Before, the Prince of Water was just a term to describe Shin's efficiency in his ability to manipulate water. However, the meaning behind the Azure Dragon's words carried a different type of weight. Now, Shin was the sole inheritor of the Lady of Water, the Lantis Republic's progenitor. The Eight Scions of Water were born from the Lady of Water, and they all possessed the same bloodline as the Celestial Dragon. No matter how diluted Shin's blood was now, every single soul in the Lantis Republic had to agree that he was their new Prince.
From this day forth, the children that Shin has could turn the Lantis Republic on its head. If he fathered a child that wasn't part of the Eight Scions of Water, would they create their own clans? Could he use the Celestial Dragon to advance into the Spirit Immortal realm? It was all so new to the Eight Ancient Clans… but also exhilarating.
The prophecy was true! The Lady of Water did leave behind her legacy. It took five hundred thousand years for it to come true though…
Shin was still in the midst of comprehending what had happened. Every member of the Lantis Republic, including the Azure Dragon that guarded the Celestial River, was busy bowing to the young man standing on top of the water basin. Shin had seen reverent gazes before, but the shine in the Azure Dragon's eyes wasn't just that… It was entirely looking at the Celestial Dragon as if it was their Messiah.
The vast populace was mostly ignorant about the Celestial Dragon since most of its legacies were forgotten by time. However, the bloodline of the Azure Dragon would never forget. How the Celestial Dragon dominated the skies and the oceans just by its breath. How it could call up Poseidon's minions with only one regal wave. Honestly, the Ancient Spirit Beasts were all floored when they heard that the Celestial Dragon had contracted with a human. Still, the Lady of Water was an excellent contractor, and she treated all Spirit Beasts with the respect they deserve. And it shows. If not for her wisdom, perhaps the Eight Clans of Water wouldn't have the protection of their Guardian Spirit Beasts.
Shin's Celestial Dragon was still an infant compared to the one of old, but in due time, the Azure Dragon believed that Shin would turn into the world's most dominant cultivator.
"Mmmmm… Prince of Water, please receive your subjects." The Azure Dragon cried.
"No… I..." Shin turned around, his eyes trembling and lips smacking against itself. How could he be calm? One second he was taking the Trial of the Celestial Dragon, the next, his Spirit was the Celestial Dragon. Not to mention, the exalted High Elders of the Clan and Spirit Saints were all kneeling in front of him.
Noticing Shin's unease, Longyu Tian offered some assistance. "I believe Shin is still a little tired from the Trial." Shin looked at the woman as if she was an angel sent down from the heavens. Longyu Tian winked discreetly, reassuring the youth just a little. "So why don't I bring him back to Longyu Reef to rest? We'll talk about the Celestial Dragon in a few days."
"Just a second!" A voice strained through the crowd, and a wrist cupped Longyu Tian's. Shenshe Zemin, the Saint of Poisons, was on the other side of the wristlock.
"Zemin, is something the matter?" Longyu Tian smilingly brushed off the woman's hand and placed on a mask worthy of winning every acting award there was.
"Don't what's the matter me!" The Spirit Saint clicked her tongue. "If Shin wants to rest, he can do it here on Celestial Island! Why are you in such a rush to bring the Prince back to Longyu Reef, huh?"
'Tsk, and just a few minutes ago you were saying that Shin would only make it to a hundred metres...' Longyu Tian wanted to curse at her longtime rival. "Shin has been living in Longyu Reef for a while now. He's naturally more familiar with its environment. It only makes sense that he rests and recuperates there!"
"No, Tian… Zemin is right." A macho voice interjected between the both of them. Jingyu Han, the Saint of the Oceans, took his place right before the pair of squabbling women. "Shin does not possess the Sovereign Koi anymore. He's no longer under the sole discretion of the Longyu Clan." His arms akimbo, the colossal man added, void of his usual humour. "The Celestial Dragon rules over all Eight Clans. We can't have you keeping Shin all to yourself."
