The Divine Dragon lay coiled, its scales sharp and smooth, healing over a gaping wound on its belly. Within this sacred warmth, Ye Chen sat cross-legged, his entire body being tempered by the dragon's blood. After a long while, Ye Chen’s brow twitched slightly, and he clenched his fist, thinking, "That is enough."

The Divine Dragon sensed the strength of Ye Chen’s physique and nodded slightly. It then raised a claw and struck its own chest, tearing open a wound, allowing Ye Chen to break free from the flesh. Not long after, the wound slowly mended itself.

Ye Chen moved his fingers, donning the Black Feather Armor, the Blazing Flame Battle Boots, and other pieces of gear. He stretched, feeling the explosive power surging within his muscle cells. He looked towards the Divine Dragon, noticing its aura had diminished, and fatigue was unconcealed in its eyes; it seemed to have aged several hundred years in an instant.

"Hurry and learn the third stance!" the Dragon urged wearily.

Ye Chen pondered for a moment, then reached out and opened the Fire Civilization Space. After a brief search, he pulled out a fruit, entirely fire-red, vivid as fresh blood, emanating a rich fragrance.

"This is the Heavenly Dragon Fruit!" Ye Chen tossed it to the Dragon. "It should help you."

The Divine Dragon, with its keen sight, instantly detected the dense energy within the fruit. It promptly swallowed it whole, exclaiming in surprise, "Where did you acquire such a treasure?"

"Collected it by chance," Ye Chen replied casually. "This fruit is highly coveted by the Dragon race; it can elevate the dragon gene level, vitalize cells, and heal injuries."

This Heavenly Dragon Fruit, ranked among the top 100 treasures in the Fire Civilization’s Vault, had profoundly potent effects. Unfortunately, it was only effective when administered to dragons. The digestive and immune systems of other life forms were completely different; consuming it would either result in instantaneous explosion or severe, days-long diarrhea.

The Divine Dragon felt an immense affinity for the energy within the fruit, harboring no further doubt, and quickly devoured it, digesting and absorbing it within a few breaths. As the Heavenly Dragon Fruit dissolved inside, potent energy surged into its meridians, invigorating it. Its previously withered aura gradually strengthened, erupting with sky-piercing majesty, its essence even more vigorous than before!

The Dragon felt its injuries rapidly recovering and looked at Ye Chen with astonishment, then sheer delight. "This Heavenly Dragon Fruit is truly miraculous! My injuries are seventy to eighty percent healed, and my meridians have expanded, my bones strengthened—my power has increased significantly!"

"Sixty thousand years old," Ye Chen waved his hand, saying no more. He closed the Ruin Space, turned toward the Divine Peak, gathered all his strength, and approached the location for the third stance training. Instantly, overwhelming, mountain-toppling pressure surged, binding him and making movement impossible.

"Just shy of level 5000. I can barely keep my footing; even lifting an arm is excruciatingly difficult." Ye Chen felt the surrounding pressure but paid it little mind. He focused his gaze on the cliff face, where a blurry figure held a long sword, unleashing a strike that morphed into a myriad of phantom sword shadows!

Ye Chen's eyes gradually glazed over.

The Divine Dragon in the rear, feeling its body almost completely restored, felt as if caught in a dream. When it offered its essence blood to temper Ye Chen, it had never expected to heal, as essence blood was incredibly difficult to replenish. Furthermore, it constantly exerted power to suppress the rupture, draining energy ceaselessly. By absorbing vital energy, it could only barely keep pace with consumption; extracting power to heal its own wounds was clearly impossible.

The Dragon looked up at Ye Chen, standing firm as bedrock, and murmured, "Keep going!"

...

Outside, Dragon Emperor Island.

On the towering Dragon Emperor Island, the population was densely packed. Tribes from the Outer Sea and Middle Sea had migrated here, joined by a significant number of people from the Six Divine Islands of the Inner Sea.

After several days of relentless fighting, the Dark Prince’s strength had surpassed everyone's imagination. While the Six Island Masters were individually capable of defeating him through sheer force, he could enter Ghost God Mode, rendering all physical attacks useless!

Yesterday, the battle on East Divine Island concluded with the Dark Prince’s victory. The Xuanyuan Clan suffered heavy casualties, and the East Divine Island Master perished on the spot. Only the Lightless Island Master and the Celestial Palace Island Master managed a narrow escape, relying on superior speed.

Now, of the six great Inner Sea Island Masters, two were dead, leaving only four. The Purple Cloud Island Master was severely wounded, and despite consuming countless heavenly materials and exotic medicines, he would not be able to fight again soon.

"Retreat! Retreat!"

"Hurry and retreat!"

On Celestial Palace Island, large numbers of people were being transported to Dragon Emperor Island via airships. Originally, the Six Divine Islands of the Inner Sea possessed mechanisms to combine their power and condense a massive energy barrier, but the Dark Prince’s sudden assault and the killing of Island Master Xiyue had left them short one leader, rendering the barrier system inoperable.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Airships streaked in from the distance, transporting huge crowds seeking refuge on Dragon Emperor Island. This island boasted the strongest energy shield, enveloping the entire landmass—a special electromagnetic field capable of harming even Ghost God Realm experts!

Just as the great evacuation was underway—

Roar! Roar!

