Having weathered the tribulations of seven Mystic Calamities, Du Qing, though not yet ascended to the true Early Void stage, possessed a power that ran deep and immeasurable. Had Wang Lin not commanded a multitude of arcane arts, subduing such a formidable opponent would have proven a feat of nigh-impossible difficulty.

A creature of cautious nature and ever-shifting allegiance, Du Qing was known to bend and yield in pursuit of his ambitions. Now, seeking to curry favor with Wang Lin, he unleashed his mightiest incantation. A violet radiance pulsed within his form, and the very essence of gravity emanated outward, a tangible weight that pressed upon the world.

As the dragon spirit, roaring defiance, drew near to Du Qing, it shuddered violently, as though burdened with a weight multiplied a thousandfold. A piteous wail tore from its throat as it plummeted from the sky, crashing upon the earth below. Though it thrashed and howled in its torment, it could not escape the crushing grip of Du Qing’s power.

Yet, as the subordinate dragon spirit roared in agony, flames began to erupt uncontrollably from within Du Qing’s own being, as if seeking to turn against their master in rebellion.

Wang Lin, his gaze flickering briefly upon the scene, gained a renewed understanding of Du Qing’s mastery of gravity. Turning his attention away from the struggling spirit and Du Qing, Wang Lin focused his full might, save for a thread of divine sense reserved for vigilance, upon the approaching inferno of the magma dragon.

The subordinate fire dragon exuded a palpable heat, and as it drew closer, the friction against the very air ignited its form, spawning great clouds of black smoke that billowed forth. It no longer resembled a dragon spirit of fire, but rather a monstrous fiend of the Immortal Void!

As the smoke-wreathed fire dragon charged towards Wang Lin, his white hair danced upon the wind. He stepped forward, raising his right hand, weaving a mystic sign. In a flash of sanguine light, the Blood Sword manifested in his grasp, becoming a blade of crimson doom that descended from the heavens to cleave the subordinate fire dragon spirit asunder.

The heavens quaked, the very air thrummed with the force of the blow. The Blood Sword met the fire dragon spirit, and a deafening explosion echoed across the land. The fire dragon spirit recoiled in pain, a desperate roar escaping its maw as it sought to evade the crimson blade.

But the power of the Blood Sword was too great, too swift. In the instant the dragon spirit retreated, the blade slashed across its form, severing a portion of its being with a horrifying shriek.

The earth shook with the dragon’s cries as it stumbled backward, diminished and wounded. Wang Lin’s eyes gleamed with frigid resolve. This was the crucial moment for the merging of his true essence, and without hesitation, he lunged forward, his left hand grasping a severed fragment of the subordinate dragon spirit. He cast it backward, into the heart of the one-zhang fire orb.

The fire orb absorbed the fragment, and the flames within surged with renewed ferocity. Within, the embryonic true essence, already adorned with limbs, now showed signs of solidifying into a corporeal form.

Swift as lightning, Wang Lin traversed a thousand zhang in the blink of an eye, appearing above the retreating subordinate dragon spirit. His movements were fluid and seamless. Though he lacked Du Qing’s ability to subjugate a dragon spirit with a single surge of essence, his strike with the Blood Sword had been undeniably devastating.

Now, above the wounded fire dragon spirit, Wang Lin raised his right hand. Golden light erupted from his palm, so intense that it caused Du Qing’s heart to jolt in his chest.

In Du Qing’s eyes, he beheld Wang Lin wielding the Golden Seal, wreathed in blinding light!

The mere sight of the Golden Seal sent tremors through not only Du Qing but also the pitiful dragon spirit. The dragon spirit, dragged here against its will by Wang Lin, now looked at the golden seal with eyes of primal fear. Its first reaction was a desperate flight, its form blurring as it hurtled away, dwindling into a mere speck in the distance.

Wang Lin, his expression serene, pointed his right hand towards the fleeing fire dragon. The golden light intensified, and the Golden Seal hurtled forth like a vengeful thunderbolt.

Wang Lin did not linger to witness the outcome. He turned his attention back to the other fire dragon, the one held in check by Du Qing’s gravitational dominion.

Even as he turned, a deafening roar echoed from afar, shaking the very earth. A flash of golden light heralded the Golden Seal’s return, now hovering beside Wang Lin. Within its golden prison, a shrunken and utterly defeated fire dragon writhed, its desperate cries echoing its utter despair.

Du Qing, watching this spectacle, trembled with awe and trepidation.

“Truly, a treasure forged by a Grand Empyrean. Such power… and judging by his demeanor, he has not yet displayed his full might…” Du Qing blinked, quickly composing himself and offering a respectful bow to Wang Lin.

“Congratulations, Daoist Friend, on obtaining two subordinate dragon spirits. Your true essence should now be able to fully manifest.”

Wang Lin shook his head slightly, offering no reply. Instead, he pointed a finger at the Golden Seal. At his command, the captive dragon spirit within was released, encircled by a shimmering aura of gold, and directed towards the one-zhang fire orb.

The fire orb devoured the complete subordinate dragon spirit. The flames roared even louder, and the nascent true essence, already bearing limbs, began to solidify into a complete body with alarming speed.

Yet, as the form neared completion, the flames began to wane, flickering and threatening to extinguish altogether. Wang Lin frowned, his gaze sweeping towards Du Qing.

