Dragon Kingdom Arc: Chapter Eighteen - The Dragon Heart Tower (Part I)

"Stop staring..." Aixi's cheeks were gently brushed by the softest glow of the morning sun, instantly flushing a vibrant, alluring crimson. She looked like a peach just ripening in the heat of summer—plump, juicy, and radiating an irresistible sweetness. Her eyes flickered, filled with a mix of panic and shyness. She hurriedly lowered her head like a night-blooming jasmine about to close, eager to hide her fragrance, while her hands unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes. The delicate fabric seemed to be her only refuge, a tiny anchor she clung to in hopes of burying her embarrassment and unease within that small, private space.

Ye Heng’s gaze was sharp, missing none of her movements. Watching her bashful demeanor, an indescribable warmth surged in his heart, mingled with a touch of playfulness and the urge to tease—much like a spring breeze brushing across a lake, stirring ripples that set the spirit dancing.

A faint, imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. It held a hint of amusement and tenderness, as if he were admiring a meticulously arranged painting.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling his figure and gilding him with a golden radiance, yet it could not hide the cunning glint in his eyes. He deliberately lowered his voice, his deep, magnetic tone resonating softly beside Aixi’s ear, crisp yet carrying an irresistible magic: "What are you shy about, my Xi'er?"

Under the cover of this beautiful interplay of light and shadow, Ye Heng moved silently. His actions were light and agile, like a wily leopard that had been stalking through the vast grasslands, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

In a flash, he moved with lightning speed, closing the distance to Aixi. Before she could react, he pressed a deep kiss onto her smooth, jade-like forehead with breathtaking swiftness.

This sudden intimate contact struck Aixi’s heart like a clap of thunder, leaving her momentarily stunned. Her large, beautiful eyes widened, appearing like two brilliant jewels embedded in her delicate face. She froze in place, her mind completely blank, unable to believe that what had just happened was real.

For Ye Heng, however, this kiss felt like the completion of a grand feat. The moment his lips touched her forehead, an unspeakable joy and satisfaction surged into his heart, instantly filling it to the brim. He beamed, his smile more radiant than the most spectacular flowers of spring.

Though the kiss lasted only a fleeting moment, it was like a stone cast into a lake, creating ripples in both their hearts and leaving a deep impression. A faint blush crept across Aixi’s cheeks, resembling the charming evening glow on the horizon, and her heart began to race uncontrollably, each beat as clear as a drum. Clearly, she had been deeply moved by Ye Heng’s bold and affectionate gesture.

"You... you..." Aixi stammered.

"What about me?" Ye Heng replied, pulling a comical face.

"Ye Heng... don't think I won't hit you. You'll get what's coming to you when we get home!"

Watching her reaction, Ye Heng laughed even more heartily. She took a deep breath, trying her best to calm her racing heart.

Ye Heng shrugged, feigning indifference. "Then... after this mission is over and we go back, how about a back rub?" With that, he gently bumped his shoulder against hers.

Aixi was amused by his words. She knew he was joking, but the sweetness in her heart only grew thicker.

Aimi watched the pair quietly from the side, a playful smile gracing her lips. She silently cheered Ye Heng on. In her gentle gaze, Ye Heng and Aixi seemed like a pair destined by fate, and she sincerely hoped they would walk the journey of life together.

***

(Two hours later...)

Aimi rubbed her temples, her brows furrowed in a tight knot. Her eyes seemed to bore through the paper, locked firmly onto the yellowed map. Her fingertips danced across the parchment, comparing symbols to the surrounding landscape, desperate to catch a hint of guidance within the complex lines and markers. Yet, those markings seemed to possess a life of their own, weaving into an intricate, bewildering web before her eyes. Every path claimed to be the correct one to their destination, yet none matched the reality before them. This confusion and frustration cast a thin veil of mist over her heart.

"Could it be that this map is a forged trap?" Ye Heng’s voice broke the rare silence, filled with doubt and unease.

