Meng Zhaoyang, who had been standing silently behind Yun Che, suddenly lifted his gaze. He looked at Yun Che’s back, his brow furrowing with growing surprise and doubt.

Long Zhiming, who had bashfully averted his eyes, naturally sensed the abnormality as well. His aged eyes turned back toward them. At that exact moment, Yun Che closed his eyes. His expression remained unchanged, save for a slight heave of his chest that was instantly suppressed, returning him to a state of absolute calm.

As Yun Che closed his eyes, Long Wangchu’s body shuddered violently, as if waking from a bone-eroding nightmare. He stumbled backward, drenched in a cold sweat, his face drained of all color.

"Uh... this?" Long Zhiming stood up, asking hesitantly, "Son of God Yuan, is there... something wrong?"

Having interacted with Yun Che several times in the Pure Land, he felt that Yun Che was a man of iron will, yet humble and righteous at heart; he shouldn't be the type to lose his temper over Long Wangchu’s lack of etiquette.

Yun Che opened his eyes. The darkness in his pupils had vanished, replaced by a warm, indifferent smile. "Brother Wangchu’s Ancestral Dragon bloodline is exceptionally pure. When I drew near, it actually stirred the bloodline within my own body."

"To have such a resonance despite never having met is truly a subtle stroke of fate."

The curve of his lips widened slightly, his smile appearing increasingly gentle. "Thus, I was momentarily unable to restrain the impulse and released a bit of my Dragon Soul to seek resonance in soul power. It was a reckless move that startled Brother Wangchu. I hope the Dragon Sovereign and Brother Wangchu will not take offense."

Long Wangchu opened his mouth but failed to make a sound, clearly still paralyzed by lingering terror.

"So that’s how it is." Long Zhiming slowly sat back down, the suspicion on his face clearing. He let out a light sigh. "Sigh, I am not afraid of being laughed at by the Son of God and Palace Master Zhaoyang. Though this rebellious son of mine has pure blood, his talent is mediocre, and his temperament is..."

He shook his head, too ashamed to continue. "Though the Son of God is of the human race, from what I sensed that day, the Ancestral Dragon bloodline and soul you possess are likely more ancient and pure than my own. This rebellious son is not fit to be compared to you."

"For the Son of God to test him with a Dragon Soul is truly thinking too highly of him."

Evidently, though the Dragon Sovereign fretted over Long Wangchu’s future, the layers of endless disappointment meant he never spared any harsh words or rebukes.

Only now did Long Wangchu finally regain his senses. He subconsciously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Upon hearing Long Zhiming’s comment that Yun Che’s bloodline and soul were "more ancient and pure" than his father's, his mouth fell open in shock.

With his emotions so completely out of control, he lacked even a shred of the shrewdness or majesty expected of a Young Master of the Dragon Race. Seeing this, Long Zhiming wished he could deliver a fierce kick right in front of his distinguished guests.

"Senior Dragon Sovereign, please do not say such things," Yun Che advised. "To the Ancestral Dragon, Brother Wangchu is still in his youth. There is a saying: 'accumulate deeply to break out thinly¹.' Perhaps one day, Brother Wangchu’s Dragon Apertures will suddenly clear, and he will soar to the nine heavens, achieving heights even beyond yours, Senior."

"Right... right, right!" These words were so pleasing to the ear that they instantly dispelled Long Wangchu’s remaining fear. He said excitedly, "The peers in the clan also say that I am a late bloomer who is accumulating strength."

"More than that," Yun Che said with a smile. "When we go to the Eternal Pure Land soon, without the erosion and shackles of the Abyss Dust, the Dragon Race will surely soar into the sky and restore the glory that reigns over all living spirits. At that time, Brother Wangchu will be the pioneer and leader of the Dragon Race’s new destiny and era, his name etched eternally in the annals of history."

Long Wangchu’s face flushed instantly, his hands and feet trembling with excitement... He was used to his father's disappointment and scolding; he had never heard such high praise and flattery.

Furthermore, these words didn't come from a peer seeking to curry favor, but from the legendary Son of God of the Dreamless Abyss—the one with the Perfect Divine Grace and the greatest reputation among the Six God Nations.

The previous terror had vanished without a trace. He looked at Yun Che with intense excitement, feeling for the first time in his life the deep meaning of "regretting not meeting sooner" and "finding a soulmate."

Long Zhiming shook his head with a smile. He knew Yun Che was speaking politely, but he found the words quite pleasant to hear. After all, no matter how incompetent Long Wangchu was now, he was his only son—the only choice and hope for the Ancestral Dragon lineage.

"Wangchu will keep every word the Son of God has said in his heart. In the future... when I become the Dragon Sovereign and lead the Dragon Race back to the peak, the Son of God will be my—and the Dragon Race's—best friend."

His face was crimson, and he was becoming so lightheaded that he began to speak recklessly, as if he could already see himself standing tall and looking down on all living beings in the Eternal Pure Land.

"Enough, enough. Shut your mouth and stop embarrassing yourself. Now that you have met the Son of God, withdraw."

