Dragon Kingdom Arc, Chapter Thirty-One: The Thunder Emperor’s Cleaving Blade

Following the subjugation of the first divine artifact by Ye Heng, the second artifact began to stir restlessly, as if suddenly imbued with a soul! It seemed to yearn for the same destiny as the first—the Lotus of Light—seeking to find its fated master and be showered with endless devotion and importance. This miraculous object appeared capable of sensing subtle shifts in its surroundings, eager to display its unique charm and value; or perhaps it possessed a primordial sentience, granting it the autonomy to select a worthy successor. In any case, this second artifact—mysterious, formidable, and unfathomable—was now poised for action.

"W-what?" Ai Xi gasped, her jaw dropping in sheer disbelief at the unfolding spectacle.

To her astonishment, the mysterious and potent artifact began to fly directly toward her! It moved with a will of its own, spiraling playfully before her like a mischievous child. Overwhelmed and bewildered, Ai Xi widened her eyes, struggling to comprehend what was happening.

Yet, the artifact showed no signs of stopping. It danced through the air, darting left and right with a playful, impish spirit. Simultaneously, it radiated an aura of immense power and majesty, a stark contrast to its whimsical behavior.

Faced with this miraculous sight, Ai Xi did not hesitate. She took a deep breath, steadied her resolve, and, just as Ye Heng had done, resolutely extended her right hand, channeling a vast surge of Martial God energy into her palm.

As the energy gathered, bolts of lightning began to flicker across her hand. Sensing her power, the artifact drifted closer, as if testing the waters. Finally, when it was but an inch from her palm, it ceased its flight and hung suspended in the air.

As the continuous stream of Martial God energy flowed into it, Ai Xi slowly closed her eyes, and the enigmatic artifact glided gently into her palm, as if guided by an innate spirit.

When Ai Xi opened her eyes, the sight before her left her stunned and ecstatic. Standing right there was a person!

Her beauty was like the most radiant star in the night sky, intoxicating and mesmerizing; her elegance was like a flower blooming at dawn, exuding a captivating fragrance. Her jet-black, lustrous hair cascaded like a waterfall beneath the stars, swaying with the breeze, ethereal and otherworldly, like an Empress descending to the mortal realm. She wore a priceless, one-of-a-kind dragon-patterned cloud gown; the magnificent attire complemented her noble temperament, highlighting her strength and grace, while simultaneously radiating a charming, alluring sensuality.

She stood tall and poised, her hands hanging naturally, palms inward, overlapping at a ninety-degree angle and resting firmly a fist’s width below her navel. The corners of her mouth turned up into a faint smile, revealing an indescribable air of solemnity and self-assurance.

Her eyes were like two bright stars, flashing with dazzling light. A single glance left Ai Xi momentarily frozen, as if time itself had stopped. Those eyes contained infinite wisdom and power, enough to make anyone succumb to their allure.

Beyond anything else, her appearance was identical to Ai Xi’s—as if carved from the same mold! Yet, upon closer inspection, it was easy to distinguish them; the aura alone revealed the difference, for the woman before her was a high and mighty Goddess, a stature to which Ai Xi was still somewhat inferior.

She moved her rosy, delicate lips and spoke slowly: "I have waited a long time for you, my reincarnation." Her voice was as soft as a spring breeze, yet carried a hint of subtle anticipation and nervousness.

Ai Xi was startled, a puzzled smile appearing on her face as she tried to mask her inner awkwardness with a laugh: "Your reincarnation?" She gazed at the mysterious and beautiful Goddess, silently speculating on her identity and intentions.

Hearing the retort, the woman paused, then erupted into a melodious, silver-bell-like laugh that seemed to pierce the very soul. Laughing, she said with a hint of apology, "Oh my, hehehe... forgive me, I forgot to introduce myself, hehehe..." Her laughter was so charming and sweet that Ai Xi felt momentarily at a loss.

