Chapter 2186 – Burying Calamity
UNedited chapter – Rubble
Yun Che stood once more before the Ancestral Dragon barrier, but unlike the first time, he did not pass through it directly with the dragon jade. Instead, he stood motionless, so much so that the energy surging around him had come to a standstill, leaving only a fleeting, almost suffocating sense of stillness.
Meng Chaoyang watched from afar, his gaze deep and inscrutable.
He was a man of great rationality, and he excelled at reading people’s expressions and discerning their innermost thoughts. Back when Yun Che first arrived at the Dreamweaver Kingdom of God, during his conflict against Meng Jianxi, he had been the first among the nine Dream Lords to step forward and support Yun Che.
Since then, he had naturally become one of the closest Dream Lords to Yun Che.
Based on his observation and understanding of Yun Che over the past three years, setting aside his extraordinary talents in all sorts of things, he also possessed a maturity and depth of character that was completely uncharacteristic of his age.
He was clearly only two sexagenary years old and a Divine Master, yet his eyes seemed to contain a deep, boundless ocean. Even when he occasionally peered into them out of curiosity, he could only glimpse an expanse of chaos that seemed to stretch endlessly.
As a soul cultivator, he understood better than anyone just how abnormal—even terrifying—it was for someone of such a young age to possess such a soul sea.
He had once discussed this matter with Meng Kongchan, but his Divine Regent had only responded with nothing but a face full of pride and delight. He had even burst into a long and uncontrollable laughter after that.
If he was the Divine Son of another kingdom, then he would undoubtedly be a terrifying heretic. But since he was the Divine Son of Dreamweaver… it was an entirely different matter altogether.
To protect Yun Che, he had even issued the following orders to all Dream Halls: no one was to use their divine soul to peer into Yun Che, nor was their consciousness allowed to touch the Divine Son Hall where he resided… even necessary concern and protection must not overstep these boundaries.
That was why… Yun Che’s behavior today was far too abnormal.
He didn’t believe the flimsy excuse Yun Che had hastily offered as a matter of course. Now that the young man had come to his senses, even he himself must realize how utterly absurd and desperate it had sounded.
So, what exactly had he encountered in the dragon race’s forbidden zone, and what was he deliberately trying to conceal?
“……”
Standing before the Ancestral Dragon barrier, Yun Che faintly sensed Meng Chaoyang’s gaze. It was a gaze filled with concern and solemnity, but also filled with deep inquiry.
He took out the pale dragon jade. A gentle glow rippled, parting the barrier before him once more.
This time, there was no need for the dragon guards to announce his arrival. Within mere moments, the Dragon Lord had rushed over to meet him in person. His urgency—it could be a deliberate showing, or he could simply be moving too fast to conceal it—was plain to see.
Long Zhiming descended slowly not far ahead of Yun Che, landing without stirring a speck of dust, and wearing a gentle smile on his face as before.
Before Yun Che could speak, he raised his hand in greeting and said, “Your return has truly filled this old man with surprise and delight, Divine Son Yuan. I was in the hall when I heard of your hasty departure, so I did not even get the chance or time to ask you to stay. My heart has been filled with anxiety ever since, and I have been ruminating over whether I might have been negligent in some way or failed to treat such a distinguished guest with the proper respect.”
Yun Che looked the Dragon Lord straight in the eye. His aged voice resonated in his ears, causing a brief hum in his soul sea.
Long Zhiming, Dragon Lord of the dragons of the Abyss. Aside from the Abyssal Monarch and the Four High Priests of the Pure Land, he was the oldest living being in existence.
His status and seniority were extraordinary to say the least, yet not a trace of arrogance toward others could be seen in him, nor the slightest air of an ancient one’s aloofness or reserve. Moreover, he was so gentle and earnest toward a junior who had only lived “two sexagenary years” like him, going so far as to burden his one-million-year-old body with a hint of caution and humility.
Yun Che understood the pride and aloofness of dragons all too well.
Long Zhiming was not naturally this way, and he definitely wasn’t acting like this because he was afraid of the Kingdoms of God.
He was a dragon on a timer. Everything he displayed, everything he did, was for a single purpose; a single obsession….
The future of the dragons of the Abyss, especially that of the Ancestral Dragons.
For this, he could set aside all the pride and nature etched into his draconic bones. He could be humble, he could bow his head, he could deceive, he could be despicable, he could even resort to any means he had once deemed beneath him.
Yun Che thought of Zhou Xuzi.
He thought of himself, who was likewise sparing no means for the sake of his homeland.
They were all men who were burdened by heavy responsibility. They were all selfish, despicable, and sinful… Thus, Long Zhiming should have long since been prepared to bear any cost and face any retribution.
