The Princess And The Lord-Chapter 1416: Back Home

Leon sat on a large rock staring at the steel door, meanwhile, around him beast corpses were scattered like dry leaves, and blood dyed the ground crimson. His hands played with the Elysian crystal, and colorful light refracted off the crystal body. It had been almost a week since Zhao Li Xin had been in the hidden ruin and he had no idea what Zhao Li Xin’s condition was.

There was nothing Leon could do but wait and hope that Zhao Li Xin was okay, if something happened to him, Leon didn’t know how to explain it to Princess Lorient but regardless of that, what worried him the most that Princess Lorient would be heart broken, drown in sadness and loss for her life just like her father, King Marcus.

Leon may not know the exact nature of Lucient’s unique bloodline, but he knows full well that from the recorded in the royal family’s history, all lucient’s descendant will only ever love one person in their lifetime, or no one at all, until the day they die.

There is no mention of mistresses or illegitimate children in their records. In fact, there has never been a single case of a hidden heir born outside an existing family line. No, the Lucients have always been fiercely loyal and faithful to their chosen partner.

Admirable, but a bit concerning because an offspring of Lucient’s lineage is extremely rare. Therefore, for generations, the family has continued through a single male heir in each line, maintaining a solitary thread of inheritance and bloodline.

Therefore, when twins were born in Harland, the entire kingdom was thrown into an uproar; nothing like this had ever happened before. It marked a turning point, a moment of security for the Lucient bloodline that had never been guaranteed until now.

Leon pulled out a cigar from the silver case nestled in his coat pocket, then struck a match with a flick of his thumb. The small flame flickered wildly before catching, casting sharp glints in his eyes as he lit the tip.

He took a slow drag, the ember pulsing orange in the dim light, and then leaned forward, resting one elbow on his knee. The smoke curled lazily from his lips, drifting upward in ghostly tendrils. The silence hung heavy, broken only by the soft crackle of burning tobacco and his steady breathing.

Suddenly, he heard the dragging sounds. The deep, metallic sound of a steel vault unlocking shattered the quiet. Leon tensed, his spine straightening.

Dust and smoke burst outward as the thick door creaked open, its movement sluggish and groaning with age. The air grew thick, swirling with gray, as if the vault were exhaling centuries of silence.

A silhouette slowly appeared, tall, composed, and walking with unhurried certainty. Leon’s eyes widened. "Mr. Zhao!" he gasped, pushing himself off his knee and jumping to his feet.

Zhao Li Xin stepped through the haze. His expression was cold and impassive, the same as always. Long dark hair fell over his chest, tangled yet graceful, and his skin was pale, almost ethereal, beneath the dust.

He looked worn, but unbroken. There was no weight in his eyes, no shadow of fear or anxiety that usually haunted those who spent too long inside the sunless ruins. He didn’t look shaken. He didn’t even look tired.

Most would have emerged screaming in panic or horror, and in most cases, they did not come out at all. But Zhao Li Xin stood like a ghost pulled from legend, untouched by the horrors he must have seen.

Perhaps it was strength. Perhaps it was numbness. Or perhaps, Leon thought with a chill, it was simply that the ruins had found nothing inside him to break.

"You made it," Leon slapped Zhao Li Xin’s shoulder, relieved to see him okay.

Zhao Li Xin gave a faint nod, but his expression remained impassive as always.

"How did it go?" Leon is curious how far Zhao Li Xin’s strength has improved.

Zhao Li Xin closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply as he felt the surge of unbound Qi coursing through his veins. It pulsed like a rising tide—vast, potent, and newly awakened. Finally, after relentless pursuit and grueling refinement, he had advanced his array skills to the Monarch level, and his cultivation has reached sovereign level at the beginner stage.

Yes, his power had grown by leaps and bounds—no doubt thanks to that little girl who had helped him improve. Not that he was complaining. With this newfound strength, he could finally begin studying the formation of the Seven Stars of the Seven-Layer Array, an ancient technique powerful enough to open the Gate to Oblivion.

If he succeeded, he would finally be able to reach Girsha... and probably would know how to save him, and most of all, he finally began the process to save Lucas. But first, he had to meet Lory.

There was truth in the little girl’s words—truth about Nazareth, about what lay beneath the veil of silence and secrets. She had seen something. Something that could not be ignored.

Zhao Li Xin clenched his fist, the power still humming beneath his skin.

"I got everything I need," he said, his voice steady, resolved. "Let’s go home."

Just as Zhao Li Xin finished speaking, a low, guttural growl echoed through the cavern. The sounds bounced off the damp stone walls, multiplying into a chorus of primal snarls. From the darkness beyond the flickering torchlight, pairs of glowing eyes began to emerge, beasts with matted fur and jagged fangs, slinking forward on clawed limbs. The air grew thick with the stench of blood and damp earth.

They were surrounded...again.

