Chapter 860 - 417: Supreme Dragon Man (Part 2)
"Yes."
Farina glanced at Livi, then at Inanna sitting atop the mountain giant dragon in the distance.
"Although I’ve never thought it real myself, the meaning of this name indeed directly points to the Crimson Dragon among the Dragon Ancestors."
"Is ’Rupes’ usually avoided due to some taboo?"
Farina nodded: "In the genealogy, mostly burnt, it’s discernible that due to certain reasons, our family wanted us to conceal the middle name."
"No need to hide ’Vaiwen’?"
"No, retaining it is actually necessary. This is related to the ’Flying Dragon Blood’ we need to discuss."
Farina raised her "Dragon Blood Heart Core Staff," sharply slicing the flame jade encircling the tip against her palm. The sudden gesture took everyone by surprise, and as cries were heard, her blood flowed profusely, quickly collecting and dripping to the ground.
With two hissing sounds, the flower smeared with blood beneath withered instantly, while the blood on the sand flickered into a small flame before calm returned.
"What is this?"
"Why did it happen?"
"Flying Dragon Blood, was it truly that?"
The young girls chattered, while Li Ang grinned: "Case solved."
"Sorry for keeping it from you."
"What what?" Zoe sensed more beneath their words.
"There was once a fierce battle, everyone was injured, and Farina, being a caster, was isolated and surrounded by enemies. We thought she was in trouble, but she turned out to resolve it first."
The Dragon Witch flicked her long hair back over her shoulder: "I, too, love beauty and don’t wish to be compared with Two-legged Flying Dragons, but truly those fighting with me are facing a dragon."
"Indeed, Two-legged Flying Dragons are very ugly and hateful." Zoe nodded, completely understanding.
"The mystery of those people being burned to death by spontaneously rising flames has been solved, considering you lost a lot of blood back then." Li Ang nodded.
"However," he continued, "why does your bloodline affect your reception of Fire Dragon’s power? Is it because it comes from the Crimson Dragon?"
"It has nothing to do with the Crimson Dragon." Farina laughed softly: "If it truly were the Crimson Dragon, even I wouldn’t know what power I could wield, nor would it..."
As she spoke, certain memories seemed to surface, her habitual smile dimming, and her whole demeanor paused, as though enveloped by an immense shadow.
The aura of this moment was intensely perceived even by the young girls beside her, causing their conversational tone to soften noticeably.
Farina took a deep breath and looked at everyone: "My bloodline has been cursed."
Seeing no immediate response, she continued: "The verifiable record our family once had traces back to the Bailong Empire era, means intricately linked to the Bailong Sect.
"The Bailong Empire was inherited from ancient tribes familiar with the Dragon Race; perhaps it was the Dragon’s Blood inherently providing a formidable body and spirit. They first revived amidst a collapsing world, taking root on Sky Island, beginning their expansion."
Bailong Empire was a once gloriously civilized society, though before its decay and corruption, it never quite reached eminence, yet genuinely brought much light to a bewildered world.
Within Dragon Country, the worship of different Dragon Races persisted, from the twins of crimson and black to the unknown fallen Leviathan.
"It sounds odd," Livi remarked.
Li Ang smiled at her: "After all, you truly haven’t felt their worship; Dream Marsh Island likely consisted of descendants of those believers. We also discussed perhaps fate or the bloodline’s perception led them there."
"But I don’t possess any dragon-related bloodline," Meimei noted.
The white-haired girl’s words carried doubt; being the Scion of the Tides, her power didn’t seem derived from the Sea Dragon Bloodline, even in a village that indeed revered such.
"Indeed, even diluted, though I am the only one who can discern, you genuinely carry Sea Serpent blood in you, yet the favor you receive does not stem from it."
Livi appeared puzzled but refrained from continuing the conversation.
With their discussion concluded, Farina resumed: "As an extensively enduring empire, Bailong Civilization naturally underwent power shifts, structural changes, and eras where it didn’t exist as an empire.