Even with a skin thickened by countless years of vicissitudes, Long Zhiming could no longer listen to this. However, his goal in calling Long Wangchu to meet Yun Che had been achieved, and Yun Che’s attitude toward his son had left him pleasantly surprised.

When Long Wangchu left, he did so somewhat reluctantly.

"Sigh, a misfortune of the clan. I have let my two distinguished guests see something shameful," Long Zhiming sighed once more.

"The Dragon Sovereign is too modest," Yun Che said, lowering his eyes slightly. A smile remained on his lips, but an unidentifiable, dark glint flickered in his eyes. "I actually think Brother Wangchu is... very good."

Having said that, Yun Che suddenly stood up. "Senior, may I go to visit Long Jiang... that is, Long Xi, first?"

He had only just entered the main hall and was already asking to leave. Though surprised, Long Zhiming had no reason to refuse. "Haha, the Son of God is indeed a man of deep sentiment and righteousness to be so impatient. Very well, I shall personally lead you there."

"It is merely a small personal matter of mine; I cannot trouble the Dragon Sovereign," Yun Che declined politely. "Furthermore, with you by my side, I fear Long Xi might feel uneasy. Sending a guard to lead the way will suffice."

Long Zhiming thought for a moment and nodded slightly. "In that case... very well."

He looked outward, his dragon roar shaking the air. "Qianxin, personally lead the Son of God to the forbidden land where Long Xi resides. Escort him to the entrance, but do not disturb them."

"Understood." A distant dragon roar echoed in response.

Stepping out of the Ancestral Dragon Temple, Yun Che followed Long Qianxin through layers of mountains toward Yun Xi’s location.

His expression was calm, his eyes as still as dead water. He remained silent throughout the journey, not once casting a glance at the various scenes of the Dragon Race below.

"What... happened to you?" Li Suo’s voice carried deep concern. "To be... this enraged."

Enraged to the extreme, yet suppressed unto death. Thousands of tiny cracks were being forced open in Yun Che’s heart and soul sea.

Even now, it had not ceased in the slightest.

Yun Che gave no response.

On the surface, he was unnervingly calm, but only Li Suo knew that an abyss of fury was churning within his soul, sounding like the shrieks of ten thousand demons... This discrepancy gave Li Suo, for the first time since her awakening, a sensation akin to "palpitations."

She did not dare ask further.

The only thing she was certain of was that this sudden explosion of rage occurred when he faced Long Wangchu... more accurately, his heartstrings had snapped tight the moment Long Wangchu’s aura approached, even before he appeared.

Up ahead, Long Qianxin stopped.

Low mountains surrounded a withered, desolate mountain range.

Jagged rocks were exposed, bleak and lonely. The encircling mountains trapped an endless solitude within this barren land where not a single blade of grass grew.

Only the wind whistled through the rock walls, a mournful, piercingly cold sound.

"Son of God Yuan, Long Xi usually resides here. This is a mountain territory personally bestowed upon her by the Dragon Sovereign and declared a forbidden zone. Even the barrier was set by the Dragon Sovereign himself. Without Long Xi’s permission, no one may enter, including the Dragon Sovereign."

Yun Che looked ahead, the gray desolation reflected in his eyes. His face was unreadable as he spoke softly, "The Dragon Sovereign truly favors her."

"That is true," Long Qianxin replied. "But then again, Long Xi indeed has the qualifications to be treated so by the Dragon Sovereign."

Without saying more, Long Qianxin stepped aside. "Long Xi has been in this mountain territory recently, but her personality is extremely eccentric and reclusive. It is difficult even for the Dragon Sovereign to see her. So... everything depends on the Son of God himself." His tone was helpless, implying that even as the Son of God of the Dreamless Abyss, if Long Xi did not want to see him, no one could force her.

Just as he finished speaking, a gap just wide enough for one person to enter suddenly opened in the silent barrier.

Long Qianxin immediately smiled. "It seems the Son of God and Long Xi share a deep bond indeed. Please. If you need anything, you may summon me at any time."

Yun Che walked forward, but stopped suddenly before stepping through the barrier. He said coldly, "Palace Master Zhaoyang, I must trouble you to seal another barrier. No one... is permitted to peek."

Slightly surprised, Meng Zhaoyang said nothing. He pressed his palm down, and a barrier flowing with a faint silver glow enveloped the entire mountain territory. If anyone touched it, whether physically or through perception, they would suffer a soul-bite and alert those inside.

With everything isolated from the outside world, Yun Che’s expression could no longer remain indifferent. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, his hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles twisted and trembled violently until they cracked and bled.

"Hoo..."

He took several long breaths to barely stabilize his mind, then lifted his feet and stepped into the desolate land within the barrier.

Step...

Step...

His footsteps were exceptionally heavy, each one feeling as if it were treading directly on his heart.

His daughter’s figure appeared in his sight. She was still wearing the oversized gray robe, carrying a cold gloom and loneliness that repelled all living things... Her image blurred and cleared with his footsteps.

Her back was to him, kneeling quietly before a tombstone.

