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"How on earth did you faint all of a sudden?"
A burst of chatter buzzed in my ears, and I forced my eyes open with all my might.
What met my eyes was the anxious, handsome face of my second senior brother.
My whole body felt as though it were being scorched by fire, making it hard to breathe.
I had returned to the day of choosing a spirit pet.
Heavenly Inference Sect assembled its cultivators, and the founder had entered the Dao through beast taming, so the Beast Taming Technique had always been highly esteemed within the sect.
I had a Single Wood Spirit Root and a profound family background in cultivating the Beast Taming technique, making me the favorite on Beast Peak.
Forming a contract with a spirit beast was crucial for the sect's advancement.
I was at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, and to successfully reach the Core Formation, I needed to choose a contract spirit beast.
In my past life, the master gathered us a few outstanding disciples together.
He personally traveled for more than three years, selecting several near-transformation spirit beasts for us to choose from.
My senior sister, quick and decisive, chose the White Tiger already at the Golden Core Middle Stage, which was said to have a trace of the Ancient Divine Beast Qiongqi's bloodline.
In the End of Dharma Era, it was extremely rare for a spirit beast to have even a trace of divine beast bloodline.
As for me, instead of choosing the Kui Ox with a divine beast bloodline, I chose a strange and unsightly Water Snake.
The master said he found it half-dead on the road and brought it back out of compassion; it was neither snake nor serpent, but a Water Python.
Moved by its weak and helpless appearance, I felt a surge of sympathy.
The master was clearly displeased.
"Yun Zhi, have you thought it through? This Water Python has no spiritual roots. I saved it merely out of compassion for its life; it is not destined for you. The Kui Ox was specially sought out for you by your master; do you like it?"
I shook my head vigorously like a rattle drum, believing in the predestined fate of my first impression.
Although the Water Python was extremely weak, neither dragon nor snake.
I clearly saw the plea and resentment in its vertical pupils. Confident in my exceptional talent, I solemnly believed that no matter what kind of spirit beast I bound with, I could ascend to the great Dao with it and stand on the mountain peak.
The master saw my stubbornness and shook his head helplessly before turning around and leaving.
I wrapped the Water Python around my arm and took it back to my cave dwelling.
Taking care of it day and night for seven days and nights, the Water Python gained a bit of vitality.
After cleaning the little thing, I finally noticed two black horns growing on its forehead.
Very similar to dragon horns.
It turned out it wasn't just a dying Water Python; it was also the last of the Ying Dragon bloodline on earth.
As long as it transformed and soared into the sky to break through the Glazed Dragon Gate, it would be the Ying Dragon second only to the Candle Dragon, the Heaven and Earth Dragon King.
To help it break through the Glazed Tile, I searched every secret realm in Eight Desolations and Six Directions.
I even risked my life for it, searching for the Kunpeng Eye to become the half-human, half-demon Immortal Ganoderma. With my Lingzhi bloodline, the Water Python's cultivation advanced rapidly.
That day it successfully underwent Divinity Transformation, about to become my formal Dao companion, but at the Divinity Transformation celebration, it transformed into an Ying Dragon.
The earth trembled, and the sect-protecting array was shattered in the instant of activation by its Dragon Wei.
I reached out towards it amidst the collapsing rubble, but it, with eyes full of tenderness, lifted my senior sister Lu Xingyun with its white-scaled long tail.
When the dragon is trapped in the abyss, it must soar to the heavens.
"Yun'er, all the waiting was worth it. I have finally transformed into the Heaven and Earth Dragon King; no one can confine me. The promises I made to you that day, I have fulfilled them all."
He looked at Lu Xingyun with deep affection, the majesty of the Heaven and Earth Dragon King dimming all four seas.
Could the Heavenly Dao truly permit him to exist?
And yet, the Heavenly Beast Peak of my Heavenly Inference Sect had been leveled by Dragon Wei.
Seeing the blood-soaked remains of my master and close kin, I was seething with rage.
