Chapter 1859: Chapter 1862: Mad Dragon Emperor

A gray shadow could be clearly seen on the elder’s chest, resembling a sharp blade that had pierced into his chest, continuously depleting his strength.

Within this gray shadow, a violent destruction was contained.

The power contained within would doom even a semi-Heavenly Human Realm expert to irreversible destruction upon the slightest contact.

With the elder’s strength, he could only rely on the small amount of Chaos Qi contained in the palace to suppress his injuries.

But ultimately, he was just barely holding on.

Others might not understand the elder’s injuries, but Chu Fengmian understood them perfectly. He was also clear about what the gray shadow that penetrated the elder’s body was.

Chaos lightning.

Chu Fengmian himself had endured the strikes of chaos lightning when facing his own heaven-defying tribulation.

This elder, too, was marked by chaos lightning, and from the dragon origin he possessed, Chu Fengmian could tell.

The elder before him had once also attempted to overcome a heaven-defying tribulation, to defy destiny and become a celestial anomaly.

Unfortunately, the elder’s outcome differed from Chu Fengmian’s.

Chu Fengmian succeeded, while the elder failed. The chaos lightning penetrated the elder’s body, relentlessly extinguishing his life.

If not for finding this sanctuary filled with Chaos Qi, the elder would have perished by now.

"To survive the heaven-defying tribulation is remarkable in itself."

Chu Fengmian remarked as he looked at the elder.

Chu Fengmian’s words were not false or mere flattery.

The term "heaven-defying tribulation" speaks to the immense difficulty of overcoming it, where survival is nearly impossible.

In historical records, few dare to undergo the heaven-defying tribulation, renowned demon prodigies recorded in ancient texts.

The courage alone to face it is not something everyone possesses.

Furthermore, though the elder did not overcome the tribulation, he survived, which is already extraordinary.

From historical accounts, there are hardly any who survived the heaven-defying tribulation.

Although Chu Fengmian survived the heaven-defying tribulation, it was nearly impossible even for him.

If not for the heart of the Sky-Swallowing Beast giving him a hand at the last moment, Chu Fengmian would likely have perished himself.

The elder before him had no such fortune, yet managed to survive the heaven-defying tribulation and become a living legend.

"Barely getting by, unworthy in comparison to you, sir."

The elder spoke with a tone tinged with regret.

He had meticulously prepared to undergo the heaven-defying tribulation, brimming with confidence, but ultimately failed. Though he survived, he was left with irreversible injuries.

For the rest of his life, he could only hide within this palace, unable to step out onto the peak.

Once he leaves the mountain, the chaos lightning on him will no longer be suppressed by Chaos Qi, leading to his imminent death.

He once believed that no one could survive the heaven-defying tribulation, yet today he encountered Chu Fengmian, someone who truly did.

This encounter left him extremely curious and eager to meet Chu Fengmian.

"How should I address you?"

Chu Fengmian casually asked.

"Outsiders call me the Mad Dragon Emperor, but now, I am just a dying man lingering in this small palace."

The elder softly spoke.

"Mad Dragon Emperor" — those three words alone hint at the immense, proud aura the elder once possessed, symbolizing himself with the mad dragon.

Yet the heaven-defying tribulation shattered his pride. Now, he was barely holding on with no longer any right to call himself a mad dragon.

"To meet you in this life, I can die without regret."

The elder, Mad Dragon Emperor, sighed as he looked at Chu Fengmian.

"You do not want to die."

Chu Fengmian looked at Mad Dragon Emperor, speaking calmly.

Hearing this, the elder let out a bitter smile, shook his head, and said,

"I do not want to die, or else why would I cling to life till now."

"But this Chaos Qi cannot suppress my injuries forever. Surely Mr. Chu can see, my body is like an oil lamp running dry. Within a few short years, I will undoubtedly die."

Mad Dragon Emperor spoke with a certain sense of melancholy in his voice.

"What if I could save you?"

Chu Fengmian smiled lightly.

"Your lifespan is far from over, merely extinguished due to the chaos lightning."

"Resolve the chaos lightning, and you may live for tens of thousands of years."

"Resolve chaos lightning?"

Mad Dragon Emperor initially held onto some hope from these words, but upon hearing the next, his face fell with disappointment. He laughed bitterly,

"I have tried countless times within this period. The chaos lightning has merged with my body, with my soul. Resolving it means my death."

"Even a Heavenly Human Realm expert I sought once told me this lightning could not be resolved."

Mad Dragon Emperor had tried various methods to resolve the chaos lightning, even seeking the help of a Heavenly Human Realm expert.

But the outcome only left him deeply disheartened.

Not even the Heavenly Human Realm expert could resolve the chaos lightning.

The chaos lightning had become one with him, as much a part of his flesh and blood. Resolving it would mean his demise.

"The Heavenly Human Realm may fail to do so, but that does not mean I cannot. If I say I can save you, I will keep my word."

Chu Fengmian casually spoke with boundless confidence in his voice.

"However, to save you, you must pay a price."

"If Mr. Chu can save me, I, Mad Dragon Emperor, pledge to serve you for life."

Mad Dragon Emperor declared with firm resolution.

Anyone who could resolve this chaos lightning would give him a new life, a debt worthy of lifelong repayment.

"Very well, let us waste no time."

Chu Fengmian, hearing Mad Dragon Emperor’s unequivocal agreement, wasted no more words.

"What does sir need to prepare?"

Mad Dragon Emperor asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.

To him, any sliver of opportunity was worth attempting.

"Nothing."

Chu Fengmian replied casually, as if about to undertake a trivial task.

Chu Fengmian raised his hand, condensing spiritual power in his palm, which he then channeled into Mad Dragon Emperor’s body.