The Monster is Coming

Chapter 379 My Potential Exceeds Your Imagination

Black Domain Continent, Ash Earth Canyon.

As the great battle ended, the shadows and black mist slowly dissipated from the scorched earth, and the wind, mixed with deathly energy, howled through the canyon, stirring up countless fragments of bone.

The once mountain of Devourer Clan corpses had all disappeared.

The slain Devourer warriors were transformed into the players' sacrificial power and evolution points. The remains of the Devourer left behind during the battle with the Dragonwing Clan were also taken away by the player legion when they withdrew.

Those items with practical value are listed in bulk on the trading house, while those with no practical value are sacrificed to the emperor.

In this battle, the three joint battle groups that came from different fields gained a lot.

In addition to the loot from kills, a large amount of spoils were also obtained.

For example, weapons, equipment, and war tools.

The battlefield after the great battle was a scene of devastation, riddled with ravines of varying depths and cracks that spread across the earth like earthworms.

The cliffs on both sides of the canyon were sheared in half by the energy shockwave, leaving the exposed rock layers charred black.

The stone bridge built by the Dragonwing Clan, which spanned the canyon, has collapsed and crumbled. The broken bridge body is stuck diagonally in the murky blood, and the bridge planks are covered with cracks and traces of the corrosion left by shadow energy.

Beyond the canyon, the direction of Dragon Court City comes into view.

The city walls, once shielded by dragon scales and built with dragon crystals, now reveal hideous wounds.

A gap nearly a hundred meters long was torn open in the eastern city wall, and shattered dragon scales mixed with the blood of the dragon-winged warriors were scattered on the open ground outside the city.

The dragon flag on the city tower was reduced to half a charred flagpole, leaning askew in the ruins, swaying mournfully in the wind.

Most of the buildings near the city walls had collapsed, and the crystal tiles had shattered into dust. A few embers of dragon's breath were still licking at the ruins.

The rising black smoke merged with the gathering dark clouds in the sky, shrouding the entire city in a depressing and gloomy atmosphere.

Occasionally, wounded Dragonwing Clan soldiers would emerge from the ruins, dragging their broken wings and staggering towards the city.

At the edge of the meteorite crater in the center of the battlefield, the elemental energy released by the Yama's Dharma Image gradually dissipated.

At the bottom of the pit, there were still extremely compressed clods of earth, and the scorching heat emanating from them made even the passing wind feel scalding.

There are no winners in this war, except for the players who participated.

The dilapidated city walls, shattered weapons, leveled canyons, and the remains of dragon-winged warriors... all these traces testify to the brutality of this great battle.

The remaining members of the Dragonwing Clan stood silently lined up outside the city walls.

Their scales were still stained with undried blood, yet they stood tall and straight.

The dragon descendant carried a pile of broken dragon scales and bones, walking slowly across the shattered earth, with Ji Chen following behind him.

What it held in its hands were the remains of the Great Dragon Lord.

The skull was shattered into three pieces, the left wing bone was broken into several segments, and even the hardest reverse scale was cracked into a spider web pattern. Only the remaining golden embers in the eye sockets still exuded a bit of the majesty it had before death.

The Dragonborn arrived at the breach in the city wall, where the foundation stones had been corroded by shadow energy, creating honeycomb-like holes.

It lowered its head, letting out a suppressed growl from its throat.

Then, it slowly raised its front paws and lifted the remains above its head.

Golden dragon breath overflowed from between its teeth, flames enveloping the shattered bones and scales.

This process lasted a long time, with bones and flesh turning into flowing molten gold, dripping from the dragonborn's claws into the holes in the foundation stone, filling every crack.

The scales stretched out in the dragon's breath, transforming into translucent sheets that, supported by telekinesis, layered over the breach, their edges seamlessly blending with the remaining city wall.

The most crucial fragment of the Reverse Scale was gently lifted by the Dragonborn with the tip of his claws and embedded in the very center of the gap.

