No one expected the peak battle to reach such a state; perhaps dying in battle would not be this painful.
The higher the realm and the stronger the individual, the more they understood that the more powerful an attack, the harder it was to endure. A normal person's will would perish instantly upon touching high-level power, let alone enduring it.
Normally, for Soul Transformation—especially for those above Void Refinement—regrowing limbs was no longer difficult. The real trouble lay in how terrifying and persistent the power causing the injury was. For example, the hidden root wounds caused by the heaven-and-earth power during a failed breakthrough, or a thread of Yin-Erosion Qi left by a powerful enemy. These not only caused injuries that were hard to heal but also brought unbearable pain.
Qi Ping and the black dragon were currently in such a situation. The attacks on both sides were too horrific. Fighting until now, both had sustained injuries that were essentially unhealable, accumulating unimaginable pain. They were supported only by a thread of will.
In fact, Qi Ping's main body had already fallen into a deep sleep, without a single shred of extra power to support consciousness. In a battle of this level, the contest of will had long surpassed the scope of the main body and the clone.
"Boss..."
The Golden Marrow Bees, the Little Immortal Tiger, the Little Stone Spirit, the Little Azure Dragon, the Void-Aether Fish... these animal companions were all watching their boss with extreme worry. Because of the Animal Companion Pact, none could feel the pressure Qi Ping was currently enduring more deeply than they—and it wasn't just on the clone.
But now they could only watch, unable to do anything. Even if they could enter that battlefield, given their current strength, they wouldn't be able to play any role in a battle of that level.
"Strength... become stronger!"
Blood-red veins gradually grew hideous in their eyes. Never had they desired power so desperately.
Perhaps in others' eyes, each of them had the potential of a divine beast and possessed world-destroying power. But compared to the current Qi Ping, they knew that not only did they need to awaken their deeper bloodline power, they needed to transcend and break the limits of their bloodline to have the qualification to fight alongside him.
This was what Qi Ping had always taught them: to comprehend and perceive the deepest power of their bloodline, moving from having a bloodline to controlling it, and then to absorbing new knowledge and resources to break through its limits. A bloodline is a shackle only because one lacks the ability to control and break through it!
A fellow who only knows how to rely on bloodline power and feels complacent after understanding a bit of bloodline divine ability will forever live in the shadow of their bloodline, relying on a bit of pity from their ancestors to show off.
That shouldn't be who they are!
"Boss... you can't lose!"
"After this, we'll never be playful again."
The Little Immortal Tiger and the Little Stone Spirit were full of self-blame. They had been too playful in the past, only enjoying resources under Qi Ping's protection. Despite having such good conditions and enough resources and knowledge, they hadn't developed their bloodline power according to his teachings, let alone broken through its shackles to elevate their bloodline to a new tier.
At this moment, the tiger and the stone spirit both silently set the goal of raising their bloodline power by a rank.
As for the Little Azure Dragon, it was the first time it truly ignited a determination to become stronger in its heart. In the past, it didn't know what becoming stronger meant. After all, its bloodline was naturally noble—the head of the Four Sacred Beasts, the Azure Dragon. It also had its parents' legacy, being born at the Soul Transformation stage. Coupled with its sacred beast power, almost no one in the Star-Sea World was its match.
Furthermore, it had become the pet of the Star-Emperor, the most noble being in the Star-Sea World. Although many around it seemed very hard-working... it knew it should become stronger, but what was its motivation? Especially when it was still at a playful age shortly after birth.
A soul without much experience cannot understand such things; growth requires actual experience.
Qi Ping's current life-and-death struggle was the string that touched it. That was its closest family. It suddenly understood the meaning of becoming stronger.
This world itself had no fairness or morality to speak of. The whole world followed the law of the jungle and slaughter. Only by being strong enough could one resist enemies who attacked for no reason or grievance. In a world where you have resources, wolves will always surround you.
