The golden glow faded from the canyon, leaving only the hum of power that refused to die.
The bones of ancient dragons gleamed faintly beneath the fractured earth, resonating with the aura of the True Dragon Bone that had just fused into Lin Feng's body.
For a moment, there was silence. The air was heavy with reverence — every beast for miles had fallen to its knees. Even the wind itself seemed to bow before him.
Lin Feng stood amid the wreckage, his robes in tatters, his chest rising and falling slowly. The dragon shadows that had once coiled behind him now rested, slumbering within his blood. His body ached, every meridian burning from the fusion — but his spirit blazed brighter than ever.
"Nine heads awakened," he murmured, his gaze distant. "The heavens grow smaller with every breath I take."
He turned to leave the canyon.
But before his foot touched the ground, a tremor rippled through the void.
The light dimmed.
And then — voices.
"So it's true."
"A resonance this powerful… it must be the True Dragon Bone."
"Heh, and it was claimed by an unknown brat from the Heavenly Sword Palace."
The skies cracked open as figures descended from the clouds — five in total, each radiating Celestial might.
The leader, a young man in silver battle armor, bore eyes like twin voids — calm, endless, and cruel. A black spear rested upon his shoulder, its shaft engraved with devouring runes.
"Lin Feng," he said softly, his tone carrying the arrogance of one accustomed to command. "Outer disciple of the Heavenly Sword Palace… you've touched what doesn't belong to you."
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed slightly. "And you are?"
"Tian Mu of the Sky-Devouring Sect," the man replied. "And these—"
He gestured to the others.
"—are Ye Xuan of the Moonlight Pavilion, Shen Lei of the Heavenly Flame Alliance, and Su Qian'er of the Violet Cloud Valley."
They each exuded a unique divine energy — moonlight, flame, shadow, and storm.
All were top geniuses of their sects, names whispered in reverence across the upper heavens.
Tian Mu's spear twitched in his hand, releasing a wave of energy that split the clouds above.
"We came because a Divine Bone appeared. You merged with it. So you have two choices — surrender it and live, or defy us and die."
Lin Feng didn't speak immediately.
His gaze drifted toward the shattered horizon, the faint azure light still flickering around his sword.
"Funny," he said at last. "I was thinking of offering you two choices as well."
The air grew cold.
"Leave," he said softly, "or stay and bleed."
For an instant, there was stunned silence.
Then Shen Lei laughed — a wild, crackling sound, flames swirling around him.
"You dare talk like that to us? You're just a newly ascended Celestial!"
He lunged forward, his body turning into a streak of crimson fire. A blazing blade descended toward Lin Feng, its edge splitting the air like molten lightning.
Lin Feng didn't even draw his sword.
His eyes flickered gold, and his arm moved once — a backhanded strike.
The sound was dull, final.
Shen Lei's body stopped midair, his blade scattering into sparks. Blood burst from his mouth as he was flung backward, crashing through three stone pillars before falling limp, unconscious.
Tian Mu's smile vanished.
The others froze.
Lin Feng stepped forward, his aura rising, calm but absolute — the very air warping around him as faint dragon roars echoed from within his body.
"If you've come for the dragon's legacy," he said quietly, "then show me if you're worthy of it."
Tian Mu's eyes darkened.
"You're strong… but not enough."
He vanished.
The next instant, his spear appeared at Lin Feng's throat, the tip glowing with void light that devoured sound and space alike.
Lin Feng's sword flashed — blue light colliding with darkness.
The ground vanished.
The canyon split apart, swallowed by the impact. Waves of destruction rippled outward, reducing mountains to dust.
Tian Mu staggered back several steps, a line of blood sliding down his cheek. Lin Feng stood unshaken, his robes fluttering in the pressure.
Ye Xuan of the Moonlight Pavilion raised her hand, and a thousand beams of silver light descended, forming a lotus that sealed off the sky.
"Let's see how long you last against the three of us!"
She, Su Qian'er, and Tian Mu moved in unison. Fire, moonlight, and void converged into a storm of divine destruction. The ground disintegrated beneath their combined pressure.
Lin Feng's aura blazed, golden and blue intertwining. His dragon bloodline surged again — this time, without restraint.
"Azure Sword Art — Seventh Form: Dragon Sovereign Ascension!"
The heavens trembled.
From behind Lin Feng burst nine spectral dragon heads, their roars shaking the world. His sword flared like a fragment of the sun, each strike carrying the will of dragon and man united.
Flames shattered under his sword.
Moonlight fractured into dust.
Even Tian Mu's void spear bent under the pressure.
The three geniuses were forced back — blood spraying from their lips. The air around Lin Feng crackled with divine thunder.
But their eyes burned with pride, not fear.
Ye Xuan's expression twisted into a mix of awe and defiance.
"He truly… carries a dragon's will."
Tian Mu wiped the blood from his chin, laughing bitterly.
"No wonder the heavens trembled. You're not some mortal — you're something that shouldn't exist."
He raised his spear once more, runes igniting along its shaft.
"Let's see how long that arrogance lasts."
Before they could strike again, the sky turned dark.
A vast, golden formation appeared in the air — glowing with ancient runes.
Even Tian Mu's face changed.
"A divine pressure… someone else is coming!"
From within the light stepped a figure draped in white robes, eyes cold as winter stars — Yue Qingxuan, Saintess of the Moonlight Pavilion, and heir to one of the oldest bloodlines in the higher realms.
Her presence silenced the air. Even the void seemed to bow.
"Enough," she said softly. "You will not touch him."
The others froze.
"Saintess Qingxuan," Tian Mu said carefully, "this man holds—"
"I know what he holds," she interrupted. "But that bone has already chosen its bearer. Do you wish to defy the will of the True Dragon?"
Silence.
Her gaze turned to Lin Feng — calm, studying.
"You bear a bloodline that no longer belongs to this age. If the heavens sense it, they will strike. Be wary."
For a moment, their eyes met — dragon gold and moonlight silver — an unspoken understanding passing between them.
Then, without another word, Yue Qingxuan turned, vanishing into a beam of light. Her presence faded, leaving only stillness.
Tian Mu clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Consider yourself lucky, Lin Feng."
His body blurred and vanished, the others following.
When the wind settled, Lin Feng stood alone once more in the ruined canyon. His chest rose and fell, his blood still singing from battle.
He looked at the bloodstained earth, then toward the distant stars.
"The heavens may send ten thousand geniuses," he murmured, "but I'll cut them all down the same."
His Azure Sword pulsed faintly in response — a soft hum, like a dragon's quiet roar beneath the stars.
Above him, lightning flared — as if the heavens themselves had heard the challenge.