Chapter 435: Unintentional Old Wolf
On the terrace, a brief moment of tranquility descended.
The atmosphere appeared somewhat eerie.
Lu Heng silently gazed at the little girl before him, uttering not a single word.
The little girl also looked up at him, unabashedly devoid of any evasion.
The morning sunlight gently poured down on the little girl, illuminating her fiery red long hair, radiating with a dazzling brilliance and an indescribable sense of stunning beauty.
For a moment, Lu Heng found himself somewhat unable to ascertain the true intentions of the Dragon Emperor.
After hesitating for a few moments, he finally spoke, "May I inquire, Your Majesty, what is meant by the Dragon Clan's secret realm?"
Lu Heng wanted to investigate the situation.
And the Dragon Emperor had no intention of concealing it, forthrightly stating, "The Dragon Clan's secret realm is a hidden sanctuary left by the ancient dragon clan, even successive Dragon Emperors have found it difficult to explore fully."
Dragon Emperor said, "As someone as exceptional as Brother Lu, you must surely be aware of the true nature of the calamities that have befallen the Celestial Desolation Realm throughout history, as well as the impending fate of the Earthly Catastrophe."
"The dragon lineage on Sanxian Island, before the currently known thirteen generations of Dragon Emperors, had actually spanned countless ages, yet they left no trace or sign whatsoever. After every Earthly Catastrophe, the Celestial Desolation Realm would be reduced to a barren wasteland."
"However, in Sanxian Island, there exists a hidden sanctuary, accessible only to the successive Dragon Emperors throughout history."
"Within this sanctuary lies unfathomable peril, with various defensive restrictions. Each restriction holds its own mystery, and only those of dragon lineage can unlock the corresponding methods of decryption."
"And after thirteen generations of Dragon Emperors devotedly striving to decipher them, in Xiu Ya's generation, we finally reached the final level of the sanctuary and discovered the method to unlock that particular barrier."
"Next, Xiu Ya only awaits complete preparation before venturing into the sanctuary to uncover the truth."
"This journey, although not perilous to one's life, will take a considerable amount of time. Therefore, I would like to invite Brother Lu to accompany me."
"Although outsiders find it difficult to enter the sanctuary, I, being the Dragon Emperor, am allowed to bring a companion. With Brother Lu by my side, my heart will be much more at ease."
The petite girl sat upright before Lu Heng, her eyes filled with anticipation and longing, as she eagerly sought Lu Heng's company.
She said, "Moreover, this sanctuary has existed for countless ages. Perhaps the River Map and the Luo Book that Brother Lu has been searching for might also be found within… Would Brother Lu be willing to accompany Xiu Ya?"
"Um… Well, Your Majesty, the Dragon Emperor," Lu Heng hesitated for a few moments and said, "If I were to refuse, what consequences would it bring upon me?"
Without hesitation, Lu Heng asked about the consequences of refusal.
The little girl in front let out a sigh and said, "Brother Lu is joking. Even if Brother Lu refuses, what can Xiu Ya do? I can only venture into the sanctuary alone."
"However, if Xiu Ya were to enter the sanctuary, it could take as little as one or two years, or as long as a dozen years for me to come out. During this period, it would only inconvenience Brother Lu and your friends to wait on the island."
"Even if the elders come to a conclusion and allow the three of us to freely roam the island, without the Dragon Emperor's seal, this decree cannot be issued."
The Dragon Emperor looked apologetically at Lu Heng and said, "Xiu Ya is not deliberately making things difficult, it is the rule of the Dragon Island. Even if Xiu Ya is the Dragon Emperor, I cannot stamp a decree that has not been decided upon. I can only ask Brother Lu to wait on the island until I return."
"I hope that Brother Lu can forgive me…"
On the face of Dragon Emperor Xiu Ya, there is a blend of remorse and sincerity.
Lu Heng gazed into her golden eyes, his silence lingering for quite some time.
After a moment, he smiled and said, "In that case, I shall patiently await Your Majesty's triumphant return on the island… May Your Majesty's journey be smooth and successful."
The words of Lu Heng were equally sincere, though his refusal was also quite explicit.
