143: Ancient Dragon Tomb, Phoenix Flame Tempering Meridians

After the dizziness of space transition subsided, a breath far more ancient, desolate, and heavy than the Hidden Dragon Abyss assailed them.

Li Ao and the two others found themselves in a colossal underground space. Above their heads was not a rock wall, but a deep, Void Realm, as if stars were forming and perishing, emitting a faint yet eternal halo that illuminated this world.

Before them was a stone staircase so wide it stretched beyond sight, leading to a higher elevation. On both sides of the staircase were not cold walls, but gigantic Dragon skeletons of unimaginable size! These skeletons had slumbered here for an unknown number of years; their bones were still crystal clear like jade, exuding a faint pressure, as if they had merely fallen into slumber and could awaken at any moment. The air was filled with an extremely pure Dragon Qi, so dense it was almost palpable. Taking a breath made one feel completely refreshed, but it was also accompanied by a sense of ancient, desolate stillness.

This was the Forbidden Ground of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, the resting place of successive Ancient Dragons—the Ancient Dragon Tomb!

"Follow me closely. Do not touch any skeletons, and absolutely no loud noises," Elder Zhu Li said with a solemn expression, his tone filled with immense reverence. He was the first to step onto the stone staircase, his steps light, as if fearing to disturb the peace of this place.

Hei Qing also reined in his usual boisterousness, following silently behind.

Li Ao and the two others followed closely, walking on this staircase guarded by gigantic Dragon skeletons, feeling the omnipresent Ancient Dragon Wei, their hearts filled with shock. Even Medusa, with her Bloodline, felt insignificant in this place.

The stone staircase was long, seemingly endless. The higher they ascended, the purer the surrounding Dragon Qi became, even beginning to show faint golden wisps of Qi flow—that was even more refined Dragon Emperor Qi!

Finally, after climbing an unknown number of steps, the path ahead suddenly opened up.

A massive circular platform appeared before them. In the center of the platform, instead of the anticipated coffin, was a lotus-shaped altar carved from some transparent crystal. Upon the altar lay a young girl quietly.

The girl looked about twelve or thirteen years old, dressed in a light purple dress. Her face was as delicate as a porcelain doll, exquisitely carved and polished, with a hint of childish cuteness. Her eyes were tightly closed, long eyelashes covering her eyelids like butterfly wings. Her complexion was rosy, and her breathing was steady, as if she were merely asleep. Yet, around her, a heart-pounding, vast energy swirled, along with a hint of... unstable, almost collapsing Emperor's pressure!

It was Zi Yan after her transformation!

Around the altar where Zi Yan slept, the ground of the platform was inscribed with countless complex and profound runes, forming a massive Formation. The Formation was slowly operating, drawing endless Dragon Qi from the Ancient Tomb and continuously injecting it into Zi Yan's body, maintaining her vitality and attempting to stabilize her restless Dragon Emperor Bloodline.

However, it was clear that this Formation could only maintain her condition and could not fundamentally solve the problem. A hint of pain was faintly visible between Zi Yan's brows, as if she was still struggling with the hidden danger within her body even in her sleep.

"Your Highness..." Hei Qing looked at the sleeping Zi Yan on the altar, his tiger eyes filled with a trace of heartache and anxiety.

Elder Zhu Li sighed, "Your Highness's condition is even worse than this old man anticipated. The Dragon Emperor Bloodline is too overbearing. Her Foundation was damaged in her early years, and now that her Bloodline has revived, it's like a rootless duckweed, difficult to control. The Formation can only barely maintain balance. If a solution isn't found soon, I'm afraid..."

He did not finish his sentence, but everyone understood the consequences.

"Young Friend Li, I'm counting on you," Elder Zhu Li looked at Li Ao, his eyes filled with hope.

Li Ao nodded and walked to the edge of the altar. He could clearly feel the surging yet chaotic power within Zi Yan, like a vast ocean. He took a deep breath and did not immediately use the seed of living beings. Instead, he first separated a wisp of Soul Power and cautiously extended it towards Zi Yan, wanting to perceive the root cause of her Bloodline problem more clearly.

However, just as his Soul Power touched the invisible energy field around Zi Yan—

"Buzz!"

A sudden change occurred!

Zi Yan's already unstable Dragon Emperor Bloodline, as if stimulated by something, suddenly became agitated! A violent, scorching, dark golden flame, carrying the intent to incinerate all directions, erupted from within her body without warning, instantly sweeping across the entire altar!

This flame was no ordinary fire; its temperature was terrifyingly high, scorching and distorting the surrounding space! It also contained a savage Dragon Wei, as if to destroy all existence that dared to approach!