It wasn’t just the Dragon Lord. He was no different!
Wearing a gentle, apologetic smile, Yun Che bowed slightly to Long Zhiming and said, “Senior Dragon Lord, how could you say such a thing? Your generosity has only left this junior feeling gratitude and trepidation—how could there be any shortcoming on your part?”
He let out a soft sigh, his face betraying a perfectly measured mix of complexity and bitterness. “Truth be told, my sudden departure just now… was a panicked escape.”
“Panicked… escape?”
Long Zhiming’s white eyebrows twitched, and his face betrayed astonishment. He had considered every possibility, but never imagined such an answer. “Forgive this old man for his poor mind, but I do not understand what you mean.”
“It has nothing to do with you, Senior, or the dragon race. It was a case of self-inflicted chaos.” As Yun Che spoke, the sense of guilt between his brows seemed to grow even clearer.
Puzzlement deepened in Long Zhiming’s eyes, and he could only offer an amused laughter. “I find myself even more at a loss.”
Yun Che slowly stepped forward, his demeanor calm yet still tinged with a hint of inexplicable guilt. “Since I have returned from my journey, I have already cast aside all doubts and made up my mind. I will now tell you everything in detail, Senior. I also promise I won’t hide anything from you again.”
Seeing Yun Che like this, Long Zhiming—who had been deeply troubled by the young man’s sudden departure—was finally put at ease. He smiled and gestured invitingly, “Then let us return to the main hall and discuss this matter at leisure.”
Yun Che added, “One more thing. The matter I wish to discuss concerns the Ancestral Dragon’s lineage. Perhaps you could summon all the Ancestral Dragons of the clan to gather in the hall so that they may deliberate and bear witness together?”
However, Long Zhiming responded with a bitter smile. “You may not be aware of this, Divine Son Yuan, but the purer the Ancestral Dragon bloodline, the more difficult it is to pass it down. Despite having lived a million years, I have only but one son—Wangchu.
“Within the entire dragon race, those who are truly worthy of being called ‘Ancestral Dragons’ can literally be counted on one hand. The vast majority are either of other lineages—such as the Chi Dragons and the Mirage Dragons—or come from distant, mixed lineages, possessing only a faint trace of the Ancestral Dragon’s bloodline. To forcibly call such beings as ‘Ancestral Dragons’ would be a grave insult to our ancestors.”
As he spoke, his aged eyes suddenly clouded over, and he uttered a somewhat dazed sigh, “Back in the day, our Dragon God—the Primordial Azure Dragon—once was a being of boundless might, standing above all other races and was beneath only the Creation Gods. Yet now, we have fallen so low, dwindled to such a state….”
Realizing he had lost his composure, Long Zhiming quickly returned his gaze and said, “As my days draw to a close, I cannot help but feel a sudden wave of emotion. Please forgive my outburst Divine Son Yuan. Since Divine Son Yuan has shown such kindness, this old one shall summon the most powerful and esteemed members of the Ancestral Dragon lineage besides me to join us.”
His aged eyes swept across the room, and a deep, resonant dragon’s roar spread into the distance. “Chixin, Qianxin, hasten to the Ancestral Dragon Hall right now. There are matters of great importance that we need to discuss with Divine Son Yuan.”
In the Ancestral Dragon Divine Hall, Yun Che and Long Zhiming took their seats once more, while Long Chixin and Long Qianxin stood on either side. Their expressions were serene, and their eyes were cast downward. Clearly, they did not believe there would actually be any “matter of great importance”.
Meng Chaoyang stood a little closer this time, his eyes half-closed, and his aura completely concealed. He betrayed no emotion whatsoever.
“Divine Son Yuan,” Long Zhiming began, “as the Dreamweaver Divine Son, you are, to our race, the most honored of guests among honored guests. Furthermore, you are also the possessor of the Ancestral Dragon’s bloodline. It may be audacious for me to say this, but I regard you as one of our own. Thus, whatever the matter may be, feel free to speak freely without any reservations.”
“Very well!”
Yun Che nodded, his expression resolved as if he had just made a major decision. “Since I have made up my mind and returned, I will hide nothing from you.”
He looked Long Zhiming directly in the eye and said slowly, “On the Pure Land, I once confessed to you, Senior Dragon Lord, that I had received my dragon blood and dragon marrow from my master. That is why I possess the aura of the Ancestral Dragons.
“In truth, at the time, this junior had withheld certain details out of reservations.”
He took a shallow breath after saying this, gathering his strength. Instantly, the dragon blood coursing through his body began to boil violently, and the aura of the Dragon God surged forth almost without restraint.
