Chapter 317: Wang Xuanlong's Absence

"Currently, although your profound energy hasn't changed, under the influence of the Dragon God's Marrow and Dragon God's Soul, both your body and soul have undergone a sublime leap. It's just that after completely integrating them, you don't feel the change very distinctly. Furthermore, with the Dragon God's Soul and Marrow, you can now unleash the power of your Dragon God bloodline more completely. Your combat power is now several times what it was before... In addition, with your current soul strength, you can just about activate our Dragon God clan's 'Dragon Soul Domain'!"

"Dragon Soul... Domain? You mean... a domain?" Yun Che asked in surprise. A domain was a powerful ability that could only be unleashed at the Monarch Profound Realm. Xia Qingyue could use a domain because she possessed the Nine Profound Exquisite Heart, but he was currently only at the Earth Profound Realm. Could he really unleash a domain, something only Monarchs could do?

"That's correct. The Dragon Soul Domain is not an offensive domain, nor is it a suppressive, restrictive, or defensive one. Instead, it's an overwhelmingly potent mental domain. You'll understand its power once you activate it. However, although it's a mental domain, it still requires a portion of profound energy to sustain. Currently, both your profound energy and mental strength are somewhat strained to activate the Dragon Soul Domain. I don't wish for you to use it unless absolutely necessary, as it could potentially cause unpredictable soul damage to you... As you grow stronger, the Dragon Soul Domain will also become more powerful. Your path to true strength is still very, very long."

Yun Che silently sensed the power within his sea of consciousness, nodded quietly, and felt a slight tremor of excitement in his heart.

"Very well. Although your soul is stained with blood and sin, it is also crystal clear. I believe I have not misjudged or chosen the wrong person... Among all the power inheritances I left behind, this one is the latest and the last. Those who inherited my bloodline established the 'Dragon God Clan' in 'that place,' and it has grown increasingly powerful through countless years of succession. However, power often gives rise to arrogance and greed, and I wonder what the Dragon God Clan has become now. As for inheriting the Dragon God's Marrow and Dragon God's Soul, you... are the only one. I hope you haven't forgotten the promise you made to me back then."

Yun Che nodded and said sincerely, "Of course, I haven't forgotten the promise I made last time. If I truly reach that place someday, I will wholeheartedly search for the sword you mentioned. And if I find it, I will do everything in my power to discover a method to unseal it and allow your daughter to see the light of day again."

"Good... With that, my remnant soul, which has struggled for so many years, can finally depart in peace. Let me use my last bit of strength to do... one last thing for you. If I'm not mistaken, you should have a Monarch Profound Flame Dragon's dragon core on you. Summon it and the Dragon Fault Sword together from the Sky Poison Pearl."

Yun Che was startled for a moment but didn't ask further questions. He complied, taking out the Dragon Fault Sword and the dragon core, which had been hidden in the Sky Poison Pearl—arguably the most precious item apart from the Sky Poison Pearl and the Mirror of Samsara itself.

The Azure Dragon's blue eyes in the sky suddenly flashed. The Dragon Fault Sword and the Monarch Profound Dragon Core simultaneously floated upwards, hovering in the air. The voice of the Primordial Azure Dragon resounded: "This Dragon Fault Sword was left behind by a human who failed the Dragon God Trial a millennium ago. Sealed within its blade is the soul of a young dragon. For a thousand years, it has been nourished by my dragon breath within the Dragon God Trial grounds, preventing its dormancy. Since you happen to possess a Monarch Profound Dragon Core, then let us complete it!"

Instantly, the Monarch Profound Dragon Core erupted into scarlet-red flames—the true dragon's dragon flame, so intensely hot that the air itself seemed to ignite. Guided by a blue light, the Dragon Fault Sword plunged into the dragon core's flames, quickly becoming completely enveloped. Subsequently, the entire sword transformed into a massive ball of fire, as if it were fully ablaze... If one could see through the flames, they would notice the burning dragon core touching the Dragon Fault's massive hilt, then slowly liquefying and dispersing until it fully adhered to and merged with the sword.

The flames in the air instantly extinguished, and the Monarch Profound Dragon Core vanished. The Dragon Fault Sword then descended... Immediately, an overwhelmingly powerful sword aura, blazing hot like the sun and several times heavier and more formidable than before, enveloped the surroundings, causing the entire space to fall silent.

Thud! The Dragon Fault Sword landed firmly in Yun Che's hand, causing the ground beneath his feet to instantly crack and the entire cave to slightly shake. Yun Che clutched the Dragon Fault tightly, his arm stiffening, and his eyes gleamed with shock and extreme excitement.

The Dragon Fault's appearance showed no obvious changes, but its weight far surpassed what it was before. The immense heaviness in his arm told Yun Che that the Dragon Fault now weighed at least twenty-eight thousand jin, and its aura was so oppressive that even as its master, he felt a suffocating sensation.

He raised his hands, held the Dragon Fault horizontally, and infused profound energy into its blade. Immediately, two dazzling fiery lights flashed in the eyes of the dragon head at the sword's tip, resembling the ferocious glare of a living dragon. On the blade itself, the intricate dragon bone patterns subtly twisted and writhed... As Yun Che gripped the hilt with both hands, he distinctly felt a powerful soul... the soul of the Dragon Fault!

The immense weight made it somewhat difficult for even Yun Che, with his extraordinary arm strength, to wield, but his excitement far outweighed this challenge. He had just witnessed the birth of a Monarch Profound artifact... In his hands was a Monarch Profound Sword, unique in the entire Azure Wind Empire, capable of shaking the world!