From a stretch of barren land on the island's edge, magma monsters clawed their way out. Perched atop one of these magma beasts sat an eerie youth in black armor with a head full of serpent hair.

"Slaughter them all!" the Dark Prince commanded, issuing orders to the low-level magma monsters in the unique racial language of the Dark Beings.

Rumble~~

All the magma monsters surged forth, trampling, destroying, and incinerating the forests along their path, piercing mountains, and killing the monstrous inhabitants of hazardous jungles.

At the island's center, large populations gathered. Many commoners, dressed in simple cloth, stood together anxiously. Some were still covered in mud, having clearly rushed over directly from the farmlands upon receiving the news.

Many queued in an orderly fashion toward the airships. The Celestial Palace Island Master stood beside a Temple Elder, a warrior of Divine rank, both observing the scene with deeply furrowed brows. At that moment, their expressions suddenly shifted, and they turned sharply toward the west.

Boom~~

Heavy footsteps approached, seeming to trample upon everyone’s hearts, shattering the tense, silent atmosphere. All minds trembled, faces etched with panic and terror as they stared at the source. They saw scores of malevolent magma monsters charging toward them. Some of the less courageous immediately lost control of their bladders, soaking their trousers.

"Monsters! It's the monsters!"

"They're here!"

The crowd erupted, everyone screaming in terror and rushing toward the airships, creating instant chaos.

The Temple Elder beside the Celestial Palace Island Master frowned deeply. With a low voice, he declared, "I will meet them!" His figure shot forward toward the first two magma monsters. Without any elaborate preparation, he clapped his hands, sending out two massive palm prints that instantly blasted the two magma monsters into nothingness.

The other magma monsters, realizing the danger, attempted self-detonation, but the Temple Elder skillfully evaded them. Having served as an Elder for ages and having entered the Burial God Abyss several times, he knew the lethality of these creatures well.

Seeing the Elder display such divine power, everyone rejoiced and felt a degree of calm return.

However, as the Temple Elder charged into the horde with his long sword, he suddenly vanished. Just as everyone wondered, a black shadow shot out from within the mass, flung high into the air, and landed heavily on the plaza amidst the crowds. It was the Temple Elder himself!

Dead?

Everyone’s pupils constricted; their hearts nearly stopped beating.

The Celestial Palace Island Master’s face changed drastically, and he shouted urgently, "Hurry and withdraw!"

Everyone snapped back to reality, frantically surging toward the airships in a wave of disorder.

"Waaah, Mama…" A little girl stood alone in the plaza, jostled by the surging crowds, yet no one stopped for her.

From within the magma monsters, the Dark Prince floated out, hovering in mid-air, looking down upon the scene with delight at the chaotic masses. He laughed, "Contemptible lives, mere ants, tremble! Fear! Hahahaha…"

The magma monsters poured into the plaza, beginning a wholesale slaughter. Many Temple Warriors and the elite cultivated by Celestial Palace Island drew their weapons, fighting bloody battles, vowing to defend this land to the death!

"We will never yield!"

"Kill them all!"

Everyone roared their defiance and charged toward the magma monsters.

The melee descended into utter confusion. Not long after, the magma monsters’ superior strength won out. Once surrounded and near destruction, they would self-detonate, causing countless deaths.

A bloody massacre unfolded...

The Celestial Palace Island Master watched, his spirit trembling, his fists clenched, eyes nearly spitting fire. Yet, he forced himself to hold back, thinking grimly, I must endure. I am no match for this demon yet; fighting now would only bring a pointless death. I must endure!

Just then, an airship packed with people lifted off and soared into the distance. The Celestial Palace Island Master noticed the Dark Prince’s gaze fall upon that ship, causing a jolt of alarm, but when he saw the Prince make no move, he let out a breath of relief.

The moment his relief surfaced, the Dark Prince saw the airship clear the island boundary. A cruel smile curled his lip. He raised a hand and pointed; a beam of light shot out, severing the airship's wings, sending it plummeting from the high sky into the ocean below. Immediately, terrifying sea monsters fought over the wreck, devouring the occupants.

The Celestial Palace Island Master roared, his eyes burning with crimson rage, his teeth grinding audibly. Finally, gazing at the remaining inhabitants of the island, he gritted his teeth, moved his body, and charged off alone into the distance.

"I may die, but it cannot be in vain! I must survive to avenge my people!!" The Celestial Palace Island Master raced toward the Inner Sea. Behind him, the very land of Celestial Palace Island had been plunged into a veritable hell on earth, where countless lives were butchered like insignificant weeds, amidst screams of pain, intermixed with maniacal laughter, like a demon from Asura.

People from the other great islands also evacuated. When all survivors had gathered on Dragon Emperor Island, the entire island appeared pitch black, crammed with people on every hillside, rooftop, and street—it seemed like an island built entirely of stacked bodies.

Huu!

In the distance, the Dark Prince flew through the sky, drenched in blood, his serpent hair whipping around him as he flicked his forked tongue. His eyes glowed with sinister light as he looked upon Dragon Emperor Island, sneering, "I have arrived. So many people. Tsk, the blood of these people is so pure; it will be enough for me to complete my divine technique!"

The old man in white robes saw the Dark Prince, his expression changing instantly, and he shouted fiercely, "Activate the energy shield!"