After Dongfang Tianyu bade Long Chen farewell, he headed deeper into the ancestral mausoleum, to where the Azure Dragon Halberd was kept!
He saw that Long Chen was still killing puppets so he knew that Long Chen hadnt completed his task yet. Hed been worried, but he had managed to obtain one hundred cores before Long Chen could.
Long Chen, hurry! Yin Mengyao grew anxious when she saw that Dongfang Tianyu had left. She had only collected a bit over thirty cores so far and knew that she was completely hopeless. Long Chen was her only hope.
Long Chen remained calm as if he hadnt heard her. Fighting like a machine, he continued collecting cores as Dongfang Tianyu ran further and further away.
***
In the deepest part of the ancestral mausoleum, there was another wide space that resembled a cave. Shadows were elongated by the torches that lit up the whole space.
The people waiting within were the Azure Dragon Patriarch and the few elders. Dongfang Xuanxiao was also there, waiting for the first person who had collected a hundred molten gold cores to appear.
Dongfang Xuanyu went up to the Patriarch and said cautiously, Father, its almost time.
Mhm. The Patriarch nodded.
Dongfang Xuanyu smiled to herself. This meant that if Dongfang Tianyu had indeed been planning to kill Long Chen, Long Chen was likely dead by now.
That brat had disrespected her repeatedly, even talking back to her. He had irritated her greatly. This is a good thing. Once Yuer removes this thorn from his heart, he will be able to focus on his cultivation. Although Dongfang Tianyu wasnt her son, she cared for him very much.
Dont worry, Mother. That brat Long Chen is no match for Xiao Yu, said Dongfang Tianxing, grinning as he crossed his arms. But when he met Dongfang Xuanxiaos gaze, he coughed and lowered his head.
Someones here! The Azure Dragon Patriarch was the strongest cultivator in the room, so he was the first to sense the incomer.
Everyone grew anxious and followed his gaze. They looked towards the dark tunnel in front and soon enough, they heard hurried footsteps. Its Xiao Yu! When they saw the persons face, Dongfang Xuanyu and the rest were overjoyed.
Their tightened nerves finally relaxed.
To them, Long Chen was clearly no match for him, but they felt uncomfortable whenever they thought of Long Chen. He had created many miracles in the outer family after all.
When Dongfang Xuanxiao saw that it was Dongfang Tianyu, he froze, as if in disbelief. Out of all the people present, he was the one who knew Long Chen the best. He lowered his head and mumbled to himself, Could he have fallen for Tianyus tricks? Is that why he was delayed?
Xiao Yu, not bad! Did you finish off someone? Dongfang Tianxing was smug and started laughing like a maniac, ignoring the other seniors. His mother and Dongfang Xuanxiao were enemies, so he didnt give Dongfang Xuanxiao any face.
But Dongfang Tianyu did not reply, sprinting hurriedly towards the Azure Dragon Halberd!
What? Everyone was stunned because Dongfang Tianyu had clearly won, but not only did he not look happy, he was also in a rush. Was it because
Theres someone else! They looked at the tunnel and heard another bout of footsteps. To their shock, a red silhouette was flying towards Dongfang Tianyu. That person caught up a few seconds later, and they started running side by side!
Thats Long Chen! Hes so fast! He actually caught up to Tianyu from the back! Dongfang Xuanyu and Dongfang Tianxing gasped, shaken to their core.
Since when did Long Chen possess such speed?
The people who had sighed in relief previously now held their breaths once more. No one had touched the Azure Dragon Halberd, so the victor was not confirmed yet!
This meant that Long Chen had a chance to win!
After Dongfang Tianyu collected a hundred cores, Long Chen spent a few breaths time completing the task before rushing towards him. The tunnel was long, so he had to sprint faster than Dongfang Tianyu to catch up at the last segment!
Dongfang Tianyu looked anxious because Long Chen was catching up.
When Dongfang Xuanxiao saw Long Chen, he finally relaxed a little. He knew that he was about to watch a good show.
Whats there to be smug about? So what if he caught up? Hes nothing compared to Xiaoyu, who is at the late Earthly Core Realm. It looks like Xiao Yu was going easy on him just now, said Dongfang Xuanyu, rolling her eyes.
Yeah, and Xiao Yu has the advanced Black-tier Sun Halberd. Long Chen can cultivate for ten more years, but he will never be his match, Dongfang Tianxing said with a grin, supporting his mother.
They were mocking Long Chen, but Dongfang Xuanxiao remained calm. He watched his stepson without a word.
