Chapter 19: Soaring to New Heights

Emerging from the Dragon’s Tomb, Mu Yuan looked back. The one-zhang-wide entrance was slowly sealing shut. A blast of surging energy erupted from the narrowing gap. He sensed millennia of bottled resentment, bitterness, hatred, and sorrow unleashed in that explosive burst, vanishing without a trace afterward.

Mu Yuan, having obtained the Dragon Soul Sword, had felt a hint of smugness earlier. But now, sensing the accumulated, unresolved grudges and fierce unwillingness within the soaring Dragon Aura, his mood abruptly turned heavy. The aged dragon spirit he’d pictured in his mind now seemed like nothing more than a lonely old man weighed down by endless regrets. And he, Mu Yuan, suddenly felt like a sneaky brat who’d tricked that old man out of the very treasure meant to fulfill his lifelong ambitions!

As if sensing the turmoil within Mu Yuan, the Dragon Soul Sword dormant within his Dantian emitted a low, resonant hum. The clear sound echoed within his Sea of Consciousness—ancient, desolate, yet also sharp and piercing.

“Elder Long Hun, rest assured. If I ever truly reach the heights you mentioned, I will surely seek justice for you all!” With genuine sincerity, Mu Yuan bowed towards the Dragon Tomb beneath his feet.

“Brother Shui Yuan, who are you bowing to?” A clear, gentle voice sounded, warm and soothing like sunlight. Mu Yuan looked up to see Ling Qiao’er.

“Oh, Miss Ling! I was just feeling a bit regretful about the Dragon Tomb sinking. Since I’ve received the dragon clan’s remains, it’s only right to pay respects, to show my heart,” Mu Yuan said playfully, instantly masking his inner heaviness and reassuming his usual carefree, teasing demeanor.

Ling Qiao’er praised, “Brother Shui Yuan is truly a virtuous gentleman. I admire that. However, it’s best you leave quickly now. With the Dragon Bone you obtained, I fear many would covet it. Righteous sect disciples might hesitate to act, but those from the Demonic Sects won’t have any such scruples!”

Hearing this, Mu Yuan swept his gaze around. Sure enough, he spotted numerous Cultivators subtly circling him. Others who’d gained advantages within the tomb were also targets; people watched them from all sides. A few had already left swiftly, not lingering one moment longer.

“Hmph. Merely a piece of Dragon Spine Bone makes them drool like this. If they knew I had the Dragon Soul Sword, these folks would probably just attack me outright! Fine then. I’ll first grasp the sword’s secrets, then lure out those reckless souls who think to rob me. People like that… killing them with one sword strike wouldn’t be excessive at all!”

Mu Yuan snorted inwardly, unconcerned. He let out a sharp whistle. The Feng Luan bird he had left waiting nearby immediately took flight from the hills, wings beating strongly. Cupping his fist towards Ling Qiao’er, Mu Yuan grabbed Chu Yunfei and Mo Xue, leaping onto the Feng Luan’s back. With another loud whistle directed at the vicious-faced Demonic Sect Cultivators eyeing him covetously, he sped away into the distance!

The Cultivators on the ground stamped their feet in frustration. They hadn’t expected Mu Yuan’s swift exit, bitterly regretting not attacking immediately.

Mu Yuan, however, paid no mind. Once the Feng Luan soared above the Forest Sea where the Dragon Rhinoceros and Xiong Pi had been earlier, he ordered it to land immediately. Chu Yunfei and Mu Yuan himself resumed their original appearances. Mu Yuan toyed with the Dragon Spine Bone in his hand, a smirk playing on his lips as thoughts churned within him.

Chu Yunfei looked quite depressed, fiddling with Xiong Pi, and complained mournfully, “Agh, a wasted trip! Got absolutely nothing. So frustrating!”

Mu Yuan stuffed the Dragon Spine Bone into Mo Xue’s hands. “Sister Mo Xue, you take this Dragon Spine Bone. It’s no use for me anyway. I still need to figure out how to teach a lesson to those thieves eyeing an easy grab!”

