Chapter 507: Ancient Ruins, Three-Star Dou Zun!
After forcing back Que Huang and the others, Yuan Cang and the Lion King quickly approached Zhu Li and Hei Qing with respect.
"I am Yuan Cang, and this is the Lion King. We greet Elder Zhu Li."
The Mighty Lion Clan had been in decline for a long time, so receiving assistance from the Ancient Void Dragon Clan was an unexpected surprise and joy.
"Hehe, we've met many times in the past, no need to be so formal," said the white-robed Elder Zhu Li with a warm smile.
Yuan Cang smiled in return and nodded. He and Zhu Li were of the same generation and had crossed paths many times in their youth, so they were not strangers.
At this moment, the Lion King spoke up, "Elder Zhu Li, you mentioned earlier that a powerful member of my clan made a promise to your esteemed clan. May I ask which of my ancestors this was?"
Establishing a connection with the Ancient Void Dragon Clan was a huge blessing for the declining Mighty Lion Clan.
Zhu Li merely smiled and stroked his white beard without answering.
It was Hei Qing who bluntly replied, "That was just an excuse the Third Elder used to brush off the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan. There was never such a person in the Mighty Lion Clan."
Hearing this, both the Lion King and Yuan Cang exchanged awkward glances, then smiled apologetically at Zhu Li.
As the tension in the atmosphere grew, a cheerful voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Third Grandpa! Uncle Hei! I'm here!"
Zi Yan and Mo Yu, along with several others, arrived at the scene.
"Hehe, little girl, did you have fun outside?" Zhu Li's elderly face showed a doting expression as he chuckled.
Even the burly, fierce-looking Hei Qing managed a smile.
Seeing this, the Lion King was astonished. After all, Zhu Li was an elder of the Dragon Emperor's lineage, yet he was being so kind to this young girl. Could it be that Zhu Li had intervened because of her?
"Hehe, the outside world is way more exciting than the dull Ancient Dragon Island," Zi Yan said with a smile, then pointed to Mo Yu beside her. "This is Mo Yu, whom I mentioned earlier. I met him in the Black-Corner Region."
"Mo Yu, at your service," Mo Yu said, cupping his hands respectfully toward Zhu Li and Hei Qing.
"Oh… so you're the Mo Yu. I didn't expect such a figure to emerge from the Lei Clan's branch," Zhu Li said, narrowing his eyes slightly before smiling.
"Hehe, you have a sharp eye, Elder." Mo Yu, though not particularly attached to his identity as a member of the Lei Clan, didn't deny it when Zhu Li brought it up and replied with a light smile.
"The Lei Clan?" The Lion King and Yuan Cang were both surprised upon hearing this and glanced at Mo Yu.
As one of the ancient super-families of magical beasts, the Mighty Lion Clan was well-acquainted with the Eight Great Imperial Clans. In the past, they had been on equal footing with them. What the Lion King hadn't expected was that the former leader of Zi Huo was actually from the highly ranked Lei Clan.
This realization made the Lion King even more determined to maintain a good relationship with Mo Yu.
"I didn't expect to meet so many rare talents today: a Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Snake, the bearer of the Calamity Poison Body, and the wielder of the Primal Lion Form," Zhu Li remarked after greeting Zi Yan and Mo Yu, then casting a glance at Uncle Snake, Zi Huo, and Little Doctor Immortal.
He also gave Mo Yu another curious look.
Gathering such powerful individuals in one group, along with Zi Yan, who possessed the Dragon Emperor's bloodline, was certainly extraordinary.
"Hehe, the name of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan is well-known to us," the three—Little Doctor Immortal, Uncle Snake, and Zi Huo—respectfully greeted Zhu Li, before Uncle Snake spoke with a light smile.
"Sir, as a semi-saint, would you be interested in visiting the Ancient Void Dragon Clan?" Zhu Li asked with a smile, looking at Uncle Snake.
Hearing this, Mo Yu's mouth twitched slightly. Zhu Li was clearly trying to recruit Uncle Snake!
