Chapter 455: Princess of the Ancient Dragon Clan

The three of them traveled through the space channel for just over an hour, and Zi Yan, who led the way, never spoke a single word.

Uncharacteristically, Zi Yan's face was extremely serious, even slightly tense.

This was understandable; strictly speaking, Zi Yan was like an abandoned infant, discarded for unknown reasons in the distant Black Horn Region. Now she had come to find her kin—no wonder she was nervous.

The uniform silver light surrounding them made Xiao Yan dizzy, and just as he was about to close his eyes and adjust his breath, Zi Yan suddenly slowed her pace. Xiao Yan gazed ahead and saw, at the end, a faint silver ring emerging.

"Are we there?"

Seeing the ring, Xiao Yan's spirit lifted, and he slightly increased his speed, following closely behind Zi Yan. Moments later, the three became three streaks of light, rushing into the silver ring.

As they burst through the ring, Xiao Yan's vision blurred for a moment, then suddenly brightened—before him, the view was no longer the monotonous silver; lush greenery and mountains once again filled his eyes.

"This is!!"

Ancient Dragon Island, the dwelling place of the first Magical Beast Family on the Dou Qi Continent—the Void Spirit Dragons—but now Xiao Yan had to correct himself: this could not be called an island at all; it was a massive landmass!

A landmass floating in Space!

The entire island was enveloped in a giant silver light shield, resisting spatial pressure and chaotic currents.

Within Ancient Dragon Island, ancient trees towered skyward, brimming with vitality—it was, without doubt, the most life-filled place Xiao Yan had ever seen.

Looking down from above, the entire island was a rolling expanse of mountains, with colossal rivers spanning across it; Xiao Yan even saw waterfalls plunging from the ground upward, then cascading down as torrential rain!

The entire island was lush and verdant, with almost no structures visible, teeming with life. Seeing Ancient Dragon Island, Xiao Yan finally understood: this was what an ancient forest looked like—this was how a place without human habitation appeared!

This was the world of Magical Beasts, utterly unlike human cities—far more extraordinary than even the Sky Serpent Mansion.

Roar! Screech!

From time to time, dragon roars echoed across Ancient Dragon Island—not only dragon calls, but also birds soaring and beasts running.

"So many medicinal materials… rare spirit fruits and treasure trees, hard to find outside, yet here there are plenty…" As an Alchemist, Xiao Yan's eyes widened—due to the extremely dense Heavenly Energy, medicinal materials and treasure trees were everywhere.

And these medicinal materials and spirit fruits were merely food for the Void Spirit Dragons.

No wonder the Void Spirit Dragon Clan was so powerful!

If one wished to gather medicinal materials or spirit fruits, Ancient Dragon Island was the best place to go. Whoever came here would be thrilled, for the entire island was like a vast herb garden and treasure vault—medicinal materials were everywhere, merely varying in quality.

But soon, Xiao Yan regained his composure, for they had been locked onto by a series of powerful auras.

Although Dou Zun level was top-tier on the Dou Qi Continent—since Dou Sheng were rarely seen—this common knowledge did not apply on Ancient Dragon Island.

As Xiao Yan and the others emerged from the channel, the surrounding space was instantly solidified by a peculiar force; then space twisted, and a circle of Dou Zun-level warriors surrounded them from all directions.

They were all transformed Void Spirit Dragons!

Magical Beasts gained the ability to transform at Seven Rank, and by Eight Rank, transformation was guaranteed.

Eight Dou Zun! This force alone could sweep away over ninety-nine percent of all Factions on Zhong Zhou—even the arrogant Tianming Sect would dare not breathe loudly.

For their leader, the giant, was a Peak Eight Star Dou Zun, and the spiritual pressure radiating from him left Xiao Yan stunned—his true strength was likely comparable to that of Tong Xuan, the Dou Zun Di Feng.

"Who are you? How did you enter Ancient Dragon Island?" The giant's eyes locked onto Xiao Yan. He was also surprised, for despite Xiao Yan's Soul Force shielding, he could not perceive their true identities.

Xiao Yan studied the giant—the man was massively built, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, radiating fierce ferocity.

"Huh? Brother Hei Qing, isn't that the Ancient Dragon Bear?" A relatively young man pointed at Xiong Zhan, who had reverted to his true form and carried Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, speaking to the leader Hei Qing.

