[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-roaring-dragon":3,"chapter-the-roaring-dragon-the-roaring-dragon-chapter-207":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Roaring Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2282063,4463,"Chapter 207: Golden Scales Are Not Fish of the Pond","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-207",207,"\u003Cp>“Ji ji ji...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the shrubs outside the small courtyard came a faint, lingering insect chirp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the old osmanthus tree, Nan Gong Ye sat demurely beside the chess table, her phoenix-eyed gaze filled with bewilderment—she couldn’t understand how her master, whom she’d only ever seen in paintings, had suddenly returned—and alongside Xie Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that Xie Jin’s hermit sect elder is my master...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then that would make me and Xie Jin senior and junior siblings, while Qing Mo is the one who’s turned heaven upside down...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pfft, pfft...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua clasped her hands at her waist, her plump buttocks resting on the stone bench, sitting just as demurely; seeing her ancestress still hadn’t returned, she whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nan Gong sister, are you and Xie Jin... something...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gong Ye trembled all over, unleashing a frosty, icy blade:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua leaned her elbow on the chess table, her brows curved like sisters chatting over tea:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhi Xia True Person spoke wisely—you may be strong, but you’re still Peak First Rank; Xie Jin is nearly the strongest martial cultivator below Super Rank. If anyone’s to guard your path, it should be him as your bodyguard. Before, when you hid your identity, I thought you feared he’d grow reckless—but just now, if I hadn’t backed you up, you’d have had no defense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gong Ye knew her earlier refusal to pay respects had been rash, but she had no choice; after thinking, she replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have my own plans—I can’t reveal them to outsiders. You’d best keep your mouth shut, or before, you weren’t even my match, and now that my master has emerged from seclusion...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua truly feared the vast resources of Zi Hui Mountain, but she wasn’t foolish—she could tell Nan Gong Ye and Xie Jin were hiding something, though she didn’t yet grasp how serious it was; after a pause, she softened her tone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d never ruin your plans. But originally we agreed—you’d conceal my identity while I competed, and if I won, I’d give you two-tenths of the profits. Now I can’t win at all. This matter needs to be renegotiated...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gong Ye’s gaze turned cold: “At Sanjiangkou, I kept your participation secret for you—you failed because of your own incompetence...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua lifted her hand slightly: “That was yesterday. Will I still have to conceal your identity going forward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gong Ye realized she’d been blackmailed—if she conceded now, she’d be exploited for life; she wouldn’t yield, and raised her hand directly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re confident you can leave Zi Hui Mountain today, go ahead and tell Xie Jin the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua sighed, fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gong Ye knew the demoness wouldn’t speak now, but after descending the mountain, who knew? She still hadn’t cured her yang poison—she wasn’t a match for the demoness. Just moments ago, they’d called each other good sisters; she couldn’t immediately ask her newly met master to discipline this demoness. As she pondered inwardly, she heard a sound:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pitch-black coal ball landed on the rooftop, peering curiously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gū ji?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Xie Jin emerged from the cliff’s edge, leaping down before them, scanning the surroundings:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s Zhi Xia Elder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gong Ye sat up straighter, her gaze stern:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xie Jin, this is Zi Hui Mountain—don’t act so startled. The elder said she had matters to attend to and told us to wait...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin knew the white-haired nun could snap at any moment—he dared not let her wander off:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did she go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t rush—elders atop the mountain have their own judgment...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What judgment did she have?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just moments ago she nearly performed a blood sacrifice on demon bandits!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the white-haired immortal came and went without a trace, and took the ghost bride with her—unless she appeared herself, no one could do anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin scanned the surroundings, then tried sending Meiqiu soaring into the sky to search, his gaze finally settling on the two girls seated at the chess table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice lump remained as cold as a frozen mountain—tall, slender, tightly toned, her lithe frame concealing explosive power capable of crushing children, like a lone heroine standing apart from the world, indifferent to all...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flower sister, by contrast, was elegant and virtuous, her hair coiled at the nape, secured with a butterfly hairpin of purple-blue petals; her aura was sensuous and mature, her figure soft and supple, like a gentle, reserved mother-in-law—outwardly chaste, inwardly yielding, naturally radiating warmth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared thus, the flower sister truly carried the aura of a sect master...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin hesitated a moment, then turned first to the mature beauty:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flower sister, are you Nan Gong, the sect master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gong Ye’s heart stiffened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua blinked her peach-blossom eyes, looking utterly baffled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do I look like it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin hadn’t seen clearly while floating above, but he’d sensed something odd; now he gestured to the courtyard:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You came looking for me, fine—but why come here? This is the back mountain of Zi Hui Mountain—normally a forbidden zone. Why didn’t anyone stop you? And why did Zhi Xia Elder suddenly send me away...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dammit...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gong Ye sensed the situation was slipping; she maintained her icy heroine expression and interjected:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We followed the direction and found this place empty, so we stopped here. Zi Hui Mountain didn’t notice us. Zhi Xia Elder sent you away because the elders atop the mountain have their own plans—she just told us some matters concerning Qingming Sword Villa, too sensitive to reveal to you...