112: remains

Several hours later, under the influence of the remaining medicinal power of the gui water spirit pearl and their own powerful recovery abilities, the injuries of Green Edge and Iron Pincer had stabilized. Although not fully recovered, they no longer hindered movement and combat.

The cracks on Iron Pincer's carapace began to close, and new tender scales grew beneath Green Edge's shattered scales.

Seeing that they were fine, Gao De did not wait any longer. He came before the secret door at the bottom of the lake, signaled the Two Demons to retreat and remain on guard, while he carefully studied the ancient runes on the door.

These runes were quite similar to what he had seen when exploring the Dragon Palace Secret Passage before; they all carried a strong Dragon Clan style and water element characteristics, but were more complex and exquisite, appearing to possess both defensive and concealment effects. He tried to slowly inject pure Dragon Qi into several key energy nodes.

"Buzz..."

The runes on the secret door lit up one after another with a soft water-blue light. The door, which originally looked no different from rock, became semi-transparent and finally slid inward silently, revealing a deep, downward passage paved with unknown white jade.

A current of water spirit aura, purer and more ancient than that outside, mixed with a faint, indistinct pressure, diffused from the depths of the passage.

"Keep close," Gao De barked softly. With Thunder Astral Qi appearing around him, he stepped into the passage first.

Green Edge and Iron Pincer did not dare to be negligent and hurriedly followed, guarding him from the left and right behind him.

The passage slanted downward, and many blurry murals were carved on the jade walls on both sides. Most depicted scenes of aquatic tribes worshiping and dragon shadows soaring, but they were ancient, and many details had become mottled.

After walking about a hundred zhang, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a rather magnificent underground palace!

The palace was constructed from massive white stone, with a simple and grand style. Although many parts had collapsed and were covered in dust and water stains, its former glory could still be seen.

Coiled dragon patterns were carved on the pillars supporting the hall, looking very similar to those in the Dragon Palace Secret Passage.

Most eye-catching was the center of the main hall, where a high stone platform stood. On the platform lay a massive skeleton shimmering with a faint jade light!

The skeleton resembled a giant python but had a unicorn horn and the phantom of four claws beneath its belly. Although it had lost all flesh and essence, the bones still radiated a heart-palpitating pressure, especially the skull shape, which was seventy to eighty percent similar to a True Dragon!

"Is this... Flood Dragon Remains? No, it seems closer to... a Chi Dragon?" Gao De's heart shook.

The Chi Dragon is of the True Dragon genus and has no horns, but this skeleton has a unicorn horn; perhaps it is some kind of mutated or powerful Flood Dragon shedding.

This skeleton had been silent here for an unknown number of years. Its owner was clearly an extraordinary Flood Dragon or a great demon of the Dragon genus.

However, this was not the most shocking part.

At the belly of the massive skeleton, surrounded by bones, was a huge orb about the size of a human head. It was perfectly round, with a blue nebula seemingly swirling inside, slowly rotating and emitting a water spirit aura more than ten times purer and more majestic than the gui water spirit pearl!

It was this object that emitted a water spirit aura as vast and pure as the ocean and a subtle yet powerful fluctuation of Law, illuminating the entire hall and serving as the ultimate source of Spiritual Qi for the entire Secret Realm!

"This... this is?!" Green Edge and Iron Pincer stared wide-eyed. They could feel that if they could absorb the power of this orb, their Bloodlines would surely undergo an earth-shaking transformation!

Gao De could even feel that his own flood dragon pearl within his Dantian seemed somewhat dim in front of this object!

Below the orb, several items were scattered on the stone platform: a Trident that was deep blue all over, with dim runes but still emitting a sharp aura; several bone fragments that were dark in color and seemed to record something; and a black jade box that looked ordinary but showed no signs of decay.

Gao De's heart shook violently. Just feeling the aura emitted by the orb made his blood boil and his Demonic Power accelerate its circulation on its own, as if he were a parched land receiving sweet rain!

He had no doubt that the orb was a supreme treasure far beyond what he could imagine at his current Realm! The Trident was also no ordinary item, at least a Magic Treasure of the Fourth Order or higher!

Gao De tried to approach the stone platform, but when he was still ten zhang away, an invisible, soft yet incredibly tough barrier blocked his path.

No matter how he activated his Demonic Power, or even tested it with the thunder fang formation-breaking halberd, the barrier remained motionless, only rippling with circles of water-like waves.

Clearly, an extremely powerful Restriction was set here, which was not something his current Third Order Mid-Stage strength could forcibly break.

He then cast his Divine Thought toward the bone fragments and the jade box, but they were also blocked by the barrier and could not be reached.

Gao De stood there, looking at the supreme treasures that were so close yet so far, his heart filled with regret, but even more so with a clear realization.

Although the Opportunity was good, one needed the corresponding strength to obtain it. Acting by force might lead to misfortune.

"The core Restriction here is far beyond my current Realm. Forcing the formation might lead to disaster, and it's very likely to cause unpredictable consequences, even destroying the treasures."

Gao De analyzed calmly, "The fact that this Secret Realm has existed stably for countless years means its Foundation is definitely not something I can shake. The fact that Green Edge and Iron Pincer could only obtain the outer gui water spirit pearls for hundreds of years is proof of that."

"Very well, the Spiritual Qi here is so pure and majestic, and it even contains the residual Law aura of a high-level Dragon genus. Cultivating here will definitely be far more effective than outside, even better than using the baxia carapace!"

He quickly adjusted his mindset, no longer obsessed with obtaining the treasures, and instead ordered Green Edge and Iron Pincer: "You two stand guard here as Protectors. This King will Cultivate in this precious place for a while. The Restriction here is powerful; do not act rashly!"

"Yes, Master!" The Two Demons were also attracted by the orb's aura, but they had more self-awareness. They respectfully accepted the order and retreated to the hall entrance to keep watch.

Gao De found a relatively flat spot outside the invisible barrier and sat down cross-legged.

He operated the Purple Heaven Dragon Transformation Art, fully absorbing the incredibly pure water spirit aura here and the wisps of Dragon genus Origin aura escaping from the orb.

For a moment, his entire body was enveloped in thick azure spiritual light. The Demonic Power in his body grew and condensed at an unprecedented speed, and his Bloodline, nourished by the Dragon genus Origin aura, became more active and pure.

He could even vaguely sense some kind of "water" Law fragments contained within the orb. Although he couldn't understand them, simply feeling their Concept gave him new insights into the Water Control Art and the mystery of the mutual generation of water and thunder contained within his own thunder arts.

For the Dragon Clan, this was simply a priceless Holy Land for cultivation!

As for those treasures, Gao De firmly remembered their appearance and aura, especially the bone fragments that might record information and the mysterious jade box.

He believed that once his strength was great enough, he would surely return here and take what should belong to him.

After an unknown amount of time, Gao De woke up from deep Cultivation, feeling that his cultivation level had progressed another step and his control over power had become more harmonious.