Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Finally, Gu Li discovered the reason for the five-year pact. As it turned out, everything had happened for a reason. This included the conflict between Mansion Master Duan Ru Feng from the Azure Cloud Mansion and the dragon clan five years ago. In order to resolve the conflict, he had made a five-year pact with the dragon clan.
'The dragon clan has suffered double losses this time around… If they had handover Di Jue over to Uncle Duan five years ago, the only loss they suffered would be Di Jue. Currently, not only did they lose Di Jue, but they have even lost the chance to enter the Dragon Cleansing Pool!' Gu Li thought to himself as he lamented how fickle fate was.
He believed if Clan Leader Di Shan of the dragon clan could predict the future, he would not have protected Di Jue five years ago!
'The Dragon Cleansing Pool is the dragon clan's saint land that can grant strength and tremendously advance the progress of the members of the dragon clan who enter it… Come to think of it, Junior Brother Ling Tian should be able to make a tremendous leap in his progress after entering it!' Gu Li thought to himself, feeling slightly envious of Duan Ling Tian.
Naturally, he was just envious There were no feelings of malice in his envy toward Duan Ling Tian.
He would not be unhappy or jealous if Duan Ling Tian was doing well, he would only be happy for him.
The five-year pact had finally ended with Di Shan's death.
While people from other quasi third-rate forces left one after another, apart from the people from the Azure Cloud Mansion, none of the people from the Mountainshade Black Market left at all.
Not long after Duan Ling Tian and the other three returned to the little valley where flowers flourished and the birds were chirping, Leader Dugu of Mountainshade Black Market brought Feng Bu Yi and Zhong Qi back to the little valley and their respective wooden houses.
Duan Ling Tian and the others eased up when they saw Dugu and the other two did not act up.
One day pa.s.sed in just a blink of an eye.
On the second day, a green figure appeared above the small valley and said loudly, “Mansion Master Duan, the Clan Leader has invited all of you over!”
The green figure was none other than one of the Five-Clawed Divine Dragon Elders of the dragon clan, the Five-Clawed Green Dragon, Qing Yan!
It had only been a day since Di Jue was killed. It was only natural that his expression was unfriendly. When he saw Duan Ling Tian, the killing intent gleaming in his eyes intensified as though he wanted to avenge Di Jue. Nevertheless, he managed to keep a lid on his impulse.
After Duan Ling Tian and the others came out, the people from Mountainshade Black Market came out as well. One of the Deputy Leaders, Feng Bu Yi, looked at Qing Yan and asked, “Elder Qing Yan, I've long heard of the dragon clan's Saint Land, the Dragon Cleansing Pool. it should be alright for us to tag along and join in the fun, right?”
“Sure.” Qing Yan seemed to have expected the people from Mountainshade Black Market would not leave yet, therefore, he was not surprised when he heard Feng Bu Yi's words. He nodded in response to his question.
He had agreed so quickly due to the order of the Clan Leader of the dragon clan.
When Duan Ling Tian met with Clan Leader Di Shan of the Dragon Clan again, he was at the innermost valley in the dragon clan's lair.
The entrance to the valley was narrow, but it seemed like a whole new world inside!
Deep in the valley, there was a grand door hovering in the air. The door was tightly shut. It was unknown where the door led to.
The grand door had two panels and each panel had a different keyhole. The one on the left was round while the other had the shape of a crescent. It had a very peculiar appearance. It was unknown what the door was made of, but as it hovered in the air, it gave off an ancient aura. It was as though it had existed for a long time and had seen the rise and fall of the world
The group of people led by Clan Leader Di Shan finally arrived before the door. Di Shan looked at the door and said, “This is the entrance to the Dragon Cleansing Pool!”
Duan Ling Tian instantly studied the door the moment he heard Di Shan's words.
He discovered the door before him seemed to hover in the air on its own accord. There was no trace of Illusion Formations at all. The door seemed as though it was embedded in that s.p.a.ce, giving it a mysterious aura.
“The Dragon Cleansing Pool is inside?” Duan Ling Tian was eager to enter it. He was thrilled by the unknown even though he was also feeling wary. He was feeling very conflicted at this moment.
“Young Mansion Master!”
Without knowing when, Di Shan's eyes landed on Duan Ling Tian as he said calmly, “Based on what I know, there haven't been any other race, apart from the dragons, who have entered the Dragon Cleansing Pool… Therefore, I have no idea what would happen once you enter. If you decide to enter, we won't be responsible for the consequences… It has nothing to do with the dragon clan if you die in there.” There was a hint of warning in Di Shan's words.
Nevertheless, he did not intentionally say these words to scare Duan Ling Tian away, he was merely telling the truth.
