SSS-Rank 10x Reward System: Accepting Disciples to Live Forever-Chapter 180: Without hesitation

"Do you know why this world is called the Seven Cloud Convergence World...?" Yang Li asked, a faint, knowing smile resting on his lips.

The question caught Yang Kai off guard. He blinked once, then answered honestly, "Because the world is made up of seven land masses!"

Wang Chen did not interrupt. He merely listened, his expression calm, though a quiet ripple of curiosity stirred within him. Yang Li was not the sort of man to ask meaningless questions. If he had brought this up now, there was a reason—and likely one that mattered.

As expected, Yang Li shook his head slowly.

"No," he said, his voice steady but layered with weight. "That is only the answer people gave themselves. A convenient explanation."

Yang Kai frowned slightly.

"Among the near-endless lower realms," Yang Li continued, his gaze drifting somewhere distant, "the Seven Cloud Convergence World is special. Each of these seven continents was formed from the bodies of the last remaining dragons."

The words landed heavily in the hall.

Wang Chen’s brows rose almost imperceptibly.

"After their deaths," Yang Li went on, "their colossal bodies became landmasses. Their blood seeped into the world and gave birth to new races. The three Eyed demons that recently attacked the Azure Dragon Continent... were born from that blood."

For a moment, silence reigned.

Wang Chen’s thoughts raced. He remembered the demons’ words—about reclaiming stolen land, about humans being invaders. At the time, he had dismissed it as the delusion of dying enemies.

But now...

If Yang Li’s words are true, then they weren’t lying.

A chill slid quietly down Wang Chen’s spine.

Why bring this up now?

He had barely interacted with Yang Li, yet even in this short exchange, Wang Chen could tell one thing clearly: this man was no fool. Every sentence he spoke carried intent. Every pause was deliberate.

Yang Li would not reveal truths like this without purpose.

Beside him, Yang Kai stared blankly, his eyes widened to their limits. This was the first time he had ever heard such things. The world he thought he understood suddenly felt unfamiliar—alien.

Yang Li smiled faintly, though the expression held little warmth.

"Eventually, the Immortals of the Upper Realm discovered the existence of the Dragon Race Inheritance Ground," he said. "A race that once dominated the Upper Realms for countless eons... how could their legacy be ordinary? The treasures they left behind were beyond measure."

His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.

"And so, the Upper Realm powers descended upon this world."

Yang Kai swallowed.

"But at that time," Yang Li added, his smile sharpening just slightly, "the demons were not as weak as they are now."

The implication hung in the air, heavy and ominous—like the distant rumble before a storm.

Wang Chen remained silent, but his gaze grew deeper, colder.

The pieces were beginning to align.

And whatever Yang Li was leading toward... it was clearly not a story meant to end peacefully.

Throughout the conversation, Wang Chen remained subtly alert, his senses stretched thin, half-expecting Yang Li to suddenly turn the discussion toward him. Yet, to his surprise, Yang Li never once mentioned him directly.

For a brief moment, Wang Chen even wondered if he had overestimated the man.

Then Yang Li finally lifted his gaze and looked at him meaningfully.

"You might be wondering why I am telling you all this," Yang Li said calmly, his voice steady and unhurried. "The reason is quite simple. Although the Upper Realm has tried countless times to unearth the Dragon Race Inheritance Ground, they have failed every single time."

His fingers tapped lightly against the table.

"Even though the Inheritance Ground emerges periodically, none of them have been able to enter."

Wang Chen’s eyes sharpened slightly.

Yang Li allowed a faint smile to surface as his gaze settled squarely on Wang Chen.

"Because only someone possessing the blood essence of the Origin Dragon can enter."

The words landed like a stone dropped into still water.

Yang Kai’s chubby face immediately twisted in confusion. "But Father... the Dragon Race has been extinct for countless years. How are we supposed to find the blood essence of an Origin Dragon?" He paused, realization dawning. "Wouldn’t that mean the Inheritance Ground is completely inaccessible...?"

For the first time, even Yang Kai grasped the sheer scale of the problem.

So complicated... Wang Chen frowned inwardly. He hadn’t expected the matter to be this convoluted. Yet one question kept nagging at him.

What does this have to do with me?

Yang Li had invited him personally. There was no way this was just idle storytelling.

