Chapter 121 - Flame Dragon King
Several days later, Lu Ran and Captain Doofus had advanced quite a distance. During this period, both of them were not only resisting the Dragon’s Aura but also attempting to fuse with it.
Their goal was to transform the power of the Dragon’s Aura into sword intent. Specifically, Flame Dragon Sword Intent. It could also be described as Flame Dragon Culinary Intent.
Lu Ran had already consumed several Soul Cleansing Fruits, yet every time, he failed to capture that special sensation.
Using Beast Sword Momentum as a foundation to upgrade it into Flame Dragon seemed feasible, but it was extremely difficult. After all, Lu Ran didn’t have a dragon familiar, and this Dragon’s Aura was an external force, making it impossible to draw power directly.
Unlike when he had resisted the blizzard in the past and managed to learn from it, this time it didn’t seem to work.
The success back then was partly due to Captain Doofus being a snowfield creature. By mimicking it through Super Beast Mimicry, Lu Ran had gained traits of a snowfield being, granting him greater affinity for the snowstorm environment.
This affinity ultimately allowed him to comprehend Blizzard Sword Momentum successfully. At present, the power of Flame Dragon’s aura and Blizzard Sword Momentum were clearly worlds apart. However, Lu Ran wasn’t completely unrelated to the aura of the Flame Dragon.
With the Flame Spirit skill coursing through his body, Lu Ran had essentially become a fire-attribute being, forming a tenuous connection to the Flame Dragon’s aura.
After countless attempts, Lu Ran decided to abandon other approaches to learning Flame Dragon Sword Intent. He placed all his hopes on this new Flame Spirit skill.
This beastmaster skill came at just the right time. Otherwise, choosing to come to Dragon’s Valley for advanced training might have resulted in zero gains.
Over the past few days, Lu Ran and Captain Doofus alternated in their training.
When Lu Ran grew tired, he would apply Flame Spirit to Captain Doofus and let him train. When Captain Doofus got exhausted, Lu Ran would retrieve Flame Spirit and continue training himself.
“How can I make the Flame Spirit absorb the Flame Dragon’s aura?”
While cultivating, Lu Ran recalled Emperor Flame Quake’s instructions on developing the Flame Spirit skill.
He attempted to have Flame Spirit absorb the Flame Dragon’s aura, even consuming two more Soul Cleansing Fruits to deepen his understanding of the skill. Unfortunately, it still didn’t work.
“Such low-level skill, and it dares attempt to absorb my aura?”
Unbeknownst to Lu Ran, his efforts to use Flame Spirit to absorb the Flame Dragon’s aura had been detected by a colossal being deep within the valley.
In the heart of the valley, a massive creature slowly opened its eyes and unfurled its pitch-black wings. Its powerful body was covered in crimson scales that intertwined with shades of dark red, resembling the embodiment of purgatory.
With a domineering glare, its deep crimson dragon eyes gazed outward, its fiery-red whiskers swaying in the wind. This was none other than Emperor Flame Quake’s primary battle familiar, the Flame Dragon King.
“Who’s there?”
Awakened by a gradually approaching powerful aura, the slumbering Flame Dragon King immediately noticed a weak being possessing the Flame Spirit skill trying to absorb its aura.
Its aura was naturally beyond the reach of such a weak Flame Spirit. Observing this feeble human, the Flame Dragon King sneered.
“He’s not one of those princes from Imperial Beast City... could he be an illegitimate child? How many illegitimate children has that Flame Quake guy left behind, and how many debts of passion has he accrued? Or perhaps, this one is the offspring of one of Flame Quake’s subordinates.”
On Stellar Moon Continent, beastmaster skills that reached a certain level could sometimes be passed down genetically to the next generation.
Emperor Flame Quake had several descendants, some of whom might have inherited the Flame Spirit skill. Additionally, Flame Quake had tried to teach the skill to his meritorious subordinates. While this skill was yet to appear on Blue Planet, Emperor Flame Quake clearly didn’t want it to disappear with his death.
Unfortunately, while Flame Quake had intended to pass on this skill, none of his descendants or subordinates had ever mastered it to his satisfaction.
The Flame Dragon King cast another glance at Lu Ran, who was trying to use Flame Spirit to absorb the Flame Dragon’s aura.
Clever. The boy has grasped the essence of Flame Spirit, albeit on a basic level.
Meanwhile, the dog beside him, holding a sword in its mouth and using sword intent to resist the Dragon’s Aura, made the duo an amusing sight. Still, the Flame Dragon King found them too weak to warrant much attention.
It resumed searching for the aura that had disturbed its slumber. But then, it abruptly realized that the powerful aura which had awakened it was emanating from this very duo! Although faint, the aura was undeniably present.
As a Superior Overlord species, the Flame Dragon King had an acute sense of powerful beings. And this particular aura, it was one it had encountered at close range before!