It lowered its head, pressed its forehead against the scale, and channeled its dragon breath into the scale, slowly healing the cracks until it finally shone with a dazzling luster.

"With your bones, build the walls of the clan."

The dragonborn's voice, deep and resonant, echoed across the ruins:

"From now on, when the wind blows, you will be a shield; when the enemy comes, you will be a battle cry."

The last drop of gold seeped into the foundation stone, and the dragonborn slowly retracted its claws.

Where the original broken gap had been, a new wall had risen up. The golden-red bone slurry had solidified into a hard wall, and the translucent scales shimmered in the sunlight. The reverse scale in the center was like an eye, quietly watching the distance.

This is the "Wall-Merging Ceremony" passed down through generations of the Longyi tribe, a final resting place even more profound than a tombstone.

For the Dragonwing Clan, flesh and blood will decay, and names will fade; only by merging with the land they protect can they achieve true eternity.

The fallen clansmen became the skeleton of the city wall, continuing to protect it in another form.

Their scales would roar in the wind, reminding future generations not to forget the glory of their ancestors.

Their blood and sweat seep into the bricks and stones, making the city walls more and more resilient over the years, becoming the strongest support for their people.

Just as recorded in history, the first king who entered the monster world transformed his body into the first cornerstone of Dragon Court City. After each baptism of war, the city walls would absorb the power of the fallen and become even more unshakeable.

Now, the remains of the Great Dragon Lord are being integrated into the breach, both to fill the wound and to infuse the city wall with the achievements of his life, allowing this barrier to be infused with the will of the previous king and to withstand the storms of the future.

For the surviving Dragonwing Clan, this newly built wall is also a totem of history.

Whenever members of the tribe pass by this place, they can feel the lingering fighting spirit of their ancestors and recall this history of war.

The dead never truly left; they simply became part of the city walls.

This is the survival philosophy of the Dragonwing Clan.

Pain is never deliberately recorded, but rather forged into armor for moving forward.

Death is not the end, but rather, in a more profound way, it lifts the people up to higher skies.

The post-war ceremonies are still ongoing.

The Dragonwing warriors collected wreckage from the battlefield and continuously repaired it into the city walls.

There was no sadness throughout; every dragonwing warrior's eyes gleamed with high fighting spirit.

As the last scale was embedded in the wall, the Dragonborn raised the Dragon Breath Rule in his hand, looked up at the sky, and let out a low roar.

The melodious sound was like an ancient war song.

The other members of the Dragonwing Clan joined in with their roars, their voices converging and echoing through the canyon.

As the howling subsided, the dragonborn bent down, picked up a handful of dust, and scattered it on the city wall.

The tribesmen bent down one by one, picked up the scorched earth, and scattered it onto the city wall.

The movements were slow and solemn, expressing respect and bidding farewell to these fallen soldiers.

The ceremony then came to an end.

Led by the Dragonborn, the Dragonwing Clan members turned and walked towards the ruined city, their shadows stretching long in the gloomy sky, each step firm and steady.

Because the scorched earth beneath our feet is infused with the blood and bones of our people.

Just like their fathers and grandfathers, they eventually turned into dust and mud under the city walls, nourishing the power for the next take-off.

Generation after generation has carried on the torch, and every inch of this canyon is soaked in the blood of our ancestors.

The journey to the summit continues.

……

Back in the city, Dragon Wing, who had succeeded the Great Dragon Lord, began to arrange for his people to repair the damaged Dragon Court City.

Throughout this period, Ji Chen remained by his side.

The player legion has departed, but his encounter with the Dragonborn has only just begun.

After arranging the post-war matters, the Dragonborn and Ji Chen sat on the city wall.

The golden rays of the setting sun spilled over the broken walls of the city, casting silhouettes of the Dragonborn and Ji Chen onto the cracked earth.

The evening breeze carried the scent of scorched earth from afar as Ji Chen swirled the wine bottle in his hand and casually tossed it to the Dragon Descendant.

The amber liquid inside shimmered in the setting sun.

