Dragon Kingdom Arc: Chapter 32 - The Mysterious Figure in Black

"Hahahaha..." Mengxi's laughter echoed in the air, seemingly laden with endless sorrow and despair. A tear escaped the corner of her right eye, sliding down like a crystalline pearl, shimmering with a faint light.

"He is truly a fool... to actually say such things, saying that if I wanted to kill him, I would have to step over his corpse first." Mengxi murmured to herself, her voice heavy with pain and helplessness. As these words left her lips, her left eye also welled up, and tears began to stream down her cheeks.

Mengxi whispered, "My longing for you is like the water of the Western River, flowing eastward day and night, never ceasing."

"A-Heng, my mission is complete, and so is yours. Now, I can finally go to find you." Mengxi gazed into the distance, her eyes filled with determination and resolve.

Just as Mengxi was about to fade away completely, the dreamlike vision began to blur.

Mengxi murmured, "One attachment, one thought, one fleeting life; one sorrow, one joy, all in vain. My world has ended; your generation is for you to define."

In this final moment, Mengxi gazed into the consciousness of Ye Heng, the true inhabitant of this world. It was her last look, and a trace of relief and serenity washed over her. She smiled faintly, wishing to say something to Aishi, but she could only lament that she had no time left.

"He... he really is just like him. It seems he truly did not lie to me." As a smile blossomed on her face, Mengxi's figure gradually merged into the depths of his consciousness, eventually disappearing entirely. Yet, at the moment of her departure, the entire sea of consciousness was suffused with a tranquil and mysterious aura, as if bidding farewell to this brave and resolute woman.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Ye Heng seemed to perceive something, and a wave of inexplicable sadness and loss welled up in his heart.

Tears fell unconsciously at that moment. Though he did not know why, he felt a profound sense of loss deep within, as if he had lost someone of immense importance.

Ye Heng stood silently in place, his gaze fixed affectionately on Aishi.

Aishi slowly opened her eyes, waking from her stupor. She gazed quietly at Ye Heng, and he stared back at her. Their eyes met, filled with deep affection, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Tears continued to stream down Ye Heng's face, impossible to stop.

Aishi asked softly, "A-Heng... what is wrong?"

Ye Heng murmured, "I don't know. I just feel as though something very important has left me..."

Aishi reached out, gently caressing Ye Heng's cheek, and comforted him, "Indeed... just now, I encountered Mengxi, the Thunder Emperor, wife of the Dragon Emperor. It sounds ridiculous, and even I find it hard to believe, but I am her reincarnation."

Ye Heng frowned, confused. "But why would her departure make me so sad, to the point of tears?"

Aishi teased him playfully, laughing, "I wouldn't know about that! Perhaps you are the reincarnation of the Dragon Emperor, Long Heng?"

Ye Heng fell into deep thought, recalling the moment at the throne and the inexplicable sense of familiarity that had surged within him. Could it really be as Aishi suggested, that there was some connection between him and the Dragon Emperor? The thought circled in his mind, refusing to fade.

As he pondered further, Ye Heng resolved to uncover the truth behind this mystery. He secretly determined to find the answers, solve the riddle of the Dragon Kingdom, and discover why the Thunder Emperor, Mengxi, and the Dragon Emperor, Long Heng, had fallen.

Seeing the firm expression on Ye Heng's face, Aishi felt a stir in her heart. She knew that the man before her was ready to face the unknown challenges ahead. She smiled encouragingly, "No matter what awaits you, I will always be by your side."

Ye Heng looked at Aishi with gratitude and clasped her hand tightly. Their eyes were filled with trust and love. In this mysterious world, they would walk side by side to uncover the secrets hidden in the depths.

"A-Heng, watch me..." She nimbly picked up the Thunder Emperor's Blade, her eyes flashing with confidence and resolve. With a low cry, her figure flickered, and she instantly entered a combat stance.

"Mighty thunder, striking ten thousand miles; the stance of a king, the fury of the storm!" Accompanied by her impassioned cry, her movements were as natural and fluid as flowing water, every strike carrying boundless power and majesty. The blade danced in her hands like lightning across the sky, a dazzling sight.