Hei Qing examined Xiong Zhan closely, then nodded: "Indeed, it is the Ancient Dragon Bear. The Ancient Dragon Bear Clan was once our vassal race, possessing some Dragon Bloodline—but not enough to locate our hidden Void Passage, let alone sneak into Ancient Dragon Island undetected."

This remark was clearly meant for Xiao Yan and Zi Yan—it was a direct hint: a mere Eight Rank Ancient Dragon Bear could never have passed the island's defenses so silently.

There must be another reason.

"Hei Qing, guests are guests—do not be rude." A voice, aged and calm, came from behind Hei Qing. Space twisted, and an old man slowly emerged from the space channel.

The old man wore a white robe, looking no different from an ordinary roadside elder—but the instant he appeared, Xiao Yan tensed his entire body, and Mao Wu in the Void Space gripped the Soul Token, ready to call for help.

For this old man gave Xiao Yan the same feeling as Tong Xuan of the Gu Clan!

"Dou Sheng."

Xiao Yan could not tell who was stronger—he was still newly entered into Dou Zun, and his Soul Force had not yet reached Heavenly Realm.

"Hei Qing bows to Three Elders." Hei Qing and the surrounding Void Spirit Dragon Warriors all bowed—the old man was unquestionably an Elder of the Void Spirit Dragon Clan.

Three Elders smiled warmly at Xiao Yan, then studied Zi Yan, politely saying: "Young friend, I am Three Elders Zhu Li of the Void Spirit Dragon Clan. Might I ask you to remove your Soul Shield?"

Xiao Yan's Soul Force was extremely strong—even half-Sage Zhu Li could only sense faint traces and could not fully discern Zi Yan's identity.

Xiao Yan did not immediately remove the Soul Shield; he turned his head to look at Zi Yan.

Zi Yan glanced at Zhu Li, sensed no danger, then nodded to Xiao Yan. Understanding her meaning, Xiao Yan withdrew his Soul Force.

At that moment, Hei Qing and the others realized: there was a fellow clan sister among them—no wonder they had entered Ancient Dragon Island.

"Hahaha! So our long-lost little sister has returned! Welcome, welcome!" Hei Qing laughed heartily, clapping Zi Yan on the shoulder, warmly and enthusiastically.

But Hei Qing and the others failed to notice: the instant Zhu Li sensed Zi Yan, his pupils shrank, his face turned pale, and his body trembled slightly.

"Hei Qing! Cease your insolence!" Zhu Li suddenly barked—a shock that made Hei Qing recoil instantly, his face filled with bewilderment—he had no idea why he had been scolded.

Zhu Li's expression was tense; he swallowed hard, then slowly approached Zi Yan, his eyes filled with astonishment: "Might I use a Secret Technique to examine your Dragon Bloodline…?"

Zi Yan nodded slightly. Zhu Li swiftly formed hand seals, and a faint purple glow gathered at the tip of his index finger, gently touching Zi Yan's forehead.

Hum! Instantly, Zi Yan's body erupted with a staggering Dragon Might—a brilliant purple-gold light burst forth from within her, as radiant as the sun, illuminating the entire Ancient Dragon Island.

Roar! Roar! Roar!! As the light shone, every Void Spirit Dragon and their vassal races on the island knelt down, bowing toward Zi Yan.

Not even those yet untransformed—let alone Hei Qing, the Eight Star Peak Dou Zun—fell to one knee, head bowed, daring not to look up.

Only Xiao Yan and Zhu Li remained standing.

"Dragon King Bloodline! And its concentration exceeds even that of the Three Great Dragon Kings! You… are you the offspring of the Old Dragon Emperor?!" Zhu Li withdrew his finger, his aged eyes brimming with tears, his wrinkled hand gripping Zi Yan's.

"Dragon Emperor?!" Xiao Yan's heart jolted—did this mean Zi Yan was the Princess of the Void Spirit Dragon Clan?!

Large Magical Beast families often had multiple Kings, like feudal lords, guarding territories like generals—though they were not called generals.

Just as the Four Pavilions of Fenglei Pavilion each had their own Pavilion Master.

The Dragon Emperor was the true sovereign of the entire Void Spirit Dragon Clan, towering above all Dragon Kings!

Xiao Yan's mind went numb—but then he felt confused: logically, Zi Yan could never have been abandoned in the Black Horn Region!

"Could this be related to the split of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan?" Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel puzzled.

The most shocked at this moment was Zi Yan; after her astonishment, her beautiful eyes glistened with tears as she demanded angrily, "What about my family? Why did they abandon me?"

