30: Chapter 30 Xuan Ming True Water, the remains of the ancient dragon

You Lan's massive head hung low, the respect and anticipation in its deep blue vertical pupils almost overflowing.

Its massive body slowly moved aside, revealing the path behind it leading to the deep, secluded cave entrance, ripples spreading across the lake surface with its movements.

Thoughts raced through Lin Yan's mind.

The sudden change in attitude of this Tier 5 Mystic Water Yin Scale Flood Dragon was too abrupt, yet it seemed logical—all because of that "ancient soul scale".

The origin of this scale was likely even more astonishing than he had imagined, capable of making a Tier 5 magical beast address him as "Scale Lord" and willingly guard it for generations.

There might be a trap, but since the opponent's strength far exceeded their own, if it had malicious intent, it could have attacked directly; why act like this?

More importantly, "Xuanming True Water" and "ancient flood dragons remnant"—just hearing these names told him they were no ordinary objects.

They were likely rare treasures of heaven and earth on par with the earth core fire marrow crystal, perhaps even rarer!

For them, who urgently needed to improve their strength and explore secrets, this was an irresistible temptation.

Risk and opportunity were once again placed before them.

Lin Yan took a deep breath, his gaze returning to calm.

He looked at Xiao Yi Xian, consulting her with his eyes.

Xiao Yi Xian nodded slightly; although there was vigilance in her eyes, there was also curiosity and a hint of anticipation.

She was equally curious about the "Xuanming True Water" that might be related to the ancient soul scale and her own poison body.

"Chi Rong, stay here to provide support. If there is any unusual movement, contact me at any time." Lin Yan instructed through the Soul Contract.

Chi Rong's attributes were incompatible with this place, and its massive size would make it inconvenient to enter that seemingly narrow cave entrance.

"Understood, Master!" Chi Rong replied, carefully retreating to a recess in the rock wall at the edge of the lake, watching the surroundings vigilantly.

Only then did Lin Yan nod to You Lan, his voice steady: "In that case, please lead the way."

"Please follow me, honored guest." You Lan's massive head dipped slightly, and it turned, its huge body gliding through the lake water, making almost no sound, its movements elegant and swift.

It did not fully submerge into the water but kept half its body exposed, like a guide, swimming towards the cave entrance concealed by a curtain of crystal stalactites.

Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian used their movement techniques, stepping across the water as they followed closely behind.

The closer they got to the cave entrance, the more obvious the cold, fishy-sweet scent became.

The air was also filled with pure Yin-attribute energy and water-attribute energy, which, while refreshing the spirit, also caused a slight bone-chilling cold.

Passing through the hanging curtain of crystalline stalactites, the scene before them changed dramatically.

Inside the cave entrance, it was not the narrow passage they had imagined, but a closed water pool slightly smaller than the lake outside, yet deeper and more secluded.

The pool water was not deep blue, but an almost ink-black mysterious color, thick as syrup, its surface devoid of any ripples, deathly still.

In the center of the pool, coiled up, was an even more massive... remains of a snake-dragon creature that occupied almost half the pool!

The remains were also deep blue, but the color was more profound and restrained, like the finest black jade.

The bones were thick and rugged, winding and coiling, and even after unknown eons since its death, it still exuded a heart-palpitating majesty and an ancient aura.

The shape of its bones was seven or eight parts similar to the You Lan outside, but more perfect and massive.

On the skull, in the position of the single horn, a clear break remained, as if the horn had been forcibly broken or removed while it was alive.

This was the "ancient flood dragons remnant"!

Clearly, this was left behind by an ancestor of the ancient Mystic Water Yin Scale Flood Dragon that had a purer bloodline and greater strength than You Lan!

And at the center where the ancient flood dragons remnant coiled, deep within the ink-black, viscous pool water, there was a faint yet incomparably pure deep blue light, quietly suspended like a cold star in the dark night.

Around the light, the pool water presented a strange state of "stasis", as if even the most basic molecular movement had been frozen and condensed to the extreme.

That was the core essence of the "Xuanming True Water"!

Just by standing at the cave entrance and feeling the pressure of the remains and the extreme cold and purity emitted by the Xuanming True Water, Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian felt their internal energy react.

The Seed Flame of Void Devouring Flame within Lin Yan transmitted a trace of "interest", seemingly not repelled by this extreme Yin-attribute energy, but rather having a desire to devour and analyze its essence of "purity" and "condensation".

Meanwhile, the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Fallen Heart Flame remained relatively calm.

