Chapter 1047: Dragon Gate?
The Phoenix Wing Mysterious Ark of the Yan Shen Realm was several hundred miles long. Aside from the Primordial Mystic Ark, which contained an independent world within, this was the largest mysterious ark Yun Che had ever seen.
As he approached the ark, an intense aura of flame rushed toward him. If it were any other Bing Huang disciple, they would surely feel discomfort, but Yun Che was definitely not among them.
The mysterious ark was not only massive but also imposing and majestic, like a floating imperial city in the sky.
In front of the ark, Vermilion Bird Sect Master Yan Wancang and Phoenix Sect Master Yan Juehai were already waiting. When they saw Mu Xuanyin and Yun Che flying over, they took the initiative to greet them.
"Yinxue Realm King, we meet again." Yan Wancang bowed slightly. "This time, we will rely entirely on the power of the Yinxue Realm King."
"Spare me the nonsense." Mu Xuanyin waved her hand unceremoniously, directly passing by the two and flying into the ark. "Take good care of my disciple. Unless it's about the ancient Jiao dragon, no matter how great the matter, do not disturb me."
Before her voice faded, Mu Xuanyin's figure had already disappeared into the ark. Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai showed no sign of embarrassment or surprise. Yan Wancang turned back and said, "The right wing of the ark has been prepared with an ice chamber. If the Yinxue Realm King has any instructions, please do not hesitate."
"Ah... Master!?" Yun Che quickly stepped forward, but Mu Xuanyin was already completely out of sight.
"Hehe, your master has always preferred peace and quiet. As her closest disciple, you should know this best." Yan Juehai said with a chuckle. "Nephew Yun, I didn't expect your master to bring you along. That is somewhat unexpected."
"No, it's to be expected." Yan Wancang also laughed. "With Nephew Yun's elemental talent, it would be illogical if your master did not bring you. If that boy Poyun finds out, he will surely be overjoyed."
"Hahaha, of course." Yan Juehai let out a long laugh. "I heard from Sect Master Huo that ever since Poyun's trip to the Yin Xue Realm, he often speaks of Nephew Yun."
"Junior Yun Che pays respects to the two seniors." Yun Che stepped forward and respectfully performed a greeting befitting a junior.
"No need for formalities." Yan Wancang spoke warmly.
Any other Bing Huang disciple—even a Bing Huang elder—would never have been treated personally by these two great Flame God Sect Masters with such a gentle tone and demeanor. But to them, Yun Che truly deserved such treatment, not only because he was Mu Xuanyin's personal disciple, but also because of his elemental talent, which had deeply shocked both sect masters.
And what had further endeared Yun Che to them was naturally the words he had spoken to Huo Poyun after the latter had miserably conceded defeat.
As they spoke, the crimson mysterious ark had already started moving, flying straight toward the distant Yan Shen Realm.
The ark tore through the void as it traveled, covering hundreds of miles in an instant. Yet inside the ark, it was extremely stable, with not even a ripple in the air. It was impossible to feel the rapid traversal.
Compared to the simplicity and coldness of the Bing Huang Divine Sect, the style of the Yan Shen Realm was completely different, as could be seen from the ark's decorations. Yun Che was led by two Yan Shen disciples to one of the prepared rooms. The room was not only exceptionally spacious, but every part—every inch, every thread—exuded luxury. Even though it was just a guest room on the ark, it was far more lavish than the Bing Yi Palace he had stayed in at the Bing Feng Empire.
"Ah, compared to this, the Yin Xue Realm is really poor," Yun Che couldn't help but sigh.
From this point alone, without Mu Xuanyin, the Yin Xue Realm would not even be qualified to stand alongside the Yan Shen Realm.
Previously, Yun Che had heard Mu Bingyun mention that there were teleportation arrays that connected various realms, usable by paying enough purple stones or crystals. But the Yan Shen Realm had sent an ark to pick them up. And flying by ark alone, despite its speed, would still take over four hours to reach the Yan Shen Realm.
Why not use a teleportation mystic array directly? With his master's strength, tearing through space would be thousands of times faster. Was it for the sense of ceremony? Perhaps...
