239: The source of the cursed power

Pang Tian Ce had seen Chen Du's enrollment file and knew that he competed in the Junior General Group during the Seven Regions Genius Battle.

Long Shan's name was on the list for the Junior General Group, but he didn't know if Chen Du knew him.

Being in the same group didn't necessarily mean they knew each other; it was normal for some to have never even met.

"I guess you could say we know each other, but we're not very close," Chen Du thought for a moment and replied truthfully.

After all, they only had one experience as opponents, although there was also the brief period where they teamed up to defeat the Yun Que Civilization.

However, to be honest, they weren't really close.

Pang Tian Ce nodded and didn't ask further:

"It's like this: Long Shan's ancestors were once cursed for killing a Dragon, and this curse has never been lifted, continuing to this day."

Chen Du's expression remained unchanged as he listened, knowing only that Long Shan possessed a cursed power, but not the specific reason behind it.

"Do you remember what I told you before, about the three Civilizations that ruled Blue Star before the three Overlord-level Civilizations appeared?"

"I remember: Black Dragon Civilization, Qilin Civilization, and Sky Phoenix Civilization," Chen Du nodded, then looked down at his right arm. This arm was the Earth Qilin Right Arm, skilled in defense, from the Qilin Civilization.

"That's right. For convenience, we'll refer to these three Civilizations as 'Pre-Overlord-level Civilizations' from now on."

"And this Dragon was the 'Grievance Dragon' from the Pre-Overlord-level Civilization, the Black Dragon Civilization!"

Pang Tian Ce's expression grew serious as he said this, explaining to Chen Du:

"The Black Dragon Civilization is divided into nine clans: Black Dragon, Ying Long, Qiu Long, Chi Long, Jiao Long, Pan Long, Shen Long, Grievance Dragon, and Kun Long."

"The reason it's called the Black Dragon Civilization is because, unlike the Qilin Civilization, they have one strongest clan, the Black Dragon Clan!"

"However, in the Qilin Civilization, the Golden Qilin, Wood Qilin, Water Qilin, Fire Qilin, and Earth Qilin clans, none of them hold sole dominance."

"Their strengths are balanced, which is why it's called the Qilin Civilization."

"Approximately 600 years ago, an ancestor of the Long Clan killed a purple giant Dragon."

"That purple giant Dragon was precisely the Grievance Dragon from the Black Dragon Civilization!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Du couldn't help but frown slightly. 600 years ago, High Martial Civilization had only been developing for just over 200 years and was very weak.

According to the new knowledge he had learned from general education classes at Qilin Martial Arts University.

At that time, High Martial Civilization was still a low-tier Small Civilization, just beginning to have Sky Soaring Warriors.

How could they kill a Grievance Dragon from the Black Dragon Civilization, which was even stronger than the current three Overlord-level Civilizations?

Pang Tian Ce noticed Chen Du's puzzled expression, guessed what he was thinking, and without asking further, continued:

"That period was the most chaotic time for Blue Star. The current Great Civilizations collectively resisted these three Pre-Overlord-level Civilizations."

"Our High Martial Civilization, or many similar Small Civilizations, also developed during this time."

"The Grievance Dragon's strength ranked second to last in the Black Dragon Civilization, only stronger than the weakest Kun Long."

"But this 'weakness' was relative to the other two Pre-Overlord-level Civilizations."

"To our High Martial Civilization, they were like unapproachable Divine Power."

"Long Shan's ancestor was one of the first Sky Soaring Warriors in High Martial Civilization. In an era without much technology or ruthless tactics."

"His ability to achieve Skysoaring undoubtedly proved his unparalleled talent!"

Chen Du unconsciously nodded upon hearing this.

The three conditions for becoming a Sky Soaring Warrior were: Life Strength Rank 19.9, Mental Energy Rank 15, and a First-Order Limit Martial Skill.

Especially the last one; all the First-Order Martial Skills students learn now were created by previous Sky Soaring Warriors.

But in that era, one could only create their own!

In terms of Martial Skill talent alone, Gao Zhongwang couldn't compare!

"Also, what he killed at the time was a Grievance Dragon that had just been born and was less than a month old!"

"According to historical records, Grievance Dragons are at the Martial Warrior Level upon birth, and their Life Strength Rank increases by 1 every 3 days."

"At 1 month old, they can pass through their infancy and enter their growth period, becoming Sky Soaring Warriors!"

"In other words, the 'average level' of the entire Civilization for these Pre-Overlord-level Civilizations was above Sky Soaring Warrior!"

"These powerful beings are different from us humans; we are very weak when first born, and our early growth is extremely slow."

Pang Tian Ce showed a hint of envy as he spoke.

Although Chen Du hadn't experienced that period, from Pang Tian Ce's description, he could still feel the strength of the Pre-Overlord-level Civilizations!

Everyone starting at Sky Soaring Warrior Level!

What Heaven-Defying strength was that!

No wonder all the Great Civilizations on Blue Star at the time had to unite to contend with them!

"At that time, the juvenile Grievance Dragon was very close to the Land of Abandoned Armor, and once it grew up."

"Our High Martial Civilization would likely be destroyed like weeds."

"Because of this, Long Shan's ancestor ventured deep alone and successfully killed that Grievance Dragon, but unfortunately, he didn't know at the time that the Grievance Dragon's blood was 'poisonous'."

"This 'poison' is the cursed power that has continued for hundreds of years and has not yet stopped!"

"This is a cursed power that stifles the upper limit of one's lifespan, preventing you from having enough time to develop."

"This is an unchangeable curse, and it's why the once glorious Long Clan gradually declined."

"Later, a Genius was born in their clan who tried to steal the power of this curse."

"Of course, this was only after countless failures that they gradually mastered the method."

"But the success rate was still extremely low, and even with the continuous emergence of talents in the Long Clan later, no one truly mastered the cursed power."

"It wasn't until the birth of Long Tian Zong, Long Shan's great-great-grandfather, that the cursed power was fully mastered for the first time."

"Although Long Tian Zong completely mastered the cursed power, this mastery referred to 'borrowing' this power."

"The power that stifled lifespan still could not be changed."

"Even Long Tian Zong, who completely Controlled this cursed power, still didn't live long."

Pang Tian Ce's eyes held an unconcealed look of regret as he said this:

"The number of Mystic Treasures Long Tian Zong possessed was eight!"

"He was the number one Genius of High Martial Civilization at that time!"

Chen Du understood upon hearing this; no wonder Pang Tian Ce showed such an expression. This was talent sufficient to challenge a Domain Warrior!

At the same time, he also understood how Long Shan's cursed power came to be.

"Ying Long and Grievance Dragon both belong to the Nine Dragons. Grievance Dragon Ranks second to last in strength, while Ying Long is second!"

"They are a powerful Dragon Clan, second only to the Black Dragon Clan!"

Pang Tian Ce finished speaking and pointed downwards at the longsword with an entirely black blade.

"This ying long sword is a very suitable weapon for you, precisely because you used Crescent Moon Swordplay in the competition."

"Black Dragon Martial Arts University decided to give it to you."

Pang Tian Ce then pointed to the red sword hilt:

"The color of this sword hilt is essentially a relatively transparent silver."

"The reason it looks red to you is because it contains a drop of Ying Long blood!"

"The greatest function of this ying long sword is that it can double the power of your next ranged attack!"