Scenes from its birth suddenly flashed before its eyes like a revolving lantern. It suddenly understood why everyone worked so hard and risked their lives instead of rolling and playing on the grass.
Thinking of the life-and-death slaughter of these days, the comrades who fell under the demons' fangs, the gratitude of those it had saved, and the home and resources that carried all its happy memories...
Now, seeing every companion around it soaked in blood, covered in wounds and exhaustion yet still choosing to fight to the death, and seeing its master undergoing a life-and-death battle with a will that refused to retreat...
At this moment, the Little Azure Dragon finally understood the meaning of becoming stronger.
And at this instant, something in its body seemed to be triggered. An incredibly vast aura of life suddenly appeared within it. It was an exceptionally noble, azure-glass dragon pearl—and more importantly, a seed possessing vast life energy.
The moment it appeared, it quickly took root and sprouted within the Little Azure Dragon's body, the vast life momentum constantly washing over its physical form.
Soon, an incredibly noble and profound sacred beast power suddenly awakened!
"Is this... the legendary power of the Azure Dragon?"
"It has only been born for how long, and it actually awakened?"
No one expected the Little Azure Dragon, born only a few years ago, to directly awaken the special power that even adult sacred beasts might not necessarily awaken!
The moment its power awakened, the sealed memories in its mind suddenly opened. At the same time, a thread of sealed consciousness woke up in its sea of consciousness.
"Xiao He... I didn't expect to see you so soon. You've grown so fast, even more impressive than your parents."
"Mother!"
Seeing this familiar figure, the Little Azure Dragon, Qing He, instantly burst into tears! It turned out it had been born long ago! It knew who its mother was! It tried desperately to lung into its mother's embrace, but could only fall through empty air.
The Azure Dragon phantom, her eyes full of maternal love, saw this and couldn't suppress a pang of heartache. She also wanted to hug her own flesh and blood. But she had to endure her internal turmoil; she had to give her child more warmth, confidence, and encouragement in the final moments.
"Xiao He, Mother has already departed. The fact that you can see me proves you have awakened the strongest power of the Azure Dragon Sacred Beast..."
"You have awakened this power only a few years after waking up. This ranks among the best in our clan's history. No one should be more outstanding than my Xiao He..."
"Mother is proud of you. Your father certainly would be as well."
As she spoke, she reached out a phantom hand and gently stroked the Little Azure Dragon's head, her eyes full of tenderness and pride.
"Moth...er..."
By now, the Little Azure Dragon was already in tears, its voice choking with sobs. It remembered everything. It had actually been born several years prior, but then experienced an incredibly horrific war. Its mother had personally put it back into the egg and sealed its memories...
That war seemed exactly like the one happening now.
The emergence of these memories caused the Little Azure Dragon's temperament to transform, becoming more pure and resolute. The bloodline power surfacing around it grew even stronger!
"War..."
Thinking of this, the Little Azure Dragon's heart suddenly tightened!
"Boss... Boss is still waiting for me to save him. I want to save Boss!" Qing He suddenly cried out.
It had already lost its mother; it absolutely could not lose the boss who had brought it laughter and joy.
"Mother, is there a way to save my Boss? He is fighting a very terrifying enemy, and none of us can help him... If he fails, the Star-Sea World might be finished."
Currently, Qing He was truly powerless and could only ask its mother for help.
To Qing He's words, its mother didn't seem surprised at all. As if she had anticipated this, she said gently:
"The method is already in your mind. Feel the bloodline talent you just awakened."
Hearing this, Qing He immediately sank its consciousness into the newly acquired bloodline information, quickly searching for a way to help Qi Ping. After a short while, Qing He opened its eyes, its face full of hope.
It found it!
"Did you find it?" Mother asked.
"I found it! Thank you, Mother!"
"But you have to think it through. There is only one Dragon Pearl. If you sacrifice it to him, your loss will be immense."
