Chapter 160: The Azure Sovereign Kingdom’s Day of Death

The Azure Sovereign Kingdom’s Day of Death

Something felt wrong.

That family had always remained above the nine heavens.

They were distant.

Untouchable.

Even the great powers of the surrounding domains could only look upward toward them.

Why would such an existence come to the Celestial Capital Domain?

And why would they descend upon the Azure Sovereign Kingdom itself?

Even receiving one of their decrees was already considered the highest possible honor.

A personal visit?

It made no sense.

Still, Rafael didn’t dare become careless.

The azure dragon alone was enough to make his body tense.

That overwhelming pressure belonging to the Lunar Sovereign Realm pressed down from above like an invisible mountain.

Every breath felt heavier.

His bones seemed to hum under the pressure.

And that wasn’t even the most frightening part.

There was still someone inside that palace.

Someone who could command such a dragon.

Rafael swallowed quietly.

If that being took even the slightest offense...

The entire Azure Sovereign Kingdom could disappear.

With that thought, Rafael immediately led the Stellar Sovereign experts into the sky.

They had to greet their guests.

No matter who they were.

No matter how terrifying they might be.

They could not afford to show the slightest disrespect.

The moment they rose above the clouds, the world before them changed.

Crimson blood surged across the heavens.

It wasn’t an illusion.

The entire sky seemed to have been submerged in a sea of blood.

Within that endless crimson mist, countless twisted blood dragons writhed and coiled around one another.

Their bodies were formed from condensed killing intent and bloodline power.

Every movement they made caused the void to tremble.

Rafael and the other Stellar Sovereign experts felt their blood and spiritual power churn violently.

Their hearts pounded.

Their veins throbbed.

For one terrifying instant, they felt as though their own lifeblood was trying to tear itself free from their bodies.

Then—

The colossal azure dragon slowly lowered its head.

Its enormous pupils turned toward them.

The pupils were crimson.

They were so vast that Rafael’s mind instinctively compared them to a blood-red moon.

One glance.

That was all.

Rafael’s body became cold.

He felt as if his flesh were melting.

His soul trembled.

Even looking at the creature was already beyond what they could endure.

The Stellar Sovereign experts immediately lowered their heads.

No one dared meet its eyes.

Rafael had long since abandoned the dignity of a nation’s ruler.

His back bent deeply.

His voice became respectful to the point of humility.

"Liu Ran, ruler of the Azure Sovereign Kingdom, welcomes the venerable senior!!"

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized the old name had escaped from his lips.

But fear was already clouding his mind.

He continued quickly.

"May I ask which senior has graced us with their presence?!"

"To be deemed worthy of your visit is the greatest honor of Azure Sovereign Kingdom. This day should be declared a festival!!"

Rafael spoke with utmost reverence.

He was betting everything on the possibility that this truly was a legendary family.

If so, then perhaps flattering them would save the Azure Sovereign Kingdom.

A cold voice drifted down from the palace.

"A festival... how amusing..."

The voice was indifferent.

Neither anger nor joy could be heard within it.

Instantly, the previously wild azure dragon became completely silent.

The blood dragons filling the sky also seemed to freeze.

Rafael’s heart loosened slightly.

"Yes!"

He smiled faintly.

As expected.

These ancient existences probably enjoyed such grand ceremonies.

Perhaps this was their chance.

Rafael’s thoughts raced.

"From this day forward, on this day each year, Azure Sovereign Kingdom shall cease all labor. The entire nation shall celebrate—because on this day, a senior once graced our land!"

His voice carried through the heavens.

He had already begun imagining the celebrations.

He would erect statues.

He would establish a festival.

He would make this day sacred.

Anything was worth doing if it could establish a connection with such an existence.

Then the cold voice sounded again.

"Heh... no need for such trouble."

Rafael’s smile froze.

The voice continued.

"From now on, this day each year shall be designated as..."

A pause.

The silence became suffocating.

"Azure Sovereign Kingdom’s Day of Death!!"

Rafael’s pupils contracted.

For one heartbeat, the entire world seemed to stop.

Then—

Boundless killing intent descended from the heavens.

The azure dragon threw back its head.

"ROOOAAAR!!"

Its roar shook the entire domain.

Blood clouds surged outward like mountains collapsing into an ocean.

The night sky turned crimson.

When a Lunar Sovereign grew angry, heaven and earth wept with them.

BOOM—RUMBLE!!

Countless blood dragons surged through the heavens.

They moved like an endless tide of destruction.

Each one descended toward the lands of the Azure Sovereign Kingdom.

Wherever they passed, vegetation withered.

Buildings collapsed.

Creatures screamed.

The land itself became stained with blood.

They were not merely attacking.

They were seeking to annihilate everything.

The Stellar Sovereign experts closest to the dragon felt the pressure first.

Their bodies shook.

Their expressions twisted.

Then—

PFFT!

One exploded into a cloud of blood mist.

Another followed.

Then another.

One after another, Rafael’s strongest experts were reduced to nothing beneath the dragon’s pressure.

No battle.

No resistance.

No chance.

Rafael’s face became completely pale.

This wasn’t that legendary family.

This wasn’t some honorable guest.

This was a calamity.

A disaster that had descended directly upon the Azure Sovereign Kingdom.

"I beg to know... when did Azure Sovereign Kingdom ever offend you?!"

Rafael’s voice trembled.

He forced himself to raise his head slightly, though his body was shaking uncontrollably.

"Azure Sovereign Kingdom is willing to pay any price—only ask that you spare our nation!!"

His pride had disappeared.

His dignity had disappeared.

There was only one thought remaining.

Survive.

A faint coldness entered the voice above him.

"A price... Your elder spoke of destroying my clan, did he not?"

Rafael’s body went rigid.

His blood seemed to freeze.

That sentence.

Those words.

He understood.

A terrible realization finally connected everything.

The prodigies.

The dead elder.

The order.

The mysterious enemy.

The dragon.

The palace.

His lips trembled.

"S-Sal... Salv... THE SALVATORE FAMILY!!!"