Chapter One: Dragon Cloud

The Dragon Realm, a formidable world within the vast cosmos, was said to have been founded by the Primordial Dragon God, who established this plane and nurtured it through tens of millions of years, culminating in its current grandeur. However, three thousand years ago, the essence of the Dragon Realm was tainted by a foreign force. An unparalleled demonic fiend appeared out of nowhere, wreaking havoc across the land, founding the Gate of Demons, and cultivating countless powerful warriors. This provoked a cataclysmic battle with the righteous sects.

In that war, countless righteous masters fell. Ultimately, the Primordial Dragon God intervened personally, clashing with the Demon God for ten days and nights. Though the Demon God was sealed in the end, the Dragon God suffered irreparable wounds. It was said that the Dragon God condensed the essence of his life into two fangs, which fell into the Dragon Realm. One transformed into the peerless treasure known as the Dragon Fang Sword; the other embodied the Dragon God’s life essence, leaving behind his legacy, awaiting a destined successor.

Because of that epic battle, both righteous and evil factions agreed to cease hostilities, achieving a temporary balance. The Dragon Realm thus devolved from a dominion of the righteous into a world where good and evil stood in equal opposition.

“Island of Divine Dragons, Phoenix Pavilion, Outer Mountain stand together.” This ballad, widely sung in the Dragon Realm, referred to its three great mysterious powers. These factions rarely emerged, yet they represented the pinnacle of both good and evil. Phoenix Pavilion was founded by the Phoenix Clan, descendants of the Dragon God’s wife, possessing pure phoenix blood. The Island of Divine Dragons was populated by the Dragon God’s descendants, whose strength was unquestionable. Outer Mountain, however, was the most enigmatic of the three. Some claimed it was established by the Demon God's only direct disciple; others believed the Demon God's avatar dwelled there. The true power of Outer Mountain remained a mystery.

Beyond these three powers, the evil faction occupied the far north, divided into two major sects. The Central Continent was governed by eight righteous sects, each presiding over countless smaller sects throughout the region, as well as innumerable factions scattered among the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

The Jade Sword Sect, located in the southern Central Continent, belonged to the Qing Mountain range under the Yun Sect, one of the countless mountain ranges of the Hundred Thousand Mountains. In its heyday, Jade Sword Sect flourished, but the devastating calamity wrought by the demonic path three thousand years ago crippled it, initiating its gradual decline.

Jade Sword Sect was divided into five branches: Heavenly Sword, Earth Sword, Human Sword, Qi Sword, and Heart Sword. Disciples of each branch resided within their respective mountain ranges, devoting themselves to the cultivation of swordsmanship.

The sect’s entrance was marked by a colossal pine, the age of which was unknown. Its sprawling trunk formed an archway, resembling a sleeping dragon in its tranquility. When the sect was first established, they attempted to fell the pine, but as the axe struck, the tree shuddered and the entire mountain trembled. The sect leader investigated and discovered that the roots of the pine intertwined with the dragon vein of the mountain. Their fates were inseparable—if one suffered, so would the other; if one prospered, so would the other. Abandoning the notion of felling it, they embraced the pine as their gate, a marvel in its own right. This pine, known as the Dragon Gate Pine, became a cherished legacy among Jade Sword Sect disciples.

At this moment, atop the Dragon Gate Pine, a youth of sixteen or seventeen years, handsome and sharp-eyed, sat cross-legged. Streams of spiritual energy flowed steadily into his body. His mind was clear, and white columns of energy rose from his crown. The aura he exuded already signified the second stage of the Eight Post-Heaven Realms—the Aperture Opening Realm. He was now concentrating, forging his nine major apertures, attempting to break through to the third stage—the Qi Condensation Realm.

Cultivation began with the Eight Post-Heaven Realms: Subtlety, Aperture Opening, Qi Condensation, Yuan Gathering, Spirit Consolidation, Bone Transformation, Rebirth, and Return to Origin. Only at Qi Condensation, the third stage, could one fully open the nine apertures, channeling the world's spiritual energy into the body. This was Qi Condensation.