However, the Eruption Poison in Xiao Yi Xian's body became unusually active, the gray-purple poison energy accelerating through her meridians, radiating a complex emotion of both longing and vigilance toward the Xuanming True Water—longing for its extreme cold and purity to refine and balance the violence and impurities in her poison energy, yet vigilant that its powerful purifying force might cause damage to the origin of her poison body.

You Lan's massive body coiled beside the remains, its deep blue vertical pupils gazing at the ancestor's remains and that point of deep blue light with reverence, its mental fluctuations coming through with emotion: "This place is the ancient sacred ground of my Mystic Water Yin Scale Flood Dragon clan."

"This remnant belongs to one of the most ancient ancestors whose bloodline my clan can trace, a being of at least Tier 7 or higher."

"This 'Xuanming True Water' is the origin essence condensed after the ancestor passed away, from all its pure Yin power and vast water essence, nourished by the earth's veins for ten thousand years."

"A single drop weighs ten thousand jun, can freeze the soul, and can also wash and purify all things. It is a rare treasure of the utmost Yin and utmost purity in heaven and earth."

It turned to Lin Yan, its gaze falling on the storage ring at his waist, and continued: "And the 'ancient soul scale' carried by the honored guest... its aura... is vaguely homologous with my clan's ancestor's remains, yet its essence is higher, more powerful and ancient."

"There are vague records in our clan's bloodline inheritance memory that it was left by the initial 'Scale Lord', the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Scales, the supreme existence that ruled over all scaled creatures..."

"Only those who bear the aura of the Scale Lord's grace can truly approach and collect the core of the 'Xuanming True Water', and obtain the inheritance and recognition sealed within the ancestor's remains."

Ancestor of Ten Thousand Scales? Ruler of all scaled creatures? A stormy sea churned in Lin Yan's heart.

The original owner of this ancient soul scale, that top expert of the ancient Hun Clan (system judgment), was actually such a terrifying existence?

No wonder You Lan's attitude was so respectful! This was not just suppression by strength, but absolute reverence stemming from the source of the bloodline!

"Then what is the specific connection between this Xuanming True Water and the ancient soul scale? Why does your clan guard this place?" Lin Yan asked.

You Lan respectfully replied: "Replying to the honored guest, according to the vague inheritance memory, this place... was once one of the palaces or secret grounds of the ancient Scale Lord and his subordinates (including my ancestor)."

"The Xuanming True Water was bestowed or brought into being by the Scale Lord to nourish and refine his water and Yin-attribute scaled dependents."

"Within this ancient flood dragons remnant, some cultivation insights and water and Yin law imprints bestowed by the Scale Lord are also sealed."

"My clan has guarded this place for generations, firstly to protect the sacred ground, and secondly to wait... perhaps one day, the Scale Lord or his successor will return, reopen the inheritance of this place, and bless the descendants."

Its massive head turned toward that point of deep blue light: "The core of the Xuanming True Water has a weak restriction left by the Scale Lord; without his aura, it cannot be safely collected."

"Forcibly collecting it will only trigger the true water's backlash, freezing the soul."

"And the inheritance imprint within the ancestor's remains similarly requires the Scale Lord's aura as a guide to be activated and revealed."

So that was it!

This was actually a legacy point left by an ancient "Scale Lord" (Hun Clan expert)!

The Xuanming True Water was a resource, and the ancient flood dragons remnant was the carrier of the inheritance!

And the ancient soul scale was the "key" to unlocking all of this!

"You want us to collect the Xuanming True Water and activate the inheritance?" Lin Yan understood You Lan's intention.

"Exactly!" Excitement flashed in You Lan's eyes, "If the ancestor's inheritance can be activated, my clan's bloodline has hope of further purification and improvement!"

"You Lan is willing to swear by my life-soul blood that after the honored guest takes away a portion of the Xuanming True Water and the inheritance, this place will still be my clan's sacred ground, and my clan is willing to serve the honored guest as master, following the ancient ways, and follow you for generations!"

This promise was not insignificant.

The allegiance of a Tier 5 magical beast and its clan, plus the resources here.

But the premise was that they could succeed.

Lin Yan looked at Xiao Yi Xian: "This Xuanming True Water is of the utmost Yin and purity; it might be of great benefit for you to refine your poison energy and balance Yin and Yang."

"But the process will likely not be easy, and there might even be danger."

Xiao Yi Xian gazed at the ink-black pool water and the deep blue light, a trace of firmness flashing in her emerald eyes: "I want to try."

"The Seven-Colored Poison Manual mentions that objects of extreme Yin and extreme Yang can both be used as medicine to refine the body; the key lies in 'balance' and 'guidance'."

