https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-775-The-Power-of-the-Lifeform-Mandate/13677679/
Chapter 774: The Emperor Awakens
Months later.
Empire of Ashen, Anzeta Administrative Region, Northern and Southern Earth-Drake Province, Dragonblood Mountain.
The mountain was shrouded in scorching steam and thick clouds of sulfur, its jagged silhouette rising like a colossal dragon rearing its head, mouth open in a silent, eternal roar toward the heavens. From afar, it loomed like a living titan—majestic, foreboding, and utterly unyielding.
This was the heart of the Empire’s most forbidden territory.
It was said that Emperor Kai Xiusu of the Ember Empire lay in a deep slumber here—his body resting beneath the mountain’s core. Beneath the scorched rock, endless gold and gems lay buried, along with the accumulated wealth of a thousand years. Rumors whispered that the very soul of the Emperor was fused with the mountain itself.
Countless adventurers had tried to enter. None had returned.
Even a notorious, legendary thief from the Shadow Guild—once feared across the continent—had vanished without a trace after daring to trespass. His disappearance had sent shockwaves through noble courts and wealthy merchant houses alike, many of whom had secretly rejoiced at the loss of such a persistent nuisance.
To reach Dragonblood Mountain, one first had to cross the outermost Patrol Zone—a ring of fortified sentries bristling with energy detectors, anti-aircraft cannons, and magical tracking mortars. Wyvern-mounted Knights patrolled ceaselessly, their eyes scanning for intruders. Any reckless trespasser was swiftly eliminated—no mercy, no hesitation.
Even if one managed to break through the Patrol Zone, the next obstacle awaited: a vast, churning belt of molten heat stretching for kilometers. Cracks in the earth spewed magma, and the air itself was thick with boiling steam and choking sulfur fumes. The heat was so intense it could reduce a mortal to ash in moments. The elemental fury here rivaled that of a Fourth-Ring high-level spell.
Beyond lay the so-called Elemental Turbulence Zone—the mountain’s true core. The ancestral body of Karex, and Kai Xiusu’s own draconic form, had warped the very weave of magic around them. The land had become a chaotic sea of raw elemental energy—fire, lightning, gale, and luminous light—colliding violently, creating endless feedback loops of explosive magical storms. Waves of energy surged like tsunamis, tearing through the air with the force of a hurricane.
Some of these elemental surges reached the power of seventh-tier spells—capable of obliterating entire mortal towns in a single instant. A true cataclysm.
At the center of this storm stood a figure of staggering magnitude—an immense, coiled silhouette resting atop the mountain’s peak, shaped like the grinning maw of a dragon. Around him, flame and lightning lashed like serpents, and sulfur clouds swirled outward in regiments, as if drawn to his presence.
Then—movement.
A tremor passed through the chaos. The figure stirred.
Instantly, an aura of overwhelming intimidation radiated outward, shaking the very air. Smoke churned, sand and stone flew into the sky, thunder cracked across the heavens, and rivers of flame surged like a wildfire in motion. Crimson magma erupted from fissures in the rock, spraying dozens of meters into the air like blood from a wounded titan. The molten flow cascaded down the slopes, scorching the ground into jagged craters.
Yet the figure stood within it all—immersed in fire, slowly lifting its head. A roar split the sky, deep and resonant, echoing across the land. Its horns swept back with regal dignity, its eyes burning like molten lava.
"ROOOOAAAAARRR!"
The sound shook the mountains. The figure rose to its feet, massive limbs stretching and flexing, muscles rippling beneath its hide. In the flickering glow of the flames, the silhouette of a true dragon emerged—massive, fearsome, and utterly terrifying.
Magma dripped from its jaw, belly, and limbs. Golden energy veins pulsed beneath its crimson scales, shimmering with power. It was as if the very core of destruction burned within its chest.
This was the Emperor of the Ashen Flame—Lord of the Cataclysm, Tyrant of the North, Co-Ruler of Anzeta and Thrace—Kai Xiusu Claudew Noirikexius.
After days of deep slumber, having drawn strength from the veins of Dragonblood Mountain, Kai Xiusu’s true form had finally awakened.
