CHAPTER 617: CHAPTER 356: SOULS GATHER BENEATH THE HOLY DRAGON (PART 2)

Even so, even if no benefits are visible on the surface, but instead endless disadvantages, rationality leads Noah to consider carefully, yet Noah still follows the intuition in the unknown and urges this newly acquired Word Spirit.

Without opening the Dragon Domain, it seemed like the roar of tearing through the Void, only a dragon-like purple aura rose and then dispersed in unknown places, with the purple aura turning into a surging flood, sweeping in all directions.

A soul-accommodating spiritual space thus constructed, it still appears void, without any material presence.

However, when Noah’s will was invested in it, a trace of brilliant golden light appeared, followed by a radiant glow, transforming into a Golden Sun, suspended within, thoroughly stabilizing the Heroic Spirit Hall.

"It can actually be opened up!"

When Noah’s consciousness scanned the spiritual space he opened up, he immediately felt astonished, incredulous, but upon further thought, there’s nothing unreasonable.

The Heroic Spirit Hall exists simply to accommodate souls, and souls are far less troublesome than the physical body, which needs care for activities such as eating, drinking, defecating, sleeping, and more.

"Since that’s the case, then..."

When the Heroic Spirit Hall was opened, the purple aura, propelled by the golden light, poured out from the Void, sweeping across the Xilantia Continent, surpassing the seas, covering the Alviss Continent, and further sweeping through the Material Realm where Noah resides, finally it roared towards the Void, reaching far and wide.

"Cough cough~"

On the bed, the frail, bone-thin old man gently coughed twice, causing the gathered descendants who received the message to crowd around.

Two young Dragon-men with dragon scales on their faces hurriedly supported the old man from the bed, while another adjusted the silk pillows on the bed, letting the old man sit more comfortably.

"Father!"

"Grandfather~ Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"

Every movement of the old man worried his descendants, because the old man had sacrificed so much for the prosperity of the family, almost exhausting everything he had, without the old man’s struggles in his youth, his descendants would not have achieved today’s accomplishments.

"I’m not feeling uncomfortable, it’s just that the time has almost come, you don’t need to waste money hiring priests anymore, their spells are useless for me."

Even though he could clearly feel life dwindling, with each word consuming the little vitality he had left, the old man felt no fear at this moment, his face instead showing a rather open and frank smile,

"When I came to Elisium back then, I was just a lowly adventurer mingling in taverns, thanks to the grace of the Holy Dragon Emperor, I was reborn, and now I’m even endowed with..."

The old man reminisced stories from his youth, with a tone filled with pride, his pale gold eyes gradually brightened, embodying a kind of uplifting spirit, even his gaunt face seemed different.

Because he was truly worth being proud of, when he arrived alone at Elisium, he carried only seventeen copper coins, yet through over two hundred and thirty years of struggle, although he achieved nothing great, he allowed himself and his descendants to root firmly in the Holy City.

This was his proudest achievement, many great nobles couldn’t even have a decent residence in Elisium, but he accomplished it.

"Father!"

Though they heard the old man’s stories numerous times, with younger generations even expressing annoyance, this time none showed a hint of impatience, for they all knew, this was the last time to listen to the old man share his story.

As the story was told, the old man’s voice gradually lowered, his previously bright eyes dimmed further, soon suppressed sobbing sounds arose, upon hearing these subdued cries, the old man weakly reprimanded,

"Why the crying? What’s there to cry about, hasn’t my life been exciting enough? My story hasn’t ended, you are my descendants, you will replace me, continue my story. In the future when you achieve brilliant accomplishments, I shall be honored once again because of you."

"Great-grandfather, I don’t want you to leave us!"

A young boy with a hint of childishness couldn’t help but throw himself on the old man, crying aloud, past experiences at this moment transformed into reluctance, impacting the soul,

"Can’t you not leave."

"It’s just temporary separation, don’t worry, and don’t be afraid."

The old man raised his palm, gently stroking the boy’s blond hair, then slowly looked up towards the direction of the Holy Dragon’s slumber, eyes revealing joy and longing,

"I’ve seen the light of the Holy Dragon Emperor, truly magnificent."

"Father, what did you see?"

The old man’s words left his gathered descendants bewildered.

"I saw the Golden Sun, that’s the Holy Dragon Emperor calling me."

The old man’s gaze turned to his confused descendants, his face showing a sincere joyful smile,

"Such warm light, the Emperor is as benevolent as ever!"

The young Dragon-men looked at each other, hesitating to speak, no one could deny the Holy Dragon’s power, yet ultimately the Holy Dragon was not a Divine, many Dragon-men believed.

But quite a number of Dragon-men staunchly believed that the Holy Dragon stood shoulder to shoulder with gods, and the old man on the bed was one of them, he unwaveringly revered the Holy Dragon, honoring him as a god.

Now, the old man, at his life’s end, declares seeing the Golden Sun symbolizing the Holy Dragon, with the Emperor summoning him, it was absurd.

But no one opposed the old man, because he was in his final moments, disagreements were pointless, whether the old man’s vision was illusion or reality, it made no difference to them now.

If true, it was a good thing, signifying the old man’s soul found a resting place, offering many Holy Dragon-admiring Dragon-men a hopeful future outcome.

"Children, I shall leave first."

"Where are you going?"

"I will go beneath the Holy Dragon."

After saying these words, the old man slowly closed his eyes, his chest no longer rose, completely severing his breath, the suppressed cries resounded inside and outside the building.

"I haven’t yet..."

Looking at his tear-filled descendants, the old man was about to complain, but quickly realized, he turned to the bed, where a familiar old man lay, his appearance identical.

"So I have passed away."

The old man calmly accepted his death, because he found that separating from his spent and aged body gave him an unprecedented sense of ease, his body light as a feather.

"They can’t see me?"

The old man wandered through the residence earned through a lifetime of struggle but found that his eldest son or his crying great-grandson could not perceive his presence.

This verified he wasn’t eroded by Negative Energy, becoming a wicked existence like a ghostly entity, for true souls couldn’t be seen by mortal eyes.

"I can’t bid farewell to each one of you!"

The old man leaned down, kissed the youngest grandchild gently on the forehead, then full of longing and reluctance, gave one last look to all relatives within the room, then stepped outside.

A wisp of purple aura extended from the mountains, descending before him, and as the old man reached out his palm touching the aura, golden light burst forth, instantly enveloping the old man’s entire body.

"Great-grandfather!"

An exclamation sounded, but the old man could no longer hear it.

Because everything before him vanished, only a Golden Sun was suspended above, radiating bright and warm light.

Under this glow, the old, ethereal feeling body became solid and familiar again, yet this body was even stronger and more powerful than in his youth.