Though Mo Yu thought this, he wasn't worried. His bond with Uncle Snake was strong, and he knew the Ancient Void Dragon Clan couldn't simply take him away.
As expected, Uncle Snake glanced at Mo Yu and then shook his head with a smile. "No, I already have plans."
"What a pity…" Zhu Li sighed with regret. A Nine-Winged Purple-Gold Snake at the semi-saint level could very well break through to Dou Saint with enough resources. Such a powerful individual would be highly sought after by the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.
"Third Grandpa, why did you come here today?" Zi Yan asked, changing the subject.
"We're here because of an ancient ruin," Hei Qing, who rarely spoke, answered.
"Ancient ruin? What's that?" Zi Yan asked curiously.
At this point, Yuan Cang spoke up with a smile. "Hehe, this is not the place for such a conversation. If you don't mind, let me arrange a more suitable location for us to talk."
Upon hearing this suggestion, Mo Yu and the others nodded in agreement, following Yuan Cang to a large hall within the Mighty Lion Clan's territory.
Once seated, with tea served by the attendants, Mo Yu and the others turned their attention to Zhu Li.
Seeing this, Zhu Li pondered for a moment before continuing the earlier conversation. "Ancient ruins, as the name suggests, are remnants of the ancient past. Anything that has survived the passage of time is certainly not ordinary. The owner of the ruin that has recently appeared must have been an extraordinary individual."
"This particular ruin is located in the Beast Domain. From the state of preservation, it seems the owner might have been a peak-level Dou Saint."
Hearing this, a serious expression flickered across Mo Yu's face. A Dou Saint, nearly the pinnacle of existence in this world, was not to be taken lightly.
Mo Yu faintly recalled that in the original story, Yao Lao was able to break through to semi-saint thanks to some treasures Xiao Yan found in a similar ruin.
"Ancient times were very different from today, and over countless years, many relics have been left behind. Some of these ruins have been buried or lost, but occasionally, one reemerges, just like this one."
"Every time an ancient ruin is discovered, it leads to a bloodbath. The items left behind by a Dou Saint are enough to drive people mad."
"And…" At this point, Zhu Li's expression grew serious. "It seems there are rumors of a Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit in this ancient ruin."
"A Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit?"
The group in the hall gasped.
The Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit was one of the most coveted treasures on the Dou Qi Continent, especially for the Ancient Void Dragon Clan and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan. It was said to be born only when both an ancient phoenix and an Ancient Void Dragon died in the same place, making it incredibly rare.
The fruit had the unique power to enhance the bloodline of either the Ancient Void Dragon or the Heavenly Demon Phoenix, pushing it to the next level!
For both clans, the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit was beyond tempting.
"Third Grandpa, is that true?" Zi Yan's eyes sparkled with excitement as she clenched her fists. To someone with the Dragon Emperor's bloodline like her, the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit was a sacred treasure.
"Mm, it's very likely. Otherwise, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan wouldn't have gone to such extremes. I came here not only to tell you this but also to have Hei Qing protect you. Even if we can't obtain the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit, we must not let it fall into the hands of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan!" Zhu Li said gravely.
With the Ancient Void Dragon Clan facing internal division, allowing the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan to acquire the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit would undoubtedly result in the Ancient Void Dragons losing their position as the dominant force.
"Rest assured, Third Elder. With me here, I'll help Zi Yan secure the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit!" Hei Qing declared firmly.
"With Uncle Hei, there's no problem. But wouldn't it be safer if you helped, Third Grandpa?" Zi Yan tilted her head and asked.
Zhu Li shook his head with a sigh. "Just like humans, even in the magical beast world, saint-level experts can't act casually. If we trigger a large-scale war, the losses to both clans would be enormous."
Zi Yan nodded in understanding.
Mo Yu then stood up and said, "Don't worry, Zi Yan. I'll also lend you a hand!"
"Hehe, thank you, little friend Mo Yu," Zhu Li chuckled, stroking his white beard.
He had a feeling that this young man might prove even more useful than Hei Qing.
