In fact, Jiang Ningxian had also received word. The very first thing the two Divine Sons did after their defeat was flee and prepare to seek help from their clans. Clearly, their intention was to join forces and completely obliterate the sealing power of the Severance of Heaven and Earth.
After that battle, both Divine Sons understood with absolute clarity that Lu Yuan could very well become their greatest future threat, and they could not allow him to keep growing. Both of their clans were ranked among the top ten in the starry sky and commanded powerful allies of their own. The moment they deemed Lu Yuan an existential peril, they would strike without hesitation.
Jiang Ningxian understood this all too well. The Eternal Clan and the Ji clan were genuinely formidable. Even with the assistance of the Jiang clan, if those two factions joined forces, Lu Yuan could not possibly be their match. Under such circumstances, she had to take action. If she could win over the Heavenly Dragon Star Sector in the meantime, their situation would undoubtedly improve considerably.
As Jiang Ningxian chatted with Yinglong, the dragon pondered her words for a moment.
Finally, it nodded and replied, "I know of the Heavenly Dragon Star Sector. It is a sector founded by a True Dragon that accommodates various clans. In my inherited memories, it is also the ultimate destination of our Dragon Clan."
However, it could not offer much detail, for Yinglong only knew what was in its ancestral heritage. Such memories would only unlock gradually as its cultivation and strength advanced. In the end, Jiang Ningxian learned little more.
Hearing this, Lu Yuan suddenly chimed in, "The ultimate destination of the Dragon Clan? A True Dragon... what is the connection between a so-called True Dragon and the rest of the Dragon Clan? Is it the common ancestor of all dragons?"
The two words "True Dragon" sounded extraordinary, leading him to believe it was the mightiest existence of the Dragon Clan—comparable to the Human Sovereign among humanity. Yet he also felt something was amiss. Dragons were notoriously haughty beings, born proud and distinct from all others.
"Yes, but also no," Jiang Ningxian answered with a smile before Yinglong could speak. "A True Dragon does not refer exclusively to dragons. In truth, whether human or beast, anyone who reaches a certain pinnacle can be hailed as a True Dragon. Just as the ancient saying goes, 'Every person is as a dragon; all living beings are as dragons.' The dragon spoken of there is precisely the True Dragon.
"Of course, the very first being to be called a True Dragon belonged to the Dragon Clan itself, which is where the title originated."
Beside them, Yinglong nodded in complete agreement.
"I see." Lu Yuan now had a general grasp of the concept and asked, "Does that mean there have been many generations of True Dragons?"
"Indeed, though to this day, there have only been eight," Yinglong explained. "Xuanyuan the Yellow Emperor of your human race was once hailed as a True Dragon in a certain era, which was why our Dragon Clan submitted to him."
Speaking of this, Yinglong continued, "Unfortunately, the modern descendants of Xuanyuan the Yellow Emperor are rather disgraceful. Did they honestly think that because our Dragon Clan submitted to the Yellow Emperor back then, we would now submit to and assist the Ji clan?"
Its tone was tinged with resentment. After Yinglong's awakening, the Ji clan had played a part in its very first injury, as the Celestial Clan was their vassal. Yinglong was painfully aware of this fact.
Lu Yuan paid little heed to that grievance, feeling somewhat surprised instead. He had not expected even Xuanyuan the Yellow Emperor to have been hailed as a True Dragon. As a Human Sovereign, he had achieved tremendous feats for humanity, yet his descendants fell far short. Yinglong was merely lamenting the Yellow Emperor's legacy. Lu Yuan said nothing further on the matter and quietly listened.
Thinking this over, Lu Yuan could not help turning his gaze toward Jiang Ningxian.
"Don't look at me like that. My ancestor never bore such a title," she retorted immediately, picking up on his thought.
As the Holy Maiden of her clan, Jiang Ningxian possessed a wealth of such lore at her fingertips. Not just anyone could be hailed as a True Dragon, nor was every Human Sovereign or Heavenly Emperor worthy of the name. As for the deeper reasons behind this, even Jiang Ningxian herself was not entirely certain.
Before long, the three arrived above a vast ocean.
With the global resurgence, the land transformed, and the seas expanded in kind. The water stretched boundlessly beyond the horizon, immense to the extreme.
Yinglong assumed human form, hovering in midair. A drop of fresh blood materialized from its hand and fell into the ocean.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
Powerful ripples of energy surged. At the same time, an alternate space slowly manifested within the sea.
"Below us lies the East Sea Dragon Palace."
Gazing into that space, Lu Yuan and Jiang Ningxian could see rows of palaces standing tall. While not quite as magnificent as the Crystal Palace, they were hardly inferior.
Had anyone else attempted this, even a Saint Realm expert would have found it practically impossible to pinpoint the Dragon Palace across such an immense expanse. With Yinglong leading the way, however, it was an entirely different story. The reason was simple: this was the domain of the Dragon Clan. Other beast clans would easily be rejected upon entry. Though Yinglong had never ventured into outer space, its inherited memories held profound knowledge.
They had come here to retrieve one of the Nine Cauldrons.
"There are many independent spaces within the Dragon Palace," Yinglong explained. "I saw the cauldron before, but I'm not sure which one it was in. I can only search through them one by one according to my memories. I'm afraid it will take some time."
It could only narrow down a general location, as it had not paid close attention back then, and the independent spaces within the Dragon Palace were constantly shifting.
Lu Yuan was unconcerned. Finding the seventh cauldron had already exceeded his expectations; with only nine in total, whether they found it quickly or slowly made little difference.
"No matter. I have plenty of time right now."
"Very well." Yinglong nodded.
With a step, Yinglong crossed into the space. Without hesitation, Lu Yuan and Jiang Ningxian followed closely behind.
Yinglong sought to screen for the spaces where the cauldron was most likely to be kept, reasoning that such an important treasure could hardly be cast aside haphazardly. To their disappointment, however, they found no trace of it. Yinglong had no choice but to search other areas, opening more than a dozen spaces in short order, yet all proved fruitless.
Then Yinglong spoke up again, remembering where it had glimpsed the cauldron last time. "This was once where my father resided."
Its father had held a high status in the Dragon Clan, so his palace was naturally opulent. Most dragons possessed such natures, their name synonymous with nobility and imperial majesty. Yet to their disappointment, the Nine Cauldrons was not here either.
"Could it be in that place...?" Yinglong recalled the places it had visited and realized one remained. Yet the thought startled it, and it found the idea hard to believe.
"What is it? Is there a problem?" Jiang Ningxian asked in confusion. They had already visited so many spaces, so what did one more matter? Why was Yinglong hesitating so much?
"Because that place was once a prison," Yinglong said, its voice grave and laced with a trace of fear. "And our Dragon Clan calls it... the Dragon Prison!"
Chapter 359