As the box creaked open, an intense, blinding light burst forth, illuminating the darkened forest. The light cascaded like a waterfall, revealing a colossal dragon of pristine black scales and iridescent patterns, like shimmering constellations in the night sky. Its emerald eyes bore into Li Wei's very soul, filling him with awe and trepidation.
Li Wei stood there, frozen in astonishment, as he witnessed the dragon's dramatic emergence. This was no ordinary dragon; it was a magnificent, mystical being unlike anything he had ever imagined. His heart pounded with fear and wonder.
The dragon's presence was overwhelming, and for a brief moment, Li Wei was paralyzed by the sheer majesty of this creature. He was unprepared for such an extraordinary revelation.
After a few moments, the dragon's gaze shifted, and it spotted Li Wei. In response to the dragon's presence, Li Wei had stepped back a few paces, still trembling in awe and fear.
The dragon's transformation was swift and stunning, leaving Li Wei in utter amazement. Before him stood a tall, well-built figure with long, flowing black hair and a face of breathtaking beauty. The transformation was nothing short of miraculous.
In a voice that resonated with power and ancient wisdom, the dragon spoke, referring to itself in the third person, "Is it you who has freed Lung Shen from his prison?"
Li Wei managed to stammer a response, his voice quivering, "Y-yes, I opened the box."
The dragon's eyes narrowed slightly as it assessed Li Wei. "Lung Shen senses something familiar about you but cannot place it. The boy... the blood... something stirs in the depths of his memory."
Li Wei's fear began to ebb as he observed the dragon's transformation into a human-like figure, but he remained wary and unsure of the dragon's true intentions.
The dragon, now in its more human-like form, turned its attention to more immediate concerns. "Li Wei," it said, "I am famished. Bring food."
With a sense of trepidation, Li Wei nodded and hurried to fetch food from his home. His village was known for its meager means, and his heart sank as he returned with a small offering—a few steamed buns and a handful of rice. As he placed the food before the dragon, he could sense the dragon's displeasure.
The dragon's tone was arrogant and rude as it expressed its dissatisfaction. "This is all you have to offer, boy? Lung Shen deserves more than this pitiful feast."
Li Wei felt a twinge of guilt but said nothing, fearful of offending the being before him.
With a mixture of trepidation and wonder, Li Wei watched as the dragon spread its immense wings once more. The transformation from a dragon into a soaring figure of incomparable beauty was a breathtaking sight. The moonlight caught its ebony scales as it unfurled its wings and ascended, its long, flowing hair trailing like an obsidian waterfall.
The dragon's departure was a majestic and unhurried affair. It seemed to linger for a moment in the celestial expanse, its form silhouetted against the moon, before it soared even higher, becoming a distant, ethereal speck.
The dragon's parting words were clear and direct, "Li Wei, be here tomorrow at the same hour, and bring more food."
Li Wei felt as if he were witnessing the ascent of a celestial being. His heart swelled with a mixture of reverence and gratitude. This encounter had unveiled a world of wonder and mystery that defied imagination, and it had left a profound mark on his soul.
With the night breeze whispering through the ancient forest, Li Wei was left to ponder the significance of this encounter and the destiny that lay ahead. As Lung Shen's presence faded into the heavens, he was filled with a profound sense of wonder and an unshakable conviction that his life was forever changed.