Chapter 1053: Lived Three Lives

It was... a creature.

It was clearly not far, practically within arm's reach of the Heavenly Venerate, yet why had it been repeatedly overlooked, leaving no impression?

Chu Feng couldn't help but be astonished. What was going on?

Shaking his head vigorously inside the stone jar, he focused his gaze on the spot. A hazy light enveloped a colossal object in front, obscuring it.

It is said that divine objects naturally conceal themselves for self-protection, preventing detection by outsiders.

This creature also possessed such an effect, obscuring everything and almost deceiving even Chu Feng's Fiery Golden Eyes.

Of course, having arrived in such a place, Chu Feng dared not even emit golden beams, merely observing naturally. Had he not been hidden inside the stone jar, he wouldn't have dared to reveal the golden runes in his pupils.

He now saw clearly: it was a dragon, enormous and magnificent, easily tens of thousands of meters long!

Compared to legendary beings capable of shattering planets with a single finger, it wasn't actually that large. However, its spiritual essence and posture made it feel larger than the entire universe, more terrifying than any other creature.

It was a dragon, entirely gray, with ancient, rock-like scales that had no luster, layered one over another, emanating an inexplicable sense of ancient charm.

Its dragon head hung low, devoid of vitality, almost as if lifeless. Its massive dragon horns flowed with Daoist energy.

Its dragon eyes were closed, eyelids covered in wrinkled patterns and calloused material. Although it showed no movement and no fragments of the Great Dao flowed from it, it was utterly terrifying.

After all, a Heavenly Venerate kneeling before it was enough to attest to its power and dreadfulness.

Its dragon body was long, its scales dark gray, resembling a stone dragon sprawled across the area.

It was a Western-style dragon, its body like an ancient crocodile, with a pair of hazy gray wings hanging limply at its sides.

Its body was not bloated; on the contrary, it was gaunt, practically skin and bones, with many emaciated areas that stretched its outer dragon scales taut.

Within this One-Qi-Transforming-Into-Three-Pures domain, the third small world unexpectedly contained an ancient dragon, so ancient that its origin was unknown.

Not to mention the dragon, even the Heavenly Venerate kneeling there had been dead for countless years, judging by the extensive traces of time left around him.

"A Great Being!" Chu Feng's heart pounded. This creature, capable of forcing a Heavenly Venerate to kneel and submit, then dying in this very spot, must have been unimaginably powerful.

This was the secret of the dragon's lair: the third small world space harbored an ancient dragon that surpassed the Heavenly Venerate level.

It must have died, Chu Feng speculated. Otherwise, how could it have tolerated several Heavenly Venerates acting, clearing out the upper two small world spaces?

Perhaps it was the progenitor of this dragon nest!

Chu Feng dared not make any rash moves, gazing intently and observing carefully. This dragon was a treasure from head to tail, given its astonishing power.

Moreover, the Heavenly Venerate's battle robes and the ruler he held were also thrilling.

Although he was kneeling, one hand still gripped a snow-white ruler – the Sky-Measuring Ruler, a weapon among weapons!

Unfortunately, Chu Feng couldn't approach. The fragments of the Great Dao emanating from the area were too dense. Although this Heavenly Venerate died in humiliation, kneeling there, it seemed he had also struggled, otherwise, why would he be holding the Sky-Measuring Ruler – his most precious treasure, cultivated with his very life?

"Hmm!"

Suddenly, Chu Feng's heart was seized with dread. He sensed something abnormal: there was a fluctuation within the dragon's body; it wasn't dead!

The fluctuation was very faint, occurring only once after a long interval, which explained why Chu Feng had only just noticed it.

He became even quieter, his palms sweating. If this dragon were alive and discovered its descendants had been harmed, not only he but even the Heavenly Venerates outside would perish.

Chu Feng waited patiently, observing that the dragon's body would vibrate every so often, which was very strange.

He found it peculiar, increasingly feeling that the dragon should be dead. How could there still be a vibrating sound?

Suddenly, around the dragon's eyes, its eyelids trembled, as if about to open!

Chu Feng felt a chill run from head to toe. This incredible creature was truly alive; it was about to awaken!