Long Yi took the bottle, bit off the cap, drank the spirit wine in one gulp, and turned to look at Ji Chen:

"Now you should tell me."

As it spoke, its claws pointed to the spot on Ji Chen's chest where he had once suffered a fatal wound, now radiating vibrant life.

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, Ji Chen understood what the Dragonborn wanted to express.

It's probably asking itself, "How did you, a corpse that should have been sleeping forever, come back to life?"

Ji Chen stared at the setting sun in the distance, the afterglow casting a golden-red hue on his pale hair. With a slight sway of his wrist, the amber liquid in his bottle created delicate ripples.

"Back then, I did indeed return to my home world according to the spatial coordinates you set."

"I've already planned to spend my twilight years in my hometown, using the little life I have left to see my long-lost homeland one last time, to understand how it has changed in the years I've been gone, to kowtow a few times at my parents' graves... And also, I need to go back to my old home to see if the locust trees are still blooming outside the door."

Ji Chen tilted his head back and took a gulp of wine:

“Actually, I know very well that 200 years have passed and my hometown has changed a lot. The old friends I want to see and the scenery I want to see have long been worn away by time and are no longer recognizable.”

Upon hearing these words, the dragonborn's golden vertical pupils reflected the trajectory of the setting sun sinking into the distant mountains:
"Your lifespans are so short."

"Yes, it was as fleeting as the last drop left in a bottle." Ji Chen shook the nearly empty bottle.

"Before I could even savor the taste, all that was left was an empty mouth... What I cherish is a memory in the White Demon world, and it remains a memory when I return to my homeland."

"But the changes in my hometown world still exceeded my expectations and made me feel unfamiliar. The environment there was also far worse than I imagined."

“The air was filled with exhaust fumes, making it difficult to absorb spiritual energy. Every breath I took choked my lungs and made them ache. Even the most basic clean air became a luxury. Later I learned that during the years I was gone, my home world had launched several wars of arrival.”

At this point, Ji Chen paused, then explained:
"The war I'm talking about isn't the kind of inter-tribal warfare you're thinking of. It's that civilizations from other worlds have turned my home world into an arena. Every war brings severe pollution, and during that time, a large number of beings from other worlds join the alliances formed by my home world. It feels to me like... I've traveled to another world, not the home world I remember."

"This feeling is terrible. It makes me feel out of place in my home world, and the harsh environment is gradually worsening my already depleted vitality."

"When I first arrived, my own kind treated me as an intruder from another dimension, and they were just short of dissecting and studying me."

"Fortunately, this was just a side story. Soon I acquired a new identity and confirmed that I came from two hundred years ago..."

As Ji Chen recounted his story, the Dragonborn listened quietly.

"After accepting the inevitable end of death, I gained an unprecedented peace. At that time, I truly accepted the decay of this body, the unfamiliarity of my hometown, and the fact that all encounters have an end."

"During my imprisonment by my people, I will pass on the knowledge you taught me to my people in my homeland. I plan to live a quiet life after I leave, find a beautiful place to spend my old age, and then relive the long memories of the White Demon world until my last breath, and then sleep peacefully in my homeland."

Ji Chen gazed at the distant mountains, seemingly lost in memories.

The Dragonborn waited a long time, but still didn't get the answer he wanted, and couldn't help but widen his eyes:
"So, what does this have to do with you coming to the monster world? What's next?"

"The following story involves secrets that cannot be told, so it ends here." Ji Chen turned to the Dragonborn with a solemn expression and nodded.

"This is the story of my winding journey after returning to my home world. The end."

The air froze for a moment.

The dragon's claws clenched tightly.

The next second, a fist slammed into Ji Chen's shoulder with a whooshing sound.

"You little rascal, you're playing me for a fool."

Ji Chen, who was over two hundred years old, was smiling like a boy who had just pulled off a prank.

"Old Yi, show me some respect. I'm not the same person I used to be. Beating you up is child's play for me. Don't force me to show my strength." He rubbed his numb shoulder, but a smile remained on his face.