With nothing else to do, Yun Che began to close his eyes and meditate, quickly entering a state of stillness. After an unknown period, a footstep sounded outside the room, and he opened his eyes.
"Nephew Yun, may I come in for a chat?" The voice of Vermilion Bird Sect Master Yan Wancang came from outside.
Yun Che quickly stood up and took the initiative to open the door. "Sect Master Yan."
"Hehe, I hope I'm not disturbing you?" Yan Wancang said with a chuckle.
"Your visit is my great honor. How could it be a disturbance? Does Sect Master Yan have any instructions?" Yun Che said respectfully.
"No other matters. I just wanted to have a casual chat. Consider it following your master's orders to look after you. Come, have a seat."
With that, Yan Wancang closed the door and sat down on his own.
"...I am honored." Yun Che did not act overly modest and sat directly opposite Yan Wancang.
If anyone from the Yan Shen Realm saw this, their eyes would probably pop out. Because in the entire Yan Shen Realm, the only ones who could sit face-to-face with Yan Wancang like this were Yan Juehai and Huo Rulie.
"Nephew Yun, I heard you come from a lower realm. May I ask which star realm you were born in?" Yan Wancang asked.
When he first arrived in the Yin Xue Realm, Yun Che had not hidden his background. In fact, on his very first day, he had mentioned to Feng Mo that he came from the Lan Ji Star. But after being harshly scolded by Mu Xuanyin at the Heavenly Lake, he had become completely alert. Suddenly faced with this question from Yan Wancang, he said apologetically, "This... I was born on a small planet. Sect Master Yan has surely never heard of it. It's not worth mentioning."
Yun Che's polite refusal to answer surprised Yan Wancang slightly, but he did not press or show displeasure. Instead, he chuckled, "Never mind. Though I am extremely curious about what kind of star realm could produce a prodigy like you, I suppose such a prodigy is a gift from heaven and has nothing to do with the realm of birth."
"Sect Master Yan flatters me too much. I am unworthy of such praise." Yun Che said.
"Such praise may not befit others, but you are absolutely worthy of it." Yan Wancang suddenly showed an expression of admiration. "Your Yin Xue Realm produced a figure like your master. I once believed she was surely without equal in the past and would never be matched in the future—that it was impossible for another successor like her to appear. I never expected... it seems heaven truly favors your Yin Xue."
As he spoke, Yan Wancang's face revealed undisguised amazement... and envy.
After all, at their age, cultivation level, and height, perhaps their greatest pursuit was to find a disciple with exceptional talent who could inherit their power and will, ideally surpassing them. Yet, that was harder than becoming a sect master.
Yun Che: "..."
"Oh, hehe, it seems I've said something beyond my station." Yan Wancang waved his hand. "Nephew Yun, after you arrive at our Yan Shen Realm, feel free to explore. As long as your master isn't in a hurry to return, if you want to go anywhere, just tell my useless son. Don't be polite. As for that Jiao dragon, that's your master's business. You can watch from afar at that time, hahahaha."
Yan Wancang laughed especially lightly, clearly very confident in this hunt of the ancient Jiao dragon. Yun Che pondered for a moment and then asked, "Thank you for your kindness, Sect Master Yan. I have one question... Regarding this hunt for the ancient Jiao dragon, how confident are you, senior?"
"This..." Yan Wancang was about to answer, but before the words left his mouth, he forcibly swallowed them back. He shook his head and said with a smile, "You should ask your master about that. No one but your master is qualified to answer."
"Eh?" Yun Che was slightly stunned. "Sect Master Yan, what do you mean by that?"
"Hehe, no matter how well we prepare, the one who will fight the Jiao dragon is your master. Whether there is confidence, only she is qualified to answer." Yan Wancang said with a slightly helpless smile.
Yun Che was taken aback, then suddenly understood. "You mean... only my master will fight the ancient Jiao dragon alone!?"
Yun Che's reaction also surprised Yan Wancang. "Of course."
"..." Yun Che's mouth opened slightly. "Then... won't the three sect masters participate in the battle?"
