Chapter 44

Chapter 44

As Qing Nong's words fell, the old dragons stood frozen as if struck by lightning, their expressions dazed and blank.

Or rather, even if they had been struck by lightning, they would not have stood so dumbfounded. They would have lashed their dragon tails, raised their proud heads, and charged into battle, fighting to the last moment before cursing the heavens loudly.

Yet now, these battle-hardened, arrogant old dragons stared wide-eyed at the scene across the Mystic Mirror. For a long time, they did not come back to their senses. The noisy sea fell into an eerie silence.

Their minds kept replaying Qing Nong's words: two cubs?!

Two?!

A double-yolk egg!!!

They hadn't seen two dragon cubs in countless years!

The group of old dragons stared blankly at the Mystic Mirror, nearly shedding tears of joy, their old eyes reddening. Finally, their ancestors had shown mercy!

All those incense offerings were worth it!

From now on, they no longer had to envy the old turtle next door! They were no longer empty-nest old dragons without cubs!

In an instant, the vast sea erupted with resounding dragon roars. A group of giant dragons soared through the clouds, rolling wildly through the waves and rain. With their movements, towering waves rose across the sea, roaring as if the entire ocean was about to churn violently.

The sea beasts trembled on the beach, burying their heads in the sand, not daring to even breathe heavily!

Hong Rong watched in helplessness as those usually solemn and stern old dragons now roared maniacally. He couldn't help but fall silent for a moment.

This wasn't what he had imagined the dragon clan elites to be like...

But thinking of Qing Nong's words, his heart burned with excitement. He looked at Qing Nong with anticipation, "Good brother, where are the cubs? Let me see them!"

He had been with the dragon clan for so long and had never seen what a dragon egg looked like! Especially since they were Huo Wuyan's offspring!

Hong Rong's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but nervously rub his hands together.

Yet in the next moment, under his expectant gaze, Qing Nong's expression darkened. He looked at Hong Rong, his expression suddenly cold.

Hong Rong felt bewildered and scratched his head.

Then Qing Nong said coldly, "See my head? More like see your own! Where are you now? The Dragon Lord ordered you to return quickly and retrieve the Xun Dragon Pearl. Why haven't you come back after all these days?"

Hong Rong froze. Seeing Qing Nong's unusual demeanor, a vague unease crept into his heart. Qing Nong was gentle and had a good temper, always smiling when meeting people. Hong Rong had almost never seen him so serious and cold.

Even the ecstatic old dragons fell silent. They transformed into human forms and gathered eagerly around the Mystic Mirror.

Hong Rong instinctively suppressed his smile. He scratched his head nervously, "We've been catching silverfish in the sea. These silverfish are packed with spiritual energy and have tender meat. The cubs should like them..."

Before he could finish, Qing Nong let out a cold laugh. He said sharply, "You still have the mood to catch fish? Do you have any idea how close we came to disaster?"

Hong Rong's face stiffened. Seeing the coldness in Qing Nong's eyes, he felt a chill of realization. The color drained from his face, and he quickly asked anxiously, "What happened to Miss Lu? Is she alright..."

Qing Nong interrupted him gravely, "She is fine now. At the critical moment, Lord Huo Wuyan voluntarily transferred his dragon pearl to Lu Yuanyin, safeguarding her heart meridian."

Even then, Lu Yuanyin had suffered a great loss of vitality and would need time to recover.

The birth of dragon cubs required a massive amount of spiritual energy. Lu Yuanyin was young and had low cultivation, so her body couldn't withstand the cubs constantly drawing spiritual energy from her. Even though Huo Wuyan repeatedly transferred spiritual energy to her, it couldn't solve the root problem.

In fact, Qing Nong vaguely guessed that the cubs had been born prematurely because Lu Yuanyin's body was about to give out.

If it had been delayed any longer, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Looking at the serious-faced Qing Nong, the old dragons silently lowered their heads. They stared at the silverfish in their arms, now feeling uncomfortably hot in their hands.

They would never catch fish again!

These usually majestic and arrogant old dragons bowed their proud heads before a young one for the first time, like a group of children who had done something wrong. If that young lady had come to harm because of their delays during the journey, they would be too ashamed to face their ancestors after death, let alone Huo Wuyan. One of the white-haired elders asked quietly, "This time we were too arrogant and didn't think things through. How is Miss Lu?"

Qing Nong let out a low sigh. "This time Miss Lu gave birth early. If Huo Wuyan hadn't given her his dragon pearl, she might not have made it through."

"Fortunately, there's no serious problem. She's lost some vitality and needs time to recover. She'll inevitably go through some hardship."

The more he spoke, the more ashamed the old dragons became. The leading elder's face flushed red with shame. He quickly said, "Tell the young lady to rest assured. We will go find some snow lotus and old ginseng to nourish her body. We will definitely take good care of her!"

Isn't it true that human women needed to rest and recover after childbirth?

Qing Nong looked at the broken dragon horn on the Sixth Elder's forehead and sighed softly. He then said gently, "Then I'll leave it to you elders. On behalf of Miss Lu, I thank you all!"

