Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

As they prepared to leave the map room, Ao Run’s expression grew even more troubled. The Dragon King moved to a different section of the charts, one that had been hidden in shadow until now. When he gestured toward it, the symbols on this particular map began to glow with an unsettling dark light.

"Before you go," he said, his voice carrying a weight that made everyone stop and turn back. "There is something else you must know. Something that changes everything about what you believe you’re facing."

The map he revealed showed locations, but together they resembled a face.

"Jiaolong is not acting alone," Ao Run began. "His corruption, his knowledge of the realms, his understanding of the Dragon Emperor’s tomb—none of this came from his own research."

Lin felt a chill that had nothing to do with her ice magic. "Someone’s been helping him."

"Not helping," Ao Run corrected grimly. "Controlling."

He pointed to the map he had been staring at. "Mo Xuan. A sorcerer who was already ancient when I was young. He was banished from the sea realms over two thousand years ago for practicing forbidden magic."

"What kind of forbidden magic?" Captain Zhen asked, though his voice suggested he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.

"Soul manipulation," Ao Run replied. "The ability to influence minds across vast distances, to plant thoughts and desires that the victim believes are their own. Mo Xuan became obsessed with dragons—not just our power, but our very essence."

General Huoyan studied the map’s dark connections. "You’re saying Jiaolong’s grief has been... enhanced?"

"Twisted," Ao Run confirmed. "His love for Lanshen was real, as was his pain at her death. But Mo Xuan took that genuine emotion and fed it, amplified it, shaped it into the consuming obsession that drives him now."

Grim traced the map with his finger. "How long has this been going on?"

"The Third Realm War itself," Ao Run said quietly. "The conflict that killed Lanshen wasn’t random political upheaval. It was orchestrated by Mo Xuan to create the exact circumstances needed to break Jiaolong’s mind and make him susceptible to manipulation."

Commander Yuehua was the first to find her voice. "The entire war was staged? All those deaths, just to corrupt one dragon?"

"Someone who hasn’t found themselves, along with the grief of losing your other half. Can make any dragon or human for that matter break."

Lin realized the scope of Mo Xuan’s planning with growing horror. "He’s been orchestrating this for fifteen hundred years. The war, Jiaolong’s corruption, the conflicts between realms..."

"All distractions," Ao Run confirmed. "While we focused on political disputes and territorial conflicts, Mo Xuan has been positioning his pieces for this moment. Jiaolong believes he’s seeking power to prevent future wars, but he’s actually delivering that power directly into Mo Xuan’s hands."

Ao Run Continued. "When the Dragon Emperor’s seal breaks, Mo Xuan will use the corrupted dragons as conduits to channel the Emperor’s power directly into himself. Jiaolong will be discarded the moment he’s no longer useful."

"Where is Mo Xuan now? If he’s been planning this for so long, why isn’t he leading the assault personally?"

"Because he can’t," Ao Run said. "He cannot enter the sea realms in his true form. That’s why he needed Jiaolong to retrieve the keys and open the tomb."

"But once the seal is broken..." Grim began.

"The magical barriers that keep him out will collapse along with everything else," Ao Run finished. "Mo Xuan will be free to claim the Dragon Emperor’s power for himself."

"This is why I gave Jiaolong my key willingly," he said. "In every scenario where I resisted, the delay only gave Mo Xuan more time to prepare. By allowing events to proceed ahead of schedule, I preserved the possibility that you could disrupt the ritual at its most vulnerable moment."

"When?" Lin asked.

"Just after the seal breaks but before Mo Xuan can complete his possession of the Emperor’s body," Ao Run replied. "There will be a brief window—perhaps minutes—when the power is accessible but not yet controlled. That’s your only chance."

Grim studied the map showing the tomb’s final chamber. "What exactly do we need to do?" freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"Disrupt the ritual circle," Ao Run said. "The corrupted dragons will be positioned at specific points to channel power. If you can break their formation or eliminate enough of them..."

"The ritual fails," Captain Zhen finished.

"But be warned," Ao Run continued, his expression growing darker. "Mo Xuan has had two thousand years to prepare for opposition. He will have contingencies, backup plans, ways to complete the ritual even if some elements go wrong."

General Huoyan clenched her fists. "Then we’ll have to be better than his contingencies."

As they left the chamber it was just Grim and Ao Run left. Ao Run places his hand on Grim’s shoulder. "There’s something else. Yourbloodlinee. Mo Xuan knows about it. He may try to use it against you."

"How?" Grim asked.

"The same way he used Jiaolong’s grief," Ao Run replied. "By taking something real about you and twisting it into a weapon. Be prepared for him to offer you things you’ve always wanted—power to restore your clan, knowledge about your ancestors, revenge against those who wronged your family."

"And it will all be lies?"

"No," Ao Run said grimly. "That’s what makes it dangerous. It will all be true. But the price for accepting his gifts will be higher than you can imagine."

They left the room and began to leave the palace.

Commander Yuehua checked her weapons one final time. "How do we get back to the central cavern? The passages we came through..."

"Will still work," Ao Run confirmed. "But Mo Xuan will know you’re coming. He’s been watching through Jiaolong’s eyes."

"Then we’ll have to be fast," Lin declared.

"Remember—saving Jiaolong may not be possible. The corruption runs too deep, and Mo Xuan’s control is too strong. Don’t let sentiment cloud your judgment when the moment comes to choose between one dragon’s life and the rest of the dragons."

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Far from the West Sea realm, in a place that existed between worlds, Mo Xuan stood before a massive scrying pool. The ancient sorcerer was tall and gaunt. His face showed signs he’d been practicing black magic for too long. His skin was like parchment, eyes that glowed with unnaturally black, and fingers that ended in claws blackened by corruption.

"Excellent," he murmured, watching the images that swirled in the dark water before him.

But Mo Xuan’s attention wasn’t focused on his puppet’s advancement. Instead, he was watching a different section of the pool that showed Grim and his companions leaving Ao Run’s palace.

"You look just like Axem," he whispered. His claws drumming against the pool’s edge. "Master, I wonder if you still remember our last conversation."