Chapter 6: Guardian of the Immortal Tomb

Chapter 6: Guardian of the Immortal Tomb

A sudden tremor shook the ancient chamber.

Golden runes etched along the walls flared to life, pulsing as if responding to an ancient command. The entire room rumbled. In that moment, a vast, incomprehensible presence descended.

Xiao Chen froze.

A suffocating aura swept through the chamber, crashing over him like a tidal wave. It was boundless—so powerful it seemed to surpass the heavens themselves.

His body locked up.

A sharp pain shot through his bones. His soul trembled beneath the crushing pressure. His knees gave way, and he fell, his forehead slamming against the cold jade tiles.

His breath turned ragged. Sweat poured down his face. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.

At that moment, he felt like an ant before an eternal being.

Then—

A voice echoed through the chamber, ancient and heavy.

> "A mere mortal dares trespass upon this sacred tomb?"

The instant those words fell, a wave of draconic might burst out. Xiao Chen gasped, his chest tightening under the overwhelming power.

But with sheer will, he gritted his teeth and raised his head. His body screamed in pain—but he refused to submit.

What he saw made him forget how to breathe.

Above the stone coffin floated a colossal dragon, its entire body formed from golden energy. Divine, majestic, and terrifying.

Its head alone was larger than a house. Its eyes burned like twin suns, filled with ancient wisdom. Each scale shimmered with celestial light, etched with markings that pulsed like the rhythm of the universe.

Two massive horns curved back like lightning bolts, flickering with raw power. Mist-like energy flowed from its snout, warping the space around it. Long whiskers drifted like rivers of time.

Its wings, though ethereal, looked large enough to blot out the sky. Folded inward, they formed a cocoon of golden light.

The dragon gazed down at Xiao Chen. Its stare pierced straight into his soul.

Its golden pupils narrowed. A deep, rumbling growl echoed from its throat.

> "You carry the bloodline of a mortal clan... yet I smell the scent of the Yin-Yang Path. How curious."

Xiao Chen’s heart skipped.

Bloodline? Yin-Yang Path?

He had no time to think. The dragon’s aura surged again. Its head lowered, golden eyes locking onto him.

> "Unworthy. Weak. A mere child, blind to the vastness of the heavens."

Xiao Chen trembled. The words were harsh—but true.

Still, he refused to bow.

The dragon stared for a long moment. Then, it sighed—long and ancient.

> "Hmph. That same stubborn gaze... I’ve seen it before. And you wouldn't be here without his will."

Its gaze drifted upward, lost in memory.

> "I was once known as the Golden Chaos Dragon King. My ancestor was the Heavenly Yin Yang Dragon—a divine beast born from primordial chaos, before heaven and earth fully formed. I am not just a dragon. I am an Immortal Beast, a being of balance, carrying the legacy of my Ancestor."

Xiao Chen’s eyes widened.

A being from before the heavens existed?

> "In my youth, I was wild. A force of nature. Even the celestial gods feared me. But then… I met a man."

The dragon’s voice softened.

> "His name was Long Tianyi. The only human who ever defeated me."

Xiao Chen’s breath caught in his throat.

The Immortal buried here… had once fought a divine beast?

> "He didn’t kill me. He extended his hand… and offered a contract. I was proud—how could a dragon serve a human? But he was different."

> "He carried the pure blood of the Heavenly Yin Yang Dragon—more pure than even mine. I never understood how a human held such a perfect bloodline…"

> "He didn’t try to conquer me. He tried to understand."

A heavy silence followed. The dragon’s voice was laced with emotion.

> "So, I swore an oath. To follow him. To become his companion, his guardian, and his blade."

> "We walked the heavens together. Fought endless battles. Chased the truth of existence itself."

The golden light around the dragon dimmed slightly, sorrow flickering in its eyes.

> "In time… he reached his goal. But the price… was too high."

The air grew still.

Xiao Chen could feel it—the pain of an eternal being who had lost his master.

Then, the dragon’s gaze sharpened once more.

> "And now you stand here. A mortal. In his tomb."

> "Tell me, boy… Do you seek power? Do you wish to walk the path he once walked?"

The chamber seemed to hold its breath. The golden flames flickered wildly. Everything waited for his answer.

Xiao Chen inhaled deeply, his eyes full of resolve. He opened his mouth—

Then paused.

A question rose in his mind. One he couldn't ignore.

He steadied his voice.

> "If your master was truly an Immortal… why is his tomb in the mortal world?"

Silence.

The dragon’s eyes narrowed. The air turned heavy.

Golden flames twisted violently as the runes on the walls flickered with unease.

> "Hmph. Mortal child, do not reach for truths beyond your grasp."

The dragon’s voice turned cold, final.

> "Some knowledge is forbidden. Ask no more."

Xiao Chen felt a chill run down his spine.

But he understood.

The dragon wasn’t just refusing—it was warning him.

There were secrets hidden here… secrets that came with a cost.

After a long pause, the dragon finally spoke again.

> "Since fate brought you here, I will honor his will."

> "I, the Golden Chaos Dragon King, shall bestow upon you the inheritance of my master—Long Tianyi."

Xiao Chen’s heart pounded.

The inheritance… of an Immortal?

His hands clenched. His breath caught in his throat.

Then, the dragon’s body shifted. Golden energy flowed around it like a river of stars.

Its voice thundered through the chamber.

> "Step forward."