Zhang Lingqi passed through the barrier of Time Fragment and plunged into that unknown space-time.
When he came to his senses, he found himself standing on a wide and bustling street.
There was no Blood Moon or spatial rift in the sky.
The buildings here are tall and magnificent, with many spires and eaves carved with dragon totems.
The streets are paved with obsidian.
The pedestrians on the street were of all kinds; besides humans, there were also many Dragon Clan hybrids with horns on their heads.
"Here it is..."
"Could it be the Dragon Xia Imperial City?"
Zhang Lingqi suppressed his inner shock and asked doubtfully.
He clenched his fist and found that he still had no power left in his body.
The force that stripped him of everything in the River of Time still lingered around him; he was now just an ordinary person.
However, the streets were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, creating a festive atmosphere.
"Excuse me, sir, is this the Dragon Xia Imperial City?"
Is there some great joyous occasion today?
Zhang Lingqi grabbed an old fortune teller who was setting up a stall nearby.
He stole a piece of silver from his pocket and stuffed it into his hand.
That fortune teller was just a street know-it-all.
He weighed the silver in his hand and looked Zhang Lingqi up and down.
"You must be still half asleep today, kid?"
"What Dragon Xia Imperial City? This is Dragon City of the Kindling Flame Realm!"
Zhang Lingqi was stunned after hearing this.
Suddenly, I recalled the information I had read.
The Kindling Flame Realm...
Dragon City...
That is the homeland of the Dragon God.
This is the predecessor of the present-day Dragon Xia Imperial City, Dragon City.
This place is actually from a thousand years ago!
So Zhang Lingqi scratched his head, pretending to have just woken up.
I knew it!
"Young people these days are idle and irresponsible, living day and night in a drunken stupor."
"Today is the wedding day of His Majesty the Emperor, the son of Emperor Ying Jiuchuan!"
"The groom's name is Du Linyuan!"
"Du Linyuan?!"
Zhang Lingqi was shocked once again.
Holy crap, my good buddy used to drive way more than just a Range Rover!
It's clearly like operating an aircraft carrier!
This guy never says anything!
But don't all members of the Dragon Clan royal family bear the surname Ying?
A thought struck him, and he immediately pressed for an answer.
"Isn't he a prince? Why does he have the surname Du?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!"
The know-it-all covered Zhang Lingqi's mouth in shock, "This is a royal scandal!"
"That Du Linyuan is an illegitimate child! Those arrogant elders within our Dragon Clan absolutely refuse to acknowledge this muddled truth."
"So, in order to quell public anger, His Majesty did not allow him to be formally ordained, but instead made him take his mother's surname."
The know-it-all looked around and lowered his voice even further.
"It's said that his mother, Du Zitong, was a genuine human."
"Moreover, she's extremely cunning and a master of manipulation, a truly ultimate green tea b*tch."
"I wonder what kind of spell His Majesty was under back then, how he fell for her."
"Now look what's happened! That woman despises her son for not having a proper status, and she's making a scene in the palace, crying, shouting, and threatening to hang herself."
"His Majesty couldn't do anything about it; it's just that our Empress died in childbirth a few years ago."
"Even her newborn daughter mysteriously disappeared."
"Otherwise... with Du Zitong's meager skills, she would have been skinned alive and had her tendons pulled out by the Dragon Clan elders long ago!"
Just as the know-it-all was gossiping away with great enthusiasm...
"Get out of the way! Don't block my way!"
A handsome young man who looked only fifteen or sixteen years old walked over.
He shoved Zhang Lingqi aside and walked towards the city wall.
Caught off guard, Zhang Lingqi stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.
He was about to lash out, but when he turned his head and saw the boy's profile...
I was almost scared to death by that face!
Even if that face turned to ashes, he would still recognize it!
Although he looks a bit green, his eyes and brows are absolutely those of Dragon God!
That is...
The Dragon God in his youth!
"Who... who is he?!"
Zhang Lingqi pointed at Jiangnan's retreating figure, his hands trembling.
"Him? That guy's a celebrity in Dragon City now!"
The know-it-all watched Jiangnan's retreating figure, marveling at his abilities.
"His name is Jiangnan, and he is said to be the son of a Merchant from the nearby human city-state of Summer City."
Unfortunately, he was robbed by bandits while doing business outside the city, and both his parents died, leaving him as an only child.
"Later, he was picked up and raised by a kind old dragon in our outer city."
"Guess what? This kid just came of age and joined the army, and in just three days he became a garrison squad leader!"
"The basic physical abilities of our Dragon Clan and your human race are worlds apart."
"And what happened? This kid's really weird!"
"Beating Dragon Clan warrior with A-Class physical fitness rating is like child's play; he's taken down in just a few punches!"
The know-it-all got more and more excited as he spoke, "Look at this! In just a few days, he's been promoted one after another."
