People in Doupo: The beginning of the game intercepts the rich woman Xun'er

After a thorough discussion with the spirit of the Ancestral Stone and a detailed weighing of the pros and cons of continuing to absorb the Black Demon Lightning energy for cultivation, Xiao Ling finally gave up his original eagerness and temporarily abandoned his plan to further absorb this vast lightning power.

After all, having just arrived at the Void Thunder Pool, he had clearly felt that his spiritual power had made great progress under the baptism of the Thunder Pool.

However, this rapid improvement cannot be fully digested overnight; it requires a period of consolidation and stabilization. Only by fully mastering it can it truly be transformed into a sharp weapon in one's hand.

He knew that he needed to not only solidify his cultivation through actual combat and enlightenment, but also to focus on refining his mental strength so that he could adapt to and control this suddenly enhanced power. Only by carefully honing his skills could he fully unleash his potential.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ling also withdrew the spiritual power flowing around his body, and the two natal talismans quietly shrank back into the Niwan Palace, concealing all their aura in the sea of ​​thunder.

"Tsk, I've been cultivating in this Void Thunder Pool for so long, and it's been quite a while since I left Ancient Dragon Island... I wonder how that girl Ziyan is doing now."

Xiao Ling's mind went blank, letting his thoughts drift. He thought of Zi Yan, who was still in seclusion, and couldn't help but stroke his chin, muttering to himself:
"I hope she is alright. However, even if she hasn't fully absorbed the energy of the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit yet, it probably won't be long."

As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately sensed his body again and pondered, "However, the dragon seal that Ziyan and Elder Zhuli left me hasn't made any moves yet. At least the ancient dragon over there shouldn't be any problems yet, right? It's time to go back and check on the situation."

Xiao Ling gently shook his head, dispelling the chaotic thoughts from his mind.

He looked around again, his gaze sweeping over the vast, boundless ocean of black lightning formed by countless bolts of black magic.

"That's enough for now," he muttered to himself, a hint of understanding in his voice. "Once this period is over and my cultivation has stabilized, I'll come back again."

Before he finished speaking, his gaze had already turned to the deeper, more hidden heart of this black ocean. There, it seemed, lay the true core of this Thunder Pool.

At this moment, his deep eyes gleamed with a spirit of inquiry, and his powerful mental energy spread out like a spider web, cautiously probing into that heart-pounding depths.

Sure enough, even though they were far apart, his now incredibly powerful mental strength could still faintly detect an indescribable, violent force, like a sleeping ancient beast. Just that aura alone made his heart tighten, giving rise to an instinctive sense of vigilance and trepidation.

Xiao Ling already had a guess about the source of this palpitation; it must be the Nine Profound Golden Thunder, which was still unintelligent but incredibly powerful.

If the vast power of thunder were to be ranked according to the mysterious "Ranking of Strange Flames," then the Nine Profound Golden Thunder would undoubtedly be the most prestigious, its status comparable to the renowned Pure Lotus Demon Flame on the Ranking of Strange Flames, or even the ethereal and all-consuming Void Devouring Flame.

This thunder is unlike any ordinary thunder. It is not a constant phenomenon, but only descends upon the mortal realm in a near-mythical state, when alchemists refine the legendary ninth-grade golden pill.

Each appearance of it is accompanied by earth-shattering phenomena, and its power is enough to make the whole world tremble. Even the Dou Zun powerhouses who stand at the peak of the Dou Qi Continent are as insignificant as dust in the face of its violent and unparalleled thunderous power, and cannot even withstand the aftershocks.

In some ancient books that have been passed down from antiquity and are full of precious words, there are occasional mentions of those great masters who have reached the pinnacle of alchemy. When they were refining the ninth-grade golden pill, they caused a resonance between heaven and earth and brought about all sorts of incredible phenomena.

Among these myriad strange phenomena, the most awe-inspiring and memorable is the Nine Profound Golden Thunder.

Each of its roars and each strike contains terrifying power capable of annihilating stars. If an ordinary Dou Sheng expert were to be accidentally touched by even the slightest bit of it, he would be reduced to ashes in an instant, leaving not even a trace.

However, even in the most glorious and prosperous ancient period of the Dou Qi Continent, the Nine Profound Golden Thunder was already extremely rare and hard to find.

Now, thousands of years have passed on the continent, and there is no news whatsoever about the appearance of the Nine Profound Golden Thunder.

This means that in the long span of thousands of years, perhaps no one on the entire Dou Qi Continent has ever been able to refine the legendary ninth-grade golden pill!

