Ryuzaki Domain, Divine Son's Palace.
"Grandpa," Ryuzaki Haruto frowned. "You want me to break into the Panwu Divine Dynasty's Mausoleum? That's a private ancestral grave. They won't just let me in."
Ryuzaki Kenshin laughed, his voice booming. "Nothing is absolute, Haruto. If they refuse, we force our way in. For your future, offending an Immortal Dynasty is a small price."
Haruto sighed. The Ryuzaki Clan's domineering nature was truly incurable.
"Let's try diplomacy first," Haruto said. "But I need that inheritance. Great Emperor Panwu had the Ancient Sacred Body. His notes could save me years of detours."
The Sacred Body was rare. Finding a Great Emperor who had completed it was even rarer.
"I will prepare," Haruto decided. "But first, I need to consolidate my strength."
One Year Later
Time flowed like water. Haruto turned eleven.
He looked older—like a fifteen-year-old youth. His height had increased, his shoulders broadened, and his face had lost its childish roundness, becoming breathtakingly sharp and handsome.
His cultivation had reached the Divine Bridge Realm: Great Perfection. It seemed slow for him, but his true progress lay elsewhere.
Sword Dao: He had mastered the Second Sword: [Demon Slayer].
Supreme Bone: After absorbing the Supreme Spirit Liquid, the bone had evolved. The [Heavenly Calamity Light] had upgraded into a complete Divine Art: [The Hand of God] (Kami no Te).
Physical Body: After refining the Dragon Pearl, he had awakened another 20,000 Giant Elephant Particles.
Total: 70,000 Particles.
Force: 700 Million Kin.
"700 Million Kin," Haruto clenched his fist, feeling the air explode in his palm. "And that's without activating the Sacred Body."
He stood on the balcony, looking out at the sea of clouds.
"Cultivation is getting boring," Haruto sighed. "I miss my little leek."
He thought of Prince Seiryu (Xiao Chen).
"I wonder if he has fattened up yet?"
Haruto smiled. It was a terrifying smile that promised harvest.
The Protagonist's Return
Province of Kun (Kunzhou).
This was a desolate wasteland on the edge of the Empire. It was a lawless zone plagued by bandits, monsters, and sandstorms. A perfect place for a fallen protagonist to train.
In a treacherous canyon, a half-dragon figure roared.
"[Azure Dragon Sky-Tearing Hand]!"
SLASH!
A massive azure claw materialized, tearing a Unity Realm rock monster into pieces. Blood and gravel rained down.
The figure retracted his scales, revealing a handsome, determined young man.
It was Prince Seiryu (Xiao Chen).
Three years had passed since Ryuzaki Haruto had crippled him and stolen his fiancée.
"Good," a ghostly voice echoed from the ring on his finger. "You reached the Fourth Level of the [Azure Dragon Transformation]. You can now kill Unity Realm beasts while being in the Divine Bridge Realm."
The ghost of the Ancient Dragon Master floated out, looking proud.
"Master," Seiryu clenched his fists. "Three years ago, Ryuzaki Haruto treated me like a joke. He took Vermilion Bird Princess Bai Yu'er from me."
"Thirty years east, thirty years west! I swore I would surpass him!"
"Now, I am ready. I will go to the Supreme Yuantian Secret Realm and show the world who the real genius is!"
Seiryu's eyes burned with the fire of revenge. He was convinced that his suffering was just the prelude to his rise.
"Careful," the Master warned. "There is commotion ahead."
Seiryu frowned and crept forward.
In the valley below, a scene straight out of a novel was unfolding.
A woman in a white silk dress, her face veiled, was running desperately. Chasing her were a dozen rugged men riding demon wolves.
"Hehe! Run, little beauty!" the bandit leader laughed. "No one escapes the Demon Wolf Bandits!"
The woman gritted her teeth. She was beautiful, with eyes like autumn water. But she seemed unable to use her Mana.
'Damn it,' she thought. 'If I use my cultivation, the Imperial Guards will find me. I ran away to escape that marriage, I can't go back!'
"Scream all you want!" the bandit leered. "No one will save you in this wasteland!"
Just as the bandit reached out to grab her veil...
"STOP!"
A righteous shout echoed from the cliffs.
Seiryu leaped down, landing between the girl and the bandits. He stood tall, his blue robes fluttering, looking every bit the hero.
"Let go of that girl!" Seiryu declared, pointing his spear at the bandits.
The girl blinked, looking at his back. 'A hero?'
Seiryu glanced back at her, giving her a reassuring smile. 'Don't worry, miss. I will protect you.'
Inside his ring, the Dragon Master sighed. 'This kid... he really attracts trouble and women.'
But Seiryu didn't care. This was his destiny. Saving beauties, killing villains, and getting stronger. He didn't know that every step he took, every beauty he saved, was just fattening him up for the true predator waiting in the Ryuzaki Domain.