Her posture was agile and elegant, her movements precise and powerful, as if she had become one with the blade. Every swing carried the force of a thunderbolt, delivering an unparalleled impact. In this moment, she was the master of the battlefield; no one could stand against her.

***

Suddenly, she turned back, her gaze meeting Ye Heng's. In that instant, time seemed to freeze, and only the two of them remained in the world. Her eyes revealed a tenderness that left Ye Heng captivated.

The sword dance concluded, and like a fairy descending, she drifted gracefully into Ye Heng's arms. Ye Heng held her tightly, feeling the warmth radiating from her. In this moment, they seemed to forget everything around them, immersed in their own shared happiness.

Such a magnificent sight would surely be the envy of many.

"It is truly incredible! To think you have changed so much after mastering the divine weapon! Not only have you successfully ascended to an S-class Valkyrie, but your entire aura has been elevated instantly. When we return home, I must examine you thoroughly~" Ye Heng's sudden lack of seriousness caused Aishi to pout playfully.

Aishi chided, "Stop fooling around... Senior Sister is still watching!"

Ye Heng instinctively looked back at Aimi, only to see her wearing an expression of fury, which frightened him so much that he immediately hid behind Aishi.

Ye Heng said with a guilty conscience, "Sister Aimi, p-please don't come over here. I am an A-class Valkyrie now, you know! Even if we are at the same level, I might not necessarily lose to you!"

Aimi's lips curled into a sly smile. "Is that so? Then I really must see for myself."

Ye Heng shouted in a panic, "D-don't come over!"

Just as the two were about to clash, a single sentence from Aishi acted like a bucket of cold water, instantly bringing them back to the matter at hand.

Aishi stared intently at the third divine weapon, her eyes filled with doubt. "Then how should we handle this divine weapon? Should we just leave it here?"

Aimi replied, "I cannot wield a spear; this divine weapon is essentially not meant for me. Rather than leaving it here, we should take it back to the Valkyrie Kingdom to see if there is someone worthy of it."

Aishi frowned and said, "But... the emergence of a divine weapon will surely cause a massive stir! By then, it won't just attract the attention of the Esper Beasts; I am more worried that the other four kingdoms will be plotting in the shadows."

She sighed and continued, "So... I originally intended not to bring it back to the Valkyrie Kingdom, so that this secret would be known only to the four of us. As for Senior Sister Ailu, she would certainly have been imprisoned on the highest level by then."

Aishi added, "However... I am afraid that... the lack of a wielder for this divine weapon means one less hope in the fight against the Esper Beasts."

Ye Heng looked at the troubled Aishi, smiled slightly, and comforted her, "Do not worry. It is fine to bring the divine weapon back. The news will, at most, only reach the higher-ups, and the higher-ups are nothing more than the Five Elders. We have no need to doubt the trust of the Five Elders."

Hearing Ye Heng's words, Aishi relaxed slightly. At this, Aimi did not hesitate to place the divine weapon into an S-class container.

With the disappearance of the divine weapon, the cave seemed to lose the purpose of its existence. Its stability began to crumble, falling into a state of imbalance that was impossible to maintain. Seeing that the cave was on the verge of collapse, Ye Heng keenly sensed the anomaly. Without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed the two women beside him and sprinted toward the exit. "Bad news! The cave is collapsing; we must leave here at once!"

"Hold on tight!" Before the words were out, Ye Heng moved, his entire body turning into a streak of golden light, whooshing out of the danger zone.

The speed was so extreme that the two S-class Valkyries could not even react! They looked at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Aimi exclaimed, "I never expected that, even as an A-class Valkyrie, his speed would be this astonishing. If he ascends to S-class in the future, it will surely shake the entire world!"

Ye Heng scratched his head, looking a bit bashful. "Sister Aimi, you flatter me. Actually, my Valkyrie power is of the light attribute, and the nature of light is naturally tied to speed."

Aimi laughed, scolding him, "I was just praising you a little; don't get carried away."

Ye Heng laughed mischievously, "Heehee... how could I be that kind of person? I am the future most powerful Valkyrie Master of the Valkyrie Kingdom!"

Aimi looked at him tenderly. "Sister believes in you..."

