Do dragons truly exist in this world? The common folk remain ignorant. Though ancient texts recount the existence of dragons, these are merely records of old—no one has witnessed them with their own eyes, thus no definitive conclusion can be drawn. Yet today, Yuwen Xiu beheld the legendary... dragon.
Lu Fan gazed upon the black carp drifting before him—an exceptional fish, having emerged from thousands of swimming fish. This black carp might not be the strongest, nor the fattest, but it was undeniably... the destined one. Lu Fan's fishing caught only those fated to bite, and this black carp was precisely that.
Seated in his wheelchair, clad in flowing white robes, two strands of hair drooped at his temples like small serpents writhing. He raised a finger, and his mind summoned the intricate workings of the "Alchemy Technique." A low hum emanated as his fingertip blossomed with golden radiance, akin to grasping a burning golden flower, which he gently touched to the black carp's body.
The ebony scales began to shimmer, the carp's mouth opening and closing incessantly. In Lu Fan's consciousness, his spiritual energy began to wane—this depletion was permanent, irreversible. After sacrificing three points of soul strength, Lu Fan withdrew his finger.
For this black carp, three points was the utmost limit. The carp writhed, its body elongating and undulating like a eel, transforming from a black carp into a black jiao. Its scales emitted golden light, its gills enlarged and thickened, encircling and enveloping its head. Beneath its belly, four bulging lumps formed, as if claws were about to burst forth.
Yuwen Xiu and the old eunuch stood at the bow, their bodies trembling in awe and disbelief. A graceful youth's single finger had transformed a fish's scales into those of a dragon! What unfathomable sorcery was this? Was this truly the fabled dragon?
Yuwen Xiu's face flushed crimson. As the Son of Heaven, hailed as the True Dragon, he had now gazed upon a genuine dragon with his own eyes.
On the solitary boat, Lu Fan sat with a furrowed brow. "Though enlightened, this is not yet a dragon, merely a jiao…"
"A water serpent evolving into a jiao, even a swimming fish can become one?"
Since the jiao could not yet be called a dragon, it meant Lu Fan's celestial dragon lineage had yet to fully develop, hence the task remained incomplete. Could it not be instantly transformed into a dragon? Lu Fan's brows knit in contemplation. Even the little chick of the White Azure Bird had metamorphosed into a phoenix hatchling, so why could this black carp not become a dragon lineage under his own hand?
"A nurturing ground for dragons…" Lu Fan murmured, eyes sharpening. Perhaps, to fully transform into a dragon lineage, one must undergo a process of gestation—thus the purpose of the dragon's nurturing ground.
Having reached this insight, Lu Fan shook his head lightly. The more-than-one-meter-long black jiao floated serenely, its body like silk undulating in the breeze.
Beiluo Lake was such a nurturing ground; here the black jiao could gestate and mature into a celestial dragon lineage—it was merely a matter of time. Yet this black jiao could not remain quietly within the nurturing ground; under Lu Fan's design, it was destined to be the harbinger of the next secret realm.
Extending his hand, white robes billowing, Lu Fan patted the black jiao's head, which rubbed against his palm like a gentle kitten before curling obediently on the lone boat.
"Let them come."
Leaning on his wheelchair, Lu Fan's voice drifted through the dense mist.
"Your Majesty, the young lord requests your presence," Ning Zhao announced.
Only now did Yuwen Xiu and the old eunuch regain their composure, their minds shaken. Yuwen Xiu's face flushed deeply; the old eunuch bowed his head, filled with apprehension. The young lord of Beiluo, Lu Fan, was far more enigmatic than rumors suggested.
The lone boat drifted until it reached Lu Fan's vessel. Sitting serenely in his wheelchair, Lu Fan smiled gently, his white robe soft as jade. He raised his hand in a formal bow toward Yuwen Xiu.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Lu… Lord Lu, there's no need for… such formality," Yuwen Xiu stammered.
Lu Fan smiled again, brushing his sleeve, dispersing the thick mist over the lake's center to reveal the sparkling water surface. The sound of gulls and herons flapping wings filled the air.
"Your Majesty's presence at Beiluo—what brings you here?" Lu Fan inquired.
Yuwen's old eunuch bowed low, silent and subdued. Ning Zhao remained quiet.
Yuwen Xiu inhaled deeply, standing at the bow with fiery eyes fixed on Lu Fan.
"The late Emperor Yuwen Tuo, with the guidance of National Master Kong Xiu, expanded our borders and brought prosperity to the Great Zhou."
"And on the National Master's recommendation, I myself have come to Beiluo, inviting you to leave this isle and help me restore the glory of Great Zhou!"
His face flushed crimson, fists clenched, Yuwen Xiu was overwhelmed with fervor. He needed Lu Fan; he required his counsel.
