Chapter 2：The Flood Dragon that has transformed

The Enchanted Forest, a mystical realm in the Divine Martial Continent, held profound significance for the Longteng Dynasty. It was here that their ancestors had once encountered great fortune, laying the foundation for a revered martial empire, admired and respected by all.

"Something's not right. There's been a change. Beasts of this caliber shouldn't appear here," remarked the old Grandmaster, his voice tinged with confusion. Tianfan glanced at the ground beneath the old man's feet—there lay the corpse of a wolfman, of the Yuntian rank, with a single bloodied hole through its brow. It had been killed in one blow.

"Let's move forward," the Grandmaster continued. "Aotian, stay vigilant. You may want to consider sending your children back."

Long Aotian, receiving the Grandmaster's words, turned to look at his sons.

"Father, you needn't worry. We can protect ourselves. If we retreat at the first sign of trouble, how will we ever face the world?" Long Batian stepped forward boldly, defiance gleaming in his eyes, and cast a disdainful glance at Tianfan.

"I stand with my brother!" declared the second prince, stepping up beside Batian, his voice resonating with confidence.

"And you, Eighth Prince?" Long Aotian asked, turning his gaze to the youngest.

"I'll continue on," replied the youngest prince, puffing out his chest with determination.

"I'm coming too!" Long Yueying added without hesitation. She was known for her fearlessness, her reputation as one who feared neither heaven nor earth.

"Good! You truly are my children—courageous and strong. But remember, bravery alone isn't enough. You must also know when to advance and when to retreat. Understood?" Long Aotian spoke with regal authority, his eyes sweeping over his offspring.

"Yes, Father!" they responded in unison.

Tianfan observed quietly, unnoticed, as Long Aotian didn't even spare him a glance. It was as if, even if he died here, Long Aotian would not care.

He was used to it by now. Once, he had felt fear, sadness, and anger. He had once confronted Long Aotian, asking why he, too, wasn't treated as a son. The only answer he received was, "A son of Long Aotian must be a peerless cultivator. Since you cannot cultivate, you lose certain rights as a descendant of Longteng."

From that moment on, Tianfan had grown cold, learning to endure. Nothing could break the calm he now held within.

The group ventured deeper into the Enchanted Forest, having already traveled three miles. Along the way, they had slain countless beasts, some nearing the Gui Xian realm—a level of power that seemed utterly unreasonable for the area.

"What is that?" Long Aotian gasped, his face etched with shock as he stared ahead.

For someone of his standing, just a step away from the Gui Xian Secret Realm, to react this way—it was clear that whatever he saw was no ordinary sight.

Following his gaze, the others were equally stunned, even Tianfan, whose heart was normally undisturbed, showed a rare expression of surprise.

The ground ahead was littered with the remains of magical beasts, some of which had reached the Gui Xian realm. Amongst the corpses lay an enormous creature, its body stretched across the earth—horse-like face, snake-like body, deer antlers, eagle talons, and fish scales. It was a dragon!

"A dragon!"

Everyone was dumbstruck, their mouths dry. Dragons were near-mythical beings in this world, akin to phoenixes, standing at the pinnacle of existence.

Although legends of dragons had persisted across the Divine Martial Continent for centuries, no one had ever truly seen one. The appearance of a dragon would be worshipped as divine.

"No, this isn't a true dragon," the old Grandmaster said, recovering from his shock. "This is a jiao, on the verge of surpassing its current form—it's evolving!"

According to legend, jiaos were descendants of dragons, but their divine bloodline had become exceedingly thin. Only through immense power and fortune could a jiao awaken its latent dragon blood and transform into a dragon.

Though rare, jiaos were not unheard of on the Divine Martial Continent. But no one had ever witnessed one at the moment of awakening. Yet here it was—a jiao, teetering on the cusp of ascending into a dragon.

"A jiao… on the brink of evolution?"

