C587 Old Dragon

In another cave, a tall and burly elder with purple-red skin sat majestically, a dragon horn crowning his head and clad in a violet-gold dragon robe. His eyes, large as bells, shone brightly as he coldly regarded Yu Yuan, who lay on the ground, barely clinging to life.

Yu Yuan, having been flung into the cave by Zhongli Dapan of the Forgeroses, raised his head and looked at the figure with a hint of surprise. "What relation is Loong Tianxiao to you?" he inquired. The figure seated in the cave bore a striking resemblance to Loong Tianxiao.

"He might be my son. I've had so many children, it's hard to keep track," the towering elder replied with a chuckle.

"He's outside, his blood and Dragon Soul stripped away by a venomous Amethyst Dragon that transferred its poison to him," Yu Yuan informed.

"Oh," the elder responded, his tone detached.

Yu Yuan fell silent. The purple-skinned elder before him, presenting himself in human form, was none other than the illustrious former patriarch of the Nagas—Loong Jie. Yu Yuan had heard of Loong Jie's notorious reputation in his past life; his name resonated like thunder.

Yet, the Loong Jie he knew had vanished into the extraterrestrial Star River long ago. Loong Jie's fame was often tied to his debauchery. His colorful life was peppered with a variety of romantic escapades.

Legend had it that wherever Loong Jie roamed, he would unite with beautiful women, not confined to his own race but including humans and evilkind. In his youth, Loong Jie fathered numerous children. As his dragon bloodline evolved and his own realm ascended, his womanizing ways persisted, though the number of offspring he sired dwindled.

Still, many individuals—dragons or evilkind—claimed to be his progeny. Upon arrival, Yu Yuan needed only a glance to sense the resemblance between Loong Tianxiao and Loong Jie, leading him to surmise that Loong Tianxiao, this "Dragon," was likely the result of Loong Jie's travels through Aetherius, where he had transformed into a dashing young man and sired a child with a maiden.

Loong Jie was exceptionally gifted, with an EQ rumored to be off the charts, making him highly favored by women.

With his ability to change his appearance at will, Loong Jie could instantly transform into the epitome of a woman's ideal figure. His silver tongue and sweet nothings were nearly impossible for any woman to resist.

Not just mortal women, but even the fox demons of the evilkind and numerous so-called fairies from Euwrea who were accomplished cultivators had fallen for him, becoming yet another chapter in his long list of romantic conquests.

Loong Tianxiao was likely the result of one of Loong Jie's dalliances during his travels.

Despite being the offspring of the old dragon, Loong Jie displayed a shocking indifference upon learning that Loong Tianxiao had been flayed of his flesh and Dragon Soul by an Amethyst Dragon. This left Yu Yuan feeling perplexed.

"I concern myself with birth, not upbringing."

Noticing Yu Yuan's confusion, Loong Jie snorted and explained, "I have countless descendants. If I were to look after each one, I'd have no time for anything else. As for Loong Tianxiao, even if he is my son, the fact that he was captured and tortured by other Nagas just shows his worthlessness."

"Besides, who's to say that Amethyst Dragon isn't another one of my sons?"

Loong Jie looked up with an air of supreme arrogance. "I've witnessed the infighting among my progeny for thousands of years. I'm aware of the dozens who have perished at each other's hands. And there are undoubtedly many more whose deaths I'm unaware of, slain by outsiders."

He spoke these words with a chilling detachment.

Yu Yuan inhaled deeply, straightening himself in the cave as he faced the old dragon, whose reputation was known to every cultivator in the Everlands. "Zhongli Dapan sent me. He's asked for a drop of your dragon blood."

"I'm aware it was him. I can sense the repugnant aura of the Ancient Echoes of the Void on you!" the old dragon retorted with a cold huff. "He wishes to use you to escape the Sword Prison and regain his freedom in the Everlands. That's his concern. As for me, I'm quite content here in the Sword Prison. I'm in no rush to leave."

With a wave of his hand, as if shooing away a fly, Loong Jie dismissed him, "Return to wherever you came from."

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

He had traversed numerous caverns within the Sword Prison, encountering countless Evil Devils and magnates, each one abuzz with excitement and anticipation of escaping the Sword Prison to reclaim their freedom.

