Chapter 283: The Old Jiao Seeks Its Offspring, Guest of Honor of Ten Thousand Mountains

Outside Qinghe City lies a deep pool.

It is called Luo Long Tan.

Legend says that a thousand years ago, on a rainy night, someone saw a creature resembling a true dragon fall into the mountains; when they followed, they found a pool had appeared where flat land once was.

Hence the name Luo Long Tan.

The pool's water is said to be miraculous—women who drink it often conceive shortly after.

Of course.

That's nonsense; Li Rui tried it—or rather, his long-dead mistress did.

If any nearby mountain folk came here now, they'd be terrified.

For there are truly two dragons before Luo Long Tan.

More accurately, they are jiao.

But to ordinary people, the difference is negligible.

"My son, why do you not return?"

A massive white jiao, seven or eight zhang long, gazed silently at the young jiao.

The old jiao resembled the young one in seven out of ten features, but unlike the young one, it bore no wings.

The young jiao smiled awkwardly: "Father, I—"

Just as it was about to speak,

the old jiao's expression turned grave, cutting it off: "You've transformed?"

As a powerful earth immortal, it saw at a glance the change in its offspring.

The young jiao was only fifth-rank—how could it have transformed?!

Even the old jiao found it hard to believe.

It stared at the young jiao for a long while, then finally confirmed: the young jiao had truly transformed.

Unbelievable.

A look of urgency appeared on the old jiao's face: "My son, tell me at once—what happened?"

The young jiao had already prepared its answer.

Or rather, Li Rui had taught it the words in advance.

"Father, I met a human in Qinghe who possesses a true dragon body; we formed a symbiotic bond, and thus received this blessing."

"True dragon body!"

The old jiao's eyes instantly burned with heat.

It had heard of this legendary physique—true dragon bodies emerge once every three thousand years—and never imagined its own son would encounter one. What great fortune.

'It must be the Yinglong blood in my son responding to the true dragon body.'

The old jiao pressed urgently: "Who is this true dragon body? Take me to him at once."

The true dragon body held great value for it too.

The young jiao replied: "He is the instructor at Yuan Dingting's household—Li Rui."

Upon hearing the name Yuan Dingting,

it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over the old jiao's head.

It had just been thinking of binding the human and drawing dragon qi for itself and its son—how delightful that would be.

But now that it learned the man belonged to Yuan Dingting, the thought vanished instantly.

Who was Yuan Dingting?

Formerly the Military Sage of Yu State, now ranked among the top ten in the realm.

Provoking someone from Yuan Dingting's household was no different from seeking death.

Even when it stirred the demonic chaos, it dared not show its face; if it had directly targeted one of Lord Yuan's subordinates, its fate would surely mirror that of the great demon chased for ten thousand li yet still caught.

The old jiao's burning desire cooled at once.

The human could not be touched.

'No good—the symbiotic bond is still too weak. It must be strengthened.'

Seeing the old jiao silent, the young jiao ventured: "Father? Father?"

The old jiao's expression gradually calmed.

Then, a flash of golden light shimmered along its neck scales.

A pure white jiao scale detached from its body and floated toward the young jiao.

The young jiao stared at the scale in shock.

Dragons have reverse scales; so do jiao.

These reverse scales contain the essence of dragon qi, vital to all dragon-kind—hence the human saying: "Touch a dragon's reverse scale, and you die."

This scale from the old jiao was not a reverse scale, yet it was extraordinary—an adjacent scale nourished by the reverse scale's dragon qi, far surpassing ordinary scales.

"Father, what does this mean?"

It blinked, puzzled why the old jiao gave it this scale.

The old jiao spoke slowly: "Take it to the true dragon body. Since he has formed a symbiotic bond with my son, he is now a guest of honor to this old jiao."

"Guest of honor?"

Li Rui stared at the returning young jiao.

He had assumed the old jiao would take the young jiao back to Ten Thousand Mountains; he never expected it to leave the young jiao behind—and even send him something.

A jiao scale.

Feeling the powerful dragon qi radiating from it, he was inwardly startled.

He had experience.

