I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

The dark golden light gently enveloped the small space, illuminating the struggle and longing that flickered in Lu Zhao's eyes.

With such a treasure right before him, it was within easy reach. Especially this scale, which shared the same origin as his cultivation technique and seal, resonating strongly with him—it was practically a tailor-made opportunity for him. If he could obtain it, his injuries would heal instantly, his cultivation would advance greatly, and he would have a powerful trump card in this perilous "Dragon Bone Wasteland" and on his future path of cultivation.

However, on the path of cultivation, the greatest taboo is greed for quick results and rashness, especially when facing ancient artifacts of unknown origin and extremely high status. One wrong step could lead to utter destruction.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Zhao forcibly suppressed the pounding in his heart, his eyes regaining their calm and sharpness. He did not rush forward, but instead focused his divine sense to its limit once again, like the most precise probe, carefully scanning every inch of the altar, and the dark golden fragment of the Reverse Scale.

The azure jade of the altar had lost all its spiritual power, becoming no different from ordinary rocks. The remaining runes on it were long since blurred and indistinct, showing no signs of spiritual energy flow or residual restrictive energy fluctuations. It seemed to be merely a vessel, a symbol.

The fragment of the Reverse Scale lay there quietly, radiating a gentle light and dragon's might, without any outward display of offensive or defensive spiritual energy fluctuations.

But this doesn't mean it's safe. Perhaps specific triggering conditions are needed, or perhaps the power it contains is enough to cause a backlash against the offender.

Lu Zhao pondered for a moment and decided to test the waters gradually.

He first separated an extremely subtle wisp of his divine consciousness, like the softest feather, and slowly drifted toward the fragment of the Reverse Scale.

When divine sense touched the surface of the scales, it was like a mud ox entering the sea, without eliciting any reaction. It was neither repelled nor swallowed up, as if it had only touched a piece of warm jade.

Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow and sent out another wisp of pure spiritual energy, cautiously approaching it as well. The result was the same as with his divine sense; the spiritual energy silently merged into the scales upon contact, and the scales' radiance remained unchanged.

It seems that ordinary divine sense and spiritual power cannot activate this scale.

So... what about the annihilation dragon energy?

With a thought, Lu Zhao carefully drew out the finest wisp of gray-gold dragon energy, as thin as a hair, from his dantian and slowly sent it out, letting it drift toward the dark golden scales.

The moment this wisp of dragon energy, imbued with the essence of annihilation and destruction, touched the fragment of the reverse scale—

"Buzz!"

The scales, which had been calm all along, finally reacted!

Its dark, restrained light seemed to brighten slightly, as if a sleeping dragon had gently twitched its eyelids. A gentle, profound aura, as all-encompassing as the earth and as serene as the deep sea, rippled from its scales, gently enveloping the wisp of extinguished dragon energy that Lu Zhao had extended.

There was no rejection, no aggression; instead, it conveyed a sense of... subtle acceptance and closeness.

Immediately afterwards, a wisp of purer, more ancient dragon energy, imbued with the essence of water and soil and the aura that nourishes all things, emerged from the fragment of the reverse scale. It flowed upstream along with Lu Zhao's wisp of annihilated dragon energy and instantly merged into his body.

"Well……"

Lu Zhao trembled, feeling a warm and profound current instantly flow through his limbs and bones. Wherever it passed, the pain from his injuries seemed to lessen, and even his depleted spiritual energy was restored. At the same time, fragmented and blurry images and thoughts, along with this wisp of dragon energy, surged into his sea of ​​consciousness: it was the vast and boundless earth, the ceaselessly flowing rivers, the all-encompassing virtue that sustains all things, the compassion that nourishes all things… Though only a fragment, it gave Lu Zhao a somewhat new understanding of the ways of “earth” and “water.”

Yes! The owner of this Reverse Scale Fragment must be an ancient true dragon who wields the power of water and soil (or the earth and rivers)! Its path is different from the "annihilation" of the annihilating dragon energy, focusing more on "nurturing" and "bearing", but it belongs to the same origin of the dragon race, so it can resonate, recognize, and even give gifts on its own initiative!

Moreover, judging from the feedback, the dragon soul's will remaining in the scale had no ill intentions towards him. On the contrary, because he carried the aura of "kin" (the aura of the annihilating dragon and the contract of the reverse scale), it regarded him as a trustworthy successor or inheritor.

"If you don't take what Heaven offers, you'll suffer the consequences!"