Leon scoffed, hefting his massive sword with one hand as its blade scraped sparks off the cave floor. "Why are there still so many of them?" he grumbled, casting a sideways glance at the encroaching pack. "I thought I already cleaned out this thing." He looked at Zhao Li Xin and gave a crooked grin. "So...shall we?"

Zhao Li Xin raised his hand slowly. In the dim light, a swirl of violet energy shimmered before erupting into a brilliant purple flame, casting eerie shadows along the cave walls. The heat licked the air, making the nearby beasts recoil, but only for a moment.

His eyes sharpened, and his voice was calm, cold.

"We shall."

Soon after, the cave roared to life as fire clashed with steel. Sparks lit the darkness, and the air filled with the thick, metallic scent of blood. The wet sound of flesh being torn echoed against the stone walls, followed by the shrill cries of beasts in pain and panic.

It was chaos.

And yet, how familiar it felt. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Zhao Li Xin moved like a shadow possessed, his hands slick with blood, his violet flames dancing across the cave with a feral grace. He crushed a beast’s skull beneath his foot, then incinerated another mid-leap, leaving only charred meat and bone behind.

A savage thrill surged through his chest, primal and intoxicating. The scent of burning fur. The screams. The fear. All of it stirred something deep inside him.

There was little difference between him and the creatures he fought. No wonder his enemies used to call him "monster."

It was a fitting name.

Leon watched from a short distance, blade slick with gore, but his eyes weren’t on the beasts, but on Zhao Li Xin. Who would have thought something so grim was hidden behind that refined and beautiful face? Zhao Li Xin had no difference with the divine creature named Lord Girsha, the lord of the sky who used to rule the blue sky.

Honestly, the Archknights weren’t much different either. Leon had seen what they were capable of when it came to protecting the Lucient family, all that elegant and gentle facade was immediately washed away and replaced by a ferocious warrior bathed in blood but never guilt.

Yes... If you wanted to protect the Lucient family, there are lines you need to cross, and you couldn’t afford to hesitate; you had to be firm and strong, or else, you’d just become another burden for the Lucient to carry.

__________________________________

Lory was still in the middle of a strategy discussion with the others when the chamber doors opened. Stephan entered, carrying a stack of documents in his arms. Without a word, he began distributing them around the room.

"Once we finish this meeting, please return the documents," Stephan instructed firmly. "Due to the sensitive nature of the information, these papers must not leave this room, let alone the walls of Cestine Palace."

"Of course," Edmund nodded solemnly.

"We understand," Garrof added with a grave tone.

"Okay..." Samuel sighed, already anticipating the weight of what he was about to read.

Once everyone had received their copies, Serena began his explanation. "First, allow me to clarify, our findings are based on ancient records compiled by the former Archknight, Mr. Reynald Reimstein."

"Uncle Reynald?" Lory’s brows shot up.

Serena nodded. "Yes, Princess." She stepped forward and continued, "During one of Mr. Reimstein’s excavations at the ruins of Theme, he discovered an old scroll recounting the appearance of a powerful creature, the Azure Dragon, Evereth. The scroll states that the dragon established its territory in the northern region, in a place called Uborgh, which, coincidentally, includes present-day Black Hill Town."

A heavy silence fell over the room. Everyone’s expressions grew tense as they began scanning the documents with renewed curiosity.

"Evereth also had a nest," Serena went on, "The location was at a place once known as Mount Fahrier; however, today it is known as Mount Fehrer."

Everyone instinctively looked up from their documents and fixed their attention on her.

"That information," Serena continued, "combined with what I discovered while investigating Nazareth’s origin, led to something significant. I came across another ancient scroll that stated: ’It was by the mercy of his King that he sealed the Black Dragon...’ You’ll find the original passage in your documents, though most of you may have difficulty reading it. It’s written in an archaic dialect that heavily incorporates the old Ethion tongue. However, the Princess should have no trouble interpreting it."

All eyes turned to Lory.

Lory calmedly examined the word on the document, then she lifted her gaze from the parchment, before confirmed it, "They’re indeed talking about Lucient."

Serena nodded. "Exactly. So, are we all in agreement that this Black Dragon they mention... is the same azure dragon called Evereth?"

No one objected.

Serena continued, "And yet, what we don’t understand is the vast difference between Evereth and Nazareth, after being caged for thousands years Nazareth should become weaker not stronger, and more importantly, how he managed to break free from Lucient’s seal. However, Miss Myre’s testimony has given us that answer. Miss Myre’s story also aligns with our founding at the Elysium SIF. From there, we got full records of the names of the healers who perished during the incident at Mount Fehrer, including the names of Paladin and Dragxtarn that involved in that incident."

She paused, her expression clouded with question. "But what remains unclear... is Nazareth’s deep hostility toward the Lucients and Harland. I know something must influence Nazareth, but how or who is it? It’s still a mystery?"

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