Chapter 1128: The Thousand-Year Contract |
TL: GoldenLung
There was no doubt that for Lan Xuanyu and Bai Xiuxiu, this was an unexpected windfall. They had never imagined that such a stroke of fortune would fall into their laps.
After being provoked by Zhang Liang Ruixiao that day, Huang Yuanlang returned home and had a long discussion with his father, Huang Daoqi. In Huang Yuanlang’s view, simply entering the round-robin stage was already his limit.
His strength truly wasn’t outstanding. Among the Higher Dragon clan contestants, he was at the bottom tier. Meanwhile, the abilities displayed by Lan and Xiuxiu had already fully proven their potential.
Especially Lan. As the leader of the Ascension competition and someone who had gained the recognition of the Darkfiend Dragon Knight, what if—just as Zhang Liang Ruixiao suggested—another family tried to recruit her?
True, the Huang Family had already given Lan the Divine Dragon Armor and Dragon Spear, but other families were equally capable of offering such benefits.
As for loyalty… under the drive of benefits, whether Lan and Xiuxiu would waver depended entirely on their own character. Although Huang Yuanlang had always wanted to get closer to Lan, after calming down and thinking it through, he realized he didn’t actually know her very well.
Comparatively speaking, Xiuxiu was more outgoing. Lan, on the other hand, spoke very little in daily life, making it hard for anyone to discern her true thoughts. Although Xiuxiu and Lan were sisters, they weren’t blood sisters after all. Since Xiuxiu had already formed that father-daughter bond with Huang Daoqi, she likely wouldn’t leave easily.
But if Lan wanted to go solo, who could stop her?
Moreover, Lan was under the close watch of the Dragon Knights. Assassination was simply impossible.
Because of this, Huang Yuanlang carefully laid out the stakes to his father.
He had personally witnessed Lan’s performance in the Rising Dragon Competition, and the more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that Lan would go far—perhaps even becoming a Dragon Knight in a few decades.
As for himself? If this time failed, there would always be the next.
When Lan matured further, perhaps they could try again—maybe next time it would succeed in one stroke.
Huang Daoqi was eventually persuaded by Huang Yuanlang. He understood that for their family, this might be their only chance.
Fenglong City had already been marginalized. The fact that Huang Yuanlang had been openly looked down upon during the Rising Dragon Competition made that painfully clear.
A family without a Dragon Knight was destined to decline. Even though their family had decent reproductive capability, without dragon partners their bloodline would only become more and more diluted.
Thus Huang Daoqi made a firm decision.
No matter the cost, he would tie Lan and Xiuxiu to their chariot. With the sincerity of Fenglong City, he would keep them here.
Those great clans certainly possessed far greater wealth and resources. But those clans also had other descendants who might one day become Dragon Knights.
While they might be willing to use resources to recruit Lan Xuanyu and Bai Xiuxiu, they would never pour everything into them.
Fenglong City, however, had only one hope.
Lan and Xiuxiu.
Huang Yuanlang stepped to the table. A flash of silver light flickered in his hand, and seven boxes appeared before him in succession.
The boxes were clearly crafted from a special material. They weren’t metal—more like jade. There was no visible energy fluctuation coming from them, yet they gave people an irresistible urge to reach out and touch them.
After placing the seven boxes on the table, Huang Yuanlang frowned slightly. His expression looked conflicted, but he ultimately suppressed his emotions, took a deep breath, and turned to Lan Xuanyu and Bai Xiuxiu.
“Lan, Xiuxiu, this decision was made by the family after careful consideration. But you should understand the saying—no reward without merit.
“I’ll be frank. The family needs your strength. We also hope that one day you will become Dragon Knights. That’s why we’re willing to provide such precious resources to help you.
“So we hope that in the future, you will remain with our family.”
He paused before continuing.
“I’ll make it clear first. If you wish to obtain these resources, you’ll need to sign a contract with the family—what we commonly call a Thousand-Year Contract.
“This contract carries extremely strong binding power. It is witnessed jointly by the eighteen Dragon Knights. Once any member of the dragon clan signs it, they cannot violate it.
“The contract will be stored in the Celestial Dragon Pavilion in Celestial Dragon City, and it can only be dissolved after a thousand years.
“If anyone breaks the Thousand-Year Contract, it means becoming an enemy of the entire dragon clan.”
He spoke slowly.
“On Celestial Dragon Planet, we place great importance on the spirit of contracts.
“This Thousand-Year Contract won’t restrict your daily lives, but it represents your reputation on Celestial Dragon Planet. Anyone who violates it will be scorned by all members of the dragon clan.”
“You don’t need to answer me right away. Please think about it carefully.
“Once you sign the Thousand-Year Contract, you will officially become members of our family. Your status will not be lower than the clan leader’s, and in the future you’ll become family elders, supported by the clan.”
Compared to those great families, the Huang Family wasn’t the strongest.
“You’ve seen it yourselves. Even someone like Zhang Liang Ruixiao can casually humiliate me.”
“That’s because my talent is poor. I have no hope of becoming a true powerhouse, so they dare act so recklessly.”
“That’s why the Huang Family desperately needs its own strong figures. If you sign the contract, then all the family’s resources will belong to you.
“Even I, as the young clan leader, cannot obtain that many resources.”
Huang Yuanlang spoke with deep sincerity. At least on the surface, his words sounded heartfelt.
Listening to him, Lan Xuanyu realized that the seven boxes on the table absolutely did not contain ordinary items.
He understood that because of the strength he had displayed in the Rising Dragon Competition, the Huang Family had developed a sense of crisis. That was why they wanted to sign this Thousand-Year Contract with him.
Moreover, Lan Xuanyu believed that Huang Yuanlang had not exaggerated the nature of the contract at all. After all, he could easily ask any Higher Dragon clan participant in the tournament and confirm whether it was true.
What Huang Daoqi and Huang Yuanlang never realized was this:
While the Thousand-Year Contract indeed bound all dragon clan members on Celestial Dragon Planet…
Lan Xuanyu and Bai Xiuxiu weren’t actually members of the dragon clan here at all!
In the future, they would stand against Celestial Dragon Planet. Why would they care about any Thousand-Year Contract?
A deal that offered nothing but benefits and no real restrictions—only a fool would refuse it.
Lan Xuanyu had already realized this.
Naturally, Bai Xiuxiu had realized it as well. She kept staring at Lan Xuanyu, occasionally giving him subtle glances.
But Lan Xuanyu maintained a calm expression. Looking at Huang Yuanlang, who was pouring out his sincerity before them, he pondered for a moment before speaking:
“Brother Huang, I understand your feelings and the clan leader’s as well. I know why you’re doing this.
“The Huang Family needs us, and we’re willing to remain with the Huang Family. We already said that before we came to participate in the tournament.
“But… isn’t a thousand years a little too long?”
“I don’t like being bound.”
- Share on X (Opens in new window)X
- Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook