396: Chapter 395 Black Dragon Phantom, Giant Python Transforms into a Flood Dragon

Before Qin Yi could react, a deafening dragon's roar exploded without warning within his Sea of Consciousness!

Immediately after, a dragon phantom entirely covered in pitch-black scales abruptly appeared within Qin Yi's Sea of Consciousness.

"Ho... Holy crap!"

Qin Yi exclaimed subconsciously, his pupils shrinking as his body staggered back uncontrollably. His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. This scene, which surpassed his understanding, caused his brain to stall as if it had crashed, leaving him completely at a loss.

The dragon phantom surged within the Sea of Consciousness, its massive body appearing and disappearing. Every swing of that giant dragon tail caused the entire Sea of Consciousness to vibrate violently.

In an instant, the dragon phantom drew close to Qin Yi. When those twin pupils, like blood moons, stared at him, Qin Yi felt a bone-chilling cold rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and even his Soul began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Sys—System... what's going on?" Qin Yi's voice shifted pitch from nervousness. His heart pounded wildly as he silently inquired of the System.

[Ding! Replying to the host: the host need not panic! This is merely a wisp of the Black Python's Divine Sense; it will not harm the host! Furthermore, within the Sea of Consciousness, the host is an invincible existence! Any consciousness attempting to harm the host will be obliterated by the System!]

The System's reply instantly dispelled the fear in the depths of Qin Yi's heart.

"In that case, there's nothing to be afraid of!" Qin Yi felt slightly more at ease, and the look of terror on his face gradually faded. Just then, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: could his conversation with the System just now have been heard by this dragon phantom? And could the items within the System Space be seen by it as well?

Thinking of this, Qin Yi immediately followed up with the System: "System, will my conversation with you and the items in the System Space be discovered by him?"

[Ding! Replying to the host: the System Space is only open to the host. External intruders will not discover the secrets within the System Space!]

Having received the answer he wanted, Qin Yi completely set his mind at rest.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he looked directly at the dragon phantom and confirmed, "Could you... perhaps be that legendary Black Dragon that fell here?"

The dragon phantom's two whiskers drifted under its jaw like black lightning. It exhaled two streams of white mist from its mouth and nose, its voice deep and powerful, as if carrying the endless vicissitudes of time.

"To think that there are still people who remember this old man! Indeed, this old man is that very Black Dragon from the legends who fell in this place!"

"To think the legends were actually true! Dragons really do exist in this world!" Qin Yi was full of shock and couldn't help but marvel.

However, the dragon phantom's next sentence caused Qin Yi's heart to jump into his throat.

"You boy are dishonest! You keep saying you want to thank this old man for saving your life, yet you turned around and took advantage of this old man's absence to steal every drop of the spiritual liquid I've accumulated for a thousand years? This old man sees you are an educated person; do you not know the principle that 'taking without asking is theft'?! Do you know your crime, boy?" The dragon phantom's voice suddenly became stern, and its blood-moon-like eyes fixed on Qin Yi.

Although he knew the dragon phantom couldn't hurt him, the feeling of being caught 'stealing' in public still made Qin Yi's face turn red, and he wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

Not bothering to explain, Qin Yi flipped his palm and immediately took out all the collected dragon saliva liquid from the System Space. Holding it in his palms, he gave the dragon phantom an embarrassed smile.

The dragon phantom naturally couldn't see the existence of the System Space. Thus, Qin Yi's actions caused the dragon phantom's eyes to narrow. It felt that this young man before it was truly extraordinary—not only did he possess a Divine Artifact, but he also had the ability to retrieve items from the void. To have such cultivation in this era was indeed not to be underestimated.

Could it be that this boy before it was just like itself, the Reincarnation of some ancient powerhouse who had fallen here and was cultivating anew?

While the dragon phantom was deep in thought, Qin Yi explained haltingly, "That... Dragon Bro, I didn't mean to—er, no, I did mean to... Oh, forget it, I won't explain! I did take the dragon saliva liquid, but I truly had my reasons. However, I haven't touched a single drop; it's all here! Dragon Bro, if you have a use for it, I'll return it to you right now!"

Seeing that Qin Yi was still quite respectful and being wary of the youth's extraordinary identity, the dragon phantom's tone softened: "Forget it. This old man has been dead for a thousand years; keeping this spiritual liquid is useless. Since you recognize this item, then I shall gift it to you."

Qin Yi was stunned for a moment, then became ecstatic: "Really? Then thank you, Dragon Bro!"

"Don't be so quick to thank me." A trace of solemnity flashed through the dragon phantom's eyes, and its originally majestic voice now held a bit more anticipation. "Since the young friend has taken this old man's things, you should help this old man with something, shouldn't you?"

"Of course, of course! Dragon Bro, just say the word!" Qin Yi immediately stated his position. "As long as this Junior can do it, I will definitely give it my all!"

The dragon phantom's eyes brightened a bit. Its gaze fell upon the ring on Qin Yi's right ring finger, and it asked, "That ring on your hand—could you lend it to this old man for a use?"

Qin Yi did not hesitate at all. He took off the ring and held it in his palm before the dragon's head. "Dragon Bro, are you talking about this 'xuanwu domain suppressing ring'?"

