The name of the arcane kingdom is a country, but it is actually a city-state scattered all over the place.

The different city-states maintained their own autonomy, but built shrines of messengers of the gods as a sign of loyalty and faith to the powerful god.

On a secular level, each city-state has a different secret organization behind it, and these are the core of the city-state's ability to gather population and stability.

There are many beliefs of the Old Gods in the Arcane Kingdom, and many of the worship and sacrificial traditions predate civilizations, even before the Messengers of the Gods ruled the Empire.

The base camp of the "Temple of the Four Seas" is on Longqi Island, one of the city-states, and a large number of nearby islands belong to the territory of Longqi Island. With a warm climate and close proximity to the mainland, it is the main settlement of the Dragonborns of the Mystic Kingdom.

Kenshin is here for the second time.

The first time he came, he met the dragon girl Ao Shen who was riding the waves, and brought her from here to the Resurrection Kingdom, and the two spent a year of sweet journey together.

However, in the end, Ao Shen chose to return to Longqi Island.

"I like you, but I love my hometown even more, if you don't want to stay here, then we will meet again!"

That being said, the proud dragon maiden keeps in touch with Kenshin.

Kenshin will send some of the crystals and trustees he photographed to Longqi Island to her, and Ao Shen will also give back the special fish gelatin of Longqi Island.

Five years on, the main island has become much more lively.

Lu Yao looked around.

There is a team on the beach, dressed in uniform leather armor, inspecting the docked ships, looking like fire prevention and contraband.

There are also more boats on the docks.

Most of the ships flew the dragon flag of Dragon Flag Island, as well as the double snake flag, which symbolized the Twin Snake Merchant Republic. Goblin traders chatted with each other on the shore, while sailors cleaned decks and cables.

Three Bone Mage Towers were built at the dock, and their firepower covered the entire dock.

The stone-slabbed causeway is lined with small vendors. They sell local seafood to travelers and merchants, and most of them are yellow fish gelatin – but most of them are inferior products that fool outsiders.

……

"There are a lot more ancestors of the white bones."

Kenshin picked up the wind collector's crystal and took a picture of the dock.

"Dragon Flag Island has introduced a lot of Resurrection Kingdom's Bone Ancestor Workers, they are reliable, and they are never lazy, and they can also repair and operate the Bone Mage Tower, and this place has officially become one of the cooperative trade ports of the Double Snake Republic. The Yao people love our fish gelatin, black pearls, dried scallops, dried sea vegetables......"

"In the Arcane Realm, we have become more and more important here."

The dragon girl gushed about the changes in her hometown.

Kenshin follows her down the main road to the center of the island, where a grand single-story corniced building stands.

All four walls have been painted red, while the roof of the house retains the characteristic tile structure of the house. At the top of the staircase is a wooden plaque with the words "Four Seas".

"Light a stick of incense first."

The dragon girl took out a stick of incense from her bag and handed it to Kenshin.

Kenshin is also very familiar with this.

He walked with the dragon maiden to the huge stone incense burner in front of the steps, lit the incense with the candle flame next to it, and then respectfully waved it towards the Temple of the Four Seas, and then inserted the incense into the furnace.

Kenshin and the Dragon Maiden followed the worshipping islanders all the way into the temple slowly and orderly.

Walking to the long table of worship, Kenshin was stunned.

In the middle of the temple is a stone statue enshrined, with dragon horns on the head, no carved facial features, and it looks a bit primitive. This is the belief of the old gods preserved by the Temple of the Four Seas, the Dragon Ancestor.

It is said that the Dragon Ancestor is an idol left by the dragon gods and dragon kings, and he represents many dragon gods and is also the protector of dragons, wurms and dragons.

To Kenshin's surprise, there was still a statue of Yao God enshrined on the left side of the dragon god.

"This ......"

Kenshin was a little puzzled.

The temple is the traditional belief of the Temple of the Four Seas, and on the other side there is a messenger temple, which is dedicated to a group of gods led by the messengers of the gods.

