Chapter 2009: The Great One’s Appearance(3) The Holy Dragon Emperor could only sigh inwardly after hearing the Great One’s declaration—that he’d defeat Dragon Goddess Yeyou. While it was true that Dragon Goddess Yeyou may not have been improving her strength since her disappearance because she’d lost her body, and her soul had split into several parts, nobody could say for certain that the Great One had surpassed her, but it was definitely a possibility. "Once I defeat her, I’ll finally obtain the one thing I’ve yearned but failed to claim in this life," the Great One declared, his eyes burning with fervent determination. The Holy Dragon Emperor narrowed his eyes at the Great One’s words, which carried an unsettling undertone, as if he saw Dragon Goddess Yeyou not as a person, but as something to be claimed. "In any case, I cannot help you. They didn’t mention where they’d go after leaving the Dragon Spiral Mountain." The smile on the Great One’s face slowly disappeared, and he responded, "Maybe, but I won’t know for sure until I force it out of you. How many do I have to kill to make you talk? Half?" The Holy Dragon Emperor sneered in disdain, "You may have gotten stronger over the years, but your character has fallen quite lowly, Great One. Even if you kill everyone, my answer will remain the same. I don’t know where Dragon Goddess Yeyou went." The Great One said nothing in return, but his aura surged violently, speaking louder than any words ever could. The Holy Dragon Emperor wasted no time, instantly transforming into his dragon form. Though he knew full well that the Great One stood as an even greater threat than the Celestial Emperor had been, he refused to retreat. Defeat was likely, but cowering was never an option. "It’s been a while since a dragon has dared to defy me, so I’ll enjoy this for a while." Moments later, the Great One and the Holy Dragon Emperor collided in a thunderous clash, their fierce exchanges unleashing shockwaves in every direction, each impact chipping away at the Dragon Spiral Mountain, piece by piece. "Heavens! The Great One is attacking us!" "W-What should we do?!" The Holy Dragon Clan was thrown into momentary panic, but their hesitation didn’t last. Just like when the Celestial Emperor attacked, they surged forward to assist him, even if their efforts barely made a dent in the overwhelming power of the Great One. Though the Great One’s individual power surpassed even that of the Celestial Emperor, the Holy Dragon Clan managed to hold out against him far longer than expected. Of course, this endurance was only possible because the Great One was clearly holding back. If the Great One had gone all out from the beginning, the Holy Dragon Clan would’ve perished almost instantly. Eventually, the Great One hovered alone above the Dragon Spiral Mountain, his presence dominating the skies. Below him, the Holy Dragon Emperor and the rest of the clan lay scattered across the battered landscape, defeated and motionless, unable to lift even a finger after their overwhelming defeat. Their fight had attracted many spectators again, though not as many as when the Celestial Emperor attacked. "What the hell? Isn’t that the Great One? Why is he attacking the Holy Dragon Clan, too?" "I don’t know what the Holy Dragon Clan did, but to offend both the Celestial Emperor and the Great One... they’re fated to be erased from existence soon." "And since it’s the Great One, the other Royal Dragon Clans wouldn’t be able to do anything about it." Some time later, the Great One’s voice echoed across the battered peaks, loud and clear, rippling through the mountain like thunder, "Though I do not wish to do this because of my respect for Dragon Goddess Yeyou, your defiance cannot go unpunished. As retribution, I shall destroy the final Dragon Spiral Mountain in the Nine Heavens." The Great One raised a single finger, and in an instant, an overwhelming aura surged from his body. At the tip of his finger, a small orb of condensed energy began to form, glowing intensely. It rapidly expanded, growing larger and brighter until it blazed in the sky like a miniature sun, radiating power that shook the heavens. Moments later, the Great One gave a casual flick of his finger, and the blazing miniature sun shot through the air toward the mountain. As it descended, the heat radiating from it was so intense that it caused the surrounding sea to boil violently, sending waves of steam rising into the heavens. The Holy Dragon Clan could do nothing but watch in helpless silence as the blazing sun descended upon them. One by one, they began to close their eyes—not out of fear, but in solemn acceptance of the death they could no longer escape. However, amid the chaos