The Ye Xuan just now must have used Dragon Power, which suggests that the other party has the Dragon Clan Bloodline, at least that of a sub-dragon.
It’s very likely, that like their Ao family, they too are of Half-demon origin. It’s just that the type of Demon Clan blood within them is different.
"I’m but a minor character, not worth mentioning, and you wouldn’t recognize the name even if I told you," Ye Xuan said noncommittally.
"A minor character can take my Heavenly Tiger Demon Elephant Fist without harm? Then isn’t my Ao family’s secret technique worthless?"
Ao Feng could hardly believe Ye Xuan was just some obscure nobody. If a nobody could exchange blows with him on an equal footing, what would that make him, the prodigy of the Ao family, but a joke?
"If you don’t wish to reveal your identity, so be it. It’s just a woman with a bit of looks; I can let her go. However, today’s matter isn’t over yet, and someday I’ll seek further instruction from you," Ao Feng said, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes.
Hearing this, the people from the Ao family were also somewhat surprised. They then looked at Ye Xuan with amazement. It seemed this lad really had some substance to him, to make Ao Feng concede. Although there was still a hint of warning in Ao Feng’s words, it was just a formality. They could see that Ao Feng was reluctant to fight with Ye Xuan; otherwise, with Ao Feng’s character, he wouldn’t quit when something he desired was within reach.
This kid was not simple.
"Anytime," Ye Xuan said with a smile. He could hear the underlying meaning of the words. He now looked at Ao Feng with newfound respect. Ao Feng indeed had the demeanor of a true genius from a great house, knowing when to be tough and when to compromise, rather than being a constant nuisance.
However, the current priority was to vie for the Divine Dragon Blood. Normally, unless someone was out of their mind, they shouldn’t waste time and energy on trivial matters.
Before leaving, Ao Feng glanced at Ye Xuan, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved up. "If it weren’t for important matters at hand, I would truly like to have a battle with you."
"There will be a chance," Ye Xuan responded noncommittally, as Ao Feng led the people of the Ao family quickly out of sight.
"They actually left."
Wu Qianqian stared blankly as Ao Tian and the others rapidly departed. Was this crisis, which was enough to plunge her into a desperate situation, really averted just like that?
She looked at Ye Xuan with a complex expression. She had been antagonistic towards him and hadn’t taken him seriously at all. But now, this man she had disregarded possessed strength that made her look up to him, capable of dealing with someone of Ao Feng’s caliber effortlessly.
"Thank... thank you."
As she approached Ye Xuan, Wu Qianqian drew a deep breath, and then bowed her head to him.
"No need," Ye Xuan waved his hand. If it weren’t for Lin Wan, he wouldn’t have intervened. Glancing at Wu Qianqian, he then turned away and said, "This isn’t a place for you. Being saved once counts as your luck. If you don’t leave now, your lives will be in danger, and luck won’t be on your side next time."
With that, he leapt toward the depths of Blood River Valley.
"Take care of yourself, Junior Sister Wu."
Lin Wan also gave Wu Qianqian a deep look, then promptly followed in the direction Ye Xuan had left.
Gazing at the departing silhouettes of the two, Wu Qianqian’s expression was also somewhat bewildered. Could it be that she really was wrong before?
"Senior Sister Wu, are we still going to the center of Blood River Valley?" At this time, a disciple from Dragon Sword Island asked.
"To deliver ourselves to death?"
Wu Qianqian cast a cold glance at the other party and then said, "He’s right, the blood of the divine dragon is not something we can touch. While most people are now fixated on the blood of the divine dragon, we can go elsewhere; perhaps we’ll find something."
"Yes." Several Dragon Sword Island disciples nodded and then quickly left with Du Cang, who was still unconscious.
Rescuing Wu Qianqian and the others was just a brief interlude. On the rest of the journey, Ye Xuan and Lin Wan didn’t encounter any more troublesome obstacles. After all, in the vast Blood River Valley, the fierce beasts that could threaten Ye Xuan were few and far between, hardly likely to appear just anywhere. Thus, the numerous but ordinary fierce beasts naturally couldn’t stop the lightning-fast advance of Ye Xuan and his companion.
Two figures each touched the trunk of a tree with their tiptoes and then, leveraging their momentum, burst forth at high speed, finally breaking through the dense forest and into the glaring sunlight, which made them squint for a moment before quickly opening their eyes wide again.
At first glance, a lush and vibrant greenery greeted them, and in the distance beyond this verdure was an exceptionally large lake spanning roughly a thousand yards, its surface glittering with light. A gentle breeze caused the calm surface of the lake to ripple softly.
The surface of the lake was a dark red color, appearing quite eerie, like a stagnant pond that had claimed the lives of countless people, blending their blood into its waters.
As Ye Xuan and Lin Wan appeared around this lake, the sound of breaking wind came from the surroundings, and figures also swept out of the forest, eventually landing around the area.
"This must be Dragon Blood Pond..." Lin Wan murmured as she looked at the calm lake, a hint of eager anticipation flashing through her beautiful eyes.
Ye Xuan nodded slightly. He could feel the immense vitality contained in this region. The primordial power of heaven and earth here was several times more concentrated than in other places.
Although his soul power met with strong resistance when penetrating into the pond’s water, he could still faintly sense a vast fluctuation of life within. This fluctuation, though very faint, and fluctuating in intensity, was indeed real. Due to the distance and separation, it felt obscure.
"A one-horned Blood Python, eh..."
Ye Xuan withdrew his soul probing. The aura deep in the water was undoubtedly that of a one-horned Blood Python.
"It seems like everyone has arrived..."
Ye Xuan’s gaze swept across the area around Dragon Blood Pond. The people from the Ao family, the Shadowless Blade Guest, and the other formidable powers he had encountered at the foot of the mountain, most had made it here successfully. However, the bloodstains on some suggested that their journey was not without turmoil.
While Ye Xuan was surveying his surroundings, Ao Feng’s gaze also lingered on Ye Xuan for a moment, but it was merely a brief pause before he looked away.
"Elder Tie, it’s that kid."
Not far from the lake stood several inconspicuous figures; clearly, they were from the Great Wilderness Sect. When one of the Great Wilderness Sect disciples spotted Ye Xuan, he quickly alerted a white-browed middle-aged man beside him.
The white-browed middle-aged man caught sight of Ye Xuan and his expression turned to one of both surprise and delight. He exchanged a look with Lu Yuan, and a sinister expression crossed his face.