The elders quickly gathered the scattered silverfish into baskets, no longer bothering to sort them. "Young man, take these silverfish and treasures to Miss Lu first! We'll be back soon!"

With that, they transformed into their dragon forms and swiftly disappeared into the clouds.

Hong Rong watched the old dragons disappear and felt a wave of delayed fear.

He wanted to explain that opening the seal of the secret realm to retrieve the Xun Dragon Pearl had taken a long time. But seeing the anger on Qing Nong's face, he fell silent for a moment, then said solemnly, "This time, I failed in my duty. Hong Rong willingly accepts punishment!"

If he had reminded the old dragons not to linger and urged them to hurry to the Chongyao Sect, perhaps the situation wouldn't have become so severe.

Qing Nong sighed softly. "We'll talk about it when you get back."

Outside the window, lightning flashed and thunder roared. Golden lightning bolts soared through the clouds like swimming dragons, and swift lightning suddenly tore through the night sky. The dim sky was briefly lit up as bright as day. Yet on the other side of the storm, there was a scene of glorious sunset, bright moon, and sparse stars. Several birds quietly perched on tree branches.

**

This small city seemed to be situated between two worlds, exceptionally strange.

Several cultivators stood heavily in the great hall, looking up at the unusual phenomenon in the sky. Their hearts were uneasy. In all their years, they had never seen such a wondrous sight.

Because of this anomaly, the leaders of various sects had gathered here. But after investigating for a long time, they could not find the truth. They suspected either a divine beast or spiritual treasure had appeared in the city, or a senior was undergoing a tribulation nearby, yet neither situation fit perfectly.

If a senior were undergoing a tribulation, no lightning tribulation had fallen from the thunderclouds. If a precious treasure had appeared, they had sensed no spiritual energy fluctuations. It was as if an invisible barrier silently enveloped everything, completely isolating all disturbances.

No matter how hard they racked their brains, they could not fathom the reason.

The Chongyao Sect Master couldn't help but sigh, "I wonder if this is a blessing or a curse..."

The others shook their heads helplessly. They had put a lot of effort into this competition. But in recent days, one accident after another had occurred: first the Dragon Lord's attack, then the strange celestial phenomenon, and various odd events in succession.

An old man slowly stroked his beard. He closed his eyes and quietly pinched his fingers. His white eyebrows drooped, and a small entirely blue bird sat quietly among his white hair, its eyes emitting a faint glimmer.

Sensing his movement, the others who had been talking fell silent instantly. They all looked at the Long Yin elder.

As they speculated silently, the old man suddenly opened his eyes. A glint of insight flashed in his cloudy gaze. Looking at the heavy expressions of the crowd, he let out a low sigh and then suddenly said, "The times are about to change..."

The crowd's expressions shifted. The Chongyao Sect Master quickly pressed, "Senior, what have you divined? Is there a treasure appearing nearby? Or is a senior undergoing a tribulation in the vicinity?!"

The Long Yin elder looked up. He regarded the Chongyao Sect Master with a sorrowful expression. The blue bird also stared intently at the Chongyao Sect Master. Both man and bird had an oddly eerie demeanor, sending a chill down the Sect Master's spine.

Just as he was growing uneasy, the Long Yin elder slowly shook his head and said quietly, "The aura of your Chongyao Sect is exhausted. Listen to my advice: flee quickly."

With his words, Sect Master Chongyao's expression shifted drastically. His eyes flew wide open, his face twisted momentarily in anger, and a surge of fury rose in his heart. However, sensing the gazes of those around him, he suppressed his rage and asked in a low voice, "What do you mean by that? Senior, please explain more."

Elder Changyin coughed lightly. "The secrets of heaven cannot be disclosed."

The Sect Master wanted to press further, but Elder Changyin had already closed his eyes again. Leaning on his cane, he patted the bird beside him and said, "Let's go."

Watching the one man and one bird slowly depart, the Sect Master's face twisted briefly. *That pompous old bastard!*

Seeing the Sect Master's grim expression, those present offered consoling words. "That old man Changyin is just like that. Don't dwell on it."

"Maybe he miscalculated. No one can be certain about these things!"

"The world is full of mysteries. Don't take his words to heart."

"I have matters to attend to. I'll take my leave first!"

With that, the others found excuses and dispersed one by one.

The Sect Master gave a bitter laugh. He rubbed his aching forehead, and the elders exchanged uneasy glances, seeing the anxiety in each other's eyes. One couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Sect Leader, what do you think...?"

The Sect Master waved a hand dismissively. "It's nothing. Go back and rest for now."

The elders had no choice but to leave. As they departed, the main hall fell into a dead silence. The Sect Master sat wearily in his seat, cursing Elder Changyin in his mind.

Yet, a seed of panic took root in his heart. Though Elder Changyin was irritable and annoying, he was indeed skilled. His prophecies had never failed, all coming true over the years.

Nor was he one to speak recklessly.