One could only imagine the terrifying destructive power such a sword strike would unleash. Its invisible sword aura alone would make countless individuals cower without a fight.

Whoosh! Yun Che fiercely brandished the Dragon Fault. The sound of it cutting through the air was as heavy as a boulder pressing on one's heart, and it was accompanied by an unmistakably clear dragon's roar!

"Soul-bound weapons are inherently difficult to wield, but now that you possess the Dragon God's Soul, and its sword soul originates from a young dragon's soul, it will completely submit to you. Even though you are currently only at the Earth Profound Realm, you can still fully wield it... Unfortunately, you don't seem to have time to adapt to it immediately, as your enemies will appear soon, and it is time for me to depart. Strive to become strong, strive to live... You carry my last bloodline... and my final hope..."

"That terrible feeling... I hope... it's just a faint illusion..."

The azure-blue eyes vanished, and the voice of the Primordial Azure Dragon fell completely silent at that moment. The Dragon God's aura, which had existed here for countless years, finally dissipated entirely... Its very last words, seemingly muttered to itself, left Yun Che utterly bewildered.

"'A terrible feeling? What does that mean?' Yun Che muttered. What could possibly make a mighty Dragon God feel 'terrible'? After a brief contemplation, his gaze shifted towards the cave entrance... The individuals who had been relentlessly pursuing him were now less than a hundred zhang away... And all seven of them were there!

Yun Che sneered. Dragging the Dragon Fault, he walked out. With each step, his foot sank half a chi deep into the ground. It wasn't until he had taken more than a dozen steps that he finally coordinated his posture and the Dragon Fault's weight. By the time he fully exited the cave, there were no longer any footprints.

The moment Yun Che emerged from the cave, flame shadows flickered around him. Seven figures descended from the sky, landing around him and completely encircling him. Seven incredibly powerful profound energy auras locked tightly onto him.

An Earth Profound practitioner would typically stiffen and struggle to breathe if merely locked on by the profound energy of a single Sky Profound Realm expert. Yet, Yun Che, simultaneously targeted by seven Sky Profound experts, remained completely composed. Not only was there no hint of panic on his face, but he even wore a smile, as if the seven individuals before him weren't there to kill him, but to welcome him.

"Yun Che! No matter how a thousand times more cunning you are, don't dream of escaping our grasp! This time, let's see where you'll run!" Fen Moran roared, gripping his Burning Heaven Blade.

"Tsk-tsk," Yun Che pursed his lips and said disdainfully, "Can't you old dogs change your lines every time we meet? You always say I can't run, but unfortunately, I always leave whenever I please. You just end up chasing me like headless flies, eating my dust. Look at how swollen your faces are, already resembling pigs' snouts. Aren't you afraid they'll swell up even further, like buttocks?"

"Stop wasting words on him!" Seeing Yun Che, Fen Moli's bottled-up rage flared up. "Take him down immediately! Yun Che, let's see how you run this time!!"

"Die, junior!" Fen Moran, who was closest to Yun Che, roared. His entire body burst into flames as he unleashed his Burning Heaven Blade, executing the "Burning Heaven Red Lotus" move directly at Yun Che. It wasn't just Fen Moli; all of them, renowned figures throughout the world, had set out together to slay a mere youngster, yet they had failed so far and been thoroughly toyed with. Each of them was seething with pent-up fury. Fen Moran's strike was exceptionally ruthless, as if he wished to cleave Yun Che in half with a single blow.

As Fen Moran approached, Yun Che swiftly turned. Instead of parrying with his sword, his left hand suddenly left the hilt and grabbed directly at Fen Moran's Burning Heaven Blade.

"You're courting death!" Fen Moran flew into a rage, but immediately, his eyes were filled with utter horror.

Crackle, crackle, crackle... Yun Che's strength suddenly erupted like a volcano. He barehanded grabbed Fen Moran's Burning Heaven Blade, and with a series of heart-wrenching sounds, the flame-engulfed blade immediately twisted... and twisted further... Its flames extinguished completely in an instant, and the entire Burning Heaven Blade was twisted into a distorted mess.

"Wh-what?!" Fen Moran's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

As one of the Thirteen Elders of the Burning Heaven Clan, Fen Moran's blade was naturally no ordinary item. His Burning Heaven Blade, named "Flaming Mastiff," was a high-grade Earth Profound Weapon. When infused with his powerful profound energy, it was capable of destroying mountains, splitting earth, and shattering refined steel. Yet, in Yun Che's hand, it was effortlessly twisted into a distorted mess... This was several times more difficult than simply smashing it apart.

Meanwhile, Yun Che's hand bore only a minor scratch, neither deep nor shallow.

Having been tempered by the Dragon God's Marrow, Yun Che's bones were now incredibly tough, reaching a strength incomprehensible to ordinary people. Even if Fen Moran had struck them with a full-power blow, it would at most leave a shallow mark; cutting them would be completely out of the question.

"Your Burning Heaven Clan is truly pathetic. For a dignified elder-level figure, to use such a flimsy blade that bends with a mere twist—it's simply laughable... Next time you reincarnate, remember to choose a better sect!"

Yun Che smiled as he suddenly slammed the Dragon Fault Sword onto Fen Moran's chest.

Boom! Unparalleled power erupted like a mountain flood and a sea tsunami. With a thunderous roar, Fen Moran's body was instantly smashed into two halves, flying away like two broken rag dolls before he could even let out a muffled groan.