Mr. Dragon Knight, the dragon girls are chasing you!

The heavy stone door was gently pushed open, and a tall, aged figure slowly walked into the room, his body carrying the heavy dragon aura accumulated over thousands of years.

The old man was tall and upright. Even in human form, he was over two meters tall, with a straight posture and no signs of the hunchback and decay of an old man.

He was dressed in a neat, dark gray elder's robe, with the hem and cuffs intricately embroidered with dark purple dragon patterns of the Eternal Night royal family. The patterns were ancient and complex, and under the dim light, they faintly shimmered with magical luster.

Her long, white hair was carefully braided into a thick braid that hung down to her chest. A smooth, dark purple dragon scale pendant, a symbol exclusive to high-ranking dragon elders, was hanging from the end of the braid.

Luo Ye had never met this old man before, but judging from the calm and heavy dragon breath emanating from him, his status in the Eternal Night Dragon Clan was definitely not low.

After the old man entered, he did not act condescendingly as Luo Ye had expected, nor did he display any arrogant scrutiny or probing. Instead, he was humble and upright, bowing slightly to Luo Ye and performing the most standard and respectful ancient dragon etiquette.

"My Lord Dragon Knight. I apologize for my intrusion and rudeness."

Luo Ye quickly stood up, cupped his hands in a polite gesture of respect, and said, "Elder, there's no need for such formalities. Just call me Luo Ye. May I ask what brings you here today?"

The old man slowly raised his head, his deep, dark purple dragon eyes fixed on Luo Ye. His gaze was complex and profound, interwoven with extreme anticipation, trepidation, awe, and a hint of almost devout expectation.

He didn't rush to explain his purpose, but instead carefully examined Luo Ye's entire body with his gaze.

His gaze slowly swept over the contract lines on his brow bone, past the magical calluses on his palms, and finally settled firmly on the core of the soul contract on his chest, his eyes filled with utmost solemnity.

After a long silence, the old man finally spoke, his voice deeper and heavier than when he entered, carrying the weight of years that had been pressing on his heart:

"My Lord Dragon Knight, my name is Eldron, and I am the current Grand Elder of the Night Dragon Clan. I have come here today to trouble you with a matter of paramount importance concerning the survival of the entire Night Dragon Clan and the life and death of His Majesty. I have come specifically to implore your assistance."

Luo Ye's brows twitched slightly, and a deep sense of gravity instantly rose in his heart.

A matter of life and death concerning the Eternal Night Dragon Clan? This opening statement is a bit too heavy.

He suppressed his doubts and said calmly, "Elder, please speak. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse."

Upon hearing this, Eldron did not immediately reveal the truth. Instead, he cautiously turned around to confirm that the heavy stone door was completely closed and airtight, eliminating any possibility of outsiders peeking in.

He then raised his hand and waved it in the air, and a light purple soundproof barrier instantly spread out, covering the entire room and completely isolating all sounds and magical fluctuations from both inside and outside.

After making all these thorough preparations, he slowly turned around to face Luo Ye.

The next second, he made a move that completely caught Luo Ye off guard.

With his knees slightly bent and his posture upright, the Grand Elder of Eternal Night knelt down directly towards Luo Ye without any preamble, his posture devout and humble.

"Elder!"

Luo Ye was shocked and immediately rushed forward, reaching out to help him up, her voice urgent, "What are you doing! Please get up quickly!"

Eldron remained motionless, kneeling steadily on the cold stone surface. His long, white braid cascaded down his chest, and his dark purple dragon eyes churned with intense pleading, anticipation, anxiety, and the weariness and powerlessness accumulated over thousands of years.

"My lord Dragon Knight, I beg you, save Her Majesty Eluvia!"

Luo Ye's supporting gesture suddenly froze in mid-air, her heart sinking as a strong sense of unease instantly swept over her.

He immediately knelt down, firmly supporting the old man's arms with both hands, his eyes earnest and urgent: "Elder, please stand up and speak! What exactly happened? Wasn't His Majesty peacefully in seclusion at the Dragon Origin Palace healing his injuries? Could something have gone wrong during his healing process?"

Eldron remained standing, only slowly raising his eyes. His dark purple pupils clearly reflected Luo Ye's figure. After a long silence, he finally spoke, uttering a truth that shocked Luo Ye.

"His Majesty's seclusion is not unexpected, and the recovery of his injuries is progressing steadily. What I seek is not the current injury, but... the curse that has hung over the heads of every Dragon King of the Eternal Night Dragon Clan for tens of thousands of years."

Luo Ye's heart sank, and a chill ran down her spine.

"A curse? What curse?"

Eldron was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, his voice deep and resonant, as if recounting a long-forgotten history:

"Lord Dragon Knight, you should have heard of the Eternal Night Dragon Clan. They are not ordinary branches of the Black Dragon Clan, but the true lineage of the Shadow Dragon Clan, with the purest bloodline and the highest origin."

Luo Ye nodded slightly and replied truthfully, "I've heard a little about it. The Eternal Night Dragon Clan is an advanced form of the Black Dragon Clan, with a bloodline purity far exceeding that of ordinary Black Dragons, and their talent and combat power are among the best on the continent."

"That's right." A complex pride flashed across Eldron's eyes, only to be instantly covered by a deep sorrow.

"Hundreds of thousands of years ago, my ancestor Eternal Night, in order to break free from the shackles of his race and ascend to the pinnacle of the dragon race on the continent, voluntarily signed a bloodline pact with the shadow origin in the deepest part of the abyss."

"This transaction granted us overwhelming control over the shadow realm, boundless primal potential, and unparalleled cultivation talent, allowing the Eternal Night Dragon Clan to dominate the shadow realm of the continent and firmly establish itself among the top dragon clans."

He paused, a bitter glint flashing in his dark purple dragon eyes.

"But the acquisition of any power comes at a price."

Luo Ye held her breath, listening intently, her unease growing stronger.

"Deep within the Shadow Origin lies a will sealed away from ancient times. It cannot tolerate mortal races stealing the power of the Abyss, nor can it tolerate the dragon race controlling the Shadow Origin."

"Thus, an unsolvable bloodline curse was completely imprinted into the very foundation of the Eternal Night Dragon Clan's bloodline, passed down from generation to generation, never to end."

Eldron's words were heavy, each sentence weighing down with the blood and tears of tens of thousands of years of his people: "Every generation of Eternal Night Dragon Kings has their lifespan locked within six thousand years from the day they are born."

"On their six thousandth birthday—the day when dragons come of age—no matter how strong they are or where they are, they will disintegrate and perish in the backlash of the Shadow Origin."

Luo Ye's pupils suddenly contracted sharply, and his heart turned ice-cold.

6000 is old.

In the long lifespan of dragons, 6000 years is merely the beginning of adulthood.

Ordinary dragons can live for 30,000, 50,000 years, or even longer.

However, the Eternal Night Dragon King could only face his inevitable end at the age of 6000.

PS: So, have you all guessed why Eluvia became the Dragon King before reaching adulthood and ran around aimlessly, almost getting hunted down?

The little black dragon will emerge from seclusion tomorrow!