No one could freeload off Chen Fan.
Either speak now, or fight.
There was no third path.
"..."
Ling Long remained silent, his brows furrowed, his aura fluctuating continuously.
Sensing the aura emanating from the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, Ling Long finally conceded, "Fine, I will tell you now."
The aura of the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi made him extremely uncomfortable.
More accurately, he was terrified.
The divine sword's aura, originating from the same source as the crown, filled Ling Long with dread.
"Speak."
Chen Fan sheathed the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi.
As long as he was willing to speak, that was enough.
The human-bodied Ling Long no longer hesitated and began, "That figure, I truly cannot recall clearly, but I do remember... he was standing atop an ancient beast."
This was the crucial point.
"That ancient beast seemed to be a legendary, long-vanished primordial demon."
"What did that primordial demon look like?"
"I only recall a single horn reaching towards the sky."
Chen Fan fell silent, his mind sifting through images of horned demon beasts.
Alas, nothing came to mind.
He knew too few demon beasts.
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
Ling Long was unsure if Chen Fan was satisfied, but this was all he knew. "If you can find that primordial demon, you might find news of that person."
"Are you sure that's everything?" Chen Fan asked again.
"Yes."
Ling Long nodded.
He had not lied.
"..."
Chen Fan paused for a moment, then said, "To ensure you haven't deceived me, I need you to come with me."
"Huh?"
Why?
"Of course, you can first attend to your own matters," Chen Fan stated.
The news of the fifth divine artifact could not afford any mishaps.
Ling Long looked at Chen Fan, and Chen Fan looked back at him.
After a moment, Ling Long relented, sighing, "Very well, I need to go elsewhere to reclaim my body."
"Good."
*Crack, crack, crack!*
As Chen Fan nodded, the walls of the mine began to collapse.
Not entirely, but only a section. Soon, a slightly glowing, deep chasm appeared, and from its depths, a dense spiritual energy emanated.
"Whoosh."
Ling Long plunged into the deep chasm.
Chen Fan followed quickly, but transmitted a message to Lan Kuang and the others, "Wait for me above."
"Understood."
Lan Kuang and the other four turned and left.
...
Mine Shaft No. 2.
Here, another Ling Long was suppressed.
Strange black patterns, a struggling Ling Long, a white-robed bishop...
"Die."
The moment Ling Long entered, he attacked in a fury.
No one from the Angelic Congregation's white-robed bishops could withstand Ling Long in his rage.
Spiritual energy transformed into chains, piercing through the mine.
"No..."
The white-robed bishop's resistance was futile.
Beneath the chains, no one survived.
"You've come..."
Inside Mine Shaft No. 2, the suppressed Ling Long cried out in agony, "Quick, release me."
The identical suppression was excruciatingly painful.
"Roar."
The human-bodied Ling Long roared.
Within the mine, a hurricane of spiritual energy erupted.
The sweeping gale furiously eroded the strange patterns on the second Ling Long's body.
Unfortunately, the speed was slow.
Each strange pattern required a significant amount of spiritual energy to consume.
*Clang!*
Chen Fan struck.
Myriad sword energies converged, falling upon the second Ling Long.
Before the divine sword, all else was illusion.
"Crack, crack, crack."
The strange patterns rapidly disintegrated.
"Thank you."
The human-bodied Ling Long was immensely grateful.
With Chen Fan's help, it was so much easier.
Finally, all the patterns shattered.
"Roar."
The second Ling Long broke free.
Within the mine, a storm of spiritual energy surged.
"It is time to unify."
The human-bodied Ling Long stood unmoving amidst the rampant spiritual energy storm.
"Hahaha."
The swimming second Ling Long did not appear in human form, but rather as a dragon, its form coiling within the boundless spiritual energy.
An indescribable ferocity permeated the air. "Yes, it is time to merge."
The human-bodied Ling Long frowned, a bad premonition rising within him.
One dragon, divided into seven parts, each with its own sentience.
Judging by the second Ling Long's state, it seemed intent on usurging control.
"Hum."
From the turbulent sea of spiritual energy mist, chains entirely condensed from spiritual energy pierced out.
"What are you doing?"
The human-bodied Ling Long was furious. Chains also surged from within him, clashing against the spiritual energy chains emanating from the second Ling Long.
"What am I doing?"
The swimming Ling Long chuckled sinisterly, "Merging. As long as I devour you, we will merge once more."
"Presumptuous!"
The human-bodied Ling Long roared, "You were separated from me, and you dare to rebel?"
"No, no, no."
The second Ling Long laughed, "We were divided into seven parts from one body, with no inherent hierarchy. Come, merge into me, and let us be reborn together."
"..."
The human-bodied Ling Long fell silent.
The aura from his body began to surge.
The human-bodied Ling Long's expression turned grim. "I am the original body."
"Heh heh, I can be the original body too."
Thus, there was only battle left.
"Roar."
The second Ling Long roared, "Kill!"
The spiritual energy mist churned.
With thunderous booms, the entire mine trembled. Rubble rained down, pulverized by the compressed spiritual energy.
"Kill!"
The human-bodied Ling Long no longer hesitated, attacking ferociously.
From afar, Chen Fan watched in silence as the two Ling Long, who should have been one, fought.
His eyes flickered with brilliant light, piercing through the spiritual energy mist to see the two battling dragons.
The first one had also transformed into its dragon form.
The two dragons battled, overturning the heavens and earth.
As the fight progressed, the second Ling Long was clearly at a disadvantage.
"You are no match for me."
The first Ling Long's voice was icy cold. "Come, let us merge."
"Impossible."
The second Ling Long appeared incredibly volatile. "Even if I explode this body, I will not merge with you."
"Boom."
The second Ling Long detonated itself.
"No..."
The first Ling Long was aghast.
His terror was mingled with boundless rage.
"Hahaha..."
With a defiant laugh, the second Ling Long's body completely dissolved into spiritual energy.
"Roar."
The first Ling Long roared repeatedly.
But it was too late to turn back. He could only minimize the losses.
Its dragon form swam, frantically absorbing the spiritual energy that was scattering.
It also subtly glanced back at Chen Fan.
Fortunately, Chen Fan did not seem overly interested in this spiritual energy.
At his current level, spiritual energy was no longer of paramount importance.
On the verge of becoming a Supreme, only one step away from achieving the Supreme fruit, he now needed comprehension of the laws and divine artifacts more.
Spiritual energy was secondary.
Ling Long was relieved and continuously inhaled and exhaled the stray spiritual energy.
At the same time, it also absorbed the divine consciousness drifting within the spiritual energy.
Ling Long had been divided into seven parts, not just physically, but also spiritually.
"Hum."
Within Chen Fan's perception, Ling Long's aura continued to grow stronger.
The sea of spiritual energy mist roiled like a great dragon.
After a full five minutes, all the spiritual energy vanished.
The human-bodied Ling Long reappeared, his face ruddy, seemingly with a trace less ferocity.
He had come back to life.
Having absorbed a soul, Ling Long had become even more powerful.
His surging aura carried immense pressure.
Looking at the calm Chen Fan, Ling Long's expression was unreadable.
Fortunately, Ling Long finally spoke, "Thank you."