Qing Lin grunted, and the Dragon Emperor Ancestral Scale vibrated violently, clearly under immense pressure, but he did not yield an inch; instead, he straightened his back, and a blue light surged in his eyes: "I was reborn by my Master, grew up under my Master's protection, and have never received a single favor from the Azure Dragon Clan!
Today, when Undergoing Tribulation, my Master even protected me with his life—"
Before he finished speaking, Li Mu's palm gently pressed on his shoulder, and the Chaos Dao rhythm, like spring rain, instantly dispelled the Azure Emperor's Dragon Might suppression.
The Azure Emperor's pupils constricted, and he looked at Li Mu in disbelief, deeply sensing the extraordinary nature of the Chaotic Great Dao.
"Senior, please calm your anger!" Li Mu stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Qing Lin: "The Spirit Control Contract Seal imprinted on Qing Lin was not for enslavement, but back then......"
Soon, Li Mu recounted in detail how he rescued Qing Lin from the Night Emperor - Di Tianxing's palace, how Di Tianxing cultivated the Dragon Emperor Art, how he consumed his Lifespan to reshape Qing Lin's incomplete Dragon Soul, and so on.
"Now that Qing Lin has successfully advanced to Dragon Emperor, this Spirit Control Contract Seal on him makes no difference!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Mu waved his hand, and a black soul imprint immediately floated out from within Qing Lin's body.
It was precisely the Spirit Control Contract Seal that had been formed within Qing Lin's Dragon Soul before he hatched.
Li Mu gazed at the soul imprint, a hint of reminiscence appearing in his eyes, then he gently swiped with his fingertip.
"Dispense!"
With a "poof!" the Contract Seal shattered in response, turning into specks of gray light that dissipated between heaven and earth.
Qing Lin's entire body trembled, and the Dragon Emperor Ancestral Scale on his brow suddenly burst forth with dazzling light.
An unprecedented sense of freedom surged into his heart.
He stared blankly at Li Mu, his eyes filled with complex emotions, both relief and reluctance.
"Master…" Qing Lin looked at Li Mu, calling out with an unchanged attitude.
Li Mu smiled slightly, patting his shoulder: "There's no need for that.
I have never regarded you as a controlled beast.
You and I can address each other as Fellow Daoists.
You have now achieved the Dragon Emperor Realm, and your future achievements are limitless.
You should possess the majesty of a Dragon Emperor."
Seeing this, the Azure Emperor's expression softened slightly, and he coldly snorted at Li Mu, saying: "Since the Contract Seal has been removed, this matter is settled.
However—"
Qing Lin interrupted the Azure Emperor, knelt on one knee, and solemnly saluted Li Mu: "Whether there is a Contract Seal or not, you will always be my benefactor, my…"
Qing Lin paused, then firmly said: "My reborn parents!"
Upon hearing this, the Azure Emperor's mouth twitched, and his previously softened expression, due to the Contract Seal being removed, instantly turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
"You've gone too far, gone too far!
Rise!" Li Mu waved his hand, and a gentle force lifted Qing Lin.
He looked at the Azure Emperor, cupping his hands: "Senior, Qing Lin's nature is pure and kind, and he values affection and righteousness.
His words this time were not meant to offend.
Please forgive him."
Star Dome Old Ancestor, seeing the awkward atmosphere, laughed heartily, stroking his beard to change the subject: "Alright, alright, since the misunderstanding has been cleared, why don't we sit down and have a cup of tea?
The 'Starry Sky Dao Tea' I've treasured is a rare treasure!"
The Azure Emperor gave him an annoyed glance, huffing: "This Emperor has no time to drink tea with you."
With that, the Azure Emperor turned to Qing Lin, his tone softening slightly: "Since you have achieved the Dragon Emperor Realm, you should return to your clan to receive the Ancestral Dragon Legacy.
Are you willing to return to the Azure Dragon Ancestral Land with this Emperor?
There you will find your true clansmen, and the Legacy most suitable for a Dragon Emperor's Cultivation."
Upon hearing this, Qing Lin subconsciously looked at Li Mu, a hesitant expression in his eyes.
Li Mu smiled gently: "Go.
This is your Opportunity.
Once your Cultivation is stable, you can return to find me anytime."
Qing Lin took a deep breath, solemnly performed a grand bow towards Li Mu, and obediently said: "Yes!
Once I have completed my studies and returned, I will serve by your side again!"
