Standing once more before the Ancestral Dragon Barrier, Yun Che did not use the Dragon Jade to break through immediately as he had before. His figure remained still, and even his aura seemed to stagnate, leaving only a brief, suffocating moment of immersion.

Meng Chaoyang watched from a distance, his gaze deep and inscrutable.

He was a man of extreme rationality, skilled at reading expressions and peering into the hearts of others. Years ago, when Yun Che first arrived at the Weaver Dream Divine Kingdom and clashed with Meng Jianxi, he was the first among the nine Hall Masters of the Dream Halls to step forward and support Yun Che.

Since then, he had naturally become one of the Hall Masters closest to Yun Che.

Based on his observations and understanding of Yun Che over the past three years, setting aside his world-shaking talents, Yun Che possessed a temperament and shrewdness that should not belong to someone of his age.

Clearly only two jiazi¹ in age with the cultivation of a Divine Master, his eyes seemed to contain a boundless deep sea. Even when Meng Chaoyang occasionally peered in out of curiosity, he could only touch upon a chaos that seemed to have no end.

As a cultivator of the soul, he knew better than anyone how abnormal—even terrifying—it was for someone of such an age to possess such a sea of soul.

He had once spoken of this to Meng Kongchan, but Meng Kongchan had responded only with a face full of pride and delight, followed by uncontrollable laughter.

If this were the son of another nation, he would undoubtedly be a terrifying anomaly. But he was the Son of Weaver Dream... that changed everything.

Meng Kongchan had even ordered the various Dream Halls that no one was permitted to spy on Yun Che with their divine soul. Their consciousness was forbidden from even touching the Son of God Hall where he resided... even necessary concern or protection was not allowed to overstep.

Therefore... Yun Che’s performance today was truly too abnormal.

Meng Chaoyang did not believe the hasty excuse Yun Che had given for a moment. As Yun Che regained his composure now, he would likely find it absurd and desperate himself.

So, what exactly did he encounter in that Forbidden Zone of the Dragon Race, and what was he deliberately hiding?

"..." Standing before the Ancestral Dragon Barrier, Yun Che faintly felt Meng Chaoyang’s gaze—worried, solemn, and filled with deep inquiry.

He took out the Pale Dragon Jade once more. Light rippled, parting the barrier ahead.

This time, there was no need for the dragon guards to announce him. Within a few breaths, the Dragon Sovereign arrived in haste, carrying an urgency he either intended to show or had no time to hide.

Long Zhiming landed slowly not far in front of Yun Che, without disturbing a speck of dust, a warm smile still on his face.

Before Yun Che could speak, he raised his hand in welcome. "The God child of the Abyss departs and returns; it truly brings this old man both surprise and joy. Just now, hearing of your hasty departure while I was in the hall, I didn't even have time to ask you to stay. My heart has been uneasy, reflecting repeatedly, fearing that I had been negligent or slighted our distinguished guest."

Yun Che looked directly at him. The aged voice entered his ears, causing a brief hum in his sea of soul.

The Dragon Sovereign of the Abyssal Dragon Race, Long Zhiming. Aside from the Abyssal Monarch and the four High Priests of the Pure Land, he was the longest-living being in existence.

With such status and seniority, he showed not a hint of the arrogance that looks down upon all living things, nor the posturing and reserve of an ancient. Toward a junior like Yun Che, who was only "two jiazi" old, he was so gentle, so eager, and even... did not hesitate to show a trace of caution and humility within his million-year-old ancient frame.

The solitary pride of dragons—Yun Che knew it well.

It wasn't that Long Zhiming was naturally like this, nor was it that he feared the Divine Kingdom.

His time was running out. Everything he displayed and everything he did was for a single purpose, a single obsession...

The future of the Abyssal Dragon Race, especially the Ancestral Dragon lineage.

For this, he could cast aside all pride and temperament engraved in his dragon bones. He could be humble, he could bow his head, he could deceive, he could be despicable, and he could use any means he once disdained.

Yun Che thought of Zhou Xuzi.

He thought of himself, who was likewise using any means necessary for the sake of his homeland.

Both were people carrying heavy burdens, and both were selfish, despicable, and sinful... If that were the case, they should have long ago prepared themselves to bear any price or retribution.