Yet, Loong Jie was unlike any he had encountered before.

Loong Jie showed no urgency to depart from the Sword Prison, no desire for freedom, and seemed quite content within its confines. What was this all about?

"Give me a drop of your dragon blood."

After a moment's contemplation, Yu Yuan flashed a grin and extended his hand toward Loong Jie, "Regardless of your thoughts, I need a drop of your dragon blood!"

A fierce light flared in Loong Jie's eyes, "Kid, are you asking for death?"

Yu Yuan, battered and bloodied by Zhongli Dapan, had only just managed to sit upright. Yet, he dared to demand a drop of dragon blood from Loong Jie with such audacity. On what grounds did this youngster make such a demand?

"Heh."

Yu Yuan's sword sheath, held at a distance, pointed directly at Loong Jie, "You're not Zhongli Dapan. You can't manipulate time and space to avoid the onslaught of sword will and sword light! Previously, as long as you stayed within this cave and didn't disturb the sword will's seals, you were safe."

"Not anymore!"

As Yu Yuan aimed the sword sheath at Loong Jie, he silently invoked a call in his heart.

The sword spirit, nestled deep within his arm bone, stealthily exuded a strand of its essence.

The moment the essence surfaced, the old dragon erupted with alarm, nearly leaping into the air, "That sword, the sword spirit, it's here too!"

The presence of the sword spirit's essence caused the dense sword will and sword light between the caves to converge menacingly toward Loong Jie.

Loong Jie's nerves tingled with dread, and his demeanor deflated, "Little brother, let's not be hasty. Stay calm, please, just calm down!"

Mid-sentence, a drop of purple-red blood detached itself from his chest cavity.

The dragon blood, the size of a thumb and resembling purple-red agate, gleamed with a dazzling brilliance in the dim cave, inching its way toward Yu Yuan.

As the drop of dragon blood separated, Loong Jie's towering and muscular frame visibly shrank.

Within the confines of the Sword Prison, he was influenced by the Moon Soul's little world, perpetually losing his vitality and remnant soul.

This old dragon was exceedingly strong and possessed an incredibly long lifespan, which allowed him to retain some of his power.

Dragon blood was the last vestige of strength he had. Losing even a single drop would weaken him significantly.

"Thank you very much," Yu Yuan said, cupping his fists in gratitude and laughing heartily. As the drop of dragon blood neared, he suddenly activated the Evil Body Refining technique, drawing it in with a powerful suction from his vitality's little world.

Loong Jie's eyes, which resembled bronze bells, flashed dangerously, his expression turning fierce.

With a whoosh, the drop of dragon blood shot straight into Yu Yuan's elixir field.

"Young man, you dare to covet my blood! Do you realize that even after being confined in the Sword Prison for five hundred years, losing much of my strength, a single drop of my blood is not something you can assimilate! I'll enjoy watching you die a painful death, watching you..."

Loong Jie's bellowing came to an abrupt halt. He couldn't finish his sentence, his eyes bulging as if he had witnessed an unbelievable miracle.

He saw Yu Yuan, who had been weak and at death's door, suddenly brimming with life and vitality. Yu Yuan's eyes shone brightly, and his skin glowed with an unusual purple-red hue.

He had completely lost the connection to the drop of dragon blood he had so carefully refined.

"I'll leave you be," Yu Yuan said, bowing respectfully. He swiftly left the cave before the old dragon could react.

Loong Jie stood there, dumbfounded. After a moment, he erupted in a furious roar, "Despicable lad, return my drop of dragon blood! Zhongli Dapan, you bastard, did you have a hand in this? A mere Veil Breaking novice, even if you belong to the Forgeroses or the Terror Claws, there's no way you could refine a drop of my dragon blood!"

Loong Jie had given the drop of dragon blood under the direction of the sword sheath with ill intent. He had sought another way to bring about Yu Yuan's demise!

He was the former patriarch of the Nagas, a ninth-level dragon. Even with his power greatly diminished within the Sword Prison, a single drop of his dragon blood could easily claim Yu Yuan's life.

After Yu Yuan introduced a drop of dragon blood into his little world, not only did he survive, but he also evidently assimilated it!

And with such remarkable speed!

...