The Last Primal

After giving a brief moment to process his words, the elderly uncle standing beside Tai Liu continued on and said.

"[Reptilian] This… ancient war lasted for a long time and almost spanned across the entire ancient era. Among that, countless prodigies and powerhouses risked their lives to save the living races from the upcoming disaster, only to be turned into lasting notes in that sorrowful sonata."

"[Reptilian] Back then, the Primordial Ancient Races were way too strong and had already reigned over both the surface and the underworld ever since the primordial era where there were thousands of races! Under the lead of the Primordial Nine Races, the hundred races joined forces and pushed our rebelling forces back. Slowly, the territories occupied by us, lizard folk decreased and they were about to be engulfed by the hundred races that were led by the Primordial Nine Races at any moment…"

"[Reptilian] Our race that had just been reborn with hope was on the brink of extinction!"

Although everyone already knew that the outcome of the ancient war was that their Draconic Skink race stood victorious, everyone could not help but get nervous at that point.

The elderly old man took a deep breath of air and said deeply.

"[Reptilian] In that chaos, the Ancient One's chosen first High Priest appeared domineeringly and overturned the situation! He, with the aid of his dazzling divine powers conquered the four regions and three seas almost singlehandedly, killing multiple emperors among the hundred races and severing the light of providence on the Primordial Nine Races! Sweeping across the entire world, everyone had to bow down everywhere he passed!"

"[Reptilian] Even the mighty arrogant Dragon Emperor of the dragon race and the Elven Emperor of the High Elven race? Pfft! Against the High Priest, all of them had to die! Later on, descendants even referred to the emergence of the Ancient One's High Priest as the subduing of all hundred races as his subjects!"

The martial artists opened their mouths in shock and it took a long time for them to calm their hearts.

"[Reptilian] The result of the ancient war was that the hundred races lost massively and were almost brought to utter extinction. Even the Primordial Nine Races were severely injured and had to each hide in a corner of the world, living ignoble existences and rarely showing their faces. The nine areas are known today as the nine forbidden grounds."

Aiden shuddered when he heard that. As if an ancient, repressed memory have been suddenly unlocked in his mind, he felt vague, blurry images, fragments of a long lost memory surge back into the back of his mind.

It was only now that some of the doubts in Aiden's hearts were resolved.

The origins of the nine forbidden grounds came from the Primordial Nine Races that once ruled over world! He had heard about this before… From way back…

Yet he couldn't place the fragment anywhere… it felt out of place, strange… but at the same time, he knew it was his, from way before…action

What the elderly uncle meant was that if the Ancient One's High Priest hadn't appeared in the ancient era, the lizardfolk wouldn't have been a match for the Primordial Nine Races.

Although this legend was from way before and these mythical existences were already long gone, the Primordial Nine Races survived.

Suddenly, a thought struck Aiden.

If the Primordial Nine Races were to show themselves again and come out from the nine forbidden grounds one after another in this era, who could stop them now that the reptilian race no longer had the same Emperors? The current High Priest that instead of the valiant hero this story depicted seemed to be schemeful, conniving rat, hiding in the dark, fearful of showing his face to the public?

It wasn't a completely unfounded worry. So far, Aiden hadn't felt a powerhouse even vaguely similar to his own… Besides this mythical existence, this 'Ancient One', everyone was still trudging the limits of his or her own mortal coil, unable to surpass his race's limitations. The best they could offer was old fogies at the brink of their death, hiding their powers only acting arrogant without any real power to back their claims.

Shaking his head, Aiden stopped letting his imagination run wild.

He merely heard the elderly uncle continuing.

"[Reptilian] From then on, our draconic skink race has prospered and the ancient era came to an end, bringing us to the current, golden era. Right now, no one even knows of the truth about the Ancient One and his sudden crusade. However, because he reigned through history and conquered all regions, the world's races refer to him as the emperor and we descendants call him the last guardian of our world, despite the somber truth."

