Dragon Kingdom Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Power of Pure Yang

She turned to look at Ye Heng, her eyes sparkling with the light of wisdom. "A-Heng, look at these dragon patterns. They no longer shine, as if they have lost their souls. This implies that the so-called 'Dragon Soul Seeks Its Master' has taken on a different meaning."

Ye Heng was slightly stunned, and then a flash of realization crossed his eyes. He nodded, following up on Ashi's words. "You mean this throne is not a true treasure, but an entrance—a gateway to the real treasure? And this gate can only be opened by the true master of the dragon soul."

Ashi nodded, her gaze firm. "Exactly. I believe we have found the right direction. Now, all that remains is to find the key capable of opening this door."

"But where on earth are we supposed to look for this mysterious master of the dragon soul?" Amy’s voice was laced with deep confusion. She stared at Ye Heng with bright eyes, as if searching for an answer. Ye Heng felt somewhat uncomfortable under her gaze and gave an awkward laugh. "Why are you looking at me? How would I know?"

"But the Dragon Kingdom has been destroyed for hundreds of years. If we are looking for that so-called master, he must be long gone by now." Ye Heng frowned, his words revealing a hint of helplessness. He knew the task of finding the dragon soul's master was daunting, but they had to find him to unravel the mystery of the Dragon Kingdom’s fall and save a world on the brink of collapse.

Amy shook her head gently, her expression full of doubt. "This is the Diqian Palace; it shouldn't have anything to do with that so-called Dragon Emperor, should it?" Her words betrayed skepticism toward the dragon soul's master, yet she understood that only by finding him could the truth be revealed.

Ye Heng: "Don't know? Hehe."

Amy: "Ugh~"

Ashi smiled softly. "Sister, you seem to have hit on the main point." She traced her fingers over the dragon patterns, as if searching for a secret. "This master of the dragon soul might not be a physical entity; it could be a power or a spirit. Or perhaps, it is among us."

Ye Heng and Amy exchanged a glance, both surprised. Ashi continued, "A-Heng, do you remember that mysterious power you felt earlier? I think that might be a part of the dragon soul. And you, you might just be that master."

Ye Heng was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath, his eyes wide with shock. "Are you serious?"

Ashi smiled, a flicker of playfulness in her eyes. "Who knows? But it's better than not trying!"

"Since Xi'er is so confident, I have no choice but to go along with it." Ye Heng turned his head, his eyes shining with resolve as he gave Ashi a gentle smile. His smile was like the rising sun, warm and soft, making Ashi's heart flutter.

Ye Heng stopped before the throne. Though his steps were steady, Ashi felt an indescribable tension. She knew Ye Heng might face unknown dangers, and even if the Dragon Spring treasure truly existed, she cared more about his safety.

Ashi’s gaze followed Ye Heng’s back. She clenched her hands, her heart filled with worry and prayer. She hoped her prayers would reach him, that he would feel her intentions and proceed with caution.

The moment Ye Heng sat on the throne, the entire palace remained plunged in deathly silence. Yet, within that stillness, a dazzling light suddenly erupted beneath the throne. The radiance was like the first light of dawn, piercing the darkness and illuminating the hall as if it were midday. At the same time, the dragon patterns began to flow slowly, as if infused with life, becoming vivid and lifelike.

A powerful force surged from the throne, pouring into his body like a violent torrent. It churned within him, accelerating his heartbeat and making his blood boil. His body felt filled to the brim with this newfound strength.

Ashi and Amy watched the scene nervously, their hearts heavy with worry and unease. They gripped each other's hands, their sweat-dampened palms reflecting their anxiety. They prayed silently, hoping everything would go smoothly.

Suddenly, the dragon pattern at the center of the throne shone even brighter, forming a massive dragon's eye. The eye slowly opened, as if staring directly at Ye Heng. Ye Heng felt a powerful pull, as if invisible hands were tugging at his consciousness. Unable to resist, he let his awareness be slowly drawn into the dragon's eye.

In this deep and mysterious space, a magnificent scroll unfolded before Ye Heng’s eyes. He felt as if he were standing beneath a boundless, shimmering starry sky. Countless stars flickered like lanterns in the night, sparkling like carefully carved gemstones and radiating a charming brilliance. Each star seemed to possess its own story, hanging silently in the sky, whispering the mysteries and vastness of the universe.

