The sun beat down on the cracked earth, creating shimmering heat hazes that danced like ghosts. This was a lawless zone, a place where the weak were meat and the strong were kings.
In a narrow canyon, a roar shattered the silence, sounding like the cry of a beast from the primordial era.
"[Azure Dragon Transformation]!"
The air exploded.
Prince Seiryu stepped forward, his body undergoing a terrifying metamorphosis. Brilliant azure scales, harder than steel, erupted from his skin, covering his arms and neck. Two ethereal dragon wings, formed from pure Mana, burst from his back, scattering dust and gravel into a choking cloud.
He looked like a war god descended from the heavens. His eyes, once filled with the despair of a cripple, now burned with the vertical pupils of a predator.
"Die!"
Seiryu threw a punch. It wasn't just a physical strike; it was a manifestation of draconic fury.
[Azure Dragon Sky-Tearing Hand]!
Hundreds of azure runes spiraled out from his fist, coalescing into the phantom of a dragon's claw that devoured the space in front of him. The air screamed as it was torn apart.
BOOM!
The leader of the Demon Wolf Bandits, a cultivator at the Unity Realm, didn't even have time to beg for mercy. The pressure alone locked him in place.
"No—!"
SPLAT.
His body exploded into a mist of blood and bone shards, painting the canyon walls crimson.
"B-Boss is dead!" "Run! This kid is a monster! He's only in the Divine Bridge Realm, but he killed a Unity Expert?!"
The remaining bandits dropped their scimitars and fled in terror, scrambling over the rocks like frightened rats.
Seiryu watched them go, exhaling a plume of white steam. The dragon scales slowly retracted into his skin, fading away like a tattoo. He stood tall amidst the carnage, his blue robes fluttering in the desert wind, untouched by a single drop of blood.
He turned to the woman in white standing behind him.
She wore a long white silk dress that seemed woefully out of place in this dirty wasteland, and a veil covered her face. But her posture was rigid with shock.
She had seen many geniuses in the Imperial Capital. But to see a youth in the Divine Bridge Realm instantly obliterate a Unity Realm bandit with one punch? That was rare.
More importantly, he didn't have the arrogant, nose-in-the-air attitude of those Clan Heirs she despised. He seemed... honest. Rugged. Heroic.
Seiryu offered a gentle, reassuring smile, wiping a speck of dust from his cheek.
"Are you alright, Miss?"
"I... I am fine," she said, her voice sounding like wind chimes in the desolate valley. "Thank you, Young Master. You saved my life."
Inside the Panlong Ring on Seiryu's finger, the ghostly voice of the Ancient Dragon Master echoed in his mind.
'Kid, you hit the jackpot. This girl isn't simple.'
'What do you mean, Master?' Seiryu asked internally, keeping his face neutral.
'She has a treasure on her that blocks my spiritual sense. In this desolate province, for a woman to travel alone with such a treasure... she is definitely a Princess of an Immortal Lineage. Probably running away from home to escape a marriage or training.'
The Master's voice turned cunning, filled with the wisdom of an old monster.
'Listen to me. If you want to defeat Ryuzaki Haruto, you cannot rely on strength alone. You need allies. You need political power. If you can win this girl's heart, the power behind her could be the sword you need to cut off Haruto's head.'
Seiryu's heart skipped a beat.
Use a woman?
Three years ago, he might have hesitated. He prided himself on being righteous. But three years of humiliation, of being called "The Green Hat Prince," of remembering Princess Suzaku's betrayal... it had changed him.
'For revenge... I will do anything,' Seiryu decided, his eyes hardening for a split second before returning to warmth.
He looked at the veiled woman, his expression softening into a look of pure, harmless concern.
"The roads here are dangerous, Miss," Seiryu said, sheathing his spear. "I am Seiryu, a wandering cultivator. If you don't mind, I can escort you for a while. It isn't safe for a lady to be alone."
The woman hesitated, looking at his open hand. Then, she nodded.
"I am... Kaguya. Just Kaguya."
The Campfire Strategy
Over the next few days, Seiryu played his role perfectly.
He was the consummate gentleman. He protected her from spirit beasts, found clean spring water in the desert, and never asked about her background or why she was running. He acted like a simple, honest martial artist with a heart of gold.
Princess Kaguya found herself lowering her guard. In the Panwu Divine Dynasty, everyone approached her with schemes, flattery, and greed. Seiryu felt like a breath of fresh air. He was strong, yet humble. Dangerous, yet kind.
One night, under a sky full of stars that stretched endlessly over the dunes.
