270: Chapter 270 The Finale

The third day after the great battle.

Above the ruins of Xianyang, Gao De sat alone on the broken city wall.

The taia sword lay across his knees, its blade still shimmering with a faint golden light. Seven days and seven nights of slaughter had stained this Divine Artifact with the foul blood of countless Heavenly Demons, but with just a little nourishment, it would return to its original state.

Behind him, soft footsteps could be heard.

Gao De did not turn around.

"You've come."

Ao Xue walked to his side and sat down beside him.

She did not speak, only quietly gazing into the distance.

In the distance, the morning sun was rising from the horizon, casting its golden light over the land ravaged by war. Those fallen figures, those departed heroic souls, seemed to find peace in this morning light.

After a long while, Ao Xue spoke: "My King, what are you thinking about?"

Gao De was silent for a moment.

"A lot of things," he said. "Thinking back to when I first saw you at the bottom of the Qianjiang Dragon Palace."

Ao Xue was stunned.

That was at the Dragon Transformation Pool in the Qianjiang Dragon Palace.

She had been covered in blood, on the verge of death, with only despair and hatred in her eyes.

And he, a Demon King who had just recently achieved a Breakthrough to the fourth rank, risked being discovered to save her from the Dragon Transformation Pool.

"At that time," Gao De said softly, "you asked me why I wanted to save you."

Ao Xue remembered.

She asked: "Why do you want to save me?"

He replied: "Because you still want to live."

"It's that simple?"

"It's that simple."

Ao Xue lowered her head.

"Back then," she said, "I thought that was it for my life. Being drained of blood, being used, and finally dying in the darkness with no one knowing."

"I didn't expect..."

She looked up at Gao De's profile.

"I didn't expect to still be alive."

"To still be able to stand under the sun."

"And to be able to—watch you walk step by step to this day."

Gao De turned his head to look at her.

In those eyes that had experienced countless life-and-death moments and witnessed countless partings, there was only a kind of tenderness at this moment.

"Ao Xue," he said.

"Hmm?"

"Marry me."

Ao Xue was stunned.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't say anything.

She just stared at him blankly.

Gao De smiled.

He raised his hand and took something out from his bosom.

It was a Dragon Pearl.

It wasn't an ordinary Dragon Pearl, but a token of love that was golden-red all over, with a faint blood-colored light flowing through it.

"I found this in the Ancestral Court," he said. "It's the token of love between the Ancestral Dragon and the Dragon Queen."

"The Ancestral Dragon said that he used this Dragon Pearl to propose to the Dragon Queen back then."

"Later, the Dragon Queen died in battle, and this Dragon Pearl remained in the Ancestral Court, waiting for someone fated."

He looked at Ao Xue.

"I think you are that fated person."

Ao Xue stared at the Dragon Pearl.

Staring at the flowing golden-red light.

Staring into Gao De's earnest eyes.

Suddenly, she smiled.

That smile was brighter than the morning sun.

"Fool," she said, "who proposes like this?"

Gao De was stunned.

Ao Xue snatched the Dragon Pearl and held it in her palm.

"I accept."

Gao De looked at her.

Looking at the rare tenderness in those blood-colored eyes.

He smiled.

A month later.

Dongting Lake, Qianjiao Cliff.

The entire Water Mansion was decorated with lanterns and festoons, full of joy.

On the lake surface, countless lotus lamps floated, their lights flickering, reflecting the entire water area like an inverted galaxy.

Inside the Water Mansion, guests filled the seats.

There were representatives of the Dragon Clan's Ancestral Court—Dragon Spirits who had condensed into physical forms, sitting upright in the VIP seats, all with joyful expressions.

There was Situ Kong from the Heavenly Dao Alliance, who came in person with several Elders to offer congratulations.

There were representatives from major Sects of other continents; some knew Gao De, while others came out of admiration.

There were the old subordinates from Qianjiao Cliff—Mysterious Turtle, Dragon Peach, Turtle Three Thousand, Green Edge, Iron Pincer, Crab Eighteen... everyone was there, and everyone was smiling from ear to ear.

And there was the Mythical Dragon Son.

It still appeared in the form of a dragon head and frog body, squatting beside the main table, its pale golden eyes full of gratification.

"Good," it said. "Very good."

"I have guarded for one hundred thousand years, and finally, I see the Dragon Clan has descendants."

The crowd burst into laughter.

The auspicious time had arrived.

Gao De, dressed in bright red wedding robes, stood in the center of the Water Mansion's main hall.

Behind him was the projection of the Ancestral Dragon Hall—a manifestation specially condensed by the Mythical Dragon Son using his magic power, adding a sense of solemnity and sanctity to this wedding.

