The Saint Martial Tournament concluded with Dongfang Yifeng narrowly clinching the championship. As the contestants and the heads of various clans departed the Holy Capital or the Divine Realm to return to their territories, the host family, the Dongfang Holy Dragon Clan, was busy preparing for the grand wedding of the young master and Miss Gan Ling in three months.
In the skies of the Divine Realm, a massive dragon was flying at high speed, escorted by several smaller dragons. Mounted on the backs of the smaller dragons were fully armored warriors clad in black, serving as the vanguard and rear guard. On the back of the massive dragon, a young man dressed in black sat silently beside a boy. Despite the tense atmosphere, both appeared calm and unbothered.
"Why didn't you go all out in the finals?" The boy broke the silence with his direct question.
"It doesn't matter," the young man replied, his voice steady but faintly reluctant. "At that moment, I had already lost the desire to win."
"Is it because Sister Gan Ling is going to marry Brother Dongfang?" The boy's inquiry carried an innocent but probing tone.
"...Perhaps," the young man admitted with a sigh, his gaze softening. "It's hard to accept, but it's her decision. All I can do is offer them my blessings."
"So, what's your plan now?" The boy pressed on, tilting his head curiously.
"Don't worry. I won't let this bring me down," the young man said with renewed determination. "Instead, I'll keep pushing forward. The Demon Realm is still fragmented, unlike the unified Divine Realm. My mission is clear—to strengthen myself, unite the Demon Realm, and ensure that the other realms regard us with respect." His voice grew passionate, and his eyes blazed with purpose.
The Divine and Demon Realms stood in stark contrast. The former had been unified by the Holy Dragon Clan ages ago, while the latter remained splintered among various clans. Si Tu Jue Kong, the young man on the dragon's back, had inherited his father's role as the leader of the Demon Dragon Clan after his father's death in battle four years ago. Over the past two years, Jue Kong had vanquished rivals, consolidated power over half the Demon Realm, and ascended to the peak of the eighth tier in personal strength—an achievement that made him the undisputed leader of the realm.
"What about you, Luo?" Jue Kong turned to the boy with a teasing grin. "You've been awfully quiet today. Not like your usual lively self."
"Uh, nothing's wrong," the boy stammered, looking away. "Maybe I'm just bummed you lost the tournament."
Jue Kong chuckled softly and tousled the boy's hair, offering silent comfort.
One Day Earlier: The Holy Dragon Palace, Underground Garden
"What's going on? Why is the mark from Dun now on my chest?" Luo exclaimed in shock, staring at the crest that had inexplicably appeared on his body.
Nearby, Gan Ling's thoughtful gaze lingered on the strange black egg in Luo's hands. "It seems everything that happened earlier is linked to this egg," she said, her voice laced with suspicion.
"What should we do now?" Luo and Nuo chorused in unison, their faces pale with worry.
Gan Ling gathered the two boys closer, her expression grave. "Listen carefully. Whatever happened tonight, you must not tell anyone. I sense a great secret is hidden here, and until I uncover it, you both must keep this to yourselves. Also, to protect this secret, the two of you will need to swap identities for now."
"Switch identities?!" The boys exclaimed, wide-eyed.
"Yes," Gan Ling confirmed with a nod. "You two look so alike that no one will notice if you play your roles naturally. It's the safest way to protect this secret." She then produced a silver-white ring and handed it to Luo. "This is a storage ring, which I call the 'Ring of Ling.' Infuse it with your energy, and it will store the egg securely. One day, if the black dragon mark reemerges, the switch can be reversed."
Luo took the ring and channeled his energy into it. Although neither boy had achieved entry-level mastery of energy control, their training as heirs of prominent families allowed them to manage basic techniques. With a thought, Luo willed the black egg into the ring's storage space, completing the process.
"Finally," Gan Ling warned, her tone firm, "you must never reveal your true identities to anyone—not even Si Tu or Dongfang. Do you understand?"
The two boys nodded solemnly, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and resolve.
Present Day: Aboard the Dragon
As the massive dragon streaked across the sky, the boy known as "Nuo" finished reflecting on the events of the previous night. Resolving to embrace his borrowed identity, he cast one last look at the horizon. The dragon accelerated, carrying him toward the Demon Realm.
Back in the Holy Dragon Palace, preparations for the wedding continued at a frantic pace. In the front courtyard, servants bustled under the direction of a middle-aged man barking orders.
"Xiao Kang, fix those decorations—they're crooked! Xiao Zhan, your lanterns are uneven! And where's A'nan? He was supposed to deliver those supplies ages ago. Everyone, pick up the pace! If we miss the wedding deadline, you'll all answer for it!"
"Relax, Steward Liao," a white-clad youth interrupted with a faint smile. "The wedding is still three months away."
"Absolutely not!" Liao retorted, his voice sharp with urgency. "This is your wedding, Young Master. Even if everyone in the Divine Realm pitched in, it wouldn't be overkill!"
The youth said nothing and walked away, leaving the steward to resume his commands.
In the rear courtyard, Gan Ling sat with a boy on a stone bench. The boy seemed tense, his brows furrowed in discomfort.
"Relax," Gan Ling reassured him. "No one will notice anything as long as I'm here."
"It's not that," the boy muttered. "I just… feel strange." Suddenly, his vision darkened, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Luo!" Gan Ling cried, catching him as panic filled her voice. "Wake up! Please, wake up!"
At that moment, the white-clad youth arrived and hurried to their side. "What happened to him?" he asked urgently.
"I don't know," Gan Ling said, her voice trembling. "He was fine earlier, and then this… It's my fault for not keeping a closer watch!"
"Don't blame yourself," the youth replied, his face grim. Placing his hands on the boy, he channeled his energy into him. Moments later, he gasped. "This is bad. Something is draining Luo's life force!"
"What?!" Gan Ling's voice was a mix of shock and terror. "Is there any way to stop it?"
"I can't remove it—not with my current power," the youth admitted. "I can only slow it down. We'll need help from someone stronger."
"Who?" Gan Ling asked desperately.
"One of the Three Powers," he replied gravely. "The High Priest of the Priesthood, Andy."