Upon hearing Zi Yan's question, all the Void Ancient Dragons—including Hei Qing—looked down with dimmed eyes.

"Sigh… the Old Dragon Emperor… regarding this matter," Zhu Li glanced at Xiao Yan; after all, some things were secrets of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan, and Xiao Yan was human.

"Xiao Yan is the person I trust most. If there's something to say, just say it outright," Zi Yan said.

"Xiao Yan?!! The Pill Gathering Champion, Xiao Yan?" Upon hearing Xiao Yan's name, Zhu Li's expression shifted to "No wonder this guy's Soul Force is so strong."

Xiao Yan coughed twice and nodded. It seemed he had truly become famous—even this isolated Void Ancient Dragon Clan had heard of him.

"This place isn't suitable for discussion. Let's go to the Dragon Hall first," Zhu Li waved his hand, sweeping Xiao Yan and Zi Yan away as they vanished.

Hei Qing glanced at Xiong Zhan, still dazed, and said, "The Ancient Dragon Bear was once a vassal race of our clan. You'll stay on East Dragon Island from now on."

Xiong Zhan immediately bowed in thanks: "Thank you, Brother Hei Qing."

For a Magical Beast, this place was practically a Holy Land!

The two were led by Zhu Li to a towering peak, atop which stood a massive treasure hall that, from afar, resembled a coiling, winding dragon.

As they landed, they encountered several figures resembling Patrol Envoys, but upon seeing Zhu Li, they halted, cast surprised glances at Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, then stepped aside.

After entering the great hall and sitting down, Zhu Li began recounting the ancient history of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan.

It turned out the Void Ancient Dragon Clan's split was indeed tied to Zi Yan's father—or rather, caused entirely by him.

Because he vanished.

Many years ago, the Dragon Emperor took the young Zi Yan outside, and then disappeared together with her. With no leader, the three Great Dragon Kings—who were of the same generation as the Old Dragon Emperor and possessed faint Ancestral Dragon Power—fell into internal strife, each vying to become the new Dragon Emperor.

As a result, Ancient Dragon Island was split into four: East, South, West, and North. The three Great Dragon Kings each took their own territories, forming independent factions, and still fought today, each aiming to defeat the others.

Those who refused to fight among themselves and still waited for the Old Dragon Emperor's return were Zhu Li and his group—the very East Dragon Island where Xiao Yan now stood.

Because of this, the Void Ancient Dragon Clan vanished from the Dou Qi Continent; Zhu Li and the Elders sealed the Void Passage into Ancient Dragon Island.

"Even the Void Ancient Dragon Clan cannot escape the temptation of power," Xiao Yan sighed. The strongest Magical Beast Family had come to this state—all because of themselves.

"Dragon King… do you know where the Old Dragon Emperor is now?" Zhu Li asked anxiously. To reunite the Void Ancient Dragon Clan, a new Dragon Emperor must appear.

Zi Yan shook her head. "I don't know. Since I could remember, I've never seen him."

Zi Yan didn't know why her father suddenly vanished; she was too young then, only knowing that one day, he simply disappeared.

Hearing this, Zhu Li's eyes dimmed, and he sighed.

But Xiao Yan, as an outsider, furrowed his brow, his expression turning grave: "According to Su Qian's Elder and Zi Yan's own memories, Zi Yan has lived since childhood in the great forest outside Jia Nan Academy… If the Old Dragon Emperor didn't deliberately abandon her, then something must have forced him to do so."

"The Old Dragon Emperor must be a Sage Emperor, and likely a powerful one… How could anything force him to abandon his own offspring? That's impossible."

As the saying goes, the bystander sees clearly. Xiao Yan deduced something else from these fragments.

With a thud, Zhu Li knelt before Zi Yan. A Sage Emperor kneeling—this startled Xiao Yan so much he leapt to his feet and stepped aside.

Zhu Li burst into tears, pleading: "Dragon King, the Void Ancient Dragon Clan has been split for so long—even the Dragon Sons and Daughters born on the South, West, and North Islands no longer know their roots, and they keep killing each other."

"Only you, Dragon King, can reunite the Dragon Islands, restore the Void Ancient Dragon Clan's former glory, and end their bloodshed."

Zi Yan was stunned. Though she had lived longer than Xiao Yan, most of her life had been spent sleeping; her mental age was far younger. Suddenly burdened with such responsibility, she looked helplessly at Xiao Yan.

