Chapter 447: Chapter 447: The Princess of the Ancient Dragon Tribe
Word Count: 3,118 Words
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The trio traveled through the spatial passage for nearly an hour. Zi Yan led the way in complete silence from beginning to end.
Unlike her usual self, her expression was incredibly solemn, even somewhat nervous.
This was understandable. Strictly speaking, Zi Yan was like an abandoned infant, cast away in the distant Black-Corner Region for unknown reasons. She was now returning to seek her family—of course she would be anxious.
The monotonous silver light surrounding them made Xiao Yan dizzy. Just as he was about to close his eyes for a brief rest, Zi Yan suddenly slowed her pace ahead. Following her gaze, he spotted a silver halo shimmering faintly at the passage’s end.
’Are we almost there?’
His spirits lifted at the sight of the halo. Quickening his pace to stay close behind Zi Yan, the three of them transformed into streaks of light and plunged through the silver circle moments later.
After passing through, Xiao Yan’s vision blurred momentarily before suddenly brightening. The view before him was no longer that monotonous silver; lush greenery and mountain peaks once again filled his sight.
"This is...!!"
Ancient Dragon Island—home of the Dou Qi Continent’s most powerful magical beast tribe, the Ancient Void Dragons. But Xiao Yan immediately knew he needed to correct himself. This absolutely could not be called an island. This was clearly an enormous landmass!
A continent floating in the void!
The entire island was encased in a massive silver barrier that shielded it from spatial compression and turbulence.
Within Ancient Dragon Island, towering ancient trees reached skyward, their canopies scraping the heavens. Life flourished with incredible vitality. This was undoubtedly the most vibrant place Xiao Yan had ever witnessed.
From high above, the entire island revealed itself as a landscape of rolling mountains crossed by absurdly massive rivers. Xiao Yan even spotted celestial waterfalls that erupted skyward before cascading down in magnificent torrents!
The island was a sea of lush vegetation with barely any visible structures. It was pure, untamed life force. Only upon seeing Ancient Dragon Island did Xiao Yan truly understand what an ancient forest looked like, what a place untouched by human habitation really was!
This was the world where magical beasts thrived, completely different from human cities. Even the Sky Serpent Mansion paled in comparison.
ROAR! SCREECH!
Dragon roars periodically echoed across the island, accompanied not just by dragon cries but also the calls of soaring eagles and prowling beasts.
’So many medicinal herbs... Spirit fruits and treasure trees that are rarely seen outside grow abundantly here.’ As an alchemist, Xiao Yan’s eyes widened in astonishment. The extremely dense natural energy here allowed medicinal herbs and spirit fruits to flourish everywhere.
Yet these precious ingredients were merely everyday food for the Ancient Void Dragons.
No wonder the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe had grown so powerful!
For anyone seeking medicinal herbs or spirit fruits, Ancient Dragon Island would be the ultimate destination. Any visitor would be overwhelmed with excitement, for the entire island resembled a massive medicinal garden and treasure vault where herbs grew everywhere, varying only in quality.
Xiao Yan quickly composed himself, however, as powerful auras locked onto them from all directions.
While Dou Venerates were considered apex experts on the Dou Qi Continent, as Dou Saints were rarely seen, this common knowledge didn’t apply on Ancient Dragon Island.
The moment they emerged from the passage, the surrounding space solidified under a special force. Space warped as Dou Venerate-level warriors surrounded the three of them from all directions.
These were all transformed Ancient Void Dragons!
Magical beasts qualified for transformation at Rank 7, and by Rank 8, transformation was guaranteed.
Eight Dou Venerates!
This force alone could sweep through ninety-nine percent of the powers in the Central Plains. Even the arrogant Profound Sky Sect probably wouldn’t dare breathe too loudly.
Because the leader of the group was a burly man whose strength was as high as a peak 8-star Dou Venerate. His aura alone made Xiao Yan’s heart race. His true combat strength likely matched that of peak Dou Venerate Xuan Kong Zi.
"Who are you? How were you able to enter Ancient Dragon Island?" The leader fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan, somewhat surprised since the spiritual shield prevented him from sensing their true cultivation.
Xiao Yan sized him up. The man was powerfully built, with the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear, exuding an aura of raw ferocity.
"Hm? Brother Hei Qing, that looks like an Ancient Dragon Bear," a relatively younger man said to the leader called Hei Qing, pointing at Xiong Zhan who carried Xiao Yan and Zi Yan in his true form.
