Chapter 254: The Hidden Young Emperor!

However, the next moment, the dimness and sigh in his dragon eyes vanished suddenly, replaced by a reignited, blood‑line‑deep arrogance and majesty!

He seemed to recall an even more terrifying existence, staring fixedly at Ye Wuque, word by word, his voice clanging like metal, bearing an undeniable tone:

"But, Ye Wuque!"

"You ultimately stole the supreme True Dragon Emperor Technique of my clan!"

"This is not something you are qualified to possess!"

"Across the entire Zhutian Wanjie, there is scarcely any enemy my Dragon Clan cannot suppress!"

"Even if the great figures of my clan refrain from acting for certain reasons, among our younger generation there are peerless monsters who can surely subdue you and reclaim the Imperial Art!"

"You… do not be smug!"

"Destined… to… be defeated!"

Ye Wuque heard this, and instead of anger he showed an intrigued expression, asking lightly, "Oh? Who is it?"

Long Ao Tian lifted his dragon head proudly, as if mentioning the name renewed his confidence and glory:

"It is my Golden Emperor Dragon Clan, a young generation of a glorious era… the undisputed number one!"

"The title… Hidden Young Emperor!"

"He once swept through an era, defeating all Zhutian heroes, deeming himself invincible, thus proclaiming himself a divine source, seeking to shine in even brighter years and ascend to the Absolute Peak!"

"You… wait! If he is born, he will surely come after you!"

After saying this, Long Ao Tian gave Ye Wuque a deep look, as if to imprint this human who would bring him another defeat, then a faint glow spread over his body, the massive dragon form began to contract, preparing to revert to human shape and depart.

He had already lost this battle; staying any longer was useless.

"Hold on."

Ye Wuque, however, spoke at that moment, calling him back.

Long Ao Tian, halfway through the transformation, halted, the huge dragon eyes bearing a hint of wariness toward Ye Wuque:

"What? You intend to kill me?"

He did not think Ye Wuque truly dared to strike; this place was not far from the core territory of the Golden Emperor Dragon Clan in the Imperial Dragon Sky Domain, and the wave he caused upon awakening would surely be sensed by strong clan members, perhaps a great figure was already on the way.

Ye Wuque shook his head, his tone calm: "Killing you brings me no benefit; it would only forge an eternal vendetta with the Dragon Clan. Why would I kill you?"

He shifted his tone, saying: "I want to ask you something."

"After you were eliminated in the Great Thousand Divine Universe trial, did you ever receive a bestowed treasure?"

Long Ao Tian was slightly startled, then nodded: "Indeed. It is a tradition of the Great Thousand Divine Universe; anyone who enters its trial, even if eliminated, receives a reward, a kind of encouragement and fate, offering the failed a future possibility."

"I broke into the final stage then, received some gifts; now, after long years, they are exhausted, leaving only this last Divine Universe Celestial Crystal…"

Speaking, he flicked his Dragon Claw, revealing a piece about fist‑size, wholly bearing a chaotic hue, its interior seeming to contain countless tiny swirling star crystals in perpetual motion.

The aura emitted by this crystal was ancient and profound, far deeper and more refined than any Divine Universe crystal Ye Wuque had ever seen, evidently because Long Ao Tian's earlier achievements earned a far more precious reward.

Ye Wuque's gaze fell upon it, and the scorching guidance from the Seven-Star Dao Refining Box within his body instantly reached its peak!

It is this!

The final causality object required by the Seven-Star Dao Refining Box is precisely this Divine Universe Celestial Crystal!

As long as it devours this, the seventh star can be lit, unveiling the ultimate secret of this mysterious ancient box!

Ye Wuque looked straight at Long Ao Tian and bluntly asked: "May I have this item?"

To Ye Wuque's slight surprise, Long Ao Tian only paused briefly, then decisively tossed the Divine Universe Celestial Crystal toward him.

"Take it." he said evenly, "The core value and Dao Rhythm of this item have long been drained by me during this millennial sealed slumber; to me now it is merely a hard stone, useless to keep. If it's yours, it's yours! Moreover, I cannot defeat you. If you try to snatch it forcefully, I'm no match."

He paused, the massive dragon eyes fixed on Ye Wuque, revealing a complex emotion he himself could not quite articulate:

"Mainly… I don't know why, but I actually don't wish to become enemies with you. Though you are a Human, for some reason you carry… a faint aura that makes me feel a… closeness; the exact reason I cannot explain."

"And…" his gaze deepened, "I also want to see how you and your son, in the forthcoming grand ages, will progress and what brilliant legend you will forge…"

Ye Wuque reached out and caught the Divine Universe Celestial Crystal pulsing with mysterious waves; hearing Long Ao Tian's words, his heart stirred slightly.

The aura that made Long Ao Tian feel close, Ye Wuque knew well, most likely stemmed from the Golden Emperor Dragon Soul Beast within him and the True Dragon Bone he obtained from Ao Kun.

The causality between him and the Dragon Clan was indeed deeply entangled.

Though Long Ao Tian was defeated, his temperament was candid and straightforward, with clear grudges, making him rather interesting.

He finally obtained this last causality object.

Ye Wuque flipped his hand, stowing the Divine Universe Celestial Crystal, intending to deal with it after leaving.

Long Ao Tian, seeing Ye Wuque take the item, no longer lingered; his aura flickered, fully transforming into a golden‑haired majestic human form, though his complexion remained pale and his breath feeble.

He gave Ye Wuque a deep look, clasped his fists and said, "Ye Wuque, until we meet again! I hope next time you'll still retain such… splendor!"

Having said that, he turned and prepared to tear the Void as he left.

However—

At the very instant Long Ao Tian turned and Ye Wuque prepared to depart!

A sudden anomaly erupted!

Boom!!!

From the endless depths of the starry sky above, without warning, a colossal claw covered in dark‑golden plumage, swirling with law‑tearing and endless murderous intent, thrust out violently!

The claw seemed forged from pure killing intent and hatred, obscuring stars and moon; its scale was such that it could crush the Nine Heavens Ten Earths with a single grip!

It moved at a speed beyond limits, bearing world‑shattering power, ignoring spatial distance, slamming down directly toward Ye Wuque's location!

Simultaneously, a cold, venomous whisper brimming with endless killing intent and hatred, like a Nine Nether chill wind, rang across the shattered Star Domain:

"You little scoundrel!! Finally you've let me find you!!"

"Die! To repay the fate of my Huntian… for my clan!!!"

The voice… belonged to the Golden-Winged Great Peng Clan!

And, judging by its might, the newcomer is no ordinary ancient ancestor; its terror far surpasses the previous Huntian Beast!

This is a terrifying Dark Being that came specifically to kill Ye Wuque!