["This clan trial is your last chance. Hand over the Transmutation Arcanum now, and the Dragon Masters can still keep your secret safe."]
["The Transmutation Arcanum?" Stelle looked at Dan Heng, confused.]
["Isn't that sinful dragon you created proof of the Transmutation Arcanum's success?"]
["Indeed. It's said that Danfeng was obsessed with the Dragon Ancestor's immortal power and created a dragon-like monstrosity. That's likely what he's referring to," Dan Heng said, shaking his head with a sigh. "The hero of the Xianzhou became a great sinner because of it."]
[Bailu bristled at the mirage's lofty tone and attitude, letting out a soft huff. "He acts like the Vidyadhara are above everyone else, and he's above even them—like without his schemes, the Vidyadhara couldn't progress at all."]
[She looked up at Dan Heng. "I bet Danfeng didn't tell them the secrets of the Transmutation Arcanum, did he…?"]
——
Underworld of the Sea.
"If Danfeng had really handed over the 'Transmutation Arcanum' to the Dragon Masters, Scalegorge Waterscape would probably be crawling with sinful dragons by now, right?"
Ao Run gave a faint smile. Though she didn't know much about the Vidyadhara Dragon Masters, this one mirage alone gave a glimpse into the elders' attitude toward the Transmutation Arcanum.
They weren't condemning Danfeng—they were condemning the failure of the Transmutation Arcanum.
"Heh, sinful dragon or not, so what? Compared to the survival of the entire Vidyadhara race, what's one… or even a few dragons?" Ao Shun sneered coldly, looking up at Ao Guang perched atop a towering stone pillar. "Right, Big Brother?"
"…"
Ao Guang was silent for a long time before speaking slowly. "…Indeed, nothing is more important than the continuation of our race. If I were that Dragon Sovereign, I'd make the same choice."
His position in his clan was akin to that of the former Dragon Sovereign, and Ao Guang deeply understood the heavy burden on his shoulders…
They carried not just personal ambitions but the future of an entire race. Compared to a single failed attempt, a distant, doomed future was far harder to accept.
"But I recall the Xianzhou strictly prohibits such research, don't they?" Ao Qin poked his head in, asking. "For something this serious, shouldn't they have informed the general first?"
"…Heh, inform?" Ao Shun shot his younger brother a cold glance. "If you're going to do it, why bother informing? If the general says no, would you just give up?"
"Uh…" Ao Qin faltered, sheepishly retracting his head.
——
[Along the way, the group dispatched a few more assassins before encountering a female mirage.]
[This mirage was the former Chief Alchemist of the Xianzhou, quite familiar with Bailu. Her lively tone and demeanor made Bailu think several times that she was there to drag her back.]
[However, upon sensing the Dragon Sovereign's aura in Dan Heng, she, like the previous mirage, mistook him for Danfeng.]
[Facing "Danfeng," the mirage spoke excitedly. "Lord Danfeng, I finally understand your painstaking efforts! That little girl is the key to the Transmutation Arcanum! My research has made significant progress!"]
["Your alterations to the Transmutation Arcanum may have created a destructive sinful dragon, but it also birthed a new life! This is the hope for the Vidyadhara to reproduce again!"]
["The Vidyadhara reproducing again?" Stelle frowned slightly, realizing things were far from simple.]
["My past understanding of 'reproduction' was limited by mundane mortal thinking—how narrow-minded! The Vidyadhara's reproduction doesn't necessarily require the continuation of our own bloodline…"]
["Unleashing the potential of dragon blood, incorporating other races into the dragon bloodline—isn't that the true meaning of the Transmutation Arcanum?" The mirage's voice rose. "The Dragon Masters are shortsighted, unable to see your genius, and they dare to think of choosing another Dragon Sovereign? Utterly foolish!"]
——
New Eridu Public Security, Section 6.
"Incorporating other races into the Vidyadhara?" Asaba Harumasa's eyes widened in surprise. "This Dragon Sovereign was really… uh, how should I put it? Thinking outside the box?"
"…More like bold beyond belief," Tsukishiro Yanagi said, her gaze dimming. "The creation of the sinful dragon must've been completely beyond Danfeng's expectations… In his plan, the Transmutation Arcanum was supposed to create a normal dragon, not a destructive monster. Something must've gone wrong somewhere, leading to the 'Drinking Moon Rebellion.'"
"Even he couldn't pinpoint what went wrong with the altered Transmutation Arcanum… so he refused to hand it over to the Dragon Masters, right?"
"Yanagi-nee, Danfeng caused the 'Drinking Moon Rebellion.' Do you still think he was a qualified Dragon Sovereign?" Asaba Harumasa asked.
"Heh, Harumasa… I'm just an ordinary clerk in Public Security. You want me to judge a Dragon Sovereign from across the cosmos?" Tsukishiro Yanagi gave a faint smile, adjusting her glasses. "I'm hardly qualified… But if you must know, my answer is undoubtedly yes."
"…Even if he caused a catastrophe, that doesn't diminish his greatness in the slightest."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"…He wasn't just a Dragon Sovereign; he was one of the High-Cloud Quintet. To be mentioned in the same breath as General Jing Yuan… those five must've achieved something extraordinary to become legends of the past, right?"
"But there's one thing I'm still not entirely sure about," Yanagi mused. "Who exactly did Danfeng use the Transmutation Arcanum on? The only person I can think of is that Foxian pilot mentioned once in Jing Yuan's memories, also one of the High-Cloud Quintet."
"I wasn't certain before, but seeing the astronomically high mortality rates of pilots like Yukong, I think… the Transmutation Arcanum was most likely used on her."
——
[The group pressed forward and encountered another young female mirage at a corner.]
[Sensing Bailu's presence, she seemed extremely flustered. "Lady Bailu, why are you in my alchemy lab? Have you already learned about the Sanctus Medicus… Are you here to punish me?"]
[The mirage seemed to have suffered a great shock, screaming hysterically. "I never believed in any Dragon Sovereign from the start! You don't deserve to judge me!"]
["Especially you, Lady Bailu. You don't even have the power to command winds and rains as a Dragon Sovereign. Why should I believe you can do better than Lord Danfeng?"]
["The Dragon Masters, the clanspeople—they all think the Dragon Sovereign is the Vidyadhara's only salvation. That's just empty talk, completely unrealistic! Have you seen what the Sanctus Medicus can do?"]
["Restore the ability to reproduce," Stelle suddenly interjected.]
["Exactly!" the mirage said devoutly. "The Sanctus Medicus can help us flourish again. What the Dragon Sovereign can't do, the Sanctus Medicus can!"]
["One day, you'll all see that I was right!"]