12: The dragon is born and the fairy appears

The sun set behind the mountains, and the sky darkened.

Yang Yun and the others continued along the Qingsha River, arriving at a village. Li Xiaosan stepped forward and knocked on the door.

“Is anyone home?”

“Is anyone home?”

He called out twice in a row.

“Creak.”

After a short while...

The door finally opened, revealing an old woman who looked at Yang Yun and the others with confusion.

“Who are you looking for?”

Yang Yun smiled, “We’ve come from far away and are passing through. We’d like to ask for a night’s lodging, if it’s convenient.” With that, he took a few taels of silver from his pouch.

Upon seeing the silver, the old woman’s expression immediately changed. “Convenient, very convenient!”

“It’s just that the conditions aren’t great, please forgive us.”

“And… there are so many of you, there’s not enough space.”

The old woman pointed at the several guards behind them.

“Oh, it’s fine. Just find a clean room for our Young Master to stay in; we don’t need one.”

Li Xiaosan said to the old woman.

“Oh…”

“Alright, alright.”

The old woman led everyone into the house and served tea.

She then tidied a side room. “This is my daughter’s room. Tonight, this Young Master will have to make do with staying here.”

“No problem, no problem.”

Yang Yun waved his hand, entered the room, and lay on the bed. Although he didn't need to rest, he was still a university student at heart and felt uncomfortable not sleeping at night.

Shangguan Yi, on the other hand, sat cross-legged, forming hand Seals, resting his hands on his legs, and closed his eyes to meditate…

Li Xiaosan looked at this scene, somewhat puzzled. “Is Brother Shangguan also a Daoist?”

The night was dark and windy. Li Xiaosan and the others, being Mortals, were naturally exhausted and soon fell asleep, slumped over the wooden table.

................

The next day, the sun rose from the east. It was summer, with a clear sky.

Many farmers were already working in the fields, and the sounds of children laughing, dogs barking, and insects chirping filled the air.

Suddenly…

Roars erupted from the Qingsha River, and the entire earth began to tremble.

The sky became covered in dark clouds, and thunder boomed.

Dark clouds pressed down, threatening to crush the city.

The farmers watched the darkened sky in horror. As the last ray of sunlight was enveloped by the black clouds, the entire sky became completely dark, as if it were night.

“Boom!”

A black Dragon, tens of meters long, shot out of the Qingsha River into the sky, roaring fiercely at the earth.

Li Xiaosan and the others instantly woke up. “Protect Your Highness!”

The guards immediately rushed into the side room but did not see Yang Yun’s figure.

Shangguan Yi, who had been on the couch in the main hall, had also disappeared.

“Search quickly, hurry and search!”

Li Xiaosan roared loudly.

...............

On a mountain peak by the Qingsha River, two figures stood at the summit, overlooking the entire Qingsha River.

Shangguan Yi looked at the roaring black Dragon in the sky and leaned closer to Yang Yun, saying:

“Senior, it’s just a Foundation Establishment little demon. Should I go capture it…?”

“No need, someone will deal with it.”

With that, Yang Yun looked towards the horizon. A red streak of light cut across the sky, and the villagers, pointing at the red streak of light in the sky, shouted:

“Fire Spirit Fairy! It’s Fire Spirit Fairy!”

The streak of light passed over the Qingsha River and stopped. A veiled woman stood in the Void Realm.

Like a white lotus, her stunning figure made Yang Yun unable to resist taking a few extra glances.

The black Dragon looked at the woman, roaring even more fiercely, “You sealed me for thirty years!”

“Thirty years, do you know how I spent these thirty years?!”

“Do you know?!”

The woman looked at the black Dragon expressionlessly, not speaking.

The black Dragon continued, “You are so cruel! I merely ate a few Mortals and caused a flood, and you sealed me here. Don’t you feel any guilt at all?!”

“Putting aside the facts, don’t you have any fault at all?!”

The veiled woman still looked calmly at the black sky, remaining silent.

“Ah…”

“Say something, you bastard!”

“Bang!”

The black Dragon could no longer bear it and pounced towards the veiled woman. Dark green light emanated from its scales, a premonition of a powerful move.

The black Dragon roared to the sky, and a tremendous rumble echoed through the clouds. The Mortals below all covered their ears and rolled on the ground.

The black Dragon suddenly spat out a mass of black Qi, which surged towards the veiled woman.

“Die…”

The veiled woman’s face showed a slight change in expression, and she thought to herself, “This evil Dragon has actually become stronger.”

Then, she spread her hands and conjured several flames, sending them towards the black Qi.

“Bang!”

The black Qi and flames dissipated simultaneously, a draw.

The veiled woman immediately became serious. “This Dragon Clan is indeed not to be underestimated. In just thirty years, it has grown so quickly.”

