At this moment, the entire world was silent.
The sound of the wind, the flapping of flags, the noise of something dumbly dropping from someone’s hand…
The world became a slow-motion silent film, leaving only that ancient, lingering roar, echoing from distant memories, crossing a wait longer than a thousand years, awakening from the river of history.
People stood here, yet their souls seemed to be drawn from their bodies, looking down from above at their stunned, motionless flesh, asking in a dazed, hollow voice after being utterly shocked, “What I see now… is it really real?”
They forgot the world they currently lived in, forgot the missing enemies, forgot their wounded and battered bodies.
Not until Beiyuan tried to flap his massive wings, slowly rising into the air, did the deathly stillness shatter like glass, dragging their souls back to the mortal realm.
The golden dragon was more dazzling than the sun; every scale shone with a luster brighter than gold.
Its draconic form brimmed with youthful, vigorous power, from the slender neck to the strong, sturdy tail, every muscle line smooth and perfect.
Unlike any creature in the present age, it was an existence belonging solely to the era of legends.
The dragon’s wings, fully spread on either side of its body, were completely different from the bat-like wings of ordinary Linchong Species.
These wings seemed dusted with stardust, glimmering with an enchanting, mesmerizing light as they moved.
Yet these artistic wings were second only to the scales in hardness across the entire body.
These dragon wings allowed it to easily tame hurricanes, moving with ease even in the harshest environments of the universe.
At its peak, its speed surpassed all known intelligent beings and lifeforms of today.
—There was no doubt about it. What appeared before them was a true member of the Dragon Clan. It was a legend, lost for a millennium yet still echoing, once renowned even in the age of myths.
“…I was wrong.”
Far away in another world, among countless ordinary viewers, one person typed, word by word, into the silent, empty barrage of comments, “I take back what I said earlier, now I can’t say anything at all… I think my ability to form words is broken, but sorry, I really don’t know what I’m saying… Can someone slap me right now, so I know this isn’t a dream?”
Who would believe that just a minute ago, this was still a hatchling?
Usually, someone would have screamed by now, but at this moment, even a simple exclamation like “Holy shit!!” felt like an offense.
Suddenly, everyone simply understood why, throughout history, so many people revered dragons as gods.
Because they were experiencing the same process— the shock was so direct and overwhelming, it shattered everyone’s spirit in an unprecedented way.
Those watching through a screen were already overwhelmed, but those present at the scene, facing this moment head-on, had completely lost control of their emotions.
Yet it wasn’t hysterical madness, but tears streaming down their faces for no apparent reason— this was their bodies venting emotions too powerful to bear, and the price of stubbornly refusing to look away, their eyes seared by the intense light.
Emotion was a blazing fire, but now, that fire was thrown into a sea of brilliance so dazzling it was blinding.
The fire’s glow was nothing before true light, instantly burned to ash, left as silent exhaustion after a mad dash.
But this was not the end, for new hot blood had become molten, flowing beneath the ashes— scorching, wild, and relentless.
Some people’s knees buckled and they fell to the ground.
“Feel honored, everyone.” Finally, someone in the real world regained a bit of reason, and, filled with excitement and reverence, trembling and solemn, slowly typed out a line, “We have personally witnessed a moment far more breathtaking than a fledgling breaking its shell or a flock of birds crossing the sea— the most soul-stirring instant in this world.”
“—The revival and rise of a myth…”
It was as if a hymn was being sung loudly in a crystal-clear cathedral, echoed by millions.
Of course, Beiyuan knew nothing of this. The vast universe hid countless secrets; no one could know how many worshiped beauty and strength, how many longed for ancient myths, and thus no one could know how many, at this moment, had fallen under the spell.
He had no idea how many people were watching him as he, for the first time in his life, tried flying in his dragon form.
It was worth mentioning that, in Wanzu, all character control depended on the player’s Spirit Power.
In his previous life, Beiyuan could easily and skillfully control his character because his Spirit Power limit was higher than most.
But exactly how high, he’d never tested. After all, he’d never had enough money to leave that remote little planet in his previous life, and that planet didn’t even have the most basic Spirit Power Tester.
Before transforming into a dragon, he’d worried that he might not be able to control this power, which would have been embarrassing.
However, since he’d felt no discomfort in his juvenile state, he decided to go for it without hesitation.
The result was clear— even after “growing up,” he still handled this even stronger body with ease.
—Looks like his Spirit Power limit was quite impressive.
He took flight.
The golden dragon’s wings rose and fell, stirring up fierce, wild currents that made it impossible for anyone to get close.
So all people could do was watch as he soared straight toward the heavenly realm, like a slowly rising sun.
“What is he trying to do?” Everyone now paid infinite attention to his every move, their hearts tightening with anxiety.
Tingfeng seemed to sense something, “…Bai, Bai-ge?”
Bai Buwen let out a deep breath and nodded, but his eyes never left the golden figure in the sky. “Yeah, I think so too… I guess he’s trying to… stop Yunshang Nation from falling.”
Tingfeng’s pupils contracted, and he sucked in a breath. Just seeing the little boy he’d just met transform into a dragon was crazy enough, but he hadn’t expected something even more thrilling. “Is that even possible!?”
Bai Buwen was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “I don’t know. But by now, everyone should be clear that Yunshang Nation’s prototype is the Six-Winged Clan’s Shengcheng. In history, that holy city eventually crashed. Since Yunshang Nation was designed with it as the reference, the ending should be exactly the same.”
Otherwise, it would be accused of “tampering with history.” As the most heavyweight holographic game in the universe, Wanzu would never make such a mistake.
No matter how real it seemed, it was, in essence, just a bunch of data. If Yunshang Nation was destroyed, they could quickly build a new Yunxia Kingdom.
