“What, that thing isn’t the blood of the Ancestral Dragon?” Han Li was slightly taken aback.
“Not only is it not, it has absolutely no connection to the true Ancestral Dragon. Only outsiders like you would easily mistake it. But it’s no wonder—the aura it carries is indeed that of a true dragon, which is undeniably genuine,” the black-robed man chuckled softly.
“From your tone, you seem well aware of this item’s origins. Could you enlighten me a little?” Han Li’s interest was piqued as he spoke.
“Of course. This thing is actually of great use only to the true dragon race; for others, it’s utterly useless. It is indeed a drop of essence blood, but not from the Ancestral Dragon—it’s the blood of a Nightmare Dragon,” the black-robed man replied frankly, withholding nothing.
“Nightmare Dragon?” Han Li frowned slightly, clearly hearing the name for the first time.
“It’s no surprise that Brother Han is unfamiliar with the Nightmare Dragon. Even among our true dragon race, few know of its existence. To put it simply, the Nightmare Dragon is a being from the Immortal Realm, no less formidable than the Ancestral Dragon, and the progenitor of the ‘Demon Dragon’ lineage, our mortal enemies. Moreover, this Nightmare Dragon blood must have descended from the Immortal Realm, and there isn’t just this one drop—there are seven or eight in total,” the black-robed man said, startling Han Li with his words.
“Seven or eight drops? That many?” Han Li was genuinely shocked.
“Our clan elders, using special bloodline techniques, sensed the presence of these drops and dispatched us to scour various realms to retrieve every last one. While the Nightmare Dragon blood contains immense primal essence, it also carries its unique chaotic energy. Apart from our true dragon race, who can slowly refine it, anyone else attempting to forcibly absorb it would not only fail to obtain its essence but risk having their own magic power corrupted, transforming into a mere projection of the Nightmare Dragon. Our elders suspect its appearance in the lower realms might be part of the Nightmare Dragon’s original plan. As mortal enemies of the Demon Dragon lineage, we naturally cannot allow this to happen,” the black-robed man said gravely.
“If that’s the case, this item is not only useless to outsiders like us but extremely dangerous. But if your clan can acquire so much Nightmare Dragon blood, your strength will surely grow significantly, perhaps even producing ascendants soon,” Han Li said, his expression shifting slightly as his mind raced.
“Ascendants? You overestimate the ease of refining Nightmare Dragon blood. While it contains astonishing primal essence, merely purging its chaotic energy would take an immense amount of time, and even then, much of the essence would be lost in the process. At best, only a tenth might remain. Moreover, after refinement, it would at most bolster one’s magic power and save some cultivation time. For beings of our true spirit rank, ascension is a hundred times harder than for others. However, if given to juniors below the Mahayana stage, it might help them break bottlenecks and advance to true spirit status sooner,” the black-robed man shook his head repeatedly.
“So, your true dragon race may soon have several new true spirit-level members,” Han Li exhaled and asked.
“That is possible, but whether it will come to pass remains uncertain. Our race is inherently true spirit bodies; even with time alone, becoming true spirits isn’t overly difficult. Now, I’ve disclosed everything truthfully. Have you considered my earlier proposal, Brother Han?” the black-robed man asked casually.
“Since you’re a clansman of Fan Paozi and will return to your clan afterward, taking full responsibility, it would be ungracious of me to refuse,” Han Li replied obliquely.
“Fan Paozi gave you an invitation to the Grand Spirit Dao Fruit Assembly, didn’t he?” the black-robed man smiled and countered.
“You mean this?” Han Li flipped his hand, revealing a shimmering silver dragon scale.
“Indeed. If Brother Han assists me this time, I can promise to offer some small help during the assembly, increasing your chances of obtaining a Dao Fruit,” the black-robed man said calmly.
“Since receiving the invitation, I’ve made some inquiries about the Grand Spirit Dao Fruit Assembly. Unfortunately, few in the Spirit Realm know much about it. I’ve only heard that the invitations are exceedingly rare and that the Dao Fruit is hailed as the foremost spiritual fruit across a thousand realms. But its exact effects remain unclear to me,” Han Li mused, his expression shifting several times.
“Naturally. Our Dragon Island’s Grand Spirit Dao Fruit Assembly invites only a thousand powerhouses from various realms. The sole criterion for receiving an invitation is possessing strength comparable to or exceeding that of a true spirit. Fan Paozi has exceptionally high standards; earning his recognition is no small feat. While the title of ‘foremost spiritual fruit’ might be slightly exaggerated, ranking it among the top three would meet little opposition. Those who consume it gain the Grand Spirit Dao Body for ten thousand years, enhancing cultivation and comprehension by seven to eight times,” the black-robed man chuckled.
“Grand Spirit Dao Body, seven to eight times?!” Han Li was truly astonished, his face betraying disbelief for the first time.
“Indeed. Though one can consume only a single complete Dao Fruit in a lifetime, it temporarily transforms an ordinary body into the legendary Grand Spirit Dao Body. While it offers no combat advantages, its effects on cultivation and comprehension are truly miraculous,” the black-robed man said dreamily, as if yearning for the fruit himself.
“If the Dao Fruit truly has such effects, calling it the foremost spiritual fruit isn’t far-fetched. But from your tone, even attending the assembly doesn’t guarantee obtaining one. How, then, can you assist me? Faced with such a treasure, even as a dragon, your influence must be limited,” Han Li said, visibly tempted but maintaining his composure.
“Rest assured, Brother Han. I’ve been appointed as one of the thirty-six stewards for this assembly. While this role prevents overt assistance, I can provide insider information and secrets otherwise inaccessible to outsiders,” the black-robed man replied lightly.
“That’s all?” Han Li frowned slightly, seeming unsatisfied.
“You should be content. Given the Dao Fruit’s rarity and the strength of the attendees, only about a hundred out of a thousand will obtain a complete fruit. The rest will sample diluted juice, still precious but incomparable to the fruit itself. Even this level of assistance is exceptional. My guidance might just secure you a Dao Fruit,” the black-robed man said with a faint smile.
“Your words hold merit. Perhaps I was being greedy. Very well, I agree,” Han Li said after a moment’s deliberation, nodding decisively.
“I knew you’d agree. Then, I’ll stay here for a few days before we depart this continent together,” the black-robed man said cheerfully.
“That’s fine, but I have another question. I secured only three teleportation slots. If you accompany us, the Heavenly Dawn Alliance may notice,” Han Li added.
“Worry not. I’ve mastered a transformation art that allows me to disguise as an ornament, capable of deceiving even true immortals,” the black-robed man laughed confidently.
“In that case, I’m truly at ease,” Han Li said, visibly relaxing.
“With everything settled, I’ll take my leave to rest. These past years tracking the Nightmare Dragon blood have left me sleepless,” the black-robed man said, rising to bid farewell before heading for the door.
“Brother Tian… or rather, Fairy Tian. Next we meet, I hope you’ll reveal your true form,” Han Li suddenly called out, his expression odd.
“So you saw through my disguise. Very well, next time I’ll appear as I truly am. My name is Tian Fei’er—remember it,” the black-robed figure’s voice turned melodious as she chuckled, her form blurring before vanishing like wind beyond the door.
“Tian Fei’er… likely holds some standing among the dragons,” Han Li mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully before sinking into contemplation.
Four days later, as Han Li meditated in his chamber, a crimson flame flew in, landing in his palm. Within the blaze, Ming Zun’s calm voice spoke:
“Brother Han, the teleportation array is ready. It’s time to depart.”
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