"Absurd!" the Azure Emperor roared, "How can a dignified Dragon Emperor utter such preposterous words about following a Human Race!"
Seeing this, Star Dome Old Ancestor quickly intervened: "Azure Emperor, old friend, it's a good thing for young people to value affection and righteousness.
Besides..."
Star Dome Old Ancestor looked meaningfully at Li Mu, hinting: "This young friend possesses the Chaotic Great Dao, and his future achievements are limitless.
He may not be unworthy of a Dragon Emperor's allegiance."
The Azure Emperor's face flickered with uncertainty, and finally, he let out a cold snort: "Come back with this Emperor first!"
With that, the Azure Emperor waved his sleeve, intending to cast a spell to take Qing Lin away.
However, at that moment, Star Dome Old Ancestor waved the starry staff in his hand, and a dazzling galaxy suddenly stretched across the Azure Emperor's path, blocking his way.
"Old friend, wait!" Star Dome Old Ancestor's expression suddenly became incredibly solemn, and the starry staff in his hand emitted a dazzling star-light as he looked at the Azure Emperor and hinted: "Old friend, have you forgotten our previous agreement!
I helped you deduce the Azure Dragon Bloodline, and you would accompany me to the Demon Abyss to suppress the Netherworld!
Since we have already sworn an oath, how can you simply leave now?"
The Azure Emperor's face changed between clear and overcast, and finally, he stopped, letting out a heavy cold snort: "This Emperor naturally remembers!"
Star Dome Old Ancestor breathed a slight sigh of relief, looked at Li Mu, and said in a deep voice: "Young friend, the great tribulation is approaching, and this great tribulation will ultimately need you to resolve it!"
Li Mu was slightly stunned, not understanding why!
"Him?
A mere Great Vehicle Dao Lord, and he Cultivates the Chaotic Great Dao.
How many years will it take for him to grow and Breakthrough to the next Realm?" the Azure Emperor scoffed, his dragon eyes full of disdain.
"Not so, not so!" Star Dome Old Ancestor, however, shook his head with a solemn expression, looking at Li Mu and saying earnestly: "This old man has deduced it countless times.
This great tribulation is extremely perilous, and the only sliver of hope lies with this young friend!"
"This Junior's strength is meager, and I dare not undertake such a heavy responsibility.
Please enlighten me, Senior!" Li Mu humbly cupped his hands.
Star Dome Old Ancestor sighed deeply, the starlight in his eyes flowing as he said melancholically: "Young friend, you may have been in secluded Cultivation for a long time and are unaware that the great tribulation has arrived, and the Demon Abyss has undergone drastic changes, suffering invasion from the Netherworld.
Now, several Demon Gods in the Demon Abyss have successively fallen.
The Eternal Demon God and the Black Vulture Demon God have both perished, their Dao dissipated, and they have been alienation by the power of the Netherworld.
If the Demon Abyss completely falls, the Three Realms are one, and by then, the Spirit Realm and the Immortal Spirit Realm will both suffer!"
Upon hearing this, Li Mu's heart trembled, and he frowned tightly, shocked: "Such a thing happened?"
"Indeed!" Star Dome Old Ancestor said with a solemn expression, explaining: "The creatures of the Netherworld are mysterious and unpredictable, capable of eroding the Origin of all things.
Ordinary Great Daos are difficult to restrain them, and the Chaotic Great Dao you Cultivate happens to be their bane!"
The Azure Emperor snorted coldly: "Even so, with his current Cultivation, what can he do?"
Star Dome Old Ancestor looked at Li Mu, his gaze fervent, and hoped: "Young friend, the Chaotic Great Dao encompasses all things and can transform all Laws.
This old man has deduced the Heavenly Secret and found that only Chaos Power can completely purify the Netherworld's erosion.
Although your Realm is still shallow, the special nature of the Chaotic Great Dao will surely make you the key to resolving this great tribulation in the future!"
Li Mu pondered for a moment, frowning: "If it is truly as Senior says, this Junior will certainly do his best, but I don't know how to proceed?"
"Currently, we will gather the power of the Spirit Realm and Immortal Spirit Realm to temporarily suppress the Netherworld, gaining time for the Spirit Realm, Immortal Spirit Realm, and for young friend to improve his Cultivation.
We only hope that young friend can, in the future, completely grasp the true essence of the Chaotic Great Dao and become the ultimate force against the Netherworld!" Star Dome Old Ancestor looked at Li Mu and said in a deep voice.