"Although this true water is cold, it can purify impurities; perhaps it is the 'medicine guide' that my poison body needs."

"Good." Lin Yan did not hesitate and said to You Lan: "We need to recover and adjust our state first before attempting."

"During this time, no one or nothing is allowed to disturb us."

"The honored guest can rest assured! You Lan will personally act as protector for the two of you!" You Lan immediately replied, its massive body coiling at the cave entrance, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian sat down on a dry stone platform far from the pool, each consuming medicinal pills to begin regulating their breathing and recovering. Half a day later, both had basically recovered to their peak state.

"I will go first." Lin Yan stood up and walked to the edge of the pool. He first took out an ancient soul scale, holding it in his palm, and then cautiously extended a wisp of Dou Qi, wrapping it around the faint and ancient aura of the "Scale Lord" emitted by the ancient soul scale, slowly extending it toward the ink-black pool water.

The moment that wisp of aura touched the pool water, the originally dead-silent Xuanming True Water actually rippled slightly! The viscous, ink-black pool water voluntarily parted, creating a gap as if welcoming the return of its master. The deep blue light deep within the pool also flickered gently, transmitting a trace of a gentle fluctuation.

It worked!

Lin Yan felt reassured. He increased his Dou Qi output, guiding the aura of the ancient soul scale as it slowly approached the deep blue point of light. As they drew closer, the surrounding temperature plummeted sharply, and even his soul felt waves of chill, but the aura of the ancient soul scale acted like the warmest sanctuary, blocking most of the coldness.

Finally, his Dou Qi touched that deep blue light. There was no resistance, only a sense of acceptance like water blending with milk. The light trembled slightly and voluntarily separated a small wisp of deep blue, mercury-like viscous liquid that emitted a terrifying, frigid fluctuation—this was the purest essence of "Xuanming True Water"!

Lin Yan carefully wrapped this small wisp of true water essence with his Dou Qi and slowly retracted it. It felt heavy and ice-cold in his hand, as if he were holding an iceberg, and the pure Yin power and purifying power contained within it startled him. He guided it into a pre-prepared jade bottle made of cold jade and sealed it.

The collection process was unexpectedly smooth. Clearly, the aura of the ancient soul scale was the only effective pass.

Next was Xiao Yi Xian. She walked to the edge of the pool and, following Lin Yan's guidance, first had Lin Yan use the aura of the ancient soul scale to open up a relatively stable area in the pool water. Only then did she cautiously extend a finger, her fingertip wreathed in grayish-purple poison power, and slowly probe into the pool water shrouded by the aura.

"Sss..." The instant the poison power made contact with the Xuanming True Water, a violent reaction occurred! The grayish-purple poison gas and the ink-black pool water corroded and neutralized each other. A layer of thin ice instantly covered Xiao Yi Xian's finger, only to be quickly melted by the poison power. This cycle repeated, bringing with it a piercing, bone-chilling pain!

She gritted her teeth and, following the secret method recorded in the "Seven-Colored Poison Manual," forcibly stabilized her poison power and attempted to guide a wisp of extremely weak Xuanming True Water energy through her fingertip and into her body!

"Ugh!" Xiao Yi Xian's whole body shuddered violently, and her face turned deathly pale in an instant! That wisp of extremely Yin, extremely cold, and extremely pure energy entered her body like a red-hot iron rod dropped into ice water, or like thousands of ice needles piercing through her meridians! The Woeful Poison Body power within her instantly rioted, instinctively resisting and attacking this foreign energy!

However, the purifying property of the Xuanming True Water began to manifest. It was not merely destructive; rather, like the most demanding craftsman, it began to temper and strip away the violent, chaotic, and negative-emotion-filled parts of the poison power! This process was incomparably painful. A fine layer of frost began to form on the surface of Xiao Yi Xian's body, only to be constantly steamed away into grayish-purple poison gas by the scorching poison power within her. She felt as if she were trapped in a purgatory of ice and fire.

But she persisted, guiding this wisp of true water energy to slowly circulate along the specific paths recorded in the Poison Manual, tempering the poison power and cleansing her meridians. Gradually, a faint, restrained deep blue luster began to show through the grayish-purple poison power. Although weak, it added a sense of calmness and coldness to the originally sinister and violent poison power.

This process lasted for a full hour before Xiao Yi Xian could barely refine that wisp of true water energy and guide it to return near the origin of her poison body. She was completely exhausted, collapsing to the ground, drenched in sweat, but her aura was more refined and profound than before, and the color of the poison patterns beneath her skin seemed to have deepened.

