Dragon Might Imprint

"Elder Ju, I'm tired. Let's go back."

Yang Yu's hoarse voice rang out on the deathly silent third floor of the Library Pavilion, shattering the suffocating quiet. His face was frighteningly pale. Clutching the ancient Dragon Clan Secret Records, his body swayed almost imperceptibly. Clearly, that brief outburst had drained him badly, especially that final soul-level Dragon Might impact.

Yue Guan suddenly snapped back to his senses, and his heart tightened at Yang Yu's condition. He immediately stepped forward and discreetly supported Yang Yu by the arm, sending a stream of gentle, pure Soul Power into him to steady his footing. "Yes, Your Highness." Yue Guan's voice carried an unprecedented gravity. He coldly glanced at Yan, who lay limp on the floor with unfocused eyes, as though his soul had been ripped away, then looked at the speechless Hu Liena and Xie Yue nearby. Without another word, he helped Yang Yu turn and leave.

Hu Liena watched the two men depart, then looked at Yan on the ground, lost and shaken, his body still trembling faintly. She opened her mouth, yet no words came out. That soundless but terrifying pressure that had made even her soul tremble, along with Yan's instantaneous collapse, had been deeply branded into her mind. What kind of monster was this brat? And that tattered book in his arms... could it be some evil artifact?

Xie Yue drew a deep breath, suppressing the raging shock in his heart. He hurried to Yan's side and helped him up. Yan's body was still shaking uncontrollably, his eyes hollow as he muttered unconsciously, "Dragon... dragon... so terrifying..." Evidently, the Dragon Might originating from the Martial Soul Origin had utterly terrified him to the core.

Supporting Yang Yu, Yue Guan did not return to his temporary residence. Instead, he headed directly toward the deepest part of the Papal Palace. He knew that the disturbance in the Library Pavilion, especially that final burst of Dragon Might that had made even his heart palpitate, could not possibly escape Her Majesty's senses.

Sure enough, after they passed through a heavy stone door protected by Soul Tool Runes and arrived at an even quieter yet exceptionally luxurious side hall, Bibi Dong was already waiting there.

She stood with her back to the entrance before a huge floor-to-ceiling crystal window. Beyond it lay the dazzling nightscape of Spirit City. Her purple-gold Empress robes flowed with a mysterious sheen beneath the soft light, while her scepter rested casually beside the window. The entire room was filled with a faint cold fragrance and the invisible, suffocating pressure emanating from her.

"Your Majesty." Yue Guan released Yang Yu's arm and bowed deeply, a trace of barely perceptible nervousness in his voice. "His Highness the Holy Son experienced an irregularity in his Soul Power circulation while reading ancient texts in the Library Pavilion. He later clashed with Yan and exchanged blows briefly, leaving him somewhat depleted."

Bibi Dong slowly turned around. There was no expression on her flawless, breathtaking face. Her cold violet eyes, like two bottomless pools of frigid water, instantly locked onto Yang Yu's pale face and unsteady aura, as well as the black hide-bound book in his arms, which exuded an ancient, obscure presence.

Her gaze was immensely penetrating, as if it could see through Yang Yu's flesh and reach the depths of his soul. Yang Yu felt an invisible pressure envelop his entire body, more condensed and direct than it had been at the Training Ground. He endured the weakness rising from the depths of his soul and the faint sting brought by the book, forcing himself to stand straight and meet her gaze.

"An irregularity in Soul Power circulation?" Bibi Dong's voice revealed neither joy nor anger, but her eyes settled on the Dragon Clan Secret Records in Yang Yu's arms. "Because of that?"

Yang Yu's heart tightened. This woman's perception was too terrifying. He dared not conceal the truth, yet he could not reveal everything. He could only choose his words carefully. "Reporting to Teacher, this disciple found this book in a corner of the sixth floor. While reading it, an ancient spiritual imprint within the book seemed to strike at me. This disciple was careless, suffered backlash from my Soul Power, and was somewhat shaken."

