["Scalegorge Waterscape?"]
[Fu Xuan explained, "It's a delve originally managed by the Vidyadhara, said to be a sacred ancient sea transplanted from their homeworld. After the Ambrosial Arbor was felled in the great war, its root system remained coiled and never truly perished."]
["The Alliance decided to seal the Ambrosial Arbor in Scalegorge Waterscape, entrusting its guardianship to the Vidyadhara Dragon Sovereigns across generations, hoping to use the dragon descendants' power to restrain it." At this point, Fu Xuan let out a soft sigh. "Too much time has passed. It's unclear whether the seal from back then still holds… Even if it does, it likely can't stop that ghostly Lord Ravager."]
"Dragon Sovereign? That title alone sounds extraordinary…"
In the underwater abyss, Ao Guang savored the word "Sovereign," feeling the immense power it implied even without imagining it.
"The Dragon Sovereign must have inherited much of the [Immortality] dragon's power. Not only can they transform into a dragon, but their strength likely rivals General Jing Yuan's. Otherwise, the Alliance wouldn't entrust something as critical as the Ambrosial Arbor to them," Ao Run remarked.
"What might the current Dragon Sovereign look like?" Ao Guang looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the screen to the vast ancient sea, his expression full of anticipation. "…They must be a figure capable of summoning clouds with a wave and rain with a turn of the hand. I'd love to see them in action, showcasing the power of [Immortality]…"
"Big Brother, you don't think the Dragon Sovereign could be that little girl Bailu, do you?" Ao Qin interjected suddenly.
"Nonsense! How could the Dragon Sovereign be a little girl like that?!" Ao Guang snapped, scolding fiercely. "Do you think the Xianzhou Alliance is as foolish as you?! Entrusting the Ambrosial Arbor's seal to a kid who only knows how to heal? Do you think she could handle such power?!"
"Uh…"
It did seem to make sense.
While Bailu's lightning-charged tail could knock out Mara-struck, her performance hardly lived up to the title of "Sovereign."
She's probably just a young but promising member of the Vidyadhara, right?
…Ao Guang thought to himself.
Dragon Sovereign?
Heh… No way.
——
[Some time earlier…]
[After countless perils, Sushang finally managed to escort Dan Heng and Luocha to the Alchemy Commission without incident.]
["Ugh, this place is…" Sushang looked around, then checked the map on her jade omen, her delicate brows furrowing, her large eyes filled with confusion.]
["The Alchemy Commission," Dan Heng reminded her flatly.]
["Oh, you sure know your way around…" Sushang nodded. "Right, it's the Alchemy Commission. No wonder we received several military orders on the way, saying the Cloud Knights are gathering here, probably to deal with the Stellaron issue. Finally! After this journey, I can see the Cloud Knights' shadows. I'm back with the team!"]
["I didn't lie, did I? I said I'd get you to a safe place, and I kept my word! Though… we took a bit of a detour…" Sushang scratched her head sheepishly.]
[Luocha recalled, "Before I went to Central Starskiff Haven, I consulted a diviner about the fortune of this trip. He said, 'Follow and you shall gain,' telling me not to worry about the destination and to go with the flow for rewards."]
[Sushang tilted her head, her eyes brimming with clear confusion. "…Uh, what does that mean?"]
["It means, thank you, Miss Sushang," Luocha said with a slight smile.]
"Tch, tch, tch…" Seeing this, the usually serious Durandal couldn't help but chuckle meaningfully, nudging Li Sushang beside her with her elbow.
"Hey, stop making those weird sounds!"
Li Sushang glared at Durandal reproachfully. "The Sushang on the screen is my counterpart, not me! And that Luocha… he's not Otto! So don't make sounds that could cause misunderstandings!"
"…But speaking of which, even though they're counterparts, the difference between Luocha and Otto's personalities is just too big, isn't it?"
Since awakening, Li Sushang hadn't heard a single good word about Otto—always "hypocrite" or "villain." But the Luocha on the screen, his counterpart… he was practically Otto's opposite!
"Differences in personality aren't impossible. Remember Bronya and Seele's counterparts?"
Durandal reminded her from behind. "Their counterparts' personalities were complete opposites. Bronya was gentle, while Seele was fiery. Maybe in another world, Otto really is a good person."
["Oh… okay." Though still confused, Sushang nodded happily. "I'm going to report to the Cloud Knight commander here. You two can wander around nearby, but don't stray too far. The Cloud Knights will come to escort you back soon. See you again if fate allows!"]
[With that, Sushang waved goodbye to the two.]
[As soon as Sushang left, Dan Heng received a message from Stelle.]
[Stelle: The cauldron at your old home is huge.]
[Stelle: Cauldron.JPG]
[Dan Heng: What are you doing at the Supreme Truth Cauldron?]
[Unfortunately, the message failed to send.]
["Messages that never get through… so troublesome. I wonder what's happening with Stelle, March, and Uncle Yang…" Dan Heng was deeply anxious, worried not only for their safety but also curious about Kafka's plans and Blade's whereabouts.]
["It's been a while since you returned to your hometown, hasn't it, Brother Dan Heng?" Seeing Dan Heng's furrowed brow, Luocha assumed he was feeling nostalgic and struck up a conversation.]
["This isn't my hometown," Dan Heng shook his head. Though they'd traveled together, he remained wary of the mysterious merchant and deliberately lied.]
["Oh… is that so? My apologies," Luocha's eyes flickered with brief surprise but quickly returned to calm. "If you want to leave, now's the time. The Cloud Knights will soon check our identities. I have somewhere to be, so I shouldn't linger here."]
["You… where are you going?" Dan Heng hesitated before asking.]
["Hehe, I'm a merchant. I've got one more deal to close," Luocha chuckled meaningfully, his expression unreadable.]
[Though Dan Heng sensed the man was hiding something, now wasn't the best time to press. His priority was to catch up with Stelle.]
[Along the way, he overheard many Cloud Knights discussing the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus and the Ambrosial Arbor's revival. It gave Dan Heng a sense of déjà vu—when was the last time he'd heard those names?]
[The Cloud Knights guarded every major route. Dan Heng spotted Yanqing speaking with a knight from afar and quickly took a detour down a secluded path. But as he walked, countless voices, as if submerged in water, echoed chaotically from all directions of the sea.]
[In a haze, Dan Heng looked up at the distant Supreme Truth Cauldron, and a slightly childish voice seemed to echo through time in his ears.]
[Young Voice: "What a huge, tall cauldron."]
[Elderly Voice: "This Supreme Truth Cauldron is powered by the Vidyadhara's Cloudhymn technique, drawing water from the ancient sea like a whale swallowing a rainbow to refine elixirs…"]