Chapter 174: The Dragons Depart for Good

The moment these words fell, the entire mountain peak fell silent in an instant, and the atmosphere grew somewhat heavy.

Seeing this, even the dragons who had long sensed it in their hearts felt a flash of understanding and a trace of reluctance.

Finally, the Ice Sea Dragon, the largest after the Primordial Dragon, stepped forward first and spoke in a low voice:

"Father God… take care. The Ice Sea takes its leave. May you live ten thousand years, boundless and eternal."

With that, the Ice Sea Dragon did not hesitate any longer. Though reluctant, it resolutely spread its wings and flew toward the distant ocean — the ocean was its domain, and from this moment on it would be the lord of the seas.

As newly born special lifeforms, their thoughts were still quite simple, with nowhere near so much sorrow or sentimentality.

In their minds, the entire world was their home, and now they were merely being asked to go to their own rooms.

The world was only so big after all; whenever they wished, they could naturally still meet. The reluctance at this moment was only because, for the first time since childhood, they were parting from their Creator — their Father God's gaze — and it caused them some unease.

After the Ice Sea Dragon departed first, soon the second dragon also quickly stepped forward.

"My Father, I take my leave. With this parting, may you live ten thousand years, boundless and eternal…"

Having spoken, this decisive ancient dragon that wielded thunder and lightning also erupted with terrifying bolts of electricity and flew toward the highest peak of the entire planet.

Its domain was the sky, patrolling beyond the planet for Baichuan to see whether any other lifeforms had appeared, guarding against the arrival of that bloodworm's enemies without his knowledge.

Therefore its dwelling had to be in a higher place, to make things easier.

Although Baichuan did not want to inexplicably take the blame for that bloodworm, ever since he evolved the bloodworm's abilities, he had been passively branded with the bloodworm's aura — otherwise that deep-sea juvenile beast could not have mistaken him.

So, unless he devolved everything belonging to the bloodworm's abilities, he could never separate himself from the bloodworm. Yet these abilities were now the root of his strength, and he could not throw away the baby with the bathwater.

Besides, to be so terrified as to abandon everything and huddle up trembling before even seeing the enemy's face — that would be underestimating him, Baichuan, far too much.

The path of evolving into a dragon could never be smooth sailing. From the moment Baichuan opened the panel and set foot on this road, he had already made every preparation.

Either succeed in becoming a dragon and achieve eternity, or perish on this road bristling with thorns.

There was no other choice.

"Father…"

With the second one appearing, the third ancient dragon also quickly stepped forward to bid farewell.

Then, one after another, the ancient dragons departed completely after their farewells.

Until at last, only the eldest Primordial Dragon remained, along with Baichuan quietly gazing at the white clouds.

"Sigh~"

Feeling the mountain peak suddenly grow desolate, Baichuan also let out a long, quiet sigh. Having grown used to the bustle, the sudden parting left him feeling a touch of unease as well.

Shaking his head to dispel this unwholesome emotion, Baichuan then turned back to the Primordial Dragon and said, "Eldest, your domain is here."

As he spoke, Baichuan transmitted a stream of information into the Primordial Dragon's mind — it was a route he had once taken to Tiandu Feixu. Fearing the Primordial Dragon had never been there and would not find the place, he simply transmitted it to it.

Only then did he speak again: "Eldest, your domain is not as large as your other siblings'. From now on you will be staying in a narrow area the whole time. Do you have any complaints?"

Hearing this, the Primordial Dragon, which was receiving the information, was briefly stunned, then shook its head and said, "Father God, the Primordial Dragon has no complaints. You must have your own profound reasons for arranging it this way."

Baichuan nodded, then replied with satisfaction, "Mm, seeing you think this way shows my eye for talent was not mistaken."

"Primordial Dragon, remember this — among all your siblings' domains, only Tiandu Feixu, the territory you are about to go to, is the most important, and at the same time the most dangerous. Only a steady and powerful ancient dragon like you can truly put my mind at ease."

Hearing this, the Primordial Dragon was also somewhat puzzled, but recalling the information Baichuan had previously shared with it, a premonition stirred faintly within — could it be…?

"Father God, is that place…?"

Not disappointing the Primordial Dragon, Baichuan confirmed its guess, nodding affirmatively and saying, "I once told you all that above our world on this planet there exists an unstable spatial passage. On the other side of that tunnel lies a terrifying world, filled with all manner of incomparably powerful beings."

