The Corruption Dragon God: Lust System Chapter 476 The worst!

Qingyi stared at the remains, now nothing but ash after being consumed by Lucas' dragon flames.

There was no doubt he possessed the power to save them.

A mere heartbeat, a tiny fraction of a second—that was the only window of time required to intervene.

Yet, he had failed to act. He had let them perish. Had he maintained his vigilance, this tragedy would never have unfolded...

Qingyi had allowed his focus to drift, letting his guard slip at the critical moment.

In Qingyi’s mind, Lucas had no logical reason to target those miners, especially when the object of all his malice was standing right in front of him.

What purpose did their slaughter serve?

“Ah... I forgot...” Qingyi let out a heavy, weary sigh.

He had momentarily overlooked the fact that in this world, some individuals are malevolent simply because it is their nature.

They commit murder because they have the power to do so, and for no other reason.

Qingyi dismissed further reflection, realizing it was a futile exercise. Approaching the charred remains, he clasped his fists in a respectful gesture and spoke: “May the heavens take care of their souls.”

With his duty to the dead finished, Qingyi departed, his form erupting with a sudden burst of speed.

While many of his arrangements had been tossed into chaos, the silver lining was that he would reach his destination much sooner.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he accelerated. A tide of shadows wrapped around his body as his velocity surged violently.

He moved well beyond the speed of sound. Curiously, no sonic boom or shockwave followed; his shadow Qi allowed him to pass through the environment with almost zero physical impact.

To any mortal observer, he would be invisible, yet Qingyi navigated the thick forest with effortless precision.

A trip that would typically demand weeks by horse-drawn carriage was completed in less than an hour.

He sensed various beasts attempting to probe his strength during the flight—some even formidable enough to threaten his life—but he ignored them all. He only came to a halt when he detected a massive shift in the surrounding mana.

The energy density rose to an incredible level. As he drew a breath, his fingers tingled, and he felt the rich air saturate his lungs.

It was pure and flawless, surpassed only by the atmosphere within the world of the mind.

Walking with light steps, Qingyi proceeded slowly until he reached a broad main thoroughfare. The path was flanked by meticulously pruned trees and paved with stones arranged in intricate, beautiful patterns.

With thousands of merchants and travelers frequenting this route, blending in was easy, despite his striking appearance.

He didn't bother attempting to hide.

After all, no one in this region recognized his face.

He walked for a short time before cresting a small ridge. Suddenly, he paused, his gaze sweeping over the sprawling city below.

It lay roughly ten kilometers away, encased by a colossal wall. From these fortifications, massive chains stretched upward toward the heavens.

These chains were anchored to a gargantuan floating island. The landmass was sustained by such a staggering quantity of mana that Qingyi calculated even the vast wealth he had gathered with Meilin wouldn't be enough to keep it afloat for more than a few days.

He observed the numerous fortresses perched atop that island, looming over the city like silent gods.

That was the destination where Elize's sister could be found.

[Husband... I recognize this place. The memories are somewhat blurred, but I am certain I have been here before.]

Elize’s voice resonated in his mind as she observed the world through Ruxue’s eyes.

This was the setting of her childhood, the place she lived until her mother passed away.

“Just wait a little longer, love,” Qingyi whispered softly to her, resuming his stride.

At the main gates, a contingent of guards scrutinized the passing crowd, checking traveler documents and transportation permits.

Despite their high state of alert, they failed to notice a dark blur as Qingyi’s body vanished, reappearing instantly on the other side of the gate.

Several guards turned their heads in confusion, extending their mana senses to scan the area.

They had the sensation that something had just brushed past them, but they couldn't identify the cause or determine if their senses were merely playing tricks on them.

Ultimately, they simply traded looks and returned to their duties. “It’s... pleasant,” Qingyi muttered after walking for a while.

It wasn't just the air, the quiet, or the surrounding nature.

Everything about the place felt harmonious, from the grand architecture to the sight of children playing in the streets.

Qingyi’s gaze followed the children’s upward looks toward the sky. There, two dragon riders were engaged in a mock duel, trading bursts of fire in the air.

The children cheered at the spectacular display, while the adults watched with expressions of deep respect.

He could easily envision many of those youths dreaming of joining the ranks of the dragon riders one day.

Regrettably, such an ambition was nearly impossible to achieve.

When all was said and done, they were merely mortal humans, and they were unlikely to ever transcend that status.

Qingyi shook his head and pressed on.

They weren't the first to harbor such dreams, and they wouldn't be the last.

He was preparing to seek out a tavern to gather information when he felt a small pair of hands tugging on his robes.

“Oh... handsome uncle! Are you trying to get to the giant black castle too?”

Turning around, Qingyi discovered a young girl with short brown hair and wide, sparkling amber eyes looking at him with great interest.

From the quality of her attire, she seemed to be from a middle-class background.

“Yes,” Qingyi replied with a nod, offering a kind smile. “Didn't your parents warn you against speaking to strangers on the street?”

“Oh... are you a bad man?” The girl retreated a step, her eyelashes fluttering.

[The absolute worst!] Ruxue’s voice chimed in Qingyi’s head. His smile widened as he ignored his wife’s commentary.

“To my enemies, yes, I am a very bad man.”

“Oh... cool!” The girl’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Daddy always told us that if we wanted to reach the big black castle, we had to stay close to a pureblood—a real one!”

‘Pureblood?’ Qingyi pondered.

Was she referring to the dragon riders?

He was aware that, despite certain restrictions, humans could also attain the rank of rider.

But was there a formal distinction between human and elven riders?

[When a human ascends to become a dragon rider, their physical constitution undergoes a transformation to accommodate the new power.]

[That is likely what she means—either a standard elven rider or a human rider whose body has fully synchronized with their mount.]

It was Aeryn who provided the explanation, speaking through the shared connection with Ruxue.