The black Dragon saw the woman getting the short end of the stick and felt a surge of joy. “Hmph, so you looked down on me.”

Then he continued to unleash his power, and countless masses of black Qi rushed towards the veiled woman.

The veiled woman was greatly alarmed by this sight and quickly used all her strength, not daring to be negligent.

Flames soared into the sky. The black Dragon and the woman attacked each other. After three hundred rounds of fierce battle, the woman actually lost.

Watching the Fire Spirit Fairy fall, the wails of the people echoed across the land.

Looking at the black Dragon in the sky, they all showed expressions of despair.

Thirty years ago, it was this evil Dragon that plagued the human world. It was unclear what medicine it had taken, but it stirred up storms and caused chaos in the Qingsha River, seemingly venting its rage freely.

Its rampage, however, caused countless people to suffer, and it was only under the powerful suppression of the veiled woman that peace was restored.

The black Dragon looked down at the veiled woman, “Thirty years to the east of the river, thirty years to the west. Do not bully a young Dragon for being poor.”

“Now I will let you experience the taste of being sealed.”

Just as the black Dragon was about to strike Feng Xiaoling into the Qingsha River, a powerful aura swept over.

The black Dragon looked around vigilantly. “There’s another expert?”

“You beast, stop at once!”

A figure appeared in the sky. Shangguan Yi pointed at the black Dragon and roared.

The black Dragon looked at the figure before him, a middle-aged man, exuding an aura that terrified him.

Yang Yun, meanwhile, went to the veiled woman and helped her up. “Miss, are you alright?”

Feng Xiaoling looked at Yang Yun, unable to feel any elemental energy fluctuations, and thought he was a Mortal. She smiled sweetly and said:

“Thank you, I’m fine.”

Then her beautiful eyes shifted to the terrifying aura of Shangguan Yi in the sky, and she exclaimed, “So strong…”

The black Dragon knew it couldn’t win and immediately prepared to flee.

However, just as it flew a few hundred meters, Shangguan Yi grabbed it back and punched it hard in the head.

“Pfft…”

The black Dragon fell from the sky, instantly reverting to its human form.

Shangguan Yi, holding the black Dragon, came to Yang Yun’s side. “Senior, I have not failed your trust. I brought this beast back, awaiting your command.”

The veiled woman looked at Yang Yun in surprise. “This gray-robed person is at least a Golden Core Stage expert. Why would he be so respectful to a Mortal…?”

Before Yang Yun could speak, the black Dragon, now in human form, burst into tears.

“Wuwuwuwu.”

“Ah ah ah ah ah.”

He cried with heartbreaking intensity, roaring to the sky, “Why?!”

“Why?!”

“Why does heaven treat me this way?!”

“Slap!”

Shangguan Yi slapped the black Dragon directly across the face. “What are you yelling about, you idiot?!”

“Wuwuwu.”

The black Dragon immediately quieted down but continued to sob incessantly.

Shangguan Yi stared at the black Dragon and roared, “You still feel wronged, don’t you?!”

The black Dragon roared loudly again, “Wronged, I am so wronged!”

“Heaven is unfair!”

“Fate plays tricks on people!”

“Born at the wrong time!”

Watching the black Dragon’s comedic performance, Yang Yun and the veiled woman couldn’t help but laugh.

“Then tell me, what are you so wronged about?”

The black Dragon glanced at Yang Yun, knowing that even the terrifying gray-robed man was respectful to him, so he naturally dared not be presumptuous.

So, while crying, he said, “I was originally the Third Prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace, but alas, my Cultivation was not refined, and my talent was too poor, so I was driven out.”

“I hate it! My father, the King, was heartless and unjust. They say even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, and we were father and son after all, but he showed no affection whatsoever.”

At this point, the black Dragon’s eyes gradually firmed, and he clenched his fists:

“From then on, I cultivated day and night. Whether it was a sea of blood or a mountain of blades, as long as I could become stronger, I began to resort to any means necessary. It was all so that one day I could return to the Dragon Palace and prove to those who once looked down on me that I am not a waste!”

“I threw away the Fox Queen’s personally worn pink skirt, I threw away all aphrodisiacs. I toiled under the stars and moon, bravely, just to prove that my fate is in my hands, not in heaven’s.”

“After three hundred years of diligent Cultivation, finally… I discovered…”

“I really am a waste.”

“When I was driven out of the Dragon Palace, I was at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.”

“Three hundred years later, I’m still at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.”

The black Dragon cried loudly, like a wronged little wife, occasionally leaning on Shangguan Yi’s shoulder.

“Hahahahaha.”

“............”

Yang Yun and the other two couldn’t stop laughing.

The veiled woman also covered her face with her jade hand, unable to suppress the corners of her mouth, changing from her previous aloof demeanor.