Long Aotian's mind raced as the Grandmaster's words sank in. His initial shock gave way to an expression of wild joy. The jiao was in a weakened state, midway through its transformation, and from the scattered corpses, it was clear that many powerful foes had tried to seize this opportunity to devour the jiao's essence, only to meet their demise. Now, it was vulnerable.

What a stroke of fortune, Long Aotian thought. If he could absorb the jiao's essence, he might break through to the Gui Xian Secret Realm!

"No, Aotian," the Grandmaster interrupted his thoughts, his voice firm. "This jiao has the potential to evolve into a dragon. You mustn't destroy it. Instead, we shall stand guard and protect it during this critical moment."

Long Aotian's excitement was cut short by the old man's righteous refusal. "Aotian, as a cultivator, strength is important, but heart is more so. If this jiao succeeds in its transformation, it will ascend to dragonhood. Forming a bond with it now will ensure its gratitude. A true dragon could become the guardian deity of the Longteng Dynasty, strengthening your reign immeasurably."

Though disappointed, Long Aotian quickly saw the wisdom in the Grandmaster's words. He could find other opportunities to break through, but the chance to befriend a dragon was singular. If this jiao became a dragon, the Longteng Dynasty would be forever strengthened, perhaps rising to dominate the entire continent.

"Yes, Grandmaster, you are right. I shall stay and guard the jiao with you." Bowing respectfully, Long Aotian acknowledged the elder's counsel.

As they spoke, the jiao began to stir, its massive lantern-like eyes opening. It looked at the humans before it with unease, the battle having drained most of its strength.

When its gaze fell upon the old Grandmaster, the jiao visibly trembled. It could feel the immense power radiating from the old man, and despair flickered in its eyes. In its prime, it might have been able to fight back, but now…

The jiao struggled to rise but found itself too weak. As the Grandmaster approached, it let out a low, defiant roar, unwilling to succumb.

"Do not fear, noble jiao," the Grandmaster said gently. "We mean you no harm. Focus on your evolution. We will stand guard."

The jiao blinked in disbelief, its eyes filled with mistrust.

Tianfan, watching from a distance, was filled with awe at the old man's composure and integrity. Though he lacked the ability to cultivate, he had read many ancient texts, and the Grandmaster's honorable character stirred deep respect within him.

"Rest easy, noble jiao," Long Aotian added, stepping forward. "I am the emperor of the Longteng Dynasty, and this is our revered Grandmaster. We will guard you as you undergo your transformation."

"If we meant you harm, we wouldn't have said so much," the Grandmaster added with a reassuring smile.

Just then, a thunderous roar echoed from afar, a powerful being drawing near. The jiao's eyes filled with anxiety.

"Do not worry, we will protect you," Long Aotian said calmly.

The roar grew louder, and moments later, a giant white-furred demon ape emerged from the forest, its thick fur glowing faintly, exuding a powerful aura that marked it as a creature nearing the Gui Xian realm.

The demon ape's eyes locked onto the jiao, excitement gleaming on its blackened face as it lunged towards the weakened creature. The jiao, panic-stricken, tried to retreat, but it had no strength left to fight.

But just as the ape's hand reached for the jiao, a blinding sword light descended from the sky. The gleaming blade's aura was so overwhelming that it froze the demon ape in its tracks. Startled, the ape attempted to dodge, but its movements were sluggish, as if caught in a mire.

Though the ape managed to unleash a wave of dark magic energy to speed up its retreat, the sword still found its mark—slicing cleanly through its outstretched arm.

The demon ape howled in agony, white fur splattered with blood as it recoiled from the powerful blow.

Tianfan watched, both amazed and awestruck. The old Grandmaster had barely moved, yet with a single stroke, he had severed the beast's arm. Though Tianfan could not cultivate, he could not help but yearn for such power.

"A true dragon is awakening. Anyone who dares stand in its way will face death," the Grandmaster declared solemnly, his face grave. In his hand, a blood-red sword shimmered with lethal intent.