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at the demoness beside her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua sat with serene grace, like a gentle mother-in-law, her gaze drifting toward the night scenery beyond the mountains—as if she hadn’t heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Nan Gong Ye hadn’t even consulted her—why should she help cover for her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Xie Jin turned to the ice lump:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mu heroine, are you hiding something from me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gong Ye tensed all over; seeing Xie Jin’s suspicious gaze, she hurriedly added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not trying to hide it from you—it’s about Qingming Sword Villa’s legacy. It’s better you don’t know. Um... Zhi Xia Elder thinks I’m more suitable to be villa master, but Flower Sister is unhappy and won’t speak to me. Still, I feel Flower Sister’s cultivation is higher, and she’s better suited in every way to be master...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Nan Gong Ye’s tone soften, Bu Yuehua turned back to help:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh~ Zhi Xia Ancestress’s words do make sense—I’ll need to keep cultivating harder. These are all internal sect matters. Mu sister not telling you is normal—don’t be suspicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sisters sang in perfect harmony; even if Xie Jin had doubts, he couldn’t let his imagination run wild—he decided he could ask the ghost bride later; she’d been present, so she’d surely know the full situation...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm... you’re all from the same sect, all aiming to elevate Qingming Sword Villa. You may compete, but behind the scenes, you’re still sisters—no harm done...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua smiled sweetly, but her sidelong glance flickered toward Nan Gong Ye—this matter was likely far more complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, what was Nan Gong Ye’s usual nature? She’d always chased her down to beat her—when had she ever spoken a single soft word to her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, to conceal her “guardian” identity, even a simple bluff made her beg for mercy—what secrets lay beneath? If unearthed, they’d feed her for life...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nan Gong Ye knew letting the demoness cover for her meant being held hostage—but she had no choice; she feared her master’s return would expose everything, and urged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhi Xia Elder told us two to wait here—she didn’t mention you. Go wait outside. We’ll find you when we’re done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the ice lump rise and push him out, Xie Jin didn’t press further; he followed the mountain path to a pavilion overlooking the peaks, where he waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the wait was long—about fifteen minutes passed before movement stirred from the rear mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huu~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to see the white-haired, immortal-looking auntie land outside the pavilion; her grand robes trembled slightly, her bearing ethereal as a celestial, radiating the benevolence of an elder:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve waited long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the white-haired immortal wasn’t drenched in blood, Xie Jin felt immense relief, stepping forward to bow:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, are you ready to return?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhi Xia True Person shook her head, speaking bluntly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You guarded the tomb well today. I should reward you, but my sect hasn’t yet opened, and I have nothing suitable to give—so I’ll try opening your dragon vein and see if you have the fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Open the dragon vein...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin had only ever had his dragon sinew seized by Mo Mo Wanyi and the ice lump; he was slightly confused:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean open the dragon spine? I already did that before...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening the dragon spine was a mandatory stage for cultivators—to unblock tendons and meridians and achieve “bone straight, tendon soft”—a phase from 9th to 7th rank, practiced by all schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhi Xia True Person clearly didn’t mean that; she stepped into the stone pavilion, stood before Xie Jin, and explained solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The dragon vein isn’t the dragon spine. Ancient texts say, ‘The vein is the vessel of blood.’ Vein means blood vessel. ‘Dragon vein’ is special—I named it myself, and I’ve never seen another cultivator with it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin blinked, not quite understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhi Xia True Person glanced around, felt this place was unsuitable, then took Xie Jin and chanted the Ten Thousand Li Divine Step spell; in an instant, they appeared atop a peak among the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin had expected the white-haired nun to cast a spell—but instead, her once-spirit-filled face suddenly shifted, radiating solemn authority; her dark eyes flickered with a glint of gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden eyes, ink-black pupils—like a dragon or serpent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment this phenomenon appeared, a crushing pressure swept over the peak, sending thousands of birds into panicked flight; from afar, it looked like a black cloud rising from the wilderness:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gaaah—Gaaah—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xie Jin, facing those dragon eyes, felt no fear or trembling—only familiarity, as if he’d once gazed into them before:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, your eyes...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhi Xia True Person revealed her might, surprised that this youth wasn’t afraid; she subtly shifted her intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a soundless yet undeniably real dragon roar echoed deep within his mind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haaoo—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely hearing the voice, Xie Jin sensed a body a thousand li long—vast as a mountain spanning heaven and earth, towering just inches away, crushing him with the weight of a mountain, making him feel like a mere insect or ant facing a god descending from the heavens!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin felt this pressure was stronger than Wei Wuyi’s dragon-riding aura—but he felt no discomfort; he asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, what is this...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Qixia maintained the ethereal posture of one hand behind his back, carefully studying Xie Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is ‘Dragon’s Might’—a presence forged through rigorous cultivation of a special innate talent, capable of driving away spirits and demons, making those with low cultivation stumble in place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To cultivate such a presence, you first need a ‘spark’; then you must endure countless trials like rivers and mountains, cross a thousand bridges of hanging swords, before you might ‘transform from a carp into a dragon.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you lack it, even if you cultivate to become an Emperor, it will be the Emperor’s might—not Dragon’s Might.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin roughly understood—the key was to be born with golden scales; no matter how hard a catfish trained, it would still only become Benbao’er…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1924,"2026-06-20T01:38:12.833Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f93a934ff2f9d67aae473012db6d1e0d1dff2296c39936ffb2b47a51b31854d9","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-208","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-206",252,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-roaring-dragon-cover.jpg"]