He had been accumulating power at the peak of Demon Saint realm for many years,
Just one step away from the Demon Emperor realm.
Now with the impact of the dragon blood's energy,
Breaking through to Demon Emperor was only natural.
Yet the Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon felt both excitement and worry,
After all, the Demon Emperor realm was the ultimate goal every Saint-grade powerhouse dreamed of,
But achieving Demon Emperor status meant
Almost certain death at the hands of Hell's Gate!
Because in this world, becoming an Emperor-tier powerhouse required Hell's Gate's approval,
Otherwise death was the only outcome!Just like that Yunxiao Sect Martial Emperor ten thousand years ago!
"Don't worry, break through if you want to. Have no concerns. A mere group of Martial Emperors - if they dare come, I won't mind eliminating them!"
Long Yuan gave the Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon a surprised glance,
The other's potential breakthrough to Emperor-tier was unexpected.
But this was even better,
Didn't it mean the task of nurturing a ninth-tier Martial Emperor could be completed ahead of schedule?
Wouldn't getting the rewards directly be even better?
Though shocked by Long Yuan's confident and somewhat boastful tone,
The Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon still hesitated,
After all, their Heavenly Dragon Abyss had been subordinate to Hell's Gate for tens of thousands of years,
They knew well how powerful and ruthless Hell's Gate was!
But then Chu Yunling's confident voice rang out: "If the Beast God says you can break through, then break through!"
"Hasn't the Beast God already killed Martial Emperors from Hell's Gate before?"
"Fine! I'll break through then! At worst, it just means death!"
The Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon steeled its resolve,
Breaking through to Demon Emperor meant death at worst,
But remaining stuck at Demon Saint forever
Would become its lifelong regret!
BOOM!
Terrifying energy erupted from the Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon's body,
Golden radiance bursting from its form,
It was finally breaking through from Saint to Emperor!
Meanwhile at the periphery of the Dragon Blood Lake,
All Demon Saint powerhouses gasped in shock,
"This... Golden Saint is breaking through to Demon Emperor?"
"Did he get Hell's Gate's permission to do this?"
"We're doomed! Heavenly Dragon Abyss is finished! Once Hell's Gate investigates, our abyss will be erased from this world!"
"But hasn't he already become the Chu family's contracted beast? Surely Hell's Gate won't blame us?"
"Of course they will! Since when has Hell's Gate ever been reasonable?"
"Ah! Why does he only care about his own breakthrough without considering us?"
Far from celebrating,
The Heavenly Dragon Abyss's Demon Saint elders wore expressions of terror,
As if already seeing the day Hell's Gate would crush their home.
Channeling the Dragon Blood Lake's energy,
The Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon's power kept rising,
Soon reaching early-stage Demon Emperor!
"Is this the feeling of Emperor-tier?"
"So incredibly powerful, no wonder they can suppress Saints with ease!"
The Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon clenched its claws,
The sensation was truly exhilarating.
Not only had its cultivation broken through,
But the concentration of its Emperor Way Golden Dragon Bloodline had also greatly increased,
Now exceeding 90%!
Physically, apart from its four flood dragon claws,
Every other part now perfectly resembled a True Dragon!
But when its gaze fell upon the red-haired youth by the lakeside,
Its pupils constricted sharply -
Even with early-stage Demon Emperor cultivation, it still couldn't perceive the other's depth!
To its eyes,
Long Yuan seemed shrouded in mysterious mist,
Making his true cultivation unfathomable!
"Could he be at peak Demon Emperor?"
The Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon speculated.
Moreover, his lifebound artifact had already slain mid-stage Martial Emperor Chi Mie,
His personal power must be unimaginable!
"Is this his confidence in opposing Hell's Gate directly?"
Several days later,
The Azure Heaven Thundercloud Dragon emerged,
Having reached its limit in bloodline enhancement.
Thanks to the dragon blood,
Its cultivation had advanced to Demon Saint,
A tremendous leap forward!
"Good, you've made excellent progress,"
Long Yuan nodded approvingly.
"Many thanks for this opportunity, Beast God!"
The Azure Heaven Thundercloud Dragon rumbled.
"Remember to continue diligent cultivation after returning."
"Yes!"
After bidding farewell to Heavenly Dragon Abyss's Demon Saint elders,
The Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon became Chu Yunling's contracted beast,
No longer able to remain guarding this place.
"Elders, I know achieving Demon Emperor spells disaster for Heavenly Dragon Abyss, but I had no choice!"
As the Chu family's Guardian Beast,
It was destined to oppose Hell's Gate.
Death awaited whether it broke through or not,
But as a Demon Emperor, it might still fight for survival!
"What's done is done,"
The other Demon Saints sighed.
They could only pray Hell's Gate wouldn't vent its fury on them.
"Elders, I have a suggestion,"
The Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon said: "Defect from Hell's Gate and pledge allegiance to the Chu family!"
But immediately,
Others objected: "Rebellion means certain death! At least now we have a slim chance!"
They knew Hell's Gate's power too well -
Nearly all Emperor-tier powerhouses throughout history came from them.
They couldn't even fathom
How terrifying that faction's foundations were!
Then Long Yuan suddenly appeared: "Actually, his suggestion isn't bad."
"At least from my perspective, Emperor-tier powerhouses mean nothing to me."
"So I believe your survival chances would be higher under the Chu family!"
The Demon Saint elders stared in shock: "What do you mean Emperor-tiers mean nothing to you?"
"I mean no matter how many come, I can suppress them all."
"Are you serious?!"
All Heavenly Dragon Abyss powerhouses gaped.
Unconcerned about Emperor-tiers?
How outrageously arrogant!
Emperor-tiers were this world's strongest existences!
"I swear this upon my Dragon Bloodline!"
Long Yuan was going to such lengths
Because he wanted to secure a spirit beast contracting location for future Chu family Beast Tamers.
The flood dragons here possessed faint True Dragon bloodlines -
A perfect resource.
Otherwise he wouldn't bother with this persuasion!
Everyone was stunned -
He swore upon his Dragon Bloodline?
Even the Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon stared in amazement.
Was he truly that powerful?
To disregard all Emperor-tiers?
But this was ideal -
The stronger the Beast God,
The safer it would be!
After discussion,
Several Demon Saint elders decided to defect from Hell's Gate and join the Chu family.
Then,
Long Yuan contacted Chu Tianyang
To handle the arrangements.
He wouldn't interfere with
The Chu family's specific development plans.
Though shocked by a Saint-grade faction's submission,
Chu Tianyang wasn't surprised considering the Beast God's involvement.
But what truly staggered him was
The Beast God making a Demon Emperor become Chu Yunling's contracted beast!
This shattered Chu Tianyang's worldview!
"Jiao Yun went to Hell's Gate - that fellow was our most loyal elder toward them,"
The Void Golden Dragon Flood Dragon informed Chu Tianyang.
"Indeed, an ancestor from his lineage once joined Hell's Gate and became a Demon Emperor, so his branch has always been closest to them!"