Beneath Ye Heng's feet lay a soft, ethereal sea of clouds. He stepped lightly upon them, feeling as if he were walking on clouds as light as cotton candy. The sensation was both gentle and airy, making him feel as though he might be swallowed by the infinite sea at any moment. However, this feeling did not frighten him; instead, it added a touch of mysterious charm, drawing him deeper into this fantastical world.

In the distance, on the horizon, the silhouette of a giant dragon flickered in and out of view. It was a massive golden dragon, its body shimmering with golden light under the starlight like a golden river flowing through the night sky. The dragon's scales glistened, and its eyes were deep and mysterious, seemingly containing infinite wisdom and power. Ye Heng felt his soul shaken by the creature, a surge of awe and curiosity rising within him.

The dragon slowly opened its eyes, which seemed to hold endless stars and mysteries. It spoke slowly: "I have waited a long time for you, young man. Welcome to my divine consciousness space."

"Divine consciousness space?" Ye Heng asked, somewhat bewildered.

The dragon nodded, its eyes glowing with wisdom. "Yes, this is the divine consciousness space. It is different from any space you know; it is a special existence located on the spiritual plane."

Ye Heng frowned, trying to grasp the strange concept. "A space for a god's consciousness? Could it be that you are the Dragon God? But I remember that even if a god dies, their divine consciousness should vanish with them?"

The dragon smiled, its voice tinged with irony. "I dare not claim the title of Dragon God, but I am indeed a god. Have you ever seen a god?"

Ye Heng shook his head, a confused expression on his face. "No, and this world has not seen a god for a very long time. As for gods, I have only read legends of them in ancient texts."

The dragon asked again, "Then how can you say a god's consciousness vanishes upon death?"

The dragon laughed once more. "Your human emperors are quite strong, aren't they?"

Ye Heng: "Very strong. From the sons of heaven above to the supreme rulers of the human realm below, each possesses power that shakes the heavens and the earth."

The dragon: "But no matter how strong, they are ultimately just mortals. If not for the gift of divine power from the Dragon Emperor, would your humanity have the glory it possesses today? I suspect you humans would be no different from the savages of a million years ago, merely struggling to survive on this vast land."

Ye Heng’s brow furrowed, knowing the dragon spoke the truth. The rise of humanity was indeed inseparable from the Dragon Emperor's gift. However, that did not mean humanity was weak. He looked up, meeting the dragon’s eyes directly, and said firmly: "Even as mortals, we have the courage to challenge the heavens. We humans will use our own hands to create our own glory. Although the lifespan of an ordinary person is barely over a hundred years, it is because of the Dragon Emperor's gift that we mortals can experience different lives. With strength, we can protect the weak; with strength, we can stand like gods in the river of time, guarding and accompanying our loved ones."

The dragon: "Young man, let me hear about the world today?"

Ye Heng: "The current world has five major nations. The strongest is the Martial God Nation, followed by the Oufa Nation which uses magic, the Haistor Nation which uses technology to claim it can slay gods, the Southern Nation known for poisons and venomous insects, and the Sword-Forging Nation famous for its blades. At the same time, there is an enemy of the world: the 'Esper Beasts,' and the universally recognized traitor: 'World Serpent.'"

Ye Heng: "As for me, I am a B-rank Martial God of the Martial God Nation."

The dragon: "Esper Beasts? So, the Dragon Emperor was defeated after all."

The dragon was silent for a very long time, as if time itself had frozen. Finally, it spoke slowly, its voice carrying a trace of helplessness and bitterness. "Bestowing power upon you is not difficult for me, but is there truly meaning in doing so? Relying on another's power to become strong is not a reliable path. Only through one's own efforts and tempering can one attain true, personal strength. This path of cultivation is full of hardships and obstacles; there are no shortcuts. Young human, the help I can give you is limited to this. You must face and explore the rest of the journey on your own. I hope you understand that growth and progress are never achieved overnight."

After saying this, the dragon sighed slightly, its eyes revealing a profound weariness. Yet, hidden within that fatigue seemed to be a spark of expectation. Perhaps it, too, was silently praying that this young man would find his own path in the future and achieve true transformation and rise.

With that, the colossal, majestic, and solemn body of the giant dragon gradually became illusory, finally transforming into a dazzling dragon soul that struck like lightning into Ye Heng’s sea of consciousness.

