Hundreds of miles from Azure Cloud Sect—
In a canyon where sunlight never fully reached the ground—
The old man in black robes stood silently at the edge of a cliff.
Below him—
A massive sealing formation glowed faintly red.
Gigantic chains formed from ancient runes pierced deep into the earth.
And beneath them—
Something breathed.
Slow.
Heavy.
Ancient.
The old man's pupils narrowed into vertical slits.
"Thirty-seven years…" he muttered.
"Not a single trace."
He lifted his hand.
A fragment of lightning condensed within his palm—the residual energy drawn from the sky hours ago.
It carried a faint crimson thread within it.
Dragon Essence.
His lips curved slightly.
"So one survived."
The Dragon Suppression Hall
Behind him stood three kneeling figures.
All wore black robes embroidered with silver dragon skull insignias.
"Grand Elder," one of them spoke carefully, "shall we report to the Hall?"
The old man's gaze remained distant.
"Yes."
"Inform the Dragon Suppression Hall."
"Dragon Bloodline detected."
Silence followed.
Because everyone present understood what that meant.
Dragon bloodlines were supposed to be extinct.
Erased.
Hunted.
Purged.
For a thousand years.
And now—
Heaven itself had reacted.
That meant the bloodline was pure enough to trigger rejection.
Which meant—
Dangerous.
Back at Azure Cloud Sect
Morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
Lin Xuan stood at the edge of the training grounds.
The storm had passed.
But the atmosphere had changed.
Whispers followed him now.
"That dragon shadow…"
"It came from this direction."
"Could it be someone here broke through?"
Zhao Chen approached slowly.
For the first time—
He didn't send subordinates.
He came personally.
"You hid your strength well," Zhao Chen said calmly.
Lin Xuan looked at him.
"I never claimed weakness."
A pause.
Zhao Chen's eyes were sharp, calculating.
"Three months until the Inner Selection."
His voice lowered.
"If you survive that long."
The threat was subtle.
But real.
Lin Xuan held his gaze.
"You're worried."
The words were simple.
But they landed.
A faint crack appeared in Zhao Chen's composure.
"Worried?" he repeated.
Lin Xuan stepped slightly closer.
"You don't eliminate insects personally."
Zhao Chen's aura flared for a split second.
Pressure rippled outward.
Nearby disciples stepped back instantly.
But Lin Xuan did not move.
Dragon Vein pulsed once.
Calm.
Controlled.
The two stood face to face—
Not attacking.
Not yielding.
A silent declaration.
This rivalry was no longer indirect.
That Night
Inside his spiritual sea—
Xuánlóng's massive form became clearer.
More defined.
Golden scales now outlined portions of his body.
Synchronization: 31% Stable
New Passive Unlocked: 🐉 Bloodline Resonance Detection
Lin Xuan focused.
Immediately—
A faint signal pulsed from far beyond the mountains.
Not human.
Not beast.
Something ancient.
And it was moving.
Toward the sect.
Xuánlóng's voice grew heavy.
"They have sensed you."
"The Dragon Suppression Hall will not ignore this."
Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"Dragon Suppression Hall?"
"Those who slaughtered my kin."
Silence fell.
The air inside his room grew colder.
"So it's not just Zhao Chen," Lin Xuan said quietly.
"No."
"The world beyond this sect is far more dangerous."
The Decision
Lin Xuan stood up.
If enemies were coming—
Then waiting passively was foolish.
Three months until Inner Selection.
That was his window.
He needed power.
Real power.
Not just defense.
Offense.
Authority.
He stepped outside into the moonlight.
The mountains stretched endlessly before him.
Somewhere beyond them—
Hunters were already preparing.
Lin Xuan clenched his fist.
"Then let them come."
The Dragon Vein flared faintly.
Not in anger.
But in anticipation.
Because for the first time—
The dragon was no longer hiding.
It was growing.
And the world had begun to notice.