Chapter 927: Go See Your Mother, The Dumbfounded Azure-White Colossal Dragon (II)

Above, the clouds were torn apart. A golden-black beast, even larger than the Azure-White Colossal Dragon, emerged slowly from the sky. Instantly, a tyrannical aura filled with destructive intent spread across heaven and earth.

Boom!

The entire world trembled. Centered on the distant Destructive Dragon Emperor and the Azure-White Dragon, translucent rifts spread outward in all directions, cleaving heaven and earth in two.

On one side, pure white frost filled the air, freezing time and space alike. Even the atmosphere was sealed under a thin sheen of ice. On the other, the world turned to chaos, flooded with the aura of the Endbringer Annihilation.

This was a manifestation of principles clashing between two ancient titans. However, at the Dragon Emperor’s mental command, its aura withdrew and the phenomena quickly faded, a clear sign it held no hostility.

The Dragon Emperor parted its jaws slightly, and a deep and resonant voice followed.

Long time no see, Your Majesty Adrienna.

That tone, familiar and restrained, made the Azure-White Dragon pause. Its eyes widened in disbelief as it stared at the feathered horns on either side of the Dragon Emperor’s head.

You’re... that little guy Ao Batian!?

The Dragon Emperor slowly nodded.

It is I. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your gift back then. It allowed me to raise my strength significantly before entering the Chaotic Region.

Impossible!

Even the Azure-White Dragon was completely stunned. Its daughter breaking through from quasi-mythical to peak mythical in just two or three day-cycles was already unbelievable enough, but that little one from before had only been at the beginning stage of the mythical level. Now, just a few day-cycles later, it had become an ancient titan?

There was also that immense pressure of law from earlier... Just a light touch had nearly shattered the Azure-White Dragon’s own domain. That alone was enough to display how overwhelming its combat power had become.

What struck the Azure-White Dragon the hardest was not just the gap in strength, but in experience. It had slept and cultivated for countless years, endured endless dangers and life-or-death battles, just to finally break into the ancient titan level. Yet this little one was only a year old. Its life rings totaled just one cycle.

This shock was even harder to accept than when it had first learned the Dragon Emperor became a mythical being in a single year. It shattered its understanding of reality and delivered a powerful blow to its entire worldview.

Just then, a collapsed iceberg in the distance suddenly exploded. The Silver Dragon crawled out from the rubble.

Seeing the massive dragon standing atop the distant peak, it let out a proud roar.

Mother, the great Saixitia has already reached the peak of the mythical level. Impressive, right? And you’d never guess how powerful my Dragon Palace has become. Even if you’ve broken through to the ancient titan level, you’re still no match for the great Saixitia now.

From another crumbling iceberg, the Golden-Blue Dragon also emerged. It flapped its wings once and shook off all of the ice fragments clinging to it.

Saixitia, you seem to forget that the Dragon Palace is the empire. You are still you.

The two dragons’ words brought the Azure-White Dragon back to its senses. Suppressing the shock in its heart, it let out a low growl.

I didn’t expect that you would have already broken through to the ancient titan level Ao Tian. ...So this is what a one-year-old mythical creature is capable of.

The Dragon Emperor responded with humility.

Not at all. You overpraise me, Your Majesty. The reason I’ve grown so quickly is mostly because the Chaotic Region holds an abundance of resources.

Toward the Azure-White Dragon, the Dragon Emperor still held deep respect, not just because it had given it so many valuable things in the past, but because, even when their realms had differed so greatly, the Azure-White Dragon had treated it with nothing but kindness and calm.

At that time, the Dragon Emperor had only just broken through to the mythical level, while the Azure-White Dragon already had one foot in the ancient titan level. That kind of disparity was like a titan-level beast facing a level 9 beast; for the Azure-White Dragon to still act with such graciousness in that situation made it all the more admirable.

Of course, this referred only to their cultivation levels, not actual combat power. The Azure-White Dragon gently shook its head.

The difference in talent cannot be made up for with resources alone.

If abundant resources were all it took to ascend rapidly in cultivation and strength, then there would have been nothing in the Chaotic Region to make settling it worth it in the first place.

After a few brief pleasantries, the Dragon Emperor got straight to the point.

Your Majesty Adrienna, the reason we've returned is to invite you to join the Dragon Palace Empire.

The Azure-White Dragon paused.

Dragon Palace...

The Dragon Emperor nodded.

Yes. The Dragon Palace Empire currently has eleven Dragon Kings. Aside from me, three other ancient titans oversee the empire. If you’re willing to join, you will become the twelfth dragon king, entitled to participate in meeting sessions within the Dragon King Palace. In status, you will stand equal to me within the empire.

