144: The Dragon Emperor awakens, and a powerful enemy presses in.

"Someone forcibly broke into the Tomb! It's... North Dragon King's people!"

Elder Zhu Li's sharp cry was like a thunderclap, echoing through the silent Ancient Dragon Tomb. Almost as soon as his voice fell, several violent energy collision sounds and Hei Qing's angry roar came from below the stone steps!

"Savage Rock! How dare you! To forcibly break into the Ancient Dragon Tomb!!"

It was Savage Rock! He actually brought people directly into the Dragon Clan's Forbidden Ground!

Apparently, the North Dragon King's side had learned of their visit to the Ancient Dragon Tomb through some means, and did not hesitate to violate clan rules to forcibly stop them, or rather... to seize it!

Above the altar, Zi Yan's body was slowly retracting the emerald green life light. That surging vitality had already initially fused with her Dragon Emperor Bloodline. Her originally slightly furrowed brow completely relaxed, her Aura became stable and long, and she even faintly exuded a deeper and more majestic Dragon Emperor pressure. Her awakening was imminent!

But at this moment, crisis had also arrived!

"Hei Qing can't stop them for too long!" Elder Zhu Li's face was livid, his eyes burning with rage. The North Dragon King's actions had openly torn apart their pretense! "Young Friend Li, Your Highness still needs a moment to awaken. I must go and stop Savage Rock. Here..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Ao already understood his meaning.

"Elder, please go ahead. I'll take care of things here," Li Ao said decisively, his eyes sharp as blades. He took a step forward, directly standing at the entrance of the altar, firmly protecting Zi Yan, who was still absorbing the power of the seed of living beings, as well as Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian behind him.

Medusa's Seven-Colored Dou Qi had already surged around her, her purple eyes icy. She and Xiao Yi Xian stood on either side of Li Ao, showing their determination to advance and retreat together.

Elder Zhu Li gave Li Ao a deep look, said no more, and with a flicker of his figure, he transformed into a streak of light and rushed down the stone steps, where the roaring sounds of energy collisions grew more intense.

The atmosphere of the entire Ancient Dragon Tomb instantly became tense, filled with Killing Intent.

The sounds of battle from below the stone steps grew closer. Clearly, Hei Qing and Elder Zhu Li were struggling to hold them back, but the strength of the intruders seemed extremely powerful, and they came prepared, gradually approaching the platform.

"Boom!"

A figure flew back in a disheveled state, crashing heavily onto the edge of the platform. It was Hei Qing! Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and there was a charred claw mark on his chest. His Aura was chaotic, clearly indicating a serious injury.

Immediately after, several figures forcibly broke through Elder Zhu Li's obstruction and rushed onto the platform!

The leader was still Savage Rock, but at this moment, his Aura was berserk. He was covered in a layer of dark red scales, his eyes crimson, as if he had used some secret technique to stimulate his potential, temporarily boosting his strength to the Seven-Star Dou Zun level! Behind him followed three Ancient Dragon powerhouses dressed in the unique black armor of the North Dragon King's lineage, their Auras ranging from Four-Star to Five-Star Dou Zun, exuding Evil Qi!

Elder Zhu Li was also tightly entangled by two other Ancient Dragon Elders, equally powerful and clearly trusted subordinates of the North Dragon King, making it impossible for him to break free for a while.

"Savage Rock! Do you know what a great crime it is to forcibly enter the Tomb?!" Hei Qing struggled to stand, roaring in anger.

Savage Rock sneered, his crimson eyes greedily fixed on Zi Yan, whose Aura was continuously rising on the altar, and the three people protecting her in front: "Great crime? When His Majesty the North Dragon King achieves the supreme Dragon Emperor, and governs the Ancient Dragon Clan, we will be heroes! As for you, and these outsiders, you shall all remain here today!"

His gaze finally locked onto Li Ao, and his Killing Intent surged: "Kid, you've repeatedly ruined my plans, die for me!"

Savage Rock knew time was short; he had to succeed before the little Dragon Emperor fully awakened! He stopped talking nonsense, his figure shot out, and his dark red Dragon claws, accompanied by a sharp shriek that tore through space, went straight for Li Ao's head! This strike condensed all his current power, vowing to instantly kill Li Ao!

Facing this incredibly fierce strike, Li Ao's eyes were cold, and he did not retreat a single step. The Dou Qi and Soul Power within his body instantly boiled, and the wisp of Nirvana Origin Qi flow at his fingertip suddenly solidified!

However, just as he was about to forcefully confront Savage Rock's fatal blow—

"Om—!!!"

Above the altar, another anomaly occurred!

Zi Yan's retracting emerald green light and surging Dragon Qi suddenly fused, transforming into a brilliant purple-gold pillar of light that shot into the sky! Within the pillar of light, a vast, ancient, and majestic imperial pressure, as if a primeval Dragon had awakened after slumbering for eons, descended with a roar, sweeping across the entire platform!

Under this pure Dragon Emperor pressure, the Dragon Clan Bloodline within everyone's bodies involuntarily produced a tremor and a sense of submission! Even Savage Rock's berserk Aura paused, and his claw wind became momentarily chaotic!

"It succeeded?!" Elder Zhu Li's face was filled with wild joy.

"Your Highness!" Hei Qing shouted excitedly.

On the altar, the purple-gold pillar of light slowly receded. In the center of the light pillar, the originally sleeping girl in purple slowly opened her eyes.

What kind of eyes were they? No longer the innocent gaze of a child, but deep purple-gold, as if containing an endless Universe of stars, full of majesty, ancientness, and a trace of confusion from just awakening.

