Chapter 647: Refining Heaven as Slave

At this moment, even Zi Yan beside him felt no pity for the North Dragon King.

Normally, after a Dragon Clan member dies, their body is buried in the Dragon Tomb; their Magic Core, like a stupa relic, is enshrined, its released energy protecting clan members who enter the tomb and enhancing their strength.

But the North Dragon King is utterly unworthy of entering the Dragon Tomb!

"Refining Heaven Ancient Formation!! The Pure Lotus Demon Saint's Refining Heaven Ancient Formation!! No! No!! Dragon Emperor Adult, spare my life!"

Seeing Xiao Yan unleash the Refining Heaven Ancient Formation—and realizing Xiao Yan possessed the Pure Lotus Demon Fire, the complete form of the Refining Heaven Ancient Formation—the North Dragon King finally understood fear.

Yet facing North Dragon King's pleas, not a single person in attendance responded, not even a trace of pity on any face. No one could plead for him—such a war criminal dying was already a mercy.

So Xiao Yan would not let him die easily.

The sky-obscuring fire formation resembled two colossal fire discs, one above and one below, engulfing North Dragon Island. The Transformation Dragon Demonic Array built upon North Dragon Island stood no chance against the Refining Heaven Ancient Formation.

Moreover, Xiao Yan possessed the Pure Lotus Demon Fire; the Refining Heaven Ancient Formation fused with it was the strongest, most flawless version—and combined with Xiao Yan's half-Emperor-level Soul Force, this Refining Heaven Ancient Formation was no less powerful than the one once controlled by the Pure Lotus Demon Saint in the Demon Fire Space.

The North Dragon King frantically struggled, channeling blood qi through the Transformation Dragon Demonic Array to break free of the Refining Heaven Ancient Formation.

"A cicada trying to shake a tree."

Xiao Yan's expression was cold; he saw the North Dragon King's actions as entirely self-inflicted. Had he not been so obsessed with the Dragon Emperor's Redoing and activated the Transformation Dragon Demonic Array, Zi Yan's nature would have spared the Three Great Dragon Kings if they surrendered—she would have made them guard Dragon Island and redeem themselves through service.

Without further thought, Xiao Yan's eyes brimmed with killing intent. He couldn't be bothered to speak further, changed his hand seals, and the vast formation enveloping heaven and earth began to slowly rotate like a grinding stone, rumbling heavily.

As the two great formations rotated slowly, the energy of this realm instantly became wildly chaotic.

"Refining Heaven Ancient Formation—Refining Heaven as Slave!"

Xiao Yan hovered in the sky; boundless milky-white flames erupted from his body, pouring entirely into the formation. Then he pointed a finger.

Boom—the void and the entire North Dragon Island shuddered violently. A milky-white ring of light spread rapidly from the formation's edge toward its center, converging in the shocked gazes of all present into a hundred-zhang-wide milky-white pillar of light, brimming with annihilating power.

Its target was locked onto the North Dragon King, writhing in the center.

Even if the North Dragon King burned his internal blood essence and summoned the Ancestral Dragon Shadow, it was useless—the terrifying power of the Refining Heaven Ancient Formation and the purifying force of the Pure Lotus Demon Fire instantly purified and erased the Ancestral Dragon Shadow.

Once, the Pure Lotus Demon Saint used this very technique to dominate the world unchallenged.

"Aaaah! No! I am the Dragon Emperor! Aaah!"

The white light ring of the Refining Heaven Ancient Formation swept across North Dragon Island, instantly purging and erasing the Transformation Dragon Demonic Array carved upon the North Dragon King; all blood mist was refined away.

Soon, the Transformation Dragon Demonic Array vanished, revealing North Dragon Island's true form. It had lost all its former beauty—now merely a barren island, its structures shattered and ruined, utterly devoid of the glory and splendor it once held as a sacred corner of the Ancient Dragon Clan's ancestral land.

Seeing North Dragon Island reduced to this, every warrior from East Dragon Island showed a flicker of sorrow. Zi Yan's beautiful eyes slowly closed, a single tear of grief sliding down.

The Dragon Emperor wept, mourning the souls of all fallen Ancient Dragon Clan members.

With the battle ended, the Transformation Dragon blood qi within Zi Yan dissipated; her complexion regained a faint flush, yet she still looked extremely weak. Moreover, in Xiao Yan's stunned gaze, her body slowly shrank—within moments, she reverted to her former little girl form.

"Too weak—can only revert to the most energy-efficient form," Zi Yan murmured with a bitter smile.

"Hehe, this looks even cuter," Xiao Yan laughed, ruffling her small head.

Xiao Yan gestured with his hand; a vivid red lotus and a pure white lotus flew before him. Inside the red lotus lay a Karma Refining Hell—its first inmate was the North Dragon King, whose Spiritual Soul would suffer endlessly within the red lotus' karma fire.

