“Wait a minute…”
Wait, how did we suddenly get married?!
I only ever saw Cluru as a friend and disciple! Marriage wasn’t something I ever considered or was interested in!
This unexpected turn shook my mind more than I anticipated.
Fortunately, the Clear Heart Pill helped cool down my overloaded, chaotic thoughts.
Seeing that my gaze had cleared, Cluru in front of me seemed somewhat displeased.
She pressed down even more dominantly, those two soft masses pressing tightly against my shoulders: “Why are you resisting me?”
“Because I have no such intention.”
With the Clear Heart Pill and the Clear Mind Mantra, I had completely regained my clarity.
“No intention? Then what do you intend to do?”
Cluru’s disappointed look made me reluctant to meet her eyes, but one of her tentacles extended from behind, wrapping around my neck, forcing our gazes to lock:
“Look at you now, huh, Immortal. Is that cold, desireless, neither-human-nor-ghost Immortal Path really your lifelong pursuit?”
“……”
“Zi Ran, all alone, ascending in solitude— is that what you want?”
“……”
“If that’s truly your desire, then… so be it.”
The illusion came and went swiftly; this brief episode left me deep in thought for a long time.
“That’s why I hate the Heart Demon Tribulation.”
It always forces you to confront the problems you desperately want to avoid.
I looked up, and somehow I had fallen to the ground.
Cluru helped me up, no longer exhibiting that full-on domineering older sister aura; now, the little girl in her had a dazed expression.
“Did you see the Heart Demon Tribulation just now?” I asked awkwardly.
Cluru nodded, then shook her head.
Puzzled, I waited, and little Cluru said, “If you don’t want me to see it, I can pretend I didn’t.”
Alright then.
Ahhh, so troublesome!
.
Foundation Establishment was complete, and I left the dream world.
In reality, Cluru caught me— her soft tentacles became the perfect cushion, ensuring we were both unharmed inside.
Rescue personnel arrived on the scene, taking us onto a rescue helicopter headed to the nearest landing point—Tianhai City.
I never imagined I’d arrive in Tianhai City this way.
The helicopter crossed a great river; at its end, it seemed to connect with the setting sun.
Beneath the sunset, a DoraGon perched atop Mingzhu Tower, its claws gripping the spherical observation deck at the tower’s summit.
Its pair of golden, steely eyes coldly followed the helicopter’s movement, watching us.
“DoraGon! Dragon… Dragon?!”
The rescue helicopter’s co-pilot seemed to be seeing the creature on the tower for the first time as well, his excitement causing him to babble incoherently.
“It’s an exchange student from an overseas university, recently visiting Tianhai City… Tsk, so arrogant.”
The pilot shot a displeased glance at the being atop the tower.
There was no particular reason, just the simple fact that as a Donghuang Dragon Lord, he held a slightly different expectation for the word “dragon.”
Though a fire-breathing giant lizard was impressive, if a century later people only remembered the fire-breathing lizard and gradually forgot the other kind of existence— one steeped in Donghuang legend— that would be a bit regrettable.
Unfortunately, until now, Donghuang District had never heard news of a True Dragon Lord.
There was only one Jiaolong Beastmaster preparing to represent Donghuang’s academy to greet this fire-breathing giant lizard.
But a Jiao Dragon was still far from being a True Dragon.
“You’re here. You’re safe now, don’t be afraid.”
The pilot looked very young, seeming almost like a part-time college student.
After removing their headset and cap, they smiled reassuringly at Cluru and me, escorting us all the way to the hospital for a physical examination.
Soon, we reunited with Xinyue.
“Thank the heavens, you’re okay!”
Xinyue rushed over and, using her older physique as an advantage, hugged Cluru and me like a big sister.
“Did you catch the culprit?” I asked.
“What culprit? Isn’t the culprit that True Dragon? Who could possibly catch that thing…”
“Huh?”
“Hm? Didn’t we accidentally fly into the anomalous weather zone accompanying the True Dragon’s appearance?”
“……”
Eh? So that’s how the passengers on the plane understood this disaster?
“Amazing! I didn’t expect we’d be lucky enough to be the very first in the world to witness a True Dragon in person!” Xinyue pumped her fist excitedly. “Everyone quickly forgot the danger. For many people, seeing the legendary True Dragon with their own eyes means dying without regrets!
Besides, they even recorded videos, which should bring them considerable profit.”
They recorded videos? I wonder if I was caught on film.
“Too bad the plane got lost in the sea of clouds; the thick white fog only let the videos capture fragments of the True Dragon’s scales and claws…” Xinyue sighed with regret. “It’s such a pity we couldn’t see the True Dragon’s full form. Speaking of which, Xiao Luo Xian, when you flew out, did you see the full appearance of the True Dragon Lord?”
“No. I was struck unconscious as soon as I flew out.”
“What a shame.” Xinyue sighed again, but comforted me, “Don’t be discouraged. After all, it is the True Dragon Lord. Your qilin hasn’t grown yet, so it’s only natural you were knocked out. When your qilin grows up, it definitely won’t lose to it!”
True enough, I wouldn’t lose to myself.