A trace of embarrassment flickered across Yan Wancang's face. "It seems your master never mentioned the details of hunting the ancient Jiao dragon to you. For the several hunts of Jiao dragons over the past few thousand years, it has always been your master alone fighting it. The three of us may want to help, but we lack the strength."
"..." Yun Che stood there dumbfounded. He had truly not known this before. He had even thought that the Yan Shen Realm would go all out as the main combat force, with his master only as an external aid... But it turns out it was all relying on his master alone to fight!?
Yan Wancang gave a bitter smile and said, "Three months ago, you saw as well. When your master struck out in anger, the three of us sect masters, even united, were instantly defeated. Your master's power is something you cannot understand or imagine now. Alas, not to mention you, even the three of us—Sect Masters Yan and Huo and I—cannot understand it either. That is the Divine Lord Realm... the realm closest to the gods for humans."
"As for that ancient Jiao dragon, its power is comparable to the human Divine Lord Realm. Your master can match it, but the three of us are no match at all. Charging in would only be suicide. Besides, we cultivate fire-based profound arts, which pose no threat to it whatsoever." Yan Wancang shook his head. "What we can do is accurately determine the Jiao dragon's scale-shedding period and lock onto its location the moment it leaves the Burial God Fire Prison."
Damn it... No wonder your Yan Shen Realm's dragon, after being hunted, was willingly given to my master for a full half. It turns out my master did all the work, and you only provided the dragon... and acted as scouts!
Three months ago, I thought it was incredibly sincere for the three sect masters to come in person as a group... Now I see it was totally deserved!
"However, I believe your master will have considerable confidence this time. After all, a thousand years ago, if that unexpected incident hadn't occurred, it might have already succeeded. Although it failed in the end, that Jiao dragon's 'Dragon Gate' was wounded by your master. A thousand years should not be enough for it to recover."
"Dragon Gate!?" Yun Che blurted out.
"Oh?" Yan Wancang looked at him questioningly.
Yun Che quickly explained, "I once used a sword that happened to be named Dragon Gate. Just a coincidence. Please excuse my rudeness, Sect Master Yan."
Dragon Gate... How nostalgic.
When I got that sword, Chu Yuechan was in my arms... It accompanied me through blood and thorns, witnessing the most important part of my growth—dominating the Cang Feng Ranking Battles, annihilating the Fen Tian Sect, shaking the heroes of the seven nations... It had great merits but did not receive a good end...
It was eaten by Hong'er!
"I see." Yan Wancang nodded with a smile.
"Sect Master Yan, although I have never seen that ancient Jiao dragon, I have always known that the dragon body is the noblest among all living beings, with extremely strong self-healing abilities. That ancient Jiao dragon is so powerful, and it is in the Burial God Fire Prison, which is most suitable for it. How could it not recover for a full thousand years after being injured?" Yun Che asked doubtfully.
How strong the self-healing ability of dragons was, Yun Che knew very well... He himself possessed the Dragon God Bloodline, with a self-healing ability so strong it even scared himself.
"Hehe, you are right. In terms of physical strength, no creature can compare to the dragon race. If it were any other part, even a serious injury would heal quickly. But the Dragon Gate alone," Yan Wancang explained with a smile, "is the Jiao dragon's vital point, the only place on its body that can be called a weakness. Once injured, its vital energy will be greatly damaged, and it will take a very long time to fully recover. And if it is heavily wounded, it is even possible to cause its death directly."
"You can think of it as a snake's seven inches."
"Oh... I see." Yun Che nodded in understanding. "Since it is a vital point, it should be very difficult to heavily wound it, right?"
"Of course. The ancient Jiao dragon will protect its Dragon Gate with extremely strong power. To scatter that protective power and wound the Dragon Gate is actually harder than directly heavily wounding its dragon body. Your master has fought it many times and never deliberately attacked the Dragon Gate, because doing so would waste more effort. The reason your master managed to wound its Dragon Gate a thousand years ago was that after a long, fierce battle, she completely suppressed it, causing its power to collapse greatly, and only then succeeded."
"This time, the ancient Jiao dragon's Dragon Gate is not yet healed, and your master's profound power has clearly advanced. So this time..." Yan Wancang paused briefly, then changed his tone and asserted, "It will surely succeed!"