Upon hearing this, a hint of solemnity flashed in the Azure Emperor's dragon pupils, and then he snorted coldly again, disdainfully saying: "Hmph, that's easier said than done!
The Netherworld's power erodes all things; even Demon Gods find it difficult to resist.
How can this kid, with only Mahayana Cultivation, grow to a level where he can contend with the Netherworld in a short period?"
"Senior is right!
My progress in the Chaos Dao I need is slow, and I have no clue how to advance, so it is indeed difficult to Breakthrough in a short time." Li Mu gave a bitter smile and admitted frankly.
This time, by assisting Qing Lin in Undergoing Tribulation, Li Mu also gained a lot of insights.
He took this Opportunity to glimpse the Origin of Extreme Wood, and he believed that it wouldn't be long before he could completely master the three Extreme Realm Dao Laws: Extreme Fire, Extreme Water, and Extreme Wood.
The Nine Returns of the Ultimate Path, the Union of Dao into One!
To advance to the Ultimate Path Realm, Li Mu might still need to master six more different types of Ultimate Path Power.
However, Li Mu Cultivates the Chaotic Great Dao, unprecedented and unparalleled, so even if he mastered nine different types of Ultimate Path Power, it was uncertain whether he could use them to advance to the Chaos Ultimate Realm.
Moreover, besides the Five Elements and Yin and Yang, the seven types of Ultimate Path Power, he still had no clue which two Dao Laws to seek for Breakthrough.
The Ten Main Daos and Three Thousand Minor Daos are all but branches and evolutions of the Chaotic Great Dao; finding two from them is as difficult as ascending to heaven.
"Oh!
What Cultivation problems do you have?
We can answer them for you now!" Star Dome Old Ancestor and the Azure Emperor exchanged glances, then looked at Li Mu and gestured.
Li Mu remained silent for a long time, deep furrows appearing between his brows, then he slowly raised his right hand, and a mass of Chaos Qi appeared in his palm, within which the three Laws of Extreme Fire, Extreme Water, and Extreme Wood were vaguely visible, intertwined.
"Nine Returns of the Ultimate Path, I have already mastered the three Ultimate Path Powers of Fire, Water, and Wood, however, I still need to glimpse six more Ultimate Path Origins before I have a chance to attempt to Breakthrough to the next Realm!" Li Mu asked, perplexed.
"Young friend, manifest your Dao Foundation." Star Dome Old Ancestor's mind trembled, and he gestured.
Li Mu took a deep breath, and Chaos Qi surged around his body.
In an instant, three pillars of light rose from his celestial spirit—the crimson-like-fire Origin of Extreme Fire, the deep-blue-like-sea Origin of Extreme Water, and the vibrant-green-like-dripping-jade Origin of Extreme Wood.
The three intertwined and floated in the chaotic mist sea.
"Three types of Ultimate Path Origin?"
The starry staff in Star Dome Old Ancestor's hand suddenly trembled, and the starlight in his eyes flickered intensely.
He had Cultivated the Starry Sky Great Dao for ten thousand years, yet he had only barely mastered the single Ultimate Path Power of the Extreme Star Origin.
The Azure Emperor's dragon pupils constricted sharply, and the disdain on his face vanished completely.
He immediately looked at Li Mu with new respect: "This Emperor, in charge of the Azure Dragon Clan, has only comprehended the Origin of Extreme Wood to this day.
You, a Mahayana Cultivator..."
Star Dome Old Ancestor slowly paced around the three pillars of light, his starlight continuously sweeping over each Origin: "Extreme Fire is violent, Extreme Water is long and flowing, Extreme Wood is endlessly regenerating…
And all three actually originate from the same person, coexisting peacefully within the Chaotic Dao Domain.
It's simply…"
"Against common sense!" the Azure Emperor interjected in shock.
He reached out and lightly touched the Extreme Wood light pillar, and the Azure Wood illusory Origin surged, exclaiming: "This Emperor's Extreme Wood Origin took ten thousand years of Cultivation to reach Perfection.
You, at such a young age, Cultivating the Chaotic Great Dao, not only have you mastered three types of Extreme Realm Power, but this Extreme Wood Origin has actually approached Perfection?"
Li Mu gave a bitter smile and explained: "This Junior also had a stroke of luck.
Back then, in a battle with Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor, I comprehended the Origin of Extreme Fire.
