"ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!"
A deafening roar shook the heavens, the Abyssal Dragon Lord's cry resonating across the entire Ancestral Dragon Mountain Range, a sound of overwhelming dominance and destruction.
The monstrous beast, having erased its own son, did not hesitate—it did not mourn.
It simply turned, its abyssal form moving with unnatural grace, and returned to Yun Che's side, joining the Abyssal Qilin God.
As it passed through the ruins of the Ancestral Dragon Clan, it left only death in its wake.
Those who still remained—the last surviving dragons—could only watch in absolute despair as their very reality crumbled.
Some trembled uncontrollably, unable to move as their bodies were paralyzed by fear.
Some fell to their knees, begging for mercy, their eyes filled with pleas that would never be answered.
Some screamed, sobbing hysterically, clutching onto their loved ones in a final, desperate embrace, knowing that their time had come.
Yet, none of it mattered.
The abyss did not hear.
The abyss did not care.
The abyss did not show mercy.
Whether they were elders who had lived for millennia, youth who had not yet come into their prime, or even babies nestled within their parents' arms, their fates were the same.
The claws of the abyss reached for them all.
And one by one, they were erased.
The once-proud Ancestral Dragon Clan, a race that had stood since time immemorial—
Was no more.
Maybe it was the sheer magnitude of death surrounding him, or perhaps it was the weight of an unseen burden pressing upon his soul, but Yun Che closed his eyes.
He did not halt the massacre.
He did not issue a command to spare anyone.
He simply let it continue.
Let the abyssal beasts annihilate everything.
It was not pity.
It was not regret.
It was not even guilt.
And yet—he still closed his eyes.
His hands had long since been stained with too much blood.
From the Burning Heaven Clan, to the Mighty Sword Region, to the Central Ruins in the Northern Divine Region, to the Deep Sea God Realm and the devastation that had followed…
To the Qilin Abyss Realm, here, in the depths of the Abyss itself.
Yun Che had slaughtered more than he could count.
And yet—he still chose to close his eyes.
It was not an act of repentance.
It was simply the only thing left to do.
The sounds of destruction and chaos gradually faded as the final remnants of life vanished.
Not a single dragon remained.
Within Yun Che's divine senses, the truth was absolute—
Every dragon had perished.
Not just in body.
But in soul.
At last, he opened his eyes.
His gaze was cold, devoid of emotion as he descended, landing amidst the ruins of what had once been the proud home of the Ancestral Dragon Clan.
His feet touched the shattered remains of a once-grand building, a fortified structure that had somehow withstood the catastrophe.
Moving forward without hesitation, he traversed its desolate halls, the remnants of ancient power still lingering in the air.
It did not take long before he reached a sealed hall, deep within the wreckage.
A place protected by numerous barriers, layer upon layer of powerful seals that had once been formidable.
But now—
They were meaningless.
Barriers of this nature relied upon soul fragments to sustain them.
And now that the owners of those souls were dead—
The barriers faded away like whispers in the wind in the face of Yun Che power.
Yun Che continued his descent, moving deeper and deeper beneath the ruins of the Ancestral Dragon Clan. The air grew heavier with each step, the remnants of ancient power thickening as he ventured into the unknown.
Eventually, he arrived before a grand hall, its sheer size overwhelming. Massive dragon statues lined the entrance, their carved expressions exuding both majesty and solemnity. These were not mere decorations—they were guardians, eternal watchers of this sacred place.
At the very end of the hall, a colossal stone door loomed before him. Its surface was covered in intricate dragon carvings, etched so deeply into the stone that they seemed almost alive, their eyes gleaming with an ancient, unfathomable presence. The aura that radiated from the door was so oppressive that even Yun Che's breath seemed to slow.
Yet, there was no hesitation.
With his heart pounding heavily in his chest, he stepped forward and pressed his hands against the door, pouring all of his strength into it. His power was already comparable to the Divine Limited Realm, a level that could shatter mountains and sunder the heavens—
And yet—
The door did not move.
Not even an inch.
?????????
A flicker of realization struck him.
In that instant, Yun Che remembered.
Yun Xi's words.
His gaze darkened as he raised his hand, his fingertips splitting open as a single drop of blood floated forward, carried by an unseen force.
The moment it landed upon the stone door—
A deep, ancient hum resonated through the chamber.
The massive door shuddered, the carvings of dragons glowing faintly as a pulse of power surged through them. Slowly, as if recognizing the rightful bearer of its legacy, the door began to part, grinding against the stone floor as it opened wide, inviting Yun Che within.
