Chapter 49: The Source Dragon Swallowing the Elephant
Chapter 49: The Source Dragon Swallowing the Elephant
Even a library administrator knew about the "Devouring Source Dragon" phenomenon, so how could the academy's dean and elders not know?
Zhang Xuan, who was supposedly just a groom with no resources and no exposure to cultivation techniques, caused such a commotion as soon as he began cultivating.
Earlier, they had discussed giving him a salary of 5000 Source Coins per month if he could refine 50 strands of Source Energy in a day. But now... he was refining at least 50 strands with a single breath! Everyone was going crazy. Igniting a high-quality furnace was so easy for him?
"I swear on my honor, it's true... I wouldn't make a mistake!"
Seeing the doubtful looks from everyone, Su Qiao raised his hand to explain.
"Let's go and see!"
As soon as Su Qiao confirmed it, Ran Qingxu hurriedly nodded. Before his words were even finished, he felt a gust of wind. Looking up, he saw that the dean, who had just been talking, had already dashed out hundreds of meters and was about to disappear from sight.
Not only him, but Vice Principle Wu Yunzhou also followed closely, running faster and faster, as if being chased by some source beast...
"..."Ran Qingxu's face twitched, stunned. Was this still the usually calm and composed Dean and Vice Principle? Why were they in such a rush?
"Stop hesitating, if we're too late, we won't see anything..."
While still confused, he heard a sigh. Looking up, he saw Second Elder Wu Liuyun also dashing out. Looking around, Ran Qingxu realized that he was the only one left in the room; everyone else had already run out...
"Wait..."
Feeling frustrated, Ran Qingxu couldn't hold back any longer and hurried to catch up.
It wasn't long before all the elders arrived in front of the library. Seeing the young man in front of them, one hand behind his back, holding a book and in a state of enlightenment, they all looked at each other in disbelief.
‘... The energy absorption technique is amazing!’
‘From now on, everyone should pass it around and absorb each other's energy…’
"It really is the Devouring Source Dragon phenomenon..."
Upon confirmation, Lu Mingrong swallowed hard.
Source Energy entering his body so quickly could only be explained by this legendary phenomenon. Shattering the life chart during the Source Pool assessment and causing the Devouring Source Dragon phenomenon during Energy Storing Realm cultivation…
‘So I was indeed the groom, the ignorant country bumpkin!’
‘Otherwise, why would your casual cultivation be so powerful and extraordinary…’
"The Source Energy within a few hundred meters has already been completely absorbed..." Ran Qingxu said after sensing the surroundings.
"Yes! At this rate of absorption, if it continues, not just a few hundred meters, but even the Source Energy within a few miles will be depleted. Once that happens, the entire academy will run out of Source Energy to absorb... I'm afraid we can't hide this from the other students!"
Vice Principle Wu Yunzhou frowned, recalling something important.
This was like a water pump with too much power, creating a vortex that prevents water from replenishing quickly enough, leading to a vacuum...
Source Energy was alive and flowed freely; no one usually noticed it. But once a vacuum appeared, all the students in the academy would definitely notice. It would be impossible to explain then.
‘If this news gets out... how can we keep the genius's identity a secret?’
All previous efforts would be in vain, and the three Destiny Disks would have been sacrificed for nothing...
"The only solution now is to prevent a Source Energy vacuum!" Lu Mingrong nodded. "I have an idea..."
"Dean, do you mean we should replenish the absorbed Source Energy?" Wu Yunzhou guessed before he even finished speaking, his pupils constricting.
Zhang Xuan's absorption speed was clearly increasing. To prevent any abnormalities, they had to replenish the absorbed Source Energy. The most direct way was for these experts to use their own power to fill the gap...
"There's no other choice..."
Lu Mingrong nodded. "Don't worry, you know the Energy Storing Realm is just about filling the Source Pool with Source Energy and activating the meridians... Even if his Source Pool reaches the supreme grade, how much Source Energy can he absorb on his first attempt? If we each supplement a little, we should be able to suppress the anomaly quickly..."
"Indeed!"
"Sounds reasonable!"
After a moment's hesitation, Wu Yunzhou, Ran Qingxu, and the others nodded in agreement.
A supreme-grade Source Pool was formidable, but since Zhang Xuan triggered the Devouring Source Dragon phenomenon, he had already absorbed a lot of Source Energy. It should be nearing saturation. All they needed to do was clean up the aftermath. The danger shouldn't be too significant.
During their conversation, the surrounding Source Energy boiled once more. Zhang Xuan's absorption speed didn't slow down; instead, it accelerated. In an instant, nine dragons formed from Source Energy appeared beside him, distributed among nine key acupoints.
Creak! Creak!
The books that had just been moved were once again swept up by the dragons' force, shredded into fragments and scattered on the ground.
"We're running out of time. If we don't replenish the energy quickly, a vacuum will form in less than ten breaths," Lu Mingrong's face turned pale.
Just one dragon had thrown the entire library into turmoil, depleting the Source Energy within a few hundred meters. With eight more dragons, a vacuum would form rapidly and intensely if they didn't act fast.
"Do it now!"
At Lu Mingrong's command, the elders released their pure energy towards the dragons.
Whoosh!
The nine dragons, nearly starved of Source Energy, greedily absorbed the incoming power, turning from a dull gray to a vibrant gold, as if coming to life.
"This is... the Source Dragon Swallowing the Elephant phenomenon? Oh no, my energy is depleting too fast; I can't break free..."
"I'm being pulled in by the dragons as well; I can't escape!"
As the dragons turned gold, Lu Mingrong and the others felt their energy drain rapidly, almost causing them to faint.
The Source Dragon Swallowing the Elephant, inspired by the tale of a python swallowing an elephant, signifies the dragons' immense devouring power. Though they weren't actual elephants, compared to Zhang Xuan, they were much stronger, making this metaphor fitting.
Initially, they only intended to provide some energy to stop the dragons from causing too much disturbance. However, upon contact, their energy surged out uncontrollably.
It was like feeding a hungry tiger only to be devoured themselves.
They initially thought that since Zhang Xuan had already triggered the Devouring Source Dragon phenomenon, his need for Source Energy would have lessened. They never imagined that it would only grow stronger! The moment their power made contact, it was devoured faster than they could escape. Even if they wanted to retreat, it was too late!
"Everyone, don't panic. Pour in your energy. With the ten elders of White Rock Academy, along with the dean and Vice Principle, fourteen experts, I refuse to believe we can't fill the Source Pool of a mere beginner in the Energy Storing Realm!"
With his eyebrows raised, Lu Mingrong's eyes gleamed with confidence.
No matter how talented Zhang Xuan was, he had only just begun cultivating. The combined strength of their group included some at the pinnacle of the Jade Bone Realm and others at the peak of the Organs Easing Realm. Their powerful energies, like rivers converging into the sea, should be more than enough to fill the Source Pool of a novice.