"And the location of that tunnel — you guessed right — is the territory you are about to go to. So your mission is of paramount importance. The safety of the entire world rests in your claws. Do you have the confidence?"

Hearing this, the usually steady-tempered Primordial Dragon was instantly stirred. Faced with such a tremendous responsibility, it did not shirk; instead its entire body seemed to ignite.

Father… Father God had actually entrusted such an important mission to it — was this not a sign of trust in it, an affirmation of it?

Believing that only a dragon as steady and powerful as itself could shoulder this heavy responsibility?

From this moment on, the safety of the entire world rested in its claws alone — it was actually this important!!!

Suddenly realizing its own importance, and how heavy the burden upon its dragon body truly was, the Primordial Dragon's heart was also stirred into towering waves. An immense sense of fulfillment surged over it in an instant, making it want to let out a long roar.

But.

Hold it in!

Hold it in!!

Primordial Dragon, you must hold it in!!!

Father God had just said that it was precisely because of its steadiness that he entrusted this heavy responsibility to it. If it could not control itself and roared wildly just upon hearing this news, would that not be a breach of etiquette before Father God, making him think he had misjudged the dragon?

Was it not a steady dragon?

No, it absolutely could not disappoint Father God!

In an instant, the Primordial Dragon forcefully suppressed the surging excitement in its heart and replied in a heavy, muffled voice.

"Father God, since you trust me so, I, the Primordial Dragon, will absolutely not fail your expectations!"

"From this moment on, where Tiandu Feixu stands, I, the Primordial Dragon, shall stand! If Tiandu Feixu perishes, then it must be that I, the Primordial Dragon, have perished first, my soul returning to Father God!"

Watching the Primordial Dragon make such a weighty declaration, Baichuan, though he had long anticipated it, could not help but smile helplessly.

Perhaps this was the true reason he had given it this mission — only a temperament this steady could endure the day-and-night tedium of guarding the spatial passage.

Compared with its younger siblings, only its temperament did not resemble that of a lifeform born not long ago. It was far too steady and mature, yet also somewhat lacking in a sense of recognition, placing extraordinary weight on his acknowledgment of it.

Thinking of this, a trace of gentleness flashed through Baichuan's eyes. He gently extended a claw and softly stroked its head, saying warmly, "Then I leave it to you. If you cannot hold, you need not die defending the place. Come back alive and tell me — your being alive is just as important to me."

Father God's rare warmth instantly froze the Primordial Dragon's entire body, still in its state of excitement. It lowered its burning gaze and quietly savored this moment of Father God's affection.

Its entire burning body visibly cooled down at a speed discernible to the naked eye, as if worried that its searing flames might scorch its Father God — though it seemed to have forgotten that all of its abilities came from Baichuan.

In the end, unable to think of what to say for the moment, it could only reply in a small, faltering voice, "I… I understand. Then shall I go?"

"Mm, go."

Hearing this, the great dragon, its entire body shimmering with brilliant red mysterious patterns, fully spread its massive wings and, amid a wave of heat, took flight, raising a tremendous howling wind as it headed straight for the direction of Great Qin Qingzhou.

The sky along its path was entirely a peculiar sight of glowing red, like a sea of fire clouds.

Baichuan paid it no mind either, merely watching with a faint smile as it left.

At this moment, Baichuan seemed to have forgotten that the route he had given the Primordial Dragon would pass over Qingzhou before reaching the Tiandu Feixu, and that during his earlier Flight he had always hidden his own figure within the thick clouds.

The Primordial Dragon, however, had no ability to conceal itself!

Still, even if Baichuan had remembered, he probably wouldn't have cared too much.

In this world, there were now far too few things he still cared about.

Now, it seemed only he and one dragon were left again.

Baichuan gazed at the now utterly deserted mountain peak, sighed once more, and then flew off toward the Diguo Dalu.

Previously, although he had lingered at one corner of that continent while modifying species, he had not ventured too deep because he was traveling with a group of young dragons at the time, and had simply left once the herbivorous dragons had developed enough.

Now, before falling into slumber, he wanted to see how the contingency he had left behind in those days — that blond, blue-eyed burly man — had developed.

Whether his abilities had mutated again or not?

If so, he could harvest a few more good abilities.

(End of chapter)