Chapter Fifty-Four: The Hidden Dragon Bloodline

Long Yun gazed calmly at the middle-aged man before him, a surge of inexplicable emotion welling up within his heart. The man wore a golden crown atop his head and was draped in a five-dragon robe of gold. Between his brows, a righteous aura soared straight into the heavens, as though some mysterious connection bound him to the very world itself.

He, too, was from Divine Dragon Island and was privy to the secret history of the Genesis Dragon God. In ancient times, the Genesis Dragon God took one principal wife and eight concubines, giving birth to nine sons—those very nine sons of the dragon often spoken of in legend, each unique in their own right.

Though the nine sons of the Genesis Dragon God carried his bloodline, their mothers’ impure heritage meant they never inherited the true path of the Dragon God. Nevertheless, the dragon blood within them marked them with extraordinary talent. However, they could not attain human form, remaining as beasts while cultivating their power.

Moreover, they inherited the Genesis Dragon God’s temperament—a fondness for the opposite sex. Thus, the dragon’s bloodline spread far and wide, and many beasts came to possess traces of that divine blood. Just as the two black jiao from before, though merely ordinary beasts, their dragon blood granted them the potential to transform into dragons.

Yet the man before him had achieved transformation, forging a human form from his beastly essence, shifting his body at will. Even more astonishing to Long Yun was the faint resonance he felt—a bloodline power within the man that answered his own.

There could be no doubt: this was the blood of the Dragon God.

Divine Dragon Island was where the Genesis Dragon God, after taking human form, and the Phoenix Clan’s chief, also transformed, joined their bloodlines. Thus, their descendants bore the essence of both divine beasts. This made the dragon blood within them far purer than that of the other nine sons.

Though many generations had passed before the bloodline reached Long Yun, and though the strength of the blood might have waned, its purity remained. For the man before him to stir such resonance within his veins, there could be only one explanation: the purity of their bloodlines was nearly identical.

“Senior, are you a descendant of the Genesis Dragon God? Which of the nine dragon sons might you be?” Long Yun ventured.

The middle-aged man threw back his head in hearty laughter. Then, with a subtle tremor of his arm, a golden energy surged skyward, coalescing in the air as the spectral image of a five-clawed golden dragon, baring its fangs and claws.

His form began to grow rapidly, muscles knotting beneath his skin as his body expanded, the golden robe splitting apart at the seams.

Long Yun’s jaw dropped in wonder as he watched the man transform before his eyes. This was none other than Bì’an—the seventh of the nine sons of the dragon, whose form resembled a tiger. Bì’an was famed for his sense of justice and power; his likeness, fierce and imposing, adorned the gates of prisons and the halls of government in ancient legend, where he was said to discern right from wrong and mete out impartial judgment. His image inspired awe and fear in wrongdoers.

The beast before Long Yun now towered a hundred zhang tall, a perfect match for the legendary Bì’an. Amazed, Long Yun exclaimed without thinking, “Are you Senior Bì’an?”

Bì’an laughed thunderously, his voice echoing through the nine heavens. “Good lad!”

“Junior Long Yun greets Senior Bì’an!” Without hesitation, Long Yun knelt, speaking with utmost respect.

Though he had been cast out from Divine Dragon Island, the nine sons of the dragon had suffered the same fate, scorned by the very descendants who claimed the mantle of the Dragon God. Thus, Long Yun’s respect for Bì’an ran deep; by blood, this was an ancestor, and there was no overstepping in showing such deference.

Bì’an laughed again. “Rise, boy! Your dragon blood is pure—you must be from Divine Dragon Island!” As he spoke, his smile faded, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

A wry smile tugged at Long Yun’s lips, and he replied with a hint of self-mockery, “I no longer have any ties to Divine Dragon Island. In their eyes, I am nothing but an outcast, perhaps even a corpse.”

At these words, Bì’an’s expression softened, though his gaze remained fixed on Long Yun, as if waiting for him to continue.

Long Yun did not hold back. He recounted the conditions under which disciples were selected on Divine Dragon Island, the extraction of his bloodline, and his abandonment among the corpses. Bì’an listened quietly, as did the two black jiao and Shadow Mink, who all crouched in silence, their eyes unblinking upon Long Yun. Chu Xuan gripped Long Yun’s arm, sensing the tremor in his brother’s body, as if the sadness had infected him too.

“But Heaven did not forsake me. I was saved by a benefactor; when I awoke from unconsciousness, I had already been taken from that graveyard and left at the gates of Jade Sword Sect. Somehow, the bloodline power that had been drained from me was restored—stronger and purer than before! I do not know who did this, but though I am only at the Bone Transformation stage, to have come so far in barely a year fills me with confidence. One day, I will return to Divine Dragon Island and settle the score with all my pride intact!”

As he spoke, a murderous aura surged around him, chilling the air, the temperature plummeting in an instant.

Yet beside him, Chu Xuan seemed utterly unaffected, still holding his arm, untouched by the killing intent that filled the space.

Realizing Chu Xuan’s presence, Long Yun withdrew his murderous aura and turned his eyes back to Bì’an, who had already resumed human form.

A look of approval showed between Bì’an’s brows. “Good lad. Your hatred of evil is much like mine in days past. Since you hail from Divine Dragon Island, you must know how we nine brothers were cast out. If you ever seek vengeance upon the island, count me in. I would like to see on what grounds Divine Dragon Island claims dominion over this world!”

Long Yun nodded. With those words, Bì’an had placed himself firmly in Long Yun’s camp. He knew well that Divine Dragon Island was rife with powerful figures; he alone could do nothing. But now, with this opportunity—if he grew strong enough and united the nine sons of the dragon—perhaps he could truly bring the island to ruin.

His heart stirred, and a faint gleam of resolve flashed in his eyes.

“But, boy, once the power of your bloodline is extracted, it can never be restored. For you to have such fortune, someone must have aided you—perhaps sacrificing their own bloodline to merge with yours. On the other hand...” Bì’an paused, thinking for a moment before shaking his head. “There is a legend of a special constitution called the Hidden Dragon Body. Supposedly, this hidden bloodline lurks dormant until awakened under extraordinary circumstances. But this is just a legend—no one has ever seen such a thing, so I think it’s highly unlikely in your case.”

Long Yun nodded in agreement; Bì’an’s reasoning matched his own experience.

“Do not worry, Senior. One day, I will uncover the truth of what happened. It grows late—since we are connected by fate, and the little black jiao is of your bloodline, helping him was like helping family. If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave. If I linger here too long, it may arouse suspicion outside.”

Bì’an nodded. “You are right. But remember, never reveal your dragon bloodline to others. Though you had the help of a benefactor and escaped with your life, if Divine Dragon Island discovers you again, they will not let you live. From now on, act with utmost caution!”

A warmth welled up in Long Yun’s heart at Bì’an’s words. For the first time in his life, someone was speaking to him as an elder would to a junior. He had never known such care, and for a moment, he felt dazed.

At length, Long Yun collected himself and said quietly, “Thank you for your concern, Senior. When I have gained enough strength, I will return to join you, and together we will lay Divine Dragon Island to waste!”

“Good!” Bì’an clapped his hands and laughed. “You suit my tastes, lad. Come with me—I have a gift for you!”