"It succeeded..." She smiled weakly, but her eyes were full of radiance. She could feel that although the total amount of poison power had not increased significantly, its "quality" had improved, and it was easier to control. Most importantly, the feeling of violent restlessness that often lingered in her heart had been neutralized quite a bit by the cold calmness of that wisp of Xuanming True Water.

Next was the inheritance of the ancient flood dragons remnant. Lin Yan walked to the side of the remnant again, pressed the ancient soul scale against the giant skull of the remnant, and simultaneously circulated his soul power, attempting to communicate.

This time, the dark gold patterns on the ancient soul scale shone brightly! Deep within the bones of the remnant, corresponding, more complex and abstruse deep blue patterns simultaneously lit up! The two lights reflected each other, and a vast, ancient torrent of consciousness, containing the suppleness of water and the depth of Yin, carrying a large amount of cultivation insights, fragments of water-Yin attribute laws, and information on several powerful water and Yin attribute Dou Techniques (at least Earth Tier or higher), surged into Lin Yan's mind like a bursting flood!

The volume of information was too massive and complex. Lin Yan groaned, feeling as if his head were splitting and his soul were about to burst! He hurriedly concentrated all his focus, using the Seed Flame of Void Devouring Flame to guard his soul core, while relying on his powerful soul strength and the system's assistance to begin arduously sorting and absorbing this inheritance information.

This inheritance did not directly instill power but rather provided "knowledge" and "insights." For Lin Yan, although he was not of the water or Yin attribute, these high-level insights regarding energy application and law comprehension were analogous, possessing immeasurable value for his understanding of his own power, improving his combat techniques, and even creating his own Dou Techniques in the future. Especially the application and defense regarding the power of "Yin," which might be greatly beneficial for him to counter the sinister soul power of the Hall of Souls in the future.

Just as Lin Yan was immersed in the ocean of inheritance information and Xiao Yi Xian was also consolidating her breathing nearby, an unexpected change occurred! Inside Lin Yan's storage ring, the "purifying erosion fire seed" that had just been collected seemed to be strongly stimulated by some residual soul imprint within the ancient flood dragons remnant (also left by an expert of the ancient Hun Clan), and it suddenly began to vibrate on its own! A tiny crack appeared on the surface of the pale crystal!

A clearer, yet more chaotic and insane fragment of consciousness forcibly rushed out from the fire seed, mixed into the information flow of the Ancient Flood Dragon's inheritance, and surged into Lin Yan's mind: "...Betrayal... All scales betray... Key... Nine places... Return to the void... Return... Revenge..."

At the same time, the cluster of pale flames inside the fire seed seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, swaying violently, emitting a soul power fluctuation that was of the same origin as the ancient soul scale but even colder, more violent, and full of resentment, rushing fiercely toward a hidden imprint remaining at the broken horn of the ancient flood dragons remnant's skull!

"Wum—!!!" The entire pool, no, the entire underground space, suddenly shook violently! The ancient flood dragons remnant emitted a piercing deep blue light, colliding and intertwining fiercely with the pale light of the purifying erosion fire seed! A soul power storm, far more powerful, chaotic, and filled with a destructive aura than before, began to brew and spread wildly, with the remnant as the center!

"Not good! It's an ancient... conflict between resentment and sealing!" You Lan's terrified mental fluctuation came through, "The ancestor's remnant... really still contains a portion of the Scale Lord's resentment and contingency plans from when he fell! This fire seed... has stimulated it!"

Lin Yan suddenly awoke from the inheritance information, feeling as if his soul had been pierced by countless cold needles simultaneously, his head splitting with pain! That purifying erosion fire seed had, at this moment, become the fuse that detonated the ancient secret!

The terrifying soul power storm began to sweep through. The Xuanming True Water pool boiled violently, and the ancient flood dragons remnant trembled as if it were about to come alive, emitting a sorrowful cry. At the cave entrance, You Lan's huge body was desperately resisting the impact of the storm, letting out painful roars. Xiao Yi Xian was also startled to her feet by this sudden turn of events, her poison power protecting her body.

Lin Yan stared fixedly at the purifying erosion fire seed in his hand, which had a crack and was flickering with uncertain light, and then looked at the ancient flood dragons remnant that seemed to be awakening. Only one thought remained in his mind: This fire seed was by no means a simple "key" or inheritance token! What was sealed inside it was likely the most unwilling and resentful obsession and contingency plan of that "Ancestor of Ten Thousand Scales" when he fell! And the ancient soul scale, the ancient flood dragons remnant, and even this Xuanming True Water... were all part of this endgame that had spanned eternity! They had inadvertently uncovered an ancient scar far more terrifying and dangerous than they had imagined!