Ye Hongtao was perplexed by Ye Tian's current state. How could someone so gravely injured suddenly regain their ability to fight? Such a recovery speed was simply unheard of!
If this young man were allowed to continue growing, he would surely accomplish great things. He might even become the strongest in Lisha City. 'But I won't give him that chance,' he thought.
"Retribution? I've never believed in such a thing! Since you're in such a hurry to die, I'll grant you your wish!" Ye Hongtao prepared to cut things short and end the battle quickly.
The longsword in his hand slashed out rapidly. A powerful Sword Qi attack immediately appeared before Ye Tian, who could clearly feel the violent gale generated by the attack.
'There's no turning back now. Even if I die today, I have to make him pay.' However, he believed he wouldn't die, because he had his greatest trump card.
Ye Tian was once again sent flying a great distance by the blow. Ye Hongtao had thought he'd killed Ye Tian with that strike, as he had used his full power. Even a One Vein Ninth Layer Martial Artist wouldn't have survived it, let alone Ye Tian, who was only at the One Vein Fourth Layer.
Ye Tian now lay motionless on the ground. Ye Feifei threw herself onto his body, weeping in anguish. If looks could kill, Ye Hongtao would have died a thousand times over.
"Ye Feifei, now that Ye Tian is dead, you should just surrender without a fight! Perhaps I'll leave you with an intact corpse. You should consider yourself lucky, getting to turn from a girl into a woman before you die," Ye Hongtao said shamelessly.
"You! You beast! I would rather die than let you have your way!" Seeing that Ye Tian now showed no signs of life, Ye Feifei began to think of death herself.
Even in death, she could not let this beast defile her. She would take her innocence with her to the Underworld for Ye Tian.
Though his eyes were still closed, Ye Tian's fingers suddenly grabbed onto Ye Feifei. A few breaths later, he abruptly opened his eyes.
"Feifei, don't worry. I'm here. I won't let him hurt you!" As his words fell, Ye Tian miraculously stood up.
By now, Ye Tian was completely bathed in blood, his massive wounds a ghastly sight. And yet, despite these injuries, he somehow had the strength to stand, and his face showed not a single trace of pain.
At this moment, he was like a walking corpse, a monster. This left Ye Hongtao, watching from a distance, feeling deeply unsettled. 'What kind of monster is this kid? How is he still not dead after taking such injuries?'
"Ye Tian, are you okay? Don't scare me!" Ye Feifei said, her voice choked with sobs. She had heard that people sometimes have strange reactions just before death, like a final burst of energy.
In that moment, they can possess immense strength, but once that strength fades, they are beyond saving. This was exactly what she feared was happening now.
"Feifei, I'm fine, don't worry! My injuries are severe, but not fatal. Just watch how I slay this guy!" Ye Tian said gently to Ye Feifei.
This change in his demeanor moved Ye Feifei deeply. She seemed to understand something, but she didn't know if she would get the chance to fulfill her heart's desire.
As it turned out, when Ye Tian was struck down by Ye Hongtao for the second time, the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul in his mind had awakened. Seeing Ye Tian's condition, it had become furious.
This was the candidate it had spent countless eons searching for; how could it allow him to be killed by an ant like Ye Hongtao? The dignity of a Divine Dragon was not something a mortal like him could trample upon.
"Kid, you're really useless, getting beaten to this state by such trash. If anyone found out you were the Inheritor of me, a War Dragon, I don't know where I'd hide my old face in shame," the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul said.
Ye Tian had been on the verge of losing consciousness but was jolted awake by the voice of the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul. At the same time, a mysterious, gentle power began to soothe the pain in his body, even more effectively than the Energy released by the Dragon Pearl.
Ye Tian knew this had to be the work of the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul. Now that he had found his lifeline, it was time for Ye Hongtao to die.
'It's not like you don't know my current strength. It's a miracle I've even lasted this long, and you're just standing by making snide remarks? You're infuriating!' Ye Tian retorted to the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul in his mind.
"Don't you worry about that. I'll let you kill him in a moment! I just barely recovered some of my power, and now you're about to use most of it up again. I really don't know if I should call this lucky or unlucky," the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul said with a sigh.
With the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul's promise, Ye Tian was filled with confidence. 'This time, Ye Hongtao, you're toast.'
"Something is really off today. I failed to kill you twice, but you won't get a third chance! Die!" This time, Ye Hongtao took the initiative and attacked.
Ye Tian stood motionless. His body was filled with a formidable power, one that was completely beyond his control. It swelled within him, making him want to roar, but he stubbornly suppressed the urge, not wanting to worry Ye Feifei.
Ye Hongtao's figure moved like a lightning bolt. His longsword danced in a series of flourishes as he attacked Ye Tian. If this strike landed, Ye Tian would likely be sliced into pieces.
Ye Feifei, at the side, was scared witless. There was no possibility of survival against such powerful Attack Power. The only thing she could do now was wait for Ye Tian to be slain and then immediately take her own life.
Suddenly, a Dragon's Roar erupted from Ye Tian's mouth. A dazzling golden light burst from his body, so bright that no one could keep their eyes open.
Ye Feifei was startled by this bizarre phenomenon. The hand she had raised to take her own life lowered, and she stared intently at Ye Tian, believing that a miracle might be about to happen.
Just then, a golden, illusory image of a Divine Dragon emerged from Ye Tian's body. The instant Ye Hongtao's attack reached Ye Tian, it lunged forward and swallowed him whole! Then, the phantom dragon returned to Ye Tian's body, and the golden light around him gradually faded and disappeared.
Everything quickly returned to calm. As for Ye Hongtao, it was as if he had never been there at all; not a trace of him could be seen.
Ye Feifei was so stunned by this incredible sight that she was speechless. What had she just seen? A dragon from the legends, and a golden one at that. It was said that only the War Dragon Race consisted of golden dragons.
How could a golden dragon emerge from Ye Tian's body? Who was he, really? What kind of secrets did he hold? All of these were questions that needed answers.
Ye Tian himself was also in disbelief. He never expected the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul to just swallow Ye Hongtao directly. It was too terrifying. That was a Second Vein Fourth Layer expert, yet before a mere Remnant Soul, he had been utterly powerless to resist.
"Kid, I've taken care of your problem. To be honest, I swallowed him for my own sake as well. Wait until I've digested that little bit of Energy in his body, and then I'll tell you a few things!" The voice of the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul echoed in Ye Tian's mind.
Ye Tian didn't speak. Instead, he walked over to the still-shaken Ye Feifei and pulled her into an embrace. A thousand unspoken words seemed to be conveyed in that single hugβ¦