Chapter 316 - 50: Seven-Star in a Row, Revealing the True Form

Chapter 316: Chapter 50: Seven-Star in a Row, Revealing the True Form

’Seven-Star in a Row... drawing the Power of the Stars into its body, breaking free of its mortal shackles...’ Jian Jingchuan muttered, a flash of horror in his eyes. "This is... a sign of its attempt to Transform into a Dragon!"

He finally understood!

That old beast, Yuan Lan, intended to use the Seven-Star in a Row—a celestial event seen only once in centuries—to draw upon the Power of the Stars. It wanted to cleanse its demonic body, sever the last remnants of its flood dragon bloodline, and Transform into a True Dragon in one fell swoop!

A True Dragon!

That was a legendary Divine Beast! If it succeeded, its power would rival that of a Great Cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm!

But why?!

Why was it that he, Jian Jingchuan, had failed his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm and been left a cripple, while this wretched beast could ascend to the heavens in a single step!

A blazing fire of jealousy, so intense it could not be quenched, raged within his chest.

"Yuan Lan, what a brilliant scheme. But what I couldn’t have... you can forget about ever getting!" Jian Jingchuan muttered, a sick, crazed look spreading across his face.

Southern Wilderness, the valley of the rear mountain.

Ripples spread across the surface of the lake, though there was no wind.

Chen Ye, who had been meditating on a large boulder by the lake, suddenly snapped his eyes open.

"What is it?" he asked.

After years together, he and Yuan Lan had developed a strange rapport, allowing him to clearly sense the fluctuations in the other’s emotions.

"The storm is coming," Yuan Lan’s voice echoed in Chen Ye’s mind, heavy with unprecedented gravity.

"I saw a fragment of the future. Though still blurry, it was clearer than ever before."

"What did you see?" Chen Ye asked, his own heart leaping into his throat.

"Jian Jingchuan," Yuan Lan said slowly. "He failed in his attempt to reach the Nascent Soul Realm. His Dao Foundation is destroyed. He does not have long to live."

Chen Ye was stunned for a moment, but then understanding dawned.

’So the old bastard really couldn’t make it over that hurdle.’

"What threat could a dying man pose?" Chen Ye asked.

"You’re wrong." Yuan Lan’s voice turned incredibly stern. "He’s most dangerous precisely *because* he’s dying. After all, a madman who has lost everything, with no attachments or inhibitions, is capable of anything."

"I can feel it. He has focused all his hatred on me. And a matter like this cannot be hidden from a Great Cultivator of his level. So, on the day of the Seven-Star in a Row, he will definitely come."

Chen Ye frowned deeply.

’A Great Cultivator at the Core Formation Realm Late Stage, even one severely injured and near death... The power of their final, desperate counterattack would be absolutely apocalyptic.’

This was indeed a massive problem.

"But you needn’t worry," Yuan Lan stated. "I’ve been preparing for this day for longer than I can remember. Even if he comes, I have a way to deal with him. All you need to do is unleash that one slash, holding nothing back, at the critical moment."

"Alright!" Chen Ye had no objections and nodded in agreement.

And that day finally came.

When the day came, the sky was already somber at the first light of dawn, so gloomy it felt as if it might collapse.

Heavy dark clouds gathered from all directions, shrouding the entire Southern Wilderness Mountain Range in an oppressive gloom.

There was no wind. The air was so stagnant it was hard to breathe.

In Kawa Village, all the villagers had stepped out of their wooden huts, staring up at the bizarre celestial phenomenon with faces full of unease and awe.

The old chieftain leaned on his staff, standing before the altar in the center of the village. The roiling black clouds above were reflected in his murky eyes.

He knew the Lord Mountain God’s most important moment had arrived.

RUMBLE—!

A low rumble of thunder, like the beat of a war drum, echoed across the horizon.

Then, without warning, fat raindrops began to fall from the sky, splattering against the ground and kicking up tiny sprays.

