"I really was poisoned," the Starwing Divine Roc replied. "But the toxin was not fatal to me. It only weakened me for a short time. The reason I did not appear immediately was because I wanted to discover who was truly framing you."
"Then do you know the truth now?" Rowan asked eagerly.
"The truth is far more complicated than you imagine," the Starwing Divine Roc said gravely. "But this is not the time to discuss everything. I will take you somewhere safe. There, we can speak properly."
The Starwing Divine Roc carried Rowan deep into the remote mountain ranges of Swordheart Planet. The region was nearly untouched by civilization, making it the perfect refuge. During the flight, Rowan felt a strange resonance flowing between them, as though an ancient connection had awakened deep within their souls.
At last, the Divine Roc descended into a hidden valley.
Dense forests surrounded the area, and at its center lay a crystal-clear lake that reflected the moonlight like polished silver. The air was peaceful and untouched. The Starwing Divine Roc gently placed Rowan on the ground before landing gracefully in front of him.
"Now we can talk," it said.
Under the moonlight, Rowan finally saw the legendary guardian beast clearly from up close. Every feather shimmered with mysterious silver-blue radiance, while its deep eyes held the wisdom of countless ages.
"First, I owe you an apology," the Divine Roc said quietly. "Because of my silence, you suffered an unjust accusation."
"No, you don't need to apologize," Rowan quickly replied. "Someone deliberately framed us."
"I know." The Divine Roc nodded slowly. "Count Edward and the forces behind him carefully orchestrated this entire scheme. They used a special poison to weaken me, then shifted the blame onto you. Their true goal was to eliminate you as a threat."
"Then why not simply kill me directly?" Rowan asked in confusion. "Why go through such a complicated conspiracy?"
"Because your identity is special," the Divine Roc explained. "You are an employee of the Virtual Universe Corporation. If you died suddenly, the corporation would investigate immediately. But if you were executed legally as a criminal, the situation would be entirely different."
Realization dawned on Rowan.
"So they wanted to remove me through legal means."
"Exactly," the Divine Roc replied. "And by doing so, they could also strike at Princess Silvermoon and weaken her father's influence within the empire."
"This really is tied to a major political conspiracy," Rowan muttered bitterly. "But now I'm a fugitive. Things have become even more complicated."
"Do not worry," the Divine Roc reassured him. "I will help clear your name. But before that, there is something even more important I wish to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
The Divine Roc gazed deeply into his eyes, a strange light flickering within them.
"From the moment I first saw you, I sensed a familiar aura from you. That aura reminded me of ancient legends... and the origin of my people."
"The origin of your people?"
"Child, do you know where the Starwing Divine Roc race truly came from?"
Rowan shook his head. "I only know that your race serves as the guardian beasts of the Silverblue Empire, possessing immense strength and wisdom."
"That is only the surface truth," the Divine Roc said softly. "In reality, our race is not native to the Silverblue Empire. Our ancestors came from a distant galaxy in search of something."
"In search of what?"
"Our true homeland. The origin of our bloodline." The Divine Roc's voice became deep and mysterious. "Legend says our ancestors descended from a divine beast known as the Kunpeng."
The moment Rowan heard the name, his entire body froze.
Kunpeng.
The legendary creature from ancient Chinese mythology.
How could it possibly be connected to the Starwing Divine Roc?
"The Kunpeng?" Rowan asked in shock. "You mean the Kunpeng from Chinese mythology?"
"You know of the Kunpeng?" The Divine Roc was equally stunned. "That only confirms my suspicions further. Child... what planet do you come from?"
"Earth," Rowan answered. "The Kunpeng is a divine creature from ancient myths on Earth."
The Starwing Divine Roc trembled violently with excitement.
"Earth... so that's it! I've finally found it!"
"Found what?" Rowan asked, completely bewildered.
"The true homeland of my race!" the Divine Roc exclaimed. "According to ancient legend, the original Kunpeng came from a planet called Earth. Tens of thousands of years ago, part of their race left Earth for unknown reasons and wandered through the cosmos before eventually arriving here. Over countless generations, they evolved into the Starwing Divine Roc race."
Rowan's thoughts became a chaotic storm.
"You're saying the Starwing Divine Rocs are descendants of the Kunpeng from Earth?"
"That's right." The Divine Roc nodded. "And the familiar aura I sensed from you comes from the Kunpeng bloodline within your body. Though it has been diluted through countless generations, the essence of the bloodline remains unchanged."
"I have Kunpeng blood in me?" Rowan stared blankly. "That's impossible."
"On Earth, many people may possess traces of Kunpeng blood without realizing it," the Divine Roc explained. "But your bloodline concentration is unusually high, which is why I could sense it. It also explains your extraordinary talent in cultivation and why the Sword Saint acknowledged you."
Rowan silently processed the overwhelming revelation.
If what the Divine Roc said was true, then their meeting had never been a coincidence. It was the recognition of shared bloodline heritage.
"Then what do we do now?" Rowan finally asked. "Even if we share a bloodline connection, I'm still a wanted criminal."
"The bloodline connection is far more important than you realize," the Divine Roc said solemnly. "According to ancient law, one who possesses the Kunpeng bloodline is the natural sovereign of our race. If you are willing, I wish to formally acknowledge you as my master and become your partner."
"Your master?" Rowan stared at the mighty divine beast in disbelief. "Are you certain?"
"This is the call of bloodline and the will of destiny," the Divine Roc declared. "And only by joining forces can we defeat those who framed you and restore your innocence."
Rowan saw absolute sincerity in the creature's eyes.
This legendary guardian beast was willing to set aside its pride and noble status to stand beside him as an equal companion. That trust moved him deeply.
