After leaving the boy's room, Situ Juekong walked straight into the grand hall. He stood where the shadow figure had disappeared, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings before he sank into deep thought, replaying yesterday's duel in his mind. "It seems it's time for Nuo to experience the world for himself," he mused.
Just then, a surge of black mist gathered behind him, coalescing into a humanoid figure. As the dark haze dissipated, a masked young man emerged. "Master," he said, saluting Situ Juekong.
Situ Juekong turned to the young man, his face softening with a smile. "You saw yesterday's duel, didn't you?"
"Yes," the young man replied, his tone calm and respectful.
"What do you think? Let's hear it."
"The young master has decent combat instincts, but his real-world experience is lacking, and his cultivation isn't on par with the shadow figure. Still, forcing the shadow to resort to its shadow transformation—a survival move—proves his performance was adequate." The young man's assessment was straightforward, neither overly critical nor indulgent.
"And what about Nuo's final strike? How would you evaluate it?" Situ Juekong's gaze grew sharper as he locked eyes with the young man.
The masked youth hesitated briefly, then steadied himself before responding, "It should be Black Dragon Scorching Flames."
"Exactly. As expected from someone who wields the Shadow Blade." Situ Juekong nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. "The Black Dragon Scorching Flames, the primal fire of the Demon Dragon God, can devour all other flames. Only three types of people can wield it. The first are those who have cultivated our Situ Clan's Demon Dragon Art to its peak—a rarity, even among our family."
Indeed, few in the Situ Clan's history had reached the level to control the flames, with only figures like Situ Juekong and their legendary ancestor achieving such heights.
"The second," Situ Juekong continued, "are those like you and me, wielders of the Shadow Blades."
The Shadow Blades, also known as the Seven Shadow Edges, were forged from the remains of the Demon Dragon God by the Situ ancestor. Each blade contained the primal flames, granting its wielder control over the Black Dragon Scorching Flames. These blades had been hidden in the Dragon God Realm, and it was only with the help of their master, Huan, that Situ Juekong and the young man had each claimed one.
"And the third?" Situ Juekong paused for emphasis. "Are those like Nuo, who are born with a flame seed."
"A flame seed!" The young man's voice betrayed his shock. "How could the young master possess one? He doesn't have demon dragon blood. Unless…" He stopped, his expression hardening as he closed his eyes and extended his spiritual sense throughout the hall. Ensuring no one could eavesdrop, he spoke in a hushed tone, "It's the Dragon Jade, isn't it?"
"Likely," Situ Juekong confirmed, his tone grave. "It seems the Dragon Jade's power has partially awakened within him."
"If that's true, won't he risk being poisoned by its backlash?" the young man asked, concern evident.
"That, I don't know. Which is why you must watch over him closely," Situ Juekong instructed.
"Understood. If anything happens to the young master, I'll bring him back to the Demon Realm immediately."
"Remember," Situ Juekong warned, "you mustn't let him find out."
---
In a side chamber, the boy sat cross-legged on his bed, meditating. Beside him, a small earth dragon lay curled up, dozing peacefully. After yesterday's exhausting duel, his body was still recovering, and he needed to regain peak condition before heading to the Mortal Realm. Surrounding him was a dense aura, which he absorbed steadily into his energy core.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and a burst of energy surged outward, startling the little dragon awake. After a moment, the boy calmed his internal energy, reaching out to close the open bottle of incense on the table. "This Gathering Incense from the priests is amazing. It's so rich in energy that I'm almost fully recovered in just a morning."
He closed his eyes again to examine his energy core, noting with satisfaction that its capacity had grown. "At this rate, it won't be long before I reach the next stage."
After ensuring his energy was stable, the boy stood and began preparing for his journey. From the wardrobe, he retrieved several sets of clothes, some medicinal bottles, and a short blade. This blade, Remnant Moon, had been a gift from Situ Juekong, who had passed it down after learning of the boy's training in Quick Blade Slash. The boy stored everything in the Ring of Ling, a gift from his sister Ling.
"All set. Time to head out." He turned to the little earth dragon, now perched on his shoulder. "Are you excited, Longzai? We're heading to the Mortal Realm to make our mark!" The little dragon chirped in agreement, clearly just as eager. With mutual encouragement, they left the room and headed to the front courtyard.
---
In the courtyard, a middle-aged man in armor leaned against a massive dragon. Seeing the boy approach, he straightened and greeted him. "Young master, we're ready to depart."
"Thank you, Uncle Hei."
"Young master, don't mention it. The Black Demon Clan has served the Situ family since the days of the ancestor. Just as I serve your father now, my son Xiao Hei will serve you in the future!" The man puffed out his chest, pride evident.
"Let's go, then, Uncle Hei."
"Please, climb aboard." The armored man gestured, and the dragon lowered itself. The boy leaped nimbly onto its back, followed by Uncle Hei. "Fly!" The dragon's massive wings unfurled, and with just a few beats, it soared skyward.
As the palace grew smaller in the distance, the boy felt a pang of emotion. "Situ, I'm leaving now. The next time I return, I'll truly be Nuo."
Uncle Hei gathered energy in his hands, forming a glowing sigil in midair. "Mirror of the Demon Dragon, open!" A massive circular portal materialized ahead, and the dragon surged forward, diving into the light.
---
Emerging from the portal, the boy blinked as his eyes adjusted to the sudden change. Below him lay an endless forest, the Demon Dragon Palace nowhere in sight.
"Young master, this is the border between the Beast Realm and the Mortal Realm," Uncle Hei explained.
The dragon began its descent, landing in a clearing. Uncle Hei turned to the boy. "This is where I leave you. Beyond this forest lies the Mortal Realm. From here on, it's all up to you."
"I understand." The boy dismounted, waving as he called out, "Take care, Uncle Hei. I'll be fine on my own."
Uncle Hei nodded, giving the dragon a command. With a powerful flap of its wings, the dragon lifted off, quickly vanishing into the sky.
Watching them disappear, the boy turned to his companion. "It's just you and me now, Longzai." The little dragon chirped in agreement, and together, they set off toward the Mortal Realm.
---
After hours of wandering through the dense forest, the boy stopped in frustration. "Where is this Mortal Realm? Haven't I passed this tree already?" His earlier enthusiasm was replaced by irritation as he realized he was hopelessly lost.
Just then, faint flickers of firelight appeared in the distance, accompanied by muffled voices. Relief washed over him. "Finally, people! I can ask for directions."
Before he could take more than a few steps, a sudden force pulled him off his feet. He instinctively drew Remnant Moon from his ring, but the oppressive pressure around him left him immobilized. Even Longzai was pinned to the ground, unable to move.
Through the haze of power, the boy caught sight of a group of people searching the area. Their leader's voice rang out, "Find that old man! He can't have gotten far!"
"His injuries and the poison should've weakened him to sixth or seventh tier at most. Search everywhere!"
The voices faded, and the oppressive force lessened. Struggling to his feet, the boy readied his blade.
Then he saw him—a wounded middle-aged man leaning against a tree, exuding a faint but powerful aura. The man's eyes opened, and upon seeing the boy, his expression turned to one of shock.
"It's you!"