The Temple of the Four Seas has always been dedicated only to the Dragon Ancestor.

Ao Shen whispered: "Lord Yao Shen also has an identity, he is the protector of the Dragon Clan, and the main god followed by the Black Dragon King, so everyone thinks it's okay to worship next to the Dragon Ancestor." For Yao Shen, everyone is also happy and convinced, because Yao Shen has never xenophobic other gods. ”

She folded her hands and bowed to Long Zu.

Kenshin also did as the locals did.

After completing the traditional ceremony, Ao Shen slowly got up, took the sword heart around the side behind the idol, and gave the worship cushion to the latecomers.

She said: "There was a rumor that the 'Black Church' was because it offended and neglected Yaoshen. There are also people who suspect that the invisible dragon is the Black Dragon King. ”

The Dragon King Pasha is a legendary creature familiar to the Yao people.

But Kenshin couldn't help but question: "As far as I know, the Black Dragon King has been cultivating dragonborns on the side of Sand City, and I have seen the Dragon King fly through the fog in the Immortal City. How did you come to the Secret Art Country? ”

"Of course not."

Ao Shen shook his head: "Although I haven't seen the Black Dragon King, other dragon descendants on Dragon Flag Island have seen it. The style of the Black Dragon King is dignified and upright, and he never hides his identity, and this time the evil dragon is completely different. He is elusive and targeted, and so far, only the altars and underground temples of the Black Sanctuary have been devastated. ”

"Another point, the evil dragon has come to Longqi Island."

……

After praying for the blessing, Ao Shen took Kenshin to a nearby island, where traces of the dragon clan were left behind.

Those large, faint paw prints sank into the ground, and it looked like it was intentional, like a direct declaration to the outside world: I am here!

Kenshin lifted the Wind Collector's Crystal and froze the huge footprints on the ground.

"In the past two years, such traces have spread all over the islands near Longqi Island."

Ao Shen said: "Some people are panicked, and many people speculate that the next person to be attacked may be the 'Sihai Temple'. ”

The dragon girl's voice deepened: "It seems that there are still a lot of people, but in fact, many dragonborn have left in various ways. ”

"We don't know anything about this old god, and Lord Seven Sirens have no worries, but they have informed us through the apostles, and we are told to go to the idol and pray if we encounter any abnormalities...... If this continues, I'll have no choice but to leave. Can I go to you? ”

"Of course."

Kenshin suddenly felt a little strange.

He took a closer look at the paw prints on the ground, inside and out.

There's something wrong with this thing.

"That's not right."

Kenshin jumped into the dragon's paw prints, picked up a twig and pointed to the edge, saying, "Look, the mark is wrong. ”

"The specimens of the red dragon, the green dragon, and the blue dragon in the White Fort are more than the replica specimens. According to the new "Common Sense Chapter" of the "Introductory Vocabulary of the Dragon Language", normal dragons, whether they are heterogeneous dragons or dragons, dragon claws are usually three to five claws, and if the dragon claws touch dirt or clay, the traces left should be the deepest at the joints of the bone claws, and slightly shallower elsewhere. ”

"If the dragon's body is just invisible, with the arrival of such a large dragon clan, the surrounding trees should be swept down a lot, and the ground should have traces of collapse and crushing."

"But not here. There are only very uniform but vague traces of the five claws, and according to the normal characteristics of the dragon family, this is still the highest status of the first dragon clan...... None of this makes sense. ”

Ao Shen was stunned when he heard this: "Why do you know this?" It feels like you know dragons better than I do. ”

"Because we, the Old Gods Society, have been studying these things all along."

Kenshin said casually: "There are people who study the dragon clan, there are people who specialize in trace science, there are people who study all kinds of miracles and divine might, and there are also people who collect folk news everywhere...... Quite a few people are professionals in various fields, which is normal. Don't you really feel anything is wrong? ”

Ao Shen asked rhetorically: "Then this paw print was not stepped on by the dragon directly, so what's the problem?" It can be a trace that is crushed by divine power in the air. ”

"It's a big difference."