Finally, the Goddess ceased her laughter, took a deep breath, and looked at Ai Xi with earnest, shining eyes. "Hello, Ai Xi. My name is Meng Xi, wife of the Dragon Emperor." Her voice was crisp and clear, her tone firm yet filled with tenderness.

"W-what..." Ai Xi’s eyes widened in horror, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"Y-you are the Empress? And... I am your reincarnation?" she stammered, deeply shaken.

***

Meng Xi’s lips curled into a gentle smile, as if trying to soothe Ai Xi’s restless heart. Her voice was light as a breeze: "Do not be afraid, do not be afraid."

Then, Meng Xi sighed softly, as if filled with infinite reflection. After a brief pause, she continued slowly: "This news is a heavy blow to anyone. For a long time, the world has regarded the legendary Emperor of Gods, Long Heng, as the supreme existence, believing he possessed unparalleled power to overcome all obstacles and would never fall in that earth-shattering war. However, reality is often more ruthless than we imagine. Who would have known that behind that cataclysmic collapse, it was Ah Heng who held the line alone for a hundred years? How many understand the true magnitude of the enemies he faced?"

She scrutinized Ai Xi, a flash of approval in her eyes, and nodded gently: "Yes, your beauty is indeed equal to mine. However, you are not me, and gaining the recognition of the Thunder Emperor’s Slaying Blade will be no easy feat."

Her voice carried a faint, majestic authority, as if she possessed profound knowledge of this legendary weapon. She frowned, lost in thought.

A moment later, she looked up and said firmly to Ai Xi: "The Thunder Emperor’s Slaying Blade is one of the most powerful divine artifacts in all the heavens and earth. It contains endless power and mysterious spirit, shattering darkness with the force of thunder. It was with this very weapon that I and Ah Heng ruled as the supreme Thunder Emperors of the Divine Land. Only those with true strength and courage can master it and unleash its full potential. While you share my appearance and are my reincarnation, you must pass many trials to prove yourself worthy of wielding this blade."

Ai Xi stared at the beautiful, noble woman, whose aura felt capable of controlling all things, and murmured: "I cannot believe it... in my lifetime, I have actually seen the legendary Empress! And even more unbelievable is that I am the reincarnation of the Empress..."

Meng Xi smiled faintly, though it carried an inscrutable mystery and majesty. "Do not rejoice too soon; it is not that simple. But I must say, you do possess the same alluring charm that I once did." With those words, she smiled again, her eyes flickering with anticipation for the future.

Ai Xi stood still, listening intently to every word. She resolved that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she would face them bravely, never retreating. Only then could she live up to the mission she bore and the boundless trust placed in her by this Empress.

As Ai Xi listened, she became even more confused. She frowned and asked, "You mentioned earlier that the mastermind behind the war was not the Demon Dragon Clan? Then who was it?"

Meng Xi nodded in affirmation. "Indeed. The war did not end in the Demon Dragon Clan’s victory as the world believes. On the contrary, our clan won without losing a single soldier. However, the key to the defeat lay in the dark, unfathomable depths of fate—the Psionic God Clan."

Ai Xi’s eyes widened at the unfamiliar term: "Psionic God Clan? Are they Psionic Beasts?"

Meng Xi explained, "The Psionic God Clan belongs to the same great lineage of gods as we do; they have nothing to do with the Psionic Beasts you see today. They once declared they would never interfere in the affairs of the Divine Realm or other divine clans. Yet, it was their betrayal that left us vulnerable to outside threats while we were preoccupied with internal affairs, giving them the opening they needed."

At this, Meng Xi’s tone betrayed a hint of helplessness and resentment. Ai Xi fell into deep thought, trying to grasp the complexity of these relationships.

Finally, Meng Xi sighed: "However, although the Psionic God Clan did not succeed in that cataclysmic war, you are still contending with them to this day. 'Martial God'? A fitting title indeed! Perhaps renaming the Emperor of Man to the Martial Lord signals the evolution of a new civilization!"