Inside the white lotus lay the North Dragon King's physical body—a Six-Star Sage's body, the body of an Ancient Dragon Clan Dragon King—even the Refining Heaven Ancient Formation could not fully refine it in a short time.

"This body is indeed formidable," Xiao Yan remarked, raising an eyebrow with interest as he studied the North Dragon King's body sealed within Pure Lotus Demon Fire—it was a fine treasure indeed.

At this moment, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran flew over. Yun Yun said softly, "We found South Dragon Island and West Dragon Island. Fortunately, neither was subjected to the Transformation Dragon Demonic Array—their lineages and juvenile Dragon Clan members are unharmed, merely imprisoned."

Hearing Yun Yun's words, Zi Yan and Xiao Yan both exhaled in relief. At least the other two Dragon Islands still retained their fighting force; though the strongest had already been refined by the North Dragon King, after Zi Yan unified the Dragon Islands, she believed the New Generation would soon grow strong.

Though East Dragon Island emerged victorious, for Zi Yan, this victory came at too great a cost. As Dragon Emperor, she must prioritize her clan and subordinates—whether East Dragon Island or the other three, all were members of the Ancient Dragon Clan.

"It's still a good beginning," Xiao Yan paused, then offered what comfort he could. "With you as Dragon Emperor's Majesty leading the unified Ancient Dragon Clan, restoring its former glory is not impossible." Though he knew that after decades of internal strife and the Three Great Dragon Kings' rebellion, the Ancient Dragon Clan's strength was a shadow of its past—far weaker than even the Yan Alliance.

But he could never crush Zi Yan's confidence.

Zi Yan sighed softly; she understood the gap between the current Ancient Dragon Clan and its former glory. In its peak, the clan rivaled the Soul Sovereign and Gu Clan—yet now, nearly all its strong ones were dead, the generations were broken, the lineage shattered. Relying solely on her, the overall situation was unsustainable—restoring its golden age? Who knew when that might come.

"Hehe, don't lose heart—you're the legendary Dragon Phoenix Physique. Give you enough time, your achievement will surpass every past Dragon Emperor. Restoring the peak? Not a fantasy." Xiao Yan patted Zi Yan's head and smiled.

At this moment, Zi Yan slowly lifted her head, her beautiful eyes blinking at Xiao Yan.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Hehe, how about the Ancient Dragon Clan joins your Yan Alliance?"

!!!!??

The elders beside them were startled—the Ancient Dragon Clan had always been solitary, never allying with any Faction. Moreover, joining required obeying many rules.

But upon further thought, the Yan Alliance was now far stronger than the Ancient Dragon Clan—better to shelter under a big tree. And Xiao Yan's relationship with Zi Yan…

Elder Zhu Huo exchanged glances with the other elders, as if saying: If marriage could be arranged, it wouldn't be unacceptable.

Xiao Yan ruffled Zi Yan's small head and said, "Shou Yu has always been managed by Cai Lin. I think the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan matters are settled too. After you finish with the Ancient Dragon Clan, go find Cai Lin."

"Don't worry—no matter what, I won't abandon you if you need me."

Zi Yan's eyes flickered with a strange light as she looked at Xiao Yan, then suddenly hugged him tightly: "Mm, I won't either."

Looking at the ruined North Dragon Island, Xiao Yan turned to Yun Yun: "Yun Yun, contact the Hua Sect disciples—have those who cultivate Wood-element Qi help restore the Dragon Island."

Yun Yun nodded. Many Hua Sect disciples specialized in Wood-element Qi, ideal for reviving the Dragon Island's vitality. With North Dragon Island destroyed this badly, restoring it to its former state would take considerable time.

"I think Xiao Yixian might have a solution."

Xiao Yan turned to Nalan Yanran beside him and smiled: "Nalan Yanran, return to Shou Yu first and gather intelligence on the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan."

Nalan Yanran gave Xiao Yan a helpless side-eye—she was just a messenger. Came to rescue, now after rescuing, she had to run back to gather intel.

So helping him break through to Sage was just so she could fly faster?

"I—I know!" Nalan Yanran couldn't argue—she wouldn't be the messenger, would she make her master go? It'd still be her.

With the deaths of the Three Great Dragon Kings, countless subordinates on North Dragon Island perished. The deeply fractured Ancient Dragon Clan finally cleared all obstacles—under Zi Yan's title as Dragon Emperor, no dissent echoed among the Four Great Dragon Islands.

The North Dragon King's massacre of his own clan had long frozen the hearts of all Ancient Dragon Clan members; no one would mourn his death. As for the South and West Dragon Kings, they had been entirely consumed by the North Dragon King—only deepening the hatred directed at him.