That Dragon Pearl contained the most fundamental and strongest sacred beast origin power sealed by her and Qing He's father. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it possessed the great power to recreate a sacred physique. It was absolutely a top-tier holy medicine of the world. It was originally intended for Qing He to use at a critical moment.
Having inheritance memories, Qing He naturally knew the preciousness of this pearl. This was a top-tier holy object that couldn't be bought with any amount of wealth—something that would make countless powerful entities fight to the death.
But even facing such a precious object, Qing He didn't hesitate for a second.
"Mother, Qing He doesn't regret it! Please wait a moment, I'll come back to find you right after helping Boss."
As soon as the words fell, Qing He initiated the sacrifice without hesitation! In an instant, an incredibly noble and vast life force erupted.
On the other side, watching Qing He initiate the sacrifice without hesitation, its mother's eyes—strangely—didn't show any hint of regret. Instead, they revealed even more praise and relief!
At this moment, her gaze also turned toward Qi Ping's direction!
"Are you the person from the prophecy? Truly extraordinary!"
She still couldn't be certain if giving such an important item to an outsider was correct. But at least, having Qing He stay by Qi Ping's side was right.
Because at the moment Qing He chose to sacrifice the Dragon Pearl, it triggered a stronger resonance deep in its bloodline. An extreme azure bloodline power erupted on Qing He once again!
This was the reason Mother was so relieved. This wasn't an accident; it was the foundation of the Azure Dragon Sacred Beast's bloodline!
As the head of the Four Sacred Beasts, the Azure Dragon's attribute was the extreme of Wood, representing vitality, growth, and restoration. Its most fundamental power was 'Protection.'
In other words, only an Azure Dragon possessing the heart of a protector could awaken the strongest power of the Sacred Beast. This power was the greatest asset with which the Azure Dragon looked down upon the world.
The reason her last thread of true spirit awakened was that the Little Azure Dragon had realized the heart of protection. The unsealing of its memories would further make Qing He understand the essence of protection. Most importantly, when Qing He realized the heart of protection, it meant it had a new support, possessing the strength to accept the truth of its parents' departure, without having to live in this world in lonely solitude. That would have been too hard for an Azure Dragon hatchling.
However, she was very surprised that Qing He awakened the heart of protection and its bloodline power so quickly! This speed was enough to rank in the top few of dragon history—she wasn't exaggerating at all. This was why she was so happy.
But even more surprising was that Qing He's heart of protection so quickly met the opportunity for a second transformation. At the moment Qing He chose to sacrifice the Dragon Pearl without hesitation, its temperament rose another step!
To have a second awakening of the Azure Dragon bloodline power at this age was monstrous beyond measure, even in her eyes. This was far more important to her than a Dragon Pearl! Because it meant Qing He truly possessed unparalleled potential—perhaps even to complete things that she and its father could not!
As for Qi Ping...
'To possess this kind of mind, rather than just relying on the power of Chaos Deduction, he truly has the qualification to be Qing He's master!'
After finishing this thought, she retracted her gaze from Qi Ping and fixed it intently on Qing He. Her time was running out. In the remaining moments, she only wanted to look at her child.
After experiencing death, she had moved past many things. She no longer cared much about worldly affairs; only this Little Azure Dragon among the infinite living beings was her sole remaining obsession.
She watched quietly as Qing He utilized its bloodline talent, her already phantom-like figure becoming increasingly faint. Regardless, she would wait for Qing He to complete the sacrifice before saying a few more words. After all, as a mother, how could she bear to let her child be left with disappointment and regret?
On the other side, after Qing He chose to sacrifice the Dragon Pearl, a profound and pure Azure Dragon power followed the link between the man and the beast, frantically injecting into Qi Ping's body!
When this sacred beast power, containing powerful vitality and restoration, appeared, Qi Ping—originally stuck in a bitter stalemate—instantly met a turning point. His exhausted body and consciousness, under this power, frantically revived like a parched land meeting a long-awaited rain!