Chapter 227: The Bygone Old Era (End of Volume)

But would things truly go as it wished—

Boom boom!!!

At the same moment, two blazing fireballs from different directions shot straight toward the Flame Dragon lunging at the void.

After that, one violent gust after another kept sounding—that was the other two Ancient Dragons, unwilling to let the one opposite them snatch it, beginning to block its way.

At this moment, above the entire sea surface, astonishing dragon roars began to ring out one after another.

After a while, the water currents beneath the sea grew increasingly turbulent.

As if an extremely rare earthquake had appeared on the seabed below!

It was the Ancient Dragons fighting among themselves. The three Ancient Dragons, who had long been unable to stand one another since childhood as they vied for favor and strength, finally had their conflict completely ignited by the fuse of that "Stone of Power"……

At the same time, on the other side.

Above a hidden island.

Inside a certain mountain cave.

"Cough cough~~ Ha~ ha……"

Amid painful gasps, a woman also struggled to sit up.

Looking at her appearance, it was unmistakably Zhou Qingqing, who had previously "died" in the explosion.

"The matter is finally done!"

Recalling the final scene before her clone's death, even though her entire body ached terribly and her brain felt as if it were about to explode.

Zhou Qingqing still let out a few relieved, light laughs.

That's right, the one who had died earlier was merely her clone. Of course, this clone was not one created by the Technique of memory alteration she had modified—she was not that clever, nor did she have the time to research so many Techniques.

That clone was the result of her thoroughly squeezing out the power granted by the black-robed presence within her body during the previous period of Time.

As mentioned earlier, the magical power within her body was reduced to only one dried-up magic seed. Logically speaking, she could no longer use any Technique that had not been researched and improved.

But what if she paid the price of that very magic seed?

A magic seed, when all is said and done, is nothing more than an extremely pure clump of magical power. Normally it cannot be used, because it represents one's own realm and can only exist within the body, serving to absorb magical power from the outside world and thereby fill the entire body with energy.

But at that moment, she directly abandoned that magic seed, completely shattering it into usable magical power, and thus cast her final Technique—Clone.

Only in this way did that earlier scene successfully proceed, while she herself did not have to go there in person to face the Ancient Dragons head-on.

Although she was not afraid of death, there were still many things at present that required her to stay alive.

However, after this incident, it also meant she was forever cut off from that legendary realm of magical cultivation. Henceforth, even if there were magical power available to absorb, she would be unable to rapidly recover that powerful force.

Because the magic seed that represented her realm and origin was gone.

What awaited her was nothing but starting over from scratch, just like any other being who had never cultivated.

Of course, if this price were paid in a world that possessed magical power, it would be considerable indeed. But here in this world where magical power could not be found, it did not matter.

While pondering, Zhou Qingqing also staggered her way over to that crimson Crystal.

At this moment, her gaze hazy, she stared at this Crystal that represented the meaningless sacrifice of many lives, and for a Time her heart grew heavy.

What awaited her now was nothing but analyzing the power within it, only then could she be worthy of those sacrificed lives.

Until the very last moment, she had not chosen to return this Crystal.

Even though she knew that perhaps returning the Crystal would allow everything to settle down.

But she could not afford to gamble, and at the same time this was not something she alone could decide.

In the current situation, the power within this Crystal represented the hope of the human race—the only hope! The only hope that could stand against the Ancient Dragons!

Giving up the Crystal would mean giving up all power of resistance. What could they then use to fight back against those Ancient Dragons and giant beasts? What awaited them would be nothing but sinking completely into the great tide of the era, until one day they could no longer withstand the turbulent times and their race was annihilated.

She still vaguely remembered the words her husband once spoke: the future of the human race must be held in the hands of the human race itself; never rely on the mercy of other beings.

Even if that being currently appeared very benevolent and unconcerned with the world.

The former Banzhu of the world, standing at the very pinnacle of the entire world, the Banzhu before whom everything within sight upon the world had to submit—the human race—how could they be willing to accept this after losing their position as Banzhu?

Willingly watching those Ancient Dragons, those wild beasts, take their place high above, looking down upon all living things?

Impossible. There could only be unyielding resistance!

And this was precisely the reason her husband ultimately chose to slay the dragons. Since that incomparably powerful Ancient Dragon had been able to change the era once, it could do so a second time. A third time, countless times.

Just the first time alone, they had struggled so desperately back then, and only managed to barely get through thanks to the emergence of the Dragon Transformation Elixir.

If they did not try to block it at the peak of their own strength, then what about the second, third new eras that would come after?

Could they guarantee that they would safely get through each one?

No one could guarantee it. Their human race did not need the changes of eras, or even if change was necessary, they must seize the initiative!

Unfortunately, they had failed back then.

Her husband was already dead, so then she would inherit his unfulfilled wish.

Next, what awaited her would be a long period of Time for research.

At present, their human race needed to rest and recuperate, to lie low and wait for the right moment.

……

Half a year later, beneath a certain deep sea.

A beautiful Ice Dragon, currently coiled up with closed eyes, suddenly raised its slender neck in puzzlement, gazing somewhat confusedly toward the seawater one kilometer away.

"That is……?"

Amid the puzzled voice, the beautiful Ice Dragon's figure had already vanished.

A few breaths later, it abruptly appeared in the seawater one kilometer away,

"Roar!"

The Flame Dragon, currently chasing a faint Crystal aura in the deep sea, suddenly let out a vigilant roar.

Along with its roar, a pure, beautiful Ice Dragon slowly glided into view not far before its eyes.

At this moment, its mind was full of confusion—why would something that looked like it appear at the bottom of the sea?

Is it a Juanzhu newly raised by "Father"?

It seems the speed at which it seeks the Stone of Power needs to be…hm?

Lost in thought, it suddenly realized in shock that, at some unknown moment, it had been controlled in an instant!

Feeling the surrounding seawater slowly solidify and imprison it, the Flame Dragon also began to struggle in panic.

But it was useless! The gap in power between them was far, far too great!

At this moment, the Ice Sea Dragon paid no heed to this little one's struggles. With great interest, it picked up this little creature that carried a familiar aura and began to observe it carefully. "This aura seems to be… Elder's?"

Looking at this little one, it pondered for a moment, then said with sudden realization: "So this is the Juanzhu Elder has cultivated? Interesting—I never expected that what Father God once said would be remembered by Elder again. I can't just let him keep all the glory for himself. It seems I too must try cultivating a few cute little ones."

Thinking this, the Ice Sea Dragon slowly released its hold on this little one's imprisonment, and departed unhurriedly, ignoring its terrified expression.

Leaving behind only a Flame Dragon whose mind was in utter disarray.

At this moment, this scene was not only appearing here in the deep sea.

Upon a certain continent, in a certain Dahuangzhaoze.

As more and more Juanzhu were created by the earliest Ancient Dragons, more of those earliest Ancient Dragons also discovered that their own brothers and sisters had begun cultivating Juanzhu.

For a time, they too began to follow suit.

And so, the Ancient Dragons across the entire world grew ever more numerous.

……

Three years later, Tianzhuzhu.

"Crack—!!"

Accompanied by a crisp sound like glass shattering, a corner of the sky broke apart!

That's right—literally, the sky shattered!

Several great beings radiating endless radiance around their bodies descended unhurriedly from the other side of the shattered sky.

The world's passage had been thoroughly torn open!

"Is this a newborn, masterless world?"

"Ah, this intoxicatingly rich aura of incense and faith!"

"Delicious! Delicious!"

At this moment, several greedy voices echoed throughout this stretch of heaven and earth…

(End of Chapter)