Finally, the dragon's eyes slightly parted, emitting fragments of the Great Dao instead of other light. Then, with a soft 'pop,' its forehead bone shattered, revealing a bloody hole.

In an instant, its eyes closed again!

It had exerted all its strength to open its eyes, only for its forehead bone to crack open. What... what kind of situation was this?

Had an existence surpassing the Heavenly Venerate level just died like that?

Chu Feng found it abnormal; it defied all logic. Was this ancient dragon, which surpassed the Heavenly Venerate, self-harming?

He waited quietly. Before long, a mysterious event indeed occurred: there was movement at the bloody hole in the forehead of the massive head.

Something was about to crawl out!

Soon, a small claw emerged, followed by a portion of scales. Compared to the tens of thousands of meters long ancient dragon, this unknown creature was even smaller than an insect.

Chu Feng felt a chill run through his body. What terrifying sight was this?

Had some creature killed the ancient dragon, ravaging its body and feeding on its flesh? Chu Feng's scalp tingled!

He recalled a legend: among insects, there existed emperors who, upon evolving to the ultimate level, dared to hunt divine beasts and even battle dragons. Had he encountered such a creature?

Some peculiar insects evolved from venomous snakes, toads, and spiders, merging and fighting each other until their species became unrecognizable. Once they reached the Heavenly Venerate level, their destructive power was unimaginable.

And once they became a Great Being, their subsequent evolutionary path became unfathomable.

Could there be an insect king here, devouring the dragon?

Chu Feng's mind raced with wild thoughts. He couldn't help but overthink, for the scene before him was simply too bizarre.

“Alas, another lifetime has passed, burying my old self.”

Suddenly, an aged voice resounded through the underground palace, exceptionally eerie, emanating precisely from the ancient dragon's forehead bone.

Finally, the small creature emerged. It did indeed resemble an insect!

However, upon closer inspection, Chu Feng was somewhat taken aback. It appeared to be... a small dragon!

It was just over a meter long, not very large. Its body was partly snow-white with some black markings. Its dragon horns were one black and one white, and its eyes were pure and spirited.

Most remarkably, on its forehead bone, black and white markings intertwined, forming a small Yin-Yang symbol.

Its pair of dragon wings were also black and white, overall sturdy and powerful.

How could a small dragon crawl out of the massive dragon corpse? Chu Feng was deeply astonished.

“The oceans have turned to dust, lightning has withered away, and I have lived another lifetime. Year after year, when will it end?” The small dragon uttered an aged sigh.

Then, it extended a dragon claw, touched the forehead bone of the terrifying, deceased ancient dragon, and sighed softly, saying, “Who can understand the feeling of watching one's previous self decay and die?”

Chu Feng was dumbfounded. This small dragon was the ancient dragon's reborn body?

“My previous life was especially regrettable. With one foot already in the Great Being realm, I unexpectedly suffered an accident, halting my progress for that entire life. How hateful!”

Its words inadvertently revealed the ancient dragon's cultivation realm.

Chu Feng was stunned. This was merely a quasi-Great Being, yet its power was so terrifying that it forced a Heavenly Venerate to kowtow, leaving him utterly helpless and dead in this spot!

His heart grew solemn, further realizing just how terrifying and unfathomable those quiescent existences, slumbering among famous mountains and great rivers, truly were!

At the same time, he also understood why Stone Fox Heavenly Venerate had been powerless to resist after being banished by its master, only finding a turning point after fleeing to Earth.

It wasn't that Stone Fox Heavenly Venerate was weak; rather, the disparity between it and its master was simply terrifyingly vast.

“Originally, I accidentally consumed a Thirty-Three-Heavens Grass, which allowed me to be reborn after each old age and death. This is my third lifetime. How many lives can I truly live? In this lifetime, I will strive to achieve ultimate evolution, fearing neither the great tribulations of heaven and earth, nor life, death, and reincarnation!”

Upon hearing these words, Chu Feng's heart violently shook, and a peculiar emotion surged within him: a profound sense of injustice.

He himself had once witnessed the Thirty-Three-Heavens Grass, and had even grasped a small root in the ultimate reincarnation ground, eventually swallowing it. However, all its medicinal effects had been wasted.

During his journey through reincarnation, he was repeatedly crushed to pieces, his soul light exploding, being continuously obliterated. All the various heaven-and-earth spiritual essences he obtained from that ultimate reincarnation ground were used to save his life; not a single one remained.

