The sea of mist was vast, echoing with the endless wails of the abyss.

Yun Che sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in deep concentration. After a long period of centering his mind, his divine sense slowly released. Using the omnipresent Abyssal Dust¹ as a medium, it spread toward the depths of the mist, flowing over every Abyssal Beast it touched without missing a single one.

This was already the edge of the Deep Fog Sea, a dangerous place for the current Yun Che. Not only did late-stage Divine Extinction Realm Abyssal Beasts roam here, but occasionally, Divine Limit Realm beasts would appear—existences he could not afford to touch. Attempting to forcibly control one would be no different from a death wish.

The last time he had sensed the presence of a Primordial Flame Crystal², it was roughly in this area.

One day... two days... three days...

It was not until fifteen days later that his eyes snapped open, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He had finally found it.

More fortunately, it was an early-stage Divine Extinction Realm Abyssal Beast, well within the scope of his complete control.

Without moving his body, his soul power remotely stirred the Abyssal Dust, driving it straight into the beast's frame.

The Abyssal Beast instantly halted its movements and charged toward his position at full speed. Upon reaching him, it stood there quietly, like a loyal, contracted profound beast awaiting orders.

Yun Che reached out toward its spine. As the grey Abyssal Dust slowly churned, a crimson Abyssal Crystal soon appeared between his fingers... it was exactly the Primordial Flame Crystal that Yun Xi craved.

Yun Xi—his daughter with Shen Xi. She was the greatest accident to occur in this world, and a lingering attachment he was destined never to truly cast aside, even as he walked a path against the world.

Before everything ignited, he should at least provide her with some settlement and comfort... even if it was only a little, offered in haste.

The Eternal Pure Land was close at hand. This was a monumental event that would change the fate of the Abyssal world, yet Meng Kongchan’s divine soul did not fluctuate frequently because of it. On the contrary, his state of mind was far more peaceful than ever before; even his meditative trances were several times faster than in the past.

This was because, compared to the approach of the Eternal Pure Land, the joy of recovering Meng Jianyuan was far greater. His son’s late awakening of a Perfect Divine Covenant³ and his world-shaking brilliance atop the Pure Land had brought Meng Kongchan a sense of glory and gratification he had never experienced in his life. It led him to sigh with a smile that having such a son meant he could die without regrets.

His only regret and worry was the rupture of his friendship with Dian Luohou.

"Junior Yun Che greets Senior God Sovereign." Meng Kongchan opened his eyes, and his face, which should have possessed world-suppressing majesty, instantly crinkled into a beaming smile. "Yuan'er, I heard you managed to play a trick on that Nightshade Divine Daughter?"

"Uh... yes," Yun Che replied. "It happened that she wanted something, so I acted a bit impulsively. I traded a significant favor for a moment of satisfaction. I felt some regret afterward; I hope Senior doesn't find it laughable."

"Hahahaha!" Meng Kongchan laughed loudly instead. "If one isn't impulsive, wouldn't that be a waste of youth? A favor from a wicked place like the Nightshade Divine Kingdom is better left unheld. Letting Yuan'er vent his frustration is worth more than anything."

"I only learned a few days ago while communicating with Hua Fuchen that the heavy sword your master left you was lost in the Abyss of Death within the God-Sleep Forbidden Region because of that Nightshade Divine Daughter. Hmph!" He seemed to have lingering anger. "Had I known, the one I taught a lesson to upon leaving the Pure Land wouldn't have been just Shenwu Yanye!"

Yun Che’s lip twitched slightly as he hurriedly said, "Senior, your words are too kind. A mere junior of the Nightshade Kingdom isn't worthy of your personal intervention. Furthermore, Caili has already used the grace bestowed by the Abyssal Monarch to help me obtain a suitable heavy sword from the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Daos."

"I know. Its name is 'Orphaned Cloud'⁴." Meng Kongchan’s voice paused slightly, followed by a soft sigh. A deep, hidden guilt appeared in his eyes. "As the God Sovereign of the Weaver Dream Divine Kingdom, I am destined to be unable to give you much time, and destined to be an inadequate father."