The Ninth-Rank Golden Elixir, a near-divine object capable of bringing about transformative changes, is perhaps beyond the capabilities of all alchemists on the continent today, becoming an unattainable legend.

The Nine Profound Golden Thunder, along with the supreme alchemy achievement it symbolized, was sealed away in the mists of history.

Thinking of this legendary treasure, Xiao Ling's lips involuntarily curled into a slightly upturned smile, filled with anticipation. He chuckled softly:

"Hehe, next time I come, I'll definitely have a good look at your Nine Profound Golden Thunder and see just how earth-shattering your legendary thunder is!"

Withdrawing his gaze from the depths of the Thunder Pool, Xiao Ling no longer hesitated. Lightning suddenly intensified around him, and almost instantly, a giant dragon formed purely of lightning materialized beneath him once more.

The dragon raised its head and let out a deafening roar of thunder. Then, it twisted its long and powerful body, transforming into a streak of light. With unparalleled speed, it sped towards the outer edge of the sea of ​​thunder, its figure rapidly receding into the distance until it disappeared into the surging lightning.

Once the thunder dragon and Xiao Ling's figure completely disappeared, the vast ocean of thunder formed by the convergence of black demonic lightning returned to its previous silence, restoring the quiet and oppressive calm it had been before.

The raging black lightning still surged and roared, but there was no longer any abnormality, as if no one had ever set foot in this forbidden place.

……

Amidst the boundless and endless turbulent void, a silver streak of light, like a meteor streaking through the sky, trailed a long fiery tail as it hurtled rapidly downwards at an astonishing speed.

The streak of light pierced through the chaos, tearing even the turbulent, raging spatial currents into a fleeting, elusive trail.

As the gaze slowly zooms in, one can see inside the silvery light: a tall, slender figure with fluttering robes and a faint halo of lightning surrounding him—it is Xiao Ling, who left the Void Thunder Pool not long ago.

He stood on the void, his body falling with the stream of light, but his gaze had already pierced through the chaos ahead and landed on the huge island in the distance that was faintly visible in the turbulent currents.

The island, shrouded in a pale golden energy shield that isolated it from the surrounding void storm, was none other than East Dragon Island.

Sensing that the destination was near, the silver light around Xiao Ling gradually subsided, and his speed also slowed down, transforming into a steady arc as he sped towards the island.

At this moment, several members of the Ancient Dragon Clan who were patrolling the outer perimeter of Ancient Dragon Island moved slightly, keenly sensing the approaching aura in the void turbulence.

They were all clad in black scale armor, their auras deep and resolute. Upon seeing this, they immediately gripped their weapons at their waists, their eyes warily fixed on the rapidly approaching streak of light. A faint dragon's might emanated from their bodies, indicating they were ready to strike at any moment. The leader, Hei Qing, frowned slightly, his large, copper-bell-like eyes fixed intently on the newcomer.

But the next moment, he sensed the familiar aura emanating from the flowing light, his tense body suddenly relaxed, and the wariness in his eyes instantly faded, replaced by a sense of understanding.

He immediately raised his hand and waved to the several patrolling guards beside him who were ready to go, and said in a deep voice, "All of you, step down and go back to your posts."

Seeing the puzzled looks on his companions' faces, Hei Qing added, "The visitor is Master Xiao Ling, a distinguished guest of our Ancient Dragon Island, not an enemy. I will take care of him from now on."

A moment later, the silver light pierced through the pale gold spatial shield surrounding Ancient Dragon Island, and Xiao Ling's figure stood steadily on the void platform at the edge of the island.

He looked up at Hei Qing, who was approaching, a faint smile on his lips, and nodded slightly: "Commander Hei Qing, it's been a long time."

Hei Qing also showed a simple and honest smile, and returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Master Xiao Ling, you are too kind. It is wonderful that you have returned safely."

After exchanging greetings, Xiao Lingmai walked to Hei Qing's side, and the two of them drifted down towards the heart of Gulong Island.

As the wind whistled past his ears, he asked, "Has there been any unusual activity on Ancient Dragon Island recently? Also, is the Dean still on the island?"

Hei Qing crossed his thick arms over his chest as he flew through the air, replying in a deep voice: "The island has been relatively peaceful lately, but Elder Zhu Li ordered the strengthening of the outer patrols a few days ago. This is probably in preparation for the upcoming meeting ceremony of the Four Dragon Islands. After all, when the strong people from all the islands gather, some friction is inevitable, so we need to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances in advance."