She slowly sat up, her petite body exuding an undeniable imperial Aura. Her gaze swept across the platform, instantly understanding the situation before her.

And when her gaze passed over the ready Li Ao, sensing the wisp of Nirvana Origin at his fingertips that even made her slightly turn her head, and the faint lingering fluctuations of a strange flame around him that made her own Dragon Phoenix Bloodline feel a trace of closeness, a very faint hint of surprise and... curiosity flashed in her purple-gold eyes.

But at this moment, it was not the time for investigation.

Her gaze finally landed on the Killing Intent-filled Savage Rock and the several subordinates of the North Dragon King. Her purple-gold eyes instantly became incomparably cold.

"The North Dragon King's dogs, dare to be presumptuous in the place where this Emperor slumbers?"

A clear voice, yet imbued with supreme majesty, swept across the platform like a winter's cold wind. As her voice fell, the Dragon Qi of the entire Ancient Dragon Tomb seemed to come alive, converging towards her like a tide, faintly forming an enormous Void Ancient Dragon phantom behind her!

That phantom looked down upon heaven and earth, and as its Dragon eyes opened and closed, it seemed capable of deciding life and death!

Savage Rock and the others' faces instantly turned pale. In the face of this pure Dragon Emperor pressure, the Bloodline Power within their bodies was suppressed to the point where it was almost impossible to circulate. It was a fundamental difference originating from the very level of life!

"No... impossible! How could you awaken so quickly?!" Savage Rock's eyes were filled with fear and unwillingness.

Zi Yan did not answer, but slowly raised her fair and slender small hand, and gently pressed it towards Savage Rock and the others.

"Suppress."

Her word became law!

The endless Dragon Qi within the Tomb instantly transformed into a purple-gold Dragon claw that blotted out the sky, carrying the supreme power to crush stars and destroy all laws, descending directly upon Savage Rock and the others!

"No—!!!"

Savage Rock let out a desperate roar, trying to resist with all his might, but in the face of that true Dragon Emperor Power, all his struggles seemed so ridiculous!

"Puff!"

The Dragon claw descended, and Savage Rock, along with the three Dou Zun powerhouses he brought, were instantly crushed into a mist of blood by that terrifying Dragon Emperor Power before they could even fully scream, their forms and Souls utterly destroyed!

The power of a single strike was terrifying!

The newly awakened Zi Yan had already displayed absolute strength capable of crushing high-level Dou Zun!

Above the platform, silence instantly fell.

Elder Zhu Li and the two North Dragon King confidants, who were entangled in battle, also stopped. The two confidants looked at Savage Rock and the others, who had turned into a mist of blood, their faces ashen with fear, no longer daring to make the slightest move.

Zi Yan slowly retracted her palm, and the Ancient Dragon phantom behind her gradually dissipated. She turned her gaze to Zhu Li and Hei Qing, nodding slightly: "Elder Zhu Li, Uncle Hei Qing, you've worked hard."

Her voice still carried a hint of childishness, but its majesty had already deeply impressed everyone.

"Your Highness! You're finally awake!" Elder Zhu Li was so excited that old tears streamed down his face. Hei Qing also had tears in his tiger eyes, struggling to salute.

Zi Yan waved her hand, her gaze once again falling on Li Ao, who was still guarding the altar. The curiosity in her purple-gold eyes grew stronger.

"The fire on you... and that power, it's very special." She tilted her head, looking at Li Ao, "Did you help me?"

Li Ao retracted the Nirvana Origin from his fingertips. Facing this little Dragon Emperor who had displayed thunderous methods immediately after awakening, he cupped his hands neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Junior Li Ao greets Your Highness Zi Yan. Helping Your Highness was also self-preservation; I dare not claim credit."

Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian also bowed slightly.

Zi Yan blinked, her gaze lingering on Medusa for a moment, seemingly sensing her Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline. Having grown up in the human world, her thoughts were relatively simple and direct. Finding Li Ao pleasing to the eye, she said directly: "You helped me, I remember it. From now on, in the Dragon Domain, I'll protect you!"

She spoke with quite a heroic spirit, and combined with her delicate and lovely appearance, it created a charming contrast.

Upon hearing this, Li Ao couldn't help but smile, and a weight was lifted from his heart. It seemed this little Dragon Emperor was not difficult to get along with.

Elder Zhu Li stepped forward and respectfully recounted the events that had transpired, including how Li Ao and the two women were chased by the Hall of Souls and mistakenly entered the Dragon Domain, the covetousness of the West Dragon King and North Dragon King, and the process of awakening Zi Yan with Li Ao's help, all in a concise manner.

After listening, Zi Yan's delicate little face instantly darkened, and a cold light flickered in her purple-gold eyes: "North Dragon King! West Dragon King! How dare you act so wantonly while this Emperor slumbers! It seems the Dragon Domain has been without an Emperor for too long, making them forget their place!"

A biting Killing Intent emanated from her petite body, making the surrounding temperature seem to drop significantly.

She looked at Li Ao and Medusa, her tone firm: "You saved me, so you are my friends. I will deal with the North Dragon King and West Dragon King myself! I want to see who dares to touch my friends!"

With Zi Yan's promise, the huge stone weighing on Li Ao and the two women's hearts finally mostly settled. With the protection of this newly awakened, unfathomably powerful little Dragon Emperor, their safety in the Dragon Domain was temporarily assured.

However, Li Ao knew in his heart that the internal strife within the Dragon Domain had probably just begun. And the Hall of Souls outside would certainly not give up.

The road ahead was still full of thorns.

But at least for now, they had a powerful ally and a temporary respite.