Chapter 236

"The Yi Tian Sword belongs to water, its nature yin and cold, with unmatched sharpness, excelling in cutting and piercing."

"The Tu Long Knife belongs to fire, its nature fierce and mighty, supremely dominant, excelling in chopping and breaking armor."

"Water and fire complement each other, yin and yang harmonize... If one could perfectly fuse the spiritual essences of these two divine weapons, and supplement them with my dragon blood's primal source..."

"Perhaps, one could truly forge a single artifact—both offensive and defensive, with limitless power!"

Moments later, a glimmer of enlightenment flashed in Ning Chuan's eyes.

He now had a general direction for handling these two divine weapons and forging his own life-bound magic treasure.

Yet this matter required careful deliberation; haste would not help.

After all, forging a magic treasure is no trivial matter—it demands immense energy and rare materials.

He lifted his massive dragon head and instructed the humble Xiao Zhao standing beside him:

"Xiao Zhao, issue orders: have Dai Qisi bring me every rare mineral, thousand-year cold iron, and all other heavenly treasures suitable for forging from the Ming Cult's treasure vault."

"Also, find me a large, sturdy cauldron capable of withstanding extreme heat."

"I intend to forge myself a suitable weapon."

This was preparatory work for the future forging of his life-bound magic treasure.

"Yes! Your servant obeys!" Xiao Zhao replied promptly, bowing deeply, then glided lightly on her lotus steps and hurried out of the hall to deliver Ning Chuan's orders.

Zhou Zhiruo remained kneeling humbly before Ning Chuan, head bowed, yielding and submissive.

She knew her fate now rested entirely in the hands of the mysterious dragon before her.

Any resistance or defiance would only bring annihilation.

Ning Chuan, watching her demeanor, felt a faint stir within him.

Zhou Zhiruo was indeed a promising talent—resolute in character and possessing considerable wisdom.

If properly trained, she might one day become a capable subordinate under his command.

He continued sinking into his contemplation of the art of forging.

"To forge a magic treasure, beyond fine materials and arcane spells, the most crucial element is... flame."

"Ordinary mortal fire cannot melt heavenly treasures, let alone extract their spiritual essences."

"Even the true qi fire cultivated by a Wudao Sect master is barely sufficient—inefficient and unsustainable."

"Though I have now formed my dragon core and my demonic power is pure, it seems... I lack a life-bound true fire suitable for alchemy and forging?"

Ning Chuan frowned slightly, falling into deep thought.

He recalled the torrents of thunderfire he had faced during his Du Du Jie trial.

He recalled the Nine Yin Manual's descriptions of yin-yang transformation and the harmony of water and fire.

He recalled the innate mastery over water and yin-cold energy within his black water serpent bloodline.

"Water is utmost yin; fire is utmost yang. Only when yin and yang give birth to each other does the Dao emerge."

"If I can control black water dragon breath, can I also... forge a corresponding life-bound dragon flame?"

【You deeply comprehend the primal power of your dragon bloodline and your understanding of water-fire and yin-yang principles...】

【You draw upon the secrets of yin-yang transformation and energy sublimation in the Nine Yin Manual...】

【You integrate the boundless, ceaseless demonic power within your dragon core...】

【You successfully reverse and sublimate part of your yin-cold demonic power into a supreme yang, destructive flame...】

【You have created a unique life-bound true fire for your dragon body—Black Water Dragon Flame!】

Ning Chuan's heart surged with overwhelming joy!

Black Water Dragon Flame!

Though named "Black Water," this life-bound true fire was not truly a water-element flame.

It was forged by reversing yin and yang from the primal demonic power of his black water serpent bloodline—a black flame brimming with destruction and purification!

Its temperature and power far surpassed any ordinary flame!

With this Black Water Dragon Flame, his future alchemy and forging would become effortless, doubling his efficiency!

Moreover, this Black Water Dragon Flame could serve as a formidable combat technique—capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, with limitless power!

As Ning Chuan immersed himself in contemplation and further refined his power,

the entire Great Ming martial world, and neighboring kingdoms, had been shaken by a cataclysmic earthquake triggered by the earth-shattering battle atop Brightness Peak!

