Chapter 8: Return to the Long Clan – The Dragon Walks Among Mortals
The journey back to the Long Clan estate was quiet, yet the air around Long Tian crackled with an undeniable presence.
He had descended into the Forbidden Valley as an ordinary clan disciple.
Now, he returned as something far more.
A powerful new companion, Raijin, at his side.
A hidden knowledge of the Tenth Realm, waiting to be explored.
A newfound strength, one step from Foundation Establishment.
Long Tian glanced at the wyvern walking beside him. Though still small, Raijin's golden eyes held a fierce intelligence, its lightning-charged scales gleaming in the morning light.
"Stay close," Long Tian murmured.
Raijin let out a low rumble in response, flicking its tail, arcs of silver lightning dancing across the ground.
As the gates of the Long Clan came into sight, a knowing smirk played on Long Tian's lips.
'Let's see how they react.'
---
The moment Long Tian stepped through the main gates, eyes turned toward him.
At first, it was just passing glances.
Then—
Gasps. Whispers. Disbelief.
"Wait… is that Long Tian?"
"Impossible! He was gone for only a short time—how did he change so much?"
"And what is that creature beside him?!"
The Lightning Shadow Wyvern was a rare beast, almost mythical. Even the top-tier sects would fight for such a creature.
Yet here it was—calmly walking beside Long Tian, as if he were its master.
Soon, the whispers turned into a crowd, disciples gathering to witness his return.
And then—
A loud, angry voice cut through the air.
"Long Tian!"
---
Striding through the crowd was Long Fei, his face twisted in barely-contained fury.
The last time they had fought, Long Fei had been humiliated in front of the entire clan.
Now, seeing Long Tian return even stronger with a powerful beast companion, his rage boiled over.
"What tricks did you use this time?" Long Fei spat, fists clenched.
Long Tian met his gaze with cold amusement. "Tricks? You lost fairly before. Do you need a second beating to accept it?"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"He's provoking Long Fei openly!"
"Has he really grown that confident?"
Long Fei's Qi flared. "You think you're powerful just because you tamed a beast?"
He stepped forward.
"Fight me. Right now."
Silence fell over the training ground.
But Long Tian? He simply smiled.
"No."
Long Fei froze. "What?"
Long Tian folded his arms, looking at him as if he were a mere inconvenience.
"You're not even worth my time anymore."
Gasps erupted among the disciples.
"You…!" Long Fei's face turned red with rage. "Are you afraid?!"
"Afraid?" Long Tian chuckled. He turned away, casually walking past Long Fei.
"If I fought you now, you wouldn't last three moves."
His words slammed into Long Fei like a thunderclap.
Some disciples laughed, while others stared in shock.
Long Fei shook with fury, but before he could react, another voice interrupted.
A voice that made the entire courtyard fall silent.
---
The Elders Take Notice
"That's enough."
The crowd parted instantly as a figure stepped forward.
Elder Wei.
One of the highest-ranked elders of the Long Clan, his sharp eyes locked onto Long Tian with newfound interest.
"You disappeared for days without explanation," Elder Wei said, his voice calm but commanding.
"And now you return… with strength beyond expectation and a rare beast at your side."
Long Tian remained silent.
"Where did you go?"
The disciples leaned in, eager to hear his answer.
Long Tian glanced at Raijin, then back at the elder.
"A place unworthy of mention," he said smoothly.
Elder Wei's gaze narrowed. "You won't answer?"
Long Tian simply smiled.
"What matters is that I've returned stronger."
Elder Wei studied him for a long moment.
Then, to everyone's shock—
He nodded.
"Very well."
"But be warned, Long Tian. Strength brings both admiration and enemies. I hope you are ready."
With that, the elder turned and left.
But the implications were clear.
The clan elders were now watching him.
Long Tian's smirk deepened.
"Let them watch."
---
Later that night, while others were still whispering about his return, Long Tian sat alone in the forest, meditating.
His Qi was steady, his thoughts clear.
And then—
His Fate Eyes activated on their own.
A golden fate thread appeared before him, pulsing gently.
'An opportunity?'
He stood, following the thread deeper into the mountains beyond the Long Clan.
Soon, he reached a hidden cavern, its entrance obscured by overgrown vines.
Stepping inside, he felt it instantly—
A powerful, ancient aura.
At the center of the cavern lay a floating crystal, radiating golden light.
And behind it—a mural, depicting an unknown figure ascending into the heavens.
Long Tian's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer.
Then, as his fingers brushed against the crystal—
Boom!
A surge of incomprehensible knowledge flooded his mind.
Words… techniques… a path beyond the Ninth Realm.
A method for reaching the Tenth Realm.
A lost inheritance, waiting for the right successor.
Then, something else flashed in his mind—the ancient book from the Wyvern's nest.
He quickly retrieved it, flipping through its pages.
Lines of complex, ancient script filled the book, detailing:
Forbidden cultivation techniques that defied conventional martial laws.
The merging of beast souls with human cultivation, enhancing one's strength.
A cryptic passage, describing how only those who could wield both fate and dragon power could step beyond the mortal realm.
Long Tian's breath slowed.
This was no coincidence.
This was destiny.
He gritted his teeth, absorbing the knowledge.
Minutes passed.
Then, finally—he opened his eyes.
And for the first time, they shone not with golden light, but with a deeper, cosmic glow.
He smirked.
"The true path… has finally begun."
---
End of Chapter 8