The Azure Dragon Patriarch was watching their conflict. All of this was because of the teenager named Long Chen. He looked at the boy in question, then at Dongfang Xuanxiao. None of them saw the slightest smirk that had crept up on the Patriarchs face.
Xuanxiao, its been eighteen years. Do you think I dont know what youre thinking? No one could hear the Patriarchs thoughts, and even if they did, not many would know what he meant.
Long Chen, who was racing alongside Dongfang Tianyu, had become the focal point of attention. His eyes were fixed on the object ahead, which was triggering something inside him!
It was a magical sensation that made him feel like his entire being was boiling with excitement like a wanderer returning home after many years. When he saw it, he had the urge to cry.
He knew that the object belonged to him and that no one could take it away.
There were steps at the back of the cave, and at the top was a black altar. On the altar was a multi-colored cauldron that looked like a crystal. It had three legs and two handles, its design exquisite. But that was not important, as it was just a container. What truly attracted Long Chen was the object inside.
There was a halberd, about two meters long, placed inside the cauldron. Its shaft was light blue and forged with an unknown metal, and a faint, dark blue light flowed on its surface[1]. Upon closer inspection, the handle was covered in dense, uniform dragon scales, similar to the scales on Long Chens body.
There was a realistic dragon head at the end of the halberd with a blade protruding from its mouth, its sharp edge glinting coldly. There were three pointed tips and two blades, extremely sharp and resembling dragon teeth. Any onlooker would feel a chill in their heart when they saw it.
It has such an immense aura. It doesnt feel like its at the Divine Core Realm. That must be the Azure Dragon Halberd!
That halberd was infinitely better than the one he had in his Universe Pouch. Most importantly, it radiated a sense of regalness that made a peasant like Long Chen have the urge to kneel.
Long Chen was overcome with the same feeling he had when he merged with the Inherited Blood Essence. This was a dragon! Is the Azure Dragon Halberd related to the primordial dragons? Long Chen was shocked. He knew that the Lingwu family was so powerful because of the Heavenly Martial Realm, or more specifically, the Star Devil Prison. Ling Xi had said that the Heavenly Martial Realm was a relic, so the Azure Dragon Halberd had to be from the Heavenly Martial Realm!
Brother Chen, I can sense a very faint primordial dragon soul in the Azure Dragon Halberd. If you get your hands on it, itll be greatly beneficial to you! You can do it! Ling Xi was pleasantly surprised when she saw the halberd. This was a critical moment, so she didnt dare speak too much, or she might distract Long Chen.
Primordial dragon soul? Although he didnt know what that was, it solidified his determination to get it.
Both competitors ran side by side towards the Azure Dragon Halberd. Everyone was fixated on the race. Who would prevail in the end?
Long Chen, no more running! Lets begin the final fight! Dongfang Tianyu was filled with anger, and he threw a punch directly at Long Chen!
It was meaningless to race like this, so he chose to fight instead!
Alright, youre the one who asked for it! If you go after the Azure Dragon Halberd while we fight, then you will be my grandson, Dongfang Tianyu! warned Long Chen coldly, dodging his punch.
If Dongfang Tianyu wanted a final duel, then he was happy to oblige. But the halberd was a sentient divine weapon, and Long Chen did not know how it would react if they fought over it.
But Long Chens insult was indeed a little over the top. Dongfang Tianyus grandfather was the Azure Dragon Patriarch, so wasnt that also an insult to the Patriarch himself? Although it was just something he had just said in passing, the Patriarchs face darkened. The elders shook their heads.
They thought that Dongfang Xuanxiao should not have taken him in as a stepson.
Long Chen was faster, so Dongfang Tianyu was initially worried that he would just go for the halberd first. Seeing that Long Chen was willing to stop and fight him, he grew more confident. It was exactly what he wanted. You were merely faster than me! Youre delusional if you think youre going to defeat me in front of all our seniors. Long Chen, die!
They prepared for the final duel in front of the Azure Dragon Halberd!
Dont worry, Dongfang Tianyu! After training in the fifty times gravity of the Star Devil Prison, I will surely surprise you! Long Chen was not afraid at all, and his eyes glinted coldly.
Enough talk, take this! Dongfang Tianyu exploded with his late Earthly Core Realm Qi and pounced on Long Chen!
Ill show you the difference between the people from the inner and outer families!
1. We used blue here because light azure and dark azure don’t flow well, but technically almost the same color