Space trembled slightly, and air currents swirled. Though there was no sound, it felt as though an ancient dragon’s roar was echoing in everyone’s hearts.
Long Chixin and Long Qianxin, who had remained silent until then, shook violently. Their pupils contracted sharply, and their shocked expressions bordered that of terror.
Long Zhiming abruptly leaped from his seat. His hair and beard were standing on end and whipping wildly despite the absence of wind. His aged eyes were fixed intently on Yun Che, bulging so wide they seemed on the verge of bursting.
“Th-th-th-this… you… you….”
Trembling, broken syllables spilled chaotically from his gaping mouth, yet try as he might, he could not form a coherent sentence. Even Long Chixin and Long Qianxin, who had both served by his side for untold years, had never witnessed him losing his composure to such an extent.
Even Meng Chaoyang was looking up suddenly, a strange light blazing in his eyes.
Although he wasn’t a dragon, he could sense with crystal clarity the Ancestral Dragon Aura Yun Che was currently unleashing. Though only at the Divine Master Realm and far weaker than any Ancestral Dragon present, it was, in both purity and depth, clearly superior… no, far superior to even the Dragon Lord, Long Zhiming!
This was merely the beginning.
Casting a faint, sidelong glance at the trio who had been stunned into a daze, a faint azure light flickered in Yun Che’s eyes, and the shadow of an azure dragon reflected deep within his pupils.
In the next instant, a colossal azure dragon soared skyward from behind Yun Che. It loomed in the air with its head bowed slightly, as if looking down on a multitude of insignificant beings.
Accompanying it was a colossal dragon’s roar that shook the heavens and split the void—
ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR——————
The dragon’s roar shook the Ancestral Dragon Divine Hall to its core and echoed throughout the entire Ancestral Dragon Mountain Range.
The countless draconic patterns and ancient seals within the hall ceased functioning all of a sudden, their draconic radiance dimmed to the point where only chaotic tremors and faint, mournful wails were left.
The dragons—across the entire mountain range—also seemed to have their voices erased in an instant, plunging into total, absolute silence.
From the highest Ancestral Dragon to the lowest dragonling, all of them were experiencing a deafening roar in their ears, and a startled tremor in their souls. Only when their blank, shattered consciousness struggled loose a sliver of clarity did they realize that they had lost total control over their bodies and souls, they were shivering madly and unable to stop no matter what.
Many dragons had even dropped to their knees—some even prostrating themselves—and remained like this for a long, long time.
Thud!
Long Zhiming’s aged body lurched violently to one side. It was only when he gripped the armrest of his chair that he barely managed to keep from collapsing to the ground.
With his powerful dragon soul, he should not have been so thoroughly intimidated by Yun Che’s dragon soul intimidation. What truly shook his soul was a shock and disbelief so intense and overwhelming that it completely shattered his perception.
Dust hung motionless in the hall, the air itself seemed to freeze. Long Chixin and Long Qianxin stood utterly frozen, their eyes vacant, as if they were trapped in an utterly absurd dream.
Long Zhiming remained in a lopsided posture, his hands braced against his seat, as if that single dragon’s roar had instantly stripped him of the composure and pose he had accumulated over a million years.
This was a dragon’s roar from Yun Che, yet it carried an ancient, overbearing might that seemed to come from the distant past, spanning countless ages.
Yun Che lowered his arms, and both his draconic aura and dragon soul disappeared in an instant.
The Ancestral Dragon Divine Hall remained deathly silent, though. Yun Che continued of his own accord, “In truth, the blessing bestowed upon me by my master all those years ago—be it the dragon blood, dragon marrow, or dragon soul—was far greater than the meager manifestations I have displayed on the Pure Land. In fact, they were immeasurably greater. It was just that, at the time, this junior harbored reservations and could only offer a simple acknowledgement, unable to speak the full truth.”
“……” Meng Chaoyang frowned slightly, lips twitching in a way that clearly indicated he wanted to say something, but held back.
There was a saying that went something like this: “It is a sin to possess something valuable.” That is why one should strive to hide their valuables as much as possible… Yun Che surely understood this, or there was no way he, the Dream Lord of a Dream Hall, would only find out about it today. So why had he willingly divulged such a massive secret to the dragon race?
Long Zhiming’s beard quivered violently. He clearly wanted to say something, but he was so shocked that he failed to form the words for a terribly long time. It wasn’t until his body swayed, and he nearly toppled to the ground once more, that he snapped out of his daze and hastily regained his footing.
