Chen Lan turned back to look, slightly taken aback.

He saw a figure draped in a black dragon robe, embroidered with a golden Xuan Bird, exuding an aura of dominance, vaguely emanating an imperial presence, commanding respect without anger.

"Emperor Qin Shi Huang?" Chen Lan looked at Qin Shi Huang, puzzled, wondering why he sought him out.

Regarding this emperor, Chen Lan felt an infinite respect, for with a mere mortal body, he created such a brilliant history, defended Qin Country, slew countless enemies, and laid the foundation for the powerful Huaxia nation to follow, truly admirable.

"Celestial Venerable, I've heard of you for a long time. Recently... I have heard of many of your deeds, knowing your immense divine techniques, so I specially came to seek your help."

Listening to the emperor's respectful tone, Chen Lan felt complex inside, smiled and said, "Qin Shi Huang, there's no need to be so formal, just call me Xiao Yao."

Out of his father's education, he had harbored respect since childhood for those who contributed to the land of Huaxia.

"Celestial Venerable, you jest." Qin Shi Huang felt somewhat flattered, although he was a great emperor through the ages, he dared not act presumptuously in front of this person, as this person's power far exceeded his own.

Indeed, the strong are respected.

"Forget it, let's just discuss the matter at hand first." Chen Lan understood he couldn't change Qin Shi Huang's thoughts, so he let it be.

"Celestial Venerable, five hundred years ago, before my feigned death, I once went to a dragon vein, where a real divine dragon lay dormant. Its power seems as great as yours, I can't forget it, perhaps there's a secret hidden there."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lan raised his eyebrows, a dragon vein?

This sparked his interest somewhat.

"Where is it?"

"Please come with me."

Subsequently, Chen Lan followed Qin Shi Huang across millions of miles, eventually arriving at a mountain range.

"The dragon vein lies beneath this mountain, Celestial Venerable. Look at the mountain top, there's still an array I had someone set up." Qin Shi Huang pointed to the mountain top.

Chen Lan looked and saw indeed an array, its sole purpose was marking.

In an instant, he brought Qin Shi Huang to the mountain top, looking down, opened his Celestial Eye, and slightly raised his eyebrows.

Indeed, there was something strange down there, isolated by the array, signs of life existed inside. The dragon Qin Shi Huang mentioned was likely still alive but could not escape. If Qin Shi Huang hadn't mentioned it, he might not have discovered it at all.

"I understand now. Are you coming down with me, or not?" Chen Lan looked at Qin Shi Huang.

"No, there are other matters to attend to, I won't trouble the Celestial Venerable further."

After saying this, Qin Shi Huang cupped his hands and bid farewell.

Chen Lan didn't pay it much heed, casually employing an Earth Escape Technique, descending below.

Soon, he passed through the mountain, arriving three thousand meters underground, landing on a flat ground.

There was another world below, with a hidden cave.

Looking at the seemingly ordinary cave around him, yet in the middle stood an extraordinary door.

The door was crafted of gold, its surface engraved with a golden dragon soaring through the sky, surrounded by many golden clouds. The golden dragon appeared lifelike, almost real.

Even covered in dust, the dazzling glow of the gold couldn't be concealed.

Who knows who made it, such extravagance, but it could be inferred that the divine dragon had been inside for a long time, as he also saw many burnt incense ashes or half-burnt incense at the entrance, showing that someone once worshipped the divine dragon there.

But why not go in?

Chen Lan was puzzled, stepping forward, yet before he reached the entrance, a thundering sound was heard, and the stone door slowly opened backward, dust billowing.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew out from within the stone door, carrying warmth, humid and resembling a breath.

"Dragon's Breath?" Chen Lan frowned slightly, sensing the aura inside, the divine dragon within at least an unmatched Great Emperor!

Had there always been an unmatched Great Emperor before?

Was it connected to the Desolate Celestial Realm?

Chen Lan stepped inside, initially pitch-black, countless torches suddenly ignited, illuminating the path ahead, allowing him to see what lay within.

He stopped and froze.

For it was not as magnificent as he imagined, unlike the extravagant stone door, inside there was nothing, only towering pillars supporting above, empty otherwise.

At this moment, a faint breathing sound came from the front, seeming to have little breath left, dying soon.

Chen Lan walked towards it, a spectacular scene gradually unfolding before his eyes, astounding him.

Atop each pillar was a golden chain, covered with runes, likely talismans set there, and these golden chains ultimately connected to a struggling dragon!

A dragon, completely pale, was bound by multiple chains, hanging in mid-air, barely alive.

Its body was withered, skin tightly wrapped around its bones, and its dragon scales had mostly shed, scattered on the ground, and its body had many places with cracked skin, as if whipped, not healing yet, perhaps its blood had run dry, not a single drop remained, looking extremely miserable.

Yet at this moment, Chen Lan was already stunned, his eyes hollow, looking at this dragon. For some reason, he felt a familiar aura from the dragon, a sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen it somewhere before!

Then, the struggling dragon slowly opened its eyes, fatigued, turned its head, its half-squinted, murky eyes gazing at Chen Lan.

In that instant, it suddenly widened its eyes, using all its strength, staring intently at Chen Lan.

Who knows how long passed, one man and one dragon stared at each other until a tear fell from the dragon's eye, and only then did Chen Lan come back to his senses.

It... was actually crying.

"So alike, you look so much like an old friend of mine."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lan remained silent. He had somewhat guessed it, in his past life, he knew this dragon, for he too felt familiar.

"You look just like him, but you seem much younger than him, your strength seems stronger than his, but if he were still alive, he'd definitely be stronger than you." The White Dragon muttered to itself, its tone boasting, lamenting, and reminiscing.

If the old friend were still present, he would surely be glorious, dominating the world, invincible across the Ten Thousand Realms!

But unfortunately, the old friend was no more.

"The person you're talking about... who is he?" Chen Lan asked, feigning ignorance.

"He was a genius, but equally, a fool. If back then he was willing to admit his mistakes, he might still be alive, but alas, the heavens wouldn't tolerate him, his talents frightened too many, and everyone wanted him dead. He had many titles, the Young Great Emperor, the Lantian Emperor, but he liked none of them."

"He liked most being called Xiao Yao because he wanted to truly roam the world freely, unbound by anyone, not constrained by family."

"Sadly, until the day he died, he never achieved true carefree freedom."

"His name was Ye Lan, have you heard of him?"

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