Upon witnessing this, the little girl's face was filled with disappointment.
However, she forced a smile as she bowed to Lu Heng, saying, "Thank you, Brother Lu. Xiu Ya will surely return as soon as possible and not waste any more time within the hidden realm…"
Until the moment of departure, the unmistakable aura of disappointment radiated from the little girl's entire being.
It was only when the young girl, adorned in a dragon robe, gracefully departed and vanished on the terrace that Candle Dragon and Jiu Mie returned once more.
Standing on the terrace, Candle Dragon watched as the Dragon Emperor departed, and sighed, "You actually refused… tsk tsk… my dear friend, you truly have a heart of stone. She has shown you nothing but warm hospitality since you arrived on the island, caring for you day and night, yet all she receives is a simple wish for everything to go smoothly… tsk tsk tsk… Such cruelty, I can't bear to witness it any longer."
Jiu Mie also said, "To think such a beautiful woman could be disappointed… No wonder people say that some have hearts as cold as a wolf's and as fickle as a dog's. The old wolf is indifferent… The old wolf is indifferent, indeed."
Candle Dragon sighed and said, "With a heart full of longing and a mind burdened with sorrow, she confide in only the stray dog… But this indifferent old wolf, is even more heartless than the dog itself."
Jiu Mie said, "What is love in this world? The words of the old wolf are nothing but nonsense."
Candle Dragon said, "Even if you possess peerless elegance and beauty, outshining all in the world, and even if you are hailed as a prodigy, ruling over a vast immortal island, in the eyes of the old wolf, you are nothing more than a handful of earth."
Jiu Mie said, "Even if your appearance is flourishing and your cultivation is unparalleled in the heavens, in the presence of an indifferent person, you are merely a painted skull."
Candle Dragon said, "The greatest distance in the world is when I sit in front of you, and you know that I love you, yet you smile and say 'until next time'…"
Jiu Mie said, "One glance at Lu Heng leads to a lifetime of regret, another encounter with the old wolf brings a restless spirit. The dreams of the Dragon Emperor shatter, heart and liver broken, while the old wolf simply remarks, 'The coolness of autumn is delightful…'"
Candle Dragon applauded and exclaimed, "Good poem! How incredible poem!"
After applauding, Candle Dragon looked towards Lu Heng and said, "Friend Lu Heng, why are you silent? Has your voice also departed with the Dragon Emperor's departure?"
Lu Heng stared at the two of them speechlessly and said, "You've already said everything, what else can I say? Should I praise your skill in crafting rhymes?"
Jiu Mie chuckled and said, "Friend Lu Heng, if you dare to do something, don't be afraid of others' opinions. Besides, both Candle Dragon and I fully support you! You should not harbor ill will against us."
Lu Heng stared at the old monk and said, "You claim to support me, yet you speak in a disapproving manner?"
Candle Dragon chuckled and said, "Although we support you, it doesn't prevent us from despising you… Oh, thoughtless old wolf, have you crushed a young girl's heart? Or perhaps an admiring heart?"
On the terrace, laughter and merriment filled the air, while the courtyard emanated a joyful ambiance.
Due to declining the Dragon Emperor's invitation to accompany him, Lu Heng was once again subjected to banter from these two mischievous friends of his.
And this time, Lu Heng was unable to provide a strong counterargument.
Because anyone can see that this time, the invitation from the Dragon Emperor carries no ill intention.
Furthermore, when considering the various restrictions within the Dragon Clan's secret realm that can only be unlocked by specific means possessed by the Dragon Clan, as well as the imminent journey of the Dragon Emperor into the secret realm… Considering these pieces of information, it is not difficult to surmise that the Dragon Ambers are made to overcome the challenges within the secret realm.
After all, the Dragon's Amber, especially this top-tier artifact-level Dragon Amber, can truly only be successfully cultivated by the Dragon Clan…
In the end, although Lu Heng was subjected to banter, he still obtained the wager from Candle Dragon and Jiu Mie.
A pristine ancient Heaven's Divination Sword, along with the talisman crafted by Jiu Mie.
