CHAPTER 32: The Inheritance of the Sovereign Dragon
**ARC 4: THE NORTHERN WAR & THE RECLAIMING OF THE SOVEREIGN QUEEN**
Before the grand spatial fleet of House Sterling departed for the snow-swept mountain peaks of the Northern Realm, the afternoon sun cast a brilliant, warm amber glow across the training plaza of the Floating Cloud Island.
Ethan and Elena stood side by side in front of the central jade altar. Their navy-and-silver House Sterling coats fluttered in the dense mountain breeze, their posture straight, calm, and composed.
Gabriel stood across from them, flanked by Lord Tyrion, General Ignatius, and Malakor.
"You have mastered the physical foundation of the Nine-Bones Iron Dragon Method," Gabriel said, his voice carrying a warm, grounded resonance. "Your bones are tempered with gold, and your physical endurance surpasses standard scholars. But to step onto the Northern Realm—where House Aurelius's sword disciples channel high-tier spatial sword Qi—your physical bodies need their ultimate awakening."
Gabriel raised his right hand.
BZ—ZZZ-T!
From his System inventory, two shimmering, ancient items materialized into mid-air, floating gently in front of the twins.
One was a heavy, crimson-and-gold elixir pulsing with the ancient silhouette of a coiling dragon: The Imperial Sovereign Dragon-Marrow Elixir.
The other was a pair of glowing, dark-azure spatial rings inlaid with ancient silver runes: The Sovereign Dragon-Core Ring Set.
"Drink the dragon-marrow elixir," Gabriel instructed smoothly. "It will forcefully upgrade your gold-tempered physical frames straight into the Imperial Sovereign Dragon-Physique."
Ethan and Elena didn't hesitate for a single second. They reached out, grabbed the crystal vials, and unstoppered them, swallowing the glowing dragon-marrow elixir in a single gulp!
BOOM!
A blinding, dual pillar of golden-red and azure light erupted straight out of their bodies, shooting five hundred feet into the sky above the Floating Cloud Island!
"Guh...!" Ethan gritted his teeth as a wave of immense, cleansing heat flooded his meridians!
Inside their bodies, their already gold-tempered bones underwent a divine, cellular transformation. Their skeletal structure absorbed the ancient dragon marrow, expanding their internal spirit channels by ten times!
The raw physical power surging through Ethan's muscles multiplied exponentially—shifting his physical frame from standard Gold Bones straight into the legendary Imperial Sovereign Dragon-Physique (Phase 1)!
With this physical power, Ethan’s raw physical punch force without using Qi surpassed one hundred thousand pounds—enough to shatter high-tier defensive armors with a simple flick of his wrist!
Elena’s body shimmered with translucent spatial ripples as her speed, reflexes, and bone density aligned with the ancient dragon steps. Her azure eyes flashed with a razor-sharp, gold-and-blue aura that cut the surrounding wind into silent blades!
[Ding!]Ethan opened his eyes, letting out a long, scorching breath of white mist. He looked at his hands, clenching them into tight fists—the sheer air pressure from his grip alone created a sharp, cracking sound![Offspring (Ethan & Elena) have successfully awakened the 'Imperial Sovereign Dragon-Physique'!]
[Offspring Power Level Updated: Peak Gold-Bones ➔ IMPERIAL DRAGON PHYSIQUE (Physical Force Equivalent to Peak Martial Scholar / Early Martial Master)!]
[Triggering 1000x Critical Return!]
[Host receives: Imperial Sovereign Artifact — 'Dragon-King Sovereign Armor Set'!]
(Provides Host with absolute immunity to all physical and spatial attacks below the Martial Emperor Realm).
[Host receives: 100x High-Grade Spirit Vein Crystals!]
"My raw physical strength..." Ethan breathed, his eyes wide with awe. "I feel like I could split a mountain with just a spear thrust!"
Elena unsheathed her azure blade by an inch, her movement so fast that even the surrounding air couldn't register her displacement. "My spatial steps feel ten times lighter..."
Gabriel smiled warmly, stepping forward to slip the Sovereign Dragon-Core Rings onto their fingers.
"These rings conceal your elevated aura," Gabriel explained smoothly. "To the outside world, you will still appear as talented first-year scholars. But when you step into combat against House Aurelius's elite disciples... you will possess the raw power to crush them in a single move."
Ethan grinned sharply, touching his linen-wrapped spear. "Understood, Dad."
WHOOSH.
Malakor stepped forward out of the shadow cast by the altar, bowing respectfully to Gabriel.
"Sovereign Master," Malakor reported, his voice low and precise. "The vanguard is assembled. Lord Tyrion has opened a stable, hidden spatial rift connecting the Floating Cloud Island directly to the outer borders of the Northern Realm—The Frost-Blade Valley."
Gabriel turned around, his dark dragon-silk coat settling over his shoulders.
Behind him stood the complete, terrifying strength of House Sterling:
- Lord Tyrion (Peak Martial King)
- General Ignatius (Early Martial Grandmaster)
- Malakor (Peak Martial Master)
- Viper & Ghost (Martial Master Shadow Lieutenants)
- Fifty Shadow Assassins clad in dark dragon armor
- Ethan & Elena (Awakened Sovereign Dragon-Physique)
Far in the distance, perched atop the highest icy peak of the Northern Realm, stood the massive, sword-shaped fortress of House Aurelius—surrounded by glowing defensive arrays and silver banners preparing for the forced Imperial wedding.
Gabriel’s golden dragon pupils flashed with cold, world-shaking dominance.
"The time for waiting is over," Gabriel declared, his voice echoing across the sky like a decree from an ancient god. "House Sterling... march!"
BOOM!
A wave of divine spatial light wrapped around the entire vanguard as House Sterling stepped straight through the void into the Northern Realm!