Chapter 3146: Not Yet Mature! Harsh Catalysis Conditions! True Gods and Paupers...

The True God Chihuang was astonished.

He looked at Wang Teng, his gaze tracing a complicated lattice of emotion.

This kid truly seemed to know everything.

Few were aware of the second attribute inherent within the Dragon-Phoenix Source Fruit.

Even among existence at the True God level, such lore was scarce.

Not every being knew of its secondary purpose; a treasure of this caliber was, after all, exceedingly rare.

Yet, Chihuang shared the same underlying thought as the other True Gods.

Wang Teng’s demeanor was simply too peculiar!

He appeared utterly detached, devoid of any fierce, burning desire for the Dragon-Phoenix Source Fruit.

He had accepted it with mere indifference.

Though he had offered his gratitude to the True God Yaofeng moments before, Chihuang could easily discern the dripping sarcasm underlying those words.

Yaofeng and Wang Teng were truly a match—one audacious enough to give, and the other bold enough to receive.

This time, the actions of both individuals defied all expectation.

“No way, can this Dragon-Phoenix Source Fruit actually allow a warrior to birth a Dragon-Phoenix Physique?!!”

“It must be true. Didn’t you see that none of the True God lords questioned

No wonder even the True God Chihuang had worn such a solemn countenance.

He had permitted the True God Zhulong to speak, surely because He had seen through this very point.

After all, such demanding conditions were unbefitting for anyone to voice lightly, lest it appear as though they had cast a covetous eye upon the primordial blood of the Dragon Race.

That was primordial blood, not some ordinary essence!

Every drop of primordial blood expended was a true depletion for a martial warrior.

Yet, what the True God Zhulong had just spoken of was a literal drenching.

This implied that the quantity of primordial blood required was by no means small.

Furthermore, the True God Zhulong had just mentioned the primordial blood of the Phoenix Race as well, not merely that of the Dragon Race.

This was practically setting oneself against both the Dragon and Phoenix races simultaneously.

For a moment, the crowd felt as though a basin of icy water had been dashed over them, completely extinguishing the burning fervor in their hearts.

According to these stipulations, let alone Immortal-level warriors, even True God-level existences would likely find it difficult to satisfy.

It was beyond their wildest dreams.

Among those ten True Gods, quite a few completely abandoned any designs they had on the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit.

The value simply did not match!

The sacrifice was utterly disproportionate to the return!

Had it been a mature Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit, it would naturally have been worth their contention.

But now, it was merely immature, and the conditions for its forced maturation were so harsh that the loss outweighed the gain.

The Dragon-Phoenix Physique birthed from the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit was indeed formidable, but that was only for warriors below the God-level; for existences above the God-level, it still required a continuous expansion of potential.

And as for that point...

Right at this juncture, the True God Zhulong seemed to abandon all further concealment, choosing instead to speak with absolute candor, continuing:

"Furthermore, the final grade the Dragon-Phoenix Physique can attain depends upon one crucial factor..."

"What factor?" someone pressed urgently.

"The quantity of the dragon and phoenix blood! As well as their rank!" The True God Zhulong cast a glance at the questioner, his voice heavy.

"Quantity and rank!" The crowd gasped, their hearts shaking violently.

This meant that not only did it require a massive volume of dragon and phoenix blood, but it also demanded primordial blood of an exceptionally high rank to allow the Dragon-Phoenix Physique to reach the higher stages!

"Indeed!"

The True God Zhulong spoke composedly:

"The Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit itself is but an empty vessel; the true core is the dragon and phoenix blood."

"The more dragon and phoenix blood it absorbs, and the higher the quality, the superior the grade of the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit will become."

"Only in this manner will the final Dragon-Phoenix Physique born from it be truly powerful."

"Conversely, if the volume of dragon and phoenix blood is insufficient and the quality lacking, the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit will be nothing more than a defective product."

At this point, He could not help but pause, fixing his gaze upon the True God Yaofeng.

"If this god is not mistaken, Yaofeng, you were so quick to offer this Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit as compensation to Wang Teng precisely because of this."

"This Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit of yours has barely absorbed any dragon or phoenix blood at all; it cannot even be considered a defective product."

Having his hidden motives exposed by the True God Zhulong, the True God Yaofeng's expression shifted instantly; He had not expected the other party to discern even this.

Generally speaking, the exact stage of growth a Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit had reached could not be perceived at all without plunging one's soul force deep inside to sense it minutely.

At present, that Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit was not in the True God Zhulong's possession, so the other party should not have been able to spot the flaw.

Yet He had struck the mark precisely.

Could it be that existences of the Dragon Race possessed a unique resonance with this Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit?

A sudden thought flashed through the True God Yaofeng's mind, leaving Him somewhat bewildered and uncertain.

"This!!!"

The others, however, fell into an uproar, turning incredulous stares toward the True God Yaofeng.