The area was filled with jagged rocks and decay, yet that tombstone stood straight and spotless.

There was no name on the tombstone, nor any inscription.

Yun Che didn't know when he had stopped walking. He just stood there, staring blankly at her—at his and Shen Xi’s daughter. His throat felt choked with a thousand emotions... yet for a long time, he could not say a word or make a sound.

Until a certain moment, she slowly turned around.

The first things to strike his pupils were still those two terrifying, crisscrossing scars.

She reached out a hand toward Yun Che. Her wrist was snowy white, almost devoid of color. Her voice remained cold and detached, nearly piercing to the bone:

"The thing I want... the Primordial Flame Crystal²."

Yun Che finally spoke, but the voice he produced was hoarse. "Is this the price for you staying here... for your so-called place of refuge?"

The first time he met Yun Xi, he had noticed an abnormal depletion of her essence blood. It was the same when they met again in the Dreamless God Nation.

Yun Xi never answered, so he could only assume for the time being that her obsession was too great, and she was exhausting herself to achieve her goals, leading to severe self-harm.

Until just now, when he sensed the aura of her essence blood on Long Wangchu.

Though it was extremely faint, though it had long been refined... how could he possibly fail to recognize it? How could he possibly be mistaken?

The records of the Xuanji Hall stated that the Young Master of the Dragon Race, Long Wangchu, was extremely dull-witted. Despite having all the top resources of the Dragon Race poured into him, he had barely broken through to the Divine Master Realm at the age of six hundred.

Yet afterward, as if aided by the gods, he had jumped from the first level of the Divine Master Realm to the eighth level in just a few decades, causing a minor stir even among the God Nations. It was speculated that his talent had awakened late, and his future might be promising.

At this moment, Yun Che realized with a shock what had happened to Yun Xi. He finally understood the cruel price behind the Dragon Race’s "special treatment" of her.

Yun Xi frowned slightly. Realizing he must have met Long Wangchu, she remained unmoved and as indifferent as ever. "A fair trade, agreed upon by both parties."

Terrifying blood vessels spread through Yun Che’s eyes. His voice was hoarse beyond recognition. "You are... my daughter..."

"So what?" A hint of sarcasm entered Yun Xi’s icy voice. "Do you want to tell me that my body and skin are gifts from my parents? That even though you never raised me, never protected me, and never witnessed a single day of my growth, I have no right to dispose of my own essence blood without your consent?"

"..." Yun Che slowly closed his eyes, his chest aching to the point of suffocation.

Yun Xi moved her outstretched palm an inch closer. "If you truly care about me as much as your face suggests, give me the Primordial Flame Crystal. If you do, forget about making me call you father—even if you ask me to kowtow to you a hundred times, I will not hesitate."

The cold wind blew past, filled with endless desolation and sorrow.

Yun Che struggled to open his eyes; red bloodshot veins nearly covered his entire eyeballs. "Tell me, why do you crave the Primordial Flame Crystal so much? And the Lin-Bone Spirit Orchid you risked your life for back then—where exactly are they being used?"

"If you don't explain it clearly, I won't give it to you even if I find it!"

His voice became clearer, yet it carried a chill that seemed to seep into the marrow of one's bones.

Yun Xi looked at him for a long time before finally speaking slowly. "By finding the five elemental treasures of Wind, Fire, Thunder, Water, and Earth, the Dragon Sovereign will use the strength of the entire clan to trigger the Ancient Dragon Array. It will gather the elemental rhythm of heaven and earth, using the most primordial and pure rhythm to gradually restore Mother’s sleeping remnant soul, until her life and body are made whole again."

"This is also the fair trade between us."

"It is the only possibility, the only hope of saving Mother!" Yun Che looked into her eyes. Beneath that icy gaze lay a desire and excitement that were far too intense... He remained motionless and silent for a long time.

"So..." Yun Xi’s voice grew heavier. "Did you find the Primordial Flame Crystal or not?"

"..." Yun Che’s neck strained as he shook his head, his movements slow and stiff.

Like ten thousand stars in a dark night being extinguished instantly, the light in the depths of Yun Xi’s eyes vanished without a trace, leaving only endless darkness and disappointment.

"Rest assured..." he spoke slowly. "Since I promised you, I will definitely do it. As I told you before, finding the Primordial Flame Crystal is like a pipe dream for others, but for me... it is easy."

As he finished speaking, he suddenly turned around, no longer letting Yun Xi see his eyes.

"I came here for two reasons. One was to see you. Second... I have an additional condition."

"Before I deliver the Primordial Flame Crystal to you, you are not to step a single foot out of these Ancestral Dragon Mountains. Otherwise, even if I find it, I will not give it to you... For your mother’s sake, I believe you can certainly do this."

"...?" Looking at his back, Yun Xi frowned deeply. She was about to speak, but saw that Yun Che had already started walking away.

Before she could even call out to stop him, his figure had vanished from her sight, heading outside the barrier.

He left only a desolate silhouette imprinted in her pupils—one that would not dissipate for a long time, inexplicably stinging her heart and soul.