It was a still night, with only a few stars visible in the velvet sky. The soft scurrying of rats over fallen trees, the cautious steps of a panther, and the distant howls of wolves from the deepest parts of the jungle reached Mo Yuchen's sharpened senses as he sat cross-legged in his quarters, deep in meditation.
His energy was in turmoil—charged and restless. Cultivation surged within him, pushing hard against its current limits. A breakthrough was imminent. But this was no ordinary advancement; it was the awakening of his true blood form—his dragon form.
The dragon within him stirred violently, no longer willing to remain silent. It clawed at its restraints, roaring through his spirit. Mo Yuchen clenched his jaw, summoning every ounce of will to hold it back, to master the flood rather than be swallowed by it.
It was raw. It was powerful.
It was his.
Suddenly, the fire inside ignited completely—brilliant and overwhelming. His body arched as blue-black scales swept across his limbs, chest, and spine. In moments, the transformation overtook him.
He became the dragon.
The dome shook under the force of the awakening.
A massive dragon burst out from Mo Yuchen's quarters, its roar echoing across the night and into the clouds. Its body was long and powerful, wrapped in dark scales streaked with deep blue. Blue flames licked across its spine and wings, and its golden eyes burned with celestial fire.
The elders, along with Feng Xiu Lan, rushed into the courtyard, stopping in their tracks in stunned silence. The dragon hovered above them, wings wide and glowing with divine heat. Its very presence was terrifying and beautiful, as if the heavens had descended into flesh.
"That's not just any dragon," Long Xuanji said, eyes wide. "That's a Blazing Divine Dragon—a sign of celestial power. A bloodline so rare it exists only in ancient records. Its strength is beyond compare."
The dragon surged upward, tearing through the roof with a single movement, and soared toward the dome barrier.
It didn't stop. It didn't falter.
It passed through.
"What? I thought the barrier couldn't be broken unless all four clan bloodlines were used," Hu Doubao said, brows pulling together.
"It hasn't been broken," Xuanji replied. "The barrier simply... gave way to him, as it has before. It's adjusting to the sheer force of his dragon form. That's why it's taking time to close."
"Hopefully," Feng Xiu Lan muttered dryly, "he won't destroy it next time."
Xuanji turned to her, his expression softening. "Both you and Mo Yuchen have broken through. Xiu Lan," he said, voice full of pride, "you've reached the third stage of the Advanced Realm—Dao Merging. That is no small feat. You are a high cultivator now."
Feng Xiu Lan blinked in surprise. "And Mo Yuchen?"
Doubao glanced at the sky. "Don't tell me… he's become a deity?"
Xuanji smiled faintly. "Not quite. He's likely stepped into the second stage, called Heaven Defying, of the Legendary Realm."
Feng Xiu Lan's eyes widened. "You mean… he's already on the same level as the three of you?"
"For now, yes," said Yan Lianyu, calm and steady. "But if he continues at this pace… he'll surpass us. All of us."
There was a thoughtful pause. Then Feng Xiu Lan asked, "Is there anyone in the land of Tianxu who's reached the peak of the Legendary Realm?"
Long Xuanji's expression turned grim, his gaze distant. "Yes. The Dragon King. It's said he achieved the fourth stage—Voidborn Eternal. In that realm, immortals live for thousands of years… and even after death, they are reborn. With their memories intact."
Feng Xiu Lan looked horrified. "So they don't die? They just… begin again? As children, but with everything they once knew?"
"Yes," Doubao said, his voice heavy.
Xuanji turned, his robes brushing the ground. "But sometimes," he said softly, "the death of one… may be the salvation of many."
***
The next morning, rays of sunlight seeped gently into Mo Yuchen's room.
He lay sprawled across his bed, the entire space around him a complete mess. Blinking slowly, he glanced about in confusion—until it came back to him.
Last night, he had taken his true blood form. A Blazing Divine Dragon. He had felt power unlike anything he had ever known.
Mo Yuchen quickly sat up and crossed his legs, breathing deeply, trying to sense the state of his qi.
A thrill ran through him because he had advanced. He had reached the second stage of the Legendary Realm. And now… he could feel it: the dragon energy was merging with his other two bloodlines. Something deep and ancient was settling into place.
This meant he could finally enter Tianxu Academy.
Measured footsteps echoed in the corridor—Teacher Xuanji was approaching.
Mo Yuchen sprang to his feet, and in a panic, began casting cleaning spells in every direction. A broom spun itself wildly, knocking over a stool; a drawer flew open and slammed shut again with clothes stuffed inside. A puff of dust clouded the air just as a book tried to shelve itself and failed with a loud thud.
