Regarding the existence of the True Dragon, Wen Ping did not rashly probe with spiritual power.
Firstly, he didnât want to suddenly awaken it, thereby adding trouble for himself; secondly, he was uncertain about the strength of this True Dragon, and if awakening it led to conflict and he couldnât win, it would be quite embarrassing.
While maintaining caution, a bolder idea emerged in Wen Pingâs mind.
Could the True Dragon be used to guard the sect?
Wouldnât it be even more majestic than a Flood Dragon?
Subduing a True Dragon would certainly be far more challenging than subduing the Demon Race, perhaps even akin to the difficulty of ascending to the heavens. Yet, Wen Ping couldnât shake off this bold and wild idea. Who wouldnât want to keep a real dragon?
Across the mountains and rivers, Wen Ping looked down below and murmured, "This is definitely the most precious thing in the Red Leaf Sect."
If not taken away, it would indeed be a pity.
Not taking it would be akin to losing!
"System, show me..."
With that said, the simplified information about the Wood Dragon popped up.
Wood Dragon [Ancient Species]
Race: Mountain and River Dragon Race
Gender: Male
Power: Earth Unrestricted Middle Realm (Currently deteriorating...)
...
"Just like Big Bloke and Little Bloke, theyâre all from the previous era. It seems they havenât received nourishment for a long time, causing their realm to continuously decline."
Seeing the power of the Wood Dragon, Wen Ping was somewhat surprised.
Because previously in the Heaven and Earth Lake Secret Realm, the Palace Guard he saw was lucky enough to survive from the previous era to this one, crossing such a lengthy time, yet its persistent strength decline left it with only the strength of the Profound Realm.
In this world, the Profound Realm can only be said to have just set foot on the road of cultivation.
Itâs nothing worth mentioning!
No need to delve deeply into how extensive the span between the two eras truly is.
But this Wood Dragon, after such a long period, still possesses the power of the Earth Unrestricted Middle Realm, which is truly terrifying upon reflection.
How powerful was the Wood Dragon in the previous era?
It definitely exceeded the Celestial Unrestricted Realm, right?
Possibly even higher!
Wen Ping slightly furrowed his brows and softly said, "This way, it adds quite a bit of difficulty. Dragons are already proud enough, subduing them isnât a simple task, especially with their previous incomprehensible powers."
An old saying goes, the stronger one is, the prouder one becomes!
Can the Wood Dragonâs haughty nature allow it to bow its head?
After careful contemplation, Wen Pingâs vast spiritual power transformed into a huge wave, pressing down on the Wood Dragon below the mountains and rivers. When the spiritual power traversed through grass, wood, and stones, it crashed upon the thick dragon scales, unable to advance further.
Until now, nothing had ever been able to block the penetration of his spiritual power.
But today, the Wood Dragonâs scales stopped it.
"Its skin is truly thick!"
Wen Ping chuckled lightly, growing more anticipative about awakening the Wood Dragon.
The second wave of spiritual power swept overwhelmingly over, striking the thick cyan scales.
Followed by the third wave.
The fourth wave.
The fifth wave.
By this point, the mountains shook, and the earth trembled.
Rocks fell like shedding dead skin before rolling down precipitously.
Even the hefty earth cracked deeply, as if scorched by the blazing sun for centuries.
With the tremor of the mountains and earth, the surging cyan Dragon Qi streamed out from the crevices, rushing towards Wen Ping.
"Such ancient Dragon Qi."
Wen Ping felt the Dragon Qi brushing against him and made a simple comparison with Golden Dragon Ao Li, who guarded the Nuwa Divine Statue at Demon Emperor Lake.
The Dragon Qi of the Golden Dragon was purer, more domineering.
The Dragon Qi of the Wood Dragon was more ancient, more gentle.
In the next moment, the deafening dragon roar echoed across the sky, reverberating through the clouds, prompting Zhantian Ye and the three others ten miles away to pause in shock.
All three were puzzled about what had happened.
