"I pay my respects to Sect Master Yu." Bei Bei bowed slightly. "May I ask why you summoned this junior?"
"Just call me Uncle. This concerns the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's legacy. As the direct descendant of our ancestor, Yu Xiaogang, you may not bear the Yu surname, but you're still qualified to give it a try," Yu Yuanlong said.
"A legacy?" Bei Bei was a little confused. He knew little about the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and had no idea what kind of legacy they possessed.
"That's right." Yu Yuanlong explained, "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has a treasured legacy called the Nine True Dragon Crowns. They were formed from fragments of the Soul Bones of ancient Dragon Kings. Perhaps because of the great battle ten thousand years ago, not a single Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Master has earned their recognition since."
So it was the Nine True Dragon Crowns. A thoughtful look flashed in Bei Bei's eyes. He had read some information about them in Shrek Academy's Library Pavilion.
The Nine True Dragon Crowns were the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's most treasured possession. Their age was impossible to determine, and there were nine pieces in total. Aside from the Snow Jade Crown, which was intact and could be absorbed as a Soul Bone, the other eight fragments corresponded to the limbs, torso, tail, and wings.
Only a powerful Soul Master with a true dragon Martial Soul could absorb them. Although absorbing the Snow Jade Crown didn't grant a Soul Bone Skill, it could evolve the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul and greatly enhance the user's spiritual power, Soul Power, attributes, and Soul Skill power.
If all the Nine True Dragon Crowns were activated, they could raise a Soul Master's Soul Ring age to one hundred thousand years. But the user would suffer the crowns' backlash, their flesh and blood steadily consumed until they died, utterly spent.
Yu Yuanlong had no idea what Bei Bei was thinking and continued, "Mu Lao was originally the one most likely to earn the Nine True Dragon Crowns' recognition. But when he was about to visit the sect's legacy grounds, he had already obtained a Head Soul Bone, so he couldn't gain their approval."
Bei Bei looked at Mu En, who had his eyes narrowed and showed no expression.
Yu Yuanlong continued, "According to our ancestors' records, anyone who obtains the Nine True Dragon Crowns and breaks through to become a Titled Douluo will be able to uncover the secrets of these Soul Bone fragments to the greatest extent."
"Bei Bei, you're the most talented Soul Master the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has produced in ten thousand years. Even Mu Lao doesn't compare. Are you willing to give it a try?" Yu Yuanlong looked at Bei Bei, his eyes shining as he asked.
"All right." Bei Bei thought it over. He felt the Nine True Dragon Crowns must conceal secrets that could bring him great benefits. "I'm willing to give it a try."
"Since you've made up your mind, I'll let the Outer Court know," Mu En said slowly.
"Mu Lao, I'll take Bei Bei to the legacy grounds, then." Yu Yuanlong rose slowly and bowed respectfully to him.
"Go ahead." Mu En nodded in agreement.
After Yu Yuanlong and Bei Bei left Shrek Academy, Yu Yuanlong transformed into a gigantic Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and flew off in one direction.
In his Martial Soul Avatar form, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was enormous. Blue-purple scales covered its body, arcs of blue lightning coiled around it, and its aura was powerful.
Yu Yuanlong moved at incredible speed, like a bolt of blue lightning. Trees and grass whipped past them.
Bei Bei stood within his claw, surrounded by a Soul Power barrier that blocked the fierce wind.
"Uncle Yu, where is the legacy ground?" Bei Bei asked.
"It's where the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan lived ten thousand years ago: the Nine Dragon Mountains," Yu Yuanlong replied slowly. "Though the Spirit Hall slaughtered the entire clan ten thousand years ago and carried away all the resources, they couldn't take the Nine True Dragon Crowns. The clan's treasure was buried there and has remained there ever since."
Along the way, Yu Yuanlong told Bei Bei many secrets about the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Bei Bei gained a much deeper understanding of the clan.
Yu Yuanlong was fast. After using his Martial Soul Avatar, a beat of his Dragon Wings carried him a thousand meters in an instant.
Before long, Bei Bei saw nine lush, verdant mountains ahead. The one in the center reached into the clouds, surrounded and guarded by eight lesser peaks.
"We've arrived. This is the legacy ground of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and our home ten thousand years ago: the Nine Dragon Mountains." Yu Yuanlong's voice held a note of sorrow and grief.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had once been so glorious, with more than a thousand disciples. But in a single night, they had all been reduced to dry bones.
Yu Yuanlong returned to human form and brought Bei Bei to the foot of the Nine Dragon Mountains.
"The main peak is called True Dragon Mountain. The eight lesser peaks are He Mountain, Gu Mountain, Teng Mountain, Ba Mountain, Dou Mountain, Lanfeng Mountain, Purple Lightning Mountain, and Nanwang Mountain. To go deeper, you have to enter through one of the lesser peaks."
"The Snow Jade Crown of the Nine True Dragon Crowns is sealed within True Dragon Mountain. The other eight Soul Bone fragments are sealed within these eight mountains."
"You'll have to walk the rest of the way alone. I can't help you any further," Yu Yuanlong said slowly.
Bei Bei nodded and began summoning his Martial Soul: the Radiant Dragon King!
A white-gold scale appeared on Bei Bei's forehead, releasing dazzling golden lightning that coursed over his body. The power of the Ultimate Light Attribute emerged as countless points of light that swirled around him.
Four pitch-black Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.
The aura of a Dragon King swiftly spread from him.
When the Radiant Dragon King Martial Soul appeared, a hint of awe and respect flashed in Yu Yuanlong's eyes. It was reverence that came from deep within his bloodline.
Even with the strength of a Titled Douluo, as a dragon Soul Master, he was heavily suppressed when facing a dragon with a stronger bloodline.
Yu Yuanlong felt that he wouldn't be able to bring even half his strength to bear against Bei Bei. That was only because there was such a vast gap between their abilities.
If they were equally matched, Yu Yuanlong's strength would be suppressed by at least ninety percent, leaving him unable to fight back.
Bei Bei used the Dust Light Step. His body became a streak of light as he hurried toward the Nine Dragon Mountains.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky, and bolts of lightning occasionally struck down.
Bei Bei encountered no danger along the way. But the place seemed to have been uninhabited for a very long time. Dense vegetation had completely swallowed it, and there wasn't a trace of human construction to be seen.
If not for the faint traces of ruined old roads, Bei Bei would have thought he had come to an utterly ordinary mountain.
As he ventured deeper, Bei Bei sensed a palpable sorrow and bitter resentment.
A flash of golden light passed over Bei Bei. The purifying power of the Ultimate Light dispelled their influence.
"It seems these are the resentments of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciples who died in battle ten thousand years ago," Bei Bei murmured.
As he continued forward, Bei Bei felt that his Martial Soul seemed to be answering a summons.
Bei Bei slowly closed his eyes. In the darkness, nine points of light appeared in his mind. Eight were round, while the one in the middle was the largest and brightest.