“The Divine Deer. They carry the aura of the Divine Deer.”
With its piercing gaze fixed, the Flame Dragon King quickly came to a conclusion.
These two must have had a very close encounter with the Divine Deer!
The ground shook as the Flame Dragon King roared, its bellow echoing throughout Dragon’s Valley. Nearby cultivators trembled, staring toward the valley in shock, unsure of what had transpired.
Meanwhile, Lu Ran and Captain Doofus, deep in training, were utterly dumbfounded. Before they could react, a tremendous force swept them into an unknown location.
“What’s going on?” Lu Ran exclaimed.
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“Woof!”
When they regained their senses, a pair of crimson eyes, larger than lanterns, were scrutinizing them intently.
“Crap...”
Lu Ran staggered back, swallowing nervously as he stared at the massive creature before him—a towering western dragon, its scorching breath almost making him faint.
This... this is the Flame Dragon King, rumored to have been asleep for decades! Why is it suddenly in front of me? Or rather, why am I suddenly in front of it!?
Captain Doofus stood frozen, just like Lu Ran. The unbearable heat made it too lazy to think, yet it still positioned itself protectively in front of Lu Ran, keeping a wary eye on the Flame Dragon King.
“You—”
At this moment, the colossal dragon’s voice reverberated, shaking Lu Ran to his core.
“Have you met the Divine Deer?”
It knew of the Divine Deer!
Hearing this, Lu Ran’s thoughts instantly raced to the Broken Horn of the Divine Deer. His mind spiraled with panic, dreading the possibility of being crushed like with the Crimson Earl before.
But this time, there seemed to be a difference. The Crimson Earl had learned of the Divine Deer through other means, likely from Lu Ran’s parents.
As they became involved in the Beastmaster Era, Lu Ran’s parents surely uncovered more secrets about Lu Village, yet chose to leave the Broken Horn with Lu Ran instead of taking it for themselves.
However, this Flame Dragon King had seemingly detected the aura of the Divine Deer itself, suspecting direct contact with its true form.
I didn’t expect that the Broken Horn of the Divine Deer, kept tucked in my ID card, would be sensed by the Flame Dragon King.
Or perhaps, his and Captain Doofus’s frequent use of the horn had caused them to carry its lingering aura.
Lu Ran’s brain worked feverishly as sweat trickled down his brow. Finally, he opened his mouth and carefully responded.
“Guardian Sacred Dragon, Flame Dragon King!? You... know the Divine Deer?”
“Whoosh—”
The Flame Dragon King’s fiery eyes narrowed.
“I once glimpsed it from afar, feeling its power up close. Its aura is unforgettable. As a legendary being, its essence is nearly impossible to replicate. You still haven’t explained why you carry its divine energy.”
Surprised at how easily he’d gotten the Flame Dragon King to speak, Lu Ran realized two things. First, the dragon didn’t seem hostile toward the Divine Deer. Second, it appeared that the Divine Deer was even stronger than the Flame Dragon King! Bolstered by this realization, Lu Ran grew bolder.
“I... could be considered its messenger,” he said.
The Flame Dragon King and Captain Doofus were dumbfounded.
Isn’t the Divine Deer just an ancient totem beast from Blue Planet? Lu Ran wondered.
Why is it a legendary being on Stellar Moon Continent?
Could this mean Stellar Moon Continent and Blue Planet were connected? Was Stellar Moon Continent truly the ancient prehistory of Blue Planet?
“What!?”
The Flame Dragon King appeared genuinely shocked, its massive head jerking back. It hadn’t anticipated that this puny Flame Spirit user was allegedly a messenger of the Divine Deer.
“Well, I don’t fully understand it myself,” Lu Ran said quickly, pretending to downplay the claim.
“From what I know, my ancestors had some connection to the Divine Deer, which led to me receiving its protection.”
“I see.”
The Flame Dragon King didn’t question further. Aside from this reasoning, it couldn’t think of any other explanation for how Lu Ran had come into contact with the Divine Deer.
“You...”
The Flame Dragon King seemed about to ask more but suddenly turned its gaze away and yawned. It decided against probing further, believing Lu Ran’s claim of ignorance.
After determining there was no threat, it said, “Alright, there’s no more to discuss. I’ll send you out—”
“Wait! Wait a moment!” Lu Ran quickly interrupted.
Although he was eager to leave this oppressive heat, he realized the Flame Dragon King was unexpectedly approachable. He couldn’t let this rare opportunity slip by without learning something.
“Flame Dragon King, can you tell me more about the Divine Deer? Although I’ve received its protection and even visions in my dreams, I know very little about its true nature. What kind of existence is it?”
“Hmm?”
The Flame Dragon King studied Lu Ran for a moment, then answered, “I don’t know much either. Emperor Flame Quake once said the Divine Deer is one of the three great familiars of the Life Dragon, one of the four Supreme Divine Dragons of Stellar Moon Continent. It is a creature of legend.
