The wound on the True Dragon's body nearly stretched across his entire belly, so deep that its bottom was invisible.
Along the edges of the dragon scales, a dense crimson glow flowed.
But.
More importantly, a broken fragment of a treasured sword was embedded inside the wound. Crimson light flickered across its blade from time to time.
It was clearly a genuine divine weapon. Even the domineering nature of Innate Dragon Blood had failed to melt it.
Naturally, this weapon had not come from Duanmu Hua.
Given his opponent's strength, even with the True Dragon aged, weakened, and gravely wounded, he still could not have inflicted such an injury.
This was an old wound the True Dragon had already sustained. His battle with Duanmu Hua had caused it to reveal itself completely.
Szzzt!
Szzzt!
Just then, the fragment of the treasured sword began to tremble, and an intensely potent force of corruption started to eat away at the True Dragon's body and soul. Boundless pain spread wildly like a rising tide.
"Little Jian'an, is attaining the Origin Dao really that important?"
The True Dragon slowly reached out a claw to touch the sword. But the moment they made contact, a pitch-black force flowed along some hidden trace and began to spread.
Even so.
Though the True Dragon's Claw was comparable to an Innate treasure, it withered in an instant, forcing him to pull it back.
"I'm old. I really am old. My soul is waning, my body is rotting, and now I can barely even resist the corrupting power on this sword."
"Mother was right. I really don't have much time left."
Still.
Though the True Dragon said this, there was no fear in his voice, only the calm acceptance of one who had weathered the passage of countless ages.