Chapter 135: Grand Bone Of Chaos And The Dark Sovereign

The words reverberated through the Obsidian Waterfall Realm, a seismic tremor that shook the very foundations of the crumbling landscape. It wasn't just in Jiang Feng's mind; it was in the air itself—the pronouncements of the Aetherion Dragon echoed, shaking the already fractured ground and sending tremors through the colossal chains that hung precariously above.

Ji Moran, still reeling from the oppressive aura of the heart, felt the change acutely. Her breath hitched as the weight of the realm seemed to shift, as though the very fabric of existence was being rewritten.

This wasn't the culmination of a brutal trial. This was a crossroads, a divergence into something far more profound, something... cosmic and beyond her level of understanding. A shiver ran down her spine, not from the chill air, but from an unsettling sense of insignificance in the face of such immense power.

Jiang Feng remained rooted, his gaze transfixed on the small dragon hovering before the Heart of Dark Ages. He felt strangely detached, an observer in his own body, witnessing events unfold as if through a distorted veil. The voice, ancient and resonant, addressed the entity of darkness with respect, almost as an equal.

"Chaos, you're indeed a special case," the voice echoed from the heart once more. Each beat caused the space to shake frantically, but the area around the Aetherion Dragon remained eerily calm, a pocket of tranquility in the heart of the storm.

"It is strange that you would pick a child so young and inexperienced to be the new sovereign. Not only that, but the child doesn't seem to have a choice in this matter. Isn't that against the principle of a ruler like you?" the Aetherion Dragon asked as it floated before the dark heart.

Its words sent a chill down Ji Moran's spine. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was witnessing something momentous, something that would irrevocably alter the course of their lives.

"You are right," the heart responded. "But he needs to hurry thus this needs to be done; that said, I cannot wait for him to grow on his own. You've been asleep for far too long. War is upon us. The invaders draw near once more, and the 50 million-year war shakes the known realms as in the old. But this time, it's going to be us against the invasion. I shall say no more."

Listening to the heart, even the Eternal Flame Codex frowned deeply, its fiery script dimming slightly. Saloris and Caelestis, in their original forms, also frowned. They knew exactly what the Heart of Dark Ages meant when it mentioned the 50 million-year war and the impending invasion.

This was no laughing matter. The outside world wasn't as peaceful and uniformly governed as one might think. It was a chaotic tapestry of warring factions, ancient grudges, and cosmic threats.

"Sigh," the Aetherion Dragon sighed, a sound like the rustling of ancient leaves. "The child is very young, and there is just too much karma involved. The world seems to have made its choice, but it is pushing him too fast, and old relics like us should know that if he can't manage all the pressure, it will only make him die that much faster. Dark Sovereign, you should know this as much as I do!"

The conversation played out for all to hear, even Jiang Feng's heart shook from the deluge of information and assumptions swirling through his head. He felt like a small boat caught in a raging storm, tossed about by forces he couldn't comprehend.

"Be that as it may," the heart boomed, its voice resonating with an undeniable finality. "There is no choice. Either he steps up to claim his birthright or dies along with the realm. That choice I will grant this child, that right you, too, have to grant this child when the concept of chaos descends. Let him make his choice now. I can assist with his third tribulation. You can let him have the Chaos Grand Bone when he nears his fourth tribulation. If not, he will surely fail and die. I have said enough. Karma has sensed my presence, and that old hag won't let me rest if she shows up. I've gone out of my way to speak more than I usually would, hmm."

The Heart of Dark Ages floated over to Jiang Feng, who was now sweating profusely. His second tribulation outside Northern Moon City had left him battered and on the brink of death. Though he became stronger, he realized that his reverse cultivation would trigger tribulation lightning when he crossed into the next realm of cultivation. The terrifying part was that the tribulation seemed to double in strength each time it descended.

"We have been trying to avoid karma for a while now, but with our appearance here, it has already locked onto us both," the Aetherion Dragon grumbled. "It doesn't matter anymore. How I see it, this child isn't afraid of wind or rain if he puts his mind to it. So be it. The Celestial Church, the Dark Realm, the invasion, the battle of the realms above—let it all come. This kid is harder to deal with than any child I've ever seen."

The Aetherion Dragon roared as it flew back into Jiang Feng's body and coiled around his heart.

"F-ck that," Jiang Feng cursed, finally finding his voice. "Who's ready to fight all that sh-t? This is bs!!"

He still couldn't move, but once the Aetherion Dragon returned, he instantly rained down curses upon it.

"Haha, destiny calls, kid. It's either you or them. You will have two sovereign laws with you all the way—your eternal bloodline and codex, dragon bloodline, and two God Flames. Haha, why worry? The heavens are large, and your hand can reach for them!"

The Aetherion Dragon's voice faded as its soul form retreated into Jiang Feng's mental will space. But Jiang Feng soon noticed that the soul of Aetherion Dragon didn't seem to know exactly what had happened.

'Could they be two separate entities? Does Chaos take over when it needs to?... Ugh, my head hurts,' Jiang Feng thought. Though he had a strong talent for comprehension, he couldn't wrap his head around what was happening. It was then that the Heart of Dark Ages spoke to him or rather to itself.

"What is sovereignty? What is might? What are the heavens? Who are the heavens? What is to be, shall be. Talent, bloodline, unyielding willpower, a thirst to rise above all else—for what?"

The Heart of Dark Ages seemed to muse, lost in thoughts of the past or perhaps the future.

"Son of the Eternal Clan, you have been chosen. Destiny calls. The danger ahead is terrifying. The crown sits before you. It is a fact that you have been chosen, whether you accept or not. What will come, will come!"

The heartbeat sounded like a clap of thunder, so loud that it caused Ji Moran's head to ache even under the protection of the Moon Flame. Jiang Feng's body was finally freed after the voice made its last statement. He turned to look back at Ji Moran, then went over to her in hurried steps and kneeled, holding her hand.

"Release her, I'll do what you say" his calm voice echoed.

The beating heart remained silent for a few moments before the oppressive pressure on Ji Moran vanished.

"Are you alright?" Jiang Feng asked with genuine concern.

"I'm alright, thank you," she replied, offering a forced smile. The last beat of the heart caused a tremor within her, almost making her cough up blood.

"Okay, stay here," Jiang Feng said, his voice firm but gentle. He stood and returned to face the Heart of Dark Ages.

"It doesn't seem like I have a choice in the matter. Judging from your voice, you're the one that's been talking to me and pushing me forward, towards this path of darkness all along haven't you?"

"Darkness is not just a path," the heart rumbled, "but a way of life, a belief as old as time. It is the shadow that gives definition to the light, the void from which all things are born. It is not inherently evil, but a force, like the wind or the tide. It can be gentle, or it can be devastating. It is the power that sleeps within you, waiting to be awakened, you were given mere words, but the darkness within awoke!."

Jiang Feng frowned and took a deep breath as he reflected on the conversation between the Aetheriom Dragon and the Heart. He recalled the mention of the Grand Bone of Chaos, which the Aetherion Dragon had said would descend in the future. However, he wondered if two sovereign concepts could coexist within the same body. At this point, though, pondering these questions felt pointless; he knew he had to either get stronger or face death.

"I have to find my father and support him in whatever he is facing. I need to repay Lin Moyi's favor. There are people out there who care about me now, and I can't die—not here, not right now." Jiang Feng clenched his fists so tightly that the air around him began to heat up. Blazing flames rumbled within him as the Golden Crow lifted its head and screeched. The Skyforge Flame surged through him, causing his blood to boil.

The Heart of Dark Ages absorbed all of this and thought to itself, "He reminds me of that woman."