"It is said that his extraordinary abilities have caught the eye of His Majesty and the Eldest Princess, and he will soon be promoted to the inner city!"
Zhang Lingqi was dumbfounded.
He never imagined that he would inadvertently witness the early history of the Dragon God's rise to power.
But...
The Dragon God is still clearly a human.
How exactly did he acquire Dragon Clan bloodline and even transform into Dragon God?
That remains to be seen; the fog of history is too thick.
Zhang Lingqi snapped out of his thoughts; finding Du Linyuan was now the top priority.
"Uncle, where is Du Linyuan getting married? I'd like to go and join in the fun."
"It's located in the Dragon Emperor Palace within the inner city!"
The know-it-all pointed in a direction, "His Majesty has specially opened the outer plaza today, inviting all citizens to share in the joy."
"If you go too late, you won't be able to squeeze in!"
Zhang Lingqi thanked him and immediately turned around and quickly left with the flow of people.
Watching his hurried departure, the know-it-all curled his lip.
"These days, even humans from other places dare to roam around Dragon City. They're really not afraid of death."
"He looks gloomy and doesn't look like the type to give money at weddings..."
Just then, a hand patted him on the shoulder.
"Who is it! No directions accepted! This old man is waiting to go to the Dragon Emperor Palace for a feast!"
The know-it-all turned his head away impatiently.
But when he saw who it was, his expression froze.
She was a woman with short purple hair and a pair of dragon horns on her forehead.
Although the woman looked somewhat disheveled.
But the arrogance in his eyes sent chills down one's spine.
"The Ancient... Gu Yue Clan?!"
Know-it-all's legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground, trembling like a leaf.
Within Dragon City, who doesn't know that the Gu Yue Clan is notoriously ruthless?
He's capricious and quick to kill entire families— Living Yama you absolutely must not mess with!
"Sir... sir!"
"This old man was blind and ignorant; please forgive my rudeness, sir! I have elderly parents and young children to support..."
"Shut up."
[The Abyss] interrupted him.
He was also in a mortal state and had lost his power.
But He was very certain.
That meddlesome Guard Dog definitely can't sustain the Divine Grade realm of [Ordinary World] for long.
Your strength will be restored quickly.
Have you ever seen a man dressed in black with a hood?
[Abyss] was too lazy to waste words and asked directly.
"I've seen it before!"
Knowing everything, Zhang Lingqi dared not conceal anything and told the whole story about Zhang Lingqi going to the Dragon Emperor Palace to find Du Linyuan.
Having obtained the information, [Abyss] ignored this ant and quickly chased after it towards the Dragon Emperor Palace.
Only after the purple-haired woman's figure disappeared around the street corner did Baishitong dare to get up from the ground.
"Oh my God, what kind of day is this today..."
"Why is everyone acting like they're rushing to be reincarnated?"
"I think I'd better not drink at this wedding banquet..."
As he spoke, he abandoned his stall and turned to run away.
At the same time.
Another Time Fragment floating deep within the River of Time.
"Splash!"
Hislay weakly climbed out of the water and onto the dock.
He lay on his back on the wooden board, panting heavily.
"Waaah!"
Not far away, a ship belching black smoke entered the harbor.
Hearing that familiar sound, and smelling the coal smoke in the air.
A look of disbelief appeared on Hislay's face.
"Here it is..."
He struggled to his feet.
Although it has just been washed away by the River of Time of time.
But since this was not a battlefield targeting Him, His wounds continued to heal.
He went out into the street.
Looking at the steam-powered cars driving under gaslights on the street.
I looked at the gentlemen in tailcoats and top hats, and the ladies in belted gowns.
Without a doubt.
This is the Eagle Country in the 1910s.
It was also the hometown of Hislay Williams.
At that moment, Hislay even forgot where the Dragon God was.
He wandered aimlessly through this familiar yet unfamiliar street, like a lost soul.
Passersby stared at the strange man, who was soaking wet, but he didn't seem to care.
While passing by the window of a Tailor.
The reflection in the glass, however, was not of a deity wearing a strange mask.
Instead, it is a...
"Whoosh."
The Deception God has vanished, replaced by a young man in a tattered purple suit.
Even after turning back into an ordinary person, his face remained completely expressionless.
Hislay was purposeful, relying on the route he remembered.
Walk through two alleys and head towards an inconspicuous general store.
Hislay stopped in front of the grocery store.
He looked up, and there was a sign on the wooden plaque with some peeling paint.
[Williams' Happy Workshop]
The shop window displays various handicraft tools and some wooden toys.
Hislay pressed his hands against the glass, staring intently into the interior of the grocery store.
In the warm glow of the fireplace, a young couple were each busy with their own tasks.
The woman, wearing an apron and with a smile on her face, was counting change behind the counter.
The man, wearing reading glasses, sat at his workbench, carving a small wooden train.
"Mother... Father..."
Hislay's lips trembled
The couple were his deceased parents.
