The days that followed, I remained within the Fallen Sunset Palace. Although I worried intensely about the conditions of Xingye, Xingzhan, and Yanluo, there seemed to be no recourse but to wait patiently.
My own physical condition was recovering at a remarkable pace.
What struck me as strange was that after being bedridden for twenty-five years, one would expect the body, even if not rusted, to be in poor shape. Yet, the reality was the complete opposite.
In just two days, I felt completely restored, even possessing a peculiar sensation, as if the power within me was significantly stronger than before.
In addition to the Thunder Battle Qi and the Lion Battle Qi, there seemed to be another mysterious energy residing within me—the force I subconsciously felt during my coma.
It could be said that this strange power now held the dominant position within my body!
Not only that, this peculiar energy seemed to possess a powerful capacity for fusion and adsorption, twisting the two completely disparate energies of Thunder Battle Qi and Lion Battle Qi into a single unified stream.
It was profound, enduring, endless, like a boundless ocean flowing through every limb and bone, creating an indescribable comfort and natural ease.
Even more marvelous was that this completely new force had established a mysterious circuit within me, akin to a massive vortex, revolving ceaselessly even without my deliberate exertion.
The trajectory of this circulating energy distinctly followed the path illustrated in the fourth diagram of the Nine Dragons Body Protection technique: the Dragon Summoning Realm.
It wasn't until Yinshuang informed me that I learned a faint aura had persisted within my body during my unconscious state, sustaining my vital life force.
At that time, the Spirit Matron, though unaware of the nature of this aura, keenly perceived its distinctiveness. Thus, she utilized the Nine Dragons Plate to establish the Nine Dragons Rebirth Array, placing my body within its confines.
The Dragon Vein Qi filtered through the Nine Dragons Plate slowly flowed into my body, where it was absorbed and transformed by this faint aura.
Though this process was exceedingly slow, it continued uninterrupted for twenty-five years.
Only when this potent force was sufficient to reawaken every spark of vitality within me did my consciousness break through the deep spiritual shackles and regain control of my body.
The Spirit Matron and the others could not ascertain the origin of this marvelous energy, but I knew precisely what it was: the profound efficacy of the Dragon Summoning Realm within the Nine Dragons Body Protection.
Even though I was unconscious, the Nine Dragons True Qi, having already formed its energy circulation track, continued to move slowly along its original path within me.
Subsequently, under the control of my pure consciousness, this Nine Dragons True Qi interacted with the Dragon Vein Qi from the Nine Dragons Plate, converting the Dragon Vein Qi into the protective True Qi usable by the Nine Dragons Body Protection technique.
Frankly, I am unsure whether this strange power within me is the Nine Dragons True Qi or the Dragon Vein Qi, but one thing is certain.
I have truly turned misfortune into fortune, becoming much stronger than before!
Although I remained immobile for twenty-five years, it was precisely in this state that I cultivated the Dragon Summoning Realm to its pinnacle, unknowingly breaking through the fourth layer of the Nine Dragons Body Protection!
And that strange state during the coma—conscious yet unable to move—was the marvelous realm of the fifth layer: Dragon Hibernation and Turtle Breathing!
I had always struggled to grasp the meaning of this so-called Dragon Hibernation and Turtle Breathing, but only now did I realize its nature.
It turned out that I hadn't completely lost consciousness; rather, the weakening of my life force field had encased my awareness in the deepest recesses of my subconscious.
It was in this state, this very state, that I used pure spirit and will to control the trajectory of the Nine Dragons True Qi, simultaneously perceiving its transformations.
This was the Inner Vision realm mentioned in Taoist energy cultivation!
Who would have thought that an act done merely to pass the time out of boredom would allow me, in the state of Dragon Hibernation and Turtle Breathing, to temper and fuse the Dragon Vein Qi flowing into my body with the Nine Dragons True Qi.
And ultimately break through Dragon Hibernation and Turtle Breathing!
