Chapter 9: It's time to practice - After I Left, I Became Their Obsession.

"Help me cultivate?" Ning Yanxi's voice carried a hint of doubt. Chen Li explained, "You're only twenty, yet you've reached the fourth realm of cultivation. Within the entire Three Thousand Daoyu, you're considered among the top prodigies. But that's not enough." In the ten realms of cultivation, the tenth realm is elusive and rare. The eighth and ninth realms are recognized as the peaks of power, watching over all beings. The sixth and seventh realms serve as the strong backbone of the path, and those in these ranges can be considered formidable, living freely. The majority of cultivators are in the first to fifth realms. For ordinary individuals, reaching the fifth realm is already an achievement; however, for true prodigies, these lower five realms are merely foundational. Ning Yanxi's talent was undeniable, but Chen Li hoped for her to reach the tenth realm. He continued, "Your position is special. You seldom have opportunities to personally engage in danger. Yet in this world, true strength alone remains the unchanging principle." "If you hide within the palace, the Mountain River Spirit Lock Formation will protect you. Even if the three eighth-realm powerhouses of Xiguo arrive, you'd remain safe. But what if a ninth-realm cultivator were to come? Absolute strength can shatter all rules and barriers." Ning Yanxi realized, "Senior, I understand. The stronger I become, the stronger Ningguo becomes." Chen Li nodded and gestured to the deep valley ahead. "This place is called the Fallen Dragon Valley, where an ancient true dragon once fell. Today, I'll help you extract the dragon's essence hidden here. Once successful, your fortune, foundation, vital energy, and even your dao base will undergo a profound transformation." "A true dragon..." Ning Yanxi's mind wavered slightly. Such mythical creatures had long since vanished into legend, existing only in stories. "Let's go. The core of the dragon vein lies within this mountain." Chen Li led the way. Bringing Ning Yanxi here was part of his plan, conveniently aligned with his purpose of training her. Soon, they arrived at a bank beside a deep pool. With a swift motion of Chen Li's sleeve, an overwhelming power surged forth, instantaneously evaporating the pool into a misty white vapor! The scene beneath the pool revealed itself—a throne constructed of massive, dark red scales, exuding an ancient oppressive aura and a menacing presence. "Sit upon it," Chen Li instructed. Without hesitation, Ning Yanxi approached the throne resolutely. The dragon's aura, capable of crushing the soul of any unprepared cultivator, seemed repelled by an unseen force, failing to affect her. She sat serenely on the throne comprised of crimson scales. Hum— An unexpected change erupted! Behind Ning Yanxi, a dignified and sacred golden dragon's shadow majestically emerged. Simultaneously, a ferocious red dragon's shadow roared from the crimson throne! These two immense dragon wills clashed fiercely in that confined space. Ning Yanxi furrowed her brows slightly as a cascade of fragmented battle scenes flashed before her eyes—scenes far beyond her current reach, yet pounding against her consciousness like a hammer. She held her composure, tightly aligning her thoughts with the golden dragon's shadow behind her. As time progressed, the golden dragon gradually subdued the ferocious red dragon and began to absorb its essence. Boom— At that moment, the entire mountain seemed to be seized by a giant hand, trembling wildly. The earth shattered, and massive rocks tumbled. Countless creatures that had inhabited the area fled for their lives. Then, with a dragon's roar that seemed to tear the sky asunder, a colossal form burst from the mountain, ascending into the heavens! Its massive body was clad in dark red scales marked by decay, surrounded by nauseating black mist. Its overwhelming presence swept across the land like a tangible tsunami. This was the lingering soul of the fallen true dragon, now unrecognizable, corrupted by a sinister force. Ning Yanxi's heart tightened. Her consciousness was taut as a drawn bowstring, defending against assaults within her mind while maintaining the link with the golden dragon's shadow to ensure a successful absorption, leaving her no room for other concerns. Chen Li's expression was as composed as expected. "This dragon soul, born after the dragon's fall, holds only half the strength of its original body. No worries—focus on your task, and leave the rest to me." "Alright." Ning Yanxi closed her eyes, immersing her attention in the internal battle. She truly had no spare capacity for external distractions. Chen Li looked up at the filth-corrupted dragon soul on the mountain peak. Although it only retained half its original strength due to its tainted state, it held nearly a seventh realm's worth of cultivation. "But merely delaying it is sufficient," Chen Li remarked with a faint smile. Forming complex seals with his hands, a miniature "sun" and "moon" appeared behind him in the distorting void. These celestial manifestations, composed of primordial yin and yang energy, were not tangible, yet were remarkable enough to reverberate across the region—an advantage Chen Li actively sought using his memories from a past life. "Roar—" Although devoid of intelligence, the dragon soul's instinct to guard its essence led it to immediately target Ning Yanxi on the throne. It roared, diving down enveloped in black mist! Chen Li flicked a finger, and the fiery sun expanded into a blazing fireball, colliding with the dragon soul. As it passed, the vast forest ignited into a sea of fire, only to be reabsorbed by the sun, intensifying its scorching heat to an unfathomable level! Boom—!!! Amidst the groundbreaking noise, the dragon soul's enormous body was slightly impeded, its scales charred and cracking away under the heat, emitting a pained screech. The fiery sun was forcefully repelled, its light slightly dimmed. At the same time, the silent moon descended, crashing down! The extreme cold exploded, instantly freezing half the mountain and a substantial portion of the dragon soul in a shimmering, ethereal frost. Within the crystalline ice, the dragon's fierce posture was crystal clear. "Roar—!!!" Then, a more feral roar erupted from the depths of the ice, where the dark mist oozed from the dragon's form like living tendrils, rapidly corrupting the sturdy frost! The ice shattered inch by inch, and the dragon soul broke free, now even more menacing than before. The suspended sun and moon, tainted by the sinister mist, visibly dimmed as though their essence was sullied. "This corrupting force... truly disgusting," Chen Li muttered with a hint of distaste. Without hesitation, he recalled the slightly weakened sun and moon for restoration within himself. The liberated dragon soul charged forward with annihilating momentum once more. Faced with the terrifying onslaught, Chen Li casually picked up a dried branch at his feet. He then made a simple, unassuming slash forward. Zheng— A clear sword hum resounded suddenly. The ground under Chen Li's feet cracked by degrees as the frightful and rebounding force pushed him back until he stopped in front of Ning Yanxi. Yet the overpowering dragon soul, surprisingly, was halted mid-air by that seemingly effortless "slash"! The clashing sword aura and black mist crackled and fizzed in destruction. "Steady your mind. I'm here." Sensing a momentary disturbance in Ning Yanxi's aura, Chen Li softly reassured her. Then, he gripped the withered branch in his hand firmly. Since his rebirth, he had yet to truly wield his sword. Today, it seemed appropriate for practice.