As the flames subsided, I dashed through the lingering embers and appeared directly in front of the dragon soul. Without hesitation, I unleashed a powerful uppercut, infused with every ounce of my Spiritual Power. The blow connected with its jaw, and a shockwave rippled outward.
The dragon soul roared in anger, its form flickering like a glitching hologram. It swiped at me with its claws again, but I ducked under the strike and countered with a spinning kick, striking its torso. The hazy aura around my leg burned brighter as the impact forced the soul to stagger back.
"Time to finish this," I muttered, focusing all my remaining energy. I leapt high into the air, and for a brief moment, I felt the immense pressure of the Fire Dragon Soul as it readied its final attack. Its body glowed brighter, flames erupting around it in a last-ditch effort to obliterate me.
With a yell, I descended, my fists glowing like miniature suns. I struck the ground directly in front of the dragon soul, releasing a massive shockwave that shattered the earth and sent a wave of force through its ethereal body.
The Fire Dragon Soul let out one final roar before its form disintegrated into flickering embers. These embers flowed into me, merging with my Dragon Bloodline, strengthening it further.
I collapsed to one knee, panting heavily. Sweat dripped from my face, but a smile tugged at my lips.
"One down... countless more to go."
The next four months were a blur of relentless battles with countless Dragon Souls. Each encounter was a test of my endurance, skill, and adaptability. The Dragon Graveyard was unforgiving, with its oppressive atmosphere and the ever-present threat of being overwhelmed by the lingering remnants of once-mighty dragons.
Thanks to the Yinyin Battle Mastery, her technique I had honed through arduous practice, I was able to anticipate the patterns of the Dragon Souls' attacks. By weaving their immense power into my combat style, I gradually turned their strength into my advantage.
Each victory brought not only a sense of accomplishment but also tangible growth. My Spiritual Power, once at the intermediate level of the Spirit Connection Realm, now surged to its peak. The faint hazy aura around my hands had grown into a shimmering force that I could shape and manipulate with precision. I felt more in tune with my Spiritual Energy than ever before, able to unleash devastating attacks or form barriers to shield myself from the fiery onslaughts of the Dragon Souls.
My Dragon Bloodline, too, had undergone a remarkable transformation. The fiery essence of the countless True Dragon Souls I had absorbed refined my bloodline to the level of Dragon Duke, a significant leap in power and status. I could feel the difference in every fiber of my being—my physical strength had grown exponentially, and my connection to the latent power within the graveyard deepened.
Despite the grueling challenges, I couldn't help but marvel at the changes. My body had adapted to the harsh environment, becoming a vessel capable of withstanding and harnessing the immense power of the Dragon Graveyard.
"This place is a crucible," I muttered to myself, wiping the sweat from my brow after my latest battle. The ground around me was scorched and cracked, a testament to the intensity of the fight. "But it's also the key to my evolution."
With every step deeper into the graveyard, I could feel the presence of stronger and more sentient Dragon Souls. Each encounter pushed me to my limits, but I knew I was steadily approaching the threshold of true power.
Four months of struggle, growth, and survival had passed, and now I was finally reaching the True Dragon Graveyard.
Here, the atmosphere was unlike anything I had encountered before. There were no Dragon Souls wandering, as the sheer weight of resentment and negative emotions emanating from this place seemed to drive away all other spiritual remnants. Even with my Dragon bloodline coursing through my veins, I felt a suffocating pressure envelop me. Guilt, resentment, and regret radiated from the land itself, crashing into my mind like relentless waves.
Each step I took forward tested my resolve. My enhanced Spiritual Power, now at the peak of the Spirit Connection Realm, became my anchor. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to endure the crushing emotions that permeated this place.
As I continued walking, I glanced around, my eyes falling upon countless dragon carcasses scattered across the desolate landscape. Each skeleton was massive, their sheer size a testament to the might these dragons once wielded. Their bones shimmered faintly, exuding an otherworldly glow that spoke of their unique nature.
These weren't ordinary remains. True Dragon Bones or Spirit Bones—the essence of the deceased dragons—rested within these skeletal frames. Some bones were jade-like in texture, translucent yet sturdy, while others radiated a faint metallic sheen, their surfaces inscribed with intricate patterns that hinted at the dragons' elemental affinities.
"This place is a treasure trove…" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. However, there was no joy in my tone, only caution. The presence of such powerful Spirit Bones meant this area had seen battles that dwarfed anything I had experienced. And those battles had left behind not just treasures, but also the heavy resentment that now threatened to consume intruders.
I knelt beside a fractured ribcage, the bone glinting faintly in the eerie light of the graveyard. Placing my hand on it, I could feel a faint echo of the dragon's power—an overwhelming combination of fire and destruction. It was tempting to absorb the energy, but I hesitated. These Spirit Bones were not ordinary resources. They contained fragments of the dragons' wills, their emotions preserved through eons. Absorbing them carelessly could lead to devastating consequences.
"Patience," I murmured to myself, pulling my hand away. "The True Dragon Graveyard isn't a place to act recklessly."
Standing up, I focused my senses and surveyed the graveyard. The further I went, the more intact and pristine the skeletons seemed to be. I knew I was approaching the heart of this forsaken land, where the most powerful dragons had fallen. The temptation to claim the Spirit Bones grew stronger with each step, but so did the oppressive aura.
Somewhere ahead, I could sense something even greater—a presence that dwarfed everything I had encountered so far.