“You’ve received dreams from it?” It asked, surprised.
“Yes. In one dream, the Divine Deer tasked me with finding information about the Death Dragon, another of the four Supreme Divine Dragon,” Lu Ran replied, seizing the chance to connect his story.
However, despite its immense power, the Flame Dragon King had very little knowledge about either the Divine Deer or the Death Dragon.
Hearing Lu Ran’s question, the Flame Dragon King was momentarily stunned. Then it furrowed its brows and shook its head.
“The Divine Deer, a familiar of the Life Dragon, searching for information about the Death Dragon... I don’t understand. I can’t help you. Even in the entire Beastmaster Empire, there are hardly any records related to legendary beings like these.
“Since this task was entrusted to you by the Divine Deer, you’ll have to figure it out on your own. Good luck.”
However, the Flame Dragon King unexpectedly looked at Lu Ran, surprised that this young man, who had inherited the Flame Spirit, could be entrusted with such an important mission by the Divine Deer. Humans chosen by legendary beings always achieved extraordinary feats.
According to what the Flame Dragon King knew, the first emperor of the Beastmaster Empire had also been acknowledged by a legendary creature. It was only with that recognition that the emperor had grown strong enough to conquer the continent.
Otherwise, for humans to rise to power was no easy feat. The legendary beings of Stellar Moon Continent, creatures that had lived for countless millennia, were the true laws of this land. In fact, they could even be considered a part of this world itself.
“I’ll send you out now,” the Flame Dragon King said.
Since its beastmaster had passed away long ago and it had already retired after decades of battle, it was reluctant to involve itself in matters related to these legendary beings.
Once it confirmed that Lu Ran indeed had a connection to the Divine Deer, the Flame Dragon King yawned and prepared to send him away.
“I...”
Lu Ran was about to speak, wanting to capitalize on the Divine Deer connection and keep talking to the Flame Dragon King. However, in the next moment, he and Captain Doofus were promptly ejected from the area.
Outside, Lu Ran’s expression twitched.
This dragon... why is it so socially awkward? Would it kill to chat a little longer!?
But then, Lu Ran abruptly noticed something different.
He quickly looked up at the sky and surveyed his surroundings. Suddenly, he realized that the previously oppressive Dragon’s Aura now felt much gentler toward him.
“I can absorb it now!”
Lu Ran was astonished to discover that the Flame Spirit within his body, represented by the matchstick-sized figure, was finally able to absorb the Flame Dragon’s aura.
“Whooosh! Whooosh!”
The matchstick figure greedily absorbed the aura, and Lu Ran finally established a special connection with the dragon’s aura. A joyful expression appeared on his face. He realized it was likely the Flame Dragon King that had granted him this privilege.
This dragon may seem uninterested in everything, but after learning I’m the Divine Deer’s messenger, or maybe because I’m a Flame Spirit inheritor, it decided to offer me some special care anyway!
What a good dragon! A tsundere, but still a good dragon!
With that thought, Lu Ran chose not to hold back. Drawing his Wind Slashing Sword, he fully activated Flame Spirit. With limited time left, he was determined to master the power of the Flame Dragon as quickly as possible!
At that moment, Captain Doofus sensed the faint traces of Dragon’s Aura gathering around Lu Ran and couldn’t help but show a stunned expression.
Captain Lu, was this part of your plan all along?
A few days later, under the secret observation of the awakened Flame Dragon King, Lu Ran made rapid progress.
With the Wind Slashing Sword in his hand, its blade now wreathed in flames and swirling winds, he swung it with all his might. A single strike unleashed the phantom of a mighty dragon!
“Not bad talent, it wasn’t a waste to give him special treatment.” the Flame Dragon King nodded approvingly.
However, that very day, the Flame Dragon King suddenly noticed something strange. Lu Ran, who had just mastered Flame Dragon Sword Intent, abruptly disappeared from sight.
“What’s going on!?”
The Flame Dragon King’s massive eyes widened in shock. Then, it felt the presence of an incomprehensibly powerful force from a higher dimension. This terrifying power began interfering with its very existence.
The surrounding world seemed to shatter like an illusion, fragmenting into pieces. The Flame Dragon King stared at the crumbling scenery, its expression dazed. Watching Lu Ran’s fading figure, the dragon finally realized the truth.
“So that’s how it is. It has been long since I died. It was a great will that reassembled my existence into this historical projection, all for the sake of nurturing this human.
“What kind of unimaginable power could accomplish such a feat? And what kind of future lies ahead...?”
As its thoughts trailed off, the Flame Dragon King’s voice faded, and this ascension realm completely vanished.
At the same time, back in Limitless City, the six participants of the trial returned one by one as the allocated time expired.