Celestial Dragon Sword Venerable

"Hmph!"

Ji Tianxie’s expression was icy. He snorted, and with one hand, he conjured a blood-red prison. It was like an inescapable net cast from the heavens, instantly suppressing Little Dragon Girl.

BOOM—

The prison contracted, locking Little Dragon Girl within. It completely cut off all sound and Emotions, even preventing her from throwing a tantrum. She was frozen in place inside the cage.

The Space-Time Soul-locking Tower transformed into a white light and flew from Ye Tianling’s hand.

Having lost his inheritance, Ye Tianling felt as if he had fallen into an impossibly dark abyss.

PFFT—

Little Dragon Girl spat out a mouthful of her heart’s blood. The Space-Time Soul-locking Tower shot back at an even faster speed, flying toward the space between Ye Tianling’s eyebrows.

"Father, if you imprison me, I’ll kill myself! I’ll just reform in three thousand years anyway, but I won’t have any of these memories! At that point, you can just have your daughter stay by your side from childhood! After all, Yueqi can never grow up!"

Little Dragon Girl’s tone was utterly resolute!

Her words made Ji Tianxie’s expression change instantly.

Ye Tianling’s heart sank!

PFFT—

The Space-Time Soul-locking Tower stabbed deep into the space between Ye Tianling’s eyebrows, as if instantly igniting all the darkness in his Soul!

BOOM—

His Soul trembled.

Ye Tianling suddenly shuddered, realizing the gravity of the situation!

"Little Dragon Girl, don’t! I’ve decided, I’m not giving you up! Why would I ever give you up? What in the world am I doing?!"

At that moment, the mouthful of heart’s blood Little Dragon Girl had spat out seemed to strike a blow directly to Ye Tianling’s heart!

Ye Tianling immediately became much clearer-headed. At the same time, he realized how timid and indecisive he had become!

’This isn’t me! How could I be so useless? Is this the worthless version of me after losing so many of my Abilities?’

It was as if a clear spring flowed through his heart.

Meanwhile, after being infused with Little Dragon Girl’s heart’s blood, the Space-Time Soul-locking Tower became incredibly pure and perfectly attuned to his body and mind.

So much so that Ye Tianling had the illusion of being filled with a brand-new vitality.

But he didn’t feel happy. Instead, his heart ached so much he could barely breathe.

He shouted, his voice filled with unshakable conviction.

Little Dragon Girl broke free from the shackles, but the Energy drain was clearly immense. Her charming, lovely little face was now deathly pale.

"Are you pitying me?"

Little Dragon Girl looked at Ye Tianling coldly. Her gaze was so indifferent it felt completely alien to him.

Ye Tianling’s gaze was firm, as if his lost will was being reborn!

"Pity? Yes, I am pitying you! So what? You were mine to begin with! I’ve decided, you can’t leave me ever again, and I will never give you up! Why would I? You belong to me!

Even if you’re going to die, I’m the only one who gets to do it!"

Ye Tianling’s personality had suddenly undergone a miraculous change.

Little Dragon Girl’s big, blinking eyes suddenly lit up.

Ji Tianxie had been about to reprimand Ye Tianling—after all, his words were completely out of line!

But who would have thought that his daughter, Ji Yueqi, would actually fall for this kind of behavior?

His daughter had calmed down, her eyes even held a hint of a smile!

Ji Tianxie was at once angry, helpless, and heartbroken.

’That mouthful of heart’s blood... what a waste. That bastard brat got off easy!’

Ji Tianxie watched quietly, but an inexplicable change occurred in his eyes.

"Get over here, I’m going to pinch your cheeks! I’ll make sure you learn your lesson so you never hurt yourself like this again!"

Ye Tianling’s aura and demeanor suddenly changed.

He became just as unruly, as free and untamed, as insufferably arrogant, as ruthless and domineering as he once was.

"Waaaah—you’re bullying me."

Little Dragon Girl started acting cute. She struggled a little, but the prison still held her shackled.

"Are you stupid? Undo it already!"

Ye Tianling snapped directly at Ji Tianxie.

"Huh? Oh, right, right. Unlocking it."