Du Qing, his senses as keen as his cunning, understood the unspoken request. Without hesitation, he pointed towards the remaining subdued dragon spirit. As the subordinate dragon spirit struggled and howled in protest, it was drawn inexorably towards the one-zhang fire orb.

At the moment of contact, the fire orb unleashed a powerful suction, greedily devouring the essence of fire from the dragon spirit. The dragon spirit’s cries grew more desperate as it was slowly consumed, until only emptiness remained, the orb having absorbed all its fiery essence.

Nourished by the third subordinate dragon spirit, the fire orb blazed anew. Within, Wang Lin’s true essence manifested, the very bones of his form taking shape. Within the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the body became complete!

Now, the true essence within the fire orb possessed four limbs and a fully formed torso. Only the head retained the visage of the Vermillion Bird, creating a discordant and unsettling image.

But the power of the flames had reached its limit. The one-zhang fire orb shattered in a silent burst, scattering embers that flowed back into the incomplete true essence.

As the orb disintegrated, a powerful aura of dominance emanated from the partially complete true essence, enveloping all around. Du Qing, standing nearby, was struck by the pressure, his heart pounding in his chest.

Even with his considerable cultivation, he felt a primal urge to retreat, to escape the crushing presence. It was a testament to the overwhelming power of the true essence.

“And this is not even the completed form. To possess such might even in its incomplete state… Once it is complete…” Du Qing inhaled deeply, his eyes burning with desire. He, too, yearned to manifest his own true essence.
I. A hundred and eighty-eight tributary veins, three dragon souls of lesser blood, yet none could fully coalesce into the Primal True Body… Truly, the difficulty of this form transcends comprehension. No wonder, in all the realms of the Cave Dwellers, such a Primal True Body had never been witnessed. The resources of those realms were simply inadequate, not even one could ever be forged.” Wang Lin sighed inwardly, deeply moved by the immense difficulty of achieving the Primal True Body.

“Further along the path, ever greater quantities of the Flame Essence will be required. This single head, who knows how much fire it will take to solidify it…” Wang Lin pondered. As he did, the half-formed Flame Essence True Body took a step forward, transforming into a sea of fire that merged into Wang Lin’s left eye.

The instant it merged, Wang Lin’s left eye underwent an astonishing transformation. Gone was the familiar brand of flame. In its place, a double pupil appeared!

The twin orbs possessed an unsettling, almost demonic aura.

Cracking his neck, Wang Lin stepped forward. As he moved, a spectral form manifested behind him, moving in perfect synchronization, though its features remained indistinct.

This sudden shift caused Du Qing to gasp.

“Could this be a manifestation of the Primal True Body, a phantom that shadows the movements! I once witnessed the Great Soul Sect’s Grand Patriarch in this manner. Wherever he went, a ghostly figure trailed behind him, especially when he unleashed his divine abilities.”

Wang Lin frowned, sensing the changes to his body after the True Body’s condensation. After a moment’s contemplation, the phantom behind him began to fade, eventually vanishing completely, never to reappear.

I. “Come now, let us journey to the Azure Dragon Sect. I intend to reside there for a time.” Wang Lin glanced at Du Qing.

Hearing these words, Du Qing’s spirits lifted, a smile gracing his face. He clasped his hands in a respectful bow. “It is my distinct honor! Rest assured, Daoist Wang, I shall mobilize all disciples to locate the earth-fire dragon veins, and dispatch the Sect Elders to extract the dragon souls for your cultivation.”

Wang Lin, his expression unreadable, nodded slowly. He and Du Qing transformed into twin streaks of light, heading into the distance. Behind them, the land, once teeming with the earth-fire tributary, withered.

Across the Tianniu Continent, the two streaks of light pierced the sky at incredible speeds. Du Qing, whose cultivation was already profound, naturally moved with greater swiftness than Wang Lin. As they flew, Du Qing cast sidelong glances at Wang Lin, his mind filled with calculation.

“What is his true cultivation? He appears to be at the threshold of the Emptiness Peak, yet he withstood two of my divine abilities, and it seems he did not exert his full power…”

“Cultivation can be concealed, but speed serves as a reliable gauge. Let us see how fast he truly is!” Du Qing subtly increased his pace, slowly outpacing Wang Lin, increasing the distance between them.

“I must not be too obvious, merely enough to glean some information. After all, I need him to gain access to the Great Celestial…” Du Qing dared not push too far. Just as he was about to slow down, seeing that Wang Lin seemed unable to increase his speed, his pupils constricted.

Wang Lin’s icy gaze had pierced into Du Qing’s eyes. Simultaneously, Wang Lin raised his right hand and swiped forward, unleashing a cloud of black mist. A piercing shriek, sharp and resonating, tore through the air from within.

The shriek was intensely grating, possessing the power to shake the mind. Du Qing, who was close by, shuddered, feeling his body about to shatter. The screech seemed to unleash a ferocious, ancient aura, poised to tear him apart.

“What monstrous beast is that?!” Du Qing’s face paled.

From the black mist emerged the Mosquito King. Its grotesque form, massive mandibles, diminished yet mountain-sized body, and black, razor-sharp barbs sent a chilling dread through Du Qing’s heart!

“Daoist Du, you are too slow. Keep up.” Wang Lin said calmly, stepping onto the Mosquito King’s back. The beast surged forward, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Its speed left Du Qing speechless with shock. (To be continued…)