and impending doom, a lone figure silently appeared between the descending sun and the Dragon Spiral Mountain like a ghost. He was small in stature, appearing no older than a young teenager, yet his eyes gleamed with ancient knowledge and unfathomable experience. Strangely, he emitted no presence whatsoever, and his body was semi-transparent, as if he didn’t exist within the fabric of reality itself. Though the Holy Dragon Clan failed to notice him because of his lack of presence, the Great One did not. The moment his eyes fell upon the small figure, his body tensed, and a flicker of something rare flashed in his eyes: hesitation. Without a word, he clenched his fists, and in an instant, the blazing sun above dissipated, abruptly canceling his attack. "What is the meaning of this?" The Great One spoke with a frown on his face. "It’d be problematic if you were to destroy the Dragon Spiral Mountain," said the young teenager. "I wasn’t talking about the Dragon Spiral Mountain. Why are you here?" "Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to stop you." "With an avatar that doesn’t even have an ounce of power?" The Great One sneered. "Are you looking down on me?" "You’re right. I don’t have any power in this state, so I cannot physically stop your actions. However, I can offer you a word of advice. If you were to destroy the Dragon Spiral Mountain, Senior Sister Yeyou will not forgive you," said the young teenager. "You speak as if it’s a certainty. Both you and Yeyou vanished without a trace after that bastard’s era came to an end—only to reappear now, at the exact same time?" The Great One’s eyes narrowed, voice edged with suspicion and frustration. "What is the meaning of this... Dragon Ancestor?" The Great One’s last words shocked all of the spectators. Nobody there could’ve anticipated the reappearance of the Dragon Ancestor. "That teenager is the Dragon Ancestor?! The third Dragon of Origin?!" "I thought he died long ago!" "No, he simply disappeared, just like Dragon Goddess Yeyou. For both of them to show up now... something big will happen in the Nine Heavens very soon..." As murmurs of concern spread among the spectators, the Dragon Ancestor finally spoke, his tone calm but laced with biting sarcasm, "Are you upset we didn’t include you? Feeling left out?" He paused, his gaze unflinching. "Well, maybe that wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t spent those days hounding Senior Sister Yeyou like some lovesick, perverted maniac." The Great One trembled, his eyes flaring with rage. "Do not mock my feelings for her!" he roared. "I am not mocking you. I am merely reminding you why Senior Sister Yeyou despised you and why she ultimately chose to keep you out of our group. And if you continue to chase after her like you did in the past... I doubt she’ll be able to resist killing you." "Hahaha! Kill me?! Maybe she had that power in the past, but things are different now! I am stronger than her!" The Great One laughed. The Dragon Ancestor merely shook his head with a pitiful smile, "Oh, you ignorant one. Senior Sister Yeyou’s power is far more than you can fathom, and what you witnessed in the past was merely a fraction of her true power since neither you nor I was strong enough to make her fight seriously." "..." The Great One was left speechless, his eyes widening in disbelief. ’What she showed me... was only a fraction of her true strength?’ Even for someone like him, such a thought was difficult to accept—nearly unfathomable. The Dragon Ancestor suddenly glanced down at his body, watching as it began to fade, his form slowly unraveling into fragments of light. "Looks like my time is running out," he muttered, then lifted his gaze to meet the Great One’s. "If you truly intend to destroy the Dragon Spiral Mountain, there’s nothing I can do to stop you. However, bear this in mind—that Senior Sister Yeyou would skin you alive if you did. And instead of chasing after her, why don’t you come find me? I’ll share with you one of Senior Sister Yeyou’s greatest secrets." Before the Great One could respond, the Dragon Ancestor’s body vanished as if he had never existed in the first place. "..." The Great One continued to hover above the Dragon Spiral Mountain long after the Dragon Ancestor had faded, his expression unreadable as he lingered in silence, lost in deep thought. Eventually, the Great One clicked his tongue in annoyance, and without saying a word, he vanished from the skies above the Dragon Spiral Mountain, leaving behind only the weight of his presence and the silence that followed. The Holy Dragon Emperor could only stare at the sky in disbelief. "Looks like we’re fated to continue serving Dragon Goddess Yeyou..." he mumbled.