In a battle with Jade Unicorn Immortal Emperor, I was injured by him, and the Origin of Extreme Water entered my body, forcing me to refine it, thus comprehending the Origin of Extreme Water…"
"…"
"…"
The Azure Emperor and Star Dome Old Ancestor exchanged glances, instantly rendered speechless.
Two Immortal Emperors of the same Realm were actually defeated by Li Mu, and the Ultimate Path Origin related to their own Cultivation was also forced out.
They must have been at their wits' end, pushed to the extreme.
"So that old fellow Yu Lin was injured by you.
No wonder he went into secluded Cultivation and avoided me!" Star Dome Old Ancestor gave a bitter smile, suddenly enlightened.
"Haha, that dead bird has its day too!" the Azure Emperor laughed heartily, using it to cover his embarrassment.
Before, he had spoken arrogantly in front of Li Mu, but now he had to re-evaluate this seemingly ordinary Human Race Mahayana.
"You still haven't said how you gained Epiphany of this Extreme Wood Power!
Perhaps we can use this Dao to gain Epiphany of other Extreme Realm Dao Laws!" Noticing the Azure Emperor's embarrassment, Star Dome Old Ancestor quickly lent a hand and changed the subject.
Upon hearing this, Li Mu nodded slightly, looked at Qing Lin, and smiled awkwardly: "The comprehension of this Extreme Wood Origin is largely thanks to Qing Lin."
"Me?" Qing Lin was slightly stunned, quite puzzled.
Li Mu looked at Qing Lin with gentle eyes, explaining: "Back then, I consumed Lifespan to reshape Qing Lin's Dragon Soul.
I used Chaos Power to harmonize the rampaging Azure Dragon Bloodline within his body.
At that time, I sensed the unique endlessly regenerating power of the Azure Dragon Clan, but my Cultivation was still shallow then, and I couldn't comprehend its profound mystery."
"It wasn't until this time, when assisting Qing Lin in Undergoing Tribulation!" Li Mu's eyes flashed with a hint of realization as he explained: "The Extreme Wood Dao Law contained within the Dragon Emperor Lightning Tribulation was the purest.
I used the Soul Sharing Technique to help Qing Lin bear the Heavenly Tribulation, allowing me to experience the Extreme Wood Origin contained within the Azure Dragon Ancestral Vein up close.
That Concept of all things growing, and Reincarnation without end, perfectly aligned with the 'birth' aspect of the Chaotic Great Dao."
Upon hearing this, the Azure Emperor's dragon whiskers trembled slightly, and he said in shock: "You can actually comprehend the Origin of my clan's Bloodline through the Soul Sharing Technique?"
"So that's how it is, doing good deeds yields good results; this is the cycle of Karma." Star Dome Old Ancestor stroked his beard and smiled, starlight flowing in his eyes as he said joyfully: "Young friend helped the Azure Dragon Bloodline successfully Undergo Tribulation, and in turn, comprehended the Origin of Extreme Wood through it.
This is a great Opportunity."
The Azure Emperor's expression was complex.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly raised his hand and waved it, and a blue light flew out from his sleeve, transforming into an ancient Jade Slip with dragon patterns, hovering before Li Mu.
"This is the 'Azure Dragon Heaven Evolution Art,' which records various techniques of my clan concerning the Origin of Extreme Wood." The Azure Emperor looked at Li Mu and solemnly introduced: "Since you have already comprehended the true meaning of Extreme Wood, I will bestow this upon you, considering it as… thanks for helping my clan's Bloodline be reborn."
Li Mu was stunned and quickly cupped his hands: "Senior's generous gift, this Junior feels unworthy."
"Hmph, less nonsense!" the Azure Emperor snorted coldly, "Why do I need others to comment on my actions?
Besides…"
The Azure Emperor had already believed in Star Dome Old Ancestor's Heavenly Secret Art, and he looked at Li Mu with profound eyes, saying solemnly: "If you can truly comprehend more Ultimate Paths through this, it will be considered settling a Karma for my clan when you confront the Netherworld in the future."
Seeing this, Star Dome Old Ancestor laughed heartily and quickly gestured: "It's rare for this old mudfish to be generous.
Young friend, why don't you quickly accept it?
Don't let him regret it!"
Li Mu smiled slightly, accepted the Jade Slip, and saluted the Azure Emperor: "Many thanks, Senior."
The Azure Emperor waved his hand, unconcerned.