The last trace of hesitation vanished from Lu Zhao's eyes, replaced by a resolute gleam. Such an opportunity, if missed due to second-guessing, would surely incur divine retribution!

Without further hesitation, he took a deep breath, slowly stepped forward, walked to the edge of the broken altar, stretched out his right hand, spread his five fingers, and slowly, with piety and reverence, grasped the dark golden fragment of the Reverse Scale.

When his fingertips finally touched the warm yet resilient surface of the scales—

"boom!"

It was as if a thunderclap from the heavens had exploded in my mind! Or as if a volcano that had been dormant for millennia had suddenly erupted!

The dark golden scales suddenly shone brightly, instantly filling the entire underground space and dyeing everything a pure gold! A vast and boundless, yet gentle and inclusive ancient thought, like a river bursting its banks, carrying countless fragmented images, boundless information, and desolate insights, crashed into Lu Zhao's sea of ​​consciousness!

At this moment, Lu Zhao's consciousness was forcibly pulled into an ancient and vast illusion.

A colossal, unimaginably vast dragon, its body a tapestry of pale yellow and deep black, each scale seemingly bearing the weight of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, roared and battled across the boundless starry sky. Its enemy was an indescribable, terrifying shadow of chaos and destruction. The battle was fierce; stars shattered, and the void was annihilated. Finally, the dragon was mortally wounded, its blood scattering across countless worlds. One drop fell upon this land later known as the "Dragon Bone Wasteland." Dragging its broken body, the dragon retreated into the depths of the earth, where the water veins converged and the earth's energy gathered, falling into an eternal slumber. Before its demise, it disintegrated, its reverse scales shattering. Most were taken away by its kin or followers who sensed them, but a small, core fragment, containing its final essence and protective will, merged with the earth's veins, forming this unique bottom-of-the-lake space and ancient altar, silently guarding and nourishing the earth's water veins, awaiting its destined one…

The images and information surged through Lu Zhao's consciousness like a torrent. He "saw" the devastation of ancient times, "felt" the tragic grandeur and protective will of the true dragon, and "understood" the origin and mission of this fragment of the reverse scale.

That overwhelming will finally coalesced into a gentle yet aged voice, resounding directly into the depths of his soul—not words, but a transmission of will:

"Later generation...carrying the essence of my people...though our paths differ...our origins are the same...this scale contains my remaining essence and insights into the land and water...I give it to you...I hope you will use it wisely...to protect...to nourish..."

Although a great deal of information was poured in, it only lasted for a moment in the outside world.

When Lu Zhao recovered from the overwhelming mental shock, he found that the dark golden fragment of the Reverse Scale on the altar had disappeared.

Instead, a burning sensation came from between my eyebrows.

He subconsciously looked inward and saw that in the space between his eyebrows, there was originally only a sharp, dark red reverse scale contract representing the inheritance of "Jin". But now, another dragon pattern had quietly appeared next to it.

This new dragon pattern presents a warm and restrained dark gold color, with a more ancient and profound form. Its lines resemble the veins of the earth or the meandering of rivers. It floats quietly, radiating a gentle yet resilient light, standing side by side with the dark red, sharp and domineering dragon pattern beside it. One is profound and nourishing, while the other is desolate and broken. Their auras are very different, yet they subtly complement and blend together.

This dark gold fragment of the Reverse Scale actually took the initiative to recognize its master and merged into his brow, becoming a part of him alongside the "Reverse Scale Pact"!

But the surprises didn't end there.

Just as the dark gold dragon pattern took shape, an incredibly pure, powerful, gentle, and profound dragon essence, like a flood bursting through a dam, surged out from the dark gold dragon pattern between Lu Zhao's eyebrows, instantly flowing through his limbs, meridians, and internal organs!

This dragon essence was not as domineering and destructive as the annihilating dragon energy of "Ember." Instead, it carried the warmth and nourishment of the earth and water, like the finest elixir, or a mother's embrace, rapidly repairing all the hidden and visible injuries within his body. Broken ribs were healing, his trembling internal organs were calming, his parched meridians were being nourished, and his depleted spiritual energy was frantically recovering and surging!

Moreover, this vast dragon essence not only repaired his injuries but also naturally propelled his cultivation, launching an attack on the already weakened barrier!

The bottleneck in the late stage of Foundation Establishment was rapidly melted away by this pure dragon essence, like ice and snow under the scorching sun.

His cultivation level is steadily advancing towards the peak of Foundation Establishment!