Reaching the sixth layer of the Nine Dragons Body Protection: Rebirth from the Cocoon!
It is evident that cultivating the Nine Dragons Body Protection requires not only comprehension and diligent practice but often depends on serendipity!
The saying, "What is destined to arrive, will arrive!" embodies this truth!
I never imagined that upon waking, the Nine Dragons Body Protection technique would have advanced two full layers consecutively!
The notes left by the original Dragon Shadow indicated that he only achieved this layer of the technique after twenty-three years of relentless practice.
To think I surpassed him by three years.
Wait, strictly speaking, I am now forty-five years old. Although my physical state seems fixed at that of a twenty-year-old, my actual cultivation time should total thirty-one years.
It’s truly a tangled mess; even I struggle to calculate it.
Of course, regardless of the specifics, being alive is what matters most. And now I am even more formidable than before! That is enough!
Seeing my spirit and physical condition improve daily brought immense joy to Mama, Mama, and Yinshuang!
Seemingly unwilling to disturb the peace of our family, the Spirit Matron, Jidu, and Chongyang did not seek me out again.
And so, I finally began a period of tranquil, peaceful days.
The difference was that this current life varied slightly from the past.
How should I put it—I was now a married man!
Of course, besides Yinshuang, I finally met my four precious grandchildren, my children’s children.
How to describe this scene? It was truly—well, hard to articulate.
It was difficult to reconcile the image of myself, barely in my early twenties, now being a grandfather. Gazing at the four babbling infants, I felt a surge that almost made me faint from bewilderment.
But more dominant was an inexplicable joy and excitement.
Damn it, I missed seeing my sons and daughters when they were young, but these four little ones were enough to compensate for that regret.
Who would have thought that at such a young age, I would enjoy the legendary joys of family bliss!
This feeling truly is—!
Shortly after their birth, the four little ones were named by Jiuyou Chongyang.
They were named Jiuyou Tianqing, Jiuyou Tiancheng, Jiuyou Tianqin, and Jiuyou Tianshuang!
However, the four little ones looked so alike that even I couldn't tell one from the other, so I just called them grandson and granddaughter indiscriminately!
Holding one for a bit, pinching another for a bit!
Haha, babies around one year old are the most fun! And four of them at once!
Two boys and two girls—what was even more astonishing was that all four were twin pairs, one boy and one girl each. The birth of these four infants was a moment of great pride for the entire Demon Dragon Royal Family.
In the eyes of the Spirit Matron and Jiuyou Chongyang, these four would soon become super generals of the Demon Dragon Empire, just like their parents and myself.
Since they were too young for physical attribute testing, we couldn't confirm if they inherited my Demon Devouring Physique, but given how formidable their parents were, these four little ones were unlikely to be lacking!
It was only upon meeting these four that I truly felt the sentiment of parenthood—my own children not being here to be raised by me was compensated by four lovely grandchildren.
And they were so adorable!
The four little ones shared striking similarities: large, dark, expressive eyes, and although their hair was sparse, it was a conspicuous black.
Clearly, they had inherited my eyes and hair color—both black.
Yinshuang informed me that Xingye and Xingzhan also had black hair and eyes, resembling me. I never expected this body’s genetic inheritance to be so dominant. And two sets of dragon-phoenix twins, no less!
It made me wonder if there had been some genetic mutation!
The four fair-skinned, tender little ones were growing impatient with my teasing!
Crying, fussing, laughing, shouting—it was quite a lively scene!
It kept Yinshuang, my mother, and the two maids quite busy!
“Oh, my grandsons and granddaughters,” I mumbled, still finding it surreal even seeing them with my own eyes.
“Look at you, you’re old enough to know better,” Yinshuang chided, “Have the decency to stop bullying them.”
“You wouldn’t understand,” I said triumphantly while teasing the little ones, “It’s only when babies are this small that they are truly fun. Once they grow older in a few years, they’ll become mischievous and won't be so willing to be played with.”
