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*****
The very instant the elderly man exhaled in relief, he was seized by an immediate, biting regret.
Although Su Wen had not opened his mouth to demand classified data regarding Soul Guidance technology, he had instead set his sights on the other foundational pillar of the Imperial Family's existence.
"I have heard rumors," Su Wen said, his tone leisurely and unhurried, "that the Imperial Family possesses the inheritance of the Ancestor of Sub-Dragons. I find myself quite interested in seeing it for myself."
The old man's face underwent a drastic transformation. Colors drained and shifted as a wave of shock hit him. How did Su Wen know about the Ancestor of Sub-Dragons? Was someone from the Sun Moon Divine Cult pulling the strings from the shadows, inciting Su Wen to come and snatch the Crown Prince's fortuitous opportunity?
The elder's expression became exceptionally grim. He stared at Su Wen for a long time, his jaw tight, before finally speaking through gritted teeth. "Does Grandmaster Wen not know that the Ancestor of Sub-Dragons is the very foundation upon which our Imperial Family currently stands?"
Indeed, the Imperial Family was clinging to this inheritance as their last lifeline. Among the Soul Masters of the Sun Moon Continent, only the Imperial Family and the Sun Moon Divine Cult possessed Super Douluos above Rank 95. The Cult maintained its power through the inheritance of a God, while the Imperial Family relied solely on the legacy of the Ancestor of Sub-Dragons.
This was the fundamental reason why they had been able to make such rapid, groundbreaking progress in Soul Guidance technology without neglecting their cultivation as Soul Masters.
Furthermore, with the Imperial Family and the Divine Cult now at open war—and with rumors circulating that the Cult's two Holy Sons had received Divine Trials—the Crown Prince's only hope was to rely on the core inheritance of the Dragon Ancestor. He aimed to condense the power of faith and forge his own path to godhood just to stand a fighting chance. Under these circumstances, the inheritance was nothing less than the roots of the empire itself.
"While I do not know to what extent the Imperial Family has excavated that legacy," Su Wen remarked, his expression remaining maddeningly calm, which only served to further unsettle the old man, "I suspect the true core of the inheritance has consistently eluded your grasp, has it not?"
"How can Grandmaster Wen be so certain the Crown Prince hasn't obtained the core inheritance?" the old man countered sharply. "Our current Crown Prince possesses one of the three purest bloodlines in our history. Simultaneously, he has studied Soul Guidance devices to the limit; every aspect of his cultivation has reached the pinnacle—"
The elder's voice cut off abruptly. He could not finish his sentence. He stared, wide-eyed and paralyzed, at the ring in Su Wen's hand, which was currently entwined with arcs of lightning that flickered with the terrifying aura of destruction.
He swallowed hard, his throat dry. "This... this is..."
If his senses weren't deceiving him, that was the aura of the Dragon Ancestor. As one of the only two Super Douluos in the Imperial Family, the old man had naturally entered the secret realm of the inheritance before. He had felt that presence personally and could immediately identify it. The dragonic might and the lightning coiling around the ring Su Wen held belonged unmistakably to the Ancestor of Sub-Dragons.
"Dragon Ancestor"—the respectful title the Imperial Family used for the Sub-Dragon progenitor.
The old man's eyes bulged in disbelief. He couldn't fathom why Su Wen would possess an object carrying such a potent aura. Moreover, this wasn't just a simple item accidentally tainted by the aura; it felt like something far more significant.
A terrifying realization dawned on him. "Could this be... the token for the Ancestral Dragon Hall within the inheritance space?"
"This ring," Su Wen said slowly, "is indeed related to the inheritance of the Ancestor of Sub-Dragons. In fact, it is highly likely it is tied directly to the core legacy."
"The Imperial Family will lead me to the site of the inheritance. In exchange, I will hand this ring over to you. I will enter the secret realm alongside the Crown Prince. I do not care what benefits he gains; I am only going inside to perceive and gain insight. I will not touch the bloodline power or the dragon bones."
The old man's face shifted through a kaleidoscope of emotions, his expression a mask of internal struggle.
