"Am I… a Void Ancient Dragon?"
Zi Yan was completely stunned. She muttered the words to herself, her small face full of complex emotions.
After all this time, she finally knew her true form—and her heart felt like a tangled ball of thread.
"That's right. The Void Ancient Dragon Clan is born with mastery over spatial power, and their physical strength is incomparably terrifying."
Xiao Jietian gently stroked Zi Yan's dazed little face and nodded.
"And you are no ordinary Void Ancient Dragon. You possess the royal bloodline of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan."
Everyone's eyes widened instantly.
Royal bloodline—this basically meant legitimate heir to the clan.
"I never imagined this little rascal had such an astonishing background."
Medusa turned her head and pinched Zi Yan's soft cheek. She truly hadn't expected that the mischievous little dragon who caused trouble every day carried such a terrifying identity.
"Hmph! What's the use of that? I've been out here for so long, and I haven't seen them come looking for me once. I don't care about any 'royal' nonsense. I just want to know my true form—that's all."
Zi Yan didn't care at all about being some future Dragon Emperor. In fact, she even felt a faint resentment toward the Void Ancient Dragon Clan.
But deep down… there was still a tiny, hidden hope of meeting her kin one day.
"Then… where is the Void Ancient Dragon Clan?" Zi Yan asked, blinking her big eyes.
"Central Plains—Beast Region—Dragon Island. Thanks to their unparalleled spatial talent, their residence exists within a folded void space, similar to a small independent world. It's extremely difficult to locate. Moreover, the Void Ancient Dragon Clan is the most reclusive among all top-tier magical beast clans—they almost never involve themselves with the outside world."
Xiao Jietian spoke calmly.
"Doesn't that mean we can't find them at all?!"
Zi Yan's voice instantly became dejected.
Everyone understood who "them" referred to and hurried to comfort her gently.
"Little Zi Yan, you still have us—your family—right here!"
The Little Fairy Doctor's soft words immediately revived Zi Yan's spirits. She nodded vigorously.
Yes—she had so many relatives and friends here. Everyone doted on her endlessly.
"Actually… you don't need to deliberately search for them. In fact, there's no need to search at all."
Xiao Jietian spoke slowly.
"What do you mean? Can Zi Yan not return? Or is Dragon Island not suitable for her? Will it be dangerous for her?"
Medusa frowned, her hand unconsciously tightening around Zi Yan in nervousness.
"No. It's because as long as Zi Yan appears within a certain range of the Central Plains, something within the legitimate line of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan will sense her presence. They will send people to bring her back."
Xiao Huiying patted her chest in relief.
"Master, you really… you only ever say half of what you mean! You nearly scared us to death!"
"Exactly! People like you deserve to be buried alive!"
"…"
The women immediately launched a verbal (and sometimes physical) assault on Xiao Jietian. Someone even took advantage of the chaos to sneak a hand toward his vitals.
"Zi Yan, you will have to return sooner or later. I want to tell you about the situation on Dragon Island so you can be mentally prepared."
Xiao Jietian ignored the mischievous hands and looked seriously at Zi Yan.
Seeing his grave expression, Zi Yan also became serious and nodded earnestly.
Everyone else stopped their playful antics and focused on him.
"Due to the previous Dragon Emperor's departure, Dragon Island split into four separate islands: East, West, South, and North. Only East Dragon Island has always supported the legitimate Dragon Emperor lineage. The Dragon Kings of the other three islands all desire to become the new ruler. After you return, you must be extremely careful of people from those three islands—they may try to use you to seize the Dragon Emperor throne."
Zi Yan's entire demeanor changed upon hearing this.
"It's that complicated? Then… I'm not going back!"
"You don't have a choice. Because we will eventually go to the Central Plains, and you won't be able to avoid them forever. Moreover, only by returning to Dragon Island can you legitimately learn the Void Ancient Dragon Clan's Dou Techniques and inherited knowledge. That's the only way to properly resolve your current transformation issue."
Here, Xiao Jietian told a small white lie.
In truth, Zi Yan would only be able to permanently maintain her adult form once she fully entered her mature stage.
He had already tried giving her a Transformation Pill—it had no effect. He suspected it was because she was still in her growth phase.
Magical beasts had far longer lifespans and different growth patterns than humans.
Upon hearing that returning would help her "grow bigger," Zi Yan's eyes instantly lit up.
Growing bigger had become her greatest wish lately. She still fondly remembered those few glorious minutes when she was large.
"Then I want to go back!! No one can stop me! Let's set off for the Central Plains right now!!"
Zi Yan declared with a face full of determination.
"Look at you—impatient again!"
Xiao Jietian reached out and flicked her forehead.
Zi Yan immediately clutched her head, eyes watering from the pain.
"Why did you flick me?! Look—it's all swollen! You have to compensate me with lots and lots of pills!"
She tugged at his collar, pouting dramatically.
"Alright, alright. I'll refine them for you. You can eat until you're stuffed."
His little wife—he had to spoil her properly.
"Then I'll reluctantly forgive you."
Zi Yan showed a successful little schemer's smile.
"Then… which force does Xun'er belong to?" Yun Yun asked curiously, suddenly remembering that Xun'er had returned to the Central Plains.
"Xun'er actually belongs to the most powerful clan among the Ancient Eight Clans—the Gu Clan."
"Ancient Eight Clans? Why have I never heard of them? Aren't there only One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, and Four Pavilions in the Central Plains?" Han Yue asked in confusion. This was the first time she had ever heard the term.
The more she listened today, the more she realized how unfathomably deep the Central Plains truly was. She had only ever known of those eleven top forces.
"The Ancient Eight Clans stand above the eleven forces you mentioned. They are almost completely reclusive."
"No—what are you two even talking about? We're all completely lost here."
Ya Fei listened to the unfamiliar terms and finally couldn't hold back her question.
Medusa and the others also looked back and forth between the two in bewilderment.
"Yue'er, explain the distribution of forces in the Central Plains to them. At least they'll have a rough idea when we eventually go there."
Han Yue stood up upon hearing this and smiled gently at her sisters.
"The entire Central Plains is divided into five major regions: East, West, South, North, and Central. For example, the Beast Region is located in the Southern Region, while my Han Family is in Tianbei City, which belongs to the Northern Region…"
Han Yue gave a concise explanation of the regional layout.
After listening, all the women's gazes turned toward Zi Yan.
Being stared at by so many people, Zi Yan looked around in confusion, pointing at herself as if to say: Me? What about me?
"It has nothing to do with you. Yue'er, please continue."
Medusa reached out and ruffled Zi Yan's head, motioning for Han Yue to go on.
"The first-class forces in the Central Plains are known as One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, and Four Pavilions. The Hall is the Hall of Souls. The Tower is Pill Tower, the holy land of alchemists. The Two Sects are the Flower Sect and the Heavenly Ming Sect. The Three Valleys are Burning Flame Valley, Ice River Valley, and Sound Valley. The Four Pavilions are Starfall Pavilion, Myriad Sword Pavilion, Wind and Thunder Pavilion, and Yellow Spring Pavilion. I'll tell you about their locations…"
After Han Yue finished her explanation, the Little Fairy Doctor and the others finally had a rough mental map of the Central Plains' power structure.
"What about their strength?" Medusa asked. She was far more concerned with military power—this would help her plan how to expand Xiao Jietian's influence.
This Queen will conquer a vast empire for him.