Just then, Ye Heng suddenly felt a trace of danger, faint to the extreme. This sensation was infinitesimally small, a mere 0.00000000001 in intensity, yet Ye Heng captured it keenly! His instantaneous reaction and teleportation ability shocked everyone once more, and he dodged the sudden sneak attack with lightning speed.

Ye Heng roared, "Who is it? Come out!" His voice boomed like thunder, echoing in the air with endless majesty and fury.

Aishi and Aimi also drew their life weapons, standing at the ready, entering combat mode. Their eyes were sharp as hawks, staring at the surroundings, not letting a single detail escape them.

However, the surroundings remained silent; no one responded to Ye Heng's shout. Seeing that no one appeared, the rage in Ye Heng's heart burned ever brighter. He gritted his teeth, resolutely drew his own life weapon, and said coldly, "Since Your Excellency is so fond of hiding in the shadows, do not blame this junior for being heartless!"

At this moment, Ye Heng displayed extraordinary calmness and decisiveness. He knew that when facing a potential enemy, one could not afford the slightest hesitation or retreat. He had to take the initiative and respond to the looming danger with a firm stance.

As the saying goes, if the enemy does not move, I move; if the enemy moves, I must move. Ye Heng closed his eyes, appearing to be using his spiritual power to probe the surroundings, but in reality, he was secretly accumulating power. This state of readiness is called "Gathering Momentum," requiring extreme focus and control.

In this brief time, Ye Heng gathered all his Valkyrie power into a single point, preparing for a powerful strike. This method of attack was immensely destructive, capable of delivering a fatal blow in an instant. However, gathering momentum had a significant drawback: because the charging interval was long, Ye Heng could not move while doing so, making him extremely vulnerable and easily becoming a target. Furthermore, with so much power concentrated in one point, the process was very obvious and easily detected by an opponent.

Therefore, this technique was usually used only as a final trump card, a decisive move when both sides had exhausted all options and were on the brink of despair.

But in the current situation, it was not apparent that Ye Heng was gathering momentum; he simply stood there blankly for a long time, as if he had lost consciousness. Yet, this seemingly defenseless posture gave a false impression, making people mistakenly believe he was easy to handle. In truth, this was merely a ruse created by Ye Heng.

Suddenly, Ye Heng's eyes snapped open, and a blinding light burst from them. He flickered, rushing toward the sky 200 meters directly above like a bolt of lightning. He swung his sword with all his might.

The power of this strike was terrifying, instantly slashing through the void and revealing a deep fissure. Everyone was stunned, their eyes wide as they stared at what was happening. One had to know that a Valkyrie capable of slashing through the void must at least be in the mid-S-class realm. The contrast between Ye Heng's strength and his current cultivation level was simply unprecedented.

As the void split, space began to distort violently, as if it were being torn in two. Powerful energy fluctuations spread in all directions like an invisible shockwave. Aimi and Aishi retreated, fearing they would be caught in the blast. Ye Heng stood quietly in place, his eyes firm and cold, staring at the person slowly emerging from the void.

"Hahahaha... not bad, not bad..."

"You have a hint of a king's presence, but it is not enough."

Ye Heng looked at the person draped in a mysterious black robe, his eyes revealing a hint of vigilance. He said in a deep voice, "May I ask why Your Excellency is acting so sneakily? If you are not a member of the World Serpent organization, I will not treat you as an enemy. Please, take your leave!"

The mysterious black-robed figure let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing in the air. He said with disdain, "World Serpent? Those are nothing but infamous scoundrels; I have no interest in them. However... you gave me such a show of force right from the start; that really made me lose face!"

Ye Heng keenly grasped the subtext in the other's words and immediately understood his intent. He responded calmly, "What is it that Your Excellency desires? You might as well speak plainly."

The corner of the mysterious black-robed man's mouth curled into a sly smile. "I do not require any specific item; I am just worried that you might not be willing to give it to me."

Ye Heng's heart tightened, but he maintained his composure. He said firmly, "If Your Excellency makes a request, if it is within my capability, I will naturally not be stingy; if it is beyond my power, I beg your forgiveness for my inability."