None had expected Him to be so deceptive!

If the True God Zhulong spoke the truth, then this Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit, upon falling into Wang Teng's hands, was nothing more than a useless bauble.

The crowd had originally assumed that even if the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit was not fully mature, it would not be far off.

Yet looking at it now, it was clearly a world apart.

Wang Teng's eyes narrowed, an increasing sense of speechlessness rising within his heart.

A mere compensation had been made so convoluted; he was truly in awe of this scheming old fox, the True God Yaofeng.

Showing no intention of tolerating the slight, he spoke with mocking derision, "True God Yaofeng, if you truly did not wish to offer compensation, you could have just forgotten it. Why orchestrate such a farce? Is it not exhausting?"

"Or perhaps..."

Wang Teng paused, his eyes sweeping up and down the True God Yaofeng with an explicitly offensive scrutiny before he resumed:

"Or perhaps You have already impoverished Youself to such a degree?"

"If You are truly so destitute, You need only speak plainly; this junior would never force Your hand."

The moment his voice fell, the expressions of the crowd turned exceedingly bizarre, their countenances nearly breaking as they looked at the True God Yaofeng.

What in the gods' names did he mean by being impoverished to such a degree!

Wang Teng actually disdained the True God Yaofeng for being poor; this was truly...

They were utterly at a loss for words.

A Domain Lord-level warrior mocking a True God-level existence for being poor—was there any reason left in this?

The world was truly too absurd!

The True God Yaofeng's face once more turned as black as the bottom of a pot, his entire being utterly derailed.

He felt as though He had lost count of how many times His face had darkened today!

Too treacherous!

Had He not merely played a small trick on that brat Wang Teng? Was it truly necessary to ridicule Him so? He was a True God-level existence after all, was He not?

Hmph! Truly devoid of even a shred of reverence!!

The True God Yaofeng was furious.

The True God Yaofeng was helpless!

The True God Yaofeng was thoroughly depressed!

"Pfft!"

A sudden burst of laughter escaped from among those ten True God light-and-shadow manifestations.

Generally speaking, existences of the True God level would not laugh so easily, unless they truly could not contain themselves.

It was clear now that the situation had truly become unbearable.

This Wang Teng was simply too amusing!

To actually call a True God a poor wretch?

Could such words possibly go together—True God and poor wretch?

But now, the expression on Yaofeng True God’s face was genuinely comical.

His face, as black as ink, looked like it had been smeared with charcoal.

It was rare to see a True God’s countenance so vividly animated—truly!

So one could hardly blame them for being unable to suppress their laughter.

If anyone deserved blame, it was Yaofeng True God himself.

Had he not sought to trap Wang Teng in such a despicable and base manner,

how could he have been mocked so openly?

He had only himself to blame.

*Bang!*

A deep, thunderous sound erupted instantly within the main control hall.

“You insolent wretch!”

Yaofeng True God finally lost his temper, slamming his palm onto the table before him, glaring at Wang Teng and barking coldly.

*Boom!*

In the next instant, an immense pressure surged from his body, rushing straight toward Wang Teng in a crushing wave.

Yet Wang Teng felt no pressure at all.

For before Yaofeng True God’s power could touch him, it was intercepted by another force—equally vast and overwhelming.

*Bang!*

The two pressures collided midair, producing a muffled, deafening explosion that sent ripples through space itself.

Chihuang True God had intervened.

Even before Yaofeng True God’s expression darkened further, He had already prepared.

He sensed that this time, Yaofeng would surely lose his composure—and indeed, his prediction proved correct.

That was only natural.

After being ridiculed to such an extent, if Yaofeng showed no reaction at all, then something truly unnatural would be at play.

The dignity of a True God was not something ordinary warriors could casually insult.

This boy Wang Teng truly had nerve.

On the battlefield, daring to confront Yaofeng True God might still be understandable—after all, back then, Yaofeng had been unable to act freely.

But now, with no one restraining Yaofeng, provoking him so openly—was Wang Teng not afraid?

Wait—

Was he calculating that these True Gods would step in for him?

Chihuang True God suddenly realized the truth, and couldn’t help but feel a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

He didn’t think Wang Teng was scheming against him—rather, the boy’s hidden calculations were simply too many, far too cunning.

“Chihuang, you intend to block me?”

Yaofeng True God’s voice trembled with shock and fury as he stared at Chihuang True God, his anger now beyond restraint.

“Yaofeng, you’ve gone too far,”

Chihuang True God glanced at him coolly and said, “You discard your own dignity—do you forbid others from speaking?”

A killing blow to the heart.

His words were utterly unyielding, striking directly at Yaofeng True God’s core.

“You!!”

Yaofeng True God choked on his own breath upon hearing those words, his eyes blazing with rage, nearly ready to burst into flame.

(End of chapter)