Volume One: City Under Turmoil Chapter 43: Seizing the Dragon Essence

After playing for a while, Qian Muyun noticed that the dragon’s rage had reached its peak. Knowing the time was right, she led the dragon upwards, gradually shifting the battleground. Before long, both she and the dragon vanished from the trio’s sight.

Seeing the dragon lured away, Zhang Heng rushed toward the cave. He had no idea how long Qian Muyun and Dugu Bai could keep the dragon occupied, nor how much time he would need to retrieve the treasure. Every second counted.

Reaching the entrance, Zhang Heng turned back and flashed a smile at the two women. “Ladies, take good care of yourselves, and whatever you do, don’t come out.”

With that, he turned and entered the cave. Surely, by now, the two of you are so moved you’re about to burst into tears, unable to contain your love for me. Zhang Heng was quite satisfied with his performance.

Inside, however, he was left dumbfounded. What in the world was this, some kind of labyrinthine challenge?

He seemed to be in the main cavern. On either side, there were four identical tunnels, leading who knows where.

How was he supposed to proceed? Search each one by one? Who knew how long that would take? And if the dragon snapped out of its distraction, death would be his only fate.

System, which way should I go? He almost forgot—he had a system.

Ding. You don’t need to choose any of them. Just walk straight ahead.

You mean the thing I’m looking for is right here, and all those passages are just for show?

Ding. Correct.

Zhang Heng no longer had the energy to complain. He strode quickly forward.

Ahead, on a stone table, sat a round pearl.

Is this what I’m supposed to find? Zhang Heng wondered aloud.

Ding. Yes.

What? I feel like you’re messing with me.

That orb didn’t look like any kind of supreme treasure. Shouldn’t getting a great treasure involve life-and-death struggles, countless trials, tests of one’s heart and mind? Yet here it was, just sitting there—so poor it didn’t even have a box for packaging.

If the system weren’t so certain, Zhang Heng would have thought he was in the wrong story altogether. Oh well, whatever it is, he’d grab it first and ask questions later.

He approached the table step by step. After observing for a while and seeing nothing unusual, he reached out to take it.

But just as his hand was about to touch the orb, a ring of light appeared on its surface, and a tremendous force blasted out. Zhang Heng was thrown against the cave wall.

Picking himself up, Zhang Heng smiled wryly. That’s more like it. Not that he enjoyed punishment, but he couldn’t believe something with no obstacles at all could be a true treasure.

Adjusting his state, Zhang Heng prepared to try again. There was no way he’d give up over such a minor setback.

Just then, the system chimed in.

Ding. Suggest the host use the “Heart-guarding Sword.” If you’re into self-abuse, ignore me.

Only then did Zhang Heng recall his secret weapon. He switched hands.

Placing his left hand in front like a claw, he shouted and reached for the orb.

This time, he was thrown back even faster. Struggling to his feet, Zhang Heng was furious.

Damn system, you’re screwing with me! That didn’t help at all.

Ding. The host hasn’t activated the Heart-guarding Sword. Of course you can’t take it.

Why didn’t you say so earlier? Why not say it straight away?

Ding. The host didn’t ask.

If the system had a physical form, Zhang Heng would have dragged it out and beaten it up.

After calming himself, Zhang Heng tried a different approach.

“Dear System, how do I activate the Heart-guarding Sword?”

Ding. Simply recite the incantation, ‘My heart is as a sword.’

Very well.

Zhang Heng placed his left hand over his chest, brought his right index and middle fingers together, and shouted, “My heart is as a sword!”

One second. Two seconds. Time ticked by.

Yet his right hand showed no reaction; the tiny sword still lay peacefully in his palm.

“Dear System, please, don’t mess with me. I’m in a hurry.”

Ding. The Heart-guarding Sword has been activated. Suggest the host hurry—Dugu Bai and the others can’t hold on much longer.

Zhang Heng stood up and strode to the stone table. The system was right; there was no time to waste.

The orb was right before him. Zhang Heng reached out slowly.

This time, he took it.

The Heart-guarding Sword did not react, nor did the energy shield.

This was ridiculous. What kind of bizarre rule was this, bullying the fact that he was from another world? If one day he stood atop the continent, he swore he’d change this rule.

After pocketing the treasure, Zhang Heng paused and calmly asked, “System, I’ve done everything you said. Can you tell me what this is now?”

Using the secrets of Dragon Burial Abyss as a bargaining chip, he had persuaded Dugu Bai and Qian Muyun to save the Zhang clan, bring him here, pick spirit herbs, gather rare materials, and finally, stall that eighth-rank dragon beast.

All of it had been orchestrated by the system, for the sake of obtaining this seemingly ordinary orb in his hand.

Ding. This object is the Dragon Origin.

Dragon Origin?

What’s that? What does it do? Can it alter my constitution?

All Zhang Heng cared about was his physical condition. He had an omniscient system, which meant he could latch onto powerful people, but if he couldn’t cultivate, he’d always remain a first-level body refiner, nothing more.

Ding. Thirty million years ago, a true dragon sensed intense spatial energy here. It burned its dragon soul to forcibly breach the barrier and search this place, but was trapped by the spatial power and died, leaving behind a Dragon Origin containing all its spiritual energy—the orb in your hand.

What about the flood dragon outside?

Ding. That flood dragon is the remnant soul of that true dragon, shaped by the constant pressure of spatial force. Now, it only has tribulation-level strength.

The system explained this offhandedly.

But Zhang Heng was left speechless in shock.

A true dragon, its soul refined for thirty million years in the Dragon Burial Abyss, and still so powerful in death—how strong must it have been at its peak?

“Hahaha!”

Zhang Heng laughed. If a true dragon was so formidable, then this Dragon Origin must be the most incredible thing in the world. He was rich! Changing his constitution, improving comprehension, defying fate—nothing seemed impossible.

“System, I love you! Thank you for this great gift! I swear, if I ever get a piece of meat to eat, you’ll have a sip of soup too!”

Ding. This Dragon Origin cannot change your constitution, cannot improve your comprehension, nor help your cultivation.

The system’s cold voice rang out.

Caught in his joy, Zhang Heng froze, eyes closed, and after a long pause, asked, “System, then what does it do?”

He quickly calmed down. If it couldn’t change his constitution, it wasn’t the end of the world. He’d find another way. This thing contained the full spiritual power of a true dragon—it couldn’t be ordinary.

Ding. Confidential.

The system replied.

Fine, whatever. He’d grown numb to it.

There must be a reason the system wouldn’t tell him. In any case, his system shouldn’t mean him harm—barring any fatal pitfalls.

Stowing the Dragon Origin away, Zhang Heng left the cave.

But as soon as he stepped out, he saw a raging behemoth charging straight at him.