He quickly recognized: this was no ordinary jiao scale—it was one near the reverse scale position, an object of immense value.

The young jiao said proudly:

"Big Brother, with this, if you go to Ten Thousand Mountains and avoid that old monkey, you can walk however you please."

The old jiao's scale was not a gift of treasure for Li Rui.

It was like a human's token of authority.

Carrying this scale meant the demons of Ten Thousand Mountains would know Li Rui was under the old jiao's protection.

To enter Ten Thousand Mountains would be like returning home.

'A priceless item!'

Li Rui's eyes lit up.

Qinghe was not far from Ten Thousand Mountains; he'd surely need to deal with them again. With this scale, things would be far easier.

"Little White, you're not going back?"

The young jiao grinned: "No. Father told me to keep following Big Brother."

Li Rui's lips curled slightly.

Having a powerful patron is good.

The words he taught the young jiao never mentioned the Anning Guard's officer—only Yuan Dingting's name.

The old jiao, as the dominant force of Ten Thousand Mountains, was a jiao of fierce, brutal temperament—not easily placated.

The earlier demonic chaos proved that.

In the past, if Li Rui had heard the old jiao was coming, he'd have fled with his bucket.

Something capable of triggering transformation in the young jiao would surely stir the old jiao's greed.

Capturing him alive as a dragon qi vessel would be mercy—perhaps it would have devoured him outright.

Such things were normal.

In truth, the old jiao had indeed thought so.

But if the man was Yuan Dingting's instructor, the situation changed. Unless the old jiao truly wished to die, it would never dare offend Yuan Dingting.

Put plainly,

The earlier demonic chaos was a trivial matter to a figure like Yuan Dingting.

But if it dared touch one of Lord Yuan's people, it would learn the meaning of the Military Sage's wrath.

Some people simply cannot be provoked.

Yuan Dingting's reputation for vengeance was well known.

Precisely because Yuan Dingting's name served as his shield, Li Rui dared reveal more of his strength; otherwise, he'd be a fool, inviting disaster.

Li Rui was no longer the lowly, powerless old man he once was.

Patrons need not be blood relatives—you can find them yourself.

Yuan Dingting, Jiang Lin, Xue Gui, even that Holy Master—all could count as his patrons.

Looking at it that way, he had quite a few. Thus, some things need not be hidden.

It is the Way to openly wield power—why else did he labor to infiltrate the imperial court? Was it not to find the greatest patron?

Look—even a being like the old jiao dares not touch him.

"Little White, come, train."

"Sit like an elephant, move like a dragon—that is Dragon-Elephant Art."

In the courtyard,

Li Rui's Dragon-Elephant True Qi Blade technique flowed freely, a sight to delight the eye; alone, this blade art was quite exceptional among fifth-rank cultivators.

Added to that was the dragon power, utterly tyrannical and overwhelming.

"Big brother, excellent skill."

The little white dragon clapped and cheered from the side.

Since the old dragon came, the little white dragon had appeared more and more often.

Please... collect... 6... ... ooks...!

Earlier I hid because I feared my brothers would find out; later I hid because I feared my old man would drag me back. Now all those concerns are gone.

The little white dragon was naturally cheerful and long ago grew tired of staying all day in the cramped chamber.

As for this.

Li Rui went along with the little white dragon's wishes.

In Qinghe, keeping demonic beasts had gradually become popular; as a high-ranking Anning Guard Assistant Regional Commander, keeping one little dragon was hardly excessive.

With his status rising.

Only then did he realize he had previously been like a frog at the bottom of a well.

The luxuries of these wealthy people were beyond the imagination of ordinary folk.

The demonic beast trade had existed even before the two nations opened their markets; many sects spoke of mountain-guarding and sect-guarding divine beasts.

Did you really think those Daoist immortals rode ordinary white cranes?

They were all demonic beasts.

Now that Yu and Wu nations had opened borders, demonic beasts had gradually shifted from the very top tier to the upper, even middle tiers.

As for the lowest tier.

They could only glare enviously with extra glances.

With Yunzhou becoming Marquis Yuan's fief, more and more sects had moved into Yunzhou.