"[Reptilian] Furthermore, it's because of his prophet's sudden appearance that the hundred races are destroyed and the Primordial Nine Races have to live an ignoble existence, bringing a close to an era. For better or worse, we have truly profited from such a dark past. The ancient era was also known as the Ancient One's era."

The elderly old man continued, seemingly musing to himself and forgetting he was explaining to an entire audience by now.

"[Reptilian] Ever since the ancient era, time has passed and the world has changed. Generation after generation, emperors have appeared, but none of them would be even close to the mythical figures of the olden times. They are but a mere shadow of their past glory!"

Aiden finally heaved out a sigh of relief when he heard that as a phrase filled his mind.

Tai Liu said.

"[Reptilian] The Ancient One's Palace was the bedroom of the Ancient One and the first High Priest and contains his true inheritance. Ever since the Ancient Times, the palace have rarely showed itself, and it is said to be the true place where the Ancient One and the High Priest would reside!"

"[Reptilian] It was said that whoever gains entrance would become a future powerhouse of our generation! Among those that stepped in throughout history, three of them became emperors. The other four cultivators became the strongest paragons of their respective generations. It was just a pity that they died midway and could not make it to the end."

No one could ensure that the path of martial arts would be smooth.

Even the martial artists with the most heavenly-defying potentials would meet with countless calamities and no one could guarantee that they could make it through everything safely.

Tai Liu remarked.

"[Reptilian] From the point of view of the later generations, if the remaining four of the seven martial artists who entered the Ancient One's Palace hadn't died, they would have definitely become emperors with their achievements as well!"

"[Reptilian] What's exactly inside the palace then?"

Aiden Zimo could not help but ask.

Tai Liu chuckled bitterly and shook her head. "[Reptilian] I'm afraid other than those in the past who entered the Ancient One's Palace, no one else knows."

The old man said deeply.

"[Reptilian] It's said that each of the seven chosen have received different inheritances. For example, the three of them who became emperors were the Spear, Fire and Sabre respectively."

Tai Liu looked at Aiden and suddenly asked. "[Reptilian] Aiden let me ask… are you interested in the Ancient One's Palace's inheritance?"

Aiden remained silent to the question and did not reply. Though he had other motives, and a defined goal… he felt that these goals were somewhere aligned in a way.

Tai Liu continue.

"[Reptilian] In that case, let me tell you: Only a single person is allowed into the Ancient One's Palace. If you wish to obtain the inheritance, you will naturally meet with the strongest powwerhouses the world can offer."

"[Reptilian] Also, all of them are bound to be at least late Martial Master realm, if not already at the peak. Right now, you're only…"

She did not continue.

In her opinion, Aiden was indeed truly, freakishly strong and could in fact challenge for a right to enter the fabled palace in the sky.

However, it was unrealistic to think that he could suppress multiple geniuses and enter the Ancient One's Palace.

After all, he was only at most a Martial Master realm warrior with a pristine draconic bloodline no matter what. Whilst that was impressive, it should be nowhere near enough to truly contend for ultimate victory.

The difference even between Martial Masters was way too great!

Furthermore, there were other hidden guardian elders of super sects watching from the sidelines.

Not all these old fogies could be baited to their deaths by Aiden.

He might be able to survive against the attacks of one such Martial Grandmaster. But, what if there were two… or three?

"[Reptilian] Hmm… does the Azure Myst Sect intending to go?"

Aiden asked, breaking the silence.

"[Reptilian] We are not."

Tai Liu shook her head decisively. "[Reptilian] I can almost predict that the area beneath the Ancient One's Palace will be filled with copius amounts of blood and countless corpses. There might even be many innocent sects that might get implicated just because they want to watch the show."

"[Reptilian] One cannot be too greedy. We have already gained a lot during this excursion. We have to know our limits, and it would be pointless to take such a high risk."

Nodding, Aiden replied.

"[Reptilian] Hmmm, I understand your point… However, I cannot miss it, this was the sole reason I have come here for…"