Lu Xiao Yun’s cultivation has already reached the peak of the ninth layer of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, just one step away from the True Yuan Realm.

But that final step, he still couldn’t take.

This year’s New Dragon Ranking Tournament, his goal was to take first place, the throne of the Great New Dragon, but the people coveting that position were far from just him alone.

If he couldn’t step into the True Yuan Realm before the New Dragon Ranking Tournament, then wanting to sit at the top of the Ten New Dragons would be nothing but wishful thinking.

Because of this, Lu Xiao Yun had been depressed this whole time, so the moment he received Li Chen’s Spirit Mirror, he rushed over at once. First, because even if he continued to stay in seclusion and cultivate bitterly, there would be no progress; second, a Demon Python transforming into a Flood Dragon was something seen once in a thousand years. If he could obtain even a sliver of that opportunity, his breakthrough to the True Yuan Realm would be just around the corner.

Calming down very quickly, Lu Xiao Yun raised his head to look at Li Chen and said:

"Junior Brother, since this Single Horned Red Cloud Python is already capable of undergoing Heavenly Tribulation to transform into a Flood Dragon, its rank must have reached the pinnacle of the ninth level. It carries the bloodline of an ancient Divine Dargon in its body, its strength far surpassing an ordinary Single Horned Red Cloud Python. Even if it fails its tribulation, we still won’t be a match for it. If it succeeds and sheds its skin to become a Flood Dragon, the two of us together won’t be able to withstand even a single move."

Although Lu Xiao Yun very much wanted to obtain this Single Horned Red Cloud Python’s Demon Core, he did not lose his reason because of it.

He knew very clearly that a Demon Python capable of transforming into a Flood Dragon could sweep all opponents of the same level among Demon Beasts. Even if this Single Horned Red Cloud Python was only a ninth‑level Demon Beast, it still possessed the strength to challenge a True Yuan Realm Martial Artist.

"Senior Brother, I asked you to come all this way from thousands of miles away; naturally I wouldn’t let your trip be in vain."

Li Chen smiled, placed his palm on the scale, and said, "When the Single Horned Red Cloud Python was undergoing Heavenly Tribulation, besides me, there were two other people present. One was a True Yuan Realm Martial Artist, the other a late ninth‑layer Spiritual Rotation Realm Martial Artist. They seemed to have discovered the Single Horned Red Cloud Python long ago, deliberately lying in wait nearby, planning to strike and kill it while it was weakened from enduring the Heavenly Tribulation."

"And what was the result?" Lu Xiao Yun asked immediately.

"They underestimated that Single Horned Red Cloud Python’s strength. The True Yuan Realm Martial Artist was hit by a single breath of Demon Qi and instantly turned to dust, while the other was badly wounded and fled. However, the Single Horned Red Cloud Python didn’t get off easy either. Affected by the two of them, it failed its tribulation. After that great battle, its Yuan Qi was greatly depleted, and its body was almost cut in half by that True Yuan Realm Martial Artist. I obtained this scale by chance at that time."

"Then why didn’t you make a move and kill it?" Lu Xiao Yun said.

"I’m not about to gamble with my own little life."

Li Chen gave a bitter smile and said, "Although that Single Horned Red Cloud Python was seriously injured, it still possesses at least the strength of the ninth layer of the Spiritual Rotation Realm. I had only just broken through to the eighth layer of the Spiritual Rotation Realm; going up would have been nothing but courting death. Senior Brother, with the kind of injuries the Single Horned Red Cloud Python suffered, it definitely won’t be able to recover in a short time. As long as you act, you will definitely be able to take its life! With this scale, we can also track down its whereabouts."

A sharp gleam flashed in Lu Xiao Yun’s eyes as he said, "Junior Brother, I’ll remember this favor. If this matter succeeds, I definitely won’t treat you poorly."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother."

Li Chen cupped his fists in thanks. In truth, he also very much wanted the Single Horned Red Cloud Python’s inner core. But he knew very well that with his strength, that was nothing but a fool’s dream; it would be better to go along with the situation and sell a favor instead.

He had some friendship with Lu Xiao Yun. If, in this New Dragon Ranking Tournament, Lu Xiao Yun could become the head of the Ten New Dragons, he would definitely not lack benefits.