But his dragon blood continued to boil, and his soul sea remained in turmoil. In the blink of an eye, his aged faced shifted from the pallor of moments ago to a crimson flush:
“Di… Di… Divine Son Yuan, where… where exactly do you dragon blood… and dragon soul… come from!?”
Though his voice was still trembling violently, he was finally able to form a complete sentence.
Yet the gaze he was fixing on Yun Che held none of its former warmth; instead, it was filled with a terror as if a million stars were shattering.
A boundlessly absurd thought had even flashed through his mind—for a dragon roar to terrify his Ancestral Dragon Soul to this extent… it almost seemed to be the supreme dragon might of the Ancestral Dragon God himself!
Meanwhile, Long Chixin and Long Qianxin were completely frozen in place, unable to speak, let alone remain calm. Just moments ago, they had dismissed the so-called “matter of great importance” as trivial. As it turned out, the matter was so great it had nearly shattered their hearts and souls!
Yun Che shook his head. “It was bestowed upon me by my master. I do not know which Ancestral Dragon predecessor it came from, nor was it appropriate for me to inquire.”
Before Long Zhiming could ask another question, he continued, “Earlier on the Pure Land, when Senior Dragon Lord had asked me that question, I appeared composed on the surface, but in truth, I was hiding nine-tenths of the truth. It wasn’t because I possess a terrible secret that needs to be kept hidden from the greedy and envious, but because… I was selfish.
“Now, in the presence of all Senior Ancestral Dragons, I am laying everything bare not to show off, but rather….” He exhaled softly, his expression relieved like he had finally shed a heavy burden weighing on his heart. “To fulfill my master’s dying wish.”
“Your master’s… dying wish?” Long Zhiming leaned forward involuntarily, his throat convulsing violently with excitement that nearly burst from his voice. “Does it… concern the dragon race?”
It was as if he had sensed something; anticipated something. The turmoil in his heart had not yet fully subsided, yet it was already beginning to churn even more violently.
“When my master bestowed the Ancestral Dragon’s inheritance upon me, he once sighed… that the dragon race once reigned supreme over all races, its might dominating every age, yet this abyssal world had utterly eroded their draconic power and bodies, whittling both strength and lifespan. It was all they could do to survive, painstakingly clinging to life while passing the torch to the next generation—yet still edge ever closer to the brink of extinction. In fact, even the Ancestral Dragon’s lineage had withered to near extinction.”
These words spoke directly to the dragon race’s long-standing struggle and tragic fate, undoubtedly striking a chord deep within the hearts of the three Ancestral Dragons.
“This Ancestral Dragon was my master’s closest friend in life, which was why he had chosen to entrust his inheritance to him. He would certainly not wish to see his race reduced to such a dire state. Therefore… my master once said that, as I am now the bearer of the Ancestral Dragon bloodline and the Ancestral Dragon’s dragon soul, I am technically half a member of the dragon race. Thus, when I enter the world in the future, I must strive to befriend the dragons, and if they are facing hardships, then I must spare no effort to assist them.”
These words deeply moved and stirred Long Zhiming. For Yun Che carried more than just the Ancestral Dragon’s legacy; he was also the Dreamweaver Divine Son. Given his status and the backing of the Dreamweaver Kingdom of God, the weight of those three words—“spare no effort”—could only be immense.
But he had clearly gotten excited too soon, for what Yun Che said next hit him like ten thousand thunderclaps.
“He especially mentioned that…” Yun Che paused briefly before lowering his voice and slowly enunciating each word, “Should the Ancestral Dragon lineage face calamity, should their bloodline grow weak and endangered, and should it become impossible for them to continue existing, then I must return the dragon marrow and dragon soul to the youngest generation of the Ancestral Dragon, to sustain the glory of their draconic lineage.”
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM————
Long Zhiming felt the blood in his entire body surging to his head, culminating into an endless roar inside his mind.
“Your Highness!”
Meng Chaoyang let out a low growl and instantly teleported to Yun Che’s side, placing a hand on his shoulder.
He had witnessed with his own eyes and felt first hand just how terrifying Yun Che’s draconic aura and dragon soul were. Coupled with Long Zhiming’s extreme reaction, it was clear that the dragon blood and dragon soul within him far surpassed even those of the current Dragon Lord!
Such a precious treasure—how could he possibly part with it!
The meaning behind his current actions were clear: he did not want Yun Che to actually hand over the dragon marrow and dragon soul. As long as Yun Che refused, with the Dreamweaver Kingdom of God as his backing, the dragon race could grow a thousand times more courageous than they were now, and still they would never dare to forcibly take them.
Yun Che, though, raised his hand slightly and looked back at Meng Chaoyang with resolute eyes. Though he said nothing, his silence spoke volumes: My mind is made up; there is no need for further discussion.
