Return of the Mythic Bloodline

Once Maximilian and Evangeline prepared to leave, they were summoned by the Sovereign.

When they reached the entrance to the Sovereign’s chamber, Frederick, the Sovereign’s personal guard, stopped them.

"Lady Evangeline, please wait here. Only His Highness is allowed to enter," he said with a respectful bow.

Maximilian seemed reluctant to leave her alone, his eyes narrowing at the elderly figure of Frederick.

"I will wait here. Go," Evangeline said, reassuring him. Only then did Maximilian enter the room.

Although the chamber was grand, with its walls engraved in intricate patterns of gold and silver, it was far simpler than Maximilian’s own room.

A large bed of dark mahogany wood stood against the opposite wall, draped in silken white curtains.

"Come here, my unfilial son," the Sovereign’s weak and husky voice echoed from behind the curtains.

Maximilian’s eyes widened at how much weaker he sounded. He covered the distance between them with hurried steps, a hint of worry evident in his movements.

"Hahaha, so you still care about this old man," the Sovereign chuckled weakly from behind the curtain.

"Father..."

"Come inside. Let me take a proper look at you," the Sovereign said, cutting him off.

Maximilian parted the curtains as he reached the bedside. What lay beyond was an old man with deeply wrinkled skin and a frail, emaciated body resting upon the bed. His cheeks had sunken, and his golden eyes were barely open as they gazed at Maximilian.

Before Maximilian could speak, the Sovereign continued.

"I can only live for at most fifty more years. Once I die, the other Divine Dragons will do everything in their power to usurp the throne. The Five Wardens of the Éclair Clan can match them evenly, but to truly dominate them, you must at least reach the Divine Ascendent Realm."

Maximilian listened in silence. Although the Sovereign claimed he could live for another fifty years, Maximilian, who had been closest to Death Energy since birth, could tell that the time he had left was far less than that. This might very well be the last time he would ever see him.

"The Riftlands are the only lands in Vyoman that I could not conquer, even at the Level Nine Divine Ascendent Realm," the Sovereign revealed. "The Riftlands connect the Upper Realm with the Lower Realm. Like the Abyssal Sea, they are a mysterious place where cultivators cannot channel Soulforce to fly. Even flying artifacts are useless there. Only Dragons and Phoenixes, whose wings do not rely on Soulforce, can soar above the Abyssal Sea and the Riftlands, allowing them to travel freely between the two realms."

He placed a hand on Maximilian’s palm as the latter settled on the edge of the bed beside him.

"The Riftlands are home to mindless beasts, cursed monsters, and cultivators who have succumbed to Soulforce Deviation. The Death Energy there is so overwhelming that it drained more than a hundred years of my lifespan when I attempted to explore that cursed place. However, you, the Dragon of Death, might be able to conquer those lands."

From within his robe, he took out two jade tokens. One bore the symbol of a mighty golden dragon, while the other was engraved with the image of a blazing phoenix.

After handing them to Maximilian, he removed a silver locket from around his neck and placed it in his hand as well.

"This locket contains the Killing Intent I have accumulated over the past thousand years."

A gasp escaped Maximilian’s lips, and his hand trembled as he held the catastrophic locket.

"Father, this thing is too dangerous," he said, trying to return it. "You should keep it with you to protect yourself against any assassination attempt."

The Sovereign merely pressed Maximilian’s hand shut around it.

"Hahaha. If I were to use it here, it would obliterate the entire empire. It will be able to protect you in the Riftlands, even against a cultivator of the True God Realm. But do not depend on it too much. It can only save you once."

"Thank you, Father," Maximilian replied, placing a small sealing array on the locket to ensure it would not activate accidentally. After storing it inside his storage pouch, his gaze returned to the jade tokens.

"Father, these are..."

"Later. First, tell me one thing," the Sovereign said, his tone turning serious. "Did you do that only to protect that girl, or do you truly adore her?"

"Why do you ask, Father?" Maximilian questioned, his eyes narrowing.

"Do not worry. I will not do anything to her," the Sovereign assured him. "Being hated by my son on my deathbed is the last thing I want. Just answer me truthfully. If you only did it to protect her, I will prepare another Soulwine for you."

"You do not need to do that, Father," Maximilian replied without hesitation. "Evangeline is my wife, and I intend to serve her faithfully."

"Good... very good," the Sovereign said with a weak chuckle. "That girl is a descendant of the younger son of the First Lightning Dragon. She possesses a powerful bloodline. Meanwhile, you carry my blood within your veins. Not to mention the Flame Milk you have been drinking all these years."

Maximilian’s eyebrows twitched instantly at those words, and he lowered his gaze in embarrassment.

"How do you know that, Father?" he asked, facepalming.

"Hahaha. You are still too young to hide anything from me," the Sovereign laughed. "Cindera is nearly as strong as I am. Do you truly think she could not catch you stealing their treasure all these years?"

"Y-you mean..."

Maximilian could not continue as realization dawned upon him, leaving him utterly embarrassed.

"I am still astonished by your mental fortitude. Dragons are born with an exceptionally strong libido. Yet even after drinking the Flame Milk all these years, you still managed to keep yourself under control. If Cindera had not confirmed it herself, I would have concluded that you were impotent."

Another realization struck Maximilian. The Fire Phoenix’s strange behavior during his last visit to the World Tree had also been part of his father’s plan. Every one of his actions had always been under the Sovereign’s watch.

"You and Evangeline both possess excellent bloodlines. She will bear healthy children for you. But do not be too hasty. Wait until you reach adulthood if you want healthier offspring."

"Father, if this is all you have to say, I am leaving," Maximilian retorted, a faint crimson hue spreading across his cheeks from embarrassment and annoyance.

Just as he was about to stand, the Sovereign spoke again.

"Do you not wish to know the purpose of those tokens?"

Maximilian let out an exhausted sigh and sat back down.

"Go ahead."

"Tch. Look at the attitude of this child," the Sovereign muttered before revealing, "These tokens belonged to the first Dragon and Phoenix who arrived in Vyoman."

"W-what do you mean?" Maximilian asked, his eyes widening. He did not want to jump to conclusions just yet.

"What you are thinking is correct. Dragons and Phoenixes are not creatures native to Vyoman."

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