He Chunhua pressed his lips together before answering, “Your mother did.”

She had suffered massive postpartum bleeding. Before she died, she had chosen the child’s name, hoping that he would grow up valiant and fearless all his life.

“Then why was my name later changed to He Lingchuan?”

He Chunhua lowered his voice. “Grand Shaman Zhaomandu said this name suited you better and would be more beneficial to you.”

He Lingchuan gave no opinion. “Weren’t you in a hurry to reach the Panlong Ruins, Father? Let’s go.”

He Chunhua had been waiting for those exact words.

Yet when he rose and looked toward the Panlong Ruins, he suddenly let out a long breath.

Had this day finally come?

For some reason, a pang of reluctance suddenly rose in his heart.

He Lingchuan noticed the strange emotion on his face. “What’s wrong, old man?”

“Nothing!” He Chunhua forced a smile. “Let’s go.”

At his command, the Heishui City troops replenished their food and water, then set out toward the Chipa Highland.

* * *

The closer they drew to the Chipa Highland, the more majestic and desolate it appeared.

The moat before Panlong City’s southern gate had originally been nothing more than a deep earthen trench. Now, however, a shallow stream of water flowed through it.

Standing on the broad land bridge, Zhang Lianhai and the others...