When Xiao Yan heard the Dragonbone Guardian speak, he was momentarily stunned. Although he had previously encountered Dragonbone Guardians that could vocalize, those were no more than beastly roars. This voice, however—despite its hoarseness—sounded almost entirely human. 'Could it be that it still retains its consciousness?'
Out of caution, Xiao Yan didn't immediately approach. He maintained a certain distance, watching the pale blue flames flickering within the skeletal eye sockets. Then, a sudden realization dawned on him. By common understanding, Dragonbone Guardians were puppets crafted from dragon bones. Yet, the dragon race had always revered the bodies of their deceased kin. 'How could they possibly allow their bones to be turned into puppets?'
"Heh... The truth is, the creation of Dragonbone Guardians is a cruel punishment within our dragon race. Those who severely violate our laws are subjected to extreme penalties. Their corpses are then transformed into Dragonbone Guardians to atone for their crimes," the Dragonbone Guardian said slowly, as if it had sensed Xiao Yan's inner doubts.
"Then, senior… you too were..." Xiao Yan hesitated. Something felt off. He'd crafted puppets before and knew that destroying the original soul was the most critical step. Otherwise, there was always the risk of the puppet turning on its master. Especially if this process was meant as punishment, there was no way they'd allow remnants of the soul to remain.
"Heh… I am no criminal. In fact, none of the Dragonbone Guardians sealed in this chamber were guilty of any crimes." The skeletal figure fell silent for a moment before continuing. Its tone remained flat, yet Xiao Yan could sense an undercurrent of deep resentment. After a long pause, it added, "Would you be willing to hear my story?"
"I'm all ears," Xiao Yan immediately replied, fully alert. Since this being retained such formidable strength even in death, its status in life must have been significant. Perhaps it knew many hidden truths regarding the Dragon God Ruins. If he could glean anything useful, it might help him gain a crucial advantage.
"My name is Long Fan. Though I am of the dragon race, I was never especially gifted. Fortunately, I caught the eye of the Dragon God. Under his guidance, I rose to become the commander of the Heavenly Dragon Guards, earning considerable merit. In the end, I was fortunate enough to step into the Heavenly Sovereign realm." The skeletal figure spoke calmly, but Xiao Yan couldn't help feeling astonished.
No wonder this Dragonbone Guardian was so powerful. Even in death, it still retained peak Earth Sovereign strength. So, in life, it had reached the Heavenly Sovereign realm. More shocking was the Dragon God's ability to mentor someone of mediocre talent into such a powerhouse.
'But… shouldn't it be the Dragon Emperor, not the Dragon God?' Xiao Yan thought.
"During the great calamity in those ancient days, we received the Dragon God's command to intercept a mysterious demon emperor named Molong Emperor from the extraterritorial races in the Sunset Mountain Range. Though he wielded strength comparable to an Immortal-ranked Heavenly Sovereign, our combined efforts managed to slay him," Long Fan said with pride.
After all, every level in the Heavenly Sovereign realm brought tremendous disparity. The fact that Long Fan, as a newly advanced Heavenly Sovereign, could coordinate with lower-ranked Earth Sovereigns to slay an Immortal-ranked opponent was no small feat. Moreover, the Molong Emperor had once wreaked havoc across numerous lower planes. Their actions had undoubtedly saved countless lives.
"However, despite our victory, the price was high. All of us were gravely wounded. While resting and preparing to return to aid the Dragon God, we encountered Long Nixian." At this name, Long Fan's tone turned bitter, his voice nearly grinding between his jawbones. "That traitor..."
"Long Nixian? Who's that?" Xiao Yan asked, noticing the barely contained hatred in Long Fan's voice.
"That's the one you call the Dragon Emperor. Back then, he was still one of the Dragon God's subordinates, tasked with ambushing another demon emperor elsewhere. When we met him, we believed he had succeeded in his mission and had come to reinforce us. But to our shock, he turned on us."
"If it had been before the battle, we Heavenly Dragon Guards wouldn't have feared him. But after that brutal fight, we were all wounded. As expected, we were slaughtered by Long Nixian. Only then did we realize he had already defected to the extraterritorial races and had rallied several Demon Emperors to ambush the Dragon God."
"After killing us, Long Nixian transformed our corpses into Dragonbone Guardians, intending to use us as tools. However, the lingering resentment and obsession in our hearts allowed us to resist his control. Enraged, he sealed us here in this lightless prison and suppressed me further beneath an altar forged from Divine Forging Stones… until you arrived and broke the seal."
'So that's what happened…' Xiao Yan frowned deeply. He had always found it strange. If this place was truly the Dragon Emperor's tomb, why was it called the Dragon God Ruins? Now it made sense. That traitor had taken the Dragon God's legacy and passed it off as his own.
"I know you came here seeking fortune," Long Fan said, voice heavy with solemnity. "But no matter what, do not trust anything Long Nixian says. I suspect he's still alive."
"What?!" Xiao Yan was truly shaken this time. If the Dragon Emperor was still alive, and still in league with the extraterritorial races, didn't that mean there was a Heavenly Sovereign-level traitor lying in wait somewhere inside these ruins?
"Back then, even though the Dragon God was besieged by several Demon Emperors, he had already reached the Saint-tier. He managed to slay them all in the end. But as he stood on the brink of death, Long Nixian ambushed him. Realizing the betrayal, the Dragon God used his final remaining strength to form a seal, binding Long Nixian within this place."
"Though that battle occurred ten thousand years ago, our dragon race possesses incredibly resilient life force. It's entirely possible that Long Nixian still clings to life. If he escapes, he will bring disaster to this world again. I hope you can help me destroy him once and for all."
(End of Chapter)
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