(An at the end of the chapter)
(Profound Sky Continent)
(3rd Person Pov)
It had been a month since Acnologia had started his Dragon King Festival. Even though the Black Dragon had long since disappeared, the impact of his attacks still lingered. The Scarlet Dragon Mountain Range had been turned to molten slag, any and all rare treasures now no longer exists, wiped out by the clash between the two dragons.
Treasure hoarders of every kind couldn't even travel the land for it was all just molten earth for several kilometres. Not even the Profound Core of the scarlet dragon remained. It's cave was non existent, none of it's treasures remained intact, and entirely new trade routes had to be made due to it being impossible for anyone below the Sky Profound Realm to be able to travel through the mountains.
The everyday people the Dragon King Festival had been a source of great terror due to the unexpectedness of the entire situation. And everyone was at the very least glad there had been no casualties other than the Scarlet Dragon and the destruction of the Scarlet Dragon Mountain. It was said that sixty experts of the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary at the Sovereign Profound Realm and their leader Huangji Wuyu at the peak of the Sovereign Profound Realm, had banded together and bested the beast at the Wasteland Of Death.
Yet even with the rumours circulating, people still feel a lingering sense of fear because it was a Dragon at the realm of a "Monarch" which was why the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary had to deploy so many experts to put it down.
Although their reputation had exploded greatly, more fear and notoriety grew around them as rumours spread that they are the only sect on the Profound Sky Continent in possession of the first ever profound core of a "Monarch" level Dragon.
Yet the ones most shaken were the ones there to witness Acnologia transform into a dragon. Xia Hongyi, Xiao Lie, Xia Qing Yue, all Seven Frozen Cloud Fairies, and the Frozen Cloud Asgard's Mistress Murong Qianxue. Witnessing Acnologia transform, all of them unanimously agreed that he wasn't human but rather a profound beast who grew into the realm of a monarch. It explained many things to them. Why Acnologia was so strong, his so called "amnesia", and his human to dragon transformation.
And now deep within the Frozen Cloud Asgard, all Seven of the Frozen Cloud Seven Fairies sat in silence along with the mistress and Grand Mistress of the sect.
"It's been almost two whole months since Acnologia initiated this so called Dragon King's Festival, and even now many people still fear travelling through the Scarlet Dragon Mountain if any even can with how the environment looks now."
The current Mistress of the Frozen Asgard Murong Qianxue spoke with frustration. It was known that profound beasts tend to be the superior combatants when fighting against one of the same cultivation.
With no doubt the claim of the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary that they had successfully bested Acnologia was untrue due to the fact that during the transformation they had felt it. The power of a peak "Monarch". And only the leader of the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary was a peak "Monarch" as well. Even with the fact that sixty other "Monarchs" had aided Huangji Wuyu, but they simply couldn't bring themselves to believe that a monster such as Acnologia could truly have been bested by sixty one "Monarchs" especially not with him having control over the laws of Space and Time.
"Perhaps the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary didn't actually kill Acnologia, rather they used some unknown sealing techniques to best him instead."
One of the Seven Fairies Feng Hanyue suggested but Chu Yuechan disagreed.
"If what Fairy Yueli said is true about Acnologia, his mastery of time and space would make it quite literally impossible to capture that Dragon."
"Then what do you suggest could have happened to Acnologia Fairy Yuechan?"
Mu Lanyi questioned. But all she got from Chu Yuechan was a shake of her head.
"I cannot say with certainty. But if I had to make an educated guess, I would assume there could be some truth to the claim that the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary did beat Acnologia.
Maybe not in the actual sense of victory, but rather they fought Acnologia, and managed to wound him badly enough that he needs to hide and recover. After all, for as powerful as Acnologia was, taking on sixty monarchs is no easy feat even for a Dragon such as himself.
After all, even if I were to fight someone lower in terms of the Sky Profound realm than myself, no matter the superior prowess I posses, taking on sixty of them would be impossible for myself."
