The walk from the training hall was swift.
And throughout the walk, Duke Draven didn't slow his pace, and Valdis followed closely behind, his steps steady despite the recent breakthrough.
The energy within him had settled, but its powerful presence remained.
Soon they arrived at their destination— the Ebonhart Treasury
The treasury stood before them, and, unlike the grandeur one might expect, the entrance was silent and empty; no guards patrolled the area. The only person there was an old man who sat on top of a massive rock beside the entrance
His posture relaxed and his eyes closed. He sat as though he had been there for centuries without ever moving. His clothes were simple, almost plain, and yet something about him felt ancient.
Arriving below the rock Duke Draven stopped and without hesitation he bowed.
"Senior."
His voice carried complete respect without a hint of his usual authority.
The old man slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze landed on Draven but he said nothing to him to acknowledge his presence
After a few moments, he closed his eyes again.
Silence returned.
Duke Draven remained bowed for a few seconds longer before straightening up. He showed neither displeasure nor irritation.
As though the old man's indifferent attitude was the most natural thing in the world. Then he motioned to Valdis who stood at the side in shock.
"Greet him."
Valdis hesitated for a fraction of a second, not out of unwillingness, but shock.
Still, he stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Senior."
But after his greeting silence followed
The old man didn't move. He didn't even bother to open his eyes, didn't acknowledge his presence in the slightest.
Valdis's brows almost furrowed, but before he could think further Draven had already turned and began walking toward the treasury entrance without a word.
Valdis followed immediately behind.
At the entrance, Duke Draven retrieved a crystal card and slotted it into a carved section of the wall.
Click.
The formation reacted instantly as a low hum filled the air as the massive doors slowly split apart, revealing the interior beyond.
Without hesitation, they stepped inside. And the moment they crossed the threshold, Ash had taken a few steps away from it the doors behind them shut sealing the space completely.
Seeing this Valdis finally spoke.
"Father who was that?"
Hearing this and knowing what exactly was going through his mind Draven chuckled lightly and said
"That old man is one of the Nine Guardians of the Ebonhart House."
Hearing this Valdis' eyes flickered in shock and amazement.
"He's a Guardian as in one of the strongest individuals within the house."
Draven nodded and continued walking as he spoke.
"The fact that he acknowledged my presence is already something wonderful"
Valdis frowned slightly and said
"Acknowledged?"
Draven smiled faintly and said
"If it were anyone else, they wouldn't even perceive him. They would come open the treasury, collect whatever they were permitted to collect, and leave without knowing he was there"
Valdis's gaze sharpened slightly then he asked
"Why have someone like that guard the treasury? Wouldn't assigning someone an Immortal Ascension Realm expert be more than enough?"
Draven shook his head and said
"Your thoughts are too shallow. The contents of this treasury are more than enough to tempt even those in the Divine Realm."
Hearing this Valdis's steps slowed slightly.
Draven continued.
"There was once an independent Divine Realm cultivator who attempted to infiltrate a ducal treasury."
The story piqued Valdis's interest as he asked.
"What happened to him after he was caught?"
Draven fell silent for a moment before he responded
"Nothing."
His reply completely stopped Valdis in his tracks as his face was full of disbelief
"Nothing?"
Draven glanced at him with a smile before saying
"He escaped. You can't punish a person you have yet to capture, can you"
Upon reaching this point he burst into laughter
"The moment he was detected he immediately took what he came for and fled before another Divine Realm expert could lock onto him."
His voice was calm but carried a hint of Mockery.
"Once someone at that level escapes they can hardly be caught even by someone on their level."
A heavy silence followed after, as Valdis couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was at this point that he finally understood the necessity of having such a powerhouse guard in one of the most important places in the house.
They continued onward through the path before they arrived at a door which Draven pushed open
And for the first time, Valdis truly saw the treasury in all its glory
It was massive.
A vast, towering space that stretched upward across multiple levels. Shelves lined every wall, filled with countless treasures—artifacts, weapons, scrolls, rare materials—all arranged in meticulous order.
Each in levels that rose higher than the last, the higher it went the denser the energy and the more powerful the aura radiating off the floor became.
It was clear to Valdis that the more valuable the item the higher it was placed.
But Draven didn't look up Instea he moved toward an inconspicuous section of the wall, reached out, and turned a hidden mechanism.
Click.
A portion of the wall shifted revealing a hidden passage leading downwards
Seeing this Valdis's eyes narrowed slightly as he asked
"Where does this lead?"
Draven turned and said in a proud voice
"To the most precious treasure of the Ebonhart House."
Valdis raised an eyebrow and said, "Shouldn't the most precious treasure be placed on the top floor?"
Draven's voice echoed faintly in the narrow passage.
"That's what we want people to believe."
Valdis understood immediately.
"So, anyone who breaks in will aim for the upper floors while the real treasure remains hidden."
A faint smile appeared on his face as he arrived at that conclusion
Draven nodded slightly and continued walking
"Who came up with it?" Valdis asked.
Draven answered without hesitation.
"The fifth patriarch, Lucien."
Valdis's steps halted for a moment.
Lucien.
The name echoed in his mind and closely behind another name popped up
Nyxaria.
He was her partner
"Interesting," he muttered quietly as he continued forward.
The passage opened into a large underground clearing.
The moment Valdis stepped in something changed.
His blood roared.
A violent surge coursed through his veins as though something within the space had awakened it.
His heartbeat quickened, his senses sharpened.
It felt like his blood had recognized something in this space and reacted in response.
Before he could speak, Draven did.
"I know you felt it" he said
Hearing his words Valdis turned and looked at him but before he could speak Draven continued
"The feeling of yearning is your blood recognizing its origins"
"Origins Valdis asked as the statement confused him.
Draven's gaze deepened slightly as he said
"Do you remember what I told you about our bloodline?"
Valdis nodded.
"You said it had a connection to dragons."
Draven smiled faintly hearing his son's response
"Good, follow me"
After that, he continued forward while Valdis followed right behind him.
The deeper they went the stronger the reaction became.
His blood felt restless and excited.
And this triggered Valdis' curiosity about what could make his blood react in such a manner
They continued walking till they reached another chamber. Duke Draven stepped forward once more and inserted the crystal card into a slot.
The door reacted as it slid open and as it opened a wave of cold air rushed out.
The cold felt sharp and piercing making Valdis' body shiver for a moment.
The moment Valdis stepped inside his body froze and his face was full of shock
Before him was a sixty-foot-tall beast whose aura blanketed the entire chamber
The moment he entered the chamber his blood began boiling as its excitement had reached the peak.
Valdis stood rooted on the spot as he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
A dragon
And not just any dragon, it was a black dragon. A dragon known for its ferocious nature and impressive battle ability. This dragon was the epitome of destruction and was known as the second most powerful tribe in the dragon clan below only the golden dragons.
And standing before him was one of such legendary dragons.
Its frame was massive as its body stretched across the chamber, encased in thick, ancient ice. Its scales were black—darker than night itself—each one reflecting faint light like polished obsidian.
It was when he looked closer that Valdis discovered that the dragon releasing this terrifying aura was dead and its body was just preserved in the ice
But even in death its aura was terrifying. But even with its overwhelming and heavy aura, Valdis felt something else.
It was not fear, not pressure, but a strong resonance between him or to be specific his bloodline, and the dragon.
His blood surged violently roaring louder than ever before.
As it had found what it had been searching for.
Duke Draven stood beside him, observing all his emotions silently from the side for a moment before he spoke up
"This," he said quietly, "Is the origin of our bloodline."