Yinshuang and my mother were left speechless.
These past few days have been quite comfortable.
Sometimes I would tease the four little ones, other times I'd help Mother pick herbs and flowers or refine medicinal ingredients.
If it weren't for the constant concern in my heart for the well-being of Xingye, Xingzhan, and Yanluo, I would wish to live like this forever.
As for Yinshuang, although she resided in the Fallen Sunset Palace, she usually returned to the Black Flag Army base during the day to handle routine affairs. Since the development and research of Spatial Magic, it had become an inseparable part of the Demon Dragon Royal Family’s daily life.
One must remember that the Black Sea outpost was a full ninety thousand li from Demon Dragon City; even Thunder Eagles would take nine days to fly there. But with teleportation arrays,
One could stand at an array and arrive thousands of miles away in an instant, returning to the palace via the same array after finishing the necessary tasks.
Damn it, it was faster and more convenient than modern airplanes.
This world was changing so much that even I was falling behind!
It truly exceeded all imagination!
Furthermore, I learned!
Since my coma, Yinshuang had become the supreme commander of the entire Black Flag Army. It was thanks to her that the Black Flag Army, a large collective composed of three major tribes, hadn't descended into chaos.
It wasn't until Xingye and Xingzhan emerged from seclusion two years ago that Xingye took over the Marshal’s seal, allowing Yinshuang some respite. Unfortunately, this comfort lasted only three months!
Two years ago, when the whereabouts of the two little ones became unknown, Yinshuang had to resume her duties as the acting Marshal of the Black Flag Army!
She was completely swamped daily!
It can be said that Yinshuang's past twenty-five years were not easy, making me feel I owed her far too much.
But now that I was finally awake, both Yinshuang and Jiuyou Chongyang felt their hearts settle. Even though I seemed incapable of doing much, spending my days eating, drinking, enjoying myself, occasionally helping Mother with chores, or wandering around!
However, according to Yinshuang and Jidu, as long as I was by their side, that was enough, even if I was useless.
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye, and my body had completely recovered!
And I was eager to gauge my own strength—to what level had I ascended?
Therefore, I decided to venture back into the King’s Forbidden Ground to witness what those so-called Seven Heavens of Trials entailed!
But before entering, I felt it necessary to visit the little creature!
It was hard to imagine that bringing the little creature back to the Demon Dragon Empire out of simple curiosity had inadvertently invited a super guardian deity to the realm.
If it weren't for this little creature’s protection, the Demon Dragon Empire would likely have been razed hundreds of times over.
It could be said that the little creature was absolutely the number one meritorious figure of the Demon Dragon Empire, the Royal Family’s final iron fortress.
Therefore, it was imperative to properly reward the little creature!
I knew the little creature must have been bored stiff over these twenty-five years, as seemingly no one besides me could communicate with it!
Of course, besides offering comfort this time, I also wanted to ascertain the conditions within the Dead Sea.
After all, it was the Hall-Guarding Divine Beast from the Divine Dragon Empire era; it might know something.
Washing Heart Lake!
From afar, I saw the emerald-green, mirror-like lake surface now engulfed by vast patches of red and green.
The once tranquil and unremarkable Washing Heart Lake had completely transformed.
The surroundings were planted with countless red and green flora and fauna, along with numerous tall, massive, jade-green wheat trees.
The lake was filled with schools of fish swimming happily; the entire world teemed with vitality—birds singing, flowers fragrant. It was hard to imagine that such a terrifying monster, causing dread in all who mentioned it, inhabited such a picturesque landscape.
Ever since the little creature took up residence in Washing Heart Lake, this area had been designated a Royal Forbidden Zone. Except for crucial figures like the Spirit Matron, Jiuyou Chongyang, and Jidu, no one else could trespass without permission. Furthermore, a specialized guard unit, solely dedicated to serving the little creature, stood vigil by the lake twenty-four hours a day.