Ji Tianxie froze for a moment, then immediately moved to release the shackles.

With a WHOOSH, Little Dragon Girl flew over to Ye Tianling’s neck and began nuzzling against him.

The display was incredibly affectionate.

"Er—kid, who do you think you’re talking to? What’s with the attitude?"

Ji Tianxie came to his senses and realized he had just been ordered around by Ye Tianling.

And he’d even obediently released his daughter’s shackles?

The expression on his face turned a little strange.

’But that command from Ye Tianling earlier... Thinking back, I really didn’t have any thought of resisting at the time.’

’His will has actually been restored? Does it have to be this heaven-defying...’

Ji Tianxie’s expression was quite odd, but a hint of gratification soon appeared in his eyes.

"Ye Tianling, does your promise no longer count?"

Ji Tianxie concealed his unusual expression, his face turning stern as he chided,

"Since I said it, of course it counts. But you said it yourself, nothing in this world is unchangeable, as long as the price is high enough, right? I’ll give you my Strong Heart!"

As he spoke, Ye Tianling reached out and clawed at his own heart.

"Don’t—Tianling, what are you doing? Are you trying to drive me away?"

Little Dragon Girl immediately stopped him, her tone exceptionally cold. The smile on her face froze.

"Trust me! Even if I, Ye Tianling, have nothing, rising again is a simple matter! It doesn’t matter if I don’t have a Strong Heart; I can just grow another one! Because my will has returned! And even if I lose that... I still have my unyielding pride!

With you all here, I will never fall!"

Ye Tianling reached out and pinched Little Dragon Girl’s cheek, making her cry out with a little "Oof!"

"I don’t need your Strong Heart for now. It’s not entirely out of the question to let my daughter follow you. Didn’t you say the Hidden Dragon Shackles are nothing? I’ll open the Hidden Dragon Demon Cave—you will stay inside for three days. If after three days you still know who you are and still possess your Emotions, I won’t take your Strong Heart, and Little Dragon Girl can go with you."

Ji Tianxie’s eyes were full of mockery.

"Open it! I’ll go."

Ye Tianling’s gaze was incredibly resolute.

At the same time, he leaned close to Little Dragon Girl’s cheek and gently kissed it. Little Dragon Girl blushed slightly but was too happy to pull away.

"What can mere Hidden Dragon Shackles do to me?"

Ye Tianling said proudly.

Ji Tianxie said nothing more. He reached out and tore the air, pulling open a Celestial Ladder of floating clouds that drifted toward them.

"Go on up."

Ji Tianxie said in a low voice.

Little Dragon Girl looked at Ji Tianxie, then back at Ye Tianling, and said, "You said you wouldn’t leave me behind, but now you’re going alone..."

"Who said I’m going alone? Come on in. Stay put inside the Mechanical Heart, and be good."

Ye Tianling said with a confident smile.

"Ah... Waaah, Tianling, you’re the best."

Little Dragon Girl was ecstatic, flapping her wings of light with all her might, like an Elf dancing.

After a while, she grew a bit tired and landed on Ye Tianling’s shoulder.

She was being very good and obedient, and she definitely wouldn’t interfere with Ye Tianling now.

As for the danger—she had been worried, but Ye Tianling’s supremely confident gaze suddenly put her completely at ease.

The Ye Tianling from before the Demon Heart—he was back!

The peerlessly confident Divine Child was back!

’My heart’s blood really is useful. If I’d known, I would have spat out a few more mouthfuls earlier.’

Little Dragon Girl thought to herself, her beautiful eyes smiling, as lovely as crescent moons.

Then, she transformed into a stream of Flowing Light and disappeared into the Mechanical Heart.

Her behavior was not lost on Ji Tianxie. In his ancient pair of Dao Eyes, even more gratification appeared.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—

Ancient Thunder Sound echoed, thunder dragons raging wildly.

Hidden Dragon Power slaughtered in all directions.

Propelled by Ji Tianxie’s power, Ye Tianling was sent into the Hidden Dragon Demon Cave to endure the tempering of the Hidden Dragon Shackles.

It was a gamble. Winning meant Transcendence and rising once more.

Losing meant complete ruin and the loss of all his Talent.