Seeing their efforts were having an effect, Long Chen pushed even harder. The surging power within his body erupted completely, and everyone else put forth their strength in unison!
"Lift!"
Everyone shouted in perfect unison. With their combined might, they lifted the Stone Door, as heavy as Mount Tai, a full meter off the ground.
Seeing that everyone had expended Herculean effort to lift the Stone Door by just a meter, Dong Xuan turned to Long Chen and said, "Brother Long, you go in first and look for the Restoring Tendon Grass! We’ve got this!"
"Okay," Long Chen nodded. "Then I’ll have to trouble you all."
With that, he ducked under the Stone Door and went inside.
After entering, Long Chen ventured deeper. Soon, he saw a stone statue of an elder standing there, holding a long sword in his hand.
The moment Long Chen approached the statue, an immense pressure bore down on him, forcing him to one knee. The floor tiles beneath him shattered instantly!
"Such powerful pressure!"
Long Chen quickly circulated his battle qi to resist the pressure and alleviate some of the strain. However, the more he resisted, the stronger the pressure grew.
"Ancestor, I mean no disrespect," Long Chen said to the statue, his voice apologetic. "I only came here out of necessity. I must find the Restoring Tendon Grass to heal my friend."
As if it had heard his words, the statue’s eyes suddenly emitted a ray of light. At the same moment, a figure materialized out of thin air. Long Chen looked up and saw that it was the man depicted by the statue!
The elder was clad in a white robe, his hair and beard flowing and white. He had a benevolent appearance, yet he emanated a pressure that made breathing difficult.
The elder’s gaze fell upon Long Chen, and he shook his head in disappointment. "I had thought the person who entered this place would be a Heaven’s Chosen of exceptional talent. I never expected someone so ordinary."
Long Chen was taken aback, his mind reeling.
Divine Demon Ancestral Dragon Body! Emperor Meridians Talent Type! And this elder is calling me ordinary?
"Young man, this is not a place you should be. Leave quickly," the elder sighed lightly and waved a hand toward Long Chen. A powerful stream of Qi Force instantly shot in his direction.
Faced with this powerful blast of Qi Force, Long Chen immediately circulated all his battle qi to defend himself.
"You dare to resist?" the elder snorted coldly. "You overestimate yourself!"
He struck out with another palm, and a second, more powerful force swept straight toward Long Chen.
Long Chen’s expression hardened. He had no time for second thoughts and rapidly circulated the Divine Demon Ancestral Dragon Formula, instantly boosting his strength to the Seventh Layer of the War Ancestor Realm.
Even so, Long Chen was unable to block the powerful strike. The force sent him flying, and he crashed heavily against the hard stone wall. A trickle of blood immediately spilled from the corner of his mouth.
"Hm?"
The elder seemed to sense something was amiss. His gaze fixed intently on Long Chen, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
"Your bloodline..."
Confused, the elder instantly appeared before Long Chen.
Before Long Chen could get up, the elder placed a palm on his head. A foreign power suddenly surged into his body from his Tianling Cover. Long Chen couldn’t control it at all and felt his body rapidly begin to swell.
"AH—"
He let out a roar toward the heavens as an incredibly terrifying power erupted from his body. Even the elder was startled by this force.
"I never expected your Bloodline Power to be so strong." The elder’s face lit up with excitement. He stared intently at Long Chen and asked, "Young man, what is your special physique?"
Instead of answering the elder, Long Chen said, "Ancestor, I truly meant no offense. My only purpose here is to pick the Restoring Tendon Grass to save someone. I have no other malicious intentions."
The elder chuckled. "Not telling, are you? That’s fine. The fact that you possess sufficient talent is enough. You are qualified to inherit my mantle."
Inherit his mantle?
Hearing this, Long Chen was stunned. He quickly said, "Ancestor, I don’t need to inherit your mantle! I just need the Restoring Tendon Grass—"
"Whether you inherit it or not is not up to you!" the elder interrupted. "No one I have ever chosen has managed to escape!"
As he spoke, the elder ignored Long Chen’s wishes and pointed two fingers between his eyebrows.
Instantly, a talisman flooded into Long Chen’s mind. Countless, exceptionally clear Runes appeared before him, accompanied by the image of a figure practicing with a sword. Above the Runes, four large characters hovered: Heavenly Thunder Sword Technique.