Chapter 489

The Dragon Clan is mysterious and powerful.

They are among the beings at the very top of the spirit beast food chain.

And the Dragon Form is naturally one type of the Ten Thousand Beasts Forms.

It is said that those who possess a high-grade Dragon Form naturally carry a special ability called "Dragon Aura," which suppresses and weakens certain other Ten Thousand Beasts Forms; however, its effect is somewhat diminished when facing Elemental Forms.

But this still reveals the uniqueness and ferocity of the Dragon Form.

Clearly, it is more domineering than ordinary Ten Thousand Beasts Forms.

Previously, when Li Luo considered his third latent form, he naturally thought of this special and powerful Ten Thousand Beasts Form, but to forge a Dragon Form as a latent form, one requires Dragon Essence, which is simply the condensed essence of a dragon.

Dragon Essence is extremely rare; Li Luo had once investigated the rare treasures that had appeared in the Golden Dragon Treasure House over the years, yet found nothing, demonstrating its scarcity.

So Li Luo quickly abandoned the idea, as there was no point in fixating on something with no hope.

But what he hadn't expected was that during this academy-level tournament, he would obtain a piece of "Dragon Essence."

Yes, it is the "Dragon Pearl" now held in his hand.

He could clearly sense the mysterious pressure contained within this crimson, flame-like pearl—it must be genuine "Dragon Essence."

With this item, he could certainly attempt to forge a latent Dragon Form.

If successful, his third main form would be the "Dragon Form."

However, Dragon Forms come in many varieties, with high and low tiers; which specific type would emerge could only be known after forging it.

Li Luo gripped the crimson Dragon Pearl; within it pulsed surging energy, energy that had other subtle uses as well.

His gaze fell upon the black token in his hand. "Dragon Essence" is extraordinarily rare, and condensing it requires numerous stringent conditions; yet this time, despite using Dragon Blood Fire as a refining material, it should not have been possible under normal circumstances.

Therefore, according to Li Luo's speculation, the greatest credit likely belongs to this black token.

"The Li Li Tianwang lineage..."

Li Luo traced the ancient Li character at the token's center, his expression momentarily distant—what exactly was the Li Li Tianwang lineage?

After much thought yielded no answer, Li Luo carefully stored away both the token and the crimson Dragon Pearl.

Speaking of which, this truly was an unexpected windfall—he never imagined such a gain within the Dragon Blood Fire Domain; a piece of "Dragon Essence" is of immense value, especially for someone like him who needs it to forge latent forms, its worth incalculable.

Li Luo felt that merely obtaining this item made his journey to the Holy Cup Tournament worthwhile.

At this point, Li Luo finally raised his head and looked toward the Dragon Bone Island.

The island's hue was slightly dark red, yet its shape was uniquely striking: towering crimson trees, bare of branches or leaves, thrust skyward like colossal crimson bones piercing from the earth; farther away, peaks stood like jagged fangs, their slopes perilously steep, radiating an inexplicable chilling aura.

"So this is the final battleground..."

Li Luo murmured, yet as he looked around, he noticed the island was eerily quiet; he wasn't surprised, for he had lingered in the Dragon Blood Fire Domain for so long, and during that time, the island had likely undergone round after round of eliminations.

The current silence was because the initial storm had passed.

According to Li Luo's estimate, less than one in ten of the students who had landed on the island remained.

That was fine—it saved him considerable time.

"I might be the easiest person to enter the finals circle."

Li Luo chuckled to himself; had he not been aided by Lü Qing'er's "Ice Nightmare Armor" and the black token's absorption of most of the Dragon Blood Fire, he could never have stayed so long in the Dragon Blood Fire Domain—and if even he struggled, what of others?

After all, even someone as powerful as Jing Jing Taixu could only flee the Dragon Blood Fire Domain at top speed after his Celestial Dew membrane cracked, daring not linger a moment longer.

With these thoughts, Li Luo rested briefly, then stepped forward into the Dragon Bone Island.

His pace was steady, and as he delved deeper, the landscape around him lay in ruins—clearly the aftermath of brutal battles.

Li Luo still had the leisure to pause and examine these battle sites, analyzing the number of combatants and their strength levels, before departing satisfied.

Even later, he spotted some severely wounded students; they were about to be eliminated but had not yet shattered their Spirit Gourds, perhaps hoping to linger longer on the island. When they saw Li Luo strolling calmly from afar, continuing toward the island's depths, they stared at him as if seeing a ghost.

They couldn't understand why Li Luo appeared here now.

Had he deliberately hidden?

But the Dragon Bone Island wasn't that large; with so many entering, there was nowhere to hide—yet Li Luo's relaxed demeanor was nothing like that of someone who had endured fierce combat.

As for their stunned stares, Li Luo merely offered them a gentle smile, paused to ask questions—had they seen Jing Jing Taixu? Where had Lu Ming gone?

Sadly, they all rolled their eyes; some even shattered their Spirit Gourds and chose elimination, for they had suffered terribly here, while Li Luo walked in as if just starting the competition—it was deeply unfair.

Li Luo paid them no mind and pressed deeper into the Dragon Bone Island.

About an hour later.

As expected, Li Luo entered the finals circle.

He suspected he might be the only one in the history of this academy-level tournament to enter the finals circle without fighting a single battle on the Dragon Bone Island.

The finals circle was, in fact, an extraordinarily steep mountain, straight as a blade's tip, sharp as fangs, rising abruptly into the clouds.

Before the mountain lay two winding paths ascending its flanks.

Li Luo followed the paths with his gaze—he knew the "Dragon Bone Chair," symbol of the champion, rested atop the peak; whoever sat there unimpeded would become the strongest student of this academy-level tournament.

Jing Jing Taixu had probably already climbed up.

Although the Holy Bright King Academy's students had suffered heavy losses in the Dragon Blood Fire Domain like everyone else, Li Luo believed Jing Jing Taixu, even alone, would surely reach the finals circle.

Which path should he take?

Li Luo stared at the two paths, thought for a few seconds, then pulled out a Tianliang Gold Coin and flicked it lightly.

The coin rolled and landed in his palm.

Li Luo glanced at it, then tucked it away, smiling as he ascended the left path.

He liked this path.

Because just then, he had faintly heard a distant rumble of thunder coming from this side.