And more than that—Yang Li’s words subtly contradicted what Demon Queen Zi Han had told him. She had spoken of the Dragon Race Inheritance Ground, yes, but never once had she mentioned anything about dragon blood being required.

As Wang Chen pondered this, a sudden thought struck him.

Seven dragons... seven continents.

His pupils constricted slightly.

Don’t tell me... there are seven different ways to enter the Dragon Inheritance Ground as well?

In the past, he would have dismissed such speculation outright. But now, the more he thought about it, the more disturbingly plausible it seemed.

It was at this moment that the atmosphere in the hall shifted.

Wang Chen felt it instantly.

The focus had changed.

Yang Li’s gaze grew sharper, the faint smile on his face deepening just a fraction.

"And this," he said slowly, "is where I believe Senior can help us."

Yang Kai blinked.

Yang Li continued, his voice smooth but deliberate. "During my younger days of wandering, I obtained an ancient recipe—one that allows the imitation of Origin Dragon blood essence."

The air seemed to tighten.

"What I lack," Yang Li went on, eyes now firmly fixed on Wang Chen, "are the ingredients."

A pause.

"If Senior could obtain something as rare as Blood Demon Iron," Yang Li said softly, "then I believe you would also have the means to acquire the rest."

The hall fell into silence.

Wang Chen did not speak.

But inwardly, his thoughts surged like a rising tide.

So this is it...

This was never just a story.

This was an invitation.

Or perhaps—

A test.

Wang Chen nearly nodded in agreement.

Yang Li’s assessment was not wrong. In fact, it was frighteningly accurate. With his current means, acquiring those ingredients would not be difficult at all.

But it was precisely because of that certainty that Wang Chen forcefully stopped himself.

His gaze settled on Yang Li, calm and indifferent, yet something colder seeped into his eyes as he spoke.

"Junior," Wang Chen said flatly, his voice steady but carrying a faint chill, "there is one thing I must make clear."

The temperature in the hall seemed to drop by several degrees.

"Either you are exceedingly bold," he continued, "or painfully naïve."

Yang Kai’s face stiffened instantly. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, suddenly aware that breathing too loudly felt dangerous.

Wang Chen’s gaze sharpened.

"Why should I help you," he asked, tone unhurried yet merciless, "when I could simply take the recipe from you by force? Why should I assist someone weaker than me—someone who would amount to nothing more than a burden?"

The words were not shouted.

They didn’t need to be.

A suffocating cold swept through the hall, pressing against Yang Kai’s chest like invisible ice. He lowered his head, sweat forming at his temples, afraid that even a stray breath might provoke disaster.

Yet—

Yang Li did not flinch.

Not even a little.

Instead, he chuckled softly, as though Wang Chen had just made an amusing remark rather than a veiled threat.

"Senior," Yang Li replied calmly, lifting his teacup with unshaken hands, "one does not invite a wolf into one’s home without already having a way to deal with it."

Their gazes met.

Yang Li’s eyes were clear. Steady. Completely devoid of fear.

For a fleeting moment, even Wang Chen was caught off guard.

This man truly believed he was facing an Immortal—and yet his spine did not bend.

This guy... is something else, Wang Chen admitted inwardly, reassessing Yang Li entirely.

Then, slowly, the tension broke.

A faint smile curved Wang Chen’s lips.

"No need to be nervous, Little Li," he said lightly, the chill vanishing from his voice as if it had never existed. "I was merely testing you."

Yang Kai released a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding.

Wang Chen continued, casually waving his hand. "Just tell me what ingredients you need. I’ll do my best to help you gather them."

The invisible frost shattered instantly. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Music resumed its gentle flow. The pressure lifted. Servants moved again, laughter returned, and the banquet regained its lively rhythm as if nothing ominous had occurred at all.

Wang Chen even sampled several of Ancient Sword City’s signature dishes, eating with genuine appreciation, much to Yang Li’s quiet satisfaction.

Still, Wang Chen had no intention of lingering.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he politely requested the recipe, promised to deliver the required ingredients within a few days, and rose to leave.

As he departed the hall, Yang Li watched his retreating figure, eyes thoughtful and unreadable.

A man who can threaten without anger... and retreat without hesitation.

Interesting.

Very interesting indeed.