Beyond the threshold lay something unseen.
And Yun Che—**without hesitation—**stepped forward.
With light, deliberate steps, Yun Che slowly advanced into the chamber. As soon as he crossed the threshold, the massive stone doors sealed shut behind him, enclosing him within a space untouched by time.
Almost instantly, the room came alive.
Lamps flickered to life, casting an ancient golden glow that illuminated the space. But these were no ordinary lamps—each one burned with dragon fire, their flames eternal, untouched by the passage of years. The very columns that held them aloft were not mere stone, but forged from the spines of dragons themselves, each one carrying the weight of history and the remnants of an unfathomable draconic will.
The air was thick with draconic aura, so potent that it seemed to sink into his skin, merging with every breath he took. This was no ordinary ancient chamber—it was a sacred resting place, one that carried the essence of a race that once stood at the peak of existence.
As Yun Che breathed in the cold, ancient air, his gaze settled on the center of the chamber—on the immense stone coffin that loomed before him.
"There is a giant stone coffin there… Mother rests within it. She is sleeping there."
Yun Xi's words echoed within his mind, each syllable carrying a weight that pressed upon his soul.
His heartbeat quickened, his emotions stirring violently, yet he forced himself to remain composed.
Step by step, he moved forward.
Each step he took, the draconic aura in the chamber surged—ancient, powerful, suffocating.
Had any member of the Ancestral Dragon Clan still been alive to witness this scene, they would have been utterly shaken.
Because within this hall—the further one advanced, the purer their bloodline had to be.
And yet, Yun Che, a human, was walking forward without resistance.
With each step, the chamber itself acknowledged him.
The draconic aura, rather than rejecting him—welcomed him.
And as he neared the stone coffin, he knew—he was exactly where he needed to be.
Of course, with Yun Che's dragon bloodline originating from the very first ancestor of the dragon race itself, the formation within the chamber had no means of halting his advance. The barriers, the draconic aura meant to repel intruders—none of it rejected him.
It was inevitable.
Back then, when Yun Xi had walked this same path, untouched and unhindered, it had shaken both the Dragon Lord and the Grand Elder to their very core. Her ability to step deeper into this sacred ground—**a feat only possible for those of the purest dragon lineage—**was something they could not comprehend.
But in the end, she had been alone.
She had no one to protect her.
And that was why they had taken advantage of her.
But Yun Che was not Yun Xi.
And now—the Ancestral Dragon Clan was no more.
With an unwavering gaze, Yun Che arrived before the immense stone coffin, its presence commanding the very air around it.
Lifting his hand, he gently released a surge of profound energy, wrapping it around the lid of the coffin.
"Rumble—"
With a deep, ancient tremor, the massive stone lid began to rise.
The moment it moved, an unfathomably powerful aura erupted from within, rolling out like a tidal wave of primordial energy.
Yun Che stood still, allowing the force to wash over him, his expression unreadable as he absorbed everything that had once been concealed.
Back then, when he had first met Shen Xi, her aura had been completely sealed away.
Her **true cultivation, her draconic lineage, her very presence—**all of it had been carefully restrained, hidden from the world.
Because of that, he had never known.
Never understood who she was, what she was.
But now, with the ancient power before him completely unrestrained, there was no longer any doubt.
She was divine.
She was beyond the current world—beyond anything that should have existed.
Yun Che's own dragon bloodline, despite its origins from the spine of the Primordial Azure Dragon God, was ultimately something that had been bestowed upon him. His body had adapted, merged with it, and over time, his blood had evolved, allowing him to produce his own draconic lineage.
Compared to any living dragon, it was undeniably superior.
But compared to the Primordial Azure Dragon God itself?
Compared to Shen Xi?
It was nothing.
Her draconic aura far, far surpassed his own.
It was ancient, overwhelming, and absolute—an existence that even Yun Che, despite all his power, could only now begin to truly comprehend.
Yun Che slowly floated upward, his movements silent, almost reverent, as he approached the giant stone coffin. The lid had fully opened, revealing the figure lying peacefully within.
A figure he had longed for day and night.
A figure that had haunted his dreams.
A figure for whom he had once written that awkward, ridiculous poem—because words had failed him, because his heart had overflowed with emotions he could never fully express.
A figure he wished he could **hold forever, melt into, become one with—**so that he would never lose her again.
Shen Xi.