"May this humble portion of my power be of aid to you!" Before the dragon soul entered Ye Heng's spiritual sea, it left behind these words filled with expectation and blessing.

Watching the giant dragon's figure vanish, Ye Heng felt an indescribable sense of attachment and reluctance. He knew this mysterious and powerful dragon predecessor had given him a precious gift, yet he did not even know the being's name.

"Predecessor..." Ye Heng murmured, his head bowed. Then, his eyes immediately sparked with determination. "No matter what hardships I encounter in the future, I will remember your grace, strive to improve myself, and never fail your expectations!"

At that moment, Ye Heng secretly resolved to rely on his own unremitting efforts and struggle to explore a wider world and pursue a higher realm. At the same time, he looked forward to one day meeting this dragon predecessor again, to tell him personally of his achievements and repay the favor with his life.

At this point, the divine consciousness space began to distort. Ye Heng knew it was time to leave. When he opened his eyes again, he found he had returned to the Diqian Palace. He felt that his state of mind had changed.

Upon returning to reality, the throne before him radiated a shocking light, as if it had been granted a new life. The previously dull dragon patterns were now moving like living creatures, each line filled with power and majesty.

He sat upon the throne, and an invisible aura rose from him, sweeping through the hall like a torrent.

His eyes were cold and deep, like a starry night, evoking a sense of awe. He lifted his head slightly, overlooking everything below from a position of superiority. At this moment, he was like a deity in control of all things; no one dared to meet his gaze.

He waved his right hand gently, and a powerful force erupted instantly. This power, like a surging sea, swept through the entire Diqian Palace. The solemn and majestic palace began to tremble violently, as if about to be torn apart by this force.

Standing to the side, Amy was completely stunned by everything unfolding before her. She widened her eyes, her face full of envy and infatuation. Looking at A-Heng’s handsome, spirited, and imposing figure, Amy couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

"If only I could find a boyfriend as outstanding as A-Heng!" Amy muttered to herself, her eyes filled with longing. "He is not only powerful, but also so gentle and considerate. If I had such a boyfriend, I would be willing to go through fire and water for him..."

Ashi stared at Amy with a look of disdain and contempt, as if looking at a hopeless, love-struck fool. She sneered, "Sister, why are you starting to daydream and babble again? Isn't Li Ge good enough for you?" Amy sighed helplessly and replied, "Li Mian? Forget it."

Ashi disagreed and argued back, "I actually think Li Ge is quite good! Even if he isn't as handsome and charming as A-Heng, his care and concern for you are plain for all to see. Besides, every time we go on a mission, he argues with the Martial Master, insisting on being in the same group as you—it's hilarious! And love is not something you get just by being handsome."

Ashi looked ahead with a firm gaze, as if recalling something beautiful. She said softly, "Sister, you don't understand love at all. This emotion is too complex; even I cannot express it clearly in words." She paused and continued to herself, "But I know that every time I see A-Heng, the joy and happiness from the bottom of my heart are real. Perhaps some would mock me for being love-obsessed, but it is this persistent love that has kept me going for six whole years. To give one's heart to only one person for a lifetime, to refuse all ambiguous relationships, and to commit wholeheartedly once a choice is made—isn't that the purest love? Moreover, with a boy as outstanding as A-Heng, how could I bear to let him suffer any harm?" After saying this, a happy and satisfied smile bloomed on Ashi's face.

Then, Ashi excitedly recalled the past, "I remember clearly, Li Ge begged A-Heng for a whole year just to pursue you! Every time he saw A-Heng, he would offer a carefully prepared lunch. Why do you think that was? Wasn't it just to use that opportunity to get closer to you?" Amy felt a wave of restlessness and irritation upon hearing this.

Unable to suppress her dissatisfaction and anger any longer, she raised her voice and retorted, "I have told him countless times that I have no feelings for him! I don't like him at all! Yet he continues to pester me endlessly with his unreasonable antics. It is truly disgusting to the extreme!" Before she could finish, Amy turned sharply, as if wanting to escape the scene that left her so agitated.

Meanwhile, Ashi remained where she was, watching Amy's departing figure. Her gaze held a trace of subtle worry and regret, but mostly a sense of helplessness. Finally, Ashi sighed softly and muttered to herself, "One day, you will understand..." as if silently praying that Amy would soon grasp some important truths.