Novel Full Chapter 337: Dragon Gate
Three minutes later, Li Yun arrived at his destination.
Without hesitation, he took out his identity token and tossed it into the Hidden Dragon Pool. The moment it entered the pool, the golden Dragon Qi within began to churn violently. Threads of radiant golden energy rose from the depths and poured into the token, wrapping around it in layers.
Under the infusion of this Dragon Qi, the token began to change.
It trembled faintly at first, as if awakening from a long slumber. Then, a soft golden glow emerged from its surface, growing brighter and brighter with each passing moment. Soon, the radiance became so intense that it was difficult to look at directly.
Suddenly, the token transformed.
It shrank and reshaped itself, turning into a small golden dragon. The tiny dragon let out a silent motion as it traced a streak of golden light through the air before darting straight toward Li Yun’s forehead.
In an instant, it disappeared between his brows.
A faint golden dragon mark slowly emerged at the center of his forehead, flickering with a subtle yet profound aura.
Li Yun immediately focused his mind inward and entered his Sea of Consciousness.
There, he saw it.
A mass of golden gas floated quietly within, coiling upon itself in the shape of a dragon. Its outline was vague and indistinct, so faint that it seemed as though it could dissipate at any moment. Despite its fragile appearance, it exuded a mysterious presence that could not be ignored.
“What a strange energy.”
Li Yun observed it carefully, sensing the deep and enigmatic aura it carried. However, no matter how much he tried to analyze it, he could not grasp its true nature. The amount was simply too little, too thin to reveal anything substantial.
Still, he had a clear suspicion.
This golden gas was most likely Dragon Qi.
At the same time, he noticed something else. Although the Dragon Qi resided within his Sea of Consciousness, it did not truly belong to him. It drifted restlessly, as if it could break free and leave at any moment.
A thoughtful look appeared on Li Yun’s face.
“It seems that I can only truly claim this Dragon Qi if I secure a place within the top one hundred of the Hidden Dragon Tournament.”
With that conclusion in mind, he withdrew his consciousness and turned around, leaving the Dragon Palace without hesitation.
…
Outside the Dragon Palace, Long Yutian stood with his hands behind his back, carefully examining the golden dragon-shaped marks on each participant’s forehead.
These marks were unmistakable proof that one had successfully activated their identity token within the Hidden Dragon Pool. They could not be forged or imitated in any way.
When his gaze fell upon Li Yun, Long Yutian studied the faint golden dragon imprint between his brows for a brief moment before giving a slight nod.
“Very good. You have passed the second round. Move to the side and rest while you wait for the third round of the assessment.”
His voice was calm, yet it carried an authority that left no room for doubt.
Li Yun stepped aside without hesitation. Although he had already completed the trial, countless others were still struggling within the Dragon Palace. The number of participants in the second round had exceeded three million, and even as time passed, the flow of people entering and leaving had not slowed.
From dusk to night, and from night until the first light of dawn, the assessment continued without pause. Only when the sun began to rise did the second round finally come to an end.
Li Yun had passed with ease, yet he never once believed the trial itself was simple. On the contrary, he understood just how demanding it truly was. He had assumed that a significant number of young talents would fail, but when the final results were revealed, even he was taken aback.
Out of more than three million participants, fewer than one million had managed to pass.
The elimination rate was far harsher than he had anticipated.
“This assessment is far more brutal than it appears. I wonder how many will remain after the third round.”
Li Yun murmured to himself, his expression growing more thoughtful.
At that very moment, Long Yutian stepped forward once again, his voice ringing out across the entire area.
“The second round has concluded. We will now begin the third round of the assessment. The Dragon Gate Pass!”
As his words echoed, his hands moved swiftly, forming a series of intricate seals. In response, the crystal Dragon Palace suspended in the air began to radiate a boundless golden light. The structure trembled and shifted, its form twisting and stretching as if it were alive.
Gradually, the light condensed and took shape.
What emerged was a colossal golden gate in the form of a dragon, towering hundreds of zhang into the sky and spanning an immense width. Its presence alone was enough to inspire awe.
At the very top of the gate hung a grand plaque, upon which two ancient characters were inscribed.
Dragon Gate.
“The third stage has officially begun. This is the Dragon Gate trial. Anyone who successfully leaps over the Dragon Gate will be considered to have passed.”
Long Yutian’s voice resounded once more, filled with solemn authority.
The moment his words fell, the crowd erupted into motion.
Streams of qi burst into the air like brilliant fireworks as countless figures shot upward. One after another, the participants rose into the sky, leaving trails of radiant light behind them as they rushed toward the towering Dragon Gate.
Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the heavens.
The dragon sculpture carved into the gate seemed to awaken. Its eyes gleamed with life as it opened its massive jaws, releasing a thunderous roar that reverberated across the entire area.
From its mouth surged a tide of seven-colored light, flowing outward in layers like crashing ocean waves. The radiance carried hues of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and violet, forming a dazzling yet oppressive spectacle.
The power contained within that light was overwhelming.