Heaven, Earth, Me

Chapter 1525. Breakthrough!

At the very core of the [Sovereign’s Echo Cavern], Yasenia entered the true core area. Here, the dragon’s roar was almost unending, constantly echoing around. The constant roar of rage, authority, unwillingness, and raw strength made the area around the bottommost section feel as if it were covered in dense liquid instead of air. 

Even then, Yasenia, having landed at the edge of the bottommost platform, was walking forward with her four legs and her wings tucked. However, her head was held high, her golden eyes looking toward the center of the dark platform without flinching. 

Looking from above, King Ying praised Yasenia once again in his mind. ‘Exceptional doesn’t do her justice! What a unique and powerful junior.’ 

As Yasenia walked forward, the only things she used to support her body were her bloodline, constitution, and her Dragon Strength. Everything else was set aside, as it would interfere more than it could help. 

If Yasenia had come to this zone first, her body would most likely be cracking and suffering from internal injuries each time a large wave of roars exploded from the very center. Now, though, there was only some discomfort. 

Seeing her own body stand against the powerful waves of pressure that didn’t lose out to any of the other three trials, Yasenia felt her heart surging with emotion. ‘I’ve really become stronger.’ 

Here, Yasenia knew that she was going to break through the fourth level of Transcendence. Once she got that shining golden pearl at the very center, she would let go of her suppressed energy and allow it to surge where it wanted to develop. 

‘Before that, I need to advance my [Empyrean Cosmos Dragon Sovereignty] one more step.’ 

So, Yasenia felt her surroundings; she fought against them but, at the same time, tried to merge with the ridiculously powerful intent left behind by this senior. 

Don’t let Yasenia’s ease fool you. The intent hidden deep within this zone would react differently depending on the realm of the “challenger.” So, even if Ao Xianlan herself were here, the only result would be her body cracking and spewing blood until she died from the pressure. 

When Yasenia reached the halfway mark, she frowned lightly. “King Ying, I have a problem.” 

King Ying, standing nearby at complete ease, asked curiously. “What’s wrong, little one? You are advancing quite easily, right?”

“Mhm. That’s the problem.” Yasenia explained. “Can King Ying control this formation? If so, can you make it suppress me as if I were a higher-ranked dragon? My current refinement is just too high for the desired effect to take effect. At this pace, I will need a few decades to develop my Dragon Strength to the next level.” 

King Ying didn’t immediately deny her wish. Still, he asked, curious. “Are you in a hurry? A few decades is not much, right?” 

“I am, in fact, in a hurry.” Yasenia looked up at King Ying. “My child is about to hatch from the egg, so I really want to return before that.” 

King Ying realized and smiled. “I see. How long until it hatches?” 

“That’s not important.” Yasenia shook her head, and then she spoke with determination. “I want to reduce several decades to just a year. At most two years. I can do it.” 

King Ying squinted. “It won’t be easy. Your body might not be able to take it.” 

Yasenia grinned fearlessly, her dragon features gaining a trace of ferocity. “That’s exactly what I want, King Ying. I want this place to try and bend my knees.” 

King Ying looked at Yasenia’s gaze, and then, he burst into laughter. “This King likes you, junior! Hahaha! So be it then.” 

Then, a supremely solemn aura swept out from King Ying’s body, making even Yasenia’s heart tremble. This level of Dragon Strength King Ying was showing was like the stars in the sky for the current Yasenia, visible but completely and utterly unattainable. 

Then, the Dragon King looked at Yasenia coldly and waved his golden dragon claw. “Kneel.”

In an instant, Yasenia felt as if the world itself had suddenly fallen onto her back. “Omph!” 

Her four legs bent, barely stopping her body from bending down. Even her proud head lowered, her neck muscles straining to the point of veins bursting as she refused to have her chin touch the ground. She gritted her teeth, her golden eyes showing defiance. ‘I can feel my bones cracking under pressure… My legs are unable to hold me up… However, I refuse to bow down!’ 

King Ying didn’t stop even when she saw Yasenia in such a wretched state. The proud starlit blue scales cracked, blood seeping out of her wounds, and her four lean but muscular dragon legs were on the verge of cracking. 

Her chin was at the level of her knees, almost touching the ground, and her wings were tightly pressed against her back. However, even here, Yasenia didn’t feel anger; she felt excitement. “Is… this… all!?” 

BOOM!

Her aura exploded outward, the [Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain] surging around her body like a storm. The dragon, Tyrant of the battlefield, showed excitement when a worthy challenge barred her way! 

King Ying kept his face cold, but internally, he was stunned. ‘What kind of Intent Domain is this? It has battle… instinct… monarchy… How many more concepts are mixed within?’ 

Meanwhile, Yasenia pushed with all her strength, her body screaming in protest as she fought against the world-suppressing strength pressing on her back. At this moment, she thought about the Intent Domain and her Dragon Strength. 

‘What is missing within them?’

As she felt the sheer will pushing her down to kneel, she understood. ‘I have yet to truly step into the true lord mindset.’ 