Under these combined factors, the integration of the Four Great Dragon Islands proceeded surprisingly smoothly. Floating in the Void Space, the four great islands were swiftly drawn together—with the aid of numerous Ancient Dragon Clan elders and the power of Xu Wu Tong Yan Tian Zi Huo.

Soon, the four massive islands merged once more. Thus, the Ancient Dragon Clan could finally be said to have truly unified. From now on, there would be no more "Four Great Dragon Islands"—only one: Ancient Dragon Island!

And there would be only one Dragon Emperor: Zi Yan!

Not long after, Nalan Yanran, the messenger of the Yan Alliance, also sent back word: several days ago, Huang Tian led a group of Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan elders to attack the Snake Emperor Empire—but Huang Tian was ultimately killed, slain within the Snake Emperor Empire.

This news sent shockwaves throughout the Shou Yu, and few of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan managed to escape; either they were slain by the Snake Emperor Empire's elites, or killed by mysterious figures clad in black robes.

These black-robed elites muttered things like "I want a pair of Heavenly Venerable of Yan's Bone Wings," then went mad, hunting down the fleeing Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan members.

Shortly after the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's leader led a failed assault and was killed in return, the clan announced a new leader: the former Holy Maiden, Feng Qing'er, was appointed Clan Leader, and declared the clan a vassal race of the Snake Emperor Empire, abandoning all its territories to be fully owned by Her Majesty, the Queen.

From then on, the Three Great Demon Beast Families of Shou Yu became history; the Yan Alliance's Snake Emperor Empire officially unified Shou Yu, reducing the Magical Beast Families from three to two.

Of the three legendary Magical Beast Families, only the Grand Void Ancient Dragon remained; the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan and the Nine Underworld Dark Python Clan were no longer what they once were, and ceased to refer to themselves as the Three Great Demon Beast Families.

Yet even as these events still stirred the entire Dou Qi Continent, another earth-shattering rumor exploded across the continent.

The Grand Void Ancient Dragon has reemerged!

The new Dragon Emperor, Zi Yan, forged an alliance with the Yan Alliance, becoming its ally, and jointly governed Shou Yu and its Xu Kong Zhi Di with the Snake Emperor Empire—effectively making the entire Earth Domain of Shou Yu Yan Alliance territory!

The Yan Alliance surged forward, becoming the largest faction on the entire Dou Qi Continent, surpassing One Hall One Tower, and standing as the most powerful force on the Dou Qi Continent—without exception!

Of course, Xiao Yan did not concern himself with these administrative matters. He only formulated strategy and carried out the campaigns; the conquered realm was not his to manage—he knew none of these so-called imperial arts or governance techniques.

Moreover, Xiao Yan was currently plotting a "great matter!"

It was not about turning the North Dragon King into a puppet—Xiao Yan's great matter was, of course, the Nine Mystery Golden Thunder at the deepest depths of the Void Thunder Pool.

Several years ago, when Xiao Yan entered the Void Thunder Pool, he had already discovered the Nine Mystery Golden Thunder.

Even after refining the North Dragon King of North Dragon Island, he was no match for the Nine Mystery Golden Thunder; according to Xiao Yan's estimation, the Nine Mystery Golden Thunder had likely reached the peak of Six Star Dou Sheng cultivation, just one step away from transforming into Spirit and ascending to Seven Star.

Its combat power was surely that of a Seven Star Dou Sheng.

Moreover, based on Xiao Yan's experience, the Nine Mystery Golden Thunder was certain to fail; should it fail, it would vanish into ash, dispersing into the heavens and earth.

That would be Xiao Yan's opportunity.

If Xiao Yan were to normally use the Burning Scripture to absorb the energy of heaven and earth, he would need to absorb for several years before he had any chance of breaking through the Five Star barrier and entering Six Star Dou Sheng.

After all, even though the Burning Scripture was powerful and reached Emperor Grade, the ambient energy scattered throughout the world had become too thin for him—he needed a place brimming with power.

The energy contained within the Nine Mystery Golden Thunder was perfectly suited to Xiao Yan.

"I've obtained the Pill Formula for the Thunder Tribulation Pill of Nine Grade Profound Pill from the Dan Tower, the materials are ready, and these full containers of Heavenly Thunder Beads serve as Magic Cores," Xiao Yan said, looking at the pile of materials before him.

That's right—Xiao Yan intended to refine a Nine Grade Profound Pill! And this Nine Grade Profound Pill was precisely the Thunder Tribulation Pill, using the Nine Mystery Golden Thunder as its main ingredient!

"Hehehe, no time to waste. Calculating the timing, the Nine Mystery Golden Thunder should be about to begin gathering Spirit," Xiao Yan smiled. He might not be able to defeat the Nine Mystery Golden Thunder in battle—but he didn't need to. He only needed to wait for it to destroy itself.

(End of Chapter)