“……” Meng Chaoyang watched him for a long moment before finally stepping back. He let out a soft sigh, unsure whether to feel sorrow or admiration for the young man.
Long Zhiming lunged forward suddenly, every hair and every pore on his body trembling with excitement. His normally deep, aged voice had become shrill and piercing due to the overwhelming emotions. “Divine Son Yuan, do you… mean it? Do you mean it!?”
“Do… you… mean… it!?” Long Chixin and Long Qianxin had roared out in unison as well, their voices nearly overlapping.
Yun Che replied calmly, “If I hadn’t already made up my mind, why would I have spoken of it myself?”
Long Zhiming’s eyes trembled, and the corners of his lips quivered. Before him was the noble Dreamweaver Divine Son, with absolutely no reason to deceive or toy with them. Yet even so, this sudden, unimaginable surprise—so immense it defied description—left him dazed for a long time, unable to believe it.
They had just witnessed Yun Che’s dragon aura and dragon soul; they understood far better than Meng Chaoyang exactly what they entailed. They understood even more what it meant for the Ancestral Dragon lineage if Yun Che were to truly “return” it to them….
It was a divine blessing they had never even dared to dream of.
Yun Che stood up, pacing back and forth as he spoke slowly, “When I first arrived here, I hadn’t considered this possibility. I merely thought that, although the Ancestral Dragon lineage had declined, it was far from being on the brink of extinction.
“That was… until Brother Wangchu appeared.”
He turned his gaze, seemingly weighing his words, before continuing, “Forgive my frankness, but based on what I felt with the dragon soul I bear, Brother Wangchu possesses extremely poor natural talent, a muddled bloodline, a frail dragon body, and a pitifully weak dragon soul. Even his rapid growth in recent years must have been fueled by some… unorthodox external forces.”
Yun Che’s words were harsh and cutting, sparing no one’s feelings. Long Zhiming opened his mouth but couldn’t bring himself to utter a single word in rebuttal, for he knew better than anyone that this was the cruelest, most humiliating truth.
“If he were to lead the dragons in the future…” Yun Che shook his head, continuing to speak bluntly and without mercy, “I’m afraid the dragons won’t have a future.”
These words struck directly at the core of their deepest, most long-held fears—the very issue they had dared not touch all these years.
“My earlier praise of Brother Wangchu was, in truth… born of my recollection of my master’s entrustment. Yet, in the blink of an eye, selfishness took hold, and I found myself unwilling to part with the dragon marrow and dragon soul.
“After that, I left the hall under the pretext of visiting Long Xi, and then departed without a word. In truth, it was all self-reproach stemming from selfishness. I felt ashamed of my failure to repay my master’s kindness, and I had no face to continue standing before the Dragon Lord… so I fled in disgrace.”
Yun Che tilted his head back slightly and said wistfully, “After leaving, the mountain breeze cleansed my heart, and the vast sky purified my soul. As I recalled my master’s profound kindness and the Dragon Lord’s generous hospitality, a deep sense of shame and remorse began to consume my soul. At the same time, a flood of regret surged through my heart, like a swarm of ants gnawing at my bones. Only then did I come to my senses and turn back.”
He looked at Long Zhiming, his face still flushed with shame. “Because of my own greed, I had nearly defied my master’s final wishes. I had nearly let the redemption and hope that the Ancestral Dragons left for future generations be silently extinguished by my selfishness, and placed the dragon race in the perilous situation of extinction. Truly… I am ashamed to face you, Senior Dragon Lord.”
“No… no, no! You must not speak of yourself this way, Divine Son Yuan!”
Long Zhiming’s aged eyes turned crimson as he stumbled forward in haste. When he stood in front of Yun Che, he began:
“All that our ancestral forebears had left behind resides within Divine Son Yuan’s body—and your thoughts! If you had chosen not to speak of it, no one would know, and no one could blame you for it.”
His voice trembled with every word, each one resounding like thunder and gradually becoming drenched with sobs.
“How magnificent was the might of our ancestors! Who in the world, having obtained it, would willingly relinquish it? But you, Divine Son Yuan, you are so noble… that you are willing to sacrifice yourself for we who have fallen to such insignificance, the dragon race.
“Such profound devotion and righteousness, such noble character and integrity—in my million years of existence, I have never witnessed the like. Your grace is as vast as the heavens, and your virtue as steadfast as the mountains… please, accept this old one’s deepest bow!”
Facing Yun Che, Long Zhiming clasped his hands together and bent his dragon spine deeply, his head hanging straight down to his knees.