Battles after battles emerged in the illusion, countless in number, drenched in oceans of blood, and, at last, the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon had slain all its enemies. During that time, it had also acquired a companion, a human being.
Of course, this human was the knight from the pillar’s illusion, a senior expert from the Long Night Saint Dragon Palace.
He stayed by the side of the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon, gradually awakening a trace of rationality in its heart.
After that, the dragon and the human cultivated together, fought side by side, and grew stronger as one.
"Huff..." Having seen this, Sikong Jing retracted his consciousness and let out a long breath.
Upon seeing Sikong Jing open his eyes, the voice of the woman in black dress rang out again with a sneer, "If you can’t figure it out, don’t waste your time in front of this pillar. This isn’t a place you can comprehend."
From Sikong Jing’s expression, the woman in black dress was sure he had gained nothing, and was even shaken by the illusion.
Sikong Jing glanced at her briefly, wondering if this woman was out of her mind. He was ignoring her, yet she kept talking to him. Even if she was in a bad mood, it was none of his business.
However, Sikong Jing still couldn’t be bothered with her and closed his eyes, recalling everything he had just seen.
Clearly, the demonized Thunder Winged Dragon Snake had not fully regained its sanity, for it had not revealed its true form to the knight, which was why the knight had given it the name Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon.
The pillar in front of him was the record of the collaboration between the knight and the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon.
The knight carved down their combat skills and more, for the disciples of the Holy Dragon Palace to cultivate and comprehend.
But the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon, without the knight’s knowledge, had inscribed its entire life story onto the pillar, leaving wisps of its consciousness within it, imperceptible to most.
Only Sikong Jing could touch its consciousness, could see it.
Because he was the Master of Ten Thousand Beasts, he had also been demonized once, resonating with the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon.
However, these matters were also of little concern to Sikong Jing. What he needed to do now was to repeatedly observe the meridian changes of the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon when it was demonized, as well as its fighting style, so as to create a more powerful Beast Skill.
Adjusting his state of mind, Sikong Jing observed the pillar once more, constantly repeating the scenes he had just witnessed.
Time continued to flow, and in the blink of an eye, three more days had passed.
Sikong Jing finally slowly rose to his feet, ready to leave the pillar. He had observed enough, and the meridian changes of the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon had been thoroughly imprinted in his mind.
Next, he just needed to complete all the meridian configurations within his body.
But the realm of the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon was far too high; the complexity of its meridians exceeded anything Sikong Jing had ever seen in any demon beast.
It was impossible for him to achieve this in a mere three days.
For now, he would set it aside and see if there was anything to gain from the nine beast pillars.
Just as Sikong Jing was about to leave, the cold sneering voice of the woman in the black dress sounded again, "What’s the matter, given up?"
Sikong Jing abruptly halted, turned toward the woman in the black dress, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
"If I’m not mistaken, the True Qi you cultivate is centered around the Cultivation Technique of the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon."
"This technique was likely created by the knight using the power of the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon, but it has major flaws."
"I advise you to give it up; otherwise, you will become demonized."
Saying this, Sikong Jing turned and walked away...
For he had now memorized the meridians and the flow of demonic power of the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon. He could see at a glance the True Qi within the woman in the black dress, but the flaws were indeed too great.
As he had just mentioned.
The knight didn’t even know the true body of the Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon was the Thunder Winged Dragon Snake. How could the creation not have flaws?
The woman in the black dress’s face darkened as she said coldly, "Ridiculous, didn’t you say this wasn’t a dragon? Now you’re saying it is a dragon? Acting so wise when you know nothing, where does your confidence come from?"
Sikong Jing glanced back at her, still shaking his head without giving her any attention.
He had referred to the Demonized Thunder Winged Dragon Snake as a Black Refining Dark Hook Dragon for convenience’s sake and had not said it was still a Demon Dragon.
But, he was too lazy to explain further.
Seeing Sikong Jing leave without a word, the woman in the black dress snorted again, "What’s going on with the Holy Dragon Palace? The quality of students really is getting worse. Anyone can stay in the Martial Dragon Palace for so long; it’s simply a waste of resources."
Sikong Jing naturally heard her loud and clear, but he just laughed it off.
He arrived at the deepest part of the Martial Dragon Palace, where, sure enough, there were nine different pillars, each carved with a demon beast. Sikong Jing gave them a few glances, then his eyes lit up.
Two of the pillars bore demon beasts whose aura matched two of the inner cores from Wang Xiang and Wang Wei’s collection.
"Not bad, not bad, I can create two more Beast Skills now."
With excitement, Sikong Jing consumed an inner core and then observed the first pillar and began to comprehend it.
However, just as he was halfway through, footsteps suddenly sounded.
Then, a careless voice came from behind, "Hey, what mountain’s apprentice are you?"
At these words, Sikong Jing frowned, but the deep comprehension he’d been experiencing had been broken.
He could only turn around to look at the person behind him, who was one of four people—three men and one woman—all wearing blue robes embroidered with the Wind Dragon.
They were students from Wind Dragon Mountain...
Sikong Jing didn’t answer, but instead countered quietly, "Don’t you know that it’s rude to disturb someone else’s cultivation?"
At his remark, the three behind the man burst into laughter simultaneously.
The woman chided, "What if we disturb you? Do you know who he is? He is..."
Before the woman could finish, the man leading interrupted her emphatically, "Feng Yun, don’t speak for now."
After speaking, he took out a folded fan made of White Jade, looking quite elegant.
"Sorry about that, we disturbed you. My name is Qian Jingfu, from the Qian Family of the Long Night Imperial City, and also an Inner Palace Disciple of Wind Dragon Mountain. May I ask which mountain’s apprentice you are?"
Sikong Jing was somewhat surprised to encounter someone from the Qian Family here.
And the folded fan in his hand was a White Moon Fan, exactly like the Innate Treasure of Qian Jingsui, whom he had killed.
It appeared that these two weren’t brothers, they were cousins.
This White Moon Fan really was a good accessory for show, but Sikong Jing naturally wouldn’t start any conflict with Qian Jingfu over Qian Jingsui’s matter, so he simply responded, "Me, from Drunk Dragon Mountain."
Since the other had apologized, Sikong Jing also just perfunctorily replied and then redirected his gaze to the beast pillars in front of him.
He did not admit to being just an apprentice, after all staying in the Martial Dragon Palace for such a long time as an apprentice was too odd.
"What, from Drunk Dragon Mountain?"
As soon as Sikong Jing introduced himself, Qian Jingfu’s companions exchanged looks, their faces filled with surprise.
Meanwhile, the pleasant expression on Qian Jingfu’s face instantly disappeared, followed by a cold tone, "So you’re a student from Drunk Dragon Mountain. Then you can leave. We four need to study this pillar, there’s no room for you."
At those words, Sikong Jing turned his head back, his eyes growing cold, brimming with the intent to kill.