Chapter 805 - 276: The Fourth Golden Core (2)
The two boarded the treasure ship and flew directly towards Flame Lake City in the Western Wilderness.
"Ang!"
Just as the treasure ship flew over Zhen Nan City, situated between Flame Lake City and Yunshui City, a deep and strange roar suddenly came from the distant west!
"Is this the sound?"
On the ship’s railing, Xu Zhan gazed towards the direction from which the sound came, speaking with a deep voice.
"Dragon’s roar..."
Shen Wen’an also stared ahead, frowning and mumbling.
Years ago, he had fought with Li Qing, the Golden Core Flood Dragon, in the Cangmin Sea Region, and could clearly discern the resemblance between this strange roar and Li Qing’s.
However, Li Qing’s voice was far less startling than the impact brought by this strange roar.
"Dragon?"
Hearing this, Xu Zhan looked at him in surprise and asked, "Third Uncle, do you mean that this strange roar came from a dragon?"
Shen Wen’an slightly shook his head and said, "It sounds somewhat alike, but cannot be concluded."
There is quite a difference between a flood dragon and a true dragon.
In the Cultivation Realm, "dragon" actually encompasses all dragon-type demon beasts.
Creatures such as flood dragons with blood ties to the Ancient Dragon Race, when evolving to resemble dragon-like forms, can all be called dragons.
However, true dragons are Ancient Divine Beasts containing pure dragon bloodlines, whose minimum cultivation must reach the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm.
The Void Treasure Ship was swift.
Shortly after the two heard the strange sound resembling a "dragon roar," the treasure ship appeared above Flame Lake City.
After retrieving the treasure ship, Shen Wen’an and Xu Zhan descended into Flame Lake City.
"Third Master, Lord Xu."
The cultivators guarding the city saluted and led the two to Shen Xiuyun and He Zhongyi.
Shen Xiuyun and He Zhongyi bowed and then began explaining the strange events to them.
After listening to He Zhongyi’s account, Shen Wen’an pondered briefly and said, "Both of you must guard Flame Lake City and immediately prohibit anyone from entering or leaving."
"Xu Zhan and I will go take a look."
With a brief instruction, he and Xu Zhan left Flame Lake City, heading towards the western desert.
"Back then, when I was at the Half-Step Golden Core Realm, I came to this area under your grandfather’s instructions to investigate some matters."
"But at the time, I didn’t know what I encountered, and in the end, a memory was wiped from me, leaving me on that mound..."
On the Void Treasure Ship, Shen Wen’an pointed to a mound below, speaking solemnly.
The sight stirred his emotions, reminding him of the incident that nearly destroyed his Dao Heart.
Xu Zhan was surprised upon hearing this.
He hadn’t expected Third Uncle Shen Wen’an to have experienced such a thing.
His thoughts shifted, and Xu Zhan suddenly asked curiously, "Third Uncle, do you think this strange occurrence is related to what you went through back then?"
His words made Shen Wen’an slightly pause, then smile faintly, "If there’s a connection, that’s fine. This time, it might be possible to uncover who erased my memory back then."
He understood well that even though he had now reached the Late Stage of the Golden Core, he certainly wouldn’t be a match for that existence he encountered years ago.
But just knowing the identity of the adversary is enough.
In the future, if he has the fortune to break through to the Nascent Soul, he must seek them out for a discussion to avenge the incident of the past.
The Void Treasure Ship flew west rapidly, soon crossing the rocky desert and arriving in a more desolate sandy barren.
"Ang!"
Just as the two were uncertain where to continue searching, another loud and strange roar arose!
This time, while aboard the treasure ship, both not only heard the roar but vaguely saw a bloody shadow rising into the sky from deep within the desert!
"Is it truly a dragon!?"
Upon seeing the shadow vanish into the void, Xu Zhan couldn’t help but exclaim.
Shen Wen’an was also full of surprise at this moment.
Though that skyward shadow quickly disappeared, he clearly caught the features of the shadow.
Antlers, four legs...
These are definitely not traits that a regular dragon species possesses!
"How could there be dragons in this barren desert devoid of life?"
Xu Zhan was very puzzled.
Shen Wen’an seemingly thought of something, yet that memory had ultimately been erased by someone, flashing through his mind without him able to grasp it.
"That should have been a Dragon Qi, or perhaps the resentful remnants of a dragon spirit..."
"Let’s go see it."
The fleeting memory in his mind made him realize that the location where the dragon-shaped shadow appeared might very well be where his memory was erased years ago.
He maneuvered the Void Treasure Ship swiftly towards the place where the dragon-shaped shadow dissipated.
Buzz!
The treasure ship transformed into a stream of light, flying for half an hour before an invisible barrier suddenly appeared in the empty space ahead.
However, this barrier seemed merely an illusion as the Void Treasure Ship lightly collided with it and passed directly through.
At the ship’s bow, Shen Wen’an and Xu Zhan felt a flicker of light in front of them, immediately followed by a dramatic transformation in their surroundings.
The endless desert before them vanished, replaced by an ancient, vast, and primitive jungle.
Standing on the Void Treasure Ship, the two instantly spotted a colossal gorge in the middle of this wilderness-filled primeval forest.
On both sides of the gorge, ancient trees hung upside down, thick vines intertwined, and blood mist pervaded and transformed.
These mists occasionally transform into flood dragons with a single horn on their heads and no legs on their abdomens, leaping skyward!
However, these flood dragon shadows, upon ascending, immediately ram against that unseen barrier, emitting a mournful cry of reluctance before dissolving back into blood mist, dispersing above the gorge.
Some dragon-shaped shadows manage to form antlers on their heads and claws on their abdomens; after ascending, they can barely break through the unseen barrier, releasing a deeply resonant yet joyfully elegant roar, quickly vanishing into the heavens beyond.