Gao Wu: I became the minor villain that the protagonist was about to destroy.

Ye Ming stood before the massive sealing array, his gaze sweeping over the dim array patterns one by one, remaining silent for a long time.

He could sense that the power contained within this sealing formation was dissipating at an irreversible rate, like an oil lamp about to burn out, its flame flickering and ready to go out at any moment.

The areas where the array patterns were broken and missing were the gaps where the power was most severely lost—through those gaps, he could even vaguely sense the faint tremors coming from the darkness beneath the seal.

That throbbing sensation was cold, hungry, and filled with endless malice.

Sui perched on his shoulder, his compound eyes fixed on the darkness beneath the seal, his six slender legs involuntarily tensing, his voice tinged with a rare hint of apprehension: "There's something down there... and it's alive."

Chi also abandoned its usual arrogant demeanor. Its crimson-gold downy feathers stood on end slightly, and its dark eyes flashed with vigilance. Although it didn't speak, its posture, as if facing a formidable enemy, said it all.

Ye Ming slowly withdrew his gaze and turned to the Dragon Emperor: "Senior Dragon Emperor, do you have a complete record of the array structure of this seal?"

The Dragon Emperor shook his head: "No, it was lost during the Great Calamity. Even if I found the most brilliant array master of our time, I couldn't replicate it. Otherwise, I wouldn't be completely helpless against it."

After listening to the Dragon Emperor's words, Ye Ming's gaze fell once again on the huge sealing array. He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, his voice clear after some thought: "In other words, the only way to truly understand the structure of this seal, the method of repair, and even the complete truth of that war is to awaken the Dragon Emperor who personally participated in the construction of the seal."

The Dragon Emperor paused for a moment, then understood what Ye Ming meant: "You mean... that egg?"

Ye Ming nodded: "Tens of thousands of years ago, the Dragon Emperor chose to transform himself into a dragon egg using a secret technique of the Phoenix Clan on the eve of the Great Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, and has been sleeping ever since. Why did he do this? Was it to escape something? Or was it to protect something? Or perhaps—he foresaw today's situation, and therefore chose this method to preserve the truth and solution until the right time?"

He paused, a hint of certainty in his voice: "In any case, he is the most crucial link in unraveling all these mysteries. Only when he awakens can we truly understand what happened back then, how this seal was established, and—how to repair it."

The Dragon Emperor was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Your deduction is not without reason. The Dragon Emperor of that time was indeed the one who understood this seal best. If he truly retained his consciousness and memories while in slumber, then his awakening could indeed bring us a turning point."

He looked at Ye Ming, his gaze carrying a complex expression: "But this dragon egg has been kept in the hands of my dragon clan for ten thousand years. Successive dragon emperors have tried every means to hatch it, but none of them could. You have nurtured it with phoenix fire for more than a month, and although it has produced a weak life response, it will probably take even longer and more opportunities for it to truly hatch."

Ye Ming looked down at the dragon egg in his hand, feeling the faint but tenacious life force within it. He remained silent for a moment, then raised his head, his gaze calm and firm: "Then we must find a way to awaken it as soon as possible. Since the Phoenix Fire can make it react, it means this path is correct—it's just that the timing isn't right yet."

He looked at the Dragon Emperor and asked earnestly, "Senior Dragon Emperor, I am preparing to travel to the territory of the Phoenix Clan. I think I might be able to find a way to revive the dragon egg there."

Upon hearing this, the Dragon Emperor's expression turned solemn. "It's not that I'm unwilling, but the Phoenix Clan has a deep-seated blood feud with our Dragon Clan. You can ask this fledgling phoenix."

All eyes turned to the fledgling phoenix on Ye Ming's shoulder. The fledgling phoenix also looked troubled. "The Dragon Emperor is right. There are too many radicals in the Phoenix Clan. If you go, I can't guarantee how they will treat you."

After listening to the Dragon Emperor and the fledgling phoenix's words, Ye Ming remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, his tone calm yet carrying an unwavering determination: "I know the Phoenix Clan's territory is dangerous, and I know that entering it in my current capacity is tantamount to a lamb entering a tiger's den. But the hatching of the dragon egg requires even stronger phoenix fire, and this is currently the only clue."

He glanced down at the dragon egg in his hand, which emanated a faint life force, and continued, "Sleeping inside this dragon egg is the Dragon Emperor who personally participated in the construction of the seal and witnessed that century-long war. If he can awaken, we will obtain firsthand information about the seal, the truth about that great war, and he may even know the whereabouts of the Heart of the Earth Veins and the Core of the Stars."

The Dragon Emperor looked into Ye Ming's calm yet resolute eyes, remained silent for a long while, and then slowly sighed, his tone tinged with complexity: "I don't know if your temperament is a good thing or a bad thing."

He paused, then continued, "Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you. But you absolutely must not go to the Phoenix Clan's territory as a dragon. The Phoenix Clan's hatred for the Dragon Clan hasn't dissipated even after ten thousand years. If you enter their territory as a dragon, you probably won't even have a chance to speak before being besieged."

"Moreover, the realm of mountains and seas is fraught with danger, but it may also hold many opportunities."

Ye Ming nodded: "I understand that. I plan to go in my personal capacity, and besides, I am not a dragon, but a human. I'll treat it as a normal exploration of a secret realm."

The Dragon Emperor pondered for a moment, then took out a palm-sized token from his robes and handed it to Ye Ming. The token was entirely black, with an ancient dragon pattern carved on its surface. It was cool to the touch and faintly exuded a dragon's might.

"This is my personal token, imprinted with my spiritual sense," the Dragon Emperor said. "If you encounter any insurmountable danger in the Phoenix Clan's territory, crush this token, and I will sense your location immediately and arrive as quickly as possible. However—this token can only be used once; do not use it lightly unless absolutely necessary."

Ye Ming accepted the token and carefully put it away: "Thank you, Senior Dragon Emperor."

The Dragon Emperor waved his hand: "Go. Remember, come back alive—the dragon egg in your hand, and the things you bear, are far more important than any adventure."

Ye Ming nodded and turned to walk out of the main hall.

Sui leaned on his shoulder and remained silent for a while before saying, "You really aren't afraid of death... That's the Phoenix Clan's lair. You, a human at the Provincial Earthquake Realm, dared to storm their base with a newly hatched phoenix chick and a remnant soul flea."

Ye Ming continued walking, replying calmly, "I'm afraid. But some things, even if you're afraid, you still have to do them."

Upon hearing this, Sui remained silent for a moment, then snorted and said nothing more.

Chi squatted on Ye Ming's right shoulder, tilted its head and glanced at him, a complex look that was incongruous with its age flashing in its small, dark eyes.