Heaven, Earth, Me Chapter 1524. [Sovereign’s Echo Cavern].

The surroundings within the [Sovereign’s Echo Cavern] offered little variety. Endless white rocky plains stretched way beyond sight. Dragon roar echoes resounded occasionally across them, forging bodies while applying immense pressure.

Dragons bearing weak bloodlines failed to venture deep, regardless of their power. The opposite held true too; a common dragon with potent bloodline could match the depth reached by certain Mythical Beast Core Realm dragons.

This area challenged solely two qualities: talent and willpower.

Naturally, the innermost zones required a baseline of strength. Those roars delivered crushing pressure, and absent a tough physique, one faced inevitable compression from the dragon cries.

Yet Yasenia maintained composure while soaring toward the roar's origin. Each echoing dragon cry prompted a mere blink and flicker of irritation from her. The dragon blood surging in her veins rejected this roar, deeming it unworthy.

Nevertheless, she quelled those instincts with a single snort, surging ahead faster to mock whatever lingering will haunted this vast whiteness.

The trip to the region's heart passed far quicker this round. Why? No barriers impeded Yasenia throughout. Even nearing the core, she sensed zero hindrance, her form streaking through the skies like a azure specter.

Mighty wings beat powerfully, propelling her onward, while her golden eyes gleamed with scorn and detachment. ’This time around, it looks like it'll be a breeze.’

Fear held no sway over her.

Three days into flight, Yasenia detected the roar up close and reduced speed, scanning for its origin.

Her form looped through the air, surveying the featureless white void beneath.

ROAR!

Another dragon cry boomed, sharpening Yasenia’s golden slit pupils toward the source. She dashed ahead, covering hundreds of thousands of kilometers swiftly, arriving shortly.

At this spot, a striking cavity marred the white plain's center. Viewed from overhead, Yasenia saw its uncanny resemblance to a dragon's eye.

’Hm... probably just chance. This white void spans too broadly to form a colossal dragon's skull alone.’

Still, she observed the socket's scale aligned perfectly with Ao Xianlan’s mountain horn.

’Maybe it's merely a skull fragment shaped into the central zone, supplemented by other substances to form the full [Sovereign’s Echo Cavern]?’

Another peculiarity struck Yasenia. "They label it a cavern, yet it's an endless white emptiness?"

As she circled, the empty dragon eye socket thundered anew with a roar erupting from its depths. "Good, I've hit the right spot."

Thus, Yasenia descended, touching down at the rim of the enormous eye-like black abyss. Peering within and probing with Spiritual Sense, she grasped its unfathomable depth.

"This must be where genuine trials occur?"

She realized the dragons' so-called "core area" merely encircled the actual trial heart. A soft sigh escaped her. ’Truthfully, these dragons avoid the real training ground. Stronger lineage might've unveiled this sooner.’

Yasenia shook her head. "Well, my darlings could surely conquer the True Dragon Sovereign phantom and claim the rewards. Should I share this location with them?"

Her gaze brightened. "Exactly! They could snag the treasures mommy forged!"

Did this seem odd to Yasenia? Hardly. Those absorbed treasures likely stemmed from trial-bottom seniors, awaiting fresh challengers to perpetuate the cycle.

Such generational nurturing of promising offspring aligned deeply with dragon ideals, especially from one who forged a Dragon Paradise through self-sacrifice.

"Only..." Tuning into the roar blasting from the pit, Yasenia sensed sorrow. ’Amid its grandeur, fury and reluctance echo through this dragon cry.’

Earlier disdain had faded entirely. Distance had diluted the echo, stirring aversion before.

Now, proximity shifted Yasenia’s gaze from apathy to reverence tinged with grief. ’What desperation drove such a mighty dragon to this fate?’

Shaking off thoughts, Yasenia poised to leap, then halted. Instead, she called out. "Senior! I bear the True Sovereign Dragon aura! Will you lead me to the core?"

Her voice reverberated downward. Yasenia refused another tail-grab incident, opting to announce herself.

As anticipated, dragon aura welled from below alongside a roar, partially manifesting the ancient guardian. Yasenia grinned inwardly. ’Ideal! No tail-snatching this time!’