The old eunuch trembled slightly beside him. Your Majesty… please control yourself. The young lord before him was a cultivator of unfathomable methods.
Yet Yuwen Xiu was exhilarated. Lu Fan, however, merely smiled faintly and shook his head, propping his chin with one hand, eyes falling on the chessboard before him as he resumed placing pieces to restore his spiritual energy.
"It cannot be the National Master," Lu Fan remarked with a light chuckle, placing a piece down. "He would rather I have no association with Your Majesty at all."
His words fell like a bucket of cold water on Yuwen Xiu.
"Yet with your talents, if you were to assist me, Great Zhou would surely flourish!" Yuwen Xiu pressed eagerly.
Lu Fan remained unhurried.
"The National Master once asked me: 'Why build power, destroy noble clans, kill the disciples of the Hundred Schools? What is your intention toward the world?'"
"My reply was: 'Let the martial world, the court, and the realm be as they may—what concern is that of mine?'"
"Today, I answer you in the same way, Your Majesty."
"However, since you have received the grace of immortality, I shall say one more thing."
"Now the world is laid out by immortals, spiritual energy revives, ancient secret realms appear repeatedly... Immortals play their game with mortal lives, and my purpose is to contend with them—to contend with immortals—and find endless delight in doing so."
Yuwen Xiu's breath caught. The old eunuch's face paled further. Ning Zhao, standing upon the lake, revealed a faint smile.
"Mortal men cannot contend with immortals..." Yuwen Xiu swallowed hard.
Lu Fan's chair swayed gently in the breeze. "I am no mortal. Why then should I not contend with immortals?"
Yuwen Xiu was at a loss for words, but unwilling to give up. He saw hope in Lu Fan—the hope of quelling rebellion and restoring Great Zhou's former glory.
Clenching his teeth, Yuwen Xiu stepped back and bowed deeply to Lu Fan.
The lone boat rocked silently; Lu Fan said nothing.
Yuwen Xiu did not relent, bowing once more. This bow lingered for a long time, the lake hushed and still. The posture held so long that sweat beaded on Yuwen Xiu's brow.
At last, Lu Fan sighed softly. With a wave of his hand, a gentle breeze lifted Yuwen Xiu to his feet.
"Enough, enough…"
"As I fish, those fated shall bite."
"Your Majesty's arrival coincides with the fish's transformation into a jiao dragon—this is fate."
Seated in his wheelchair, Lu Fan rested one hand beneath his chin, the other stroking the woolen blanket draped over his legs.
Yuwen Xiu's heart leapt with joy—had Lu Fan relented? Yet with a wave, the black jiao coiled on the boat like black silk, suddenly thrashing upwards, emitting a hoarse roar.
"This is a black jiao, not yet a dragon. Once transformed, it will possess celestial might comparable to cultivators of the Body Containment realm."
"If Your Majesty can tame this jiao today, it proves your destiny with it. This jiao may be gifted to you, to be nurtured in the Imperial Capital's dragon nurturing grounds."
"I also pledge to resolve your lingering concerns, undertaking deeds Your Majesty dares not," Lu Fan stated calmly.
Yuwen Xiu's eyes sharpened. What were the deeds he dared not do? Pondering, realization dawned; his body trembled as he drew a deep breath, his gaze burning with resolve.
"Agreed."
"You are the Son of Heaven; how could I jest with you?"
Lu Fan answered serenely.
Yuwen Xiu's gaze shifted intensely to the black jiao. The wooden boat edged closer.
Cautiously, Yuwen Xiu reached out to stroke the black jiao. Yet though the creature was docile by Lu Fan's side, it snarled fiercely at Yuwen Xiu, baring fangs and radiating menace.
Yuwen Xiu paled slightly, retreating several steps. The old eunuch hurriedly supported him.
Clenching his teeth, Yuwen Xiu persisted, trying myriad methods to approach the black jiao. Yet the creature remained aloof, indifferent.
Lu Fan lounged, chin propped, fingers playing with a smooth chess piece, watching the scene with a faint smile.
Worn and disheartened by failure, Yuwen Xiu even doubted himself. As the True Dragon Emperor, why could he not attract a dragon?
Suddenly, Yuwen Xiu's pupils constricted. He sprang from the boat, eyes fixed intently on the black jiao.
In the next instant, he drew a short dagger, slicing his palm; blood spattered forth.
His gaze burned with fervor as he stared at the black jiao.
Where before it was unmoved, now the black jiao was drawn irresistibly by the Son of Heaven's blood, its body lunging forward to coil around Yuwen Xiu's arm, licking the imperial blood.
The old eunuch's face drained of color, trembling violently, terror etched across his features.
Ning Zhao's gaze sharpened.
Lu Fan's fingers paused momentarily over the chessboard; a subtle arch rose in his brow.