While Longyu Tian's actions may seem like extending a helping hand for Shin, it could also be seen as the Longyu Clan trying to hog the new Lantis Republic's Prince. Shin's position as the Lady of Water's inheritor meant that he was the true heir of Celestial Island. Up till this day, the Eight Clans of Water had been arguing on how to split the most valuable plot of land in the Lantis Archipelago. Although they have decided on sharing the area, Shin now had the right to strip them bare. Furthermore, with the Celestial Dragon by his side, every single intelligent Oceanic Spirit Beast would bow to his orders, making him the undisputed Prince of the Oceans.
It would do the Eight Clans well to have Shin on their good side, and fortunately for the Longyu Clan, they had a head start. However, that could all change with a snap of a finger. If the Jingyu Clan and the others decide to pool their resources together, the Longyu Clan wouldn't be able to compare. The only advantage the Longyu Clan had was their blood relations, and even that was built on shaky foundations. Technically, Shin is the descendant of a denounced Longyu Clan member, and the remaining seven clans were definitely going to double down on that point.
Longyu Dao wanted to interject, but the Clan Master was stopped a silky smooth arm. Irate, he turned to the woman that held him back, "Where's your neutrality, Chancellor?" The man said, nostrils fuming.
"I am neutral," Jingyu Shenxian replied, calm as the water basin before them. "That's why I'm stopping you. This is one of the rare occasions where none of our opinions matter." The Chancellor pivoted her head up, showing those that were participating in the debate. The four Spirit Saints, the backbone of the entire Lantis Republic, were now in a standoff. Longyu Tian versus the world. At the corner, the Azure Dragon was already summoning its brethren, calling them to worship their new king. In the end, the Azure Dragon race only listened to the Lantis Republic due to their oath to the Lady of Water. Now that her successor has appeared, there was no need to consider the Eight Clans of Water anymore. After all, Shin's children could potentially break the everlasting bloodline of the Eight Scions.
Jingyu Shenxian and the remaining High Elders were quick to notice this. Thus, no matter how loud the four Spirit Saints were, they wouldn't rush to interject. There were just too many variables to consider right now, and one wrong step could spell the end of their clan or the entire Lantis Republic.
"Mmmm… Saints of the Eight Scions… There's no need for you to argue..." The Azure Dragon took the four Spirit Saints by surprise. Heaps of azure hue brightened up the Celestial River as over a dozen dragons flew out from their deep hibernation. It really was quite intimidating for Shin, both visually and mentally. Anyone would be startled if Tier 9 Dragons suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Oddly enough, though Shin felt anxiety, he didn't feel all too afraid that the Dragons would harm him. All of them bowed down to the Celestial Dragon that was circulating the young man, one youngster even poked its snout closer and was subject to a brutal tail whip by its mother.
"Training the Spirit of the Celestial Dragon is a responsibility that has been passed down from our ancestors for years now," the Azure Dragon claimed. "The Prince of Water will stay on Celestial Island. Until his training is complete, all visitors are banned from the Celestial River."
The Spirit Saints all looked at one another, baffled. The Eight Scions of Water were close to the Azure Dragon race, but their information about the Celestial Dragon was severely lacking.
"Honoured one, how long would this training take?" Longyu Tian, possibly the only Spirit Saint genuinely worried for Shin, stepped forward with a bent waist.
"A day, a month, a year, a century?" The Azure Dragon shook its head, not willing to give a definite answer. "It honestly depends. This is the first time we've trained the successor after all." Never in five hundred thousand years had someone conquered the Celestial River. It was natural for the Azure Dragon to be clueless.
"A century?!" Every single soul in the area screamed. Dragons could live long lives, far longer than any human, turtle or tree. A century to them was like a year for humans. Even if Shin became a Rank 80 Spirit Venerate, his lifespan was at most four hundred years. By then, the Black Masks crisis would have been long over, and most of his family and friends would have forgotten his face if they were still alive, that is.