She plunged in toward it. Instantly, the lower dragon's eyes snapped open in alarm, materializing behind to seize her tail firmly and yank her back.

"Junior! Halt! You could perish!"

Anger throbbed in Yasenia’s veins near explosion. "Even after announcing... Even with prior warning... Why do you elders obsess over my tail!? LET GO!"

CHOMP!

"ARGH! You naughty whelp! I'm rescuing you, yet you chomp my claw!?"

The dragon flailed his paw wildly, yet Yasenia clung fast, swinging like baited prey. She glowered. "I’ll shatter my fangs before yielding without blood!"

Speechless, the dragon recalled her words pre-bite, eyeing the "tiny" dragon on his talon thoughtfully. "You... Did the other three snag your tail too?"

Yasenia released with a grudge-filled scowl. "What do you figure!? Let me hazard: Ao, Ji, and Long. Thus, you're Ying?"

"Oh? Sharp guess."

Yasenia exhaled. "The Dragon Clan's four key ancestors share your surnames. Descendants from top clans, I presume?"

The dragon stroked his whiskers with a claw, pausing mid-reply as a mighty roar surged from the depths.

"Ahem. Perhaps you're correct. Hard to recall amid countless offspring."

Yasenia sighed again, rallying her spirits. "Fine, downward we go. Truthfully, these roars exert minimal pressure. We'll wrap up swiftly. Also, what name suits you, senior?"

"King Ying!" he declared proudly.

Yasenia's face went flat. "Very well, King Ying. Ready to descend?"

"You are—"

BOOM!

Yasenia’s aura erupted fiercely, flooding the area with her full might and aura.

King Ying blinked, then grinned awkwardly. "...Time to head down?"

’Heavens! What monster is this girl? My ancient heart nearly faltered...’ He lamented. ’In my prime, my charms could've claimed her as Queen! Pity.’

Yasenia’s tail flicked as she narrowed eyes threateningly. "Senior, nothing improper in your thoughts, I hope?"

King Ying sweated profusely. "N-Nope, junior. Come, I'll lead."

’Maybe I erred. A spitfire like her would torch any harem...’

Together, Yasenia and the golden eastern dragon plummeted deeper. Aware of her prowess, King Ying monitored closely, poised to extract her if roars overwhelmed.

Yet as depths increased, King Ying’s look grew odder. "You... feel no strain?"

"Hardly any," Yasenia replied calmly.

Yet another roar resounded, fully repelled by Yasenia’s frame. Her muscles, flesh, scales, bones, organs—all honed to inconceivable peaks. Plus, her iron will once defied a Succubus Demigoddess over a minute under total rank dominance.

Only her [Dragon Strength] felt somewhat underdeveloped. Evolved to [Empyrean Cosmos Dragon Sovereignty], it was polished yet not to extremes.

That skill's latest upgrade hit during Yasenia’s tribulation; subsequent overhauls had been vast.

Yasenia pressed on, each roar taxing her slightly more. Bored, she eyed stunned King Ying. "King Ying, is this the creator senior’s eye socket for the Dragon Paradise?"

King Ying startled, impressed. "Spot on. The entry uses that senior’s skull. Though... one horn got severed as it'd protrude otherwise."

"Oh..." Yasenia queried, puzzled. "Did you and others craft this from the senior’s remains?"

"Hahaha. No way. That fiend could've swatted us four flat. We are... are..." King Ying scowled. "My recall of it blurs oddly. Peculiar for my stature. Manipulated memories?"

Yasenia blinked. "You seem awfully casual about such a grave concern."

King Ying shrugged. "Forgetting origins changes nothing. My lot stays: guard here millions of years unless higher Heavenly Layer ascension. Karma from that rogue. Tsk. I'd rather bask in Heavenly Springs with my dragonesses than endure his endless roar."

Yasenia mulled. "King Ying, heard of the Heavenly Cataclysm?"

"The what? Never."

"Oh..." Yasenia held back. Inwardly, ’Likely lightning felled his mates. Poor soul.’

At last, they hit the authentic core. Here, resistance finally stirred, prompting Yasenia to concentrate on advancing her Dragon Strength further.