Within only the span of a few minutes, Lei Tei and Ling Feng had arrived in a dense jungle just outside Dragon Heart, the capital of the Dragon Empire. The canopy overhead was thick, allowing only slivers of sunlight to pierce through. The air was humid, filled with the sounds of unseen creatures.

“Follow me,” Ling Feng ordered, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. He moved swiftly, navigating the underbrush with practised ease. Lei Tei followed closely, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

They soon reached a ruined stone fortress, its weathered walls covered in creeping vines. The fortress stood as a silent sentinel, a relic of an ancient era. Ling Feng didn’t pause; he walked directly into the structure, with Lei Tei right behind him.

Inside the decrepit ruins, they traversed through dark corridors until they arrived at a throne room. Despite the fortress’s dilapidated state, this room retained an air of ancient grandeur. Ling Feng moved to the back of the room, where he touched a hidden switch behind the crumbling throne.

With a heavy grinding sound, a section of the wall slid open, revealing a tunnel system. “Let’s go!” Ling Feng said, his figure vanishing into the darkness in the blink of an eye.

Lei Tei hurried after him, his heart pounding. The tunnel was long and winding, the air growing cooler as they descended. It took Lei Tei more than three minutes to navigate the labyrinthine passages, his mind racing with questions.

When he finally emerged, he found himself in a stunning underground chamber. The room was vast, its walls adorned with intricate designs that were both beautiful and imposing. The patterns seemed to shift and shimmer in the torchlight, giving the room an almost ethereal quality. Several passages branched out from the chamber, indicating that this was just one part of an extensive network.

At the far end of the room stood a large marble sculpture of a dragon, its form coiled in a stance of power and majesty, as if roaring in defiance. The craftsmanship was exquisite, every scale and sinew carved with meticulous detail.

Opposite the dragon, at the top of a grand staircase, was a throne made of pure gold. The throne radiated an aura of authority and dominance. Sitting upon it was none other than Xia Fugui, the Dragon Lord, the strongest individual in the world. His presence filled the room, a palpable force that seemed to make the very air tremble.

“I have brought him as you have requested, O Dragon Lord,” Ling Feng said with a deep bow toward the golden throne.

“Very well. You may take your leave for now, Dragon General,” Xia Fugui commanded.

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Ling Feng disappeared in an instant, leaving Lei Tei alone in the grand chamber with the most powerful man in the world.

Xia Fugui’s piercing gaze settled on Lei Tei. “So, Sect Master Lei Tei, do you know why I saved you?”

“No, Lord Emperor,” Lei Tei replied, bowing deeply, his voice filled with both reverence and curiosity.

Xia Fugui observed him for a moment before leaping from the throne. He landed in front of Lei Tei with a thunderous impact that shook the entire room.

BOOM!

The shockwave from Xia Fugui’s landing sent waves of immense Qi crashing over Lei Tei, who, despite his formidable strength, was immediately driven to the floor by the overwhelming pressure. It felt as though a mountain had descended upon him, crushing his very soul.

“Oh, sorry about that,” Xia Fugui said with a slight chuckle. In an instant, the immense pressure vanished, leaving Lei Tei gasping for breath.

“Here, take my hand,” Xia Fugui offered. Lei Tei hesitated for a moment, then grasped the offered hand. As he did, he felt a surge of energy flow through him, lifting him to his feet.

To his astonishment, Lei Tei felt a profound change within him. “My injuries! All of them have been healed!” he exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief. The aches and pains from his recent battles had vanished, replaced by a newfound vitality.

GrandMasters could indeed heal from almost any wound, provided it wasn’t immediately fatal, but such healing took time. Yet here he was, completely restored in mere moments. Not only that, but the Thunder Qilin Qi, which had lain dormant and weakened within him, was now pulsating with renewed vigour.

“What did you do to me?” Lei Tei exclaimed, his voice echoing through the grand chamber.

“Oh, nothing much,” Xia Fugui replied with a casual wave of his hand. “I simply transferred a bit of my Qi into your system. It essentially jumpstarted your healing process.”

Lei Tei’s mind raced, trying to comprehend the magnitude of what had just transpired. The transfer of Qi, especially from someone as powerful as the Dragon Lord, was no small feat. It explained the sudden and complete restoration of his injuries, but it still left him in awe of Xia Fugui's abilities.

Before he could fully process this, Xia Fugui’s next words sent a shock through him. “Now, what I want you to do is fight me.”

Lei Tei’s excitement and gratitude were immediately replaced by a wave of dread. Fight Xia Fugui? That was tantamount to a death sentence. The Dragon Lord was the strongest individual in the world, and even with his recent healing, Lei Tei knew he was no match for such overwhelming power.

Seeing the fear in Lei Tei’s eyes, Xia Fugui smiled reassuringly. “Oh, don’t worry. I will only fight you with my physical strength, nothing else. No Qi, no techniques.”

Lei Tei’s tension eased slightly, but the prospect of facing the Dragon Lord still left him uneasy. Physical strength alone, without the augmentation of Qi or techniques, was at least a somewhat more manageable challenge, but still daunting.

Yet what could Lei Tei do but accept? The challenge was laid before him, and he had no choice but to face it.

“Let’s begin,” Lei Tei announced, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. Xia Fugui nodded in acknowledgment.