Seeing Zi Yan's gaze, Xiao Yan also felt a headache. He told her to help Zhu Li up first, then asked: "Elder Zhu Li, Zi Yan's strength is still weak. How can she possibly reunite the Void Ancient Dragon Clan?"

Zhu Li stood up quickly and said, "We Magical Beasts differ from humans—we revere bloodline above all. If the Dragon King reaches Nine Rank, awakens the Dragon Emperor Bloodline, and masters Ancestral Dragon Power, even the Three Great Dragon Kings will dare not defy the Dragon Emperor Bloodline."

"Nine Rank…" Xiao Yan's eyelid twitched. You make it sound so simple!

Countless Eight Rank Magical Beasts spend their entire lives unable to reach Nine Rank, and Zi Yan is still only Seven Rank.

But Magical Beasts value bloodline. Zi Yan's bloodline at least qualifies her to reach Nine Rank, and with the resources of East Dragon Island, there's still a chance.

"Xiao Yan… I… I want to stay on the Dragon Island," Zi Yan said with determination. Since returning, she understood—this was her homeland. She couldn't stand idly by as her homeland fractured, as her kin and subordinates slaughtered each other, as rivers ran red with blood.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan shrugged and said, "Alright, I understand. Elder Zhu Li, please have someone gather these medicinal materials. I'll refine some elixirs for Zi Yan."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Zi Yan broke into a joyful smile, leapt onto him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her cheek affectionately against his.

"Thank you, Xiao Yan! Hehehe, you're the best!"

Xiao Yan gave Zi Yan a cold side-eye—this was going to be hell for him, refining pills!

Watching Zi Yan's affection, Zhu Li stared in disbelief. The Void Ancient Dragons were all extremely proud; they never showed such intimacy to outsiders except family.

"Could this be the Dragon Prince?" Zhu Li's heart jumped. Then he thought: the Pill Gathering Champion might actually be a suitable match?

Immediately, Xiao Yan began his grueling pill refining. Now he was in normal state, not the Enlightenment state from the Pill Gathering—he couldn't afford to split his focus.

Even in normal state, Xiao Yan's pill refining speed far surpassed ordinary Eight Grade Alchemists. He refined an Eight Grade Pill that summoned Three-Colored Pill Lightning in five days, Five-Colored Pill Lightning in eight days, and the most difficult Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pill in just fifteen days.

Moreover, the Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pill summoned Seven-Colored Pill Thunder. Had the Tian Yao Kui not evolved, Xiao Yan would've had to ask Hei Qing to absorb the lightning.

For an entire month, East Dragon Island was struck by lightning repeatedly; Xiao Yan's pill alchemy stunned the entire Void Ancient Dragon Clan.

"No wonder he's the Pill Gathering Champion…" Hei Qing, watching from afar as the Seven-Colored Pill Thunder crashed down, was also stunned.

An Eight Grade Pill with Seven-Colored Pill Thunder—he wanted one too!

The month-long intense refining left Xiao Yan's head spinning. Had it not been for the Three Thousand Yan Flame and Yin-Yang Twin Flames, he'd have been walking with a cane.

"Xiao Yan, are you alright?" Zi Yan supported him worriedly.

"I'm fine. Just Eight Grade Pills—nothing much." Xiao Yan forced energy into his voice, pulled out three brocade boxes from his storage ring, and handed them to Zi Yan. "This one with Three-Colored Lightning—take it during the Ancestral Dragon Ceremony. It will help you awaken your bloodline."

"This Five-Colored one helps strengthen your body. Take one when you train in the Dragon Tomb."

"This last one—the Seven-Colored Wild Beast Heavenly Spirit Pill—has a chance to trigger Bloodline Ancestral Return. Even if it doesn't, it will strengthen your Bloodline Power. Use it as you see fit."

"And inside this storage ring are all the Pill Medicine Sugar Pills refined from Eight-Pill Medicinal Herbs. There should be enough for you."

The storage ring was packed full of pill bottles—so many they were staggering.

"Xiao Yan…" Zi Yan's eyes turned red as she threw herself into his arms.

"Don't cry. I'm not dead. When you become Dragon Emperor and reunite the Dragon Islands, I'll be relying on you to protect me," Xiao Yan patted her small head. Since leaving Jia Nan Academy, Zi Yan had always been by his side; now that she was leaving, he felt reluctant too.

"Mm. When I become Dragon Emperor, I'll protect you. No one will dare bully you."

(End of chapter)