As the final rays of sunlight faded beyond the Verdant Mist Sect's horizon, the great formation at the heart of the forbidden zone pulsed with ancient light. Patterns of mystic runes spun across the platform beneath Tianyan's feet as he stepped forward. Chen Yixuan remained behind, watching silently—her jade token already absorbed by the formation.
Tianyan's token vanished into the glowing array.
In the next moment, space twisted.
His surroundings shifted in an instant. No longer was he standing within the familiar forests of the sect's restricted region—instead, he now stood in an ancient cavern lit by dim blue flames. Strange, otherworldly mist danced around towering pillars of dragonbone and shattered stone. The air was thick with a solemn, ancient might.
The Azureflame Dragon's voice echoed in his mind.
"I took control of the formation and brought you here… This is a place no ordinary cultivator should step into, Tianyan. This is one of the last resting grounds of my kind—the Dragon Tomb."
Tianyan narrowed his eyes. His instincts were already alert. From the depths of the cavern, a tremendous presence approached.
Then—two towering dragons emerged from the shadows. They coiled around ancient obsidian spires like spectral guardians, their scales glistening with divine light. Both dragons radiated overwhelming power—each one at the peak of the Spirit Transformation Realm. Their aura was even more suffocating than Qing Wuyou's, the Sect Master.
Their eyes locked on Tianyan.
"Leave."
"This is no place for a weak human to trespass."
Their voices thundered through the cave, reverberating like echoes of thunder across stone and bone.
Tianyan didn't speak. He stood still—silent, unshaken.
Then, with a deep breath, he allowed the bloodline within him to awaken.
A pressure surged from his core, ancient and majestic, carrying not just the pride of a dragon—but something far more terrifying. The Azureflame Flame ignited within his chest, and his dragon soul stirred, roaring from within.
In the blink of an eye, the two dragons froze.
Their mighty bodies quivered, eyes wide with disbelief. Their scales trembled as Tianyan's bloodline pressure rolled out like a tidal wave, effortlessly suppressing their own.
"W-we…"
"We could not recognize you, my Lord…!" one of them bowed its head, its voice now filled with reverence and fear.
"Your bloodline is far superior to the tomb's. Even the ancient Dragon King's seal within cannot compare…"
Tianyan withdrew the pressure slowly, and silence returned to the cavern.
He looked at them, voice calm. "Who lies within this tomb?"
One of the dragons lifted its head with great difficulty. "The first ruler of our Azureflame lineage. This tomb houses not only his remains, but many sacred relics, artifacts, and flames sealed for eternity. Even we—his guardians—are not permitted to touch what rests beyond the final gate."
The massive stone gate behind them groaned as if in response to Tianyan's presence. Faint azure sigils flickered across its surface before vanishing.
The dragons parted wordlessly, lowering their heads to allow him passage.
As Tianyan stepped through the gate, a cool wind met him. Within lay a cathedral-sized hall, half-ruined, half-sacred. Colossal dragon statues lined the walls, each one weeping faint light from their gemstone eyes. On the ground, he saw glittering herbs sprouting from broken marble—spiritual herbs that had been thought extinct. In the distance, a crystal-clear spiritual river flowed gently through the tomb, its water shimmering with pure elemental energy.
Weapons, relics, soul crystals, and more lay scattered across the chamber—yet all untouched. A presence lingered in the air, ancient and unwilling to fade.
Tianyan's gaze swept across the hall. His breathing slowed.
He could feel it.
Power.
But as he took a step forward, a voice thundered from deep within the chamber:
"Who dares disturb my eternal slumber?"
The very walls shook. The spiritual river surged. A whirlwind of pressure blasted from the far end of the tomb. A shimmering spectral form emerged from the back wall—it was not a full body, but a will, a lingering dragon soul bound to this sacred place.
It took the form of a dragon cloaked in silver and blue fire, its eyes filled with the cold clarity of eternity.
The Azureflame Dragon within Tianyan stirred but did not speak.
Tianyan stood his ground. "I came not to steal. I was brought here—by fate and by blood."
The spectral dragon narrowed its eyes, inspecting him.
"Your blood… it is ancient. Stronger than the Azureflame King's… Tell me your name, child."
"Long Tianyan."
The soul paused.
"…Long? Then the blood of the Nine Primordial Dragons flows within you."
Tianyan said nothing.
The voice became thoughtful.
"I have waited millennia for an heir worthy enough to enter this place. If your heart is pure and your will unyielding, you may be the one."
It looked toward the spiritual river.
"Drink from the river of origin. If you are truly chosen, the river shall not reject you. Only then… may you inherit what lies deeper within the tomb."
Tianyan slowly stepped toward the glowing river, feeling every strand of energy in the air twist in recognition of his presence.
As he knelt beside the waters, he could see his reflection ripple—his eyes glowing faintly with dragon light.
Behind him, the spectral soul waited.
And somewhere deep within the tomb…
Something ancient began to stir.