"There are many matters to attend to in the clan, so I must go. Remember, the ancient ruin will open in a month. Don't miss it." After giving them several reminders, a spatial rift appeared in the hall, and Zhu Li's figure slowly vanished into it.
"Since saint-level experts can't interfere with the ancient ruins, Mo Yu, I'll head to Central Plains for a while. I'll come find you after taking care of some business," Uncle Snake said after Zhu Li left.
"Central Plains? Are you heading to Sound Valley?" Mo Yu raised his eyebrow curiously.
"Hehe, you're sharp. I missed out on something back then, and now I want to see if I can make up for it," Uncle Snake replied with a soft laugh, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
"Well then, I wish you success," Mo Yu said, cupping his hands.
"Thanks," Uncle Snake waved his hand before stepping out, disappearing from the hall in the blink of an eye.
With Zhu Li and Uncle Snake both gone, the immense pressure from the two semi-saints finally dissipated, and everyone in the hall could breathe a sigh of relief.
Even though they were all on the same side, the pressure was still palpable.
"Boss, I have something to return to you."
At that moment, Zi Huo stood up, opened his mouth, and a terrifying purple-gold thunderbolt emerged.
The thunderbolt, in the shape of a lion, emitted a primordial aura, carrying an intense sense of oppression.
It was none other than the Primal Ancestral Thunder!
"Thanks to the Primal Ancestral Thunder, I was able to inherit the Primal Lion Form of my ancestors. Now that it has reached its peak, it's time to return it to you," Zi Huo scratched his head and handed the Primal Ancestral Thunder back to Mo Yu.
Seeing this, Mo Yu didn't hesitate to accept the thunderbolt. His eyes sparkled with excitement.
The Primal Ancestral Thunder ranked fourth among all heavenly thunders. With it at its peak state, Mo Yu's strength would undoubtedly soar to new heights!
Even Little Doctor Immortal's beautiful eyes showed a hint of surprise. She had seen many thunders in Mo Yu's possession, but none had ever given her such a strong sense of pressure.
Hei Qing, too, was visibly astonished. He thought to himself, "As expected of someone from the Lei Clan, mastering such terrifying lightning at such a young age…"
"Absorb the energy of the heavenly thunder. We'll guard you," Little Doctor Immortal said softly, her surprise fading as she sat beside Mo Yu.
As Mo Yu's partner, she knew that every time one of his heavenly thunders reached its peak, it would provide him with a tremendous surge of energy, boosting his power significantly.
Gripping the Primal Ancestral Thunder, Mo Yu didn't hesitate. With the Hall of Souls looming, he knew he needed to grow stronger as quickly as possible. There was no time to waste.
After making up his mind, Mo Yu sat cross-legged, activated his technique, and began absorbing the dense energy from the Primal Ancestral Thunder.
The energy flowed into Mo Yu like thick mist, swirling around him before being drawn into his body like a dragon with each breath.
Watching him, Little Doctor Immortal smiled gently and sat beside him, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead as she waited patiently.
Meanwhile, Zi Huo left the hall to inform the others that no one was to come within a hundred meters of the building.
Now that Zi Huo had become the Young Chief of the Mighty Lion Clan, no one dared to question his orders.
Thus, the hall became a temporary restricted area.
Time passed, and half a month went by in the blink of an eye.
Whoosh
Half a month later, Mo Yu's eyes snapped open. In his dark eyes, surging Dou Qi seemed to ripple like a solid wave, and as he moved his hand, tiny cracks appeared in the space around it.
Mo Yu's aura had clearly grown much stronger than before.
"Three-Star Dou Zun!"
Feeling the vast Dou Qi surging within him, Mo Yu smiled. He could clearly sense the enormous power and the pleasant feeling of strength that came with his advancement.
"Congratulations, Mo Yu," Little Doctor Immortal said with a soft smile, relieved to see him open his eyes.
"In just half a month, you advanced by two stars?" Hei Qing opened his eyes slowly, filled with astonishment at Mo Yu's rapid progress. (End of Chapter)
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