Inside the Springwater Manor,
the scene was still a world of its own.
But this time, as Lu Chen approached the manor’s entrance,
he found both sides of the waterway outside lined with orderly rows of shrimp soldiers and crab generals.
The moment they saw Lu Chen arrive,
these shrimp soldiers and crab generals immediately knelt in unison and declared loudly and respectfully, “We humbly welcome the High Lord’s arrival!”
“This is…”
Lu Chen looked at the Well Dragon King with slight surprise, then an understanding smile dawned on his face. He had clearly already guessed the reason.
The Well Dragon King smiled sheepishly and explained, “To be honest with the High Lord, thanks to your generous favor, this little dragon’s cultivation has advanced. I thought the manor could use some attendants for daily tasks, so I awakened a group of shrimp soldiers and crab generals for routine service. I hope the High Lord won’t think it too laughable.”
Lu Chen waved his hand. “It’s only right, only right. You are about to succeed as the Dragon King of the Xu River; having some attendants under your command is only proper.”
The Land God beside them also agreed with a smile, “Indeed, that’s the bearing a Dragon King should have.”
The few of them looked at each other and all laughed heartily.
Lu Chen, his curiosity piqued, pressed further, “By the way, old Dragon King, after all this, how much has your cultivation increased?”
The Well Dragon King’s expression straightened, and he answered, “Reporting to the High Lord, this little dragon estimates an increase of at least five hundred years of cultivation.”
“Five hundred years?!” Lu Chen clicked his tongue secretly. Damn, this ritual really got an epic-level boost!
It was just a pity he wasn’t a deity himself,
otherwise, if he performed a top-tier ritual for himself, wouldn’t his cultivation skyrocket like crazy?
“High Lord, please!”
The group stepped into the manor. The previously bare and shabby interior had now been completely refreshed,
with carved beams and painted rafters, and even the chairs were inlaid with gold and jade.
It had a complete “from rags to riches” kind of feel.
“High Lord, please take the seat of honor!”
The Well Dragon King tried to yield the dragon throne in the main seat to Lu Chen, but Lu Chen politely declined.
“Dragon King, there’s no need for such formality.”
Saying this, he took a seat in the guest spot on his own.
Seeing this, the Well Dragon King could only bow respectfully before taking the main seat himself.
Afterward, several carp maidens fluttered in gracefully, serving fragrant tea.
After the group had sipped tea and exchanged pleasantries,
Lu Chen got straight to the point: “Dragon King, just what matter do you wish to discuss with me?”
The Well Dragon King set down his teacup and said solemnly, “The High Lord has come to Dragon Tiger County this time, so you must have some understanding of the upheavals the Dragon Clan has faced over these past few centuries.”
Lu Chen nodded, still unsure what he was getting at.
The Well Dragon King sighed softly. “Back then, the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas broke the laws of the realm. Of the river and stream Dragon Kings under heaven, barely one in ten survived. It was truly a hellish period for the water clans. Wherever they went, if there was the slightest disagreement, those four brothers would destroy palaces and breach mansions, acting with extreme tyranny. Several of this little dragon’s elder brothers were not spared either…”
Here, the Well Dragon King paused briefly, his eyes sharpening. “To be honest with the High Lord, this little dragon actually bears the surname Huai, with the given name Lie.”
“Huai?!”
The Land God beside them lost his composure upon hearing this name.
Lu Chen cast a questioning look over.
The Land God hurriedly explained, “The High Lord may not know this, but Huai is a great clan name among the water tribes, second only to the Ao clan of the Four Seas Dragon Kings. Old Dragon King, I never imagined you were nobility among dragons, hiding it so deeply!”
The Land God immediately cupped his fist in salute, his words carrying a few more degrees of respect.
Huai Lie waved his hand, smiling calmly, and continued to Lu Chen, “Although this little dragon hails from a prestigious dragon clan, my talent was limited, and my cultivation was insufficient to undertake the position of a River Dragon King. I could only settle for the next best thing and cultivate the position of a Well Dragon King. But looking back now, it was actually a blessing in disguise, allowing me to escape that calamity. My elder brothers, however, did not have such luck, and all perished tragically at the hands of the Four Seas Dragon Kings.”
A flash of overwhelming hatred shot through Huai Lie’s eyes, but he swiftly suppressed it.
