Chapter 4: The Hidden Dragon’s Growth
After defeating Long Fei and claiming the Dragon Meridian Pill, Long Tian vanished from public sight.
Some believed he was avoiding attention. Others assumed he had gotten lucky in the duel and wanted to lay low before anyone challenged him again.
The truth?
Long Tian had entered seclusion, away from the clan's eyes, to refine his martial soul and test his new strength.
True power was forged in silence.
And today, he would take another step toward greatness.
---
Deep within the Long Clan's inner forest, hidden beneath a canopy of towering spirit trees, lay an ancient training ground.
Massive stone formations jutted out of the earth, their surfaces covered in ancient carvings—remnants of battles fought long ago.
This place had been abandoned for generations.
To Long Tian, it was the perfect training ground.
He sat cross-legged on a flat stone, inhaling deeply. The energy from the Dragon Meridian Pill still surged within his body, making his Qi more fluid and powerful.
But it wasn't fully refined.
More importantly, his Azure Dragon Martial Soul had begun to stir.
It was time to tame it.
---
Long Tian closed his eyes, sinking into his soul realm.
Inside, he stood before a colossal Azure Dragon, its body coiled around a sea of golden mist. The sheer pressure of its presence made the air dense and heavy.
Its eyes, like twin suns, slowly cracked open.
"You wish to command my power?" The dragon's voice was deep, ancient, like thunder rolling through the heavens.
Long Tian met its gaze. "I don't wish. I will."
The dragon laughed, the sound shaking the realm itself.
"Then prove yourself."
Boom!
A tidal wave of dragon energy crashed over Long Tian, pressing against his body like a mountain. His muscles screamed in resistance, his Qi chaotically spiraling.
It was a battle of will.
Most cultivators were controlled by their martial souls. But Long Tian? He intended to control his.
He clenched his fists, activating his Fate Eyes.
Immediately, he saw the golden threads of energy swirling around the Azure Dragon, shifting and pulsing in rhythmic waves.
Instead of resisting the force, he adjusted his breathing to match it.
His Qi stabilized.
His body adapted.
The crushing weight no longer oppressed him—it empowered him.
Boom!
The Azure Dragon's eyes widened slightly.
For the first time, Long Tian's aura resonated perfectly with its own.
"You learn quickly," the dragon mused. "Very well… Take what you can handle."
It lowered its head, exhaling a stream of golden energy that flowed into Long Tian's body.
A gift.
---
Breakthrough: Qi Condensation 7th Stage → 8th Stage
Back in the physical world, Long Tian's body trembled as his cultivation surged forward.
His Qi channels expanded, absorbing spiritual energy at a heightened rate.
His flesh and bones strengthened, infused with traces of draconic essence.
A faint golden glow flickered across his skin before fading.
His cultivation had advanced.
But more importantly…
He had awakened a new ability.
He slowly raised his right hand, focusing.
A faint shimmer flickered across his arm, and for a brief moment—his skin transformed into dragon scales.
Dragon Body Reinforcement.
A defensive ability that momentarily boosted his durability and physical strength.
But how strong was it?
He needed to test it.
---
Testing His New Power
Long Tian stood up, scanning the training ground. His Fate Eyes flickered, revealing the natural flows of energy in the environment.
He focused on one particular spot—a cracked stone formation barely holding together.
'Perfect.'
With a slow exhale, he activated Dragon Body Reinforcement.
Boom!
A faint golden aura coated his right arm. His muscles tensed, his bones felt denser, his Qi surged.
He clenched his fist—then punched the stone.
BOOM!
The impact shattered the boulder into dust and rubble, the shockwave sending cracks across the ground.
Long Tian exhaled slowly, inspecting his hand.
Not a scratch.
His body felt invincible, as if he could stand against a Qi Condensation Peak Stage cultivator without flinching.
But the effect only lasted a few seconds.
'I still need to improve my control.'
As he was about to continue his training, his Fate Eyes activated on their own.
And what he saw… made him pause.
---
Golden and red fate threads swirled in the air, but one in particular stood out—a thick crimson thread, pulsing ominously.
A vision flashed through Long Tian's mind.
—A storm brewing in the distance. A shadowed figure watching from afar. A fate thread winding its way toward him.
A warning.
But before the vision faded, something else caught his attention.
A golden fate thread.
Unlike the ominous crimson one, this thread was thin and flickering, as if on the verge of disappearing.
His vision shifted again.
—A hidden valley deep in the Long Clan's mountains. A massive egg, glowing faintly with spiritual energy, resting within an ancient ruin. The air crackled with power.
Then, a brief glimpse of a creature—its form obscured by mist, its eyes burning with intelligence.
Long Tian's eyes narrowed.
'A rare beast… waiting to be discovered.'
The golden thread pulsed, fading rapidly.
'If I don't act soon… the opportunity will be lost.'
His lips curled into a knowing smile.
A challenge was coming… but so was an opportunity.
And Long Tian would claim both.
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End of Chapter 4