The Dragon Sovereign was thus, and so was he!

He smiled, a smile that was warm and apologetic, and then gave a slight bow to Long Zhiming. "Senior Dragon Sovereign, your words are too kind. Your hospitality has left this junior only with gratitude and trepidation. How could there be any negligence?"

He sighed softly, his face showing a perfectly timed expression of complexity and bitterness. "My sudden departure without saying goodbye just now was, in truth... a flight in panic."

"A flight... in panic?"

Long Zhiming’s white eyebrows twitched, his face showing bewilderment. He had considered various possibilities, but he had never imagined such an answer. "This... this old man truly finds it hard to understand."

"It had nothing to do with Senior or the Dragon Race, but rather my own internal turmoil and self-inflicted wounds," Yun Che said, the guilt on his brow seemingly becoming clearer.

The doubt in Long Zhiming’s eyes grew even stronger, leaving him with only a bitter smile. "This old man understands even less now."

Yun Che stepped forward slowly, his demeanor composed, yet still carrying a trace of inexplicable apology. "This junior’s return is because I have cast aside my stray thoughts and made a firm decision. I will tell Senior everything in detail and will no longer hide anything."

Yun Che’s appearance completely put Long Zhiming at ease, who had been unsettled by his departure. He smiled and made an inviting gesture. "Then let us enter the main hall again and speak slowly."

Yun Che added, "Furthermore, what I wish to discuss involves the Ancestral Dragon lineage. Perhaps Senior could summon all the Ancestral Dragons of the clan to gather in the hall to discuss and witness this together."

Long Zhiming gave a bitter smile. "The Godchild may not know, but the purer the Ancestral Dragon bloodline, the harder it is to pass on. This old man has lived in vain for a million years and has only one son, Wangchu."

"In this entire Dragon Race, those still qualified to be called 'Ancestral Dragons' number fewer than ten. Most others belong to other tribes, with the Chi Dragons and Mirage Dragons being the most numerous; or they are distant and mixed, carrying only a thin trace of Ancestral Dragon blood. If such as those were forcibly called Ancestral Dragons, it would be a great disrespect to our ancestors."

At this point, his old eyes suddenly grew clouded, and he let out a dazed lament. "Thinking back to ancient times, our ancestor, the Dragon God—the Primeval Azure Dragon—his dragon might awed the world, unrivaled beneath the Creation Gods. The Dragon God Clan he led stood above all ten thousand races. Now, we have fallen to such a pitiful state, withered to this point..."

Realizing he had lost his composure, Long Zhiming quickly shifted his gaze. "As one's lifespan nears its end, one always feels sudden bursts of emotion. I have made a fool of myself before the Godchild. Since you have such kind intentions, I shall call the most powerful and prestigious members of my Ancestral Dragon lineage to join us."

His old eyes turned, and a deep dragon roar drifted into the distance. "Chixin, Qianxin, come quickly to the Ancestral Dragon Sacred Hall to discuss a great matter with the Godchild."

In the Ancestral Dragon Sacred Hall, Yun Che and Long Zhiming took their seats once more. Long Chixin and Long Qianxin stood on either side, their expressions indifferent and eyelids lowered, clearly not believing there would truly be any "great matter."

Meng Chaoyang stood a bit closer this time, his eyes half-squinted and his aura completely restrained, showing no emotion.

"Godchild," Long Zhiming began, "you are the Godchild of Weaver Dream, a guest of guests to our race. You also possess the Ancestral Dragon bloodline; this old man is bold enough to view you as half a clansman. Therefore, whatever the matter, feel free to speak plainly without any reservations."

"Good!"

Yun Che nodded, adopting a posture of having made a monumental decision. "Since I have made up my mind and returned, I will no longer hide anything."

He looked directly at Long Zhiming and said slowly, "In the Pure Land, I once confessed to Senior Dragon Sovereign that this body was bestowed with dragon blood and dragon marrow by my master, which is why I possess the Ancestral Dragon aura."

"In truth... at that time, this junior had reservations and hid some things."

As his words fell, he took a slight breath. His aura gathered, and then the dragon blood throughout his body boiled violently. The Dragon God aura was suddenly released, almost without reservation.