Hearing this, Lu Chen figured those Dragon Kings must have been men of strong and unbending character; otherwise, they would have already surrendered to the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas.
“Pitiful are those nephews of mine who were struck by this great calamity before they even came into the world. It’s truly…” Huai Lie’s dragon eyes grew moist. Suddenly, without warning, he rose and cupped his fist:
“High Lord, the reason this little dragon invited you here today is to plead for one thing!”
Seeing him so solemn, Lu Chen was taken aback and returned the salute by cupping his fist. “Dragon King, please speak freely.”
Huai Lie gestured with his hand. “High Lord, please follow me.”
Lu Chen exchanged a glance with the Land God and rose to follow.
The group arrived before a stone wall.
With a wave of Huai Lie’s hand, the thousand-jin stone wall slowly opened on its own.
Lu Chen peered inside; there was actually an inner chamber within.
“High Lord, please!”
They stepped into the inner chamber, and the stone wall closed behind them.
There, Lu Chen saw on a stone platform in the center of the chamber,
several round beads of different colors, shimmering with divine light, suspended prominently.
“These are…?”
“High Lord, these are four dragon pearls, the posthumous children of my brothers, the Dragon Gods of the Four Rivers.”
“The posthumous children of the Four Rivers Dragon Gods?”
Lu Chen’s heart stirred with slight shock. He stepped forward to examine them closely and saw that the interiors of the dragon pearls were crystal clear, each containing a flowing divine radiance. The pearls exhibited different hues precisely because of this radiance.
“They… are still alive?”
Lu Chen turned his head to look at Huai Lie.
“Naturally they are alive, High Lord,” Huai Lie smiled slightly. “It’s just that for now, they are still four dragon spirits, not yet formed into embryos or taken shape.”
Lu Chen gazed at the dragon pearls, musing,
“Then what you mean is…”
“Plunk!”
Before he could finish, Huai Lie had already fallen to both knees, cupping his fist in supplication. “High Lord, this little dragon earnestly begs you to accept these nephews of mine, to keep for future service.”
Startled, Lu Chen quickly helped him up.
“Old Dragon King, let’s talk this through. Why such a grand gesture? You are now a formally recognized deity; how can a mere mortal like me accept this!”
Only then did Huai Lie rise.
A moment later, the realization dawned on Lu Chen. He opened his eyes wide. “Are you saying you want me to foster these four dragon heirs of the Four Rivers in the future?”
Huai Lie hurriedly explained, “Please do not misunderstand, High Lord. This ‘fostering’ is not the nurturing of the human kind. If the High Lord does not find them unworthy, you need only offer a drop of blood so these nephews of mine can recognize you as their master. Then their dragon spirits will naturally merge into the High Lord’s four limbs or five organs. In the future, as the High Lord’s cultivation advances and with the blessing of merit, my four nephews, nourished by this, will be able to form embryos, take shape, incarnate as true dragons, and serve the High Lord!”
Lu Chen furrowed his brow slightly and murmured, “This sounds like a parasitic relationship?”
“No, no, no!” Huai Lie waved his hands repeatedly. “The High Lord must not misunderstand. This is absolutely not a method of parasitism where one takes over another’s nest. Once the High Lord seals the bond with a drop of blood, the lives of my four nephews will rest entirely within a single thought of the High Lord. For their whole lives, they will serve at your command, loyal and unwavering, never to betray! If this little dragon utters even half a word of falsehood…”
In his urgency, Huai Lie fiercely struck his own chest.
Immediately, a mouthful of brilliant dragon blood was vomited.
The dragon blood formed a rune in mid-air and then seeped back into his body.
The Land God beside them was shocked. “Old Dragon King, why resort to a blood oath!?”
Though his aura weakened, Huai Lie still waved his hand. “This little dragon is willing to use a blood oath to prove his sincerity, earnestly hoping the High Lord will no longer doubt, otherwise this little dragon… could not atone for it even with ten thousand deaths!”
Seeing his utter resolve, Lu Chen set aside his misgivings and said gently, “Dragon King, why go to such lengths? I was merely asking offhandedly.”
Huai Lie cupped his fist. “It is perfectly normal for the High Lord to harbor doubts, and it is also necessary for this little dragon to dispel them. I hope the High Lord will not disdain them. Although these four nephews of mine are still dragon spirits, they can also be of immense assistance to the High Lord!”