Humans possess nine apertures. Qi Condensation meant harnessing the world’s spiritual power to open these apertures, gathering energy in the dantian. Not all nine apertures could be opened; most people managed three or four, which marked superior talent. Five meant excellence, six signified genius. Seven was the domain of prodigies sought after by major sects; eight or nine apertures were unheard of.

Everyone’s apertures varied in quality, leading to differences in aptitude. Once one aperture was opened, the rest closed automatically. Thus, Qi Condensation could not be cheated; the number of apertures depended on the cultivator’s perseverance and the inherent quality of their apertures.

The youth slowly opened his eyes, a faint sorrow in their depths. Such melancholy seemed innate; at his age, only those who had endured unforgettable pain could possess such a gaze.

“Still lacking a bit of edge,” he murmured, sighing to himself. He glanced down at his right arm, where a golden dragon shimmered faintly.

A five-clawed golden dragon!

The golden light traced a miniature dragon, barely a foot long, yet every scale and whisker was vividly detailed. In this world called the Dragon Realm, the five-clawed golden dragon was the totemic image, the incarnation of the Primordial Dragon God. For a youth to bear such a mark—what did that signify?

Gently caressing the tattoo, the youth’s eyes flashed with resolute despair.

“Island of Divine Dragons… a holy land, indeed,” he whispered, a hint of disdain curling at his lips. “To treat blood kin so cruelly—one day, I, Long Yun, will walk the path of the strong and trample you beneath my feet!”

At the thought of the Island of Divine Dragons, Long Yun clenched his teeth. He was, after all, one of their discarded disciples, possessing the bloodline of the Dragon God.

The Island of Divine Dragons, founded by the Dragon God’s descendants, cultivated every generation’s disciples from childhood as candidates to inherit the Dragon Fang. Only one could ultimately claim this title. Those who failed sometimes perished under the harsh trials and cultivation, while others had their bloodline forcibly extracted and infused into the successful candidate to enhance their blood’s purity.

Long Yun had been one of ten chosen candidates in his generation. Three died from the grueling training; five perished in perilous missions. Only Long Yun and two others remained. In the final trial, both Long Yun and another candidate fell short of the prodigy Long Xuan and were eliminated. Their cultivation was stripped, their bloodline extracted to benefit Long Xuan.

Afterward, Long Yun, whose fate was uncertain, was cast into a mass grave by the disciples of the Island.

Yet, against all odds, he survived. When he awoke, he found himself outside the gates of Jade Sword Sect. Someone had brought him here deliberately—he knew this. Otherwise, how could he have traveled from the mass grave to Jade Sword Sect, thousands of miles away?

But who was it? Someone from the Island of Divine Dragons? He dared not believe it. Even his own father, a high-ranking figure on the Island, had advocated for his bloodline’s extraction. No one there would save him. So, who had sent him here?

Long Yun could not fathom it; in his mind, no one would help him.

Still, he owed a debt of gratitude. Whoever rescued him would surely reveal themselves when the time was right.

Now, his sole focus was to strengthen himself as quickly as possible, so the Island of Divine Dragons would regret casting him aside into the mass grave.

Curiously, whether by mercy or some other reason, a trace of bloodline power remained within him—purified, infused with a mysterious and sacred aura, crystallized into the five-clawed golden dragon tattoo on his arm.

This remnant of bloodline power was potent. Thanks to it, he had advanced two realms in a single year, astounding the entire Jade Sword Sect and becoming the most exceptional talent of the Heart Sword branch.

Now, on the verge of entering the Qi Condensation Realm, Long Yun knew this was a vital step. In his previous life on the Island, he had reached the seven-aperture Qi Condensation stage, while Long Xuan had opened eight, surpassing him.

Having his cultivation stripped gave him a second chance. He was in no hurry to break through; instead, he meticulously honed his nine apertures, relying on his mastery of true energy to push himself beyond his former limits.