Alchemy is both mysterious and powerful, and Norton, the King of Bronze and Fire, was the most skilled in alchemy among the four Dragon Kings.
It was the power granted by his throne.
He held absolute control over metal.
The massive bronze mask was the crystallization of his alchemical craft—infused with spirit and intellect. It was a living entity.
Now, it was celebrating the return of its creator—its master.
The enormous gate slowly opened.
"Let's go, Old Tang. Time to visit your home," Lu Mingfei said as he walked up and patted Old Tang on the shoulder.
Old Tang hesitated for a moment, but then stepped into the bronze gates.
Mai followed behind the group.
The moment they entered the ancient Bronze City, an image flashed through Old Tang's mind—a child.
The child wore ancient clothing, with innocent eyes and a look of longing for family.
"Brother, will you eat me?"
"Yes, I will."
Old Tang shook his head, trying to suppress the blurry memories swirling in his mind.
They moved deeper inside.
All around them were countless gears—mechanisms that controlled the Bronze City. This kind of mechanical tech was a branch of alchemy. It was hard to believe such advanced engineering existed a thousand years ago.
"Technology really is power," Lu Mingfei muttered, observing the mechanical gears surrounding them.
Ren Asakura nodded.
"In the world of dragons, the most powerful nuclear weapons were actually created through alchemy by hybrids. Those famous scientists were all powerful hybrids."
Lu Mingfei didn't deny it. The history of this world and the dragon race were hopelessly entangled.
"What magnificent mechanical alchemy. It's said that the King of Bronze and Fire's skill had reached an unparalleled level. A thousand years ago, he even created machines that could fly through the sky," Mai said without thinking.
As a high-ranking hybrid, she knew many secrets and legends about the dragons and hybrids.
After passing through the realm of alchemical machinery, the group entered a palace.
The dome of the palace was engraved with intricate patterns—twisting and intertwining to form the shape of a giant tree.
The World Tree.
According to Norse mythology, it was the World Tree that the Nidhogg gnawed upon.
The branches and leaves of the World Tree were inscribed with dense dragon script.
It was the language of the dragons.
Old Tang looked up. Although he couldn't read the text, he understood its meaning.
Around the palace stood several serpent-head statues, each roughly the height of a person.
These statues, too, were products of alchemy. Staring at them too long could trigger hallucinations.
Mai reached out and touched one. This was her first time entering a Dragon King's lair—she had no way of knowing what potential dangers lay ahead.
The serpent statue's eyes seemed to reflect light.
Mai's pupils contracted. In her vision, the statue had come alive.
A giant snake lunged at her neck, jaws wide open.
"Calm down!" Lu Mingfei barked coldly.
Mai's head swam, like she'd just woken from a deep sleep. The serpent statue before her was stone once more.
"These carved dragon runes can trigger illusions in hybrids—something like the spiritual vision experienced during hybrid awakening," Lu Mingfei explained calmly.
The other three were completely unaffected.
Which made Mai seem particularly weak.
"Let's go. The gate's probably about to close."
As they continued onward, the gate of the Bronze City shut behind them.
Locking them inside.
And on the palace dome, the dragon runes mapped out the layout of the ancient Bronze City.
But this script was completely indecipherable to ordinary hybrids.
Even using the best equipment and most talented researchers, decoding these runes would take at least ten years.
Of course, to a true dragon, just one glance was enough to understand everything.
The group continued forward, careful not to trigger any of the surrounding mechanisms.
They passed through corridor after corridor.
Avoiding all sorts of traps and mechanisms, they finally arrived at the Dragon King's bedchamber.
This was the true heart of the Dragon King's lair.
Dragon guards had once stood here, protecting their master's egg.
To Old Tang, everything here felt strangely familiar.
"Is this really my home?" he murmured.
"The Seven Deadly Sins should be near Constantine's egg," Lu Mingfei said, then glanced at Old Tang.
Once Old Tang saw his most familiar younger brother, there was a high chance Norton's memories would awaken within him.
Though not the wrathful side of Norton…
Still, a Dragon King was prideful by nature. He might not tolerate hybrid 'mice' in his sacred chamber.
That would lead to one hell of a fight.
Ren Asakura's eyes shimmered with amusement and intrigue.
"This is going to get interesting," he said with a grin.
Because of the Bronze City's sealed nature, no water had flowed into this chamber.
Everything here was exactly as it had been a thousand years ago.
A grand and resplendent palace, brimming with hidden dangers and deadly traps. Luckily, this time they had come as guests—and as the rightful heirs—not as intruders.
Standing in the Dragon King's enormous palace, Mai felt immense pressure.
She only had a short dagger and a small pistol.
One dragon guard could probably kill her in seconds.
Lu Mingfei looked around at the majestic hall and began walking through it.
The others followed suit.
With his spiritual sense, Lu Mingfei felt something—something faintly pulsing.
It was a powerful life force.
But that force was still dormant, like the monster slumbering within him.
"Found it!"
He held up a brass canister about half the size of a person.
Inside was Constantine, the embodiment of power—still in slumber, not yet hatched.
...
Ren Asakura ascended the tallest steps of the grand hall, his eyes landing on a rectangular weapon case resting atop a bronze pillar.
"So this is the Seven Deadly Sins. Not bad—pretty decent weapons for the current Lu Mingfei," he commented.
These were the seven weapons Norton forged using his highest alchemical skills—each one capable of slaying a Dragon King.
They also served as a method for evaluating bloodline purity.
The purer a hybrid's dragon blood, the more weapons they could draw.
Ten minutes later, everyone regrouped in the hall.
Ren Asakura held the Seven Deadly Sins.
Lu Mingfei carried the brass canister.
Mai had a few ancient bronze plates in her hands—etched with what appeared to be dragon script.
Old Tang lowered his head slightly. That strange déjà vu kept flashing in his mind, impossible to shake.
"The real show's about to begin," Ren Asakura said with a faint smile, raising the Seven Deadly Sins.
Lu Mingfei looked down at the brass canister in his hands.
"Old Tang, I found your little brother—but he hasn't been born yet."
Out of nowhere, Mai felt a powerful sense of danger rise within her.
This was the Dragon King's bedchamber.
Naturally, where a Dragon King sleeps, guards are never far behind.
And if you just happen to take their master?
Well, guess what happens next.
°°°
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