"Xuanwu Domain Suppressing? Hmm, a good name!" Bright light burst from the dragon phantom's eyes, and its tone carried a hint of excitement. "To think that in today's world, I could still see such a Divine Artifact. It seems this old man's fate is not yet sealed!"

"Dragon Bro, have you run into some trouble? Is that why you want to borrow my ring to resist damage?" Qin Yi asked in confusion.

"Sigh," the dragon phantom exhaled two streams of white mist, appearing to sigh. "This old man fell here one thousand five hundred years ago. When I fell, a wisp of my True Spirit attached itself to that black snake. During these fifteen hundred years, I underwent two Lightning Tribulations before finally evolving into my current python body. I intended to undergo the tribulation to transform into a Jiao today, but an unexpected change occurred—my Origin was wounded by a woman. If I forcibly undergo the tribulation again, I fear I will end up with my body dead and Dao vanished! But if I miss today, I will have to wait another five hundred years. This old man is truly unwilling!"

Hearing the dragon phantom's explanation, Qin Yi immediately realized: "So that's how it is. No wonder you stepped in to save me when I was fighting that Bai Ruoxue!"

"So that woman is named Bai Ruoxue! This old man has remembered her! Once I successfully undergo the tribulation and escape this place, I will surely tear her into ten thousand pieces and scatter her ashes to vent the hatred in my heart!"

Just then, the System's notification sound suddenly rang out in Qin Yi's mind:

[Ding! Detected that the Great Python's Jiao Transformation Heavenly Tribulation is approaching. Triggering Random Mission—Help the Great Python undergo the tribulation to transform into a Jiao! Mission Completion: Reward Host with Black Dragon Essence Blood *1, System Lucky Draw count +1, 1000 System Points! Mission Failure: Randomly deduct five points from the host's six-dimensional attributes, and suffer 48 hours of continuous bad luck!]

Hearing the System's notification, Qin Yi was first startled, and the smile on his face instantly froze.

The dragon phantom had not heard the System notification just now. Seeing Qin Yi looking at it like that, it thought Qin Yi was unwilling to lend the ring. Two more streams of white mist puffed from its mouth and nose, its voice lowering slightly: "What? You boy are unwilling?"

"No, no, Dragon Bro, you've misunderstood! It's not that this Junior is unwilling, but that this ring is one with this Junior's life. It only actively activates to resist damage when my life is under threat."

To think that ring was actually the Lifebound Treasure of the youth before it! It seemed its guess was correct; this youth was absolutely the Reincarnation of some ancient powerhouse.

At this thought, the dragon phantom's eyes instantly dimmed. It whispered with unwilling heart, "Could it be that this old man's life truly ends here today? A thousand years of waiting, only to exchange it for today's ending. This old man is not reconciled!"

Qin Yi frowned in thought and silently asked the System, "System, if the Lightning Tribulation comes, if I am with it, can I take the Lightning Tribulation for it?"

[Ding! Replying to the host: after the xuanwu domain suppressing ring is activated, it will form an absolute defense Domain around the host, which can resist all fatal attacks! Naturally, it can also withstand the Lightning Tribulation!]

Having received a positive reply, Qin Yi raised his head and said to the dragon phantom, "Dragon Bro, I have a way to help you undergo the tribulation!"

"Is that true?" The dragon phantom's voice trembled slightly. It couldn't believe that in this desperate situation, a turning point had actually appeared.

"Of course it's true!" Qin Yi nodded heavily, but at the same time, he changed the subject and continued, "However, before the tribulation, you must first send us out of the grotto."

"This old man can send you out, but you must first tell me what the method is?" the dragon phantom asked somewhat urgently. It had now completely pinned its hopes on Qin Yi.

"When the Lightning Tribulation descends, I will be with you. The xuanwu domain suppressing ring will naturally be activated. At that time, an absolute defense Domain will form around me, and all fatal attacks will be blocked. Perhaps this can help you pass the Lightning Tribulation!"

"Boy, have you thought this through?! The Lightning Tribulation is no small matter. Although this old man knows not which powerhouse's Reincarnation you are, you currently only have a cultivation of the Mid-stage Dark Force. Aren't you afraid of falling right here by tanking the Lightning Tribulation?"

Powerhouse Reincarnation? What on earth was it talking about...

Hearing the dragon phantom's somewhat confusing warning, Qin Yi was first startled, then responded without fear, "Since I've promised to help you pass the Lightning Tribulation, Dragon Bro, I naturally have a hundred percent certainty! However, I also hope Dragon Bro can keep his promise and send us out of this grotto."

"Fine! This old man believes you! As long as you can help me pass the tribulation, let alone sending you out, if you have a need in the future, this old man will surely help with all my strength!"

"Then this Junior shall thank you in advance." Qin Yi was overjoyed and continued to ask, "Then I wonder when Dragon Bro will undergo the tribulation?"

"At the hour of Zi tonight, the Lightning Tribulation shall arrive! At that time, I will naturally send you out!"

"Good, it's a deal!"

As soon as the words fell, the dragon phantom instantly dissipated, and Qin Yi's consciousness was also abruptly pulled back from his Sea of Consciousness.