Chapter 1027: Chapter 439: Reward—Dragon Essence Blood Tempering Pill and Awakening Spirit Pearl

The deathly still battlefield, after a few breaths of time—

"Oh!" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"We won, we won!!"

"The Star Palace and Ancient Demon have retreated, we held our ground!!"

The deafening cheers, mixed with endless joy, excitement, and choked sobs, erupted like an avalanche from every survivor among the cultivators and demon race of the outer sea.

This was a battle that was originally destined to end in despair, but it was forcibly reversed.

Countless gazes, filled with immense gratitude, worship, awe, and indescribable complex emotions, unanimously focused on the figure standing amidst the ruins of the battlefield, holding a blue-golden Divine Sword, with his robes fluttering—Xu Ping!

It was he who, at the critical moment, wielded the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, turning the tide of high-end combat power!

It was he who, with his Nascent Soul, struck out with a sword equivalent to Divinity Transformation, stunning the entire arena!

It was he who, in conjunction with that mysterious ghost cultivator elder, nearly forced an Ancient Demon of Divinity Transformation into a desperate situation!

If not for Xu Ping today, the outer sea would have perished.

The immense dragon form of Ao Guang, the Dragon King, slowly contracted in the clouds, and with a flicker of spiritual light, he transformed into a middle-aged man wearing a dark gold dragon robe, with two horns on his head, a dignified appearance, and vast aura.

With one step, he stood before Xu Ping and the Nine Nether Elder, who had already retracted his ghostly aura and restored the appearance of a withered old man.

Then, Ao Guang, the Dragon King, flicked his sleeve, and a gentle golden light that isolated all prying eyes enveloped the three of them, concealing the countless gazes directed at them from below.

His attention fell on the two, his gaze somewhat complex, especially as he gave Xu Ping a deep glance, then cupped his hands and spoke in a steady voice tinged with sincerity:

"Thank you, friends, for your assistance today, saving countless beings of the outer sea from calamity.

"This kindness, the Dragon Race and the beings of the outer sea will remember deeply."

His gratitude was heartfelt.

Though he did not know why the two suddenly acted, without them, he would have been severely injured, and the situation of the outer sea would have been completely rewritten.

Yet at the same time, his heart was filled with indescribable curiosity and a hint of apprehension.

Since when did such terrifying existences, comparable to Divinity Transformation, hide in this outer sea?

One had practiced the reverse-heaven ghost Dao.

The other, even more extraordinary, with Nascent Soul cultivation, was equipped with two supreme treasures, possessed profound understanding of the Sword Dao, and battle strength approaching Divinity Transformation.

The depth of this outer sea was simply beyond his imagination.

Xu Ping and the Nine Nether Elder exchanged a glance and both slightly nodded in return.

"There is no need for such formality, Dragon King Ao Guang,"

Xu Ping replied calmly, cupping his hands in return.

Though facing the Fifth Rank Dragon King who had ruled the outer sea for countless years, the demeanor and strength he displayed at this moment had already earned him the qualification for an equal conversation.

The withered face of the Nine Nether Elder showed a slight smile: "The Star Palace Saints harbor treacherous ambitions, disregarding the safety of the beings of this world, and even daring to collude with the Ancient Demon to carry out such outrageous actions."

"Our intervention was naturally obligatory, to give the myriad beings of the outer sea a slim chance of survival."

He spoke grandiloquently, as if truly a paragon of orthodoxy with the world’s welfare at heart, but the faint flicker in his clouded eyes and his true thoughts lay deep within, known only to himself.

Speaking of the Ancient Demon, a heavy shadow immediately covered Ao Guang the Dragon King’s dignified face: "The Ancient Demon is inherently extremely difficult to deal with, its demonic Qi filthy, its Divine Techniques strange, and now it has even colluded with the Star Palace, acting nefariously....

"Although they were repelled this time with the help of you two, the threat is far from over, that Ancient Demon Hall hidden in the void could reappear at any moment."

"And after Star Palace’s defeat, they will not let this matter rest. The future situation of the outer sea may become even more perilous, requiring the full support of you two fellow Daoists to tide over the crisis together."

His words were both a statement of fact and a reaffirmation of his stance.

He sought to bind Xu Ping and the Nine Nether Elder, these two suddenly appearing mighty allies, more firmly onto the vehicle against the Star Palace and Ancient Demon.

Then, he changed his tone, issuing another invitation, this time with more solemnity: "This kindness, the Dragon Race and the myriad beings of the outer sea will remember deeply."

"This is not the place for a detailed discussion. May I invite the two Daoist friends to move to the Dragon Palace for a talk?"

"There are matters concerning the survival of the outer sea that need to be discussed in detail with you two."

Hearing this, Xu Ping did not immediately answer but cast his gaze towards the Nine Nether Elder.

The Nine Nether Elder let out a low chuckle: "The Dragon Palace is naturally a fine place, resplendent and filled with Spirit Veins."

"However, in my opinion, it would be better to find a quiet, secluded hall within the True Dragon Hall’s domain to discuss."

Though they currently share the same goal with the True Dragon Hall, jointly opposing foreign foes,

they are not of our race and their hearts are surely different, not to mention the Dragon Race’s inherent pride; one cannot be sure if they would set any traps in their Dragon Palace lair.

Maintaining a certain distance and vigilance on the other party’s territory is necessary.

What kind of being was Ao Guang the Dragon King? He instantly understood the underlying message in the Nine Nether Elder’s words.

A trace of an imperceptible gleam flashed in his eyes, but outwardly, he remained impassive, instead nodding in understanding:

"What you say, Daoist friend, is correct. It is Ao’s oversight, so let it be as you suggest."

He did not insist, showcasing the demeanor of a king and respect for the two mighty cultivators.

Having spoken, he raised his head and let out a low dragon chant, penetrating the seawater, sending it far away.

After merely a moment.

The sea at a distance surged, and a massive Fourth Rank Upper Grade Flood Dragon, clad in menacing scales and with a single horn on its head, swiftly swam over, humbly prostrating before Ao Guang the Dragon King.

"Let’s go."

Ao Guang the Dragon King was the first to step onto the broad back of the Flood Dragon.

Xu Ping and the Nine Nether Elder hesitated no longer, their figures flickered, and they stood steadily atop the Flood Dragon.