Mo Xue exclaimed in shock, “This Dragon Spine Bone is superb material for forging swords! Even if you can’t use it yourself, taking it back to our sect might allow an elder to refine it for you. How can you just give it away so casually!”

Mu Yuan grinned dismissively. “No need, no need. My master’s terribly lazy. He’d probably just fob me off with some nonsense about cultivation relying solely on oneself. Keeping it is useless. You take it; refining it into an artifact works just as well.” As for obtaining the Dragon Soul Sword… Mu Yuan naturally wouldn’t breathe a word. That matter involved far too much; the fewer who knew, the better.

Mo Xue’s beautiful eyes held both joy and complexity. She weighed the bone in her hand, then smiled softly. “In that case, I’ll accept graciously.”

Mu Yuan chuckled and fell silent. The sky was darkening. The three decided to stay within the Forest Sea for the night. A campfire was lit. Mu Yuan moved aside, seemingly entering deep meditation. Yet his mind delved into the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force knowledge within his Sea of Consciousness.

The Dragon Clan was innately incredibly powerful since ancient times. Commanding clouds and rain, manipulating thunder and lightning, overturning rivers and seas—these were their birthrights. In primordial times, they ruled as lords of the Four Seas and gods of the Five Lakes. Possessing immense lifespans and unparalleled talents, they could transform at will—soaring large into the Nine Heavens or shrinking small enough to hide within a speck of dust. Truly, they were the Monarchs among all scaled creatures!

The Dragon King’s Dynamic Force was created by the Dragon Clan’s First Ancestor Dragon. Its Divine Ability was vast and profound. Its true wonder lay in harnessing lightning, controlling wind and rain, and commanding the universe’s most dominant forces. Fortuitously, Mu Yuan cultivated both Water and Wood elements, perfectly aligning with the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force. The Tidal Flow technique birthed wind and rain; the Longevity Art generated thunder and lightning—complementing each other brilliantly!

Delving deeper into the study, Mu Yuan couldn’t help but marvel at his absurdly good fortune. He also understood why the Long Hun chose him. He was genuinely perfect for cultivating this Dragon King’s Dynamic Force!

Putting aside the fact that he wasn’t an actual divine dragon, every other condition was supremely favorable.

After reading through the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force outline—luckily, he’d learned Seal Script during his time at the Longevity Palace, so he could grasp the mental techniques left by the Long Hun—coupled with his decent talent, within just two hours, he had begun to grasp its profound mysteries.

As his internal Zhenqi converted—evolving from Longevity True Qi to the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force—his entire body became surrounded by crackling sparks, continuously flashing. In his hand materialized a rolling, churning ball of lightning, flaring brilliantly, dazzling to behold.

With the slightest exertion, Mu Yuan understood. The Dragon King’s Dynamic Force remained fundamentally a Divine Ability profoundly tied to Water, for divine dragons were masters of the waves, their forte stirring storms and conjuring mists. Yet, as the Dragon Clan’s unparalleled divine art, it encompassed almost all Five Elements.

The Water attribute was inherent. Metal gave it swiftness like lightning; Earth endowed it with vast, endless power; Fire brought destructive ferocity; Wood provided growth and amplification, becoming stronger against resistance. Combined, they coalesced into Water, surging like ocean waves, overwhelming heaven and earth, layers piling endlessly!

Mu Yuan himself cultivated only Water and Wood, finding deeper subtleties within them regarding these paths. The other three elements—Metal, Earth, Fire—he could also grasp a little from the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force insights, though nowhere near as deeply as his practiced elements.

Instantly withdrawing the technique, Mu Yuan attempted to connect with the Dragon Soul Sword using the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force. Forged from a divine dragon’s essence, the sword naturally carried the Dragon Clan’s powerful inherent nature. Neither the Longevity Art nor the Tidal Flow could channel and control it as seamlessly as the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force could—truly like an extension of his own arm!

