Xiao Jietian rose swiftly, pulling Zi Yan behind him. His eyes turned icy as he stared southward, Dou Qi surging through his meridians, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
Zi Yan tucked away her precious honey jar and scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes. Her finger suddenly pointed in one direction. "Over there."
When it came to perceiving space, not even a Dou Zun could rival a Void Ancient Dragon. Her senses were unmatched.
The instant her words fell, the air in that direction began to ripple and distort. Five figures stepped out from the torn void.
At their head stood a brawny man built like an iron tower, every muscle radiating raw, domineering power.
Xiao Jietian studied the newcomer. The man's appearance and aura felt faintly familiar.
Yet the brawny leader paid Xiao Jietian no heed. His gaze was fixed on the purple-gold fragment in his palm, which now blazed with radiant light and trembled violently.
Excitement and disbelief flashed across his rugged face. "Finally… we have finally found her…"
He lowered his head, eyes sweeping downward until they landed on Xiao Jietian and Zi Yan.
When his gaze brushed over Xiao Jietian, his pupils narrowed slightly. He gave the young man a deeper look before shifting past him to the petite figure behind.
The moment his eyes fell on Zi Yan, an overwhelming bloodline suppression crashed into him. The power flowing through his own veins slowed to a crawl.
Confirmation surged through him. This was the one they sought. His towering frame began to tremble with barely contained emotion. Never had he expected the mission to proceed so smoothly.
While the newcomers appraised them, Xiao Jietian appraised them in return. Seeing the man's undisguised excitement toward Zi Yan, combined with that rugged yet handsome visage, he roughly guessed their identity.
He had not anticipated them arriving so quickly. But then again, the Void Ancient Dragon Clan's mastery over space made such swiftness only natural. In the entire continent, no race could surpass them in spatial talent.
Xiao Jietian spoke first. "Void Ancient Dragon Clan?"
The brawny man started slightly. "You recognize us?"
Zi Yan peeked out from behind Xiao Jietian, eyes wide with astonishment. The Void Ancient Dragons… were they truly her clansmen?
"I did not expect Your Excellency to know of us," the man replied. "Indeed, we are of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan." Hei Qing studied the extraordinarily handsome youth before him and sensed the faint yet terrifying pressure he emanated. His instincts warned that this young man's strength might even exceed his own.
"However, we did not come for you this time."
With that, he led the four others down from the sky, stopping five steps away. Surprise flickered across his face once more.
Then his gaze locked directly onto Zi Yan. "Your Excellency, we bear no ill will. Might I ask the person behind you to step forward? We wish only to confirm one matter."
His tone was exceptionally courteous. He even cupped his fists toward Xiao Jietian, eyes filled with sincere pleading.
One does not strike a smiling face. Moreover, the man already knew the royal bloodline's identity. Xiao Jietian found himself approving of their conduct.
"What is it you wish to confirm?" Xiao Jietian glanced at the glowing purple-gold fragment in the man's hand.
"We merely ask Your Excellency to allow the young lady to touch this fragment. It will reveal whether she is the one we seek."
Although Hei Qing had already confirmed it in his heart, he required absolute certainty.
With a gentle wave, he sent the fragment floating slowly toward Xiao Jietian. "Rest assured, it will cause her no harm."
Zi Yan looked up at Xiao Jietian. He gave her a slight nod.
Only then did she step out from behind him. She reached out and lightly touched the fragment with her fingertip.
The instant contact was made, the fragment erupted with dazzling purple-gold light. A majestic dragon roar burst forth, echoing across half the mountain range.
Every magical beast in the vicinity felt an irresistible bloodline suppression and prostrated themselves on the ground. Even seventh-tier beasts were no exception.
The pressure appeared and vanished in the blink of an eye.
The five men's bodies trembled violently with ecstasy. They dropped to one knee, heads slightly bowed. Hei Qing's voice rang out like thunder:
"Hei Qing of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan, by order of the clan elders, has come to respectfully welcome Your Highness back to the family!"
Zi Yan, still dazed, was startled by the sudden proclamation. She staggered backward, only to be caught gently by Xiao Jietian.
"Xiao Jietian… are they really from the Void Ancient Dragon Clan? Are they my clansmen?" Her voice carried both doubt and overwhelming surprise.
"Yes," Xiao Jietian answered softly. "And they are the place I once told you about—the one you can safely return to."
Zi Yan immediately recalled his earlier words about the fractured state of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan. The only safe haven among the four islands—East, West, South, and North—was East Dragon Island.
Hei Qing heard Xiao Jietian's name and words. His eyes flickered with hidden thoughts as he glanced at the youth, but he quickly lowered his head again.
"Your Highness, it is genuine," he said respectfully. "We are indeed of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan. The phenomenon you just witnessed was activated by our clan's sacred token. This time, we have come solely to escort Your Highness back home."
Zi Yan's small face instantly bloomed into a radiant smile. Though she had found many family-like bonds within the Eternal Heaven World, nothing compared to the longing for her own kin. Only by returning to her clan could she truly accelerate her growth and strength.
Most importantly, once she became the Dragon Emperor, she could do as Sister Fei Yan had done—directly integrate the entire clan into Boundless Heaven Hall. Perhaps she might even claim the second seat in the Eternal Heaven Palace.
Of course, the first seat would forever belong to Sister Xun'er. That position was unshakable.
As these grand ambitions flashed through her mind, Zi Yan unconsciously straightened her small shoulders, standing tall and proud.
Xiao Jietian looked at the suddenly spirited little dragoness beside him, utterly bewildered. He reached out and pressed a hand to her forehead. "Your forehead isn't hot… Did eating too much honey scramble your brain?"
"Go away! I'm perfectly fine!" Zi Yan slapped his hand aside. "This is adult business. Children shouldn't meddle!"
Hei Qing kept his head bowed, not daring to comment on the intimate exchange before him. These matters were far beyond his concern.
What Hei Qing did not know, however, was that the royal bloodline they had come to retrieve was already scheming how to "sell" the entire Void Ancient Dragon Clan for higher status within Eternal Heaven Palace.
He wondered… did this count as inviting a wolf into the house?