However, today, these guards had all been dismissed by Jidu! I didn't see a single one.
Soon, I felt a familiar mental fluctuation penetrate the deepest parts of my consciousness.
It felt like stepping into some strange domain; invisible and intangible, yet I sensed that every movement I made was firmly locked down by an overwhelming aura, heavy as Mount Tai, making it almost suffocating.
“Hah, Little Creature, long time no see.”
Honestly, I was utterly astonished. The little creature from twenty-five years ago was powerful, but not this absurdly so. If not for the familiar mental signature, which matched the little creature in my memory, I might have turned and fled!
“Big Bad Guy,” as the thought was transmitted, a massive vortex suddenly appeared on the previously calm lake surface, and then a behemoth emerged from the center of the water.
Good heavens, it was the appearance of the Crimson Moon Demon again, though it looked less repulsive this time! At least the disgusting, sticky, fluid substance coating its surface was gone.
From a distance, it resembled a colossal, reddish-brown mountain.
Surrounding it were countless dense, long, tentacle-like protrusions!
It lacked some of its grotesque repulsiveness but gained an air of fierce oppression. At this moment, the little creature’s sheer size even surpassed that of the Ebon Drake God.
Furthermore, I could clearly sense the terrifying power contained within that massive body.
After years of absorption and transformation, the little creature had finally regained its true form as the Hall-Guarding Divine Beast—no wonder the Church feared it so much.
Truly worthy of being the Hall-Guarding Divine Beast of the Divine Dragon Empire!
“I thought you were dead.” I could distinctly feel the little creature’s current agitation and joy.
“Good men don't live long, but bad guys last a millennium!” I quipped with a faint smile. “I’m not that easy to kill!”
Instinctively drawing closer to the lake shore, I finally had the chance to examine the notorious Dark Crimson Moon Demon up close! Its terrifying form made it hard to connect it to its original body—a crab no bigger than my fist.
This reminded me of the Xenomorphs from sci-fi films.
I truly wondered what kind of nation the Divine Dragon Empire was to have created such a creature.
“...!” The little creature seemed taken aback, but it was still extremely excited. “It was so boring! It’s been so long since you came to play.”
“Mmm,” I mused with a touch of melancholy, glancing around subconsciously. “Is there anything here you’re dissatisfied with?”
“Satisfied? Of course, I am satisfied,” the little creature replied. “This place is much better than the Crimson Moon Canyon. I get to eat lots of fish every day, and I can eat the fruit and bark of the wheat trees, plus the fresh air! Ah, having flowers and grass—it’s paradise! If only you could chat with me every day, that would be even better.”
“...” I was slightly taken aback; this little creature actually knew how to enjoy life.
Judging by the arrangement, the Spirit Matron and the others had put considerable effort into arranging the little creature’s living conditions.
All the demands the little creature had initially made were now met.
Special personnel delivered vast quantities of fresh, live fish transported from all over the region into the lake daily for the little creature’s enjoyment. As for the wheat trees on the bank, who knows how many the little creature had gnawed through. As soon as the little creature stripped a patch of forest bare, a specialized crew would immediately replant it.
The number of various ferocious beasts and living creatures released into the forest was countless, ensuring the little creature could eat to its heart’s content every day with variety!
It was rumored that the annual expenditure just for the fish, beasts, trees, and other special crystal ores consumed by the little creature cost as much gold coin as the entire Dragon Soaring Legion spent in a year.
Consequently, 10% of the Demon Dragon Empire’s treasury gold coins vanished into its maw every year.
This made Jiuyou Chongyang, who managed the finances, beat his chest and lament constantly whenever the little creature was mentioned!
This creature was simply a money-burning machine!
However, this costly endeavor was a willing transaction—one party was eager to spend, and the other was eager to receive!
After all, the little creature’s terrifying combat prowess was undeniable.