"Regardless, there is a deep connection between your Martial Gods and us. Very well, no time to waste. I shall begin the spell now. Try to let your Martial God energy accept the Thunder Emperor’s Slaying Blade; do not harbor any resistance." With that, Meng Xi clasped her hands together into fists, channeling the surrounding heaven and earth energy into her palms.

As time passed, the energy coalesced into a dazzling sphere of blue lightning. Meng Xi took a deep breath and carefully guided the blue light into the body of Ai Xi, who sat cross-legged with her eyes closed. The moment the light touched her, Ai Xi felt an overwhelming force surge through her like a tidal wave, nearly crushing her.

Inside her sea of consciousness, a storm raged. Countless purple lightning bolts, roaring like dragons, crashed against the boundaries of her mind. Each impact brought a deafening roar, shattering her consciousness into countless fragments, only for them to instantly reform.

This cycle of destruction and rebirth repeated, and after each reformation, her consciousness expanded to double its previous size. After six such cycles, her sea of consciousness had become vast and boundless.

***

Yet, each shattering was accompanied by unbearable pain. It felt as if thousands of steel needles were piercing her body, deep into the marrow, making it impossible to breathe. But Ai Xi bit her lip and persisted, knowing this was a necessary step for her transformation.

Watching this, Ye Heng felt his heart ache, yet he understood Ai Xi deeply. He knew she would never give up! She possessed a resolute heart and an indomitable spirit. Ye Heng believed in her, and Ai Xi did not disappoint.

In her daily life, Ai Xi had quietly persisted, putting in efforts beyond imagination. Every setback became her motivation; every drop of sweat forged her resilience. Now, those past accumulations finally bore fruit. As her consciousness fluctuated, her aura grew stronger, blooming like a flower and radiating astonishing light.

As her consciousness expanded, Ai Xi underwent a complete transformation. The once-weak girl was gone, replaced by a woman exuding a powerful aura. Her eyes were sharp and resolute, as if she could pierce through anything; her posture was as straight as a pine, filled with strength.

Her new form was fully revealed; her graceful, dignified figure hung in the air. Looking at her, Ye Heng’s heart was filled with joy.

"Xi'er..."

Furthermore, Ai Xi’s Martial God energy underwent an unimaginable change! The once ordinary blue energy underwent a metamorphosis, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, manifesting into the most powerful, high-tier physical form! The change was stunning and unbelievable.

The physical manifestation of her energy was like a giant thunder dragon, roaring beside her. The deafening sound of the thunder dragon’s cry echoed through the heavens, heart-stopping and immense. The power contained within was boundless, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, its surging energy threatening to tear through the void and shake the world.

Now, this Martial God energy was no longer an ethereal, elusive fluctuation, but a tangible presence. It stood like a towering mountain between heaven and earth, radiating an unparalleled pressure that struck fear into the hearts of others.

Ai Xi was no longer the girl she once was. She had completed the transition from weak to strong, becoming a true warrior.

"It is done..."

Meng Xi looked on with satisfaction, yet a hint of faint sorrow flickered in her eyes.

As the Thunder Emperor’s Slaying Blade was tamed by Ai Xi, Meng Xi’s consciousness began to fade. Watching this, Ai Xi felt a sudden panic. She reached out her right hand, trying to catch something, but grasped only air.

"Your name is Ai Xi, is it not?"

Ai Xi nodded gently. "Yes."

Meng Xi smiled comfortingly. "Child, do not be sad. I have already fallen; that is an unchangeable fact. I do not regret shielding Ah Heng from that fatal blow. Because he was the one I loved deeply! He was so foolish, foolish enough to exhaust his last strength to protect me even while he was dying. I still remember when I first met him; he was so foolish, willing to give his life to protect a total stranger. At the time, I felt it was not worth it. After all, he was so weak, and the enemy was strong enough to erase him with a single stroke. But he did not fear, standing firm against the enemy’s fierce attacks for over a dozen rounds..."