The space trembled slightly, and the air currents swirled. Though there was no sound, a primordial dragon roar seemed to echo in everyone's hearts.

Long Chixin and Long Qianxin, who had remained silent, both shuddered violently. Their pupils shrank, and their faces were filled with shock bordering on terror.

Long Zhiming even sprang up from his seat. His hair and beard flared out, dancing wildly without wind. His old eyes stared fixedly at Yun Che, bulging to the point of nearly bursting.

"This... this... this, this... you... you..."

Trembling, broken syllables spilled chaotically from his mouth, unable to form a complete sentence. Even Long Chixin and Long Qianxin, who had followed him for countless years, had never seen him lose his composure to such an extent.

Even Meng Chaoyang suddenly looked up, a brilliant light flashing in his eyes.

Though he was not of the Dragon Race, he could clearly perceive that although the Ancestral Dragon aura Yun Che released was only at the Divine Master Realm—far weaker than any Ancestral Dragon present—its purity and density clearly surpassed... no, far surpassed Dragon Sovereign Long Zhiming!

And this was only the beginning.

Casting a faint glance at the three who were dazed with shock, a blue light flickered in Yun Che's eyes, and a pale blue dragon shadow was reflected deep within his pupils.

In the next instant, a massive image of the Azure Dragon soared into the sky from behind Yun Che. It coiled in the air, its dragon head slightly lowered, as if looking down upon a group of lowly beings.

Accompanied by a world-shaking, vast dragon roar:

ROAR——————

The dragon roar vibrated through the Ancestral Dragon Sacred Hall and echoed throughout the entire Ancestral Dragon Mountain Range.

The thousands of dragon-patterned ancient seals in the hall all stopped circulating, their dragon radiance dimming, leaving only disordered trembling and faint wails.

The vast Dragon Race seemed to have all sound erased in an instant, falling into a state of total deathly silence.

From the Ancestral Dragons down to the lowliest hatchlings, everyone's ears rang and their dragon souls quaked. When their consciousness struggled to pull a sliver of clarity from the blankness and fragmentation, they found their bodies and souls completely out of control, trembling almost frantically, unable to stop.

Even more dragons had collapsed to their knees, some even prostrating themselves, unable to stand for a long time.

Thud!

Long Zhiming’s aged dragon body suddenly tilted. He instinctively braced himself against his chair, barely managing not to collapse onto the floor.

With his powerful dragon soul, he shouldn't have been intimidated to this extent by Yun Che's dragon soul. What shook his soul was a shock and horror so intense and surging that it completely crushed his perception.

The dust in the hall stood still, the air currents stagnated. Long Chixin and Long Qianxin were completely stunned, their eyes hollow, as if in an utterly absurd dream.

Long Zhiming maintained his tilted posture, hand on the chair, for a long time, as if that dragon roar had instantly stripped away the composure and calm he had accumulated over a million years.

This was a dragon roar from Yun Che, yet it carried a primordial majesty that seemed to come from ancient times, spanning thousands of years.

Yun Che lowered his arm, and the dragon aura and dragon soul vanished in an instant.

However, the Ancestral Dragon Sacred Hall remained deathly silent. Yun Che began to speak to himself: "In truth, my master's bestowal back then—whether it was dragon blood, dragon marrow, or dragon soul—was far from being as thin as what was shown in the Pure Land. It was incredibly dense. It was only because this junior had reservations at the time that I only gave a simple acknowledgment and failed to tell the truth."

"..." Meng Chaoyang frowned slightly. His lips moved, clearly wanting to say something but hesitating.

A man carrying a jade treasure should hide it with all his might... Yun Che couldn't possibly not understand this. Otherwise, even he, a Hall Master, wouldn't have just found out today.

Why would he suddenly take the initiative to expose such a massive secret to the Dragon Race?

Long Zhiming’s beard twitched violently. He clearly wanted to say something, but for a long time, no sound came out. As his body tilted, he nearly fell to the ground again, only then snapping out of it like waking from a dream and hastily standing firm.

But his dragon blood was still churning, his sea of soul still surging. His aged face turned from deathly pale to bright red in an instant.

"God... God... Godchild, your dragon blood... dragon soul... where exactly did they come from!?"