His dragon form had nearly destroyed the room and the dome barrier itself, but thankfully, the barrier had restored itself sometime during the night. After his flight and return, Mo Yuchen had collapsed straight into bed, completely drained.
By the time Elder Xuanji knocked softly and entered, the room looked halfway respectable—though Mo Yuchen was still in his nightclothes, hair wild.
"Tired from last night's breakthrough?" Long Xuanji asked, arching an eyebrow with a knowing look.
"Teacher," Mo Yuchen said quickly, bowing with respect.
Elder Xuanji gave the room a swift, subtle glance. Mo Yuchen offered a sheepish smile, hastily nudging a wrinkled robe back into the closet and attempting to smooth down his hair.
"It's alright, Mo Yuchen. I can assure you, when I had my breakthrough 8,000 years ago, I didn't return home for days. My teacher nearly disowned me," Xuanji said with a laugh, settling onto the cushioned bench. He motioned for Mo Yuchen to join him. "We all go through this—especially the dragon clans."
"I did some research," Mo Yuchen said as he sat. "I believe I'm a Blazing Divine Dragon."
"So we all saw last night, Mo Yuchen, my child," Xuanji replied gently. "But I'm here for something more important today."
Mo Yuchen tilted his head, curious, but held his silence as the elder's tone grew serious.
"What Commander Kong said yesterday was true—you are a royal dragon. Your blue-tipped hair is the mark of royal dragons in Tianxu. It's time you knew the truth."
Xuanji's voice softened as he continued.
"Your father, Mo Tianlong, was the crowned prince of the Dragon Clan. Over five hundred years ago, the Dragon Clan was a land of strength and peace. Your grandfather ruled wisely, and the people looked forward to your father's reign. He was upright, virtuous, and a man of justice and integrity. But he made one mistake."
Mo Yuchen held his breath.
"He fell in love with a mixed-blood maid—your mother, Yan Shuhua. She carried the blood of both the Beast Clan and the Talisman Clan and had lived quietly in seclusion before meeting your father. He brought her into the Dragon Palace under the guise of a maid, intending to make her his concubine."
Mo Yuchen asked quietly, "How did no one notice she was a mixed blood?"
"Your father gave her a necklace—a rare treasure that can conceal one's true blood form. But your uncle, Mo Tianhai, had long coveted the throne. He found out. At the time, your mother was already pregnant with you. Your father came to me and asked me to take her away, which I did. While I was gone, your uncle launched a coup. He killed your father, and soon after, your grandfather died of grief. Mo Tianhai seized the throne."
Mo Yuchen clenched his fists, rage flaring in his chest. "And my mother?" he asked, voice trembling with hope.
Xuanji sighed. "Your uncle sent soldiers after her. After giving birth to you, she made a choice. She faced the soldiers alone. I learned two days later that she had sacrificed herself. She fought them bravely, so you could live."
Tears rolled down Mo Yuchen's cheeks. Who would have thought he came from such a family—one where betrayal ran so deep it consumed even blood?
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he demanded, sorrow turning to anger.
"Because sometimes," Xuanji said quietly, "not knowing is easier. But now that you know, your life will change. You know who you are. And the injustice your family suffered at the hands of your uncle..."
Mo Yuchen's voice cracked as he interrupted his teacher for the first time in his life. "Mo Tianhai is no uncle of mine. The day he killed my father, he made himself my enemy."
Xuanji nodded solemnly. "But he is not just any immortal, Mo Yuchen. He has achieved the final stage of the Legendary Realm, a Voidborn Eternal who can rise above time, space, and reincarnation. He's like a god who walks amongst us lesser immortals. Even the sovereigns of the other three clans fear him."
Mo Yuchen's hands shook. "But he killed them—my parents! He took everything from me."
"And that," Xuanji said softly, "is why I've come today. It's time to choose your path. Do you want to avenge your parents and take back what's rightfully yours? Or… do you want to leave the past behind, and live freely here in the dome?"
He paused.
"Your mother gave her life to protect you from this burden. She wanted you safe, not trapped by revenge."
Mo Yuchen fell to the floor, overwhelmed.
"So all the training… the sleepless nights… it was to prepare me for this," he whispered, looking at his teacher through a haze of pain. "Four hundred and fifty years… and I never knew."
"Because you were not ready, my child," said Xuanji. He reached down, took his hand, and helped him up. He placed his hands on Mo Yuchen's shoulders and met his eyes. "I don't want your answer now, Mo Yuchen. Think carefully. Listen to your heart. Is it vengeance… or freedom?"
With that, Teacher Xuanji turned and stepped out into the still darkness beyond the door.
Some choices shape destiny. Others define it.
And Mo Yuchen's choice would echo through all of Tianxu.