While speaking,

He used the Human Emperor Step to effortlessly dodge the half-dragon's attack.

The half-dragon's massive jaws missed him by a whisker, failing to swallow him, and it paused in confusion.

Then,

It turned back and lunged at Qin Feng again!

Qin Feng continued using the Human Emperor Step, casually causing it to miss.

After several attempts, the half-dragon's efforts were in vain.

Furious, the half-dragon roared towards the sky, then its entire body leapt out of the water, angrily attacking Qin Feng.

Still, it was futile.

At this moment, Qin Feng noticed that the half-dragon's lower half was shackled by a Steel Lock!

There were four massive steel chains connected to the lock, each extending and fixed in the directions of east, west, south, and north; as the half-dragon moved, the chains also made a metallic clashing sound.

Qin Feng couldn't help but be astonished.

So it turns out this giant python was trapped here by someone.

If he was not mistaken,

The gemstones must have also been placed here by that person, and then the giant python was bound here to guard them.

Over time,

The giant python began to use the Spiritual Energy emitted by the gemstones to cultivate on its own.

Judging by the evolved state of the horns on the half-dragon's head, Qin Feng guessed that it must have been for about three or four hundred years. If that person still hasn't returned after such a long time, it's possible they are dead, leaving only the pile of gemstones and the trapped giant python.

At this moment,

The half-dragon opened its vast maw, its sharp fangs on full display, then made a frenzied lunge to swallow Qin Feng!

Qin Feng withdrew his gaze and said to the half-dragon: "I let you smell this blood not to eat me—you don't have the ability for that. What I mean is, I can help you evolve into a 'Jiao Dragon' sooner. Understand?"

With that said,

The half-dragon, which had just lunged towards him, suddenly stopped.

"You heard right, I can help you."

Qin Feng spoke again.

He then took out another Blood Bodhi, and dripped his own fresh blood onto the Blood Bodhi.

In an instant!

The Blood Bodhi emitted a blazing light, illuminating the entire vast cave!

Then,

He tossed the Blood Bodhi infused with Qin Feng's blood directly to the half-dragon!

The half-dragon swallowed it right away.

Like tossing a delicious rib to a Little Dog that had eaten plain buns for several hundred years, the half-dragon excitedly gulped it down.

Immediately afterward,

Its body became searing hot due to the Blood Bodhi, emanating a bright red glow, as if it were being burned.

The lake water started to boil.

The half-dragon thrashed about in the water incessantly, as if in great pain.

Seeing this, Qin Feng shook his head and said: "It seems that being trapped here for years, only absorbing the Spiritual Energy from the gemstones, your body isn't as strong as I imagined. You're not yet able to Refine the Blood Bodhi and my blood in a short time. Let me help you once more!"

Saying so,

He flicked his finger, and another drop of fresh blood, fell into the lake water.

The boiling lake water immediately became cool.

The half-dragon finally felt better.

After a while,

When the half-dragon had recovered, Qin Feng spoke again: "How about this deal? Can I take away the gemstones now?"

The half-dragon nodded immediately.

The Blood Bodhi, formed by the Divine Beast, the Fire Qilin, and merged with the Dragon Emperor's Blood, although not as plentiful as that large pile of gemstones, was more effective in helping Divine Beasts evolve than any Elixir.

Considering the half-dragon's current state,

After some time, once it completely Refines the Blood Bodhi, it could essentially transform into a Jiao Dragon!

However, if it were to follow the normal cultivation process,

It might take several hundred more years, and it was uncertain whether the Spiritual Energy in those gemstones would be sufficient.

"Very well."

Qin Feng nodded in satisfaction and quickly loaded the gemstones into his Nayu Ring's space.

However, he also left some behind, telling the half-dragon: "If you want to evolve into a Jiao Dragon as soon as possible, these remaining gemstones are for you to use."

The half-dragon nodded in gratitude.

Qin Feng then said: "I have another idea. Do you want to become a real dragon?"

Upon hearing this, the half-dragon showed a stunned expression.

Of course, it wanted to become a real dragon!

Just.

That was but an unattainable dream!

Transforming into a Jiao Dragon is easy.

But transforming into a true dragon is incredibly difficult.

Not only does it require countless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures for support, but one must also endure the Nine Days of Thunder Tribulation!

Once the Nine Days of Thunder Tribulation ends in failure.

Then millennia of cultivation would be destroyed in an instant.

Even one's body could be shattered to pieces, and the Primordial Spirit completely extinguished!

Therefore.

It was just a thought.

"If you wish for it, I can help you too," Qin Feng said, looking into its eyes.

The Half-dragon remained silent.

It didn't believe anyone could help it transform into a real dragon.

But the calm and resolute gaze of the young man before it kindled a sliver of hope anew.

"If you desire it, from this moment on, you will only obey me, understand?"

Qin Feng continued.

The Half-dragon understood.

This was to become his Beast Pet.

It had been a Beast Pet long enough. Its last master had trapped it here to guard the gemstone when it was still a Spiritual Beast Python, and it ended up being centuries.

It was sick of such a life!

It would rather live a lowly life than to be enslaved again!

The Half-dragon wanted to shake its head but suddenly noticed that Qin Feng was no longer standing on the land where the gemstone was placed.

Turning its head to look.

He had already moved to the wall on the east side, next to the chains that were used to bind the Half-dragon.

"These chains were forged from special materials and even had runes and Dao Patterns infused within them. No wonder you're so powerful but still couldn't break free. It seems the person who trapped you was a great master. Judging from the Dao Pattern on these chains, I'm afraid even transforming into a Jiao Dragon might not set you free."

Qin Feng muttered.

At these words.

The Half-dragon's heart quivered!

It had been trapped by these chains for countless years, ceaselessly cultivating here with the hope that one day it could break its shackles and return to freedom!

Now.

Even becoming a Jiao Dragon wouldn't work?

As it was sinking into despair.

At that moment.

Qin Feng continued to mutter: "Right, perhaps my Life and Death Blade could give it a try."

He drew out the Life and Death Blade, then smeared some of his own blood on the blade.

The chains' unique steel, the complex Dao Patterns.

Using only the Life and Death Blade, Qin Feng wasn't sure, so he invoked the power of his own blood as well.

Following that.

Qin Feng regulated his breathing, then swung the blade down forcefully! Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе (М|V|L0ЕМРYR) hоsts thе оriginаl.

Clang!

A crisp sound.

The steel chain was severed instantly!

At this moment.

The eyes of the Half-dragon instantly moistened!

From despair just a moment ago, believing that even as a Jiao Dragon it couldn't escape these chains, in the next second, Qin Feng had cut the chains apart!

It was as if it had ascended from hell to heaven in an instant.

"It really worked."

Qin Feng then moved to the other three spots, severing the remaining three chains one by one.

Finally.

He said to the Half-dragon: "Alright, crawl onto the land, and I will cut off the steel lock on your body."

The Half-dragon was still immersed in an endless dream, not hearing his words.

There was no other way.

At this moment, it truly felt like a dream!

A dream of freedom that had lasted for centuries, realized without any signs, more dreamlike than a dream!

Qin Feng called out to it several times, and only then did it hear him, immediately crawling onto the land in the middle of the lake, exposing the specially made, extremely hard steel lock on its body.

"Ready."

Qin Feng, holding the Life and Death Blade, chopped down directly!