Naturally, that didn't sit well for the Lantis Republic members, including Shin. So, a uniform protest was raised. "Honoured one, a century is far too long! We can't have our Prince kept in one place for a quarter of his life!" Longyu Tian argued.
"That's right, honoured one! I can't train for a hundred years!" Shin added but was quickly rebutted by the Azure Dragon's raised brow.
"My Prince, didn't I tell you that you bow to no one?" The dragon breathed out steam which brushed against Shin's bright face. "I'm but your humble servant, not some honoured being. Please, just call me Zishen."
"Then… Zishen! If you call me your Prince, you shouldn't hold me back for a hundred years! There are still enemies to fight outside of the Lantis Republic! I can't stay that long!" Shin quickly adapted to his new position of power. He was now the most powerful man in the Lantis Republic. If he wanted to, Shin could take control over the entire Lantis Military and march over into the mainland with just a thought. Of course, he didn't know that he had that power yet, and was only capable of ordering this much for now.
"As you command," the Azure Dragon didn't even put up a fight. Putting its head down, the Azure Dragon adopted a somewhat submissive pose for a Spirit Beast its size. "However, it's also our duty to train the new Celestial Dragon… How about this? Let us train you for three days first. Take it as an evaluation for us to determine how long it would take."
"..."
The Lantis Republic's higher-ups all looked among themselves. It was a reasonable request. While Shin was training with the Celestial Dragons, they could iron out the details regarding Shin's accommodation in the High Council.
"Alright, honoured one. If it's just three days, then we'll leave the Prince in your care." Jingyu Han attempted to play the leader and speak for the rest. Longyu Tian puckered her lips, but ultimately, she decided to just leave it be. However, she did move straight to the young man.
"We'll be coming back to check on you in three days. By then, I'll be sure to bring you some good things!" The Spirit Saint winked.
"Haha, yeah..." Shin replied with a contorted smile. What should his reaction be when a Spirit Saint, who was at least two hundred years old, winks at him?
"Shin..." Meijing Bingying attempted to get a word in before leaving the Celestial River. Unfortunately, she didn't get the chance. No, not even Longyu Dao could interject, let alone a mere Spirit Spectre.
Shin watched as the congregation quickly left, leaving Shin alone with the dozens of Azure Dragons. They were breathing down heavy mist, anticipating the deed that was to come.
"Mmmm… Prince… Now that they're gone… Let me ask you this..." The Azure Dragon looked straight at the Celestial Dragon, who was adorably trying to look bigger than it currently was.
"What is it?"
"How much do you know about the Celestial Dragon?" Zishen asked.
Shin rubbed his fingers on the base of his chin before giving a rough answer. "Not much..." the youth claimed. "Other than the fact that the Celestial Dragon is the progenitor of water, I don't know anything else..."
"Mmmm… You're right but misinformed..." Zishen twisted his body and directed Shin's attention to the Celestial River. Placing one of his claws within the running currents, the dragon split the water, sending a gushing stream downwards in the opposite direction. A rainbow of colours took form, creating a spellbinding scene that would entrance any soul that stared deep into it.
"The Celestial Dragon is most famous for its Water-Element because of the Lady of Water. However, in truth, the Celestial Dragon has dominion over several elements."
"What?!"
"Haven't you noticed?" Zishen cocked its head in jest. "You're no longer just sensitive to the water elements around. Mind-Elements, Time-Elements, Light-Elements… They're all at your fingertips now..."
"Now that you mention it..." Shin thought back on the times where he could utilise the Ice and Mind-Element, even though he was clearly a Water-Element user. "Why is that?"
Zishen shook his head, "The Celestial Dragon is a mysterious figure and to understand it, you must first look into its history…" A warm steam cloud puffed onto Shin's face once more as the Azure Dragon laid its head flat on the floor. "And its story… Is the story of the Twin Dragons that once ruled the world..."
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