Chapter 166: The Black Dragon’s First Vassal

The Black Dragon’s First Vassal

The figure at the front was none other than Rafael Bluestone, ruler of the Dawn Empire.

He approached with his ministers.

Then he bowed deeply.

Rafael had learned of Victor’s campaign before it began.

He had immediately gathered his strongest experts and rushed toward the Azure Sovereign Kingdom to offer assistance.

But by the time they crossed the border and reached the battlefield, the fighting had already ended.

The Azure Sovereign Kingdom had fallen.

The Black Dragon Empire had already been proclaimed.

What had originally been assistance had now become tribute.

And as Rafael lifted his head, something changed inside his eyes.

He had made a decision.

He strode into the palace.

His ministers followed behind him.

He walked directly toward Victor.

Then he bowed.

The dignity of an emperor was completely cast aside.

"The Dawn Empire wishes to become a vassal of the Black Dragon Empire! Please, Patriarch, accept us!!"

Rafael’s voice rang through the hall.

There was no hesitation in it.

He had made his choice only moments ago.

The Salvatore Family had just swallowed the Azure Sovereign Kingdom.

But their ancestral lands lay within the territory of the Dawn Empire.

Who would tolerate a tiger sleeping beside their bed?

Rafael understood that principle better than anyone.

It was better to pledge allegiance now than to wait until the Salvatore Family eventually turned its eyes toward the Dawn Empire.

The Salvatore Family was an unfathomable mystery.

A power that could destroy the Azure Sovereign Kingdom overnight.

To join them was like ascending to heaven in a single step.

Victor looked at Rafael.

He understood the man’s intentions immediately.

And, truthfully, he admired his decisiveness.

But admiration was not trust.

Outsiders could never be fully trusted.

At the very least, there needed to be a reason.

Victor reached into his storage space.

A pill appeared between his fingers.

The Nether Emperor Pill.

He did not explain it.

He simply held it out toward Rafael.

Rafael stared at the pill for only a moment.

Then he understood.

There was no hesitation.

He did not ask what it was.

He did not ask what price he would have to pay.

He opened his mouth and swallowed it in a single gulp.

The pill dissolved instantly.

A strange power flowed through his body.

It did not change his cultivation.

It did not alter his appearance.

It simply buried an invisible imprint deep within his soul.

From this moment onward, Rafael would remain Rafael.

His intelligence would remain.

His personality would remain.

His abilities would remain.

But his loyalty to Victor would never waver.

"Lord!"

Rafael lowered himself again.

His eyes were now filled with reverence.

In his heart, Victor had become a figure of godlike majesty.

Even if Victor commanded him to die, he would do so without hesitation.

For Dominic, this arrangement was also extremely useful.

He had been born to become an emperor.

But being born for something and knowing how to do it were two completely different matters.

Dominic had the talent.

He had the imperial authority.

He had the ambition.

But he had no experience.

Rafael had ruled an empire for years.

He knew politics.

He understood nobles.

He knew how to manipulate ministers, appease clans, control resources, and maintain the stability of a nation.

He would become an excellent teacher for Dominic.

The Black Dragon Empire was a nation in ruins.

There was much to rebuild.

Cities had been damaged.

Armies had been destroyed.

Countless families were frightened.

Resources needed to be reorganized.

The entire political structure had to be reconstructed from the ground up.

But Dominic’s popularity among his clansmen proved genuine.

Many Salvatore Family disciples volunteered to remain behind.

They would assist Dominic.

They would help rebuild the empire.

Victor was content to let it happen.

He did not interfere.

He simply turned and led the rest of his clansmen back toward the Sovereign Blessed Land.

From that day forward, the Azure Sovereign Kingdom no longer existed.

The Black Dragon Empire had taken its place.

It inherited everything that had once belonged to the fallen empire.

Its territory.

Its resources.

Its cities.

Its mana mines.

Its treasures.

Its people.

And, most importantly—

Its destiny.

The name of the Sovereign Salvatore Family swept through the Celestial Capital Domain like a storm.

A mighty empire had fallen overnight.

The Lunar Grasping dragon that had blotted out the heavens became like a dark shadow looming over the entire domain.

Everyone who heard of it understood one thing.

The Salvatore Family was no longer a power that ordinary people could afford to provoke.

The Black Dragon Empire was also unlike any other nation.

Other empires revered gold.

They decorated their palaces in gold.

Their banners were gold.

Their royal robes were gold.

But the Black Dragon Empire honored black above all else.

And legend had it that the Black Dragon Empire favored black because the mysterious, all-powerful Patriarch of the Salvatore Family favored black robes.

Some called it superstition.

Others called it reverence.

But eventually, black became synonymous with the Black Dragon Empire.

And within the highest tower of the capital, Dominic stood alone.

The night wind swept across the city wall.

His black hair fluttered behind him.

Below, thousands of torches illuminated the newborn empire.

He looked toward the distant horizon.

His expression was calm.

But deep within those black eyes burned something that had never existed before.

Ambition.

"I will not disappoint you, Patriarch."

Dominic’s voice was quiet.

"You named this nation the Black Dragon Empire—not as a vassal to the four divine kingdoms. I understand your expectations."

His fingers slowly tightened around the edge of his robe.

"The nine heavens, ten earths, three thousand great domains... too many nations, too much noise..."

His gaze stretched toward the distant darkness.

His cultivation suddenly surged.

True spiritual power erupted within his body.

The fortune of the newly established empire began pouring into him.

The invisible destiny of the nation gathered around its emperor.

His cultivation rose violently.

In only a few breaths—