Sky Dragon Valleyy deep in the Greywild Mountains.


    Mountains ringed the ce on all sides. Ancient trees towered overhead, and spiritual energy filled the air, making it a rare patch of blessed ground under heaven. Mist drifted through the valley. Celestial energy hung thick in the air. Waterfalls crashed into clear streams, birds called through the trees, and flowers spread their scent everywhere. The whole ce looked like something out of an immortal realm.


    The Sky Dragon Lineage had always stayed hidden here with extreme care, raising future generations and building strength bit by bit, all because they feared being discovered by the Demon Dragon and the Celestial Pce and wiped out in one stroke.


    At that moment, inside Dragon Hall.


    Rnd was seated in the main seat, handling the affairs of the Sky Dragon Lineage.


    All of a sudden, Rnd''s brows drew together slightly. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, and then his whole face changed.


    He had felt a familiar aura, one that belonged to the Dragon Sovereign Bloodline, and it was rapidly drawing near Sky Dragon Valley.


    That aura was warm and powerful. It carried the majesty of the Dragon Emperor, and as it closed in, something deep inside him rose on its own, heavy and reverent.


    "It''s Your Majesty! The Dragon Emperor has returned!"


    Excitement surged through Rnd so hard that there was no way he could keep sitting there and handle n business anymore.


    He sprang to his feet at once and strode quickly out of the hall to greet him.


    The moment he stepped out of Dragon Sect, Rnd saw three streaks of light racing in from the horizon. In the next instant, theynded in the square before Dragon Sect.


    The light scattered, revealing Jared, Luther, and Grace.


    The instant Rnd saw Jared, his eyes filled with reverence and barely contained intensity.


    He hurried forward, bent both knees, bowed low, and spoke with the utmost respect:


    "Your Majesty! You''ve returned! I, Rnd, wee Your Majesty to Sky Dragon Valley!"


    His voice shook, and there was no hiding what ran through it.


    Jared gave a small nod and said in an even tone,


    "Rise."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!"


    Rnd answered at once. Then he slowly straightened, but he kept his head lowered and stood there withplete respect, not daring to show the slightest carelessness.


    He could feel it clearly. Jared''s aura was only at High Immortal Realm Level Three, yet there was a kind of Dragon Emperor pressure on him that seemed born into his blood.


    That pressure pressed straight into Rnd''s bones. Even though his cultivation stood above Jared''s, he did not dare show the slightest disrespect.


    Jared stepped into Dragon Hall and took a seat at the guest position.


    Luther and Grace stood behind Jared instead.


    They had been to Sky Dragon Valley before, but even now, their eyes still moved around the ce with curiosity.


    Inside Dragon Hall, the whole ce had been built from golden jade. Vivid giant dragons coiled across the pirs, and a massive glowing pearl hung from the ceiling, casting a soft light over everything.


    The entire great hall carried a sacred weight and a stern majesty, and the air itself felt thick with the presence of the Draconians.


    Rnd followed behind Jared. When he reached him, he moved with extra care, bent slightly, and asked, "Your Majesty, now that you''ve returned to the valley, is there some important matter? If Your Majesty has anymand, I will give it everything I have and refuse nothing."


    He knew Jared had note here without a reason. If the Dragon Emperor had returned in person, then something important had to be behind it.


    Jared looked at him and got straight to it. "Rnd, I need the Draconians to step in and help me with something."


    Rnd froze for a beat. Then something shed through his eyes, and he hurried to say,


    "Please speak, Your Majesty! Forget one thing-even if it''s ten things, a hundred things, I''ll still make sure they''re done. As long as Your Majesty is willing to lead us and restore the Draconians, our Sky Dragon Lineage is willing to obey any order. We''ll go through fire and water without hesitation!"


    To Rnd, there was only one reason Jared woulde now. He had to have made up his mind. He had to be ready to lead the Sky Dragon Lineage back into the open and raise the Draconians again.


    Jared shook his head. His voice stayed t. "We can talk about restoring the Draconianster. Right now, I need the Draconians to go to Cloudhaven City, help me take control of that city, and stabilize the situation there."


    Rnd paused, caught off guard, and the confusion showed on his face. "Your Majesty, Cloudhaven City is only a mortal city, and its forces are all mixed together With your strength you acted personally, you could easily suppress every force in the city and take control of Cloudhaven City. Why would the Draconians need to step in?"


    Jared said lightly, "I can''t be bothered to deal with those clowns one by one. It would


    be a waste of time.


    And I''ll be heading to the Luminous Sanctuary very soon. I don''t have time to stay in Cloudhaven City.


    That city is an important hub linking the different regions of the Fourteenth Firmament. Its location matters too much. I need a strong force there to hold things steady."


    He paused, then lifted his eyes to Rnd. His gaze fixed on him, bright and direct. "You''re the best choice."


    Rnd''s brow tightened slightly. A note of worry crept into his voice. "But, Your Majesty, our Draconians have stayed hidden in Sky Dragon Valley all this time. If we suddenly show ourselves, I''m afraid the. Demon Dragon and the Celestial Pce will discover us. If that happens, it could bring total disaster on our Sky Dragon n..."


    Jared looked at him. His tone was calm, but the weight in it left no room to push back. "Rnd, how many years has your Sky Dragon Lineage stayed hidden here in Sky Dragon Valley?"


    Rnd went quiet for a moment. What settled across his face looked worn and helpless, and when he finally answered, his voice had dropped low. "I can''t even remember anymore."


    "You can''t remember anymore?"


    Jared let out a soft breath, and there


    was a trace of something heavy in his voice. "You''ve been hiding here all this time. You don''t dare go out. You don''t dare show yourselves. Every step is careful, like you''re walking on thin ice you''re terrified. the Demon Dragon will find you, terrified the Celestial Pce will hunt you down, terrified thest bloodline


    of the Sky Dragon n will be cut


    off.


    But have you ever thought about this? If you keep hiding like this, how long can you


    keep hiding?"


    Rnd raised his head and looked at Jared. Something clouded his eyes, mixed


    with the kind of helplessness that had nowhere to go.


    Of course he had thought about that question.


    But there was nothing he could do.


    The Demon Dragon Lineage was powerful, and behind them stood the demon race.


    The Celestial Pce was even worse. It controlled half of the Fourteenth Firmament, and experts filled its ranks.


    The Sky Dragon Lineage might have been the orthodox dragon bloodline, but after


    the internal strife, its strength had been badly damaged. It simply could not stand against the Demon Dragon and the Celestial Pce.


    If they had not hidden themselves away, the Sky Dragon Lineage probably would have been wiped out long ago.