"I accept," Rowan said firmly. "If you truly wish to fight alongside me, then I will treasure you as my most trusted companion."
The Divine Roc nodded in satisfaction before lowering its noble head.
"Then follow the ancient ritual. Place your blood upon my forehead."
Using a sharp stone fragment, Rowan cut his fingertip lightly and allowed several drops of blood to fall onto the Divine Roc's forehead.
Instantly, dazzling light erupted from the creature's body, illuminating the entire valley like a newborn sun.
Within that radiance, Rowan felt an unprecedented connection form between them. He could clearly sense the emotions and thoughts of the Divine Roc, and the Divine Roc could feel his heart in return.
Their souls had become intertwined.
"The contract is complete," the Divine Roc said. "From this moment onward, we are companions bound through life and death."
"What do we do next?" Rowan asked.
"First, we uncover the true mastermind," the Divine Roc replied coldly. "Count Edward is only a pawn. The real enemy still hides in the shadows. Second, we rescue Princess Silvermoon. She is innocent as well."
"But the entire Silverblue Empire is hunting me right now," Rowan said worriedly. "What can we possibly do?"
"Have you forgotten who I am?" the Divine Roc replied proudly. "I am the guardian beast of the Silverblue Empire. My status within the empire is sacred. Though some seek to frame you, there are still many who can distinguish right from wrong."
"You mean...?"
"I will publicly testify on your behalf and expose the truth behind this conspiracy," the Divine Roc declared. "At the same time, we will actively search for the real evidence."
Hope reignited inside Rowan's heart.
With such a powerful ally standing beside him, perhaps they truly could overturn the situation and clear both his and Silvermoon's names.
"Then where do we begin?" Rowan asked.
"With Count Edward," the Divine Roc said, cold light flashing in its eyes. "It is time for him to pay the price for his actions."
The first rays of dawn illuminated the hidden valley as Rowan emerged from deep meditation.
After an entire night of bloodline synchronization with the Starwing Divine Roc, he could feel unprecedented power flowing through his body. The resonance of that ancient bloodline gave him an entirely new understanding of himself.
"How do you feel?" the Divine Roc's voice echoed directly in his mind.
"It's incredible," Rowan answered honestly. "I can feel an ancient force flowing through my veins, as though dormant genes have awakened."
"This is the awakening of the Kunpeng bloodline," the Divine Roc explained. "Though diluted over countless generations, the essence of the bloodline can never disappear. You are now recognized by our race as a true sovereign."
Rowan stood and examined the changes within himself.
His senses had sharpened dramatically. He could even faintly perceive the life force of tiny animals hidden deep within the forest. More importantly, the mental bond between him and the Divine Roc had become stable and crystal clear.
"Now we need a plan," Rowan said. "But first, we have a practical problem. How do we gather evidence without exposing ourselves?"
The Divine Roc pondered briefly.
"That is indeed a problem. My appearance is too conspicuous to move secretly. And you are currently a wanted fugitive."
"Is there any way for you to change your form?" Rowan suddenly asked. "In Earth's myths, the Kunpeng could transform freely."
"Transform?" A spark of surprise flashed through the Divine Roc's eyes. "You are right! Our race once possessed that ability, but the technique was lost long ago. However..." It paused thoughtfully. "Through our bloodline contract, I may be able to recover that ancient power."
"You should try," Rowan encouraged. "If you can take human form, moving around will become much easier."
The Divine Roc nodded and closed its eyes, concentrating fully on the bloodline power awakening inside its body.
As the contract deepened, dormant Kunpeng genes slowly reawakened within it, reviving abilities that had been lost for ages.
About half an hour later, its massive body began to change.
The enormous form gradually shrank. Feathers disappeared one after another, replaced by smooth skin. Its majestic eyes retained their deep cosmic blue, but its overall aura became gentler and more refined.
When the transformation finished, a tall and handsome man stood before Rowan.
He possessed long silver-blue hair, eyes as deep as the night sky, and wore flowing silver-blue robes. His entire presence carried an ethereal elegance beyond mortal understanding.
"It worked!" the transformed Divine Roc exclaimed excitedly, his voice now youthful and magnetic. "I've regained the art of transformation!"
"That's amazing!" Rowan said with genuine excitement. "Now you look like a high-ranking noble of the Silverblue Empire. No one would suspect a thing."
"Then what should my name be?" the Divine Roc asked. "I can't exactly keep calling myself Starwing Divine Roc."
Rowan thought for a moment.
"Since you're descended from the Kunpeng, how about Peng Yu? It symbolizes the Kunpeng soaring across the universe."
"Peng Yu..." He repeated the name softly before smiling. "I like it. From now on, when I'm in human form, I shall be called Peng Yu."
After establishing their identities, the two began carefully planning their next move.
Their first objective was gathering evidence against Count Edward while also finding a way to rescue Silvermoon.
"We cannot remain passive," Peng Yu analyzed calmly. "We must force the truth into the open. The most effective way is for me, the victim, to testify personally."
"You mean...?" Rowan asked.
"I will publicly appear as the Starwing Divine Roc and personally expose Count Edward's crimes," Peng Yu declared, determination blazing in his eyes. "As the empire's guardian beast, my testimony carries supreme authority."
"But isn't that too dangerous?" Rowan asked worriedly. "What if they're prepared for it?"
"That is precisely why this is the perfect opportunity," Peng Yu replied. "They never expected me to step forward willingly. And truth remains truth. No amount of lies can erase it."
After extensive discussion, they decided on their next destination.
The imperial palace itself.
As the guardian beast of the Silverblue Empire, the Starwing Divine Roc possessed the unquestionable right to seek a direct audience with the emperor, a privilege no one in the empire could deny.
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