At the heart of the Tianjue Mountain Range lies Black Dragon Pool.
The lake spreads like an inland sea, its waters ink–black and fathomless.
The water is bone–chilling; ordinary creatures dare not approach.
In the center stands a craggy island—the dwelling of Ink Scale Flood Dragon King.
Deep within the island, inside a vast palace built of black stone.
A black flood dragon more than a hundred zhang long lay coiled on the central dais, asleep.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
At that moment a fish-headed, scale-armored little demon tumbled in, shrieking in panic,
"O-outside! In the sky! Th-there's…!"
"Stop blathering! Have you no manners!"
Startled awake, Ink Scale Flood Dragon King growled; the soundwave sent the little demon sprawling.
"Even if the sky falls this king will hold it up! Speak slowly—what is happening?"
The fish-headed demon steadied himself, pointed outside, and stammered,
"Th-there's a person in the sky! R-right above our Blackwater Palace!"
"Who dares be so bold?!"
Ink Scale's vertical pupils narrowed, fury rising.
In the entire Wan Jue Mountain Range, who would be arrogant enough to stand over his head?
His colossal body stirred, ready to rush out and see.
Yet as he reached the palace gate… an indescribable pressure, as if the firmament itself were collapsing, slammed down!
Boom—!
The entire surface of Black Dragon Pool sank under the weight!
Countless lesser water demons were crushed unconscious, floating belly-up.
Ink Scale's huge body froze, pinned by an invisible giant hand!
His dark-gold pupils shrank to slits; boundless terror poured over him like ice-water!
Th-this is a human's Aura… With effort he turned his eyes skyward.
A lone figure hovered silently above Blackwater Palace.
She wore a moon-white immortal robe, silver hair like snow, features veiled in hazy light.
She stood at ease, as though one with heaven and earth.
Her calm gaze fell—and landed on him.
No anger, no killing intent, no emotion at all.
Yet Ink Scale felt his very Soul tremble.
"S-Senior…"
With all his strength he forced the two words from his throat.
His massive frame quivered—terror etched deep into his Bloodline.
A thousand frantic thoughts flashed through his mind.
Had she come for revenge?
He had never offended her, had he?
Gu Han looked down at the shivering black dragon.
Good effect, she thought.
She slightly withdrew her Aura, letting the flood dragon speak.
"Are you the demon king of this place?"
Her voice, cold and ethereal, rang like the chimes of the Nine Heavens.
"Y-yes! Ink Scale greets Senior!"
He dared show no disrespect and answered at once.
"This seat is Gu Han, Palace Master of Yaochi Immortal Palace."
She stated her identity and purpose plainly: today she had come because she sensed fate between them. would he enter Yaochi Immortal Palace as its guardian Spirit Beast?
"Gu-guardian Spirit Beast?!"
Ink Scale's mind reeled.
He, a mighty Late Stage Mahayana monarch, one of the three sovereigns of the Myriad Absolute Range… reduced to a gate-keeping Spirit Beast?!
Outrageous humiliation!
Indignation flared—only to be extinguished the instant it met her serene gaze.
Humiliation?
Only the living could worry about face!
To her, crushing him would be no harder than crushing an ant.
Yet… yet he struggled. Millennia of bitter cultivation had won him his present power; to abandon freedom and become a Spirit Beast…
Ding! Detecting intense inner conflict in target. Suggested action: increase persuasion!
Gu Han's thoughts shifted—time for a sweetener.
"You carry a sliver of true Dragon Bloodline, trapped in a flood-dragon body with no path to become a Dragon, am I right?"
Ink Scale's head snapped up; dark-gold pupils blazed with disbelief!
His deepest obsession, his greatest desire, was to shed the flood-dragon form and soar through the Nine Heavens as a Dragon!
It was instinct carved into his Bloodline!
But the path to draconic ascension needed Opportunity, accumulation, and endless time.
This human had seen through his roots at a glance and spoken of becoming a Dragon!
"Y-you… you have a way?"
His voice shook with hope.
Gu Han called up the System interface.
System, exchange one drop of true Dragon essence-blood.
Ding! Host request confirmed. One drop of true Dragon essence-blood costs 500 mastery value. Confirm exchange?
"Confirm."
Exchange successful. 500 mastery value deducted. Remaining balance: 14,450.
As the prompt faded, Gu Han felt warmth in her palm; a pale-gold bead of blood appeared.
Ink Scale felt lightning strike his heart—his eyes locked on that bead, unable to look away!
That Aura… that call from the source of his Bloodline… it was true Dragon essence-blood!
"This item is useless to me."
With a flick of her finger the drop drifted toward Ink Scale and hovered before him.
"If you follow me, more such blood can be yours. Think it over."
Temptation—blatant, irresistible temptation!
Staring at the mesmerizing bead, Ink Scale's breath turned ragged; reason vanished!
Freedom? Dignity?
Before the hope of becoming a Dragon they were nothing!
If this Senior could produce true Dragon essence-blood at will, what heights might he reach in her wake?
And as for being a guardian Spirit Beast… serving such an exalted being was hardly shameful!
At that thought, Ink Scale hesitated no longer.
He lowered his colossal head in unprecedented reverence and declared in a resounding voice,
"Ink Scale is willing to follow the Palace Master, to serve at her side with unwavering loyalty!"
Gu Han nodded, satisfied.
Combine kindness with force—always effective.
"Since you enter my palace, you must obey its rules."
She withdrew her Aura and snapped her fingers; a beam of spiritual light entered Ink Scale's brow, imprinting the regulations and basic information.
"Take human form and come with me."
"As for the water-dwellers of Black Dragon Pool, let them remain for now and await orders."
"Yes!"
Ink Scale, brimming with excitement, carefully wrapped the drop of true Dragon essence-blood with spiritual power and absorbed it.
Black light surged around him; his massive body shrank and changed.
Finally he stood as a tall, black-armored youth with stern features.
Gu Han studied him—transformed, Ink Scale cut an imposing figure, like a valiant general.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
With a final glance at the domain he had ruled for years, Ink Scale followed, heart full of longing for the Dragon form.
Gu Han waved her hand, and both figures vanished instantly.