During his long sleep, he had operated under the guise of Titus, moving through the lands of Feanso, forging alliances, and expanding the power of the Dawn Alliance. He had also ventured into the Seleucus region, probing the movements of the Dragon Witch Cult and Dragon Worship Cult, engaging in multiple skirmishes.
Now, his eyes snapped open.
Two orbs of molten lava, vertical pupils gleaming with ancient power, pierced the air.
"Good. After this slumber, my Ancestral Bloodline concentration has increased further. My physical fortitude has also improved."
He activated Heaven’s Judgment Dragon Eye, scanning his awakened body.
The form that stretched before him was already far beyond that of any ordinary dragon—now swollen with power, its length now approaching eighty meters from snout to tail. It was a mountain in motion, inching ever closer to the hundred-meter threshold.
Eighty meters.
Even a Primordial Dragon would need three of its kind, end to end, to match his length. The difference in volume and mass was staggering—tens of times greater.
To mortal eyes, such a creature defied the very definition of “living being.” It was better described as a mountain-beast, a Mobile Cataclysm.
Human, Elf, Dwarf—any humanoid race—stood before him like grains of wheat, or dust beneath a foot. Even the mightiest cathedral would seem no more than a pile of toy bricks, easily toppled by a single step.
And yet, even without magic, merely through sheer physical strength, this Red Dragon could crush a city—or a medium-sized kingdom—with ease.
Kai Xiusu lowered his head, examining his front limbs. Thick, powerful arms ended in massive claws, each covered in a thick, semi-transparent crimson crystal. The crystals were dense, pulsing with concentrated energy within.
They weren’t just on his limbs. Crystals had sprouted along his back, tail, and even beneath his jaw. When broken, they fell away with a soft chime.
If all were harvested, they could form a mountain of crystal weighing dozens of tons.
“This must be residual waste energy expelled during the absorption of Karex’s bloodline. Let’s call it Dragon Crystalline Residue.”
“It’s too impure for my current Bloodline Tier—mere debris. But for other dragons, Dragonborn, or even lesser creatures, it would be a rare treasure to enhance their bloodline.”
“Hmm… I’ll list them at the Trading Post Shop. Package them in bulk, sell to Players. Price? Thirty gold coins per kilogram, with eight thousand Faction Contribution added. Such a low price… they’ll all rush to grab it.”
Just a nap.
And Kai Xiusu had already earned millions in gold coins from Players—coins earned through their own labor, their own risks.
As the largest “corporation” within the Empire of Ashen, holding stakes in dozens of industries—from daily goods, clothing, food, to military production and construction—Kai Xiusu’s annual dividends were astronomical.
But unlike other dragons who hoarded gold in vaults, Kai Xiusu poured nearly all his wealth back into the Empire’s industrial might and magical advancements.
The claim that “Emperor of the Ashen Flame is richer than a nation” was no rumor. His wealth was the Empire’s wealth. Even he could barely track the full extent of it.
Still, as the old saying went: The richer you are, the tighter you hold on. The tighter you hold on, the richer you become.
Kai Xiusu never let go of a chance to earn. Every gold coin that slipped into his coffers brought him a deep, primal satisfaction—like hearing the sweet, clear ding of coin against coin.
Yes. This was the Dragon’s innate nature. Even Aio himself could not cure it.
Beyond the crystalline residue, Kai Xiusu’s true form had undergone other changes.
His brow horns had split into branching points. The edges of his frilled ears now glowed with metallic sheen. A cluster of sharp, blade-like scales had formed beneath his jaw.
His shape had grown increasingly distinct from ordinary Red Dragons. Where they were sleek and powerful, Kai Xiusu was massive—every inch a creature of strength and grace, a living embodiment of draconic supremacy.
He let out a low, rumbling roar, then turned his gaze to his Character Sheet:
> Ancient Dragon Bloodline: 21%
> Strength: 39 → 40
> Constitution: 37 → 38
After this brief slumber, his ancestral blood had surged. Strength had broken through the 40 threshold—reaching terrifying levels.
With such size and power, even a Divine Manifestation would struggle to match him in melee combat.
Kai Xiusu seized a massive boulder in his palm. With a single squeeze, it shattered into dust with a crisp crack.
He slashed his claw through the air. Shards flew, carving deep wounds into the mountain rock. The stone groaned—then split, collapsing into rubble.
