Deep within the Jiuyou Secret Realm.

There was a sinkhole, roughly seven or eight meters in diameter.

Though the opening was not large, a whole other world lay hidden below, like a small world unto itself.

Not only did all sorts of rare plants and spiritual herbs grow within the sinkhole, but at its center was a natural spring, from which a great volume of water constantly bubbled forth.

The spring water formed a large, deep pool.

In the middle of this deep pool stood a stone pillar over ten meters tall.

Faint light trickled down from the opening above, lending this small world an air of mystery.

Logically, such a pristine environment should have been a paradise for animals.

Strangely, however, not a single small creature could be found within the sinkhole.

Such a situation could only mean one thing.

The sinkhole was the territory of some powerful, exotic beast.

No matter how ideal the environment, no other animal dared to enter.

At that moment, the water in the pool began to ripple gently.

A head slowly rose from the water.

It was a serpentine head, similar to that of an Ice Python, but this one was silver-white and had two silver horns, each several centimeters long, sprouting from its crown.

After the head emerged, its body slowly surfaced as well, coiling around the stone pillar. It slithered upward, soon wrapping its long body completely around the stone.

Upon closer inspection, it was a serpent that had successfully transformed into a Jiao Dragon.

The Jiao Dragon coiled its body around the pillar, its head raised, seemingly absorbing the light that filtered down from the opening above.

***

An unknown amount of time passed.

Lin Feng sensed a faint glimmer of light ahead.

In the next moment, his body was flushed out of the underground channel by the current.

A figure suddenly burst forth into the deep pool beneath the sinkhole.

It was none other than Lin Feng, who had just been washed out of the underground passage.

Finding himself abruptly in an unfamiliar environment, Lin Feng began to survey his surroundings.

When he saw the silver-white Jiao Dragon coiled around the stone pillar, his jaw dropped.

*What a magnificent beast!*

Its entire body was silver-white, and its scales reflected the light.

This creature was far more beautiful than the Ice Python he had encountered earlier.

Its strength was likely much greater as well.

*This isn't a snake anymore, it must be a Jiao, right?*

*Is it absorbing the essence of the sun and moon to cultivate?* Lin Feng guessed.

Having stumbled upon a Jiao Dragon—a creature blessed by the heavens—absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, he had no intention of disturbing it.

A snake's transformation into a Jiao was no simple evolution; it required enduring the baptism of a heavenly tribulation.

The success rate was incredibly low, likely less than one in ten.

The vast majority would be turned to ash by the tribulation.

Therefore, encountering a Jiao Dragon was no easy feat.

Since Lin Feng had appeared without a sound, the Jiao Dragon had not yet noticed his presence. It continued to absorb the light pouring down from above.

It had lived here for countless years, and no creature had ever dared to disturb it, so it had naturally grown complacent.

This was also a testament to its confidence in its own power.

Not just in the immediate vicinity, but in the entire Jiuyou Secret Realm, one would be hard-pressed to find many exotic beasts on the same level as the Jiao Dragon.

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It was an overlord-class existence.

A few minutes later, Lin Feng was starting to feel a bit bored.

He swam to the edge of the deep pool, stepped onto solid ground, and dismissed the Sword Qi protecting his body.

When he looked up at the Jiao Dragon again, its head was lowered, looking right at him.

The man and the beast locked eyes.

Having been tempered by a heavenly tribulation, the Jiao Dragon's intelligence was far beyond that of creatures like the spider beast or the Ice Python.

While not yet on par with a human's, it wasn't far off.

It could never have imagined that a human would suddenly appear in its home.

In its long life, the Jiao Dragon had encountered many humans. After all, the Jiuyou Secret Realm opened once every hundred years, and each time, tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand people would enter. Some of them would inevitably wander near the sinkhole and discover its existence.

Of course, all of them had, without exception, been eaten by the Jiao Dragon as food.