Yunzhou's five major ports already held two of them.

Thus Qinghe was now teeming with hidden tigers and lurking dragons; Li Rui knew of several fourth-rank Primordial experts alone.

There might even be Earth Immortals among them.

These powerful figures had gathered in Qinghe mostly to obtain firsthand information on demonic beasts.

With so many experts watching.

It further confirmed the importance of bringing the Three Great Sects into his fold; now, besides himself, others were gradually finding their own pathways into the demonic beast trade.

After all.

Neither he nor the Heaven and Earth Alliance had the depth to monopolize such a vast business.

It was merely being close to the water that let him get the moon first—getting an early share of the profits.

But even that first share had made Li Rui rich beyond measure.

This fifth-rank Assistant Regional Commander was richer than most fourth-rank officials.

All thanks to the demonic beast trade.

Li Rui practiced his sword.

His disciple Wang Zhao had no interest whatsoever in the exquisite swordplay; he drooled as he stared at the little white dragon.

"Little White, just let me touch you, okay?"

Hearing Wang Zhao's voice, the little white dragon shuddered involuntarily.

It stepped back two paces:

"You, human brat, get back!"

When they first met, it had sensed Wang Zhao's gaze was strange.

But since they couldn't communicate, Wang Zhao had never dared do anything.

Good heavens.

Now this human brat had awakened—he could speak with demonic beasts—and the little white dragon finally understood what those incessant mutterings of Wang Zhao's truly meant.

"Do you really think I'm your pet?"

"Today I'll show you: dragon rides man!"

With a thought, the little white dragon shot toward Wang Zhao's head.

As for the two's antics.

Li Rui chose to ignore them outright.

His swordplay continued uninterrupted.

Deep night.

The Anning Guard was peaceful.

Faintly, one could hear the footsteps of patrolling guards.

Lanterns hung along the corridors of the Assistant Regional Commander's residence.

Even at this hour, there was no worry about stumbling in the dark.

This was the privilege of a high official—no need to worry about candle expenses.

It was nearly the hour of Chou.

Yang Yong and the others were all fast asleep.

Li Rui had long since entered the dream realm of Yuntai; as he meditated on the Hundred Battles' Killing Intent, he suddenly felt something.

The next instant.

He slowly opened his eyes.

'Someone?'

He furrowed his brow slightly.

This was the Anning Guard—he lived in the Assistant Regional Commander's residence—who dared sneak in at this hour?

Seeking death?

'A martial expert.'

Li Rui's ears twitched slightly; he recognized the intruder's footsteps as extremely light—clearly a master of lightness skill.

While he was still pondering,

Suddenly a figure leapt through the half-open window.

Li Rui did not freeze—he moved swiftly.

He snatched up the long blade beside his bed and slashed downward at the figure's head; the figure had barely landed and had no time to dodge, stunned by Li Rui's speed.

At the last possible moment,

Li Rui's blade halted one inch above the figure's head.

"Xu Brother?"

Li Rui narrowed his eyes slightly.

He never imagined the intruder was Xu Chuan, who had come to deliver his Baishi gift not long ago.

Xu Chuan felt the blade's lethal intent hovering above his head.

He broke into a cold sweat.

'Such intense killing intent.'

He was stunned—facing Li Rui's blade, he felt the same dread he had once faced at the docks when confronting Marquis Yuan's pistol.

'He truly is extraordinary.'

Xu Chuan finally lifted his head to look at Li Rui and forced a smile: "Big Brother Li."

Li Rui did not speak immediately.

He scrutinized Xu Chuan from head to toe.

Unlike the elegant gentleman he had seen days ago, Xu Chuan was now disheveled and covered in wounds; his shoulder had been bitten deeply—bone was visible.

Xu Chuan was a fifth-rank Sea-Viewing master—who could have reduced him to this state?

Li Rui spoke slowly: "Xu Brother, weren't you sent to Wu Nation on Marquis Yuan's mission? How did you—"

Hearing this,

Xu Chuan let out a bitter laugh: "Big Brother Li, something's happened."

(End of Chapter)