"Senior Brother, when are we setting out?"

"Since you’re not the only one who discovered the Demon Python transforming into a Flood Dragon, the more time we waste, the more variables there will be. We set out for the Red Dragon Mountain Range immediately." Lu Xiao Yun stood up as he spoke. It had been hard enough to see a hope of breaking through to the True Yuan Realm soon; he naturally did not want to just miss it like this.

"Alright."

Right after, the two of them left the restaurant and hurried toward the direction of the Red Dragon Mountain Range.

...

After leaving Red Mysterious City, Luo Feng fixed his direction and flew straight toward the Red Dragon Mountain Range.

As time passed, the traces of human presence grew fewer and fewer, and the terrain became flatter and flatter, until, in the end, it was an endless, barren plain.

Unfolding the map he carried, Luo Feng checked his current location and muttered to himself:

"Once I cross this stretch of wasteland, I’ll reach the Red Flame Desert by tomorrow..."

Whoosh!

Right at this moment, a sharp tearing‑through‑the‑air sound rang out as a flying Demon Beast burst through the clouds and dove at him.

Boom!

Without even looking, Luo Feng blasted a punch backward. The air trembled, and before the flying Demon Beast even had time to scream, its body exploded into a cloud of blood mist.

Putting away the map, Luo Feng continued on his way.

This was no longer the territory of the Canglang Dynasty and was filled with unknown dangers. Luo Feng didn’t dare to be careless. Every time his Yuan Qi dropped to fifty percent, he would stop to rest and cultivate the Divine Dragon Nine Changes.

Like this—advancing and stopping—the time flew by quickly.

The afternoon of the second day after leaving Red Mysterious City.

Buzz!

The air churned chaotically as the heaven and earth Yuan Qi was forcibly drawn into a hilly area. The dense Yuan Qi formed a Yuan Qi vortex visible to the naked eye.

Boom!

No one knew how much time had passed when, with a violent shudder of the air, the Yuan Qi vortex suddenly exploded and then collapsed downward, vanishing without a trace.

On a flat patch of ground among the hills, Luo Feng, who was sitting cross‑legged, slowly opened his eyes.

"I finally broke through to the late ninth layer of the Spiritual Rotation Realm. It was even faster than I expected."

Luo Feng had originally estimated that breaking through to the late ninth layer of the Spiritual Rotation Realm would take another three or four days. He hadn’t expected to succeed in just one day, without encountering any bottlenecks at all. It seemed that the influence of breaking through with the Grand Momentum was even greater on his cultivation than he had imagined.

Bam!

Standing up, Luo Feng flicked his hand. Several pieces of rubble piled up on the distant ground were instantly ground into dust by surging Yuan Qi and scattered away.

Luo Feng nodded in satisfaction. With his cultivation breaking through to the late ninth layer of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, the quality and total amount of his Yuan Qi had increased even more than he had imagined. If he fought Tu Shan now, he wouldn’t even need to use his Saber Technique; just using the Sky Fire King Fist would be enough to win, and it would be extremely easy—no more than three moves to decide the victor.

"I wonder how it would go if I fought Lu Xiao Yun now..."

Thinking of Lu Xiao Yun, a surge of hot blood rose in Luo Feng’s heart.

However, after pondering for a moment, he didn’t have much confidence regarding this battle either. The outcome could only be known once they had actually crossed blows.

After all, Lu Xiao Yun was different from Tu Shan; the other’s strength couldn’t be measured simply by cultivation alone.

"It’s a pity I’m still a bit short of the ninth layer ’Nine Dragons Return as One’ of Blood Soul Transformation. Otherwise, if I could cultivate a strand of True Yuan, I’d have a ninety‑percent chance of defeating Lu Xiao Yun."

The thought flashed by, and Luo Feng gave a light smile. Meals had to be eaten one bite at a time; one couldn’t become fat in a single mouthful.

Raising his head, he looked at the horizon ahead, gilded dazzlingly by the sunlight, and said to himself: The Red Flame Desert should be just up ahead.

Feeling that his Yuan Qi had almost fully recovered, Luo Feng resumed his journey.