Her beauty was just as flawless, just as ethereal as the day he had first seen her true face and body.
She lay there, untouched by time, as if she had simply fallen into a deep, endless slumber.
His body trembled as he slowly descended beside her within the massive coffin. His breath was unsteady, his heart pounding with emotions so chaotic that even he couldn't name them.
With a shaking hand, he reached out, his fingers brushing against her delicate, porcelain-like face.
She was warm.
Warm… yet utterly lifeless.
Even with all his knowledge, all the profound mastery he had cultivated over the years, even with his current level of soul power—even with the Dreamweaver Divine Arts pushed to its absolute limit—
He could not sense her soul.
There was nothing.
It was as if she had ceased to exist.
His breath hitched. His fingers tightened slightly, refusing to let go, refusing to acknowledge the weight of what this meant.
And then—
"Little Xi...."
A voice—soft, distant, familiar.
Li Suo.
!!!!!!!
"Li Suo! You've awakened?!" Yun Che's voice was filled with a mixture of disbelief and hope as he felt her presence fluttering within his soul.
It was faint, unstable, as if she were still lingering in the space between existence and nothingness.
Sometimes close, sometimes so distant that he feared she would slip away forever.
"...When you broke through earlier... I felt it... your Ancestral Goddess's aura… it became stronger... and it healed me...."
Li Suo's voice was weak, but her words sent a jolt through Yun Che's entire being.
The Ancestral Goddess's aura… healed her?
Previously, Yun Che had already been told by the Creation God, Goddess of Life, Li Suo that her recovery was directly tied to his strength—the stronger he became, the faster she would heal. However, despite advancing from the mid stages of Divine Master to late stages of Divine Master, there had been little change in her condition.
Yet now, she had just said something completely different.
His Ancestral Goddess aura had grown stronger?!!
Even Yun Che, with all his experience, was momentarily stunned. He had never perceived any substantial change in his aura, nor had he actively cultivated anything related to the Ancestral Goddess.
But more than that, even Li Suo herself was bewildered.
She had assumed she would remain in a deep slumber for quite some time. And yet—here she was.
The aura radiating from Yun Che's body had rapidly repaired her soul, accelerating her recovery far beyond what she had expected.
It was so abrupt, so inexplicable, that even she had no answer for it.
Yun Che, still caught in the lingering storm of his emotions, had initially forgotten about his breakthrough entirely. But now that his mind had steadied, he swept his senses across his body.
His profound strength had undoubtedly grown—his cultivation had become significantly more powerful.
Yet, aside from that, he could not feel anything different.
There was no clear evidence of change, no shift in his divine essence—nothing to indicate that his Ancestral Goddess aura had suddenly strengthened.
But before he could dwell on it any further, Li Suo's voice drifted into his mind once more.
"It's… not something you can perceive."
Her words confirmed what he suspected—whatever had changed was beyond his current understanding.
Yun Che let out a slow breath before his focus shifted back to what mattered most.
"Li Suo, can you help Shen Xi?"
His voice was calm, but underneath, there was an undeniable weight of anticipation.
A moment of silence.
Then—Li Suo's gentle voice returned.
"In my current state… I cannot."
The answer struck Yun Che like a blow, but he had already expected it.
His heart clenched, but he did not allow despair to take root.
However—just as he was about to move on—
Li Suo's next words sent shockwaves through his soul.
"But if you make another breakthrough in your Ancestral Goddess Divine Art… I am sure I can bring her—
"And that little Wood Spirit—
"Back to life."
"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Yun Che's mind exploded.
His breath caught in his throat, his body frozen as if struck by divine lightning.
Bring them back to life.
Not just Shen Xi.
But Ling'er, too.
His fingers trembled slightly, his heart pounding with undeniable, raw emotion.
A chance.
A real chance.
The impossible… might actually be within reach.
Yun Che's eyebrows twitched, and his heart pounded uncontrollably within his chest. Li Suo's words had given him hope—true, undeniable hope.
This wasn't just empty reassurance or blind optimism.
This was the word of a Creation God.
If she said she could do it—then she could do it.
Shen Xi. Ling'er.
Both could return.
"So hurry up… and break through!"
Li Suo's voice rang in his mind, urging him forward. Yet, even as she spoke, her presence drifted further and further away, her voice growing softer, weaker, as if exhaustion was overtaking her once more.
"Li Suo…?"
Yun Che called out to her, his voice laced with urgency. He called again. And again.
But no response came.
