The path twisted through jagged cliffs and deep canyons, the mist curling like ghostly serpents at Chen Yu's feet. The map engraved into his mind by the Heaven's Chronicle pulsed faintly, glowing with every step closer to destiny.
He stopped at the edge of a broken plateau.
There, buried beneath overgrowth and time, stood shattered columns, crescent arches, and scattered jade tiles. The remnants of Tianlong Keep, the ancient fortress of the Sovereign Dragon Clan.
> [System Alert: Legacy Location Discovered – Tianlong Keep Ruins]
Verifying host identity…
Bloodline fragment detected.
Access Granted. Initializing Reward Protocol.
A low hum vibrated through the air. The sky cracked—silently—and a beam of blue light descended onto the altar at the center of the ruins.
Chen Yu stepped forward, cautious but fearless.
A sword waited atop the altar.
Its blade glowed an intense cerulean, runes etched along its fuller. The hilt was bound in midnight leather, and the guard shaped like spread wings. The moment his fingers brushed the hilt, the sword sang—not in sound, but in soul.
> [Item Acquired: Azurefang]
Grade: Celestial-Tier (Sealed)
Effects: Amplifies Qi flow, releases wave-slash with each strike. Soul-linked. Evolves with host.
"Forged from the fangs of the Azure Dragon. A Sovereign's blade, reborn."
As he held it, the ground trembled, revealing a sunken basin beneath the altar. From it rose two orbs of light—each slowly solidifying into a reward.
The first—a vial containing deep golden liquid that pulsed like a miniature sun.
> [Item Acquired: Elixir of Primordial Veins]
Use: Permanently enhances spiritual root quality. Allows faster cultivation and improved element affinity.
Note: Side effect may include spontaneous breakthrough.
The second orb transformed into a swirling scroll, ancient and bound by silver thread.
> [Skill Acquired: Dragonstep Mirage]
Grade: High-Mortal
Type: Movement Technique
Effect: User creates multiple speed mirages with each movement. Can temporarily confuse vision and sense detection.
Bonus: May evolve when paired with Sovereign Qi.
Chen Yu's breath was slow and even, but inside, a quiet fire stirred.
This wasn't just a reward—it was proof. That he had lived before. That his legacy still lingered, scattered across the world, waiting for him to reclaim it piece by piece.
He unsheathed Azurefang with a crisp hum. The blade vibrated slightly, resonating with his Qi.
> [New Skill Synced: Azurefang Resonance Slash – Unlocked]
Strike empowered by Azure Essence. Generates an arc-shaped shockwave.
Consumes Qi: Moderate. Cooldown: 6 seconds.
"Good," Chen Yu muttered. "Now I have a voice again."
From behind a crumbled wall, a faint whisper echoed.
A figure had been watching.
Not hostile. Not quite human.
A spirit beast—owl-eyed, cloaked in leaves, and radiating an ancient aura—emerged from the shadowed edge of the ruin. It bowed once.
"Welcome back, Sovereign," it said softly.
Chen Yu narrowed his gaze. "You remember?"
"I waited," the spirit beast said. "As did others. We will guide you. But first…"
Its gaze turned toward the horizon.
"…darkness stirs beyond the peaks. Not all of your legacy was left unguarded."
Chen Yu tightened his grip on Azurefang.
"Then it's time I remind the heavens who I am.