The rain intensified, quickly shifting from drops to a torrential downpour, as if the heavens had opened up, threatening to completely submerge the world.

The rear mountain valley.

Chen Ye stood outside the Cave Mansion, letting the cold rain wash over his body.

Rain soaked his hair and streamed down his chiseled face, but he stood completely still, like an ancient, unmoving reef.

His hand never left the hilt of the Jingzhe Saber at his waist.

"This rain is a good omen."

Yuan Lan’s voice echoed in his mind, carrying a trace of unconcealable excitement.

"I am a Profound Water Black Flood Dragon. Born of water, I thrive in water. This downpour is my domain; it will aid me."

Chen Ye did not answer.

He simply closed his eyes, completely immersing his Heart Spirit in the storm.

One hour, two hours...

Chen Ye stood there silently, as if he had merged with the storm itself.

All his distracting thoughts and emotions were washed clean by the downpour.

All that remained in his mind was the blade that would soon sever the bonds of fate.

Suddenly, a slight tremor ran through the ground beneath his feet.

It was very faint, like a heartbeat from deep within the earth.

But Chen Ye sensed it instantly.

He knew the time was near.

He slowly opened his eyes. In the dim curtain of rain, they shone with a startling light.

Then, Chen Ye took a deep breath. The cold, damp air that filled his lungs made him feel incredibly alert.

The Jingzhe Saber let out a clear hum, as if responding to its master’s battle intent, filled with longing.

RUMBLE RUMBLE—!

The heartbeat of the earth grew more and more violent, faster and faster!

It was no longer a faint tremor, but had escalated into an incredibly violent earthquake!

The entire rear mountain shook madly in the terrifying tremor.

From the cliffs on both sides of the valley, countless boulders rumbled and rained down, crashing into the lake and throwing up monstrous waves.

On the ground, bottomless fissures snaked out in all directions like hideous scars.

Chen Ye stood his ground. The earth bucked violently beneath him, but he seemed nailed to the spot, as solid as a mountain.

His gaze was locked dead on the rear mountain before him, the one he had looked at for nearly five years.

And at this very moment, that mountain was coming to life!

CRACK... CRACK....

Huge swathes of rock and soil on the mountain’s surface began to crack and fall away, revealing enormous black scales that shimmered with a deep, dark luster!

That was no mountain. It was clearly the massive, slumbering body of Yuan Lan, coiled here for nearly a thousand years!

The mountain was it!

It was the mountain!

"ROAR—!!!"

An unearthly roar, one no creature of the Mortal World could ever produce, erupted from within the mountainside!

Then two enormous, blood-red lantern-like lights flared to life, piercing the curtain of rain and momentarily illuminating the heavens and the earth.

Those were Yuan Lan’s eyes!

It was awake!

Its massive head, larger than any palace Chen Ye had ever seen, slowly lifted from the mountainside as it roared at the sky!

As it moved, all the rock and soil encasing it crumbled away, revealing its complete, sky-blotting form.

A Profound Water Black Flood Dragon of indeterminable length, covered in millstone-sized black scales, with horns on its head and claws on its belly, was fully revealed to the world!

Its enormous body nearly filled the entire valley.

Before it, Chen Ye was as insignificant as a speck of dust.

Yuan Lan’s body slowly unfurled. Its massive tail, as thick as a mountain range, remained rooted deep within the earth, seemingly connected to the very ley lines of the entire Southern Wilderness.

It was gathering its strength, preparing to break free from this final restraint and soar into the sky!

And yet, at the very instant it was about to strike...

A dazzling golden Sword Light, like lightning tearing through the night, flared without warning in the northern sky, hurtling toward them at an indescribable speed!

Before the Sword Light even arrived, a cold, venomous, and frenzied Sword Intent washed over the entire valley!

"YUAN LAN!!"

A furious roar resounded through the clouds.

"Today, you will join me... in having our souls utterly destroyed!!!"