If only he could have brought them out to consume them, the mere thought was thrilling. Yet, he was filled with immense regret, truly wanting to bang his head on the ground—it was such a waste.

However, on second thought, if he hadn't squandered those materials, he wouldn't have survived the ordeal.

“Accumulating through lifetime after lifetime, starting anew in this one, I believe I can step into the ultimate realm and stand at the very pinnacle!”

The small dragon was brimming with confidence, no longer melancholic, but instead becoming incredibly self-assured.

Moreover, its voice was no longer aged; it became youthful.

“Since I'm starting over, I don't need to speak with a hoarse voice or feign old age. I'll just be myself!”

It muttered to itself, saying, “Cut away trivial matters, erase irrelevant memories. On the path of evolution, one should maintain a pure, childlike heart.”

Later, its demeanor completely changed, its large eyes becoming shifty.

“In my previous life, I had insight into several mysterious burial grounds and knew where some rare grand medicines grew. If I seek them out in this life, my path will be incredibly smooth, fearless even though I'm only in the Chains Realm now.”

When Chu Feng heard this, he really wanted to pounce out directly and capture this living monster.

However, he restrained himself. After all, this was an old fellow who had lived three lifetimes. Heaven knew what trump cards it possessed. If it went mad and struck him severely, it would likely be fatal.

“Those old farts dared to cut off my escape route and destroy my old lair! I will never rest until I've settled this with you. And to send your descendants here for tempering? That's simply too much!”

It growled. Had it not been in a critical period of rebirth recently, unable to move, it would have truly wanted to rush out when the dragon's nest was attacked.

At this moment, Chu Feng wanted to jump out, grab it, and say, "Brother, let's become sworn siblings! Let's go together to find the creation grounds from your previous life and destroy Taiwu!"

“I'll go and see exactly which Heavenly Venerates' disciples are here, and which orthodoxies they belong to. I'll settle accounts with all of you in the future!”

It didn't rush to escape, but instead prepared to leave the underground palace and inspect the two small world spaces above.

"Collect!"

At the crucial moment, it opened its mouth and spat out a highly peculiar spatial bracelet, dark and profound, refined from a small piece of World Stone—truly a peerless treasure among spatial artifacts.

In an instant, both the colossal dragon corpse and the Heavenly Venerate's remains were collected into it.

"Brother, how could you do that?! Leave something behind!" Chu Feng cried out in his heart.

The little odd dragon, acting stealthily, vanished in a whoosh, leaving the underground palace.

Chu Feng waited for a long time, not leaving. He began to wander around the area, studying it carefully. Before long, his eyes widened, and he gasped in surprise.

“The third gourd! Damn it, it's actually here!”

He saw that the core terrain of this underground palace was shaped like a gourd!

Then, he swiftly activated his geomagnetism, carefully investigating. Indeed, there was a gourd vine underground connected to this place.

“So that's it... The third gourd became the very core of the dragon's nest!”

That dragon possessed impressive abilities, capable of establishing a One-Qi-Transforming-Into-Three-Pures domain, dividing this place into three layers. The final layer was connected to the Heavenly Gourd, being the smallest gourd, making this a life-nurturing creation ground.

In the first small world space, after another round of intense fighting, the monstrous genius of the Taiwu Heavenly Venerate's lineage was furious, his hair practically standing on end. After searching for over a day, he still hadn't found the egg or the culprit. He was utterly enraged and desperately wanted to kill someone!

The little odd dragon crawled out of the underground palace and, upon entering the second small world space, immediately spotted the eggshell Chu Feng had left there.

Even it was mistaken. After all, this was a cocoon formed after Chu Feng consumed a large amount of True Dragon Liquid, smooth as jade and indeed imbued with a strong dragon aura.

“Hmm, I'll be cautious. I'll hide inside an egg and go for a stroll.”

Its smile was slightly cunning. It plunged headfirst into the eggshell, then sealed itself within, rolling around, intending to explore in the most harmless state possible.

“Hehe…” It chuckled contentedly.

It thought it would be even better if it could find an opportunity to abduct a few Heavenly Venerates' disciples to serve as its retainers.