Chapter 2: Stealing the Male Lead's Spotlight

The Dragon Burial Abyss chapter came after Shi Ran became a ghost cultivator; at that point the female lead's soul had been retrieved by Ling Xiao, but residual toxin remained, so the male lead now appeared!

Ah, pah! Now it's the male lead's moment of glory!

Shi Ran recalled the plot from the book, walking forward along the rolling black water, with Luo Changfeng following behind, sword in hand, face full of vigilance.

"You wicked woman, did you deliberately bring me to this death trap so I'd go in and never return? You're truly vicious—how could Master have ever taken you as a disciple?" Luo Changfeng roared.

This place lacks any spiritual energy, giving Luo Changfeng no sense of safety; he cannot draw spiritual energy into his body, feeling his sword in hand utterly powerless, so he can only rely on shouting to bluff, but he doesn't realize that such behavior makes him look foolish.

Shi Ran had no time to bother with him; at a glance she spotted a dark blue sprout on the opposite riverbank—amid the sweeping gray‑black smoke, only it flickered with a pale blue light.

"This must be the Mystic Pearl Grass mentioned in the book—how did it end up on the far bank!" Shi Ran grabbed Luo Changfeng: "Do you see? That's the Mystic Pearl Grass that can save your junior sister!"

Luo Changfeng had scolded too earnestly, leaving him momentarily dazed; his junior sister pulled him, saying she wanted to save her life? But he quickly came to his senses—the pearl grass was incredibly tempting; in this place devoid of spiritual energy, suddenly seeing such a lush divine herb, he truly could not control his heart's stirring.

Luo Changfeng, eager to try, wanted to fly on his sword, but Shi Ran pulled him back again: "You're crazy—still want to fly on your sword here?!"

Luo Changfeng frowned: "What should we do?"

"Just swim across!" Shi Ran said leisurely. "Otherwise, what can we do?"

"Me go?" Luo Changfeng realized. "Why don't you go?"

"Big brother, I'm afraid of water! I can't swim at all—if you don't go, who will!" Shi Ran began to chatter, trying to persuade Luo Changfeng: "Besides, you aren't a water‑system spiritual root? Swimming across a river—what could happen? Think of your beloved junior sister; even if it were a vast sea before you, you'd have to swim across, let alone just a mere river!"

Luo Changfeng had a little brains, but not much; he knew Shi Ran was trying to fool him, yet what else could he do now? He had to save his junior sister no matter what!

Luo Changfeng took a deep breath, then plunged headfirst into the river; the water was ice‑cold and piercing, like millions of ice needles stabbing his body, nearly freezing him on the spot. He struggled, paddling twice, then suddenly realized Shi Ran was just stringing him along—Master had clearly told her to retrieve the Mystic Pearl Grass!

Luo Changfeng, furious and embarrassed, turned his head and saw Shi Ran standing on the opposite bank, cheerfully waving at him.

"Hurry up! Hurry up!" Shi Ran waved, fearing he might give up midway: "Don't wake the evil dragon later! That evil dragon has devoured who knows how many water‑system spiritual root cultivators, sealed here by the Upper Azure. You're in great danger now—if you don't, you might fail to get the grass, fail to save anyone, and even have to sacrifice your life!"

Deep in the Dragon Burial Abyss, the evil dragon awakened by the noise…… He did nothing—how did he become an evil dragon?

Bullying the dragon too far!

The evil dragon cocked its rear and swam straight toward the source of the sound—when has it ever eaten a person? Ah? It's nothing but a diligent, good dragon—this really needs to be set straight!

Shi Ran's voice continued; Luo Changfeng, unable to bear the noise, using his own advantage, instantly swam to the opposite bank—the Mystic Pearl Grass shone before him, exuding a tempting fragrance.

"Luo Changfeng—" Shi Ran drew out her voice from the opposite bank: "Luo Changfeng—don't make a sound, its long legs will make it run—"

Shi Ran's voice was like a death‑summoning talisman; Luo Changfeng shouted back at her, furious and exasperated: "Got it—just shut up already!"

The Mystic Pearl Grass, roused by the clamor, opened its eyes and gazed blankly at the fool before it!

Shi Ran had intended to stay quiet, but the Mystic Pearl Grass woke up—its roots turned into countless little feet, about to sneak away. Frightened, she frantically waved at Luo Changfeng: "It's going to run—!"

Just as she shouted loudly, the water surface suddenly rippled; a formidable black dragon surged out, looking down upon the bean sprout before it.

Suddenly a black wall appeared before her; Shi Ran blinked, stepped forward to touch the wall, then looked all the way up—it was a pair of shiny black eyes!

"Ah!!!" Shi Ran screamed—she saw a living dragon! Black! Alive!

The book describes the male lead fighting the black dragon, then the dragon acknowledges him as master, becoming one of his left and right hands; as the male lead campaigns everywhere, the ending is not happy— to achieve the male lead's hegemony, the dragon turns to ashes and smoke....

The black dragon lowered its body to look at the little bean sprout; just as it opened its maw and uttered "You......" the bean sprout swiftly nicked its own fingertip, then dabbed it on the dragon's forehead—a flash of fire passed, leaving a fiery pattern on the black dragon's forehead.

The black dragon stared for a moment before realizing what the little bean sprout had done! Even! He had just seen the bean sprout tiptoe and obediently lower its head—what had he done?! The black dragon, furious, was about to burst: "Ow~~~~"

Tiger's roar, dragon's chant—echoing through the mountains and forests!

Shi Ran was blown silly by the black dragon's breath; after great effort she steadied herself, thinking inwardly, "This dragon gets excited so easily—isn't it just about acknowledging a master? Though this master is not that master!"

Luo Changfeng was on the opposite bank, wits and courage pitted against the leg‑covered Mystic Pearl Grass, when he suddenly looked up—"Whoa, what a long worm! No, it's a huge dragon!"

The black dragon, furious, blew its beard and glared—this bean sprout utterly lacks martial virtue; without a word it was forced to acknowledge him as master, but her spiritual power is low; after a few hours of effort he can break the shackles and dissolve the contract.

"Don't you dare!" Shi Ran, as if knowing what the black dragon was thinking, waved at it and said: "You must absolutely not think of breaking your confinement on your own!" This would hurt her!

"Why?" the black dragon halted its tail sway and asked in a muffled voice.

"Because I know your past and foresee your future path!" Shi Ran said, her eyes shifting; she wasn't deceiving the dragon—she truly knew.

This little bean sprout is still deceiving it! The black dragon, furious, swung its claw; Shi Ran hurriedly shouted: "You're looking for a person, aren't you? The little immortal maiden who jumped into reincarnation over a thousand years ago to save you—right?"

The black dragon staggered; unable to wait, it lowered its body to gaze at the bean sprout: "You know?"

Of course, she not only knows who that little immortal maiden is, but also knows that she later became one of the male lead's concubines; in this book, the black dragon, even to its death, never realized that the benefactor it had painfully sought was right beside it.

A bit pitiful, Shi Ran decided to tell the black dragon everything, but as soon as she opened her mouth no sound came out; she and the black dragon locked eyes, then she crouched on the ground and began to write, yet after just two strokes the river wave surged over, washing everything away.

This is to prevent her from leaking the plot! Shi Ran scratched her head, deciding to continue with her first plan: "Come with me—I'll show her to you, and only you!"