"Breaking news! Breaking news! The outcome of the Brightness Peak battle is revealed! The allied forces of all Men Sects have been annihilated! Heavy casualties!"

"The Six Elders of Wu Dang severely wounded! The Songshan Shaolin Gao Seng wiped out! Sect Master Miejue of Emei slain on the spot!"

"The legendary swordmaster Xie Xiaofeng and the demonic blade Ding Peng—two peerless warriors—joined forces, yet still fell to a single blow from the Taohuadao Dragon Lord! Both captured!"

"Good heavens! This... this is unbelievable?! Who is this Dragon Lord? How could his power be so terrifying?!"

"Have you heard? After subduing the allied Men Sects, the Dragon Lord issued a dire threat!"

"All Men Sects that participated in the siege of Brightness Peak must send their Paizhang to Brightness Peak within three days to beg forgiveness and surrender all Wu Xuemi!"

"Otherwise, he will personally visit each sect and exterminate them entirely!"

"Gah—how tyrannical! This is a complete disregard for the entire Wu Lin!"

"Worse than that! I heard even the elusive Divine ability, Wang Chongyang, once went to Taohuadao."

"But... he was defeated by the Dragon Lord, forced to surrender all the Quanzhen Sect's Daoist scriptures, and even his younger brother Zhou Botong willingly accepted the Dragon as his senior brother!"

"My heavens! This... this is fantasy! Divine ability, Wang Zhenren—he was universally recognized as the greatest in the world!"

"Who is this demon from Taohuadao?! Could he... could he truly be a true dragon descended from the heavens?!"

"..."

Shocking, unbelievable rumors and speculations spread wildly and fermented throughout the martial world.

Brother Ning Chuan's renown in the Great Song's Wu Lin had long been at its zenith, known to all and unheard of by none.

Now, it was spreading across the entire realm with an unstoppable momentum!

Causing countless martial artists to turn pale at the mere mention, speaking of him with awe and dread!

Taohuadao, therefore, had become a place brimming with mystery and taboo.

……

Meanwhile.

The Great Ming Dynasty, Songshan Shaolin branch.

Inside the Great Hero Hall, gloom hung thick, the atmosphere utterly sorrowful.

Dozens of Shaolin Gao Seng, draped in cassocks, all bore expressions of grief and indignation.

Just moments ago, they received the report from a disciple who barely escaped from Guangmingding.

Learning the devastating news: Abbot Kongwen had passed away, and dozens of Shaolin elite disciples had all been slaughtered atop Guangmingding!

"Amitabha! Good, good!"

An old monk, over seventy, with white hair and beard, slammed his prayer beads hard onto the ground, his eyes filled with boundless rage and sorrow!

"Abbot Kongwen has been murdered! Dozens of our elite disciples have perished beneath that demon dragon's claws!"

"This blood-deep grudge cannot be reconciled! Shaolin Temple will never let that demon dragon off lightly!"

"Exactly! We must avenge the Abbot and our fallen brothers!"

"That demon dragon is cruel and bloodthirsty, slaughtering the innocent—no different from Mo Sect devils! We, the Mingmenzheng Sects, must unite and jointly exterminate this great evil for the Wu Lin!"

"……"

Inside the hall, emotions ran high; cries of anger and hatred rose and fell in a chorus.

All called out, demanding to denounce the dragon of Taohuadao and avenge their fallen comrades.

At that moment, a deep, solemn Buddhist chant suddenly echoed from behind the hall:

"Amitabha…"

Three old monks, clad in Chen Jiu yellow cassocks, their faces withered as if long detached from the world, yet radiating an ocean-deep, boundless aura, slowly emerged from the back chamber.

They were Shaolin's hidden centuries-old foundation—the three Du Zi-generation divine monks who had long reached the brink of the Immortal Realm: Du E, Du Du Jie, and Du Nan!

"We pay homage to our Three Master Uncles!"

Seeing these legendary divine monks appear, every Shaolin monk in the hall trembled, immediately bowing deeply, their expressions filled with profound reverence.

Master Du E's eyes, though seemingly clouded, held infinite wisdom and age as they slowly swept over the monks in the hall.

He let out a soft sigh, his voice old and hoarse:

"Foolish children, foolish children…"