"You have been back for three years, yet you still haven't remembered the past. You still cannot truly integrate into Weaver Dream or accept the name 'Meng Jianyuan.' That is why the name 'Orphaned Cloud' touches your soul so deeply. The sword's name is like the man—like a cloud shadow in the vast sky, standing solitary in an alien world... all of this is due to my mistakes back then."

Yun Che: "..."

"However, the future is long. Let us not speak of this." Meng Kongchan brushed away his melancholy and guilt, smiling as he said, "You didn't come here today just to pay your respects, did you?"

Yun Che spoke truthfully: "There is one more matter that requires Senior's permission... I wish to leave Weaver Dream for a few days to visit the Dragon Race."

"Oh?" Meng Kongchan’s eyes shifted slightly. "Could it be related to that Long Jiang from that day?"

Undoubtedly, although he never stepped forward or interfered, nothing that happened within the Weaver Dream territory could escape Meng Kongchan’s eyes and ears—especially matters concerning Meng Jianyuan.

"Yes!" Yun Che answered without hesitation. "At the Pure Land, the Dragon Sovereign sensed the dragon breath on my body and extended a warm invitation. He even gifted me a jade plaque that allows free passage through the Dragon Race's barrier."

"As for Long Jiang, she is indeed one of the primary reasons. When I was wandering outside years ago, we saved each other's lives. That 'Seven-Mystic Coiled Dragon Crystal' was given by her to settle the debt of me saving her life. However, I have never had the chance to repay her for saving mine, and it has always weighed on my heart."

"There is one more reason." Yun Che’s breath was steady and his mind calm, showing no sign of falsehood. "My master was on good terms with the Dragon Race back then. The dragon breath on my body also comes from an ancient dragon legacy bestowed by my master. Therefore, before my master passed away, he gave many instructions that after entering the world, I should be friendly toward the Dragon Race and not hesitate to assist them. If the Dragon Race is in trouble, I should do my utmost to save them."

"Therefore, this visit to the Dragon Race is first to answer the Dragon Sovereign's invitation; second, to repay a past kindness; and third, to follow my master's wishes."

With things said to this point, coupled with Meng Kongchan’s excessive doting on Yun Che, he naturally would not refuse.

"Mm... in terms of reason, logic, and filial piety, you indeed should make this trip." He nodded slowly, then said after a brief contemplation, "Since your return, this is the first time you will travel far alone... let Chaoyang protect you on your journey."

Yun Che looked surprised and declined, "Hall Master Chaoyang holds such high status; how could I trouble him? This trip does not enter the sea of mist or approach dangerous areas. Having Shouyuan by my side is enough."

Meng Kongchan raised his hand decisively. "Yuan'er, whatever you wish to do or wherever you wish to go, as long as there is no danger, you may do as you please. But where your safety is concerned, there can be no compromise."

He tilted his head back slightly and let out a long breath. "The joy of recovering what was lost is like dust clearing to reveal brilliance, or meeting light in a cold night. As the God Sovereign of a nation, I should fear nothing in heaven or earth, yet I dare not even briefly imagine the possibility of losing you again."

His voice seemed to carry the lingering trauma of a hundred years.

His heart touched by an uncontrollable spark of emotion, Yun Che could no longer persist. He could only lower his gaze. "Very well. Then I shall follow Senior's arrangements in all things."

Yun Che left the Weaver Dream Divine Kingdom alone, bringing no attendants.

Only Meng Chaoyang followed from a distance to protect him.

As the Hall Master of the Second Dream Hall of the Weaver Dream Divine Kingdom, Meng Chaoyang’s status was incredibly lofty. This was also the first time in his life he had taken on the role of a bodyguard.

But no one felt it was strange; even he himself felt it was only right.

After all, he was guarding Meng Jianyuan—the only Perfect Divine Covenant in the history of the Weaver Dream Divine Kingdom, the peerless genius who defeated the Divine Extinction Realm with the power of a Divine Sovereign at the Pure Land, and the true Godchild who had made Meng Jianxi yield in admiration in just three years... even if another Dream Hall Master were added to the escort, no one would find it inappropriate.