In the evening, the True Dragon’s appearance made the news headlines.
But I cared more about the second headline below it.
[After investigation by the Association, former deputy head of the Spirit Association’s Education Department, Mutianye, was caught altering multiple candidates’ scores in secret and has now been arrested.]
Good.
No need for me to seek them out; these Mu Family lackeys just jumped out and gave it to me.
I like this free giveaway pace.
.
After recuperating, feeling the replenished Lingqi within me already breaking through into the Foundation Establishment Stage, I opened my eyes.
“Excuse me, are you passengers of flight M05376, which nearly crashed today?”
Someone knocked on the door, wearing the Spirit Association’s uniform, speaking respectfully.
“Yes, that’s me. What’s the matter?”
“It’s like this: the foreign DoraGon Beastmaster wants to invite all passengers of flight M05376 to attend an upcoming banquet. She wants to learn more about everyone’s experience seeing the True Dragon Lord… In addition, many experts, scholars, curators, and the Jiaolong Beastmaster Yun Muchen will also attend.”
“Yun Muchen will come too?”
That guy faced the dragon’s might head-on and didn’t get crushed? His fate is really something else.
“Yes, Lord Yun Muchen wants to hear everyone’s insights on the True Dragon’s divine form, searching for the key to the Jiaolong’s evolution.”
Hmph.
The bastard wants to evolve?
Dream on.
Looks like he hasn’t lost his nerve yet.
“I’ll attend.”
“Very well, here is the invitation. The banquet will be held in the open-air banquet hall on the top floor of this hotel, starting in two hours.”
“Alright.”
Now that I’m in the Foundation Establishment Stage, the amount of Lingqi in my body is over ten times that of the Qi Refining Stage, and I’m a Perfect Foundation Establishment.
Using the Law of Heaven and Earth again won’t just be a mere shout.
After the Association’s envoy left, Cluru held my arm.
“Yun Muchen… is that him?”
“Yes.”
No further explanation needed—Cluru understood immediately.
Yun Muchen, the mastermind who crushed me into a vegetable and killed Cluru’s parents.
My blood-related, beloved older brother.
Since he’s still alive, might as well deliver another blow.
But this time.
He won’t face “Xiao Luo Xian” anymore.
He will face a Foundation Establishment stage nightmare.
Cluru understood and changed form.
Wearing a night-dark evening gown, she undoubtedly became the most eye-catching focus of the entire banquet.
At this moment, she, the proud Dark God, a fallen noble princess, set aside her worldly grandeur and coyly nestled against my shoulder.
Because at this moment, we share a common front.
For revenge.
We can put aside all grudges!
Joanna Lancelot, fourteen, DoraGon Beastmaster, elite student at Hannis Academy’s youth class.
Her golden curls were tied into two proud spiral ponytails at the back of her head.
She lifted her chin, her delicate face perpetually marked by impatience and arrogance.
As the princess of the Lancelot family, born with a DoraGon companion, Joanna enjoyed luxuries unattainable even to true princesses.
Surrounded by admirers, frequently appearing in high-end social circles, her broad horizons also bred a lofty self-regard, disdainful of mingling with mortals.
Even Yun Muchen, a Jiaolong Beastmaster, never received so much as a hint of kindness from her.
“Miss Joanna, about those medicine ingredients…” Yun Muchen smiled faintly, holding his wine glass as he approached Joanna, “The Mu Family asked me to inquire when the cargo ship will arrive at the port. The Mu Family has encountered a competitor and urgently needs those ingredients.”
“Didn’t I say it already departed?” Joanna frowned sharply, her sharp brows knitting together. “If you’re in such a hurry, why don’t you call out that True Dragon to carry the ten-thousand-ton giant ship to your home… Oh right, I forgot you’re not a True Dragon Lord.”
Yun Muchen’s palm twitched. If this were some other kid, he would’ve been punched right then and there.
This brat always brings up the worst possible thing!
He’d just been beaten up, harboring intense hatred toward that True Dragon and what it represents.
Yet at this moment, Joanna was organizing a “True Dragon Witness Exchange Meeting.”
To avoid suspicion, Yun Muchen hadn’t dared take leave. Without time to heal his wounds, he was promptly summoned by the Association for reception duties.
Why him and not someone else?
First, because the Lancelot family and Mu Family had close business ties.
Second… because of Joanna’s personal preferences, which were complicated to explain.
In short, Princess Joanna explicitly requested Yun Muchen as her guide.
During this time, she showed great interest in Yun Muchen’s Jiaolong Immortal Spirit.
This led to a warm relationship between Yun Muchen and Princess Joanna, quickly increasing their friendliness and further strengthening ties between the Mu and Lancelot families.
But after Joanna learned about the True Dragon’s appearance, everything changed.
Upon realizing it wasn’t Yun Muchen’s Jiaolong that evolved, Joanna’s attitude toward Yun Muchen suddenly turned cold and distant.
This left Yun Muchen completely baffled.
“So, is everyone here now?”
Joanna stood and curiously looked toward the banquet hall.
“Two people are still missing.”
“What are their names?”
“Yun Luo Xian and Cluru.”