431: Their preparations were very thorough, with one exception.

Qin Wangchuan paused the simulation. A seemingly tiny but extremely important detail surfaced.

"Up to now, 'I' have not appeared."

"The reason for that... is it because of the other races?"

"The other races knew I would come, and then, they prepared something in advance, which resulted in me being tied up."

The more he thought about it, the more this seemed like the most reasonable explanation.

Previously, Lü Yingxin had said that with her intervention, the other races wouldn't make a move against him for a short while.

Even under those circumstances, someone who could still seek him out and had the ability to tie him down—

"Xuan Ye."

"Truly... a troublesome one."

From just one seemingly unrelated sentence, Qin Wangchuan deduced Xuan Ye's existence.

By now, the intelligence gathering was almost complete.

But sharpening the axe won't delay the chopping of wood. He refocused his gaze on the System panel.

[Simulation Resumes]

[Day 58 inside the Secret Realm]

[The Seals around the periphery of the Sacred Relic have been completely removed.]

[However, the dragon egg has entered a self-imposed slumber and requires awakening by the fated one.]

[Although you clearly refused to enter the dragon egg, you still agreed to their final request—to use the special resonance between you and the dragon egg as a guide to assist in removing this last barrier.]

[Day 59 inside the Secret Realm]

[Preparations for the ritual to awaken the dragon egg are complete; it is scheduled for tomorrow.]

[Simultaneously, that day will also be when you leave the Ancient Dragon Small Realm and return to the Qingyun Sect.]

[Surprisingly, Long Yue Long Yue did not try to dissuade you this time. Instead, she appeared exceptionally calm.]

[This, in turn, stirred a strong sense of discomfort and a hint of... loss within you.]

["No one's fate exists solely to serve another person. You have a better choice." You couldn't help but say to her again.]

[However, Long Yue Long Yue's response was as calm and resolute as ever: "You are mistaken."]

["Everything I do is not for any single individual, but for the True Dragon Clan."]

["With the Great Era descending, the True Dragon Clan is like a fledgling bird that has just shed its wings, vulnerable and buffeted by storms. Guiding destiny and serving the Ancestral Dragon is the duty of a Fate Officer, it is my fate, and at the same time... it is the atonement of our lineage."]

Qin Wangchuan, reading this, gave a slight nod.

"Sacrificing oneself for the clan... Long Yue Long Yue... she's quite a pure soul."

"Focusing on one thing with single-minded devotion. Such a goal-oriented executor would be a great asset if she could be used by me."

[During the conversation, you learned that within the True Dragon Clan, there are also many lineages. Long Yue Long Yue hails from the Tian Si lineage.]

[This lineage regards the position of Fate Officer as the supreme honor and heavenly duty, passed down through generations.]

[But in a certain distant era, the Fate Officer of that generation committed a grave sin, actually causing the clan's Sacred Relic to be lost, plunging the entire clan into a predicament and disaster lasting ten thousand years.]

["Therefore, this is also about atonement, about washing away the shame left by our ancestors." Long Yue Long Yue's voice was soft, yet each word carried weight.]

[You listened, looking at the beautiful and resilient woman before you, who bore the fate of her clan and the burden of history, and felt an even stronger surge of heartache and pity within you.]

[The words "I'll stay" were almost on the tip of your tongue.]

[But you held back.]

[Though the bond formed over more than a month stirred your heart, you could clearly distinguish the weight between that and the warmth and sense of belonging from ten years at the Qingyun Sect.]

[It's just... the unwillingness and attachment in your heart grew wildly like weeds.]

["I... will come back to see you in the future." You said softly but firmly to her retreating back.]

["Mm." She responded lightly, her tone betraying no emotion.]

[Day 60 inside the Secret Realm]

[Today is the day to remove the final Seal on the dragon egg.]

[Simultaneously, it is also the day you bid farewell to the True Dragons and return to your ordinary life.]

[You got up early and, following the ritual requirements, went alone to a Spiritual Spring pool deep within the encampment, used for purification.]

[The pool water was misty with Spiritual Qi, and the surroundings were quiet and deserted.]

[In the huge pool, there was only your own reflection.]

[You scooped up the clear spring water, your thoughts in turmoil—relief at the impending release from the call, reluctance to leave, and a hint of uncertainty about the future.]

[At that moment, light footsteps sounded from behind you.]

[You turned around and exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "Brother Long Yu? What are you doing here?"]

[Long Yu's complexion had completely recovered, but deep in his eyes seemed to lie a trace of complex emotion you couldn't decipher.]

["I'm a bit restless about leaving, thought I'd come talk to you." Long Yu walked to the edge of the pool, crouched down, and looked at you in the water.]

["I'm a bit nervous too," you admitted honestly, revealing a childish smile. "These past two months have been like a bizarre, fantastical dream. Now the dream is about to end."]

[Long Yu was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Long Yin, do you regret coming here?"]

[You were taken aback, then shook your head. "No regrets. Although it was a bit troublesome, I also met many different people and experienced many things. Most importantly, I got to know you, Brother Long Yu, and... Long Yue Long Yue."]

[When mentioning Long Yue Long Yue, your voice softened.]

[She is truly beautiful, and her personality is wonderful. I might never meet someone like her again.]

[Thinking this, you suddenly remembered a question: "By the way, Brother Long Yu, there's something I've always wanted to ask you."]

["What is it?"]

["What exactly did you come to this Ancient Dragon Small Realm to do?" Your innocent gaze fell upon him.]

["To retrieve the dragon egg."]

["Retrieve the dragon egg?"]

["Isn't that the Sacred Relic? Can it even be taken away??"]

[Before you could comprehend the meaning behind his words, a sudden change occurred!]

[Long Yu's hand shot out like lightning! His five fingers closed together, their tips instantly covered in a sharp, bird-beak-like cyan light. With a speed you couldn't possibly react to, he viciously stabbed into your chest!]

[Thud!]

[Excruciating pain instantly overwhelmed you!]

["Bro...ther... Long... Yu?" A metallic sweetness surged up your throat as you struggled to utter the words, your eyes filled with shock and confusion.]

[The next moment, Long Yu twisted his wrist and violently pulled outward!]

[A heart, still feebly beating, was brutally ripped from your chest cavity!]

[Immediately after, he sealed the heart and stored it in his sleeve.]

[You could no longer hold on, falling backward into the Spiritual Spring pool. The cold pool water quickly submerged your mouth and nose, carrying a heavy scent of blood.]

[Your life force drained away like a breached dam, flooding out wildly.]

[Your final, blurry gaze fixed on the figure coldly looking down at you from the pool's edge.]

["Look at your eyes."]

[Long Yu's voice was icy, devoid of any warmth. "The eyes of a fledgling who understands nothing... truly wasting such excellent Bloodline."]

[After saying this, he turned and left without hesitation, not sparing you another glance.]

[Your body slowly sank in the pool water, your vision growing darker.]

[Until the very end, you still stared with wide eyes in the direction he left, your heart filled not with hatred, but with a confusion you couldn't comprehend even in death—]

[Why?]

[Why did Brother Long Yu attack me?]

[In the final moment of your dissipating consciousness, you saw the aura around Long Yu begin to surge, and a dragon's shadow manifested behind him.]

[However, upon that supposedly perfect dragon form, there were actually a few strands of eerie Peacock tail feathers mixed in.]

[Peacock... the Tian Que Clan?!]

[The moment this thought surfaced, an eye suddenly opened on one of those tail feathers.]

[Under that single glance, your consciousness was completely extinguished.]

[You died.]

.

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(The organization is quiet and lonely, need some people to warm it up: 1025805940)