Chapter 652 - Flood Dragon Transformation Pool

To conquer oneself, true victory lay not in physical strength but in the strength of the mind.

The state of mind was the foundation of the martial path. Only by strengthening one's mind could cultivation follow suit.

With Chen Fan’s help, Xiao Zhen and Qiu Yuexin came to their senses from the illusory realm one after another. Then, the trio broke through the water door and arrived at a stone room.

In the center of the room were several stone platforms, each holding various treasures—artifacts, rare natural resources, martial arts manuals, and more.

“This should be the reward for passing the illusory realm’s test.” Xiao Zhen’s eyes shone brightly as he looked at the objects on the stone platform.

“

Mmm

, let’s get it.” Chen Fan stepped forward, striding toward one of the stone platforms.

Soon, the trio each took a treasure. However, when they reached out for a second treasure, an invisible barrier blocked their path.

“We can only choose one treasure!” A look of regret surfaced on Xiao Zhen and Qiu Yuexin’s faces. There were so many treasures here, but each person could only choose one, making them feel a little unwilling.

After all, the Sky Dragon Divine Stronghold no longer existed today.

Chen Fan tried to force his way through and claim a second treasure, but he was met with an intense backlash. The recoil struck him hard, leaving him shocked by its power.

“Let’s go,” Chen Fan said, brushing off the encounter. He knew any further attempts would be pointless.

The Flood Dragon Grotto was likely a testing ground for the Sky Dragon Divine Stronghold disciples. They would be rewarded after passing a stage. However, each person could only choose one treasure.

Even though the Sky Dragon Divine Stronghold no longer existed today, this rule of the Flood Dragon Grotto was still in effect.

Going around the stone platforms, the trio walked to the back. There was a passageway there, which probably led to the next stage.

What lay ahead was daunting—a magma flame passageway. The corridor was entirely engulfed in terrifying flames, radiating an oppressive, searing heat.

Even before stepping inside, the trio could feel the overwhelming heat assaulting them, causing sweat to pour from their skin.

“So hot.” Qiu Yuexin furrowed her brow, looking at the magma fire passageway in front.

Despite their cultivation levels, the scorching heat was unbearable, seeming to roast them alive.

“This stage won’t be easy,” Xiao Zhen remarked, his expression grave. “Even third or fourth-level Divine Nascent realm experts would struggle to make it through this.”

Chen Fan stared at the flame passageway in front of him. The entire path ahead was bathed in a fiery red glow, the flames flickering with a deadly allure.

“The power of this flame is on par with a fifth-level Divine Nascent realm’s flame intent. You two should be careful later. Shield yourselves as best you can and follow closely behind me,” Chen Fan said.

Although this magma flame passage could threaten a fifth-level Divine Nascent realm expert, it did not pose much of a threat to him. He could skip ranks in combat, so these flames, though deadly to others, posed little threat to him. Even a fifth-level Divine Nascent realm flame could not hinder him.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Stepping forward, Chen Fan strode into the magma passageway confidently.

Boom!

A snake of flames flared toward Chen Fan. However, before it could get within ten feet of him, he neutralized it with a palm strike.

Roar!

A furious roar rang out before several terrifying fiery lights whizzed past Chen Fan. They were actually flaming demonic beasts, born from flames.

With a quick thought, the Heaven Seizing Furnace immediately appeared.

“Go.” Waving his hand, he made the furnace fly before him.

A terrifying suction force blossomed. The Heaven Seizing Furnace pulled in the miserable flaming beasts; they wailed as the furnace turned them into nothing.

The Heaven Seizing Furnace could even refine heaven and earth, so these creatures posed no threat to Chen Fan at all.

Behind him, Xiao Zhen and Qiu Yuexin watched in disbelief, their expressions a mix of awe and admiration. Chen Fan walked through the magma passage like he was walking on the ground. He hadn't even activated his protective true primeval energy—his physique alone withstood the unbearable flames.

In stark contrast, Xiao Zhen and Qiu Yuexin had wrapped themselves in layers of true primeval energy, channeling their cultivation to its limits to block the oppressive heat.

Still, their protective barriers twisted and warped under the relentless assault of the scorching flames. They struggled just to keep moving forward.

Without Chen Fan leading the way and clearing the flaming demonic beasts ambushing them with the Heaven Seizing Furnace, they would have faced a far more difficult ordeal.

Chen Fan pressed on, undeterred by the flame or the fiery lights that occasionally rushed toward him. The Heaven Seizing Furnace spun, obliterating all threats in its path.

Before he knew it, Chen Fan had crossed the several-thousand-meter-long magma passageway. As he reached the end, the flames abruptly disappeared, and he found himself momentarily wishing the trial had lasted just a little longer.

As for Qiu Yuexin and Xiao Zhen, the magma passageway that stretched several kilometers was nothing short of grueling. Without Chen Fan’s assistance, they would have struggled to make it through.

“Phew, we owe this to you. We couldn’t have cleared that passageway without you,” said Xiao Zhen, exhaling a long breath and wiping the sweat that clung to his brow.

“Come on, let’s continue. I wonder what the reward will be for passing this stage?” Chen Fan smiled faintly. The trio continued moving.

They arrived at another stone room. It looked identical to the one before, with several stone platforms erected, and treasures placed on them.

They now knew that they could only choose one treasure. So, they did not make their choice right away. Instead, they looked around and picked a treasure that suited them.

As they ventured deeper into the Flood Dragon Grotto, the path seemed endless.

The passageways spiraled downward, their depth unknowable, but each stage brought new treasures, making their efforts worthwhile.

Finally, they came across a very long set of stairs. It descended several hundred meters underground before it came to an end.

Before them stretched a massive hall, towering hundreds of meters in height, its vast width shrouded in mystery.

In the center was a blood pool that spanned thousands of feet wide, with a faint pressure emanating from it. Apart from that, the hall was empty.

Chen Fan looked around the hall and discovered there were a total of thirty-six sets of staircases. It seemed every passageway would converge at this hall.

However, it was evident that the three of them were the first to arrive here.

Xiao Zhen looked at the blood pool in the center. Sensing the pressure emanating from it, his gaze became serious. “What is this pool?”

Qiu Yuexin looked at the blood pool. Her eyes flickered, and she said, “This seems to be... a Flood Dragon Transformation Pool!”

The entire blood pool was thin and long, like a river. If one were to look from above, one would realize that this blood pool resembled a flood dragon.

“Legend has it that the flood dragons are the sub-dragon species closest to a true dragon. While many demonic beasts have a bit of a true dragon’s bloodline, they rarely act like true dragons. In contrast, flood dragons are far more similar to true dragons in both their habits and appearance. This Flood Dragon Transformation Pool is the hard evidence of that.”

Qiu Yuexin was a bit knowledgeable about the subject. She continued, “I once read in an ancient book, saying that a Dragon Transformation Pool existed in the depths of the Dragon Realm. Sub-dragon species, if given the chance to bathe in it, could purge the remnants of other demonic beasts from their bloodline, transforming into a true dragon with pure blood.

“The flood dragon communities are known to have Flood Dragon Transformation Pools. These pools are formed by powerful flood dragon powerhouses, who release a portion of their blood essence into the pool. Some sub-dragon species could also bathe in it to transform into a flood dragon with a pure bloodline.”

Swoosh, swoosh.

Sharp wind-breaking noises rang out.