Ao Xue, dressed in a phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, walked out slowly, supported by Dragon Peach.

At that moment, everyone went silent.

They had seen Ao Xue's beauty countless times.

But today, she was different from before.

In those blood-colored eyes, there was no more killing intent, no more coldness, only one thing—

Tenderness.

That was a tenderness only Gao De had ever seen.

Today, she was willing to let everyone see it.

The two stood facing each other.

The officiant was Mysterious Turtle.

He cleared his throat and announced loudly:

"First bow to Heaven and Earth—"

The two turned and bowed toward the outside of the hall.

With Heaven and Earth as witness.

"Second bow to the high Elders—"

Gao De's parents were long gone.

But he looked toward the Void Realm, toward the Ancestral Dragon who had guided him all the way from the unknown.

Ao Xue's parents were also long gone.

But she looked toward the Void Realm, toward the direction of the Qianjiang Dragon Palace—where her deceased mother and her former family were.

"Husband and wife bow to each other—"

The two faced each other and bowed deeply.

When they raised their heads, their eyes met.

Gao De saw that Ao Xue's eyes were slightly red.

Ao Xue saw that in Gao De's eyes, there was a tenderness she had never seen before.

"The ceremony is complete—"

Cheers shook the sky!

Turtle Three Thousand was the first to rush up, tears streaming down his face: "My Lord! Congratulations, My Lord!"

Green Edge, Iron Pincer, and Crab Eighteen followed closely behind, offering congratulations all at once.

Mysterious Turtle held two cups of wine and handed them to Gao De and Ao Xue.

"My Lord, Madam," he said with a trembling voice, "please drink this cup."

Gao De took the wine cup.

Ao Xue also took hers.

The two looked at each other.

They drank simultaneously.

The wine was brewed by Dragon Peach using thousand-year peach fruit; it was sweet upon entering the mouth, with a long-lasting aftertaste.

After drinking it, Ao Xue suddenly felt a bit dizzy.

It wasn't the alcohol.

It was—a strange kind of power.

She lowered her head and looked at her hands.

In her palm, the golden-red Dragon Pearl was glowing.

Amidst the light, she felt her Bloodline boiling!

It wasn't pain.

It was—sublimation!

"This is..." she exclaimed.

The Mythical Dragon Son's voice sounded:

"The Ancestral Dragon's token of love is also one of the Dragon Clan's supreme treasures," it said. "It not only seals the love but also helps in purifying the Bloodline."

"Ao Xue, the Blood Dragon Bloodline within you is resonating with it."

"Once it is fully refined—"

"You will be a true Blood Dragon."

"A pure-blooded Blood Dragon."

Ao Xue was stunned.

She looked at Gao De.

Gao De smiled slightly.

"A wedding gift," he said.

Ao Xue's eyes reddened.

She wanted to say something, but couldn't say anything.

She just held his hand tightly.

Gao De held her hand back.

"From now on," he said, "you have me."

Ao Xue nodded.

Nodding vigorously.

Night deepened.

The guests dispersed.

The Water Mansion returned to silence.

Gao De and Ao Xue stood side by side on the top of the Water Mansion, gazing at the lotus lamps covering the lake.

The lamp lights flickered, reflecting their figures.

Ao Xue suddenly spoke: "My King."

"Hmm?"

"When did you start wanting to marry me?"

Gao De thought for a moment.

"A long time ago," he said.

"How early?"

"Perhaps the moment I fished you out of the Dragon Transformation Pool at the Qianjiang Dragon Palace back then."

Ao Xue was stunned.

"You already... back then?"

"Not back then," Gao De shook his head. "Back then, I just felt that this girl couldn't die."

"And later?"

"Later..."

Gao De looked into the distance.

"Later, we walked so many roads together, experienced so many life-and-death moments together."

"Watching you change from that little dragon girl filled with hatred into who you are today."

"I gradually felt—"

"For this lifetime, it has to be you."

Ao Xue was silent.

Then, she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Me too," she said softly.

"From the first time you saved me, I knew—"

"In this life, I will follow you."

"Anywhere is fine."

Gao De put his arm around her shoulder.

The two didn't speak anymore.

They just quietly gazed at the lights covering the lake.

Gazing at the starlight reflected in the water.

Gazing at each other.

In the distance, the Mythical Dragon Son squatted on a lotus leaf, looking at the two leaning figures.

It smiled.

"Ancestral Dragon," it murmured, "can you see this?"

"Your successor has started a family."

It turned around, transformed into golden light, and disappeared into the horizon.

The ten thousand acres of lotus pond returned to silence.

Only the lotus lamps covering the lake still floated quietly.

Illuminating this water area.

Illuminating the two leaning figures.

Illuminating—

A new beginning.

(End of the Book)