Chapter 14: Ancient Dragon Empress

"Ok! For the next part of our plan, I'm going to contact our grandmother. Not only will she cover us when we're gone, but she will also distract everyone in the Main Palace so we can easily get to one of the off-limits areas. From there, we can access the treasure and teleportation disks all at the same time."

Kali confidently explained while taking out a purple color ring from her pocket. Her expression held the utmost assured smirk as if there wasn't the single possibility of this plan failing.

Cain, on the other hand, curled his eyebrows when hearing this plan. So far, all Kali really mentioned to him was how insanely powerful and vital their grandfather is.

Despite being the previous Ancient Dragon Emperor, he sometimes holds even more authority than the current Dragon Emperor.

One of the reasons why is that apparently, their grandfather's prowess is so unfathomable that it still holds so much weight in their current generation.

This is why it caught Cain a bit off guard that Kali is turning to their grandmother rather than their god-like grandfather.

Before Kali used that purple ring, Cain decided to speak up, asking her, "Say Kali, just what is our grandmother's status? Unfortunately, I still can't precisely recall her, and you really haven't mentioned much of her."

Kali briefly paused for a moment, her eyes turning to Cain in slight confusion.

"Eh? I didn't….I can't believe I didn't."

She tapped her forehead in sudden realization and continued on to explain, "Ok, as a brief summary, basically our grandmother has the status of the Ancient Dragon Empress. And if you're wondering, she got this title through marrying our grandfather and her own personal strength. Hell….sometimes, despite how powerful grandfather is, he even fears grandmother. Moreover, he always submits to grandmother's words if we request something from her. Grandmother loves to dote specifically on us."

"The Ancient Dragon Empress….speaking off, is there a current Dragon Empress?"

Cain was slightly curious since he would need to know more about his Family structure in the future.

With a nod of her head, Kali explained, "There indeed is one. In our Family, A Dragon Emperor would always eventually have only a single Dragon Empress as their main wife. Then, well….I'm not quite sure how this process works, but once a new Dragon Emperor succeeds the throne, the previous Dragon Emperor and Empress become the Ancient ones."

"Huh, with a system like that….just how old is our grandfather and grandmother?"

Kali took a moment to ponder before eventually shrugging her shoulders. "Honestly? No idea at all. They might as well be ageless in my eyes. And because of their massive age and experience, this also majorly helps with the authority they hold within our Family."

Cain curiously tilted his head as he took in Kali's words. More than ever, he's genuinely grateful that both his grandparents are kind to them.

Without them, Cain just knows their situation would be far worse. Even as he didn't meet them yet, he already had a considerable impression of both of them.

Although, he did had one question and promptly asked Kali, "With how you're describing her, I'm surprised grandmother would let us go on a dangerous journey alone, without any protection."

"Ah. As much grandmother dotes on us, she still has the utmost of Dragon Pride. Since we finally have the means to gain power, she wouldn't try to hinder our growth by coddling us. Now then, let me call her up and tell her the good news."

Turning her attention backed on the purple ring in her hand, Kali pressed a small button at the center of it.

Cain didn't even notice that button at first and started to wonder how long-distance communication works in this universe. His question was quickly answered when the purple ring lit up in a faint purple glow.

And at that moment, a beautiful voice flowed out of the ring.

"Mnh? Little Kali? Is something wrong? Is Little Cain ok?"

Angelic, downright angelic. This was Cain's only thought as he listened to his grandmother's heavenly voice, falling into a charm trance almost immediately.

Just from her soft voice, Cain could practically feel all the warmth and affection she has for them.

This is their Ancient Dragon Empress, their grandmother, Shi Wei!

See Cain's entranced reaction, the corner of Kali's lips slightly curved up. She knows all too well the magical effect their dear grandmother has.

Focusing back on the ring, Kali said, "Nothing is wrong, grandmother, nothing at all. Actually, things couldn't be better for us! You see, grandmother Cain had finally mastered Chaos Energy and managed to fix our low cultivation aptitude! So we can finally take that journey."

"....Oh? Little Cain finally accomplished it?"

The Ancient Dragon Empress's voice sounded calm, but Cain could pick up a faint trace of surprise within her tone. It was like she was trying to not show any shock at all, but it was challenging to entirely suppress.

Then, after only a slight pause, Shi Wei continued to speak. "You two, wait right there. Let grandmother come and do a full inspection before you take off for your journey."

The ring immediately lost its luster once Shi Wei stopped talking.

There was a brief moment of silence between Cain and Kali; both of them had various thoughts stewing on their minds.

Cain mainly felt greatly interested in seeing a relative of his who was immensely powerful and lived for several thousands of years.