"It's the Dragon Phoenix Ancient Flame! Her Highness's Bloodline is rebelling!" Elder Zhu Li's face changed drastically, and he was about to suppress it.

But someone was faster than him!

Just as the dark golden flame was about to scorch Li Ao's Soul Power, the black iron between Li Ao's eyebrows once again produced a slight tremor! It wasn't the activation of Nirvana Origin, but rather the transmission of an even more ancient, more majestic, and seemingly transcendent intent over all fires!

At the same time, Li Ao had a sudden realization. The various strange fires that had been latent within his body and fused with the Burning Technique, as if summoned by something, autonomously swirled out! The Bone Chilling Flame, the Fallen Heart Flame (if already acquired), and even a faint trace of the Purification Lotus Demon Flame remnant map's aura (if already triggered)... Several strange fires intertwined, forming a colorful fire shield that isolated him from the erupting Dragon Phoenix Ancient Flame!

A strange scene unfolded!

The violent Dragon Phoenix Ancient Flame, upon contact with the fused strange fires around Li Ao, suddenly paused its rampage as if encountering a monarch! The flames were no longer aggressive; instead, they became somewhat... hesitant? And even subtly conveyed a sense of closeness?

It was as if the strange fires within Li Ao, especially the wisp of Purification Lotus Demon Flame's aura, had a natural suppressive and attractive effect on the Dragon Phoenix Ancient Flame!

"This is... strange fire? And more than one kind?!" Elder Zhu Li's eyes flared with disbelief. "An existence on the strange fire ranking list can actually stir, and even soothe, the Dragon Phoenix Ancient Flame?"

He did not know that the Dragon Phoenix was the strongest existence between heaven and earth, and its Origin Ancient Flame was incredibly overbearing. But precisely because of this, it was exceptionally sensitive to powers of the same or even higher level. Li Ao possessed multiple strange fires, especially being associated with an existence like the Purification Lotus Demon Flame, which ranked third on the strange fire ranking list, thus subtly influencing the Dragon Phoenix Ancient Flame on a hierarchical level.

Li Ao also noticed this point. His heart stirred, and he did not retract the strange fires. Instead, he tried to manipulate the colorful fire shield, slowly approaching Zi Yan on the altar.

As the strange fires drew closer, the originally violent Dragon Phoenix Ancient Flame became even more docile, even actively parting a path, allowing Li Ao's strange fire energy to penetrate and touch Zi Yan's body.

The energy of the strange fires, especially the refining and purifying power contained within them, like the gentlest hands, began to comb through Zi Yan's chaotic Dragon Emperor Bloodline. The restless Bloodline, under the soothing influence of the strange fires, slowly calmed down, and the dark golden flames gradually receded back into Zi Yan's body.

The crisis was temporarily averted!

Elder Zhu Li and Hei Qing both breathed a sigh of relief, their gazes towards Li Ao filled with awe. They had not expected that Li Ao not only possessed that peculiar Nirvana Power but also so many powerful strange fires! The secrets within this young man were simply unfathomable!

Li Ao did not stop; he knew this was only a temporary solution. He retracted the strange fires, then flipped his palm, and the "seed of living beings" he had obtained from the Venerable of Life appeared in his palm.

The emerald green light was soft and full of vitality, forming a stark contrast with the stillness of this Ancient Tomb.

Li Ao slowly pressed the seed of living beings towards Zi Yan's glabella.

This time, there was no obstruction whatsoever. The moment the seed of living beings touched Zi Yan's glabella, it transformed into a vast, ocean-like, extremely pure torrent of life, gently pouring into her body!

"Buzz—!"

Zi Yan's entire body was enveloped in a rich emerald green glow! Her already rosy cheeks became even more radiant, and the painful expression between her brows completely vanished, replaced by a sense of peace and comfort. Her Dragon Emperor Bloodline, which had been like a wild horse unbridled, finally began to truly calm down under the nourishment and soothing of this vast life energy, slowly fusing with her body and stabilizing... A Dragon Emperor Wei, far purer and more stable than before, began to slowly awaken and grow within Zi Yan!

It worked!

Elder Zhu Li and Hei Qing both showed expressions of excitement.

Li Ao also breathed a slight sigh of relief. However, just as he thought his mission was accomplished, the black iron that had been dormant within his body once again emitted an extremely subtle yet warning-like fluctuation!

The direction pointed directly to the entrance of the Ancient Dragon Tomb!

Almost simultaneously, Elder Zhu Li's face also changed. He suddenly turned his head to look towards the direction of the stone staircase, a sharp glint flashing in his aged eyes!

"Someone has forced their way into the Ancient Tomb! It's... North Dragon King's people!"

---