She, who dominated the battlefield, didn’t really acknowledge herself as the true ruler from the bottom of her heart. There was always that attitude of being a challenger. 

“That’s… wrong.” 

King Ying listened to her words.

“I am… a Progenitor Queen.” 

“I am an Immortal Dragon!” 

“I am the one who suppresses everything that challenges me!” 

Her aura surged, her eyes becoming firmer as a regal aura seeped out of Yasenia. Then, Yasenia forced her front leg to lift, taking a step forward even in her crouched state.

As the scales along her long neck cracked, blood seeping out, Yasenia slowly raised her proud head. 

The dragon was advancing forward.

Like she always has.

Like she always will. 

Each step, her body cracked. 

Each step, her shattered body reforged. 

Each step, her will strengthened. 

King Ying followed as Yasenia approached the faraway pearl slowly. Yet, the surprise in his eyes only magnified with each passing day. 

One week… one month… 

Yasenia constantly walked forward, even when the pressure increased with each step. Still, even as she was forced down, each step pushed her body straighter. 

Each passing day, Yasenia’s head rose, and her wings slowly unfurled. 

Three months… sixth months… 

At this moment, Yasenia’s legs were fully straight, her head raised and resting easily. However, Yasenia was not satisfied. The reason? Her wings still couldn’t unfurl without trembling! 

“More… More… I can resist more. I can… defeat this will!” 

BOOM!

Her aura surged like a hurricane, her wings unfurling widely. One year after she stepped into the innermost part, Yasenia unfurled her wings and raised her head to the sky. 

ROAR! 

For the first time since Yasenia entered this location, she roared back! Her dragon cry burst out, a visible shockwave covering the entire area, and, for the first time since the creation of this place, the sound of a second Dragon Roar boomed out from the [Sovereign’s Echo Cavern]. 

King Ying’s eyes widened. ‘She actually roared back?’ 

This place, suppressed by the ancestor’s final roar, made all dragons inherently feel that they are not worthy of roaring back. However, in front of his eyes, King Ying saw the majestic and proud Empyrean Cosmos Dragon unfurl her wings and roar back! 

As she did that, Yasenia reached out to the treasure in front of her, and then she allowed all her powers to break through! 

The already spiking aura surged even fiercer, a pillar of raw energy illuminating the dark Sovereign’s Echo Cavern. 

[Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain] broke through to the fourth Level! 

[Empyrean Cosmos Dragon Sovereignty] broke through, transforming into the [Tyrannical Cosmos Dragon Suppression]!

Then, inside Yasenia’s Dantian, another important event was occurring. However, this time, the [Emperor Dragon Pearl] that Yasenia took was in a bit of a peculiar position.

Once Yasenia absorbed the new treasure, it confidently entered Yasenia’s Dantian and searched for the Spiritual Core to fuse with it. 

However, once the Pearl entered and looked toward the Spiritual Core, what it saw looking back was a gargantuan Celestial Black Hole Energy Star. 

“...” 

The [Emperor Dragon Pearl] looked at the Big Boss, and also noticed the many other treasures giving it a pitiful look. The Celestial Black Hole Energy Star glanced at the newcomer, and then, it just ignored it. 

It was basically disdaining the new treasure! 

Soluna and the others looked at each other and the trembling [Emperor Dragon Pearl], not knowing what to do. 

“So… Big brother treasure, what are your intentions?” 

The [Emperor Dragon Pearl] approached the Celestial Black Hole Energy Star while trembling madly. Regardless, it needed to complete its mission!  

Seeing the Immortal Level treasure actually dare to approach, the Celestial Star glanced over once more. Then, it spun slightly quicker. 

Terrifying suction force attracted the treasure, the accretion disk hacking at the surface of the [Emperor Dragon Pearl]. Everyone saw how the imposing and powerful Immortal Treasure was sliced, crushed, and transformed into a disc of dust, slowly absorbed by the Celestial Black Hole Energy Star. 

After “eating” the treasure, the Celestial Star burst with strong brilliance, and Yasenia’s meridians were instantly flooded with powerful energy. This energy surged through all her energy paths, both physical and spiritualized, and thickened the meridians, making them more elastic, sturdier, and capable of transferring much more energy compared to before. 

Then, unable to contain it anymore, Yasenia broke through.

King Ying, who was already speechless by Yasenia’s aura, saw another pillar of raw energy burst out, several times stronger than before, and his eyebrows twitched. “Is this dragon trying to ascend to Heaven?” 

The light surging out of the eternally dark Sovereign’s Echo Cavern caught the attention of the ancestors, but knowing who went to participate in that trial ground, they didn’t bother checking what was happening. Clearly, that absurd junior was absorbing another treasure or something. 

Tatyana, meanwhile, looked over with a surprised look. “Ho? She only took two years total this time? Moreover… I can sense that she has broken through… How strong is she now?” 

She was incredibly excited to see Yasenia’s new strength.