"Don't press me about what I went through. Just know that I had a strange encounter after that and joined a special organization. But a friend warned me not to reveal any details, so I can't tell you in detail. Anyway... I'm incredibly strong now."

Upon hearing this, the dragon descendant remained wide-eyed but did not press Ji Chen for further details.

"So, how strong are you now?"

When asked, Ji Chen broke into a bright smile.

Finally, his moment to show off arrived.

"Ahem." Ji Chen deliberately cleared his throat:

"Do you remember when you introduced me to rule-level power?"

Upon hearing this, the Dragonborn was immediately reminded of the past.

When it was teaching Ji Chen to master various combat techniques, it once jokingly introduced the concept of "rules" as the ultimate power.

Ji Chen once asked him out of curiosity what the rules were.

His answer was that it is a force that breaks through the laws of reality and forms its own absolute logic.

The greatest strength of rules is not their destructive power, but their ability to redefine the logic of things within their scope.

During the conversation, he also explained in detail the rules possessed by their Dragonwing Clan: Dragon Breath.

The effect of this rule is that, under the influence of the Dragon Breath rule, the power gained by the clansmen through cultivation and the consumption of spiritual substances will be amplified tenfold.

It completely alters the laws of reality logically.

The premise is that energy needs to be generated according to the logic of the rules, which is the driving force for starting the rules.

For a race, having rules is the first step toward becoming powerful.

Based on the characteristics of the rules, various growth systems can be developed, giving a race infinite possibilities.

Seeing the Dragonborn's puzzled expression, Ji Chen feigned composure and said:

"I currently possess 12 rule-level powers (PS: In addition to the life soul in the star vein slot, there are also group amplification powers, such as flesh and blood reshaping, mass gathering, and divine transformation)."

"Twelve kinds?!"

The dragon's golden vertical pupils suddenly contracted, and it subconsciously leaned forward, its head almost touching Ji Chen's face. The hot breath from its nostrils, carrying dragon fire, made Ji Chen's white hair dance wildly.

"How can it be?!"

Ji Chen's answer really startled it.

Having rules does not necessarily mean having great strength.

The monster world contains many forces that have not yet mastered the rules, and also possesses immense potential for warfare.

But without rules, there is no potential for growth.

Throughout the entire Dragonwing Clan's history, only the rule of "Dragon Breath" has been condensed. Successive generations of Great Dragon Lords have devoted their efforts to elevating the amplification factor of the Dragon Breath rule from the initial three times to ten times.

Ji Chen, his former good brother, claimed to have mastered 12 rules.

It felt like the poor boy who couldn't even afford to eat back then suddenly threw twelve mountains of gold in front of it.

Back then, Ji Chen even struggled with the most basic spiritual energy sensing cultivation.

But now, the figure that once needed its protection to grow step by step is casually stating a number that is enough to overturn its understanding.

Rule-level power is the primordial essence of a world, and not all worlds can give birth to rules.

Every world with rules possesses the potential to nurture a powerful civilization. However, refining the world's essence into rules requires a long period of technological accumulation.

Its dragonwing race has explored many worlds.

Most worlds lack the potential to generate rules; being able to generate even one rule is already the limit of a "potential world."

Only in the monster world does one possess an immeasurable amount of rule-level power.

Each Origin is a rule within the framework of the world.

More importantly, there was a chilling detail in what Ji Chen just said.

He possesses 12 rules within his body.

This means that the rule-level powers within Ji Chen's body do not conflict with each other.

This is even more absurd than the Shadow Worm and the Light Worm sharing the same pool of water in their home world.

In its understanding, rules are logical in themselves and cannot be mastered by an individual at the same time.

In the history of the Dragonwing Clan's exploration of the monster world, they have also encountered forces that wield two rule-level powers, but these powers are held by different individuals when they use the rules.

For example, the patriarch holds one set of rules, and the high priest holds another set of rules.

Each has its own set of rules.