Accompanied by the dragon roar, the immense and endlessly stretching cyan dragon body gradually emerged over the earth. First was the dragon tail covered by thousands of cyan vines, then the dragon body covered in dark green scales, and finally the glaring dragon head.
The Cyan Dragon emerged, soaring into the sky.
The dragon head raised high, swimming amidst the heavens.
Stirring the winds and clouds, all within a single thought!
Having issued several angry roars due to disturbance, the Wood Dragonâs radiant dragon eyes finally noticed Wen Ping, the unexpected guest.
Yet, the Wood Dragon did not immediately attempt to annihilate Wen Ping, who had disturbed it, instead, it sent a voice directly into Wen Pingâs mind, questioning him in dragon language.
Through the systemâs translation, Wen Ping understood that the dragon had mistaken him for someone from the Red Leaf Sect.
Moreover, it noticed and said one thing among its wordsâHas the Red Leaf Sect declined to such a point?
The Wood Dragon could not see through Wen Pingâs realm but could tell his age.
To the Wood Dragonâs questioning, Wen Ping replied with a straightforward truth, "If it continues like this, its demise isnât far off."
The Wood Dragon understood Wen Pingâs words, and again sent its voice into his mind, "Long ago, I promised the ancestors of the Red Leaf Sect five times to intervene on your behalf, during the enduring years you have now used it three times. This is the fourth! Red Leaf Sectâs younger generations, I hope you cherish the blessings your predecessors brought you with their precious lives; after five times, I will no longer aid youâall of you shall act wisely!"
Hearing the Wood Dragonâs words, Wen Ping silently noted that the Red Leaf Sect indeed had some great fortune, actually being able to receive assistance from a True Dragon.
At this juncture, a realization struck Wen Ping.
He understood!
It seems that the suspected Half-Step Celestial Unrestricted expert within the Red Leaf Sect should be this Wood Dragon.
It will only intervene five times, so each appearance must be when the Red Leaf Sect needs it most.
The last time the Red Leaf Sectâs guardian expert appeared was a thousand years ago, manifesting with Half-Step Celestial Unrestricted strength.
Otherwise, given the Red Leaf Sectâs ostentatious stance, if there was a Half-Step Celestial Unrestricted expert residing within, how could it willingly remain as one of the three overlords?
Gazing at the Wood Dragon upon the azure sky, Wen Ping stood calmly at the bow of the flying ship, saying lightly to the wind and clouds, "You really thought wellâyet if you continue to sleep, with your continuously diminishing powers, will you be able to aid the Red Leaf Sect for the fifth time?"
Upon hearing Wen Pingâs words, the Wood Dragon suddenly issued an angry roar, and within moments it traversed mountains and clouds to appear before Wen Ping. The dragonâs might loomed as an imposing mountain. But Wen Ping still stood composed at the bow of the flying ship.
Because, with the current power of the Wood Dragon, it was insufficient to shake the Flying Shipâs Flowing Cloud Armor.
Before coming to the Red Leaf Sect, he had just completed its upgrade.
The dragonâs snout, adorned with waving cyan whiskers, pressed closely against Wen Pingâs flying ship, and Wen Ping could even sense its furious breaths.
"Wood Dragon, as the Sect Leader, Iâm quite curiousâwhat did the ancestors of the Red Leaf Sect offer you that made you willingly lie dormant beneath the earth rather than becoming a True Dragon above the skies for thousands of years?"
"Youâre not a descendant of the Red Leaf Sect?"
"Thatâs not important; what matters is, Iâm here to assist you."
"Feeble little human, assist me?"
The Wood Dragonâs vibrant dragon eyes glinted with intense disdain.
Wen Ping replied with a tone leaving no room for doubt, "In a thousand years, your strength will drop to a nadir, and by then, this vast earth will teem with experts capable of killing you. By then, you might not even have the right to survive, having crawled from the previous era to nowâwas it merely to sleep here only to be slaughtered like a chicken and its eggs?"
After speaking, Wen Ping looked at the Wood Dragon.
He awaited the Wood Dragonâs response.
For he truly could not bear to kill the Wood Dragon.