As the group continued to venture deeper into Dragon Valley, a valley within a valley gradually came into view.
This was the most core place of Dragon Valley, where dragon energy was so dense it almost became tangible. With every breath, one could feel that surging energy constantly flowing.
What met everyone's eyes were seven extremely massive dragon remains. Even after tens of thousands of years since their passing, each dragon bone still emitted heart-trembling power.
"These are... seven of the Nine Dragon Kings?" Fang Yang's pupils contracted, instantly recognizing the identities of these dragon remains.
To still maintain such powerful pressure after falling tens of thousands of years ago—who else could they be but the legendary Nine Dragon Kings?
As for why there were only seven dragon king remains, the whereabouts of the remaining two were, without surprise, at the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well.
"Your Majesty, you have finally come."
Just at this moment, a voice as steady as a mountain transmitted from the dragon bones.
A golden light emerged, condensing into a solid dragon shadow in the air. It was a massive mountain dragon, each dragon scale seemingly carved from rock.
Immediately after, the other six dragon bones also successively manifested dragon shadows one by one.
They varied in form—some surrounded by profound darkness, others flickering with holy light—all bowing their heads in salute, their postures incomparably respectful.
"Mountain Dragon King, it was you who called to us." Fang Yang's gaze fell upon the leading dragon shadow, his tone certain.
To possess such vast and heavy aura, to occupy the dominant position among the Nine Dragon Kings—aside from this Mountain Dragon King renowned for his powerful physique, there could be no other.
The Mountain Dragon King's dragon shadow nodded slightly, hope flowing through his dragon eyes: "After tens of thousands of years of waiting, we have finally welcomed the return of the two Lords."
"It is only regrettable that we can no longer greet Your Majesty with complete bodies."
His voice carried a hint of regret difficult to conceal.
Gu Yue stepped forward slowly, speaking softly: "You have worked hard, guarding this place for so long."
Na'er stood quietly at Fang Yang's side, her gaze sweeping over these dragon king remains that once dominated the world, a flash of sorrow passing through her eyes.
These Dragon Kings were once the most powerful forces of the dragon race. Now they only had residual souls guarding this place—how could one not sigh with emotion?
Xu Xiaoyan was deeply shaken by the scene before her eyes. She had never imagined she would personally witness such legendary existences.
Even as merely residual dragon souls, that vast ocean-like pressure still filled her with awe.
"Your Majesty, this is what we should do."
The Mountain Dragon King's voice remained steady as before, "We have waited here precisely for this day."
At this time, Fang Yang spoke up, "Where is the Dragon God Core?"
"Your Majesty, the Dragon God Core is at the very heart of Dragon Valley."
The Mountain Dragon King's dragon claw raised lightly, pointing toward a place enveloped by seven-colored auspicious light at the end of the valley, "That is the resting place of Lord Dragon God, and also where the energy of the entire Dragon Valley is most concentrated."
Hearing this, Fang Yang nodded, "Mountain Dragon King, lead us there."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The Mountain Dragon King responded respectfully.
Under the guidance of the seven Dragon Kings, Fang Yang and the others walked into the depths, arriving at the area enveloped by seven-colored auspicious light.
The concentration of dragon energy here grew increasingly higher, and the air was permeated with heart-trembling energy fluctuations.
There, suspended in the air, was a massive dragon soul.
The dragon soul was incomparably vast, its entire body flickering with seven-colored light, even its scales taking seven-colored forms.
Looking at it, the scales on its body were irregular—each piece seemed to differ in shape—yet they were so harmonious, like countless gems embedded together, emitting heart-trembling energy fluctuations.
"Your subordinates pay respects to Lord Dragon God!"
The seven Dragon Kings, seeing this, hurriedly bowed in salute, their demeanor incomparably respectful.
In this instant, the auras on Fang Yang, Gu Yue, and Na'er's bodies simultaneously resonated.
Gold and silver two different lights interwove in the air, finally converging into a brilliant seven-colored light that echoed from afar with the seven-colored dragon soul.
"Roar!" A heaven-shaking dragon cry rang out, and the seven-colored dragon soul seemed to come alive.
The resonant dragon cry echoed throughout the entire Dragon Valley. Almost instantly, all the wandering dragon souls in Dragon Valley prostrated themselves on the ground, worshipping toward this direction.
The seven-colored dragon soul transformed into a fist-sized, nine-colored crystal.
The crystal's surface emitted a nine-colored halo, giving people a very strange sensation.
Fang Yang spoke softly, "Gu Yue."
Gu Yue, hearing this, extended her slender white hand, her movement showing no hesitation whatsoever.
The moment she touched the Dragon God Core, the entire Dragon Valley shook.
The nine-colored light gradually turned inward, finally transforming into a crystal clear and transparent, lying quietly in her palm.
The residual souls of the seven Dragon Kings trembled slightly in the air. After tens of thousands of years of waiting, new hope finally arrived at this moment.
...
Meanwhile, at the entrance to Dragon Valley, ripples appeared in the space.
"Elder Wu, this is Dragon Valley?" Qiangu Zhangting's androgynous voice rang out, his tone carrying some uncertainty.
He looked around, a flash of surprise and doubt passing through his eyes.
After entering Dragon Valley, the Spirit Pagoda crowd immediately felt a special energy drilling into their bodies.
Their martial souls were completely suppressed, all soul power fell silent, completely unable to be mobilized.
This unprecedented sense of powerlessness made everyone feel uneasy.
Wu Yong responded in a deep voice: "Correct, this is the Tang Sect's forbidden ground, the Dragon Valley small world."
His brows were tightly locked, his gaze sweeping gravely across the surroundings.
If not for the accident that occurred in the Dragon Valley small world, he would absolutely not have allowed the Spirit Pagoda people to enter this place.
Black One stepped forward and spoke: "Elder Wu, something is wrong with Dragon Valley."
As a senior member who had led teams into Dragon Valley multiple times, he discovered the abnormality of the Dragon Valley small world.
Not only were the dragon bones commonly seen on the ground gone, but even the dragon clouds originally visible everywhere in the sky had disappeared without a trace.
The entire Dragon Valley appeared exceptionally empty, as if it had lost its former vitality.
"This..."
Wu Yong, hearing this, also fell into thought.
He indeed sensed the difference between Dragon Valley and usual times. The air was permeated with an unusual sense of oppression, as if the entire small world were brewing something.
"Now, continue forward!"
Wu Yong spoke in a deep voice, "I want to see who dares to touch our Tang Sect's things—they have already committed a fatal offense!"
"We respectfully follow Elder Wu's command!"
Black One and the crowd of Tang Sect disciples responded in unison.
Qiangu Zhangting watched coldly from the side, thinking to himself: "Interesting... as expected of the Tang Sect, their brainwashing skills truly live up to their reputation."
"Young Master, when do we make our move?" a Spirit Pagoda member transmitted sound secretly.
"Not urgent."
Qiangu Zhangting's gaze flickered, "Now is not the time. Wait until we find the source of Dragon Valley's abnormality, then we can act."
His fingers gently caressed a soul guide device in his sleeve, a flash of cold light passing through his eyes.
This time entering Dragon Valley, the Spirit Pagoda had made ample preparations.
—
A/N: Since I haven't read the fourth book of the original work, I'll follow the settings of the third book.
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