To ease any concern the Azure-White Dragon possibly had regarding Saixitia, the Dragon Emperor added,

As for Saixitia, its great dragon king title is honorary in nature. You don’t need to concern yourself with it.

The Azure-White Dragon let out a low growl.

I've never cared about Saixitia’s titles. Joining the Dragon Palace is not something I’ll rush into. Can you tell me what was your original purpose in founding this empire?

Before the Dragon Emperor could respond, the Silver Dragon let out a proud roar.

Silly mother, obviously the purpose of the empire is to dominate the vast world and make rivers of blood flow!

The Azure-White Dragon gave its foolish daughter a glance, not even bothering to respond, and simply turned its attention back to the Dragon Emperor.

The Dragon Emperor deeply rumbled,

It’s simple. From the start, the empire was built to watch over and support one another—to gather strength and survive in this dangerous world. That was my goal when I first met Saixitia, and it remains so even now. You understand this as well as I do, Your Majesty. Even as ancient titans, we are still insignificant specks in this endless vast world. You can see this in the ancient creatures who chose to petrify and sleep for eternity after failing to break through. Those who reached the peak of the ancient titan level were no lesser than us, whether in talent or fortune, and yet most still failed.

That alone shows just how difficult the path of the true spirit really is. Anything beyond that is even harder than reaching the heavens. If we want to keep advancing, we must gather all the strength we can. We must seize more territory and resources, and push our talent, abilities, bloodlines, and states to their absolute limits. Even when faced with a threat from a true spirit, the empire will be able to unite its forces to crush that danger. Such a true spirit would hesitate to face an empire backed by ten or more powerful ancient titans.

You're right.

The Azure-White Dragon slowly nodded. Though it had always been used to acting alone, it couldn’t deny that what the Dragon Emperor said was true. Banding together for warmth was certainly safer than fighting alone.

Still, as a colossal beast, it yearned more for freedom and an unrestrained state of existence. Normally, creatures above the mythical level rarely chose to follow other beasts unless the other's realm and combat power were at least a full major realm higher.

However... the Azure-White Dragon glanced at the Silver Dragon, then gave a slow nod.

Since that’s the case, then I shall join the Dragon Palace and become a dragon king.

The Dragon Emperor paused for a moment. It had just finished laying out a rational case and was about to follow up with the enticing offer of bloodline evolution. It didn’t expect the other party to agree before it even got that far.

In truth, a single beginning-stage ancient titan wasn’t enough for the Dragon Emperor to be this enthusiastic. What it truly valued was that once the Azure-White Dragon joined, another colossal beast was guaranteed to follow—the Time Dragon, Kurapavida. It was a buy-one-get-one deal.

Just then, the Silver Dragon let out a surprised roar.

Mother, you agreed that easily? Weren’t you supposed to refuse?

Why would I refuse?

The Azure-White Dragon gave the Silver Dragon a puzzled look.

Because you're you!

The Silver Dragon said after a moment of thought.

In its impression, its mother had always been domineering and composed, like a lofty, frozen queen gazing coldly upon the world around her. Earlier, when the Dragon Emperor mentioned inviting its mother to join the Dragon Palace, the Silver Dragon had immediately shaken its head, thinking it would be impossible.

Given the Azure-White Dragon’s temperament and a power that likely already reached the ancient titan level, under normal circumstances, it simply wouldn’t join the Dragon Palace, unless the Dragon Emperor pulled out some ultimate move.

Just then, the Azure-White Dragon looked toward the Golden-Blue Dragon and suddenly said,

Since the purpose of the Dragon Palace is mutual support and gathering strength to survive in this dangerous world, then surely you wouldn’t mind one more titan-level colossal dragon, would you?

...Of course not. Are you referring to Thorsafi’s mother, Your Majesty?

The Dragon Emperor’s gaze shifted slightly.

The Azure-White Dragon slowly nodded.

That’s right. Kaotina’s strength is considerable as well. Her cultivation is nearing the peak of the titan level, and in terms of combat power, she’s even stronger than her realm suggests.

Even if you hadn’t brought it up,

the Dragon Emperor replied,

I was planning to invite Her Majesty Kaotina next anyway. Given her relationship with Thorsafi, she too will be granted the position of dragon king.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

At this point, it was practically handing out dragon king titles wholesale. After all, whether herding one sheep or two, it made no difference. Having one more peak titan-level beast would be useful, especially when it came time to restrain a fully awakened great demon king.

Then let’s go. We’ll find Kaotina.

The Azure-White Dragon was decisive. With the Dragon Emperor flying behind, along with the Silver Dragon and the others, they headed toward the neighboring territory.

Meanwhile, in the folds of another time layer, a massive white colossal dragon stared blankly into the distance, watching its daughter and mate fly off with that beast.