"Some factions fell, others perished, unable to accept the outcome, some turned to extremes, employing forbidden and corrupt Techniques.
"Due to the essence’s effectiveness, ultimately, not only the Fallen, but those in power sought solidification of authority, opportunists for ascendancy, widely emulated."
"The most core, sinister Technique remains unknown to me, but some surface layers you witnessed at Flashing Field."
"Indeed," Li Ang recalled the intrigue with Platinum King and Bailong Sect.
"Wait, sacrificing countless people in a dueling arena as evil practices are merely surface-level?" Dorothy interjected.
"Incredible, no wonder this civilization collapsed," Andasu nodded.
"Should’ve collapsed," Alulu frowned.
"Before, Akuya Lord spoke about the epicenter where ’Heterogeneous Dragon God Bahamut’ appeared. Our family’s tale claims the Bailong Empire’s wickedness angered the Divine Spirit, prompting the divine wrath."
"While Zoe’s Bahamut appeared for reasons unknown, there seems no harm in the Bailong Sect’s version," Li Ang added.
"In essence, in the Bailong Civilization’s secret techniques, some adjusted their own bloodline, like purification to regressively resemble their Dragon Ancestors."
Farina pressed her palm against the peak above, emphasizing her own point, albeit awkwardly with the hand placement.
"Vaiwen, a family that has practiced this."
"Frankly, it’s a folly by mortals."
Livi frowned: "Races able to combine with Dragons and birth Dragon Descendants were originally those strong tribes, possibly Primordial Beings, hence allowing the rampant Dragon Factor to eventually settle, despite many initial offspring suffering miserable fates; outward collapse is secondary, seeds of madness may persist.
"As generations proliferate, Dragon Descendant’s conditions stabilized, transforming the power from curse to blessing, imparting inherent stable strength.
"Yet, attempting reversal to ancestors? They likely have no idea of their earliest ancestors’ horrific plight."
Livi hugged her arms, recounting ancient myths reminiscent of remote antiquity.
"Indeed, thus, this ’curse’ was transmitted until my birth," Farina confirmed.
"Silver Era humans weren’t as strong initially, unable to dilute this power, hence your Flying Dragon Blood’s extraordinary concentration," Livi observed.
"Originally, my Flying Dragon Blood wasn’t so pure."
Farina fell silent for ten seconds before looking at Li Ang: "I haven’t shared my birthplace with old friends because it has been razed."
The young girls showed slight shock, yet the Dragon Witch unaffectedly recalled her past, or rather enacting a state of ignoring others as she reminisced.
"My homeland comprised a settlement of Dragon Descendant bloodline, all surnamed ’Vaiwen,’ yet differing middle names from various Dragon Ancestors; most ’Atum,’ representing the Black Dragon among them, our family solely ’Rupes.’"
Li Ang experienced a flash of insight, suddenly realizing the ill-fitting aspect he noticed earlier.
Farina had spoken about the Dragon Ancestor and their descendants’ matters; the Two-legged Winged Flying Dragon, a descendant of the Black Dragon, while the Crimson Dragon’s bloodline could mean those summoned Four-legged Winged Flam Demon Dragon or depowered Four-legged Dragon Beast, even Firelight counted.
"Your family mixed two dragon bloods?" Li Ang intently watched the Dragon Witch.
"Yes, perhaps my family lineage stemmed from those within Bailong Civilization wielding forbidden secret techniques; this led Bailong Sect to us.
"My family sacrificed entirely to Bailong Sect; their blood injected into me, intending to forge a Supreme Dragon blending Crimson and Black blood, yet before success, Agni Lord rescued me.
"Thus, I became the Deputy."
"And the cursed blood, as Lord Leviathan stated, even a trace of Fire Dragon’s power contact could lead to loss of control, burning myself into oblivion."
Farina finished in one breath, enveloped by silence from her surroundings.