He paused, then added, "As for Lord Mang Tianchi, he is still resting on the island. Coincidentally, his place is not far from Luoxia Valley where you stayed earlier. It will be very convenient for the two of you to meet and talk when you arrive there."

As they talked, they unknowingly wandered into the depths of Ancient Dragon Island. The scene before them suddenly opened up, with rows of buildings faintly visible, and the powerful and profound aura belonging to the dragon race rushed towards them, invigorating their spirits.

Xiao Ling nodded upon hearing this, his gaze sweeping over the lush Dragon Island forest below, and he pondered:

"I heard Elder Zhuli mention the meeting of the four Dragon Islands a few times before. Such a grand event cannot be taken lightly, and it is appropriate to strengthen patrols outside the islands."

After saying that, he turned to look at Hei Qing and said politely, "Since the Dean is on the island, I will go and pay him a visit first, so as not to delay Commander Hei Qing's duties."

Seeing this, Hei Qing didn't say anything more, but clasped his hands in a fist and said, "In that case, I will go on my inspection first. If Master Xiao Ling has any instructions, please send someone to find me."

Xiao Ling nodded in acknowledgment, and the two passed each other in the air.

He turned and transformed into a streak of light, flying straight towards Sunset Gorge.

Hei Qing turned around, his burly figure quickly disappearing into the void outside the island, continuing his patrol and guard duty.

……

Xiao Ling's figure was like a faint shadow as he sped towards Sunset Gorge.

He already had a plan for this trip: first, he would exchange a few words with Mang Tianchi, then go to find Elder Zhuli, and also check on Ziyan's recent situation.

In just a short while, the unique crimson landscape of Sunset Gorge came into view, with the rock walls on both sides of the gorge gleaming like flames under the sunlight.

In another valley not far from Sunset Gorge, several pavilions and towers are built against the mountain, their upturned eaves hidden among the lush trees, exuding a sense of tranquility that matches the character of Dragon Island.

Looking into the distance, Xiao Ling recognized, based on Hei Qing's previous description, that place was "Fulongwu," where Mang Tianchi had landed.

Xiao Ling immediately sped towards Fulongwu, his figure flashing through the mountains and forests like an arrow, and soon arrived at the edge of that mountain range.

He did not deliberately conceal his aura; the fluctuations in his fighting spirit caused by his flight spread out like a gentle breeze.

Deep within Fulongwu, in a pavilion perched on a cliff, Mang Tianchi was sipping tea, his fingertips caressing the warm cup.

When Xiao Ling's aura entered his perception range, he slightly raised his eyelids and looked through the window lattice towards the distant horizon.

Upon recognizing the familiar figure, the old dean's eyes lit up instantly. He immediately put down his teacup, waved in Xiao Ling's direction, and his hearty laughter pierced the air:
"Hehe, Xiao Ling, you're finally back! I've been resting on Dragon Island until my bones are practically rusting, and you're finally willing to stop cultivating? If Elder Zhu Li hadn't told me that the Dragon Seal's perception of you was perfectly fine, I would have personally ventured into the Void Thunder Pool to see if you'd encountered any danger inside, just because you haven't shown your face for so long!"

In the time it took to say those few words, Xiao Ling had already flown to the top of the pavilion. With a twirl, he drifted down like a falling leaf, landing steadily on the bluestone ground of the open-air pavilion. He cupped his hands and smiled at Mang Tianchi, saying loudly, "Hehe, Dean, you flatter me."

"I gained a lot from this trip to the Void Thunder Pool and did not encounter any dangers." He paused, his gaze becoming more sincere. "However, I will remember your concern, Dean."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the teacups on the stone table in the pavilion. Seeing that the tea was still warm, he sat down on the stone bench opposite Mang Tianchi.

"As the dean, it is my duty to care about my own students."

Mang Tianchi chuckled softly, picked up the teapot, and filled the empty cup in front of Xiao Ling with tea. The amber-colored tea swayed gently in the cup.
"It would be best if you could return safely and gain something from this."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and gazed at the distant, mist-shrouded mountains, his tone tinged with a touch of wistfulness:
"Speaking of which, this trip to Ancient Dragon Island has truly broadened my horizons. However, the scenery of Dragon Island is somewhat different from what I had expected."

"After all, according to the ancient records of the clan, at its peak, the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan was the most powerful force on the Dou Qi Continent. Even those races that roamed the ancient times had to hold their breath in front of them. How different from now..."

(End of this chapter)