As for multiple rules that form an absolute logic, they can be held simultaneously by a single individual, which completely overturns its understanding.

The dragon's body trembled slightly, and his gaze toward Ji Chen was filled with disbelief.

It looked at Ji Chen again and felt that this once very familiar good brother had suddenly become somewhat unfamiliar.

"You..." The dragonborn's voice was hoarse. After a long pause, he suppressed the various thoughts in his mind before uttering the rest of his words:

Do you know what this means?

Ji Chen grinned and said:

"Of course I understand, but what I want to tell you is that my body can not only accommodate 12 different logical rules, but this is far from the limit of its potential. If needed, I can accommodate even more rule power. In the future, it may not be a dream to master 100 rules at the same time, but a very likely fact."

"By the way, the rules contained within my body are not independent of each other, but rather complement each other."

"You're fucking bragging!" The Dragonborn couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out a phrase in the native language that Ji Chen had taught him back then.

The idea that the physical body can bear 12 independent rules is already outrageous enough; the concept of mutual complementarity is not just absurd, but abstract.

Ji Chen was describing a concept that it could not understand.

Ji Chen could completely understand the Dragonborn's surprise.

No amount of explanation can compare to seeing it for yourself.

At that moment, he raised his right hand, and as his fingertips trembled, the surrounding air suddenly became viscous.

The wind in the twilight seemed to be gripped by an invisible force, suddenly stopping for a moment, and a dazzling blue light rose from the palm of the hand.

Ultimately, they coalesced into a blue ball of lightning imbued with an aura of destruction, each arc of electricity twisting and pulsating in the Dragonborn's eyes.

"This is Benlei."

He uttered two words, and the ball of lightning in his palm suddenly swelled up, turning into a ball of light the size of a bowl. Arcs of electricity climbed up his arm like living things, but obediently withdrew their sharpness when they touched his sleeve.

The dragonborn sensed the mass of energy filled with destructive power and then placed his hand above the ball of lightning.

The stinging sensation in its palm made it realize that this was not the lightning element energy it was familiar with.

Its body has been replaced by several generations of predecessors and has acquired a certain degree of resistance to lightning.

However, this power can ignore its lightning resistance and cause damage, so it is definitely a rule-level power.

Before it could process this shock, Ji Chen suddenly curled the corners of his lips into a smile:

"That's a critical hit."

As soon as he finished speaking, dense golden runes suddenly appeared on the surface of the lightning bolt, which was the critical strike life spirit characteristic that could bring a multiplier.

The already violent thunder trembled, its blue arcs now wrapped in a layer of blazing golden light. Its size did not increase, but the Dragonborn could clearly feel the destructive power surging and multiplying in an instant, eventually stabilizing at five times its original intensity.

It felt like using two different absolute logics to leverage the same force.

boom!
Ji Chen flicked his finger, and the thunderball shot out like a cannonball towards the cracked open ground outside the city. It exploded with a loud bang, crushing the scorched earth into powder and vaporizing the gravel, but there was no burnt smell in the air, only a ravine several meters deep.

Ji Chen turned to look at the dumbfounded dragon descendant:
"This is just the fusion of two rule-level powers. I can also fuse other rule-level powers to imbue each attack with multiple rule characteristics, ignoring any resistance. My abilities are also not subject to attribute counters."

The Dragonborn opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

It glanced at the ravine not far away, then looked at Ji Chen's nonchalant demeanor.

Twelve rules are enough to allow a race to grow into a regional overlord in the monster world, and even qualify them to look up at the mountain peak.

If it could truly possess the 100 rules described by Ji Chen, it dared not even imagine the growth potential that would bring.

It realized that its brother, who had once sought its advice on combat techniques like a child, had now become a mountain it could not measure.

"Would you like to see something even more shocking?"

Upon hearing this, the Dragonborn remained silent for a moment before clenching his fist and slamming it into Ji Chen's chest again.

It made a dull sound, but this time the force was noticeably lighter.