Though his voice still carried a heavy tremor, he could finally speak a complete sentence.

However, the eyes he fixed on Yun Che no longer held their previous warmth, but were filled with a shock like ten thousand stars shattering.

An infinitely absurd thought even flashed through his mind—to be able to make his Ancestral Dragon soul so terrified, it was almost like the supreme dragon might from the Ancestor Dragon God himself.

Long Chixin and Long Qianxin stood there completely frozen, unable to speak, unable to calm down. They had been indifferent to the so-called "great matter" just moments ago, but now it was so "great" that their hearts and souls were nearly collapsing.

Yun Che shook his head. "Bestowed by my master. This junior does not know which Ancestral Dragon senior it came from, nor is it convenient to ask."

Without waiting for Long Zhiming to ask further, he continued, "Previously in the Pure Land, when Senior Dragon Sovereign asked, I appeared composed, but in truth, I was ninety percent deceptive. It wasn't to hide the treasure I carried, but because... I harbored a selfish motive."

"Revealing everything today before all the Ancestral Dragon seniors is not for the sake of showing off, but..." He let out a soft breath, his demeanor appearing as if he had finally offloaded a heavy burden from his heart: "...to follow my master's dying wish."

"Your master's... dying wish?" Long Zhiming’s body unconsciously leaned forward, his throat bobbing violently, his voice carrying an excitement that was almost ready to burst forth: "It is related to... my Dragon Race?"

He seemed to have sensed something, anticipated something, and his heart, which had not yet fully calmed, began to churn even more violently.

"Of course." Yun Che nodded. His gaze slowly swept over Long Chixin and Long Qianxin, then met Long Zhiming’s eyes directly, his expression completely open:

"When Master bestowed the Ancestral Dragon inheritance upon me, he lamented... the Dragon Race was once the sovereign of all races, awing all worlds. But in this world of Abyssal Dust, their dragon power and bodies have been eroded by the Abyss, their strength and lifespan drastically reduced. They can only struggle to survive, bitterly supporting their heritage, but they are ultimately approaching the brink of extinction. Even the Ancestral Dragon lineage has withered to near ruin."

These words spoke exactly of the struggle and sorrow the Dragon Race had always faced, undoubtedly striking the hearts of the three Ancestral Dragons.

"That Ancestral Dragon senior was my master's lifelong friend and left his final remains to my master. He certainly wouldn't want to see his own race fall into such a tragic state. Therefore... Master said that since I have inherited the Ancestral Dragon bloodline and soul, I am already half a member of the Dragon Race. When I enter the world in the future, I should be close to the Dragon Race, and if the Dragon Race is in trouble, I must help without reservation."

These words made Long Zhiming feel extremely excited and moved. Because Yun Che was more than just the Ancestral Dragon inheritance; he was also the Godchild of Weaver Dream. With his status and the Weaver Dream Divine Kingdom behind him, the weight of the words "without reservation" was incredibly heavy.

But he was clearly excited too early. Yun Che’s next words were like ten thousand claps of thunder.

"There was a further instruction..." Yun Che paused briefly before slowing his voice, saying word for word: "If the Ancestral Dragon lineage faces disaster and the bloodline becomes weak and endangered, making it difficult to continue, I must return the dragon marrow and dragon soul within this body to the youngest generation of the Ancestral Dragons to continue the glory of the dragon lineage."

Buzz————

Long Zhiming’s blood rushed to his head, and his mind filled with endless roaring.

"Your Highness!"

With a low growl, Meng Chaoyang instantly moved to Yun Che's side and pressed his hand on his arm.

He had witnessed and felt firsthand how terrifying Yun Che's dragon aura and soul were. Combined with Long Zhiming’s extreme reaction, it was clear that the dragon blood and soul within him far surpassed the current Dragon Sovereign!

Something so significant—how could he just give it up!

His actions were clearly intended to tell Yun Che that he must absolutely not hand over the dragon marrow and soul. As long as he was unwilling, with the Weaver Dream Divine Kingdom as his backing, the Dragon Race wouldn't dare to take it by force even if they were given a thousand times the courage.