It had to be said, as the spirits of all creation, humans tasted quite good.

"Uh... Friend Dragon, my apologies! I wandered in here by accident. I didn't know this was your territory. If you don't welcome me, I'll leave right now," Lin Feng called out.

He figured a high-level exotic beast like a Jiao Dragon should be able to understand his meaning.

The more powerful the beast, the higher its intelligence.

Once they reached a certain level of power, their intellect was no less than a human's.

It wasn't that Lin Feng was afraid of it.

It was just that a snake's transformation into a Jiao was not easy.

To succeed meant it was favored by the heavens.

With no prior grievances between them, there was no need to create needless slaughter.

After speaking, Lin Feng took two steps, then froze in place.

This environment, guarded by a powerful Jiao Dragon…

Wasn't this the blessed land he had been searching for, a place suitable for the Red Spider Lily to grow?

Whether it was here or not, this was the most promising place he had found. He couldn't just leave.

Lin Feng looked up at the Jiao Dragon again.

The creature's gaze had been fixed on him the entire time.

Perhaps it had finally collected its thoughts.

The Jiao Dragon felt its authority had been severely provoked.

A tiny human had dared to barge into its home.

*What does he want?*

*To steal my treasures?*

*Or does he mean me harm?*

Either way, he deserved to die.

"Hraaaawwwr..."

The Jiao Dragon tilted its head back and let out a cry that was like a dragon's, but not quite.

It wasn't a true dragon, after all.

It couldn't produce a true dragon's roar.

But it was far more powerful than a snake's hiss.

After a snake successfully became a Jiao, its vocal cords underwent a massive change.

As it roared, the might of a Jiao Dragon radiated outwards.

Lin Feng felt a crushing pressure wash over him as several whirlwinds formed, pulling water from the deep pool upwards.

It created the spectacular sight of a waterspout.

Seeing the Jiao Dragon's domineering display, Lin Feng grew angry as well.

*You've got to be kidding me!*

He had already apologized, but this overgrown serpent was still showing him no respect. Did it really think he had no temper?

Now that he suspected this place might harbor the Red Spider Lily, Lin Feng had been looking for an excuse to act.

Perfect.

It had made the first move. He couldn't be blamed for what came next.

The Jiao Dragon's roar continued, its aura climbing ever higher.

It seemed to be declaring its sovereignty to the surrounding beasts, showing off its power.

Lin Feng retrieved the Haoran Sword from his Qiankun Bag.

The moment the Haoran Sword was in his hand, his entire presence underwent a world-shaking transformation.

His hidden strength erupted in full.

His Ultimate Sword Intent was unleashed.

All this time, Lin Feng had tried his best to appear mediocre, to avoid attracting attention.

Although he was the only one on Gucun Peak, it was still the territory of the Shenxiao Sword Sect. Any major disturbance could easily be discovered.

Moreover, there were old monsters in seclusion within the Shenxiao Sword Sect's Forbidden Area. But here, in the Jiuyou Secret Realm, it was different.

He didn't have to worry about any of that. No one here knew his identity. Even if his power was witnessed, no one would connect him to the good-for-nothing Senior Brother of the Shenxiao Sword Sect.

He could finally unleash his full strength and see where his limits truly lay.

And the Jiao Dragon had just served itself up on a platter.

*If that's how it is, then let's have an all-out battle!*

However, just as Lin Feng unleashed his full, hidden power, the sky above suddenly filled with dark clouds, and lightning flashed.

*RUMBLE... RUMBLE...*

It was as if the very heavens and earth were shocked by the display.

In the deepest part of the Jiuyou Secret Realm stood a magnificent, golden palace.

Above the main gate were two large characters.

"Jiuyou Palace"

Within Jiuyou Palace, a shadowy figure appeared.

He looked up at the sky and murmured to himself, "How many years has it been? Someone can finally stir the heavens and the earth of this realm. Good. The wait was not in vain!"