Entering The Trial Grounds.

" Young human, you do not need to be worried. I am a mere wisp of a residual soul left behind by the Primordial Azure Dragon that watches over this trial ground. I won't harm you." The ancient voice sounded once more. An honourable dignity was expressed through this voice, yet it was also as gentle as the wind.

" Primordial.... Azure Dragon..?" Chu Yuechan muttered slowly as she pondered about this name. She then turned towards Ikuya, expecting an answer from him. In her opinion, Ikuya is an all-knowing existence.

Ikuya saw Chu Yuechan's expression and couldn't help but sigh. This woman was becoming a bit too comfortable around him.

" Primordial Azure Dragon, Head of the various Divine Beasts in the Primordial Era. Commonly known as the strongest Dragon God. A True God that is only below that of the Creation Gods in terms of strength and status. Well, Primordial Azure Dragon is literally the strongest in the True God plane level." Ikuya said.

" True God? Creation God? Does that mean this voice belongs to a God?" Chu Yuechan couldn't help but ask. She was a bit alerted.

" No it's not. As the voice stated, this is a residual soul of the Primordial Azure Dragon just like with the Primordial Phoenix. And this is probably a trial ground left behind by the Primordial Azure Dragon." Ikuya said as he looked ahead.

A pair of mysterious eyes suddenly opened in the pitch-black space overhead. These two eyes were huge, yet long and narrow; they were about the same shape as a human's eyes… This scene resembled the phoenix eyes Ikuya had seen in the phoenix trial grounds. What was different was that the phoenix eyes were gold while these eyes were an azure blue colour that was deeper than the skies.

At the same time, as if the sky had capsized, an endless expanse of aura descended. This aura's depth, far surpassed the phoenix aura Ikuya had experienced at the Phoenix trials.

" Your really surprise me with your knowledge young man. But I do have to ask. Just what are you? You're obviously not a human or any other race I've seen in my lifetime." The ancient voice resounded.

" That's right, I'm not a Human. I'm a Saiyan." Ikuya said with a smile, ignoring the surprised Chu Yuechan.

" Saiyan?"

" That's right. I'm from the mightiest warrior race, the Saiyan race." Ikuya said.

" ..... I see. Lets get to the point. You're right about this place being a trial ground." The ancient voice said then continued, " The Divine Era had long since ended, and True Gods had also completely vanished. But we were not willing to completely disappear from the world, and would attempt to use various sorts of methods to leave behind a vestige of our strength to pass onto those of the future generation we had an affinity with, who would then pass on what used to be our strength to their future generation for an eternity… After waiting all these years, I have finally found a fated one. And within this millennia, you are the first."

" First? Fated one?" Ikuya was a bit confused.

" Right, the first after a thousand years." The Primordial Azure Dragon's voice echoed, "A thousand years ago, there were a hundred twenty nine challengers who had arrived at this place. But after that, two Flood Dragons came here while following my aura and never left. Furthermore, they rapidly matured under the nourishment of the Dragon God aura and reached the pinnacle of the Sky Profound Realm. The level of strength in this land is extremely low; therefore, the existence of these two Flood Dragons made it fundamentally impossible for humans to approach this place. Added to the fact that this area had long since become a profound beast gathering's Wasteland of Death, whose bad reputation had been spread far and wide, those who have the courage and ability to approach this place have grown less and less; sometimes it has even been difficult to even see one person once every hundred years."

" Okay, but what's this about me being the fated one or something?" Ikuya asked.

" It just means we have some affinity. Your physical body is extremely powerful. Far more powerful than even a peak Mortal Profound Practitioner. Your astonishingly powerful mental strength and also your exclusive method of controlling and manipulating life energy(Ki) is something that not even Rage God could match up to. You're the perfect inheritor I could ever find." The ancient voice resounded again.

" Can we start the trial already and also, is she qualified to undergo the trial as well?" Ikuya pointed at Chu Yuechan and asked the Primordial Azure Dragon.

" Yes. She is indeed qualified as she was able to reach this place." Primordial Azure Dragon affirmed.

" Looks like you're in luck, woman." Ikuya said as he turned to look at Chu Yuechan who was looking at Ikuya with a complicated expression.

" Before that, young hu-- Saiyan. Where did you find this infant Primordial Phoenix? It's even a league above the Primordial Phoenix in terms of talent." Primordial Azure Dragon asked.

" Not sure. I found an egg long ago from the underground at the Scarlet Dragon Mountain Range and from that egg, this Phoenix was born. Since then, it's been always with me." Ikuya said while slightly rubbing Fera's head.

The Primordial Azure Dragon felt that something was wrong but it sensed no wrong fluctuations in Ikuya's soul. So Primordial Azure Dragon believed that Ikuya was saying the truth.

Of course Primordial Azure Dragon had no idea that Ikuya is the best at controlling mental energy, so he is of course capable of controlling his soul as well.

If it was the original Primordial Azure Dragon, he might have been able to see through Ikuya's lie. But a mere residual soul is not capable of such a feat. At least, against someone like Ikuya.

" Lets start then." Ikuya said.

" Don't be in such a hurry. The trial I left behind does not test the challenger's strength, but test their innate talent, willpower, and determination. The trial's difficulty, will vary based on the challenger's strength. Once one enters the trial grounds, there will only be two outcomes. One, is to pass the trial and obtain the Dragon God's bloodline; the other outcome…."

" Is death!"

" There are no failures, there is only passage or death!"

" Just open the damn gate already." Ikuya said, feeling a bit impatient. He felt that the Primordial Azure Dragon liked to talk a lot.

" Before you enter the gate of the trial ground, you have enough time to prepare for everything; especially mental preparations. You have the blood of the Phoenix flowing within you, which proves that you had successfully completed the trial left behind by the Phoenix before. However, you mustn't try to gauge the difficulty of the Dragon God's trial with the difficulty of the Phoenix's trial."

" The Phoenix's nature is benevolent and conservative. Even if the the trial it left behind is tough, it would not be difficult to the extent of driving one into despair, and it is even more unlikely to be fatal. But the Dragon God being the sovereign of all beasts, looks down upon the world with pride. The Dragon God's bloodline, absolutely would never be granted to any ordinary person. Only a supreme being who possesses enough talent and willpower to become the ruler of heaven and earth, can be qualified to bear the Dragon God's bloodline!"

Chu Yuechan was hesitating. Although this is a once in a lifetime chance, failure in this trial will lead to a sure death. There was too much at stake here.

Ikuya walked towards the 'gate' of the trial as he said to the Primordial Azure Dragon, " Only I will take this trial. Don't include the woman."

Chu Yuechan's beautiful eyes widened when she heard Ikuya's words. Her heart slightly throbbed despite her cultivating the Frozen Heart Arts.

" Do you agree?" The Primordial Azure Dragon asked.

" No..." Chu Yuechan said as she didn't like the thought of being protected by a man. But as soon as she said it, Ikuya appeared behind and struck the back of her neck, knocking her out.

" ... " The Primordial Azure Dragon was speechless at Ikuya's action.

" Fera, take care of this woman." Ikuya said to Fera as he walked towards the 'gate' of the trial.

" Scree!" Fera screeched in response.

" Since you have made your decision, I'll open the gate of the trial for you." The Primordial Azure Dragon said as it's deep blue eyes shined.

Ikuya stepped into the 'gate' of the trial grounds and disappeared from the place.

" What a strange youngster. His character seems to be very complicated. But he seems to have a lot of self-restraint and control of himself. As for his courage, it's not bad as well. He, without a doubt passes this stage of measuring character and courage." The voice of the Primordial Azure Dragon resounded again in the cave after Ikuya disappeared.