Hei Qing examined Xiong Zhan carefully and nodded. "Indeed an Ancient Dragon Bear. The Ancient Dragon Bear tribe was once our subordinate race with some dragon bloodline, but that’s insufficient to locate our hidden void passage, let alone enter Ancient Dragon Island so silently."
These words were clearly meant for Xiao Yan and Zi Yan. A mere Rank 8 Ancient Dragon Bear was not capable of such a feat. There had to be another reason.
"Hei Qing, visitors are guests. Show some courtesy." An aged voice came from behind Hei Qing. Space rippled as an elder slowly emerged from a spatial passage.
The white-robed elder looked like any ordinary old man on the street, but the instant he appeared, Xiao Yan’s entire body tensed. In the Nihility Space, Mao Wu gripped the Soul Command Token tightly, ready to call for help.
The sensation this elder gave off was identical to what Xiao Yan had felt from Elder Tong Xuan of the Gu Clan!
’A Dou Saint...’
Xiao Yan couldn’t determine who was stronger. After all, he had only just entered the Dou Venerate realm, his Spiritual Strength merely at the Soul State, not yet reaching the Heavenly State.
"Hei Qing greets the Third Elder." Hei Qing and the surrounding Ancient Void Dragon warriors all bowed.
The Third Elder smiled amiably at Xiao Yan before examining Zi Yan. He spoke politely to Xiao Yan, "Young friend, I am Zhu Li, Third Elder of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe. Might you remove your spiritual shield?"
Xiao Yan’s Spiritual Strength was formidable. Even Half-Saint Zhu Li could only glimpse hints without fully perceiving Zi Yan’s identity.
Xiao Yan didn’t immediately remove the spiritual shield. He turned to look at Zi Yan.
After studying Zhu Li and sensing no danger, Zi Yan nodded to Xiao Yan. Understanding her meaning, he withdrew his Spiritual Strength.
The nearby Hei Qing and others now understood. It turned out a young sister of their tribe had returned. No wonder they had managed to enter.
"Hahaha, so it’s a little sister returning from outside! Welcome, welcome!" Hei Qing laughed heartily, patting Zi Yan’s shoulder with great enthusiasm.
But what Hei Qing and the others failed to notice was that the moment Zhu Li sensed Zi Yan, his pupils contracted sharply, his expression changed dramatically, and his body even trembled slightly.
"Hei Qing! Show respect!" Zhu Li suddenly bellowed. This startled Hei Qing, who quickly withdrew his hand with a bewildered expression, not understanding what he had done wrong.
Zhu Li’s expression grew tense. He swallowed hard and slowly approached Zi Yan, asking with astonishment in his eyes, "Might I use a secret technique to examine your dragon bloodline?"
Zi Yan nodded slightly. Zhu Li quickly formed hand seals, concentrating a very faint purple light at his fingertip before gently touching it to Zi Yan’s forehead.
BUZZ!
Instantly, an earth-shaking dragon might erupted from Zi Yan’s body. Purple-gold radiance burst forth, as dazzling as the sun itself, illuminating all of Ancient Dragon Island.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!!
As the light shone, every Ancient Void Dragon and subordinate races across the entire island knelt, prostrating toward Zi Yan’s direction.
Not just those who hadn’t transformed, even the peak 8-star Dou Venerate Hei Qing dropped to one knee with a thud, head lowered, not daring to look up.
Only Xiao Yan and Zhu Li remained standing.
"Dragon Emperor bloodline! And the bloodline concentration is even higher than the three Dragon Kings! You... you are the old Dragon Emperor’s child?!" Withdrawing his finger, Zhu Li’s aged eyes filled with tears of excitement. His wrinkled hand trembled as he grasped Zi Yan’s.
’Dragon Emperor?!’ Xiao Yan’s heart jolted. Doesn’t that make Zi Yan... a princess of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe!
Large magical beast races typically had multiple kings, like feudal lords guarding territories, similar to generals, though not called such.
Like the Wind Lightning Pavilion’s four pavilions having different Pavilion Masters.
But the Dragon Emperor was the true sovereign of the entire Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, supreme above all Dragon Kings!
Xiao Yan was stunned, but confusion quickly followed. If this were true, how could Zi Yan possibly have been abandoned in the Black-Corner Region!
’Could this be related to the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe’s split?’ he wondered.
The most shocked at this moment was undoubtedly Zi Yan herself. After her initial shock, tears welled in her beautiful eyes as she demanded angrily, "Then where is my family? Why did they abandon me..."