“Clan Leader Di Shan, did you wish that I wouldn't dare to enter it?” Duan Ling Tian asked coldly after listening to Di Shan's words.
“It did cross my mind, but what I said is true… I don't know what will happen when a human enters the Dragon Cleansing Pool,” Di Shan said honestly as he nodded.
“Naturally, I won't stop you even if you insist on entering… After all, you've won the five-year pact!!” When Di Shan mentioned the five-year pact, he had an expression of regret on his face.
He did not expect Di Jue whom he had insisted on protecting five years ago would die five years later. Not only did Di Jue die, but the dragon clan had lost the chance to enter the Dragon Cleansing Pool that only opened once every few thousand years as well.
All of it happened because of two things. First, it was because he had made the wrong decision back then. Second, it was all due to the young man standing before him.
This young man had defied his expectation and killed Di Jue, winning the five-year pact!
“Since I'm here, naturally, I'll enter!” Duan Ling Tian said bluntly after hearing Di Shan's words.
Di Shan nodded and no longer said anything else. He turned to look at Duan Ru Feng. “Mansion Master Duan, bring out the Lunar Key you have with you, and we'll open the door to the Dragon Cleansing Pool together… Additionally, if anything happens to the Young Mansion Master inside, it has nothing to do with the dragon clan!”
“What? Does Clan Leader Di Shan thinks I'm an unreasonable person?” Duan Ru Feng responded with a question.
At the same time, a key appeared in his hands. It was the Lunar Key that he had taken from Di Shan previously. Meanwhile, Di Shan had the Sun Key in his possession.
The door to the Dragon Cleansing Pool could only be opened with both keys present.
'The round-shaped and crescent-shaped hole are most likely the keyholes,' Duan Ling Tian thought to himself as he studied the door hovering in the air. The two holes were very obvious.
As it turned out, Duan Ling Tian was right. Duan Ling Tian was not wrong. When Duan Ru Feng and Clan Leader Di Shan stood before the door, both of them used their energies to guide the keys into the keyholes.
At this moment, not only Duan Ling Tian, Gu Li, and Ku Mi were staring intently at the door, but even the people from the Mountainshade Black Market led by Dugu were also staring at it intently.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Sun Key and the Lunar Key emitted an inexplicable energy that was visible to the eyes. It shrouded the whole door in just a blink of an eye.
A few moments later, the door emitted a light as bright as the sun. Everyone present on the scene instinctively squinted their eyes.
Boom!
At this moment, a thunderous noise sounded. Meanwhile, the light that was as bright as the blazing sun slowly dimmed as the tightly shut door began to open inwardly by an invisible force.
Rumble!
Soon after, the door was completely opened.
At that instant when the door opened, everyone, including Duan Ling Tian, looked inside in unison. All of them wanted to see what was behind the door. However, in the next instant, they were all disappointed.
It was because nothing could be seen apart from a thin and translucent barrier that was formed by an unknown energy.
In their eyes, the barrier was like a sheet of gla.s.s. Behind the barrier, all they could see was the valley they were in.
“In theory, there's no time limit in the Dragon Cleansing Pool… When it's time to leave, the formation inside the Dragon Cleansing Pool will send you out,” Di Shan said as he looked at Duan Ling Tian.
As the Clan Leader of the Dragon Clan, he was a man of his word despite the fact that he was upset.
Since they had lost the five-year pact, they, naturally, had to keep their words and give up the chance to enter the Dragon Cleansing Pool to the Young Mansion Master of Azure Cloud Mansion.
“Alright.” Duan Ling Tian nodded. He felt a hint of admiration for Di Shan who spoke to him a calm manner.
He knew if he was in Di Shan's position, it would impossible for him to maintain his calm while he spoke to the person who killed Di Jue, the Five-clawed Golden Dragon.
“Father, I'm going in.” Duan Ling Tian looked at Duan Ru Feng
“Be careful.” Duan Ru Feng nodded and reminded him to be careful again when he recalled Di Shan's words.
“Don't worry.” After giving Duan Ru Feng a rea.s.suring look, Duan Ling Tian also nodded at Gu Li and Ku Mi. He seemed to have transformed into a bolt of lightning as he charged toward the door that led to the Dragon Cleansing Pool.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Duan Ling Tian collided with the barrier that was made by an unknown force. Subsequently, it seemed as though he had been swallowed by the barrier as he disappeared from their sights.
Duan Ling Tian had finally entered the Dragon Cleansing Pool!
“Mansion Master Duan.”
At this moment, Leader Dugu of the Mountainshade Black Market who had remained silent since they had entered this valley turned to Duan Ru Feng and asked, “Is there a secret you know about the Dragon Cleansing Pool that you would risk your son entering it?”