“Oh?” Lu Chen’s interest was piqued. “Tell me about it.”
Huai Lie nodded, walked to the stone platform, and pointed to a golden dragon pearl.
“This is the son of my eldest brother, the [Dragon King of the Yangtze]. His water lineage connects to the profound. He can help the High Lord perceive all water bodies under heaven. Wherever there is a river, you can use the Water Evasion technique to travel, reaching a thousand li away in an instant. Furthermore, my eldest brother’s lineage is born with the ability of imperial defense. If the High Lord engages in battle, it will be no less than wearing a precious armor of dragon scales.”
“Water evasion plus defense?” Lu Chen distilled the key points, raising an eyebrow.
The Land God’s Earth Evasion technique had once left him in awe;
this Water Evasion sounded equally mysterious and wondrous.
“This is the son of my second brother, the [Dragon King of the Yellow River].”
Huai Lie pointed to a red dragon pearl.
“His lineage involves turbid waves that can scorch the heavens. He can help the High Lord temper his sharpness. In combat, your killing power will increase by at least thirty percent, with an additional armor-breaking effect. You can catch enemies off guard and slay them in a single strike!”
“Damage increase plus critical strike?!” Lu Chen again distilled the key points, his heartbeat quietly accelerating.
Huai Lie then pointed to a blue dragon pearl.
“This is the son of my third brother, the [Dragon King of the Huai River]. His lineage, the Huai Waves’ Steady Melody, can balance magical power and supplement deficiencies. When the High Lord is in combat, with his assistance, though your magical power won’t be endless, increasing it by thirty to fifty percent will not be a problem. At the same time, he can also help the High Lord nourish vitality and heal injuries. As long as it’s not a fatal wound, you can recover quickly!”
“Mana bar plus recovery?” Lu Chen drew in a sharp breath, his heartbeat now hitting the expressway.
“This is the son of my fourth brother, the [Dragon King of the Ji River].”
Huai Lie pointed to the last, a green dragon pearl.
“His lineage is water of utmost purity, able to cleanse the source and wash the marrow. With him, firstly, the High Lord can nourish your mortal bones and refine your primordial spirit. Secondly, he can purge all poisons, curses, inner demons, evil entities, and other negative states. The wonderful uses are endless.”
“Foundation strengthening plus purification?” Lu Chen’s heart was shaken.
Damn, a full set of attribute buffs!!
At this very moment, Lu Chen’s heart rate soared straight to 120 mph; it was about to overspeed!
Huai Lie smiled slightly. “Of course, at present, these are merely the innate talents of the dragon spirits. When these nephews of mine form embryos and take shape, their bloodlines will hold many more divine abilities and secret arts for the High Lord to study.
At that time, if the High Lord does not find them unworthy, choosing one or two to study will certainly be possible.”
Having said this, he bowed deeply once again in a grand salute. “I earnestly hope the High Lord will show compassion and accept these pitiful nephews of mine!”
Seeing how solemn he was, Lu Chen pondered and asked, “Old Dragon King, this act of yours is essentially entrusting them to me after your death. Do you truly not regret this?”
Huai Lie’s words rang with firm resolve. “The High Lord’s divine might is unparalleled, your fortune boundless. You will surely become an earth-shattering great power in the future! If these four nephews of mine can gain the High Lord’s favor, it will truly be their greatest fortune in this life. Moreover, I dare not deceive the High Lord. The reason this little dragon lay dormant in this dried well for a hundred years, cautious and prudent, was precisely because back then, my four elder brothers entrusted them to me, charging me to choose an enlightened master for my nephews. To have encountered the High Lord today is truly the will of Heaven made manifest. How could this little dragon have any cause for regret!”
“Indeed, if we speak of an enlightened master, none are more fitting than the High Lord!”
Hearing up to this point, the Land God also chimed in from the side, cupping his fist.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the old Dragon King, whose eyes glistened with tears.
Only now did the Land God understand why this Well Dragon King had been so forbearing, cautious, and fearful of death. It turned out he was carrying such a heavy trust.
Upon hearing this, Lu Chen’s gaze moved between the Well Dragon King and the dragon pearls for a moment…
He helped Huai Lie up, his brow concentrated and expression serious. “In that case… very well! Then I shall take on this karmic bond!”