"Oh? An ancient spiritual imprint?" A faint glimmer of interest flashed through Bibi Dong's violet eyes. She extended a slender jade hand clad in Purple-Gold Filigree Gloves and made a gentle grasping motion toward the book in Yang Yu's arms.

An irresistible suction force came over him. The Dragon Clan Secret Records instantly slipped from his grasp and flew toward Bibi Dong.

The book landed in her hand. Bibi Dong's long fingers brushed over the rough, icy black hide cover, while an extremely faint thread of purple-black Soul Power curled around her fingertips. She closed her eyes, seemingly sensing something.

A moment later, she opened her eyes. Her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and disappointment and gravity flashed through her eyes. The spiritual imprint on the book was incredibly faint, chaotic, and incomplete, filled with an aura of grief and destruction. It was impossible to decipher any specific information. What alarmed her even more was that the imprint was of an extremely high level, carrying an ancient divinity that made even the Rakshasa Divine Power within her instinctively reject it. This book was anything but ordinary.

"A forbidden object containing chaotic lingering thoughts." Bibi Dong casually tossed the book onto the nearby Rosewood Table, where it landed with a dull thud. Her gaze returned to Yang Yu, appraising him. "If it could cause backlash in your Soul Power, then it seems to have some connection to your Martial Soul?"

Yang Yu's thoughts raced. It seemed Bibi Dong could not decipher the book's specific contents either, which let him breathe easier. He nodded. "This disciple feels that the aura of the imprint within the book and this disciple's Eternal Time Dragon Martial Soul seem to share... the same origin."

"The same origin?" Bibi Dong's violet eyes narrowed slightly as a sharp light flashed through them. Dragonkind? Ancient times? Divinity? The origins of this child's Martial Soul were even more mysterious and complicated than she had imagined. She recalled the Dragon Might Yang Yu had displayed at the Training Ground, as well as that final invisible strike in the Library Pavilion that had made even Yue Guan's heart palpitate.

She took two steps forward, closing the distance between herself and Yang Yu. That cold, poppy-scented pressure bore down on him. She extended two fingers, their tips wrapped in extremely fine purple-black threads of light, and struck toward Yang Yu's brow like lightning!

Yang Yu's pupils contracted sharply. He wanted to dodge, but under that terrifying pressure, his body could not move at all. He could only watch helplessly as those two fingers, carrying the aura of destruction, grew larger before his eyes!

Her fingertips did not truly touch his skin. They stopped an inch from his brow. A cold, tyrannical wave of Soul Power, filled with powerful corrosive force, instantly pierced into Yang Yu's Sea of Consciousness!

Buzz! Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the phantom of the Dragon of Eternity and Time seemed to have suffered the gravest provocation. It let out an enraged roar! A majestic will originating from the essence of space and time, transcending all things, erupted with a thunderous crash and smashed fiercely into that invading purple-black Soul Power!

Hiss! It was like plunging red-hot iron into ice water! The purple-black threads of light around Bibi Dong's fingertips fluctuated violently and instantly dimmed by more than half! A powerful recoil surged up through her fingers, leaving her fingertips slightly numb!

At the same time, Yang Yu felt as though his head had been smashed by a heavy hammer. His vision went dark. He grunted, another thread of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth as his body swayed on the verge of collapse. The weakness deep within his soul grew even worse!

Bibi Dong swiftly withdrew her fingers. Looking at the purple-black Soul Power at her fingertips, nearly worn away, then at Yang Yu's deathly pale, faltering form, undisguised shock appeared in the depths of her cold violet eyes for the first time!

What powerful protection from the Martial Soul Origin! What an overbearing Dragon Might Imprint! That counterattack just now had been purely a Martial Soul instinct! The level of will it contained was so high that even her Rakshasa Divine Power felt a trace of apprehension! No ordinary dragon Martial Soul could do this! This boy... his Martial Soul was likely the direct bloodline of some ancient Dragon God! It might even be connected to ancient secrets of the God Realm!