“Not bad.”
He nodded in satisfaction.
With his raw strength alone, he could crush an entire army.
“Besides… the Free Adventurers should’ve refreshed.”
He focused his mind, using the Empire Domain’s monitoring power to scan the mountain’s outer ring.
There, in the scorching zone, hundreds of corpses lay scattered—charred, twisted, frozen in final struggles. Their faces were distorted, eyes wide with agony. They had died in excruciating pain.
Each wore stealth cloaks, invisibility cloaks, light armor—gear for infiltration. Faint magical auras clung to them.
They were adventurers drawn by the Emperor’s treasure.
Only the most elite—Supernatural Level, with rare gear—could survive the outer patrols long enough to reach here. But the heat was merciless. The steam and smoke choked them. Many suffocated, their life force burned away in the inferno.
Beyond the Turbulence Zone, the bodies grew rarer—each more horrific than the last. Some had been struck by lightning. Others reduced to ash by fire. A few swallowed whole by magma.
Kai Xiusu found the remains of a Legendary Illusionist—a cloaked figure whose body had become nearly elemental in nature, seemingly on the verge of slipping into the Shadow Plane. But fate had other plans. A bolt of lightning had struck from above, reducing the body to charcoal.
This one had tried to flee into the void—but the space around the mountain was already sealed by Kai Xiusu’s will. No escape. No hope. Only despair.
They died never knowing that even if they had breached every barrier, made it into the mountain’s heart… there would be no gold, no jewels, no magical artifacts.
The only true wealth here was the mountain itself—the corpse of Karex. A prize even the gods would covet.
“Tragic,” Kai Xiusu muttered.
He raised a claw. Flames erupted, consuming the corpses instantly. Ash and bone turned to dust, scattered into the stone.
The gear, spell scrolls, and gold coins on the bodies floated upward, forming a small regiment, before being casually tossed into his Treasure Vault Space.
Suddenly, a familiar ripple of magic flared beside him.
A grotesque face appeared—Lanpu.
“Master,” the Tiefling bowed, “I just received intelligence from the Imperial Guard. I knew you’d awakened. Only you could stir such a presence.”
Kai Xiusu gave a slight nod. “The things I left with you—how are they?”
“Those spider remnants?” Lanpu replied quickly, seeing no denial. “The Divine Essence and Divine Arts Research Institute has completed full analysis. The material contains an extremely high concentration of divine power—far beyond our previous thresholds.”
“According to the researchers, the barrier between the Material Realm and the Outer Planes is visibly weakening.”
“Given this rate, within twenty years—no, fifteen—it’s possible that deities will walk the Earth once more. The Second Age’s divine cataclysm could return. And already, faint traces of divinity, weak divine manifestations… may descend through arcane rituals.”
Kai Xiusu narrowed his eyes. “You mean the Five-Colored Dragon Queen?”
Lanpu nodded rapidly. “Yes, Your Majesty. The Dragon Worship Cult now controls nearly the entire Kingdom of Seleucus. They’ve performed countless rituals. Even the King has become a fanatical follower.”
“Only one resistance remains—Valley Resistance. The Empire must now make its choice.”
He paused, then bowed deeply. “Of course, that decision rests with you.”
Kai Xiusu, operating as Titus across Feanso for months, had witnessed the Cult’s raids on towns, their plundering of treasure vaults, their enslavement of mortals.
He smiled. “Lanpu… do you think I would submit to her? Become her promised Duke of the Five-Colored Dragons?”
“Your mind, Master, is beyond my understanding,” Lanpu said, lifting his elongated, vertical pupils. “But I know this: you will never submit to anyone. Not even the Mother of Monsters.”
Kai Xiusu laughed—a deep, thunderous sound.
“Exactly. Now, unlike before, the Empire’s wings are strong. We fear no god.”
“If Tiamat wants me to kneel, to serve as her slave… then I will fight her—to the end.”
His golden, vertical pupils blazed with unyielding ambition.
Lanpu echoed instantly, voice reverent:
“Master, every citizen of the Empire of Ashen will follow your path. We will walk under your guidance, chasing the radiant, glorious future you have ordained.”
(End of Chapter)
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