But others wouldn’t see it that way—
“Stupid script, damn it, I only want this Yunshang Nation! The only home recognized by my Tianjing Clan is this one!!”
“Please, just give us a good ending! I’m a survivor of that Six-Winged Clan incident. I really… don’t want to relive that tragedy. Once was enough! Not even a way out in the game!?”
“……”
Many passersby who heard the news appeared on the star network.
Some were immigrants from the Six-Winged Clan star domain in real life, too busy rebuilding their homes over the past decade to play “Wanzu.”
But this time, upon hearing the news, they rushed over at once.
Anger, pain, sadness… It was as if they were reliving that nightmare all over again.
Many players who had quit for various reasons even reinstalled the game just to queue up and vent their rage.
“Come on, isn’t this a bit much?” Some tried to speak for the officials. “Last time, didn’t someone get reported by a ‘concerned citizen’ because a character’s design was a bit different from the historical prototype? This time, the devs got smarter and stuck strictly to history, and you’re still not satisfied. It’s not easy for them, either.”
Debate about Yunshang Nation, the Tianjing Clan, and the Six-Winged Clan instantly erupted online, becoming a heated mess.
In comparison, news about the golden dragon lagged behind.
The main reason was that no one at the scene was willing to log out at this time, and those watching the livestream weren’t willing to cut away from the action to spread the news.
Beiyuan’s target was indeed Yunshang Nation.
With his current body, he could try to support it— even if only to provide a buffer, it would help prevent the Main City from being completely destroyed.
Hmm… The only problem was, he didn’t have a pass to enter Yunshang Nation.
Normally, illegal entry would get him blacklisted by the Tianjing Clan and thrown in jail. But this was an emergency— surely no one would mind… right?
It had to be said, the Dragon Clan’s speed was indeed incredible. With just a few wingbeats, he’d reached Yunshang Nation’s altitude.
Everywhere he passed, the various floating races could only watch him go, frozen in place, unable to react.
Yunshang Nation, belonging to the Tianjing Clan, looked like a massive airship, powered by a special type of crystal, allowing it to float in the sky.
Now, the area equivalent to the airship’s engine room was badly damaged and beyond repair. Unless another airship helped it land, a crash was inevitable.
Beiyuan could play the role of the assisting “airship,” and he felt confident he could support the central Main City.
The smaller floating islands and buildings nearby, however, would be a problem…
Meanwhile, the spectators outside had already fast-forwarded to the science lesson.
Countless famous and unknown ancient race researchers and scholars popped up, passionately discussing their studies of the Dragon Clan—
“Actually, there are many types within the Dragon Clan. Some have unmatched physical strength, nearly immune to all physical attacks. Some are incredibly fast… Some have Spirit Power Thresholds that surpass all current regulations. Of course, you know, those monsters from that distant era could invade your brain with a roar or other means—no one could escape that domination…”
“This one… the golden dragon, I suspect it combines all the strengths of the Dragon Clan. Seriously, I’ve wanted to say this for a long time—just who the hell designed this guy!?”
“Dragons have a very strong sense of territory. See those fools just floating in the sky? Luckily, this dragon is clearly more interested in Yunshang Nation. Otherwise, if you ran into a dragon and didn’t back down, you’d be crushed on the spot. Don’t you dare try this yourselves.”
“……”
They were all incredibly excited, wildly praising the Dragon Clan’s strength and beauty, feeling proud as if they themselves had become awesome by association.
In reality, with the Linchong Species nearly extinct nowadays, dragon studies had always been a niche field. Usually, when they held free lectures, few paid attention.
After so many years, today they could finally hold their heads high, basking in the attention, being eagerly asked about all things dragon-related— it was a thrill! With this in mind, they gazed at Beiyuan like crazed artists staring at their muse, eyes shining.
On the other side, Beiyuan, having finally figured out a plan, no longer hesitated.
He let out another long roar at the sky— Beiyuan’s inner voice: “Raid time, raid time, anyone want to join the raid?”
Immediately, everyone felt the world fall silent for a second. In the next instant, earth-shaking roars echoed from all directions.
“This, this is…!?”
They saw countless Linchong Species burst from mountains, deserts, and rock layers, displaying forms and postures never seen before, filling the sky, charging forward like a hundred birds toward the phoenix.
Beiyuan happily flapped his wings, thinking that the hour was almost up— when a crimson figure burst from the distant Teleportation Array, following the call, not forgetting to bring along a group of little brothers from Yan Flame Mountain.
As everyone knew, Linchong Species were extremely territorial and absolute loners, not even wanting a mate or children.
They would never allow others to set foot in their territory, and unless it was a deliberate invasion, would avoid the scent of another Linchong from afar to prevent unnecessary fights.
So, this was the first time anyone had seen Linchong Species gather in a group. Maybe not unique, but certainly extremely rare in history.
Especially since they were gathering here in response to a single being’s call.
They were willing to overcome their deeply ingrained instincts, endure the presence of others, and bow their proud heads for him— just to save another race entirely unrelated to them.
Perhaps they couldn’t, or simply wouldn’t bother to, understand the meaning of this act. They obeyed only that one person. This was a miracle that only he could create.
Yet, seeing countless Linchong Species, led by the golden dragon, lifting Yunshang Nation one by one, someone shed tears, “If only the Six-Winged Clan had encountered such a dragon back then…”
“The reason a miracle is called a miracle is because it appears at the last moment.” A member of the Six-Winged Clan laughed through tears, “It’s not too late now. This is the greatest comfort I’ve ever received in my life.”
Countless people with six wings reached out in the real world, fingertips gently touching the cold screen, lingering on that golden, radiant figure.
—As if touching the light.
Never before had they wished so much for that world to be real.