Kenshin looked at the deep marks on the ground and said solemnly, "This means that the dragon is most likely disembodied, not even a dragon. ”

"The Old Gods have been in a lot of situations like this. An old man had seen a strange mark in the wheat field, which crushed the wheat field and disappeared into the distance, only to learn later that it was the mark caused by a large flying boat flying over the wheat field. ”

"I also saw what seemed to be the Old Gods in the desert, and then I consulted Lord Slimod, and I learned that it was Lord Uji who stayed there at that time."

"A lot of times, our external image can affect our judgment."

He remembered his father's words.

The outward image we make is what other people see us as we are.

Other words.

Kenshin's mind flashed, "This is the image that the old god deliberately created, and he wanted us to see him as a powerful dragon. But for some reason, He wasn't, or wasn't, for a while. ”

This conclusion made Ao Shen a little puzzled: "If that's the case, why?" ”

"I don't know. But apart from the dragon's claws, is there anything special around here, or something that hasn't been there before? ”

Ao Shen thought for a while: "Speaking of which, where the dragon's claws appear, there will be more birds, and these flocks of birds will fly around." ”

"You take me to see it."

A month later, Kenshin sent the photographs of the birds, the dirt collected at the scene, and his own speculation to the red-haired potions master Maji, who also belonged to the "Old Gods Society".

Soon, Maji replied.

"Brother Kenshin, your investigation is priceless, and I fully understand what you mean. According to the relevant experts in the White Castle, a large number of traces of wind and water elements have been found in the dragon claw soil you sent."

"It's the effect of some special ability, or it may be the mark of a miracle unfolding, and I look forward to seeing you soon."

Kenshin led Ao Shen all the way to the royal city of the Resurrection Kingdom.

As soon as the red-haired Maji saw Kenshin, a smile suddenly appeared on his anxious face, and he quickly walked over and grabbed the other party: "Great, you're okay, it's okay!" ”

"I'm fine." Kenshin nodded.

Ao Shen's body froze suddenly, as if he was frozen by some kind of force.

She had a strange look on her face, "What are you guys doing here?" What's wrong with me? ”

Kenshin retreated to safety and said calmly, "You are not Ao Shen. ”

"Ao Shen will not think of leaving Longqi Island when she encounters any situation, she will do everything possible to face the difficulties."

"Again, my [Enchanting Technique] has worked on you. But you are close to me in your actions, but in your words you are completely detached and calm, and you control Ao Shen. I don't know who you really are, but the traces of the dragon's claws must have something to do with you. ”

Ao Shen stared at Kenshin and said with a strange expression, "The Old Gods Society...... Who are you sacred? ”

"I'm just a researcher of the old gods who is interested."

Kenshin said in a deep voice, "Now, please leave Ao Shen's body. ”

A circle of light suddenly appeared in the air.

Ao Shen tilted his head sharply, a hateful expression on his face.

"Dragon's Rope!"

"You're hiding here!"

"No matter how far you hide in the ends of the earth, I will let you repay the tooth for a tooth, and pay for the debt with blood!"

A black shadow flew out of the dragon girl's body, turning into a crane and fighting with the golden circle of light in the air.

Kenshin couldn't help but worry for a while: "It's going to be okay, right?" ”

"Rest assured ......"

Maji opened his mouth, and suddenly he couldn't speak.

Instead, there was a heavy, penetrating sound, as if all the air in the vicinity had been compressed and solidified by the muffled sound, and the apocalyptic feeling of oppression made everyone present stiffen and their minds completely blank.

There was some kind of dark shadow in the air, like a fluctuating shadow, like some kind of invisible beast distorted by the light.

The crane in the air suddenly shook its whole body, fell from the sky and knelt on the ground.

"Real ......"

Xianhe's voice trembled: "Real person, please forgive Xiaodao for being rude." Xiaodao is under the command of Huanglong Zhenren, just to avenge Huanglong Zhenren and this dragon rope, it is definitely not an offense to the real person, please punish the real person. ”

(End of chapter)