At her question, all the Ancient Void Dragons including Hei Qing cast their eyes down in sorrow.
"Sigh, the old Dragon Emperor... this matter..." Zhu Li glanced at Xiao Yan. After all, some matters were secrets of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, and Xiao Yan was human.
"Xiao Yan is the person closest to me. Whatever it is, speak freely," Zi Yan said.
"Xiao Yan?! The Pill Gathering champion Xiao Yan?" Hearing the name, Zhu Li showed an expression of ’no wonder this fellow’s Spiritual Strength is so formidable.’
Xiao Yan coughed twice and nodded. It seemed his fame had truly spread far if even the reclusive Ancient Void Dragon Tribe knew of him.
"This isn’t the place for discussion. Let’s proceed to the Dragon Hall first." With a wave of his hand, Zhu Li swept away with Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, vanishing from sight.
Hei Qing looked at the still-bewildered Xiong Zhan and said, "The Ancient Dragon Bear was once our tribe’s subordinate race. You may as well stay on Eastern Dragon Island from now on."
Xiong Zhan hastily expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Hei Qing."
For magical beasts, this place was simply paradise!
Zhu Li led the duo to a massive mountain peak crowned by an enormous hall that resembled a coiling dragon when viewed from afar. As they descended, they encountered patrolling guards who stopped briefly, regarding Xiao Yan and Zi Yan with curious eyes before stepping aside.
After entering the great hall and taking their seats, Zhu Li began recounting the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe’s recent history.
The tribe’s division, it turned out, was indeed connected to Zi Yan’s father—or more precisely, was because of him.
Because he had disappeared.
Many years ago, the Dragon Emperor had taken a young Zi Yan out with him, after which both vanished without a trace. The result of having no leader was that within the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, the three Dragon Kings of the old Dragon Emperor’s generation, who also possessed a faint ancestral Dragon Power, began to fight amongst themselves, each wanting to become the new Dragon Emperor.
They tore Ancient Dragon Island apart, splitting it into the Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern Dragon Islands. The three rebel kings took their followers and established their own factions, and to this day, they remain locked in a bitter civil war.
Those who refused civil war and chose to await the old Dragon Emperor’s return were Zhu Li and his faction, this Eastern Dragon Island where Xiao Yan now stood.
This was also why the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe had vanished from the Dou Qi Continent. Zhu Li and the other elders had sealed the void passage to Ancient Dragon Island.
’Even the mighty Ancient Void Dragon Tribe cannot escape the temptation of power.’ Xiao Yan couldn’t help but sigh. The magical beast world’s strongest tribe had fallen to such a state by their own hands.
"Your Majesty... do you know where the old Dragon Emperor is now?" Zhu Li asked anxiously. To reunite the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, a new Dragon Emperor must emerge.
Zi Yan shook her head sadly. "I don’t know either. I have no memory of him since I became aware."
She didn’t understand why her father had suddenly vanished. She’d been young then and only knew that one day, he was suddenly gone.
Zhu Li’s eyes dimmed as he sighed.
As an outsider, however, Xiao Yan’s brow furrowed in thought. ’According to Elder Su Qian and Zi Yan’s own recollections, she has been living in that great forest outside Jia Nan Academy since she first became aware. If the old Dragon Emperor didn’t intentionally abandon her, then something must have happened that forced him to leave her behind.’
’This old Dragon Emperor could suppress the entire Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, so his strength must have been at the Dou Saint level, and likely not weak among Dou Saints... What could force him to abandon his child? How is that possible...’
As they say, the bystander sees most clearly. From these fragments, Xiao Yan pieced together a different picture.
THUD!
Zhu Li fell to both knees before Zi Yan. The sight of a Dou Saint kneeling was so shocking that Xiao Yan leapt to his feet and hurried to one side.
Tears streamed down the elder’s face as he pleaded, "Your Majesty, the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe has been divided for too long. Even the dragon children born on the Southern, Western, and Northern islands no longer know their true roots. They are trapped in a cycle of endless slaughter!"
"Only Your Majesty can reunite the Dragon Islands and restore the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe’s former glory, stopping them from slaughtering one another."
Zi Yan was completely stunned. Though she had lived longer than Xiao Yan, she had spent most of that time sleeping. Her mental age was far younger than his. Such enormous responsibility suddenly thrust upon her left her at a loss. She looked helplessly toward Xiao Yan.
