Zu Long was taken aback by Xu Fang's vehement attitude, unable to react for a moment.
Only after Xu Fang finished speaking did he slowly reply.
"It seems you have a good relationship with Brother Ao Guang, speaking up for them."
Instead of being angered by being rebuked, Zu Long was quite pleased.
Xu Fang's attitude proved his words to be true; he had indeed been entrusted by the Dragon Clan to enter this space.
"Let's not talk about that. I also do business in the East Sea, and we're all acquaintances here."
Xu Fang waved his hand and asked about the matter he cared about most.
"Zu Long, what exactly are you up to? The Dragon Clan is on the verge of collapse. Hurry up and come up with a solution!"
Xu Fang had not forgotten his purpose for coming here. Regardless of whether he was meeting Zu Long's phantom or his true self, his most important objective was still to help the Dragon Clan solve their problems.
Speaking of this, Zu Long felt rather innocent and said helplessly.
"I wasn't up to anything. I was calculated and perished by a certain existence. In my dying moments, I used all my strength to attach a phantom to the Ancestral Dragon Pearl and send it back to the Dragon Clan's treasury."
Since Xu Fang was on good terms with Dragon King Ao Guang, Zu Long no longer hid anything and revealed what he had done.
He had used all his strength to send the Ancestral Dragon Pearl back to the Dragon Clan's treasury. After years of lurking, once he was sure there was no danger, he began to emit his aura, attempting to attract members of the Dragon Clan.
"My actions were merely to preserve the Dragon Clan's heritage. As the progenitor of the Dragon Clan, how could I have any intention of harming them?"
Zu Long defended himself. As he spoke, his eyes dimmed, filled with loneliness.
"I never imagined that the Dragon Clan would fall to such a state, and that the one who would finally enter this place would be an outsider to the Dragon Clan!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Fang immediately understood.
"So you were trying to do a good deed but ended up causing trouble? Sigh, it's all a matter of time and fate!"
Xu Fang sighed. Zu Long, as the progenitor of the Dragon Clan, had truly fulfilled his duty until his last breath, thinking of the Dragon Clan even in death.
However, he probably hadn't expected the Dragon Clan to decline to this extent, to the point where their current members lacked the strength to enter this space.
Meanwhile, Zu Long felt that the aura he emitted wasn't strong enough to garner the Dragon Clan's attention, so he intensified his efforts.
The consequence of this was that Ao Guang and his three brothers were worried day and night, and the entire Dragon Clan was in a state of turmoil.
"It's not that the Dragon Clan doesn't want to enter here, but they simply can't!"
Xu Fang sighed and explained the Dragon Clan's efforts and current situation.
"There are dozens of Dragon Clan corpses lying at the entrance, dying there in regret, unable to enter."
Hearing this, Zu Long's eyes dimmed further, and he muttered to himself.
"Did I truly err? My intentions were good, so how could this have happened?"
Seeing the once mighty overlord so dejected, Xu Fang felt a pang of sympathy and quickly said.
"Don't blame yourself. You are not at fault. It's just that the Dragon Clan currently lacks the strength to benefit from the opportunities you left for them."
As Xu Fang spoke, Zu Long's eyes lit up, and he looked at Xu Fang.
"No! You are mistaken."
Zu Long shook his head firmly and said.
"The Dragon Clan is not without the fortune to accept it. Your presence is the Dragon Clan's fortune!"
"Since you have appeared here, it is time for the Dragon Clan to receive this opportunity!"
As Zu Long spoke, his dim eyes began to shine brightly.
"You mean, you and I join forces to break the influence of this bloody space and allow Ao Guang and the others to enter?"
Xu Fang asked, considering it a feasible plan.
"No!"
Zu Long shook his head again, negating Xu Fang's idea.
"This bloody space was formed by my phantom. To break it, my phantom must disappear."
"However, if that happens, I will also be unable to contact the Dragon Clan. Therefore, everything is entrusted to you."
Zu Long said, raising his massive claw and cupping his hands towards Xu Fang in a gesture of respect.
When requesting a favor, one must show sincerity. Therefore, even though Xu Fang was a junior, Zu Long treated him with utmost respect at this moment.
Seeing the once majestic overlord of heaven and earth act so solemnly, Xu Fang quickly returned the gesture.
"Very well, very well. I came here to resolve this matter anyway. Since that is the case, I shall agree!"
Putting aside Zu Long's plea, the good relationship Xu Fang had with Ao Guang and the other dragons meant he would not refuse this.
Seeing Xu Fang agree, Zu Long's face showed joy, but then he looked at Xu Fang with a hint of apology.
"I have nothing else to offer now, only this Ancestral Dragon Pearl. However, the Ancestral Dragon Pearl contains the inheritance of the Dragon Clan, which I absolutely cannot give to you."
Zu Long spoke, pondered for a moment, and then continued.
"How about this: after you take the Ancestral Dragon Pearl out, you explain this matter to Ao Guang and the others. From now on, your affairs will be the Dragon Clan's affairs. This will be your reward for helping the Dragon Clan!"
Xu Fang's expression became complex upon hearing this.
Even without this matter, if anything were to happen to him, Ao Guang and the others would not stand by.
Zu Long's so-called promise was merely to give Ao Guang and the others a sense of royal decree, making their actions more legitimate.
In the end, it was the same; he wasn't getting any reward at all this time!
However, after Zu Long finished speaking, he immediately acted without noticing Xu Fang's expression.
The gigantic phantom dragon body coiled upwards, circling the Ancestral Dragon Pearl and flying faster and faster, its form becoming fainter.
Finally, with a sudden tremor, it completely faded, transforming into wisps of light.
"Xu Fang, I remember your name. I truly hope we can reunite in the Primordial Era someday."
Zu Long's voice was the last to be heard. The wisps of light flew into the Ancestral Dragon Pearl.
The Ancestral Dragon Pearl immediately shone brightly, radiating in all directions. The entire bloody space shook, and then, at a visible speed, began to collapse.
At this moment, the Ancestral Dragon Pearl floated towards Xu Fang.
"Thank you so much! You didn't tell me about this situation, and you want to reunite in the Primordial Era!"
Xu Fang shouted angrily, complaining, but received no reply.
Xu Fang couldn't afford to care about anything else. He grabbed the Ancestral Dragon Pearl floating before him and put it away, then shouted.
"Quick, quick! Open a path, let's leave this place!"
Xu Fang flew, urging his magical artifacts to operate.
With Zu Long's phantom gone and the bloody space collapsing, if he didn't leave before this space completely shattered, he might end up being buried with Zu Long.
Was this what Zu Long meant by reuniting? Wasn't this a trap?
And he called me the Dragon Clan's fortune. You are my fortune, you really are something!