The Primordial Ancient Dragon's gaze shifted, a trace of clarity and wariness flashing through his eyes.
His reaction was swift. He immediately took half a step back and explained with neither servility nor arrogance, "Senior, you misunderstand. They are not outsiders. They are all friends of other races who have traveled with me."
After a pause, the Primordial Ancient Dragon continued, "We were able to pass through countless dangers and reach this place only because of these friends' full support. Without them, this junior could never have stood here and beheld Senior's true form."
The black phantom did not respond at once. Its scarlet eyes slowly swept over the Black Jade Qilin, Ruo Xuan, and Lin Fan with a lofty, scrutinizing air, as though it wished to see through every one of their souls.
The Primordial Ancient Dragon added, "If Senior still harbors doubts, then you should trust the bloodline power within me. The Dragon Clan's bloodline has never deigned to conspire with outsiders to deceive its own kind."
As soon as his words fell, the Primordial Ancient Dragon no longer concealed his pure Dragon Clan aura.
It was as if some ancient, majestic power within him had suddenly awakened. Phantom after phantom of true dragons soared out of his body. Though no dragon roar truly sounded, it shook through the depths of their souls.
Some of those phantoms rode the clouds and mist, while others coiled across the heavens, each carrying a heart-quailing majesty.
An astonishingly powerful pressure spread in all directions. Even the runes around the high platform, dormant for endless years, seemed to tremble faintly at that moment.
The Black Jade Qilin's pupils contracted slightly as he murmured in amazement, "What pure dragon might... This fellow has hidden himself deeply all this time."
Ruo Xuan said nothing,