"I cannot make this decision alone," he finally squeezed out. "I must discuss this with His Majesty."
Su Wen, however, was in no mood for delays. "Very well. But keep in mind, if we have to negotiate a second time, my terms might involve more than just a simple meditation session."
The 'key' was already in his hands. By utilizing the power of faith attached to it, Su Wen wasn't actually worried about being unable to find the location on his own. He was simply using this as a pretext to facilitate a trade and establish a cooperative relationship with the Imperial Family.
Otherwise, Su Wen could have easily located the inheritance site himself. Even if it were guarded by Imperial experts, he possessed enough strength to force his way in, seize the core legacy, and vanish without a trace.
The elder's face soured. He looked at Su Wen, his thoughts racing, before finally abandoning any unrealistic ideas of resistance.
"The Imperial Family can agree to a joint exploration of the Dragon Ancestor's inheritance space," he conceded. "But you must guarantee that you will not compete with the Crown Prince for the core inheritance."
The Crown Prince currently lacked that final piece of the puzzle; without it, he was unable to suppress the two Holy Sons of the Sun Moon Divine Hall.
"Agreed," Su Wen replied. He truly didn't care about the physical remnants of the inheritance. His priority was the enlightenment it offered. Specifically, he sought to understand the Dragon Ancestor's lightning and its inherent majesty.
By facing the remains of the Dragon Ancestor directly or sensing its raw power, he hoped to derive insights into forces he could truly master himself. Su Wen had little interest in absorbing external bloodline power to bolster his own body.
Soon after, the old man returned, accompanied by a young man in his thirties. The youth exuded an air of natural majesty, carrying the heavy aura of a high-ranking ruler that subtly pressured those around him.
However, this aura had no effect on Su Wen. He looked at the Crown Prince, Xu Tianyou, and couldn't help but feel a spark of genuine admiration.
"If there were a compatible godhood available," Su Wen mused internally, "this Crown Prince would likely meet all the requirements for a Divine Trial."
Unfortunately, his Martial Soul—the Purple-Gold Annihilation Heaven Dragon—was destined to never find a fitting, high-level godhood to inherit.
The God of Thor? Su Wen shook his head. It was said the God of Thor had long since fallen, which was why the Thundering Hellfire Vine existed on the Douluo Star.
The God of Destruction? Impossible.
As for any godhoods related to dragons, that was even more unlikely. Within the Divine Realm, all dragon-related positions belonged to True Dragons. They would never pass their legacy down to a Sub-Dragon, even if that Sub-Dragon was more powerful than the vast majority of True Dragons.
Xu Tianyou's physical constitution was far ahead of other Soul Masters due to his Martial Soul, and his mental strength surpassed the norm—otherwise, he wouldn't be leading the field in Soul Guidance research. As for his Soul Power, it was incredibly condensed.
If he were to undergo a rigorous, systematic test like the Sea God's Trials, the imperfections in his physique would be rectified, his mental potential would be further unlocked, and both the quality and cultivation speed of his Soul Power would skyrocket. It was a pity.
"Let's go," Su Wen said, not wanting to waste any more time. "We shouldn't delay."
With that, Su Wen led the way out of the capital city, Mingdu.
"Grandmaster Wen seems to already know where the Dragon Ancestor's inheritance is located," the Crown Prince remarked. He had remained silent until they were well clear of the city, following Su Wen toward the coordinates of the inheritance space. His voice held a hint of curiosity.
Unlike the elder, Xu Tianyou wasn't nearly as conflicted. He was pragmatic; if he could obtain the inheritance, he would. If not, he would carve out his own path regardless.
"I am merely following the guidance of this ring," Su Wen explained.
Xu Tianyou's gaze sharpened, but he didn't press further. He knew a ring couldn't simply "give guidance." This Grandmaster Wen clearly possessed a unique method of locating the realm through the artifact—a capability he had never even heard of.
"Actually," Su Wen remarked as they traveled, "the inheritance of the Ancestor of Sub-Dragons isn't particularly suited for you."
(End of Chapter)