The black Dragon looked at the three people in front of him and cried even louder. “Is it funny? I’m asking you, is it funny?!”

“Hahahahaha!”

“That’s hilarious!”

Shangguan Yi slapped the black Dragon’s shoulder, still laughing with his stomach clutched.

“Alas…”

“My whole life has been like treading on thin ice,” the black Dragon mocked himself.

Yang Yun had initially planned to kill this black Dragon that had plagued the world, but now he felt a bit reluctant.

He said with a smile, “Hey, so what are your plans for the future?”

The black Dragon’s expression darkened. “Those who cannot kill me might as well kill me directly.”

“Now, what face do I have to continue living?”

Then he looked at Shangguan Yi with a pale face. “Kill me, please.”

Shangguan Yi looked at Yang Yun, seeking his opinion.

Yang Yun waved his hand, walked to the black Dragon’s side, and after laughing for a while, patted the black Dragon’s shoulder. “How about you follow me? You’re too funny.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, sorry, a slip of the tongue.”

“You’re too pitiful.”

The black Dragon was about to refuse when Shangguan Yi pinched the black Dragon’s butt. “Ah… let go, let go!”

“I agree, I agree!”

The black Dragon nodded repeatedly.

Yang Yun looked at the veiled woman, slightly adjusted his collar, and slowly walked up to her. “Miss, I’ve heard your story.”

“You are a kind person.”

The veiled woman’s lips curved slightly upwards. “Thank you.”

“What’s your name, where are you from, and where are you going?”

Yang Yun asked his classic three-in-one question again.

The veiled woman found it a bit hard to say, but remembering that these two people had saved her, she spoke up.

“My name is Feng Xiaoling. I am a Disciple of the Yunlan Sect. I’m currently out on a training journey and will be returning to the Sect soon.”

“Oh, I see. Are your injuries alright then?”

Feng Xiaoling shook her head.

“They’re fine, they’re fine.”

With that, she prepared to stand up, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t.

Yang Yun smiled, pointed a finger at Feng Xiaoling, and another surge of elemental energy entered Feng Xiaoling’s body, repairing her injuries…

“Ah!”

Feng Xiaoling looked at this scene in shock; all her injuries had disappeared, and she even felt an increase in her Cultivation.

She quickly bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Senior.”

Her earlier conjecture was also confirmed: Yang Yun was not an ordinary person. The reason there were no elemental energy fluctuations around him was because his Cultivation was too profound for ordinary Cultivators to detect.

The black Dragon also looked at Yang Yun with a stunned expression, greatly shocked. “This young man… is indeed deeply hidden.”

“It seems following him wouldn’t be too shabby after all.”

He had completely forgotten his identity as the Third Prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace and was now taking on the new identity of Yang Yun’s second dog.

Afterward, Feng Xiaoling said she needed to return to her Sect to report, so she bid farewell to everyone, and she and the black Dragon also laughed away their past grievances.

The black Dragon also introduced himself in detail. His name was Ao Ye.

Another important reason for his expulsion from the Dragon Palace was the internal struggles within the palace, including conflicts between him and his brothers, and between his mother and the other consorts.

Ultimately, their lineage lost, becoming sacrifices and being banished from the Dragon Palace.

Furthermore, he was indeed too weak. According to him, those older than him had higher Cultivation, and those younger than him also had higher Cultivation.

Even the youngest Dragon Prince became a Golden Core in twenty years, while he was still stagnant after more than three hundred years.

..........

Having taken another little brother, and a waste-stream one at that, Yang Yun was very happy.

Li Xiaosan and the others were anxiously pacing around, having searched several nearby villages without finding them.

Just as he was about to set off to search again, Yang Yun and the other two appeared before them.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

“Are you alright?”

Li Xiaosan immediately rushed over, carefully scrutinizing Yang Yun, seemingly checking his body for injuries.

Yang Yun waved his hand. “I’m fine. Let me introduce you. His name is Ao Ye. Get along well with him from now on.”

Ao Ye stepped forward and glanced at Li Xiaosan, finding no elemental energy fluctuations on his body. However, having had Yang Yun’s experience, he no longer dared to underestimate such people, especially those around Yang Yun.

So he cupped his hands and said, “I am Ao Ye. Please take care of me from now on.”

“Hehe, good, good.”

“I’m Li Xiaosan. From now on, we’re all brothers!”

“Right, right, right, all brothers, all brothers!”

The guards behind them swarmed forward, cupping their hands towards Ao Ye.

After leaving the village, Yang Yun and his group wandered here and there, sometimes helping villagers suppress bandits, sometimes helping them eliminate demons, sometimes bringing warmth to the girls in brothels, and sometimes giving small change to innkeepers. .............

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