The next thing he knew, his consciousness shifted, and in the blink of an eye, he found himself standing within the Sky Poison Pearl's world.
A brilliant, holy white light enveloped everything, washing over his soul, purifying all lingering traces of corruption and darkness.
It was an energy unlike any other.
It was her.
"Master! Look! Big White Sister is glowing!"
A cheerful, familiar voice snapped him out of his daze.
Hong'er.
She ran up to his side, her eyes wide with excitement, pointing toward the dazzling radiance that engulfed the space before them.
You'er silently followed, standing beside him, her violet eyes filled with quiet curiosity as she, too, gazed upon the softly pulsating light.
Li Suo.
She was healing.
Yun Che watched silently for a moment, his mind still processing everything.
Then, after some time, he exhaled and spoke.
"She… probably needs time for herself. Don't disturb her."
His words carried a certainty that even Hong'er understood.
She nodded, albeit reluctantly, before stepping back.
And with that—Yun Che returned to the outside world.
The ancient, oppressive chamber greeted him once more.
Standing beside the colossal stone coffin, Yun Che gazed down at its silent occupant—the woman he had sworn to protect, the woman he had failed once before.
His hand brushed against the coffin's cold surface.
And then, softly, yet with unshakable conviction, he spoke.
"Wait just a little bit longer, Shen Xi… I will bring you home soon."
With a final glance, Yun Che rose into the air, his profound energy surging as he gently closed the lid.
"BOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!!!"
The entire Ancestral Dragon Mountain Range trembled violently as Yun Che erupted with the full force of his God Ash state. His profound energy surged like a raging storm, sending shockwaves across the shattered land as he drove his hands into the earth.
With sheer, unmatched power, he dragged the entire stone coffin from its ancient resting place, tearing it free from the depths of the sacred ground.
The formations protecting the tomb reacted instantly, their long-dormant defenses roaring to life. Echoes of ancient dragon cries filled the chamber, the remnants of countless generations trying in vain to resist the intrusion.
Yet—they could not stop him.
No force in this world, nor any remnants of the past, could hinder Yun Che's will.
The ground beneath him split apart, sending debris flying as the coffin ripped free from its foundation.
As the final resistance faded, a Primordial Profound Ark materialized above him, its gates yawning open in response to his call.
Without hesitation, Yun Che soared into the ark, carrying the massive coffin with him.
The vast expanse of the Primordial Profound Ark welcomed him, its world stretching endlessly before his eyes.
For a moment, he searched.
Until, at last—he found it.
A place untouched, untainted.
A peaceful, endless field of flowers, swaying gently in the artificial breeze.
It was quiet. Serene.
Here, it would not feel like a grave.
Descending gently, Yun Che placed the colossal coffin upon the soft ground, its weight settling into the earth.
His gaze lingered on the stone surface for a long moment before he finally spoke.
"I cannot bring your mother back right now… but I promise you—no matter how long it takes, she will walk again."
His voice was steady, filled with unyielding resolve.
A promise that would not be broken.
Slowly, Yun Che turned toward the silent figure standing nearby.
A figure whose body trembled, her hands clenched tightly as she fought against the overwhelming emotions surging within her.
He met her gaze, his expression softening.
"Please watch over your mother."
There was nothing else to say.
He turned away, stepping through the air as the Primordial Profound Ark's gate shimmered behind him.
A moment later—he vanished.
As he reappeared upon the ruined, bloodstained ground of the Ancestral Dragon Clan, his God Ash state surged anew, his power stretching out toward the heavens.
The Endless Fog Sea's abyssal dustanswered his call.
Like a living entity, it rushed forth, devouring everything in its path, filling the entire area with its dense, suffocating presence.
The land, once a sanctuary for dragons, was swallowed whole—a graveyard consumed by the Abyss itself.
Then—with a single flash of crimson light—
Yun Che and the abyssal beasts disappeared.
Eventually, the world came to learn of a terrifying truth.
The Endless Fog Sea—a force that had remained largely contained for countless eons—had once again expanded.
But this time, it was unlike anything before.
This time, it had swallowed the entirety of the Ancestral Dragon Mountain Range.
What was once the sacred land of dragons, a place that had stood unshaken since time immemorial, had vanished without a trace.
No ruins remained.
No corpses were left behind.
There was nothing.
Only the endless, churning abyssal fog, creeping ever outward—devouring, consuming, erasing.
And with it, the Ancestral Dragon Clan was no more.