187: Chapter 187 Champion's Reward, Dragon Friendship

The golden light in the No. 1 arena area began to dissipate at the 19th second.

It was not the dissipation of Dragon Might.

It was "recognition."

Those golden light spots surging from Pale Moon's body did not fall into the dust as they drifted away; instead, they slowly rose toward the sky, merging into the dark golden energy turbulence of the Hegemon Body Ancestral Star.

That was the Dragon Clan's tribute to the strong.

Lin Ye stood at the edge of the arena.

His HP was still at 1 point.

His Divine Power was at 0%.

His myriad things mother qi cauldron embryo lay dormant deep within his brow, its 0.1% durability like a thread about to snap, ready to shatter completely at any moment.

But he stood.

Pale Moon did not leave.

She stood on the other side of the arena.

Her right leg was still bleeding, and that wisp of gray Chaos Power was still slowly eroding her dragon body. But she did not treat it.

She simply watched Lin Ye.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

That smile was different from every one during the battle.

No condescension.

No excitement of battle.

No unwillingness of defeat.

Only one thing—pure, equal—appreciation.

"Level 66," she said.

"You won."

Lin Ye did not speak.

She walked toward him.

Every step left a 1.7-centimeter deep footprint under 127 times gravity.

The footprints were very shallow.

Much shallower than when she was fighting.

Because she was not a dragon now, nor a warrior.

Just a girl—who wanted to know her opponent.

She stood 3 meters in front of Lin Ye.

She reached out her hand.

Palm facing up.

There, a drop of golden liquid floated.

[True Dragon Essence Blood]

[Type: Bloodline Materials / Body Tempering Sacred Item]

[Quality: Mythical (Unique)]

[Description: The Origin Essence Blood condensed by the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Clan over ten thousand years; each drop contains part of the Dragon Clan ancestor's Bloodline Legacy. This item can only be gifted voluntarily by the Dragon Clan royalty and cannot be obtained through any violent means.]

[Effects:]

[1. After consumption, permanently increases Qi and Blood cap by 50% (stacks with any other buffs)]

[2. Physical Body strength +30%, Strength +25%]

[3. Gain passive skill "Dragon Scale Protection": When attacked, there is a 17% chance to automatically generate a Dragon Scale phantom, reducing damage by 50%]

[4. Gain passive skill "Dragon Might Resistance": Resistance to Dragon Clan pressure-type skills +70%]

[5. Has a certain chance (approx. 30%) to awaken "Dragon Blood Resonance," temporarily summoning an Ancient Dragon Soul to aid in battle (Cooldown 7 days)]

[Usage Restriction: Only for Human Race/Humanoid races, ineffective for Dragon Clan]

[Note: This Essence Blood is one-third of Pale Moon's life-bound Essence Blood; after gifting it, she will permanently lose 3% of her total attributes]

Lin Ye looked at that drop of Essence Blood.

3 seconds.

He looked up.

Looking at Pale Moon.

"Your total attributes," he said.

"Will permanently lose 3%."

Pale Moon smiled.

The smile was very light, very faint.

"I know," she said.

"Why?" Lin Ye asked.

Pale Moon did not answer immediately.

She simply looked at that drop of Essence Blood.

Watching it slowly rotate in her palm.

3 seconds.

She opened her mouth.

"For ten thousand years, the Dragon Clan has never lost to the Human Race."

"Today is the first time."

She paused.

"Losing is not terrible."

"What's terrible is—losing to an opponent not worthy of respect."

"You are not."

She pushed the Essence Blood forward.

"Take it."

Lin Ye looked at her.

3 seconds.

He reached out his hand.

Took the drop of Essence Blood.

The moment it touched his hand, he felt a massive vitality surge from his palm into his body.

It was not energy.

It was "vitality."

Purer than any healing spell, coming from the Dragon Clan ancestor—the Origin of Life.

[System Prompt: You have obtained "True Dragon Essence Blood" x 1]

[Current Status: Unused]

[Recommended Usage Timing: The permanent increase to HP cap is most effective; it is recommended to consume when in good condition]

Lin Ye put it into his bosom.

Placing it side by side with the empty bottle left from the Essence Blood taken from the Blood Prince and consumed during the Blood Altar battle.

Pale Moon watched that action.

3 seconds.

She reached out her hand again.

This time, her palm supported a palm-sized golden token.

[Dragon Clan Ally Token]

[Type: Faction Token / Diplomatic Credential]

[Quality: Legendary (Bound)]

[Description: A proof of friendship personally issued by the Dragon Clan Princess; the holder of this token is regarded as a "Friend of the Dragon Clan" and enjoys a noble status second only to royalty within Dragon Clan territories.]