Seeing her pleading gaze, Xiao Yan felt a headache coming on. He had Zi Yan help Zhu Li up first, then asked, "Elder Zhu Li, Zi Yan’s strength is still weak. Unifying the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe seems impossible, doesn’t it?"
Zhu Li rose to his feet and quickly explained, "We magical beasts differ from humans. For us, bloodline is supreme. Once Her Majesty reaches Rank 9 and awakens the Dragon Emperor bloodline, mastering the Ancestral Dragon power, even the three Dragon Kings would not dare defy her. The bloodline of the Dragon Emperor commands absolute authority."
’Rank 9...’ Xiao Yan’s eyelid twitched violently. You make it sound so simple!
Countless Rank 8 magical beasts never reached Rank 9 in their entire lives, and Zi Yan was currently only Rank 7.
However, magical beasts valued bloodline above all. Zi Yan’s bloodline at least qualified her to reach Rank 9, and with Eastern Dragon Island’s resources, there was a chance.
"Xiao Yan... I... I want to stay on Dragon Island." Determination filled Zi Yan’s eyes. After discovering her heritage, she couldn’t simply turn away and watch her homeland torn apart, her people killing each other in rivers of blood.
After brief consideration, Xiao Yan spread his hands in resignation. "Sigh, I understand. Elder Zhu Li, please have someone gather these medicinal ingredients. I’ll refine some pills for Zi Yan."
Hearing his words, a happy smile bloomed on Zi Yan’s face. She leaped onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her cheek affectionately against his.
"Thank you, Xiao Yan! Hehehe, you’re the best!"
Xiao Yan mercilessly rolled his eyes at her. This would be exhausting work for him as the alchemist!
Watching their intimate interaction, Zhu Li stood dumbfounded. This was because an Ancient Void Dragon was extremely proud; it was impossible for them to be so intimate with an outsider other than family.
’Could this be the Prince Consort?’ Zhu Li was startled. Thinking about it, the Pill Gathering champion seemed like a suitable match?
Thus began Xiao Yan’s arduous pill refining. He was in his normal state now, not the enlightened state from the Pill Gathering, so he couldn’t afford any distractions.
Even in his normal state, Xiao Yan’s refining speed far exceeded ordinary 8th-tier alchemists. Tier 8 pills attracting three-colored Pill Lightning took him only five days; five-colored Pill Lightning, just eight days; and the most challenging Desolate Beast Heaven Spirit Pill required only fifteen days.
This last pill even attracted seven-colored Pill Lightning. If not for his newly evolved Sky Demon Puppet, Xiao Yan would have needed Hei Qing to help withstand the tribulation.
For that month, Eastern Dragon Island could be said to have suffered constant lightning strikes. Xiao Yan’s alchemy skills shocked the entire Ancient Void Dragon Tribe.
"Truly worthy of being the Pill Gathering champion..." Hei Qing watched the seven-colored Pill Lightning descend from afar, somewhat dumbfounded.
A tier 8 pill that could attract seven-colored Pill Lightning... he wanted one too!
A month of continuous high-intensity refining left Xiao Yan’s head spinning. Without the Three Thousand Burning Flame and Yin-Yang Twin Flame, he would have emerged leaning on a walking stick.
"Xiao Yan, are you alright?" Zi Yan supported him with concern.
"I’m fine. Mere tier 8 pills, no big deal." Xiao Yan forced himself to appear energetic. He took three brocade boxes from his storage ring and handed them to her. "This three-colored one—take it during your Ancestral Dragon Ceremony. It will help complete your bloodline awakening."
"This five-colored one will strengthen your physique. Take one when you enter the Dragon Tomb to cultivate."
"This last one, the seven-colored Desolate Beast Heaven Spirit Pill, offers a chance for bloodline reversion to ancestral form. Even without that, it will greatly enhance your bloodline strength. Use it as you see fit.
"And this storage ring contains medicinal candy pills made from tier 8 ingredients. That should be enough for you to snack on."
The ring was packed to the brim with a staggering number of pill bottles.
"Xiao Yan..." Zi Yan’s eyes immediately reddened as she threw herself into his arms.
"Don’t cry. I’m not dying. When you become Dragon Emperor and unify the Dragon Islands, I’ll be counting on you to protect me." Xiao Yan stroked her small head. Zi Yan had always been by his side since leaving Jia Nan Academy. He too felt reluctant to part.
"Mm! In the future, wait for this Empress to protect you. No one will dare bully you!"