"I remember you once promised Hua Caili that you would go together," Li Suo reminded him. "Now, it seems you have no such intention."

Yun Che said, "That was indeed my thought initially. But now... I fear Xi'er is waiting anxiously."

"Does this count as... an unnecessary complication?" Li Suo asked.

"Yes and no," Yun Che said calmly. "After all, the Dragon Race is trapped by their inheritance and self-preservation; they never compete with outsiders. When the Dragon Sovereign mentioned Xi'er, it was with nothing but importance and affection. Her being there should be the safest place. On this trip, I will also elevate her status within the Dragon Race to the greatest extent... it involves no risk and does not touch the grievances or interests of the various kingdoms. Naturally, it cannot be called an unnecessary complication."

"Let her and the Dragon Race drift outside this storm together until the very end."

Because of Yun Xi’s existence, all of his schemes excluded the Dragon Race.

More accurately, he was keeping them as far away as possible.

He never dared to forget the heavy mission he carried on his shoulders, but in the end, he could not truly let go of his identity as a "father."

Yun Che stood upon a small profound ark, looking straight ahead. His speed was neither fast nor slow. He occasionally conversed with Meng Chaoyang, and before he knew it, he had passed through layers of smoke and dust, crossed patches of inhabited land, and witnessed the various facets of the Abyss.

The mountains stood eternal, stretching for ten thousand miles without beginning or end. Grey, heavy clouds and mist layered across heaven and earth.

This place was the habitat of the Dragon Race, and also their place of self-imprisonment—the Ancestral Dragon Mountains.

As far as the eye could see, the peaks were layered like crouching dragons and tigers, vast and majestic, touching the sky and blotting out the sun. Such a grand spectacle had only occasionally appeared in the God Realm of Absolute Beginning. However... as vast as it was, there was no flow of spiritual aura, no lush forests or myriad beasts. There was only the endless, ghostly swirling of dust and mist, shrouding the world and casting a gloomy, deathly silence over the massive mountain range that would not dissipate for eternity.

"We've arrived."

Yun Che looked down from the sky, unable to help but sigh. As the naturally strongest race, the Dragon Race had once been the absolute overlords in their home world. Yet in this Abyssal world filled with Abyssal Dust, they could only linger on in this sheltered land.

"Are you nervous?" Li Suo asked.

"A little," Yun Che did not deny it.

"..." Li Suo seemed thoughtful. After a long while, she murmured softly, "The emotions of living beings are truly subtle. It is so for romantic love, and so for the bonds of blood. Even when one knows they are a source of resistance and entanglement, one still cannot use logic to sever them."

Yun Che quirked an eyebrow and said with a half-smile, "Back then, you were the most compassionate Creation God, the person least likely to say such things. Forced to follow me as a villain who brings calamity to the world, even though the end of this world is not yet visible, you have already been quite corrupted by me."

"..." Li Suo was silent.

"Speaking of which..." Yun Che suddenly thought of something and said half-seriously, "If one day you found another vessel you could temporarily inhabit, one that would allow you to become whole and free faster, would you logically choose to leave me immediately, or... continue to wade through this muddy water with me that is destined to be splattered with the blood of sin?"

Li Suo did not hesitate. Her voice, soft as a dream, remained devoid of emotional fluctuation as usual: "I have never thought about it."

Yun Che said, "Then you can think about it now."

Li Suo did not fall into contemplation. Instead, she said slowly, "I only wish to watch how you walk forward step by step until the end. As for the other possibilities you mentioned, I have never thought of them, nor do I wish to."

"..." Yun Che said no more.

She hadn't answered yes or no, yet it somehow left a strange touch in the depths of Yun Che’s heart.

Yun Che’s figure swept down rapidly, his gaze piercing through layers of grey mist until a massive barrier appeared in his perception. It shimmered with a faint light among the thousands of cliffs and valleys, overflowing with an ancient, heavy aura, and vaguely carrying a trace of sorrowful dragon breath.