A disciple with Twin God-Tier Martial Souls, suspected to possess an ancient Dragon God Bloodline, and blessed with talent so monstrous it defied all reason... his value was now beyond measure!

The shock in Bibi Dong's eyes swiftly vanished, returning to coldness. As she looked at Yang Yu's weakened state, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. Cultivate him! Cultivate him at any cost! Make him Spirit Hall's sharpest sword! Make him her greatest support in opposing the Elder Hall, unifying the continent, and even plotting for the God Realm in the future! Yet at the same time, she had to keep him firmly under control! If such potential could not be wholly used by her, he would surely become a grave threat!

"It seems you truly need a sufficiently powerful Spirit Ring to bear and release the origin power of your Martial Soul." Bibi Dong's voice became calm again, yet carried an unquestionable decision. "Soul Power that merely increases without substance will always be hollow. The first Spirit Ring is the key to laying a foundation."

Her gaze shifted to Yue Guan, who had remained bowed at the side, scarcely daring to breathe. "Yue Guan."

"Your subordinate is here!" Yue Guan promptly answered.

"Convey my decree." Bibi Dong's voice was decisive. "Three days from now, you and Gui Mei will personally escort Yang Yu to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt his first Spirit Ring."

"Target: no less than five thousand years old! Its attributes must be compatible! Prioritize top-tier Spirit Beasts with time-related traits or dragon bloodlines!"

"If you encounter any obstruction, whether human or beast, kill without mercy!"

"Yes! This subordinate obeys Your Majesty's decree!" Yue Guan's heart shook violently as he hurriedly bowed to accept the order. Starting at five thousand years, and it had to be a top-tier Spirit Beast with time traits or a dragon bloodline? The difficulty... Yet he did not dare question it in the slightest.

Bibi Dong's gaze finally settled on Yang Yu. Amid the coldness was a depth of meaning that could not be put into words. "Rest well and adjust your condition. In three days, I hope to see you possess a first Spirit Ring truly worthy of the position of 'Holy Son.'"

"Yes, Teacher. This disciple will certainly give his all." Yang Yu suppressed the metallic sweetness in his throat and answered in a low voice. He knew that the true trial would begin in three days. The Star Dou Great Forest... a five-thousand-year Spirit Beast... and Tang San, lurking in the shadows?

Bibi Dong said no more and waved her hand. Yue Guan immediately understood. He supported Yang Yu again and respectfully withdrew from the oppressive side hall.

The hall doors closed. Bibi Dong stood alone before the vast crystal window, her violet eyes deep as an abyss as they reflected the glorious Sacred City of Martial Souls below. At her fingertips, the wisp of Rakshasa Divine Power that had nearly dispersed after being repelled by Dragon Might slowly gathered once more, like a venomous snake poised to strike.

"Dragon God Bloodline... Twin God-Tier..." she murmured softly. A chilling curve slowly rose at the corner of her cold lips. "Yang Yu... do not disappoint me."

Yue Guan sent Yang Yu back to his exclusive courtyard, heavily guarded and located deep within the Papal Palace. The courtyard was not large, but it was exquisitely furnished. It had a dedicated meditation chamber, training room, and even a small Spirit Gathering Array that constantly gathered dense spiritual energy from heaven and earth.

"Your Highness, rest well. Over the next three days, I will have people deliver the finest nourishing medicinal meals and Spirit Calming Potions to help you recover." Yue Guan's attitude had become even more respectful, even carrying a trace of caution. Everything that had happened in the side hall, especially Her Majesty's extraordinary regard for Yang Yu, had made him fully understand the weight of the boy before him.

"Thank you for your trouble, Elder Ju." Yang Yu nodded. He truly needed to recuperate now.