Janet and Steven.
Just then, the brass bell hanging on the door rang.
A little child ran in from outside.
He had blond hair, was holding a rag doll, and had an exceptionally bright and innocent smile.
That was Hislay as a child.
The little boy ran up to the couple and held up his rag doll as a gift.
Janet put down the ledger in her hand and covered her mouth in surprise.
"Oh my God."
"My dear Hislay, where did you get this doll from?"
"The workmanship is excellent, it looks so exquisite!"
The little boy responded with a smile, his voice full of joy.
"It was given to me by a pretty older sister!"
She was wearing a long black gothic dress and looked as beautiful as a porcelain doll!
She also told me...
"She really loves our toys, and she'll be coming to visit us tonight!"
"NO! We absolutely cannot let her come!!!"
Before the words were finished, a roar rang out from outside the glass window!
Hislay slammed his fist against the window of the grocery store.
The family of three inside the house trembled with fright.
Little Hislay was terrified, clutching the rag doll in his hand.
She nestled into her mother Janet's arms.
Who are you? What do you want?
The father, Steven, reacted quickly, shielding his wife and children behind him.
He casually grabbed the carving knife from the workbench and aimed it at the strange man outside the door.
"Bang!"
Hislay didn't care about any of that; he pushed open the wooden door of the grocery store and rushed inside.
Move out! Get out of here immediately!
"Take nothing with you, leave now! And never come back!"
Hislay waved his arms in the air and roared incoherently.
"Please... don't do this..."
Janet hugged the child tightly and stepped back.
She looked at the intruder's tattered clothes and insane behavior.
My instinct was that he was a desperate robber.
"Sir, there are a few shillings left in the cashier's counter. You can take them all, but please don't hurt us..."
Tears welled up in Janet's eyes. "This grocery store is everything to our family..."
"Without it, our family wouldn't even have a place to shelter from the wind and rain..."
Hislay's gaze fell on his parents.
Their clothes were covered in patches.
Yes...
In the 1910s, in a society where the lower classes were treated like dirt.
This dilapidated general store, where even heating is a struggle, is the haven they built with all their savings.
Hislay's Adam's apple bobbed, and he softened his tone.
"No... that's not it... I'm not trying to rob you..."
He looked at the rag doll in Hislay's arms.
"Listen to me, child... that woman who gave you the doll is no good person."
Give me that thing...
You're lying!
Little Hislay peeked halfway out from his mother's arms, his face streaked with tears.
"You're a bad person! You're a homeless vagrant!"
"You just want to steal my favorite doll and sell it on the black market!"
"That woman is so pretty, she's not a bad person!"
The little boy cried as he hugged his doll even tighter.
Upon hearing his son's words, Steven tightened his grip on the carving knife.
Looking at Hislay's disheveled appearance, he seemed to suddenly realize something.
In this era, Gothic dolls made with such luxurious materials are definitely luxury items that only the aristocracy can afford.
If pawned on the black market, it could fetch an astronomical price that would make even the poorest families envious!
"You want this doll, right?"
Steven pressed the tip of his knife down slightly.
Hislay froze on the spot.
He looked into his father's wary yet pleading eyes, and at his mother's face streaked with tears.
Then I looked at my younger self with that disdainful gaze.
He wanted to explain, to tell them that the pretty woman was a demon who would skin them alive!
But... will they believe it?
In this perception, he was nothing more than a mad, homeless vagrant spouting nonsense.
"Life is like a play... deceiving everyone... until death do us part..."
Hislay closed his eyes, and after a brief silence...
His eyes were now filled only with the greed of a villain.
"That's right!"
Hislay stretched out his hand and said menacingly, "I'm a homeless vagrant!"
"I just want this valuable old doll! Give it to me now!"
"Otherwise, I'll burn this shabby shop down today!"
Upon hearing this, Steven dropped his carving knife to protect his wife, children, and family.
Turning to Janet, she began to plead with her child, her eyes red with tears.
"Give it to him, darling... please, give it to him."
Janet, sobbing uncontrollably, tried to pry the little boy's fingers off.
"It's just a toy, we can make another one if it's gone, don't anger him..."
"Listen to your mother, son..."
Steven's voice was trembling.
Under the desperate pleas and tugging of their parents.
"Wow!"
Hislay finally broke down and cried.
He stared at the homeless man who had taken away his beloved possession.
She handed over the doll while sobbing.
Hislay snatched the rag doll from him.
The moment I touched the doll, I could feel the presence of flesh and blood inside.
He didn't say another word.
I turned around and walked into the thick fog.
Behind him, the sounds of his childhood cries and his parents' whispered words of comfort tore at his heart.
But he didn't turn back; he just clutched the rag doll and walked further and further away.
However.
It was hidden in the shadows around the corner of this street.
A figure had already taken in everything that was happening in the grocery store.
Then, he silently followed behind Hislay...