Aixi quickly interjected, "No, the map cannot be wrong! This was a precious clue found by the Heaven-Chosen Group in the ancient ruins of the Dragon Kingdom not long ago. If it were incorrect, how could the routes we’ve taken based on it have been so accurate? How do you explain the ruins we’ve verified one by one, or the treasures we’ve found according to these markings? It just doesn't make sense!"

Aimi replied, "Little sister is right, but this terrain is completely different from what the map shows, which is truly baffling. Look at this tower—it’s called the Dragon Heart Tower. There should be a gate about ten miles to its left, but we’ve searched both the left and the right, and there is no tower standing before us. If we can't find the tower, we can't find the gate."

Ye Heng responded, "The map was drawn during the height of the Dragon Kingdom. Since it shows a gate, there is only one possibility: the 'gate' was destroyed after the map was made, or perhaps the Dragon Kingdom intentionally drew it there to lure people to their deaths?"

Aimi mused, "Hmm, Ah Heng has a point. But that 'gate' was crafted from Ancient Obsidian Dragon Stone; could it really be destroyed so easily? It seems highly suspicious. If we rule out the first possibility, then the second one is not impossible, is it?"

A spark flickered in Aixi’s eyes. She looked at Ye Heng and Aimi, her voice firm. "Since the gate was crafted from Ancient Obsidian Dragon Stone, whatever destroyed it must have possessed equally immense power. Perhaps the Human Emperor? A Divine Dragon? Do you remember the Great War three hundred years ago? When the Human Emperor Wang Ping channeled the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the power of the Divine Dragon to unleash the 'Ten Thousand Leaves Tide' to wipe out the six great Demon Dragons? Could such divine power be the cause?"

Aixi’s words were like a gentle breeze, softly turning the long-closed door to Ye Heng’s memory. A flood of recollection surged, pulling him back into the ancient legends of the Dragon Kingdom, long buried by time.

It was a legendary chapter interwoven with the fires of war and supreme glory, the abyss of betrayal and the light of redemption.

The Dragon Kingdom, this ancient and mysterious land, had witnessed endless splendor and decline. The scroll of history was engraved with its weathered marks. Deep within the yellowed chronicles hid a secret known to few—a turbulent tale between the Demon Dragon Clan and the sacred Divine Dragon Clan.

The story took place in the distant past, when the Dragon Kingdom was not just a name, but the cradle of countless legends and dreams.

The Demon Dragon Clan, with their tyrannical strength and unyielding will, left a profound mark on the stage of history; while the Divine Dragon Clan, like the brightest stars in the sky, guarded the peace of this land with their wisdom and compassion. The entanglements and conflicts between the two clans formed the most moving melody of this legend.

Ye Heng dimly recalled flipping through that dusty history, deeply drawn by its sweeping, heart-stopping plot: "In those distant ages, the Demon Dragon Clan and the Divine Dragon Clan were sworn enemies, as they had been since time immemorial. Their feud spanned ten thousand years, as if they were born rivals destined to spark the most intense clashes in the river of history."

Ye Heng continued, "The Divine Dragon Clan possessed enviable, long lifespans—a hundred years was but a single year to them. Time seemed to leave only a light brushstroke upon them. These Divine Dragons never stepped foot in the human realm, so it was humans who truly fought against the Demon Dragons. Though humans were of mortal flesh and blood, their persistent spirit moved the Dragon Emperor, who then dispatched the Four Great Divine Beasts to guard the Divine Land. Because of the beasts' protection, the people revered them, and gradually, humans in the Divine Land began to cultivate."

Ye Heng added, "As for the true cause of the Dragon Clan's decline and eventual extinction, the historical texts do not leave a definitive record. They only vaguely mention a mysterious and terrifying day—the Day the Esper-Beasts Descended. That day, the horizon was shrouded in gloom, and an unknown force tore through the barriers of space, bringing those never-before-seen Esper-Beasts into this world. Was their arrival the catalyst for the Dragon Clan's destruction? Or was there a more complex causality and conspiracy hidden behind it? All of this has become an eternal mystery with the passage of time, leaving only endless speculation and reverie for future generations..."