Yun Che, however, raised his hand slightly, his gaze resolute. Though he didn't speak, he silently communicated: My mind is made up; there is no need for further words.

"..." Meng Chaoyang looked at him for a long while before finally stepping back, letting out a soft sigh, unsure for a moment whether to feel pity or admiration.

Long Zhiming lunged forward, every hair and pore on his body trembling frantically with excitement. His aged, deep voice became sharp and piercing due to his extreme emotions: "Godchild, are these words... true? Are they true!?"

"Are... these... words... true!?" Long Chixin and Long Qianxin also shouted out almost at the same time.

Yun Che said unhurriedly, "If I hadn't already decided, why would I take the initiative to say it?"

Long Zhiming’s eyeballs were vibrating, and the corners of his lips were twitching. Before him was the noble Godchild of Weaver Dream; there was no reason for him to deceive or toy with them... Even so, this sudden surprise from the heavens, too great to be described by any words, still left him dazed and unable to believe it for a long time.

They had just witnessed Yun Che's dragon aura and soul, and they knew far better than Meng Chaoyang what that concept meant. They knew even better what it would mean for the Ancestral Dragon lineage if he truly "returned" it...

That was a miraculous gift they hadn't even dared to dream of.

Yun Che stood up, pacing as he spoke slowly, "When I first entered this place, I hadn't considered this thought, thinking that although the Ancestral Dragon lineage had withered, it was far from being on the brink of extinction."

"Until... the appearance of Brother Wangchu."

He turned his gaze, seemingly weighing his words before continuing, "Forgive my bluntness, but based on what my dragon soul perceives, Brother Wangchu's talent is extremely poor, his bloodline is murky, his dragon body is unstable, and his dragon soul is incredibly weak. Even his rapid growth in recent years must have been achieved through some... wicked external forces."

Yun Che’s words could be described as harsh and cutting, showing no mercy. Long Zhiming opened his mouth but couldn't refute a single word. Because he knew better than anyone that this was the cruel and embarrassing truth.

"If he is to lead the Dragon Race in the future..." Yun Che shook his head, still speaking bluntly without mercy: "...I fear the Dragon Race will have no future."

These words struck directly at the core of what they had been most worried about and most afraid to touch all these years.

"And my high praise for Brother Wangchu earlier was actually... because I thought of my master's entrustment, yet my selfish thoughts took over, making me reluctant to hand over the dragon marrow and soul."

"Afterward, I left the hall on the pretext of visiting Long Xi, and then departed without saying goodbye. In truth, it was all out of self-reproach for my selfishness, feeling I had failed my master's kindness, and having no face to continue facing Senior Dragon Sovereign... a flight in panic."

Yun Che looked up slightly, saying wistfully, "After leaving, the mountain wind cleared my mind and the vast sky cleansed my soul. Recalling my master's great kindness and the Dragon Sovereign's hospitality, I gradually felt the pain of guilt piercing my soul and a flood of regret filling my heart, like ten thousand ants gnawing at my bones. Only then did I suddenly wake up and turn back."

He looked at Long Zhiming, the guilt still present. "Because of my own greed, this junior nearly disobeyed my master's dying wish and almost silently extinguished the salvation and hope left by the Ancestral Dragon senior for future generations out of selfishness, placing the Dragon Race in a state of extinction. I truly... have failed Senior Dragon Sovereign."

"No... no, no! The Godchild must never say such things!"

Long Zhiming’s old dragon eyes were red as he stumbled forward in a rush until he was in front of Yun Che.

"What the ancestor left behind is all within the Godchild's body, and even more so within the Godchild's will! If the Godchild were unwilling and remained silent, no one in the world would know, and no one could condemn you."

Every word he spoke trembled, every word was deafening, and gradually, every word became tearful.

"How great is the ancestor's dragon might? Who in the world would be willing to give it up? And the Godchild is of such noble status... yet you are willing to make such a sacrifice and self-harm for our Dragon Race, which has reached its end."

"Such deep affection and righteousness, such noble character—in my million years of existence, I have never seen the like. Your great kindness is like the heavens, your great virtue like a mountain... Please accept this old man's bow!"

Facing Yun Che, Long Zhiming clasped his hands, his aged dragon spine bending deeply, his head lowering all the way to his knees.