Thinking of recent events, the Sect Master tugged at his collar in frustration, feeling an inexplicable tightness in his chest. Ever since he decided to remove Lu Yuanyin's spirit root, everything had gone wrong, meeting with misfortune at every turn.

Now, all he felt was panic and regret.

He looked out at the strange phenomena beyond the window, a dark glint in his eyes. He suddenly stood up. *No matter right or wrong, I must continue. I cannot let the thousand-year legacy of the Chongyao Sect perish in my hands!*

The light dimmed, candles flickered.

The midwives deftly dressed Lu Yuanyin, cleaned up the mess, and carrying the swaddling cloth, left the room with bright smiles. They tactfully went to Qing Nong to ask for a reward.

The young cultivator was generous, and the midwives were all honey-tongued, praising the eggs as if they were the greatest treasures in heaven and earth. Despite his earlier anger, once the two dragon eggs were safely placed in his arms, Qing Nong couldn't help but grin, his lips nearly reaching his ears.

Compared to that big, plump egg from before, this one was only the size of a goose egg, round and smooth, but seemed somewhat malnourished.

The elderly medical cultivator and Qing Nong were nearly heartbroken!

How could their poor little one be so thin?

Lu Yuanyin wanted to see the hatchling, but her head felt heavy and dizzy. Her spiritual energy was depleted, her meridians painfully dry. Her vision darkened, and she lacked the strength to even move. Her eyelashes fluttered.

Outside, thunder roared and lightning flashed, rain lashed violently against the window, water pattering. She remembered that divine beasts were always accompanied by heavenly tribulation at birth. Worry flickered in her heart, but within moments, she had fallen into a deep sleep.

In her daze, amidst the thunder outside, she felt someone awkwardly yet gently wiping her body. A faint smell of blood lingered in her nostrils. Lu Yuanyin's eyelashes trembled, but she couldn't wake.

Her consciousness sank, yet she felt a large, hot hand gently rest on her lower abdomen. Warm spiritual energy seeped through his fingers, flowing slowly into her body like a stream, soothing her broken, dry meridians and dispelling the chill that clung to her.

Lu Yuanyin unconsciously moved closer to the warmth.

After an unknown time, warm sunlight filtered through the thick clouds, softly spilling across the ground. Outside, birds chirped, accompanied by children's cheers.

Lu Yuanyin felt an itch at her ankle. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and she suddenly opened her eyes. Her vision was momentarily dark; she rubbed her eyes, and soon, the scene before her cleared.

She turned her head slightly and saw a tall figure sitting quietly by the bed. Sunlight fell on his white hair, sparkling faintly. His expression was indifferent as he stared at the jade slip in his hand.

His face was partially hidden in shadow, his handsome features appearing deeper and more mysterious in the dim light.

Lu Yuanyin felt a moment of disorientation.

Sensing her gaze, Huo Wuyan turned his head slightly. His crimson eyes looked down at her, and he asked in a deep voice, "Awake? Are you feeling okay? Any discomfort?"

Lu Yuanyin nodded lightly. Her gaze shifted, and she saw two eggs lying quietly beside her bed—one a fiery gold, the other pure white. Spiritual energy shimmered around them, their shells smooth and glossy, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight. Even the most precious agate or jade couldn't match their luster.

But compared to the plump golden egg, the white one appeared thinner, somewhat pitiful.

Lu Yuanyin looked at the two eggs—one gold, one white; one large, one small—stark opposites. It was hard to imagine they had come from her...

She sat up, supported by her arms, and gently poked the golden egg. She whispered, "Huo Wuyan..."

He glanced at her calmly. "Go ahead."

Lu Yuanyin touched its smooth shell, a smile curving her lips. "His color is just like yours, all gold—so beautiful!"

Huo Wuyan paused. His eyes darkened, but his face remained expressionless and cold.

The more Lu Yuanyin looked, the more amazed she felt. It was even harder to imagine that such a small egg could one day grow into a massive creature like Huo Wuyan. She gently held the two eggs, examining them closely.

But the itch at her ankle grew stronger.

Startled, Lu Yuanyin thought it might be an insect. She lifted the blanket instinctively, only to find that, unbeknownst to her, a golden dragon tail had slipped into her pants, silently coiled around her slender ankle, rubbing against it with intimacy and greed.

Lu Yuanyin froze. She stole a glance at Huo Wuyan, who still wore a cold expression while looking at the jade slip, seemingly unaware of his disobedient tail.

As the dragon tail continued creeping up her calf, Lu Yuanyin grabbed his tail instinctively.

The tail, however, grew bolder, coiling around her fingers.

The golden scales were smooth and hot, slightly sharp to the touch, with a unique texture. She squeezed it unconsciously.

In an instant, the emotionless Huo Wuyan stood up abruptly. His face flushed deep red, even the tips of his ears turning a deep crimson.

Lu Yuanyin was startled by his sudden reaction and looked at him with confusion.

She heard him grunt softly as he stepped back, casting her a displeased look. His expression was unusually awkward.

After all, for dragons, touching another's tail was akin to touching their genitals—a clear invitation for mating…

Author's note:

None.