Even closing my eyes, the tragic scene of that day seemed vividly present.
Seeing Lu Xingyun calmly stroking the White Tiger's fur, I wished I could tear her flesh from bone.
I clenched my teeth, struggling to suppress the resentment in my heart.
The Water Python coiled on the rocks seemed to know I would choose it and slowly slithered towards me.
Without hesitation, I bypassed that long creature, fixing my gaze on the White Deer in the near forest.
Its snowy white fur was even more splendid than the White Tiger's, and the antlers atop its head were branching, robust, and dense.
At that moment, it proudly lifted one hoof as if looking down upon all beings.
This White Deer was no spirit beast the master had sought; it merely happened to pass through this mountain forest.
In my past life, it also paused here, but no one took note of its presence, as its cultivation was exceedingly strong and impenetrable at a glance.
Not until everyone had chosen their spirit beasts and formed blood contracts did we hear its melodious call.
It kicked through the air, treading on auspicious clouds as it left.
Its figure was not seen again throughout the Three Realms.
It was only in the Suspended Secret Realm that I overheard casual conversation about it again.
The White Deer's cultivation progressed rapidly, reaching Divinity Transformation within just a few decades.
The Divinity Transformation Thunder Tribulation should have helped it ascend into the Ancient Divine Beast Bai Ze, but who would have thought it was obliterated by the Purple Cloud Divine Thunder.
It was known that Bai Ze was a symbol of auspiciousness, its bloodline more prestigious than the ancient dragons and phoenixes.
At the time, I merely regarded it as idle gossip, continuing my search for spiritual treasures to aid the Water Python's ascension.
Now thinking back, if I could assist a mere impure-blooded Water Python into a dragon, helping Bai Ze ascend shouldn't pose a challenge.
Mobilizing my Dantian, I flashed to Bai Ze's side, directly embracing its head and touching its antlers.
"Master, I choose this White Deer."
It was only then that everyone realized a majestic White Deer was hidden nearby.
The master squinted at the White Deer.
Though the White Deer had not yet transformed, its eyes brimmed with pride, and it snorted warm breath at me.
Seeing it unrebuffing me, I felt assured.
The master seemed to notice something, a look of delight crossing his face.
"Good, very good..."
"Yun Zhi, forming a contract with this White Deer is your fortune; your blessings lie ahead."
Hearing my master's words, my heart trembled as past scenes churned in my mind.
I secretly bit my lips and glanced at senior sister Lu Xingyun. As long as I'm here, I will protect the sect.
At that moment, an untimely voice suddenly broke the peace.
"No, you should have chosen me instead."
The voice was gritted, heart-wrenching, shocking everyone into widening their eyes.
"Who's speaking?"
Several senior brothers hurriedly searched around.
The master frowned, flipping the sleeves of his long robe, hitting the Water Python coiled on the tree, causing it to fall before everyone in a tumble.
"Where did this large snake come from? It's so big, yet we never noticed it."
The second senior brother unsheathed his long sword in shock.
The Water Python, ignoring the pain, mustered all its power to lift its head.
"Zhi Zhi, I should be the one to form a contract with you. I have the Ying Dragon's bloodline, and as long as I break through the Glazed Tile, I am the Heaven and Earth Dragon King."
"I am your true match, the one to be your Dao companion, to guard eternity with you."
His words caused a stir among the crowd.
"Look at its disgusting appearance, really overestimating itself, even daring to covet our little junior sister."
"Well indeed, our little junior sister is our cherished treasure, when did a mere Water Python get a say in her destiny?"
The second senior brother's sword was about to pierce through the Water Python's vital spot, yet it neither dodged nor avoided, its eyes fixed on me, its vertical pupils glinted dangerously.
A formless pressure silently assailed; facing such questioning, I narrowed my eyes, wondering if Ying Yuan had been reborn as well.
The Heavenly Dao is truly generous to me, how wonderful.
If he doesn't remember past lives, how can I savor the sweet revenge when I take action?