It grinned, revealing its gleaming white teeth, while its golden vertical pupils gleamed with satisfaction.

"You little rascal, you've been waiting for this day for a long time. Aren't you happy now that you can finally show off in front of me?"

Ji Chen rubbed his chest, shaking his head with a smile:

"No way, I just wanted to give you a surprise."

"It's not a surprise, it's clearly a shock." The dragonborn withdrew his hand, feeling deeply moved.

The little boy who used to barely survive under its protection has now grown to a height that even it has to look up to.

Gazing at Ji Chen's profile outlined by the setting sun, it seemed as if it saw two overlapping figures.

One was a naive young man who stumbled and struggled to learn cultivation methods in prison, and the other was a potential powerhouse who now casually claimed to have mastered twelve rules.

He even felt a sense of relief and wistfulness, like that of an old father.

I discovered that the sapling I planted with my own hands had grown into a towering tree, and I had to strain my head to look up at it.

"Old Yi, what are you daydreaming about?" Ji Chen waved his hand in front of Long Yi's eyes:
"Could it be that they're terrified by my power?"

The dragonborn did not answer, but suddenly stood up, spread its wings, and let out a deafening dragon roar.

The roar of the wind whipped Ji Chen's white hair into a frenzy, and a cloud of dust rose from the scorched earth below the city.

The tribesmen who were repairing the buildings in the city in the distance looked up, their golden vertical pupils flashing with doubt.

"Old Yi, what's wrong with you?" Ji Chen's sleeves fluttered in the wind.

The dragonborn slowly folded its wings, its golden vertical pupils gleaming in the twilight. It stretched out its claws and pressed heavily on Ji Chen's shoulder.
I'm happy for you.

Ji Chen was taken aback at first, then the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.

The last rays of the setting sun sank behind the mountain ridge in the distance, and night washed over the city like a tide.

He looked up, gazing at the gradually changing colors of the horizon, his white hair fluttering in the wind like a faded battle flag.

"Fate is truly wondrous."

I once thought that parting ways with the White Demon world would be forever.

A spatial rift spanning two worlds sends them to different corners of fate, making it difficult for them to meet again.

Little did they know that time had already laid the groundwork for this.

At this moment, they sat side by side.

The evening breeze brushed against the dragon's scales and swept across his robes.

They were once again enjoying the evening breeze of the same world, and everything seemed to have returned to the old days.

Ji Chen made his decision at that moment.

He will accompany the Dragonborn and its people on their journey.

He originally intended to send the dragon wing and its people to Earth by setting up a teleportation array, hoping to make them qualified players.

However, this solution is clearly no longer usable.

The sudden crisis of annihilation disrupted his plans.

The Dragonwing race is now fully exposed to players, with numerous videos being uploaded to forums in addition to those from the participating Allied Chapters.

During this period, life characteristics and racial talents were also analyzed in detail. Going to Earth means that the barrier between the monster world and the real world in the eyes of players will be broken.

He also asked Alan from the Gold Coin Merchants Association for his opinion on this.

Alan stated that the Dragonwing Clan is a large group, and their entry into Earth would inevitably be noticed by other races in the Earth Alliance, so there is no possibility of them hiding or going out of the world.

There are too many variables and unknown risks involved.

The will of higher-dimensional deities is unfathomable, and taking such actions rashly may anger their divine power.

This will bring about an irreversible divine punishment.

Therefore, the Dragonwing Clan's plan to join the Earth Alliance had to be put on hold until the entire population ascended and the higher-dimensional deities actively revealed the truth to all players.

Ji Chen listened to A Lan's advice.

This also means that the safety of the Dragonwing race in the monster world has not yet been resolved.

The only solution he could think of was the path the little mage was currently taking.

Become a protector of the Dragonwing Clan and open up a development channel for them to connect with the player faction.

The Little Mage has already provided the answer regarding the specific implementation plan.

Through player shops and trading platforms, assist the Dragonwing Clan in resource conversion.