***

"So," Ye Heng concluded, "it is highly probable that this gate was destroyed after that 'Human Emperor Fights the Six Dragons' battle."

His words were like a stone cast into a calm lake, instantly stirring ripples in their hearts and leaving them both lost in deep thought. The two slowly turned their heads to scan the surroundings. Everywhere their eyes fell, there was a lush forest, the verdant leaves intertwined like a green canopy. Sunlight spilled through the gaps in the branches, creating dappled light and shadows that added a dreamlike color to the tranquil woodland.

Everything here appeared peaceful, harmonious, and mysterious. Yet, beneath this surface tranquility, countless enigmas and unforeseeable dangers seemed to lurk, filling one with a sense of awe.

Ye Heng frowned slightly and took a deep breath, as if to pull all the fresh air of the surroundings into his chest. Then, he turned to Aixi, his eyes flashing with a firm, resolute light, and said solemnly, "No matter what, we must find that gate! Even if it is hidden in some unknown corner, we must find it!"

Just then, Ailu, who had been silent, suddenly chuckled. The corners of her mouth lifted in a mocking sneer. "Heh... look at you bunch of country bumpkins who have seen nothing of the world." Aimi’s expression immediately darkened, and just as she was about to retort, Ailu cut her off. "What? Did I say something wrong? Ask yourself: do you even know what the so-called Dragon Heart Tower is used for?"

Aimi was stunned, and Ailu continued her mockery. "You don't? All those years of history wasted."

Aimi’s face flushed slightly. She hadn't delved deeply into the history and purpose of the Dragon Heart Tower. She defended herself, "I don't specialize in the history of the Dragon Kingdom, but... but I know the importance of the Dragon Heart Tower, and I understand the importance of the gate we are looking for."

A cold smirk played on Ailu’s lips, filled with profound meaning and derision. She spoke slowly, "You only know of its importance, yet you remain ignorant of the sweeping history behind it. It’s like a traveler who glimpses only the tip of an iceberg and fancies they have seen the secrets of the entire ocean. The Dragon Heart Tower, this ancient tower standing in the heart of the Dragon Kingdom, is no ordinary object. It is the nation's treasure, a mysterious existence wrapped in countless myths and legends since ancient times. Legend has it that the Dragon Heart Tower is the purest medium between heaven and earth, connecting the vast, ancient, and powerful energy of the Dragon Clan—a bridge between the Dragon Soul and the human world. And that 'gate' you speak of is the Forbidden Gate leading to the core of the Dragon Clan's power, a sacred site that countless martial artists dream of. It is hidden in the deepest part of the Dragon Heart Tower, guarded by countless mechanisms and trials. Only those with a pure heart and sufficient power can hope to catch a glimpse of it. Your understanding of the Dragon Heart Tower is mere superficial chatter, utterly shallow. No wonder you feel lost and helpless in this mysterious land."

Having said this, Ailu’s eyes suddenly turned as sharp as knives. "But since we have touched upon the core, things become much simpler. What you need to do next is close your eyes, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and slowly channel the Martial God Power within you. Feel and sense the 'Dragon Qi' flowing through every stone of the Dragon Heart Tower. It is an ancient and powerful aura; it is both the symbol of the Dragon Kingdom and the purest source of power on this continent."

Ye Heng frowned, his face full of doubt and confusion. "Why? Why must we do this?" His voice carried a hint of urgency; he was clearly caught off guard by Ailu’s sudden command.

However, Ailu merely smiled—a smile that was both encouraging and undeniably firm. "Because only by truly sensing the existence of the Dragon Qi can you understand the true meaning of the Dragon Heart Tower and take a solid step forward on the path to finding the core of the Dragon Clan's power. Remember, power does not come out of thin air; it requires us to perceive and comprehend it before it can truly become a part of us."

As Ailu’s words faded, the surrounding air seemed to become heavier and filled with anticipation. Ye Heng and his companions exchanged looks. Though their hearts remained full of doubt, their desire for unknown power and the courage to explore drove them to close their eyes without hesitation, beginning to channel their Martial God Power to sense the legendary Dragon Qi...