บท 188: Trials of the Dragon God End

The air around Raja hummed with power, a testament to his unprecedented success in the Dragon God's trials. Despite his relative youth and humanity, he had done the impossible. The residual soul of the Primordial Azure Dragon, coiled like an ethereal titan in the vast void of the trial realm, gazed down at him with an intensity that could crumble mountains.

"Raja," the dragon's voice rumbled, both awe-inspiring and laden with respect, "you have surpassed expectations I dared not hold. Few divine beasts, let alone mortals, could achieve what you have here. Your will, combat ability, and compassion—tested under amplified conditions—reveal a noble heart. It is... extraordinary."

Raja inclined his head, humbled but impatient. "Great Dragon, your words honor me, but I must leave this realm soon. Time is a luxury I cannot afford to squander."

The dragon chuckled, its deep resonance vibrating through the darkness. "Impatience suits the young. You need not worry; you have already passed the final trial."

Raja blinked in surprise. "Passed? But I—"

"Your character," the dragon interrupted, "was assessed in the first two stages. Your actions spoke louder than any trial could. You have proven yourself worthy and the third trail is same as Phoenix Trail. The reward, however, will not come without cost."

With a swipe of its claw, the dragon conjured an azure light that danced like a living flame. It split into ten shimmering droplets, each radiating power that seemed to warp reality itself.

"These," the dragon continued, "are ten drops of my blood essence, far more than the usual reward. But the trials you endured were of extreme difficulty, deserving extreme compensation."

The droplets floated toward Raja, their power suffocating yet enticing. As the first drop merged into his skin, a surge of heat ripped through his veins like molten fire.

"Seven days," the dragon said gravely. "You must stabilize your profound strength and complete the fusion within this time. The process will be arduous, but failure is not an option. If you do not harmonize this power, it will shatter you from within."

The Trial of Fusion

As the second drop entered Raja, his body convulsed. It felt as though an inferno raged inside him, clashing with his existing powers—the Phoenix bloodline, the Evil God's profound veins, and more. Each clash threatened to tear him apart.

"This... is ten times harder than the Phoenix blood," Raja muttered through clenched teeth. "The dragon didn't just reward me; it's testing me again."

Despite the pain, Raja steadied his breathing, channeling his energy to calm the chaos within. He sat cross-legged, entering a meditative state. The pitch-black void around him was an ideal sanctuary—isolated and free from distractions.

The process was grueling. Each drop introduced raw, untamed power that demanded immediate control. Raja's focus sharpened, his mind a fortress against the relentless waves of energy. Time blurred as his profound veins strained to adapt.

Jasmine's Intervention

Outside the trial realm, a delicate figure materialized in the mountain cave. Jasmine, one of the twelve Star Gods, radiated an ethereal beauty juxtaposed by the cold fire in her crimson eyes.

"Primordial Azure Dragon," she called, her voice slicing through the stillness.

The dragon's soul stirred, its presence materializing before her. "Star God," it greeted solemnly. "You carry the scent of the Absolute God Slaying Poison. Yet, you stand here, unscathed. How?"

Jasmine's gaze hardened. "The poison scent lingers in me, as does my hatred. My mission is far from over."

The dragon sighed, its massive form exuding ancient sorrow. "Hatred has consumed your pure soul, child. There is still time for salvation."

"Save your platitudes," Jasmine snapped. "I don't need saving. My enemies—those who slaughtered twenty-six billion—deserve annihilation."

The dragon hesitated. "Even the strongest hatred erodes the soul. Your fixation blinds you to the path ahead. Perhaps this youth undergoing the trial might—"

Jasmine's scornful laugh interrupted. "That boy? He's a vessel for chaos. His fate may intertwine with mine, but I am no pawn to his journey but a friend."

The dragon remained silent, its ancient wisdom recognizing a deeper connection between the two.

Breakthroughs and Transformation

Inside the trial realm, Raja's body trembled violently as he absorbed the sixth drop of Dragon God blood. Each drop unleashed profound energy, forcing breakthroughs at an unnatural pace.

The seventh breakthrough came like a tidal wave, propelling him to the ninth level of the Earth Profound Realm.

"Just a little more," Raja muttered, sweat pouring down his face. His meridians screamed under the pressure, yet he pushed on.

By the seventh day, the fusion was complete. The tenth drop merged seamlessly, flooding Raja's body with power and increase his Cultivation to 10th level of the Earth Profound Realm.

He opened his eyes, feeling the changes deep within. His body—profound veins, bones, and skin—had transformed, gaining an almost divine resilience. The Dragon God's bloodline had made him a hybrid of human and divine beast, his strength now capable of rivaling even late-stage Tyrant Realm practitioners.

A Difficult Request

The Primordial Azure Dragon observed Raja with pride. "You have done well. Few could endure what you just did."

Raja bowed. "Your bloodline has made me stronger than I could imagine. Thank you."

The dragon's tone grew somber. "Gratitude is rare among the powerful. Perhaps this is why I will ask something of you—a task so monumental that it may be beyond even your reach."

Raja straightened, intrigued. "Speak, great one. I will do my best."

The dragon's eyes gleamed with a mixture of hope and resignation. "The task involves a relic from the Primordial Era—the Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword. It is one of the Seven Heavenly Profound Treasures, a weapon of such immense power that it can slay True Gods and challenge the heavens themselves."