Approaching the Ancestral Dragon Barrier, Yun Che took out the pale dragon jade and touched it against the barrier.

Instantly, the Ancestral Dragon Barrier parted silently like flowing water. Yun Che flew inside, and Meng Chaoyang’s figure also flickered, entering the barrier in an instant before it closed behind them.

Upon entering, the light and darkness of the world shifted. Dense dragon breath permeated the air, and mist rose from the valleys. The dragon blood and dragon soul within Yun Che’s body were stirred for a long time.

However, the Dragon Race’s isolation barrier was ultimately inferior to those of the Divine Kingdoms. Within the dragon breath that was as dense as substance, thin Abyssal Dust still floated. Silently and ceaselessly, it carried out its erosion and destruction.

The sudden appearance of an outsider's aura undoubtedly triggered the alertness of the Dragon Race guards. Yun Che’s aura was simultaneously locked onto by two dragon breaths, followed by a sharp shout: "Who goes there!! How dare you trespass into my Dragon—"

The shout was not finished before it abruptly stopped. The two dragon guards who had arrived instantly both clearly saw the pale dragon jade in Yun Che’s hand, and their expressions changed accordingly.

Yun Che held up the pale dragon jade and spoke calmly, "Please inform Senior Dragon Sovereign that Yun Che of Weaver Dream has come to visit."

After the meeting at the Pure Land, who in the world did not know the names of Yun Che and Meng Jianyuan?

Their already startled expressions instantly became even more spectacular. After a long daze, they hurriedly bowed. "So... so it is the Yuan Godchild. Please wait a moment; I shall go and report this immediately."

Just over two months ago, the Dragon Sovereign had personally instructed that if the Weaver Dream Godchild ever visited, there was no need to lead him in; he would welcome him personally.

In the blink of an eye, a sudden, uncontrolled rumble echoed from the distant mountain peak.

Following that, a thunderous sound of breaking air arrived urgently, dragging a long ripple of distorted space behind it.

Even from a distance, Long Zhiming had already spotted Yun Che. His face, as withered as old wood, instantly broke into a smile. He retracted his figure and landed in front of Yun Che, laughing loudly. "I thought I was still in a dream, but it turns out the Yuan Godchild has truly graced us with his presence. No wonder the dragon veins in these mountains have been glowing and the dark sky has been filled with rosy clouds lately; it turns out a distinguished guest was arriving."

Yun Che bowed slowly. "Junior Yun Che greets Senior Dragon Sovereign. This visit was a sudden whim, and I did not send a formal request. I hope Senior will not take offense at my presumption. This personal welcome from the Dragon Sovereign makes me feel even more apprehensive."

"Eh, what are you saying, Yuan Godchild?" Long Zhiming’s smile widened. "Though you are a junior, you possess the grace of a celestial. Your presence here is truly an honor for my Dragon Race."

"The Dragon Sovereign is far too kind. I am also half a member of the Dragon Race, and having received such a precious dragon jade from Senior, how could I not come?"

The old and the young exchanged pleasantries. The Dragon Sovereign’s words were particularly warm, leaving the dragon guards on the side dumbfounded.

At this moment, Long Zhiming turned his gaze toward the silent Meng Chaoyang in the rear. "So it is Hall Master Chaoyang. I was so excited to see the Yuan Godchild just now that I nearly neglected a distinguished guest."

Meng Chaoyang kept his hands behind his back and spoke indifferently, "My duty on this trip is to ensure the Yuan Godchild’s safety. The Dragon Sovereign may ignore me."

"Haha, Hall Master Chaoyang’s presence is naturally that of a guest among guests. How could I neglect you? Please, both of you."

As he turned, he sent an urgent sound transmission: "Quick!! Tell Wangchu to enter the main hall immediately!"

The Ancestral Dragon Temple sat beneath the highest peak of the Ancestral Dragon Mountains. The hall was a thousand feet high, its layered domes reaching into the clouds.