And Kali had an eager smile on her face, anticipating the moments before they could finally take her journey. Unable to contain her excitement, Kali started to blurt out,

"Oh man, I just can't wait! For the future ahead, deadly battles, respect, and fame await us. I'd like to see any of our siblings ever looked down on us again! Just in a little bit, grandmother will come. She can practically move throughout the entire Palace without anyone knowing."

"Is that right….you know, Kali, I still can't help but wonder….is our grandmother, well, that trustworthy? With all my memories still foggy, I'm just a little bit cautious."

Cain only had a slight questioning look. If by going off from her voice, their grandmother certainly oozed a trustworthy grace.

However, Cain still wanted to be cautiously optimistic. Even before coming to this universe, he always felt cautious with people's true intentions no matter how sincere they seemed on the surface.

In response to Cain's doubt, Kali firmly grasped his shoulder and told him, "She is trustworthy, more than trustworthy really. Hell, I trust grandmother far more than mother, father, the Emperor, or even our grandfather. With her, I'm absolutely sure we can go on our journey without anyone noticing."

With how firm and genuine Kali sounded, Cain felt some of his slight worries alleviate. At that moment, he was about to ask another question.

But whatever he was about to say got caught in his throat when a faint purple flash lit up his entire room.

'Chi!'

The sudden bright glow forced Cain to blink his eyes. And upon repoing them, he went a bit wide-eyed at the beautiful sight currently presented before him.

Standing just several feet from him was a beautiful woman who Cain felt an instant connection towards.

To simply describe her, Cain could positively say this woman was the epitome of an empress's beauty.

She was towering tall, several inches taller than Cain, and had a bewitchingly graceful figure one wouldn't be able to take their eyes off.

But her most eye-catching feature was the radiant silver look donning her entire image. From her long silvery hair that flowed down to her waist, brightly shimmering silver eyes, and her brilliantly silver Dragon robes. She was like a tall silver goddess.

Anybody in their Main Palace would feel a natural compulsion to kneel down to this woman's unfathomable aura.

However, Cain only felt a calling. It was like his whole body had a direct, unbreakable link with her.

While Cain was taken into an immediate trance, the silver woman calmly turned around to face him and Kali. A soft smile graced her lips as her eyes were full of affection and love while gazing at the sibling duo.

"Grandmother! You're here!" Kali expressed her excitement as she stood up from Cain's bed.

'Grandmother, huh….' Cain mused to himself, slowly shaking his head to come back to reality.

Indeed, standing right in front of them is the Ancient Dragon Empress, their grandmother, Shi Wei.

Following in Kali's footsteps, Cain also stood from his bed, respectfully saying, "Grandmother. It's great to see you."

Taking calm and assured steps over to the sibling duo, Shi Wei slightly furrowed her eyebrows while doing so. As if she didn't find what she was expecting, a slight look of confusion crossed her face as she asked,

"It's wonderful to see you two as well. And I am sorry that I haven't been able to check on both of you these past days. But since then I'm here….I'm a bit puzzled. Did something happen? I can't seem to sense your cultivation levels."

"Oh….oh?!" For a brief moment, Cain and Kali traded shock looks between each other.

The Chaotic Concealment actually works! If not even their grandmother can see through their level, then who can?!

Kali already felt numerous plans quickly surface within her mind with this information.

But Cain, while he was pleased with this news, felt strange about their grandmother's reaction. She was saying she couldn't sense their cultivation levels with such a calming smile, as if this wasn't concerning at all.

With a thought in mind, Cain kept particular notice of Shi Wei's further reaction as he then said, "Ah grandmother. You can't sense us because of an ability I learned. Watch this."

Under Shi Wei's curious gaze, Cain instantly surged his soul energy and poured it into the Chaotic Emerald.

A faint green glow sparkled from the Chaotic Emerald as Cain's soul energy stirred inside it. Then, after only a second, two green Chaos Energy rays spurred out of the Chaotic Emerald and dug right into Cain and Kali's bodies.

Cain and Kali only felt a slight pulse of energy as their Chaotic Concealment was immediately dispersed.

Upon dispersing, Cain and Kali looked back over to their grandmother, both of them curious about her reactions.

But though they were expecting some surprise from their grandmother, Shi Wei's reaction left the sibling duo a bit shocked.

"Little Cain, Little Kali….I see."

A myriad of emotions was flashing through Shi Wei's eyes all at once. She stayed rooted to her spot, trying to keep her expression calm but considerably failing to do so.

Then, before either Cain and Kali could question her, Shi Wei flashed right in front of their faces and swiftly placed her hand upon the sibling duo heads.

"This Dragon Essence….never before has it been this pure. Little Cain, little Kali, you are ready to train in a Mortal Planet. Are you both ready to set off your journey now?"

Befitting her title as the Ancient Dragon Empress, Shi Wei quickly regained her calm, retaining her aura of a supreme expert.

And as Shi Wei's words stewed in their minds, Cain and Kali's eyes gained a sharp glint.