Aftermath

When the dust finally settled, Ling Tian stood victorious by himself.

The dragon lay defeated on his feet, its colossal form finally succumbing to its injuries.

Ling Tian, battered and exhausted, looked at the fallen beast with a mixture of respect and relief.

He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his victory.

"It was a worthy opponent," he whispered, looking at the dragon's lifeless form. "A pity it was a juvenile Azure Flame Dragon, otherwise at his peak he could have reached a much higher realm than merely core formation."

As he collected his thoughts and began to heal his injuries, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

He had faced one of the most powerful creatures in the realm and emerged victorious. But he knew there were more challenges ahead, more battles to fight.

"His strength was much higher than merely early golden core realm cultivator."