Chapter 882: Dragon Vein

Chapter 882: The Dragon Vein

Li Huowang had always been indifferent to such matters, for they were always full of conflicting interpretations—each side claiming their own righteousness, yet never matching the actual events that unfolded in reality.

Yet even a distorted truth was still truth, however warped it might be.

Everything else could wait, but since they were about to confront Tian Chen, the dragon vein was absolutely paramount.

The dragon vein wasn’t just capable of anchoring the daily hours; the dragon’s energy also shielded against interference from other fates, and even the dragon vein itself—

Ever since he had seen the golden dragon of Tian Chen, Li Huowang had harbored a lingering doubt: what exactly was this dragon vein?

Whether by instinct or some deeper sense, he felt that golden dragon was far from simple.

“About the dragon vein, father, what I know, you probably already know,” Li Sui said, extending two tendrils to wrap around the nearby teapot and pour a cup of hot tea for Li Huowang.

“Each dragon vein corresponds to an hour, and when one disappears, so does its associated time.”

“No, I’m not asking about that,” Li Huowang said, setting down the teacup he had just raised. “I want to know why. Where did the dragon vein come from? Why does it synchronize with time?”

“Other sects and beliefs have absurd legends, even Qingqiu’s long-lived Sky God has them. Surely there shouldn’t be no legend about the dragon vein?”

Xuan Pin extended a tendril to stroke Li Huowang's head. “Father, there isn’t, because the dragon vein *is* time itself—it has always been like this. Do you really think there can be time without a dragon vein to anchor it?”

“Just because something has always been that way doesn’t mean it’s right. Besides, who says time must be bound to a dragon vein? Time should exist independently.” At that moment, Li Huowang froze.

“Father, what are you trying to say? Even common folk don’t understand these mysteries, but you’ve seen the dragon veins die and time diminish. And—”

“Wait! Just wait!” Li Huowang ran his fingers through his hair, scratching his scalp anxiously. “Wait a minute—I’m remembering something!”

But after a long effort, he still couldn’t recall what it was. Not even Li Sui’s help with her tendrils could jog his memory.

Damn it, what exactly had he remembered? It was important, surely.

Li Huowang slammed his hand down in frustration.

“Father, are we getting off track? We were just talking about the dragon vein.”

“Yes, yes, the dragon vein—we continue.” Li Huowang straightened himself again.

“What I mean is, what exactly is the dragon vein? Dragon vein, as the name implies, should be part of the dragon, right? Why is it attached to humans instead?”

Then Li Sui recounted what she had seen in Tian Chen—the golden dragon.

“The dice said that golden dragon might be the dragon vein of Tian Chen. I suspect it may also be connected to the so-called ‘heavenly descendants’.”

“I don’t know how powerful Tian Chen is, but if they can casually manipulate Heaven’s will, then they can probably easily manipulate the dragon vein and its energy. Either possibility would be dangerous.”

“Father, I’m telling you the truth. There are no legends about the dragon vein. In the mortal world, speaking ill of the heavens brings death.”

“Hmm…” Li Huowang frowned, leaning back with arms crossed. He’d hoped to gather some intelligence on the enemy, but now he had nothing. This was troubling.

Three days. He couldn’t go to Tian Chen without knowing anything about his enemy—without even understanding what he was up against.

Just as Li Huowang was deep in thought, Li Sui stood up and tugged at his sleeve, walking toward the exit.

Seeing her move, Li Huowang didn’t ask—he followed her.

Under Li Sui’s guidance, they returned once more to the oppressive imperial palace, finally stopping before the grand ancestral temple, where incense burned thickly.

Li Huowang had been here before, many times. He knew well what lay within.

“Father, if you truly want answers, they can only be found here.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go,” Li Huowang said, walking into the ancestral temple with Li Sui.

Inside, people were present—mostly withered old eunuchs, their faces like dried wood. They swept dust from the tablets with their fans, solemnly guarding the tombs of deceased emperors.

If all went according to plan, their fate would also lie here.

Li Huowang knew the exterior was merely decoration. He walked directly to the yellow silk hanging on the wall beside him.

As the yellow cloth was drawn aside, a solemn black stone door appeared before them. Carved into the door were nine fierce dragons with mouths agape and claws outstretched, appearing lifelike.

When Li Huowang pulled open the massive stone door, a chilling cold wind rushed out, sending shivers down his spine.

Behind the door, the space was funnel-shaped—high walls surrounding a low center, decorated in royal opulence.

Everywhere glimmered gold. Even the largest coffin, as big as a house, was made entirely of gold. Nine golden dragons, each with different forms, were chained together, pulling the golden coffin in all directions.

Inside that golden coffin lay the most precious treasure of the Great Li Dynasty—the dragon vein.

A Great Li emperor lay atop another, and beneath him, another, stacked endlessly upon endless layers, forming a vertical column of corpses.

The interior of the coffin was pitch-black and deep. Each emperor was chained mid-air, arranged neatly into a towering pile of bodies.

As Li Huowang stared, the column of emperors stirred, turning their eyes toward him.

“So you’re going to ask them about the golden dragon?”

“No. They probably don’t know. We need the oldest part,” Li Sui said. Then she led Li Huowang to the edge of the coffin and jumped in straight down.

The bottom of the coffin was dark, deep, and cramped. Fortunately, Li Huowang could bury most of his body into the wall, making it less tight.

In the dimness, he could barely make out the gilded outlines hidden in the darkness.

“Fire,” Li Huowang commanded, and flames lit up the deepest part of the coffin.

But the fire was smaller than he expected, flickering uncertainly. The area where the dragon vein resided had already begun to affect everything around it.

“You must be Li Huowang,” came an ancient voice from above. “Do you have business with me?”

Li Huowang didn’t look up. “Not looking for you.”

He crouched, bringing the flame closer to the last emperor beneath the pile. Then he saw a face half human, half dragon. His golden dragon robe had fused completely with his flesh.

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Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

No post today. Tomorrow, three chapters.