Translator: Silavin
That small head, the moment it poked out, found its tiny beast eyes meeting directly with Qin Yichen’s gaze.
In the instant their eyes met, Qin Yichen felt the Heaven Earth Spirit Pearl within his Dantian tremble violently, and a Dragon Manifestation clearly showing itself.
As this palm-sized creature emerged, an ancient aura spread forth from within that nine-legged giant cauldron. Simultaneously, a majestic and noble presence slowly emanated from within that special energy, growing ever clearer.
Under this aura, even Ju Lingren found himself unable to muster even half a thought of resistance, collapsing directly to the ground. Those behind him fared even worse, all prostrating themselves on the floor.
Yet under this aura’s influence, the only person present who did not prostrate himself was Qin Yichen alone!
Enveloped by this aura, Qin Yichen felt no sense of submission. Instead, he experienced a peculiar sensation, as though this aura was somehow extremely familiar!
Above the Gathering Space Crystal House, sudden changes erupted. The sky above churned with countless scattered clouds, rolling ceaselessly in a particularly spectacular display.
…
On a distant continent…
In a certain place filled with the aura of sages, an old man suddenly opened his eyes, staring incredulously in a particular direction as he cried out, “True Dragon Aura!? How is that possible!?”
…
In some ordinary corner of the continent, two elderly men in their twilight years who were playing Go trembled, their game pieces shaking. The two exchanged glances, each seeing the shock reflected in the other’s eyes.
…
Beyond the human territories, atop the ancient tree of the Elven race, a magnificently dressed man also gazed in that direction, “Humans… could they truly be descendants of True Dragons?”
…
This aura persisted for only a fleeting moment. It was so brief that even countless people within Open Mysteries City remained unaware that anything had occurred.
However, in just that one breath’s time, outside the hall, Ju Lingren and the others found their garments completely soaked through with cold sweat.
Only now did everyone raise their heads, their gazes carrying thick wariness as they looked toward the giant cauldron before Qin Yichen.
Faced with so many stares, that creature which had only exposed its head actually retreated slightly.
Then, under numerous astonished gazes, this giant cauldron, which they had regarded as dangerous and ominous, actually developed a crack!
*Crack!*
Following the appearance of the first fissure, it spread at tremendous speed, finally spreading like a spider’s web across the entire cauldron.
*Boom!*
With a thunderous crash, the nine-legged giant cauldron shattered into fragments scattered across the floor, raising clouds of dust into the air.
After a considerable while, the dust slowly settled, revealing the extremely disheveled ground.
*Gulp!* Outside the hall, Ju Lingren stood up somewhat tremulously, his eyes filled with shock as he stared into the hall.
Although that aura had lasted only an instant, it had already left an indelible mark upon his heart!
Under that aura’s pressure, even he, a Peak Stage Martial Emperor, had felt himself to be like an ant! This had nothing to do with cultivation level; it was a supreme Bloodline pressure!
[What happened?] Behind Ju Lingren, numerous people also wore grave expressions.
Meanwhile, inside the hall, Qin Yichen stared blankly at the scattered fragments before him, inexplicably recalling those eyes that had seemed almost Human in their awareness.
*Rustle!* Just then, from among the debris on the floor, one section of fragments was suddenly lifted, and a slender beast manifestation emerged from within.
This small beast appeared to be… a small gecko?!
“This… this is?”
Watching that beast manifestation, Ju Lingren and the others frowned, puzzlement flashing through their minds.
They had glimpsed this small beast’s head earlier. Now, seeing its body, they somewhat suspected whether this might simply be a gecko that had accidentally crawled into that strange cauldron.
But if it were an ordinary gecko, how could it have survived within that special energy with nothing more than appearing starved to skin and bones, yet remaining entirely unharmed?
While Ju Lingren and the others puzzled over this, Qin Yichen’s attention also fixed upon that gecko.
This small gecko appeared dull and grey, a plump little mass. If it had appeared anywhere else, it would never have attracted anyone’s attention.
But the strange thing was, it had emerged from within that nine-legged cauldron.
As Qin Yichen observed it, the small gecko also tilted its little head slightly, its clear and bright eyes also fixed upon Qin Yichen.
One person and one beast, simply staring at each other.
Suddenly, the small gecko moved. It crawled toward Qin Yichen.
Qin Yichen froze for a moment, then crouched down, extending his palm toward it.
“Master Qin, you mustn’t! That is an ominous being! Quickly discard it!”
Seeing Qin Yichen’s action, Ju Lingren cried out in alarm.
Behind him, everyone’s expressions changed dramatically. The Branch Manager held a position of faith in their hearts. It was not only for his cultivation, but for his knowledge as well!
Since Ju Lingren himself had declared this an ominous being, it was certainly accurate!
“Ominous being?” Qin Yichen glanced back at him, then returned his gaze to the small gecko.
He did not know why, but he always felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity from this small gecko.
Almost instinctively, he extended his palm once more before the small gecko. The latter’s limpid, crystalline eyes seemed to flash with a trace of confusion, as if contemplating something.
Perhaps sensing the affectionate feeling emanating from Qin Yichen, it finally moved its plump little feet, climbing into Qin Yichen’s palm.
Gazing at the small gecko in his hand, Qin Yichen’s heart filled with delight.
“Master Qin?!”
Ju Lingren and the others’ eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.
They could sense the peculiar energy fluctuations emanating from that small gecko. Seeing Qin Yichen actually playing with it terrified them so greatly that their hairs stood on end.
However, contrary to their expectations, Qin Yichen appeared completely unharmed, without any problems whatsoever.
Subsequently, Qin Yichen placed the small gecko on his shoulder and walked toward Ju Lingren and the others.
As Qin Yichen approached, Ju Lingren and the others recoiled as if avoiding a Demonic Beast, rapidly opening distance between themselves and him, as though fearing contamination by that ominous aura.
“Master Qin, are you alright?”
Although seeing Qin Yichen perfectly unharmed, Ju Lingren swallowed hard, still asking Qin Yichen with some unease.
He had suffered greatly from that ominous energy and absolutely refused to be contaminated by it again!
“Branch Master Ju, this object you brought back is no ordinary thing. If not for my Master’s protective talisman shielding me, I fear today I too would have struggled to escape calamity!” Qin Yichen turned around, sighing with a grave expression.