The scene seemed frozen; the Saint Dragon Jade continued to shower its brilliant nine-colored radiance into Jiang Chen's body, while Soul Power surged incessantly within his Sea of Consciousness, fusing two separate energies inside him.

Meanwhile.

Gradually, Jiang Chen's mind was filled with new texts, including a new cultivation technique and battle technique!

...

Time slipped away quietly, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed!

Buzz!

At noon three days later, the Saint Dragon Jade suddenly quivered. The golden and blood-dragon shadows imprinted upon it disappeared, the radiance of nine colors ceased to infuse, and it reverted back to its pristine jade form.

Swish!

The Dragon Saint, who had been guarding Jiang Chen for three days, descended once again in front of him, catching the falling Saint Dragon Jade in his hands and staring fixedly at Jiang Chen without blinking.

Huh?

A drowsy murmur escaped Jiang Chen's lips as his eyes slowly fluttered open.

"You're awake! For now, don't think about anything else—check your memory to see if there is anything new. Remember it well!" Before Jiang Chen could speak, the Dragon Saint gently advised.

Jiang Chen glanced at the Dragon Saint, closed his eyes again, and began to recollect.

Huh?

This is... Dragon Battle Saber Technique? No, wait! This isn't the same as the Dragon Battle Saber Technique left by the ancestor. And what... What's this power inside me?

And what's "Blood Fiend Heavenly Dragon Art"?

What on earth is this?

Jiang Chen slightly furrowed his brow, carefully examining the cultivation technique and battle technique that had newly appeared; feeling utterly baffled, he opened his eyes and looked at the Dragon Saint in confusion: "Dragon Saint Senior, is this... Dragon Qi and Blood Qi merged together?"

"Indeed! The two Inner Qis within your body intermingled with Soul Power, forming something entirely new. This energy is called Heaven and Earth Dragon Origin Qi. It retains the properties of both Dragon Qi and Blood Qi, but it transcends them in level—a higher echelon of energy," the Dragon Saint explained with a faint smile.

"And what about the cultivation technique and the secret technique—do you know what they are?"

Jiang Chen frowned, scrutinizing the Dragon Saint, sensing that he was hiding many things from him.

"This cultivation technique is one that only opens after a Dragon Descendant breaks through the Venerable Realm. As for the battle technique within it, it's actually the same technique your ancestor Jiang Wuqing used after advancing to the Venerable Realm years ago," the Dragon Saint chuckled lightly. "Only, what he practiced was an incomplete version of the technique. Back then, he even thought he had created it himself!"

"No wonder this Dragon Battle Saber Technique doesn't feel the same as what the ancestor left behind!"

Jiang Chen muttered softly, then asked again: "What do you mean by 'opens'? Could it be that the cultivation technique was locked within the inheritance memory or something?"

"Exactly!"

The Dragon Saint's expression turned peculiar as he nodded and spoke meaningfully. "It was indeed sealed within your inherited memories. However, don't ask me why you possess inherited memories or why I am the one who unlocked them. The time to reveal those answers has not come yet. Wait until you..."

"Wait until I grow strong enough?"

Jiang Chen's face took on a similarly peculiar expression as he stared at the Dragon Saint. "I've heard that line a thousand times already. When exactly will I be considered 'grown' enough?"

The Dragon Saint smiled faintly and spoke softly, "When you break through the Saint Realm, you'll barely meet the standard for growth."

"Barely meet the standard for growth? Are you kidding me? Your standards are ridiculously high!" Jiang Chen exclaimed in astonishment.

A trace of reminiscence flickered in the Dragon Saint's eyes, as if he were replying to Jiang Chen and reminiscing at the same time: "During those days, the Saint Realm was merely the beginning."

"Huh?"

Jiang Chen was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the Dragon Saint.

The Dragon Saint chuckled lightly, "Let's not talk about this for now. Could I trouble Mr. Jiang to first address the Soul Devour wound on my body…"

"Oh! Right, of course!"

Jiang Chen snapped back to his senses and nodded hastily.

He then busied himself…

...

On the border of the Flame Dragon Territory's waters and the international waters near Beihai National.

Warships were stationed atop the ocean. On the deck of the command ship stood a group of individuals, each with a worried expression as they gazed toward the international waters.

After leaving Fuyuan Mountain, Yan Hu and the others followed the planned route to exit Beihai National. On the way, they encountered An Long and his group, who were also departing. The two groups converged, exchanging updates on their respective situations.

When they heard that the Dragon Saint had gone to retrieve Jiang Chen, they collectively sighed in relief and decided to return to the Flame Dragon Territory first.

Upon reaching the Flame Dragon Territory's waters, they encountered a naval fleet dispatched by the Flame Dragon Group to retrieve them. Boarding the warships, they waited alongside the fleet in the sea.

"Captain Shen, we can't wait any longer. If we delay any longer, Beihai National may issue a protest!"

A mid-ranking officer with two bars and two stars on his shoulder approached Shen Xiangtian, speaking in a low voice.

Shen Xiangtian furrowed his brows and replied gravely, "Captain Lin, leave us a ship and return with the others."

"But…"

Captain Lin paused, shaking his head gently. "Captain Shen, that's out of the question. All of the vessels are warships—they can't be casually appropriated!"

"Do I lack the authority to commandeer your warship?" Shen Xiangtian turned his gaze toward Captain Lin.

Chen Jiantao barked angrily, "Lin Guozhong, have you forgotten who saved you from the criminals back in Parrot Ocean? Is this how you repay Dragon Tooth for saving your lives?"

"Instructor Chen, I haven't forgotten!"

Lin Guozhong declared solemnly, "Had it not been for your Dragon Tooth warriors, our fleet might have been wiped out in Parrot Ocean. However, warships are military equipment, and Captain Shen, you indeed lack the authority to commandeer them. Even though Flame Dragon Group is a special department, its soldiers below the rank of general still cannot arbitrarily requisition military equipment from other units. This is a rule jointly agreed upon between the military and Flame Dragon Group!"

"You…"

Shen Xiangtian glared fiercely at Lin Guozhong and shouted, "Do you know who's stranded in Beihai National? He's the chief instructor of our Dragon Tooth Special Combat Team, an intermediate rank officer personally decorated by the Central Defense Area commander! He was once called a strategic weapon, a national treasure by the Second Elder! Do you intend to abandon him?"

"Wh-what?!"

Lin Guozhong was stupefied, staring dumbfounded at Shen Xiangtian.

"Lin Guozhong, you may have to follow orders, and I don't blame you for that, but we will never abandon our chief instructor! The explosion at Fuyuan Mountain, the volcanic eruption—it's very likely all connected to the chief instructor. Even if that senior is present, we don't know if they can withstand the eruption. The chief instructor's fate is uncertain, and you want us to retreat together? Do you think that's even possible?" Chen Jiantao said sharply.

Lin Guozhong's eyes widened in shock, "You mean Fuyuan Mountain…"

"Quiet!"

Shen Xiangtian snapped coldly, "Can those words be casually spoken? Do you not understand confidentiality protocol?"

"I…"

Lin Guozhong swallowed hard, his body trembling slightly as he turned to look toward Beihai National's direction, his eyes gleaming with an expression of deep admiration.

...

...

PS: Visiting guests on the Dragon Boat Festival was quite hectic, so the update is slightly shorter than usual—I hope you can forgive me.

Wishing everyone peace and well-being during the Dragon Boat Festival!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.