Not daring to physically manifest the divine sword, he simulated within his Sea of Consciousness. When powered by the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force, the Dragon Soul Sword transformed into a streak of swift electricity. Darting back and forth in the blink of an eye, its movements were unpredictable. Just its speed surpassed any flying escape technique!

“Excellent! This Dragon Soul Sword is at least Magical Artifact level. It hasn’t developed sentience yet, but it’s close. Temper and Nurture it longer, and that likely won’t be difficult. Though sentience has its pros and cons—whether to go for it requires careful consideration!”

It was midnight now. Mu Yuan, fresh from exploring his new Divine Ability and treasure, swelled with satisfaction. Channeling the Dragon Soul Sword, it materialized as a blazing stream of light, shooting out like a cascading rainbow. Encircling him, he gently rose into the air—lifting without any wind!

Typically, a Qi Refining Practitioner could only soar freely under their own power upon achieving Elixir Formation, without relying on tools. For someone of Mu Yuan’s current level, moving with the wind was the limit. But possessing this top-tier Magical Artifact, the Dragon Soul Sword, instantly gave him an effect akin to Elixir Formation—he ascended through the air!

The Dragon Soul Sword circled his entire body as a shimmering ribbon of colored light, threads of lightning flashing within its brilliance. Mu Yuan soared towards the clouds, shouting exhilaratedly, darting dozens of miles in an instant—a speed matching the Feng Luan’s peak flight!

Mo Xue and Chu Yunfei exchanged bewildered glances, watching Mu Yuan vanish into the night sky. They had no idea what had just happened, allowing Mu Yuan to traverse the heavens with such incredible speed overnight.

Mu Yuan, however, was ecstatic. The cool night wind brushed his face like flowing water. His whole body shimmered with contained electricity, enveloped in a misty, colorful haze. Soaring above the Endless Forest Sea felt indescribably exhilarating. He watched clouds swirl and part before him, pushed aside by his Zhenqi like rolling waves to either side. He felt like he was moving through a painting.

After covering hundreds of miles, Mu Yuan’s excitement lessened. Slowing down, he drifted lazily through the sky, thinking it time to return lest Mo Xue worry. Turning back, a sudden glimpse caught his eye—flashes of multicolored light flickering below, surrounded by intense rumbles and sonic booms. Curiosity piqued, he paused. Wrapped tightly in the concealment of the Dragon Soul Sword, he drifted soundlessly closer.

Still a few miles from the place where the lights danced, Mu Yuan finally made out the scene. Two men in grey robes were besieging a young woman in a yellow dress. The grey-robed men wielded curved hooks, unleashing bizarre, icy rings of light that slashed toward her center like crescent moons, waves upon waves, ceaselessly. The yellow-clad woman brandished an emerald sword over three chi long. She parried and thrust rapidly, her blade weaving like wind, a storm of sword light accompanied by the sounds of wind and thunder. Each clash with the crescent light rings sparked countless shimmering fragments. Scattered wood shards and leaves littered the ground, pockmarked with craters—clearly, the fierce battle had been ongoing for some time!

After watching for a few moments, Mu Yuan realized the two grey-robed men looked familiar. Thinking hard, he remembered they were among those in the Dragon Tomb who had eyed his gains covetously. Instantly, the idea of testing the waters surfaced.

“These two obviously aren’t good characters. Can’t reveal the Dragon Soul Sword yet, but the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force could serve nicely as a trial run to test its power!”

He noted the yellow-dressed woman, though defending left and right, held her ground well. Her sword danced like wind, weaving a tight, impenetrable net—her swordplay extraordinarily refined and profound. Compared to Greenwood Divine Radiance’s tranquility or the Canglang Water Sword’s versatile agility, hers held its own unique subtlety—earning his silent praise. Yet, the two grey-robed men attacked in perfect tandem, their momentum soaring, their Zhenqi flowing as one. Forcing them back wouldn’t be easy!