After Yue Guan left, Yang Yu immediately returned to the meditation chamber. He sat cross-legged in the center of the Spirit Gathering Array, feeling the dense Soul Power around him, but did not begin cultivating at once. First, he took several bottles of the Spirit Calming Potion Yue Guan had mentioned from the Storage Soul Tool Yue Guan had previously given him and gulped them all down. The cool medicinal liquid entered his stomach and transformed into a gentle current of energy that flowed through his body, nourishing his damaged soul and meridians. The splitting headache eased slightly.

Only then did he carefully take out the Dragon Clan Secret Records. The black hide cover was still icy cold. The place stained with the blood he had spat out earlier had darkened, as if the pages had absorbed it. He gently stroked the cover, and the image of the colossal dragon fighting tragically amid the shattered starry sky flashed through his mind again, along with that despairing dragon roar that had shattered his soul.

"Dragon God... Bloodline Covenant..." Yang Yu softly read the golden ancient characters that had appeared on the pages. "Origin imprint... bloodline resonance... seek the path home..."

The information came in fragments, full of mysteries. Yet there was one thing he could be certain of: his Eternal Time Dragon Martial Soul was definitely connected to that fallen Dragon God by countless threads! It might even be a direct bloodline! That was why it could trigger the imprint within the book, why it could unleash Dragon Might powerful enough to make even a Titled Douluo's heart palpitate!

"The path home... what does that mean? The place the Dragon God went after falling? Or... some kind of inheritance site?" Yang Yu furrowed his brow tightly. This secret was too great and implicated too much. With his current strength, he had no ability to investigate it at all. His most urgent task was to increase his strength! Obtain a Spirit Ring! The trip to the Star Dou Great Forest in three days was of the utmost importance!

He stopped dwelling on it and tucked the Dragon Clan Secret Records close to his body. Then he closed his eyes and began circulating the Spirit Hall Basic Meditation Method with all his strength, absorbing the Soul Power gathered by the Spirit Gathering Array to repair the damage to his body. At the same time, he silently contemplated the power of the two great Martial Souls within him.

Time quietly passed in secluded cultivation.

The next morning, Yang Yu was awakened by a faint commotion outside the courtyard. He ended his meditation and found that his spirits had recovered considerably. The stabbing pain in his soul had eased greatly, and the Soul Power within him had become full again. It had even grown a little more condensed due to yesterday's tempering and depletion.

He pushed open the door to the meditation chamber and walked into the courtyard. The morning sunlight spilled down, carrying a touch of warmth.

At the courtyard entrance, two Soul King guards sent by Yue Guan were blocking a pink figure.

"Let me in! I just want to see whether he's dead yet!" Hu Liena stood with her hands on her hips, looking spoiled and willful as she tried to push past the guards. She had changed into casual clothes today, and her pink hair was tied in a ponytail, making her look even livelier. Yet the expression in those fox-like eyes was extremely complicated, containing curiosity, resentment, and seemingly the faintest trace of... concern?

"Miss Nana, His Highness the Holy Son is in seclusion. Without an order from Her Majesty or Elder Yue Guan, no one may disturb him." The guards were expressionless, their tone respectful yet utterly unyielding.

"Hmph! You two blocks of wood!" Hu Liena stamped her foot in anger. When she raised her eyes, she happened to see Yang Yu coming out. Her eyes immediately brightened, but she quickly put on a stern face and pointed at him. "Hey! Brat! You... you're all right, aren't you?"

Yang Yu looked at the little fox who had been gloating yesterday but had come to watch the spectacle today, feeling somewhat speechless. He waved his hand, signaling the guards to let her through.

Hu Liena immediately bounced inside like a little rabbit and rushed up to inspect Yang Yu from head to toe. "Your face is still a little pale... but you look much better than yesterday, when you seemed half-dead." She curled her lips. Then her fox eyes shifted as she lowered her voice, her face full of curiosity. "Hey, that last move of yours yesterday... what exactly was it? That guy Yan is still out of his mind. No matter what anyone asks him, he says nothing. He just keeps shaking!"