Following the Little Mage's strategy for the Spirit Breath Clan, the Dragonwing Clan will also be developed into a supplier for the player faction.

By leveraging the development of player factions, we can secure space for the survival and growth of the Dragonwing race.

Unlike the Little Mage, he can return to Emperor's Tomb Village at any time and use more facilities.

For example, many of the props in the Enlightenment Shop.

Secondly, he can seek support from players to resolve his survival dilemma.

Allied factions, gold coin merchants... these are all forms of assistance that can be sought.

However, in the future, when seeking help, we can no longer rely on personal relationships to get it for free; we must offer real money as a reward.

Therefore, the Dragonwing Clan needs to change its development model.

What players have no shortage of is combat power, but what they lack most are various types of resources.

In particular, the various ingredients used by the Spirit Chef players, as well as the various spiritual plants needed for alchemy.

He could designate a spiritual field within Dragon Court City, have the warriors of the Dragonwing Clan cultivate it, and mass-produce spiritual plants to sell at the trading house.

Players can also raise "livestock" within the city to produce meat ingredients that they like.

He also came up with a good way to generate revenue: creating stone golems.

These types of goods can be listed on the trading house at a lower price.

They are competing with the mining robots produced by the arms dealers' guild for market share in "automated mining".

For many small guilds, the Stonebone Golem is a lower-cost option that can significantly improve the guild's profitability in the mining area.

Apart from the arms dealers' guild, all other players can benefit from this.

Various thoughts intertwined in Ji Chen's mind, and he clarified his next direction for development.

Back in the White Demon world, it was the Dragonborn who spread their wings to shield him from the wind and rain, and used their claws to cleave a path of despair for him.

Now, in this monster-filled world, it's his turn to hold up the sky for the dragonborn.

But before that, he had to go back to Emperor's Tomb Village.

Arrangements for guild development, the use of the Enlightenment Shop... all of these must be carried out back in the village.

Thinking of this, Ji Chen turned to look at the Dragon Descendant:
"Old Yi, let me show you another amazing skill."

Upon hearing this, the dragonborn casually raised his head:

"You're going to show off again..."

Before he could finish speaking, the dragon's pupils suddenly contracted.

It suddenly sensed that the spiritual energy fluctuations within Ji Chen's body were flowing backward, and his life force was rapidly dissipating like the receding tide.

"Not good!" The dragon descendant immediately reached out and pressed on Ji Chen's shoulder.

But then, Ji Chen's body began to disintegrate, turning transparent from his fingertips onward.

The disintegration spread upwards from the knuckles, through the arms, shoulders, and torso... The rate of disintegration accelerated. The dragon descendant reached out to grab it, only to find that his dragon claws passed right through Ji Chen's body.

“Old Yi, for this encounter, I sacrificed the rest of my lifespan to the Demon God. The mysterious legion in your eyes is the power that the Demon God temporarily lent me.”

Ji Chen's voice began to waver:
"To meet again, but the price is... the reunion is the end."

As he spoke, his chest became translucent, revealing the twilight settling behind him.

"I wanted to stay with you for a few more days, but the contract with the Demon God cannot be delayed."

The dragonborn's claws flailing futilely around his crumbling body, each strike passing through a transparent point of light.

"It's worth it to be able to drink with you again..."

As he spoke, a bright smile spread across Ji Chen's face.

The next second, his body completely transformed into countless specks of light, like scattered stardust, falling softly onto the scorched earth below the city, finally melting into a wisp of mist, which was swept away by the evening breeze and vanished without a trace.

The Dragonborn froze on the spot.

It wanted to roar, to question Ji Chen about what this damn contract was all about.

But Ji Chen's figure had already vanished, leaving no trace of his presence.

Under the moonlight, only its lonely shadow remained on the newly built city wall.

……

After one hour.

Someone who had just stepped out of the Emperor's Tomb Village teleportation point couldn't help but mutter to themselves on their way to the Enlightenment Shop:
"Old Yi probably didn't actually believe it."

　Here are 8200 words~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)