! This was submission!

"This... this is impossible..."

In mid-air, Jin Yue's pretty face was pale, her delicate body trembling violently.

She looked at the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon before her, more majestic and pure than even the Grand Elder, and felt her worldview collapsing.

"Five-Clawed... Imperial Bloodline?!"

"Are you... Human Race? Or a bastard son of the Dragon Emperor left outside?!"

Zhou Wannian (Five-Clawed Golden Dragon) lowered his massive dragon head, his dragon eyes like the sun and moon looking down at Jin Yue.

"Now."

"Do I have the qualifications?"

His voice was like thunder, making Jin Yue's Qi and blood churn. Although she was at the Body Integration Late Stage, under this Bloodline suppression, she felt as weak as a child.

Just as the scene reached a stalemate and Jin Yue was about to be unable to resist kneeling.

"Sigh..."

An old sigh that seemed to have traveled through eternal ages came from the deepest part of Dragon Island—the [Dragon Burial Abyss].

As soon as this voice came out, the originally restless sea region instantly became quiet.

"Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?"

"Jin Yue, step down."

"This... little friend."

"Please enter the 'Dragon God Temple' for a talk."

Hearing this voice, Jin Yue's whole body shook, her eyes showing extreme reverence.

"Grand Elder..."

Hearing this, Zhou Wannian's massive dragon body flashed with golden light and transformed back into human form.

He straightened his robes and slightly cupped his hands toward the depths of the Void Realm.

"Since the Grand Elder invites me, how could this Junior dare to refuse?"

He turned his head to look at Jin Yue, who had not yet recovered her senses, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.

"Lead the way, Jin... Niece?"

Jin Yue: "..."

She wanted to kill someone.

But looking at that "five-clawed" hand that hadn't been retracted yet, she could only swallow her anger.

"Please!"

...Deep within Dragon Island, Dragon God Temple.

This was a magnificent palace constructed entirely from Top-Grade Spirit Stones and dragon bones.

Above the main hall sat an old man in gray robes with a withered face. He looked like he was at death's door, but in those eyes, there seemed to be a starry sky hidden.

Dragon Clan Grand Elder—[Grand Elder Fan Paozi] (Mahayana).

"Sit."

Fan Paozi waved his hand, and a dragon-skin throne appeared behind Zhou Wannian.

"If not for this old man having the 'Delusion-Breaking Dragon Pupils', I'm afraid I would have also taken you for an imperial prince of my clan left outside after seeing your 'True Dragon Transformation'."

Fan Paozi looked at Zhou Wannian with a half-smile.

"The disguise is very good, even simulating the Bloodline Aura to the extreme."

"But fake is fake after all."

"You are not a true Dragon."

Zhou Wannian sat down, his expression calm.

"Is true or fake important?"

"What's important is that I have strength and sincerity."

"Since the Grand Elder is willing to see me, it shows that I am useful to you."

"Clever."

Fan Paozi nodded appreciatively.

"My clan has recently encountered a big problem."

"The 'vast spirit dao fruit' convention is about to begin, but that is a grand gathering to select the next Grand Elder."

"However..."

Fan Paozi sighed.

"The Demon Spot in the Demon Realm shifted, causing the spatial nodes of Dragon Island to become unstable. A 'True Spirit · Chaos Vicious Beast' took the opportunity to slip into the 'Guangling Realm' where the Dao Fruits are stored."

"That Vicious Beast's strength is comparable to Mahayana, and it is thick-skinned and extremely difficult to kill."

"It has occupied the Dao Fruit Tree."

"If we can't get the Dao Fruit, our clan's younger generation (like Jin Yue) won't be able to advance to Mahayana."

Fan Paozi stared at Zhou Wannian.

"You need the vast spirit dao fruit, I know."

"Help me kill that Vicious Beast."

"I will give you one Dao Fruit."

"In addition..."

Fan Paozi flipped his hand, and a jade bottle containing golden liquid flew toward Zhou Wannian.

"This is the 'True Dragon Marrow' you want."

"Consider it a deposit."

Zhou Wannian took the jade bottle, and feeling the surging Dragon power inside, his heart settled.

With this, plus the vast spirit dao fruit.

The final piece of the puzzle for rushing to the Mahayana Stage is complete!

"The Grand Elder is straightforward."

Zhou Wannian stood up, his eyes filled with Battle Intent.

"Where is that Vicious Beast?"

"Take me there."

"It just so happens, my Five-Clawed Golden Dragon form..."

"Is lacking a punching bag to practice on."