[Effects:]

[1. Within Dragon Clan territories, all NPCs' initial reputation is locked at "Respected"]

[2. Trading within Dragon Clan territories, tariffs -50%, priority +3 levels]

[3. With this token, one can apply for a "Dragon Blood Body Tempering" in the Dragon Clan capital "Dragon Temple" (permanently increases Qi and Blood cap by 20%)]

[4. Can summon "Dragon Clan Reinforcements" once (Level 70 Dragon Clan Warrior x 3, lasts 60 seconds, cooldown 30 days)]

[5. After binding, it cannot be traded, dropped, or destroyed]

[Current Binder: None]

[Note: This token is Pale Moon's personal token; the holder can enter the outer area of the Dragon Clan Treasury at any time, but the core area requires a separate application.]

Lin Ye looked at the line "can enter the outer area of the Dragon Clan Treasury at any time."

3 seconds.

He took the token.

[Dragon Clan Ally Token · Bound]

[Binder: Night Emperor (Heavenly Court)]

He looked up.

Looking at Pale Moon.

"Dragon Clan Treasury," he said.

"Has mysterious yellow qi."

Pale Moon nodded.

"Outer layer 7," she said.

"There is a wisp of mysterious yellow mother qi, dormant for thirty thousand years."

"No one has ever been able to take it away."

"Why?" Lin Ye asked.

"Because it has a guardian," Pale Moon said.

"A level 77 Ancient Dragon Soul."

"It only recognizes those 'fated'."

Lin Ye did not speak.

Pale Moon looked at him.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

"Do you want to go try?" she asked.

Lin Ye did not answer.

But his hand holding the token tightened slightly.

Pale Moon saw that action.

She nodded.

"You can come anytime," she said.

"The Dragon Clan welcomes you."

She turned around.

Walked toward the edge of the arena.

Walked 3 steps.

She stopped.

Did not look back.

"Your friend," she said.

"That Hegemon Body."

"His HP cap lost 5%."

Lin Ye's pupils contracted slightly.

"In the Dragon Clan Treasury," Pale Moon continued.

"There is a [Dragon Blood Ganoderma]."

"It can recover any permanent HP loss."

"On the 3rd layer."

"Easier to get than mysterious yellow qi."

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Conditions?" he said.

Pale Moon did not look back.

But she smiled.

"No conditions," she said.

"Go take it yourself."

"If you can get it, that's your ability."

"If you can't—"

She paused.

"It means you are not worthy yet."

She continued walking.

Walked off the arena.

Disappeared into the golden light.

Lin Ye stood in place.

He looked at that disappearing figure.

3 seconds.

He put the token into his bosom.

With that drop of True Dragon Essence Blood.

With that friendship received from the Dragon Clan Princess's hand.

Placed side by side.

He turned around.

Walked toward the rest area.

Every step was very slow.

Every step left a 3-centimeter deep footprint under 127 times gravity.

1st step.

2nd step.

3rd step.

17th step.

He stood at the entrance of the rest area.

There, 9 people were waiting for him.

Su Qingyue.

Shi Potian.

Chen Hao.

Zhou Tieshan.

Chu Yunxi.

Zhao Wuji.

Qin Ruoxue.

Yun Qianxue.

Lu Xinghe.

He looked at them.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"Dragon Clan Treasury," he said.

"Has mysterious yellow qi."

"Has Dragon Blood Ganoderma."

Shi Potian's left fist—that left fist which had permanently lost 5% of its HP cap—was raised to his chest.

He looked at it.

3 seconds.

"Dragon Blood Ganoderma," he said.

"Can recover my HP cap."

Lin Ye nodded.

Shi Potian lowered his left fist.

Did not speak.

But in his eyes, there was light.

Su Qingyue walked to Lin Ye's side.

Her left hand held his hand.

3 seconds.

Let go.

"mysterious yellow qi," she said.

"Repair the cauldron embryo."

Lin Ye nodded.

Qin Ruoxue stepped forward.

She held a new intelligence crystal in her hand.

[Dragon Clan Treasury · Outer Layers 3-7 · Preliminary Intelligence]

[Source: Heavenly Secret Pavilion undercover agent embedded within the Dragon Clan for 3 years]

[Completeness: 47%]

[Risk Level: ★★★★★]

[Suggestion: Go in a party, at least 10 people]

Lin Ye took the crystal.

He did not check it immediately.

He put it into his bosom.

He turned around.

Looking at that distant golden sky.

There, the Dragon Clan Princess's figure had already disappeared.

But her voice still echoed in the air:

"Go take it yourself."

"If you can get it, that's your ability."

"If you can't—it means you are not worthy yet."

Lin Ye did not speak.

He simply pressed his right hand on the hilt of his sword.

That fine iron longsword brought back from the Trial Ancient Star, the gray crack in the center of the blade, was currently pulsing at a frequency of 1.7 seconds/time.

With Shi Potian's breathing in the medical pod.

With Su Qingyue's heartbeat as she stood behind him.

With that myriad things mother qi cauldron embryo sleeping deep within his brow, on the verge of shattering.

With that wisp of mysterious yellow mother qi in the Dragon Clan Treasury that had been sleeping for thirty thousand years.

Completely synchronized.

[Chapter 187 · End]