Pale dragon patterns wound everywhere within the hall, crisscrossing and flowing endlessly, shedding a heavy and ancient dragon radiance. It was as if they were praying for the Dragon Race’s inheritance to be undying and eternal.

This was the highest point of the Dragon Race and the place where their dragon breath was heaviest. Even a Half-God entering would be suppressed by the dragon might, unable to stop their bodies from trembling or their souls from quaking, their footsteps becoming disorganized and weak.

As they stepped inside, Long Zhiming quietly glanced at Yun Che, only to see him walking leisurely with a composed expression, calmly observing the strange sights around him. He showed not even a hint of alarm. His admiration for Yun Che grew even deeper, and his smile broadened.

After they were seated, Yun Che went straight to the point. "My visit this time is, firstly, to answer Senior Dragon Sovereign's invitation."

Long Zhiming nodded with a smile.

"Secondly, I hope to see Long Xi, to repay her for her past kindness."

Upon hearing the name "Long Xi," a flicker of unease passed through Long Zhiming’s eyes, but it vanished in an instant, his faint smile remaining unchanged.

"Thirdly..."

Boom... Thud!

A series of messy sounds suddenly came from outside the hall, like the sound of someone carelessly kicking objects aside. A highly impatient voice rang out at the same time: "Hey!! You old fossil, what did you call me for!"

The smile on Long Zhiming’s face vanished completely, and his sagging, withered flesh trembled. He gave Yun Che and Meng Chaoyang a half-apologetic, half-embarrassed smile, then his expression turned sharp as he barked, "Wangchu, get in here!"

Amidst the sharp shout, a figure walked in haphazardly. He had the tall and slender build expected of the Dragon Race, but his posture was exceptionally rude and lazy. His eyes, which should have been filled with dragon might, lacked any brilliance; instead, they were filled with a pathetic cloudiness.

Long Wangchu... the only son of Dragon Sovereign Long Zhiming, and the only direct heir to the Ancestral Dragon lineage.

"Just say what you want!" He leaned diagonally against the side of the hall door, his eyes not even glancing toward Yun Che, showing not a shred of respect or etiquette toward his father, the supreme Dragon Sovereign. "You old fossil have a pile of different nonsense every day. Hurry up and finish so I can get out of here."

To show such an ugly side in front of distinguished guests was no different from tearing the skin off his old face. Long Zhiming suppressed his anger and growled, "Shut up! Get in here and greet the Yuan Godchild of the Weaver Dream Divine Kingdom!"

Long Wangchu’s expression froze, and his body snapped straight.

Only then did he open his eyes to look at Yun Che, followed by a look of panic. Shame, cowardice, and excitement intertwined chaotically across his features. Then, as if waking from a dream, he adjusted his posture, walked quickly to Yun Che, and bowed deeply.

"So it is... it is the Yuan Godchild of the Weaver Dream Divine Kingdom. I am Long Wangchu. I did not know a distinguished guest had arrived just now and was quite rude. I hope the Yuan Godchild will not take offense."

His bow was very low and his voice trembled slightly, even carrying a hint of fawning... after all, the person before him was a Godchild of a Divine Kingdom.

His sudden display of perfect etiquette did not bring Long Zhiming any comfort. Instead, the Sovereign turned his face away, letting out a long, silent sigh in his heart.

A sudden silence fell over the great hall.

The bowing Long Wangchu’s body was tense, but he did not receive a response from Yun Che for a long time. He looked up quite cautiously, only to suddenly meet a pair of eyes that were like the ghostly night.

Those eyes were staring straight at him, without blinking. Though they were also black pupils, in his eyes, they were terrifyingly dark, like a bottomless death abyss or an endless night of calamity.

Furthermore, those pupils seemed to be continuously dilating and contracting.

Long Wangchu’s vision blurred inexplicably, and then his sight suddenly became hazy... in the blur, he vaguely saw a speck of crimson condensing, red as blood.

It continued until it looked like a Purgatory Blood Crystal, condensed from a blood-soaked purgatory that had been drained a thousand times over.