Yang Yu could not be bothered with her. He turned and walked toward the stone table in the courtyard, where an exquisite breakfast freshly delivered by a maid had been laid out.

"Hey! Don't walk away!" Hu Liena followed closely behind him. "Tell me! What kind of dragon is your Martial Soul? How could it be so strong? And that tattered book you were holding, was it some peerless secret manual? Let me take a look?" She chirped like a restless sparrow.

Her noise gave Yang Yu a headache. He sat down, picked up a pastry made from Spirit Beast meat, and took a bite before glancing at her. "Want to know?"

Hu Liena's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly. "Mm-hmm!"

"Beat me, and I'll tell you." Yang Yu spoke unhurriedly.

"You!" Hu Liena choked, her little face flushing red. "So what if your Soul Power has recovered? Just wait until I get my Third Spirit Ring. Then you'll see how I deal with you!" She waved her little fists and threatened him viciously.

"I'll be waiting." Yang Yu did not even raise his eyelids as he continued eating breakfast.

Hu Liena looked at his completely unmoved expression and gritted her teeth in frustration. Her eyes rolled, and suddenly she leaned closer. An extremely faint spiritual ripple carrying a seductive aura quietly spread out again as she tried the same trick. "Junior Brother~ Don't be so cold~ Tell Senior Sister, and Senior Sister will give you candy..." Her voice was soft and sweet.

However, the instant that seductive ripple touched Yang Yu, the Dragon of Eternity and Time deep within him seemed to have been disturbed by a fly and released an impatient, low dragon roar! A strand of Dragon Might, more condensed and overbearing than yesterday's, instinctively rebounded! Though it was only an extremely faint trace, the suppression from its higher level remained terrifying!

"Ah!" Hu Liena cried out delicately, as if pierced by an invisible needle. She instantly stumbled back several steps, her pretty face turning pale. Clutching her forehead, she stared at Yang Yu with shock and anger in her eyes. "You... you did it again!"

Yang Yu gave her a cold look, the warning in his eyes unmistakable. "Try using charm on me again, and next time it won't be a warning."

Seeing Yang Yu's icy gaze, Hu Liena recalled Yan's limp form on the floor yesterday, along with the flicker of terror that had just arisen from the depths of her soul. She immediately shuddered. Biting her lip, she glared fiercely at Yang Yu. "Hmph! You're ruthless! Just you wait!" With that, she flicked her pink ponytail and ran off in a huff.

After sending off the troublesome little fox, Yang Yu could finally finish breakfast in peace. He returned to the meditation chamber but did not continue meditating. Instead, he began organizing his thoughts.

The Star Dou Great Forest... a five-thousand-year Spirit Beast... priority on time attributes or dragon bloodlines...

Spirit Beasts with time attributes were already exceedingly rare, and those over five thousand years old were rarer still. There were dragon-type Spirit Beasts, but powerful ones often occupied the core regions of Star Dou, where the danger was extremely high.

"Perhaps... I can try that method..." Yang Yu recalled a hypothesis concerning the guidance of a Spirit Beast's lingering soul imprint that he had seen in the incomplete volume of Probing the Origins of Martial Souls. His soul power far surpassed that of ordinary people, and his Martial Soul was God-tier! If he could actively guide, or even suppress, the lingering soul of a Spirit Beast while absorbing a Spirit Ring, perhaps... he could challenge a higher age limit! Or perhaps... gain unexpected benefits?

The risk was enormous, but the rewards might be equally great!

A decisive glint flashed through Yang Yu's eyes. Fortune was found in danger! In this world, if he wanted to rise quickly and take control of his own destiny, he had to seize every opportunity and take risks!

He drew a deep breath and closed his eyes again. This time, he was no longer simply restoring Soul Power. Instead, he began trying to actively communicate with and comprehend the origin power of the Dragon of Eternity and Time within him. At the same time, he devoted a thread of his mind to simulating the process of guiding and suppressing a Spirit Beast's lingering soul imprint...