"I also support Fairy Yuechan's educated guess. Acnologia hasn't been seen in nearly two whole months, whatever happened between himself and the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary, no doubt must have been a struggle even for himself. The most logical conclusion is to assume at this point he's in deep recovery and hiding."
Chu Yueli spoke up supporting her sisters hypothesis. Feng Qianhui, the Grand Mistress of the Frozen Cloud Asgard frowned, eyes closed as she pondered to herself for a few minutes before she opened her eyes and spoke.
"Forget it. For now, I want all of you to return back to your duties. Unless Acnologia himself is to return, the Frozen Cloud Asgard is as shocked with the discovery of the Dragon as everyone else was."
Murong Qianxue raised a fair eyebrow.
"Unless Acnologia returns? Are you saying if he does one day return, the Frozen Cloud Asgard will stand to protect him? That's rather surprising coming from you Grand Mistress."
Feng Qianhui nodded her head in understanding.
"Of all the sects on the Profound Sky Continent, we are the only ones who have the closest connection to Acnologia. The next time we see him, we try to negotiate an alliance with himself. After all, we aren't as strong as the four sacred grounds, but we aren't push overs either. And call it an elders intuition, but I believe the next time we see that Dragon, the incentive for acquiring his support will become astronomically more important than ever."
Everyone within the Grand Mistresses private quarters said nothing ultimately respecting Feng Qianhui's decision. They all cupped their fists and bowed.
"By your will Grand Mistress."
"Dismissed"
Feng Qianhui dismissed the Seven Fairies leaving her alone with Murong Qianxue who said nothing just silently conveying her support to the Grand Mistress even without fully understanding the why. She still trusts Feng Qianhui enough to know her words were made with the intent to protect the Frozen Cloud Asgard.
"Ah. There was that thing Chu Yueli told us about what Acnologia said. I think we need to talk about the Dragon's statement on our technique."
Murong Qianxue suddenly remembered a second important topic that needed to be discussed with Feng Qianhui
—(Break)—
(Floating Cloud city: Xia Clan Manor)
Xia Qing Yue stood beneath the shade of a tree. Her gaze staring at the clear skies. A month ago. The skies weren't as clear as it is now. Instead wherever "he" went, eternal darkness and storms followed. The Dragon King.
"Acnologia…."
Witnessing the raw power of that Dragon, Xia Qing Yue felt the insurmountable gap between their powers. She had already talked to her master about Acnologia's words about their cultivation technique, and her master had reassured her she is already doing all she can to solve Acnologia's words. But until then, all she could do is to continue to cultivate using the technique given.
She had spent some of her own free time attempting to dissect the technique, but alas, her comprehension was still much to low to be able to tell if there truly were any flaws in the technique.
She had already reached the ninth stage of the Nascent Profound realm, and soon she will breakthrough into the True Profound Realm.
"Sigh"
Frosty mist came out her mouth as she exhaled. She had been speeding up her cultivation but the side effects of the technique was much more visible. By continuously absorbing profound energy she has been accumulating "frost" much faster leading to her breath coming out in cold mist, and her skin becoming more pale as her profound veins began freezing up much more quickly.
She eventually took a seat beneath the tree she stood under gazing into the sky. She saw with her own eyes what it means to stand at the realm of a "Monarch" through Acnologia. And she's certain, when she reaches that level, she can begin her search for her mother.
"I wonder…. Where did Acnologia disappear to? Was he really defeated as the rumours said?"
Xia Qing Yue shook her head.
"Unlikely. He has mastery over time and space. If the Four Sacred Grounds had enough power to beat a Dragon that is a Peak Monarch, with control over time and space, they would be far more boastful about such an achievement."
Xia Qing Yue would spend the rest of her time mindlessly gazing into the sky's above. Her mind pondering about what the future holds for her while her father watches her silently.
—(End)—
(An: Sorry I took so long to upload. I just started my fourth semester this week, and suddenly found myself extremely busy. I can no longer do daily chapters, so I'll try to release one on the weekends but no promises because I'm swamped with assignments and the start of my projects for near end of the semester. Once more deeply sorry for the late updates. And thanks for the understanding)