Seiryu built a campfire. He took out a wild spirit chicken he had hunted earlier.
"Miss Kaguya, you must be hungry," Seiryu smiled, sitting by the fire.
He began to roast the chicken. He used a secret blend of spices the Dragon Master had taught him—herbs that stimulated the appetite and warmed the spirit. He rotated the bird over the flames with practiced ease until the skin was golden brown and crispy, the fat sizzling and dripping into the fire with a mesmerizing hiss.
The aroma was intoxicating, cutting through the cold desert air.
"Here," Seiryu tore off a drumstick, blowing on it gently to cool it down before handing it to her. "Careful, it's hot."
It was a simple gesture. But to a Princess who had only ever eaten cold, exquisite banquets alone in a massive palace, it felt incredibly warm.
Kaguya took the drumstick. She hesitated for a moment, glancing at Seiryu. Then, she reached up and undid the clasp of her veil.
The white silk fell away.
Seiryu stopped breathing. This reaction wasn't acting.
He had expected her to be pretty. He didn't expect this.
Her face was a masterpiece sculpted by the gods. Her skin was like moonlight condensed into flesh, glowing softly in the firelight. Her lips were a soft pink, her nose delicate, and her eyes held the depth of an autumn lake. She was ethereal, noble, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Even Princess Suzaku (Bai Yu'er), whom Seiryu once thought was the most beautiful woman in the world, paled in comparison to this woman.
"What... what are you looking at?" Kaguya blushed, feeling his intense gaze.
"Sorry," Seiryu quickly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I just... I've never seen someone so beautiful. I thought a fairy had descended to earth to test my resolve."
It was a cheesy line. But delivered with Seiryu's "honest country boy" acting, it was lethal.
Kaguya's face turned redder than the fire. She took a bite of the chicken to hide her smile. "It's... delicious."
They ate in comfortable silence for a while. Then, Seiryu let out a heavy, melancholic sigh. He poked the fire with a stick, his shoulders slumping as if carrying the weight of the world.
"Seiryu?" Kaguya asked softly, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief. "Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing," Seiryu gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile. "This fire... it just reminded me of the past. Of happier times."
"The past?"
"Three years ago," Seiryu began, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "I had a fiancée. We grew up together. I loved her with all my heart. I thought we would be together forever."
Kaguya leaned in, her eyes wide with sympathy. "What happened?"
"A man appeared," Seiryu grit his teeth, his knuckles turning white on the stick. "A Young Master from a powerful Ancient Clan. He was arrogant, domineering, and cruel. He took a fancy to my fiancée."
"And she... she betrayed me. She chose his power over my love. She became his maid willingly. When I went to demand an explanation, that man... he humiliated me. He destroyed my meridians, crippled my cultivation, and left me for dead in the mud like a broken toy."
Seiryu looked up, tears glistening in his eyes (a technique taught by the Dragon Master for maximum sympathy).
"I crawled out of hell, Kaguya. I rebuilt my cultivation from nothing, enduring pain that would drive others mad. I swore that one day, I would stand in front of that man and make him pay."
Silence descended on the campsite. The only sound was the crackling of the fire.
Kaguya's hands were trembling. Not with fear, but with righteous indignation.
She was the Eldest Princess of the Panwu Divine Dynasty. She had been raised on stories of honor and justice. She despised bullies more than anything in the world.
"That is... unforgivable," Kaguya whispered. Her aura flared, revealing a glimpse of terrifying Imperial power.
"Seiryu, you are a hero. To survive that and still be so kind... I admire you."
She looked at him with burning determination.
"Who is he? Which Clan is he from?"
Seiryu hesitated, playing the victim perfectly. "He is powerful. Very powerful. I don't want to drag you into this, Kaguya. You are innocent."
"I am not afraid!" Kaguya declared, standing up. The air around her vibrated with authority. "I hate people who use their background to oppress others. Tell me his name. I will help you."
Seiryu lowered his head to hide the dark smirk forming on his lips.
'Hook, line, and sinker.'
"His name," Seiryu whispered, looking into the fire with hatred. "Is Ryuzaki Haruto."
"The Ryuzaki Clan?" Kaguya frowned. She had heard the name. The Divine Son who recently made waves at his banquet.
"I see," Kaguya nodded firmly. "Don't worry, Seiryu. Even if he is from the Ryuzaki Clan, he cannot do whatever he wants. If I meet him... I will teach him a lesson for you! Justice will prevail!"
Seiryu looked at her with feigned gratitude.
"Thank you, Kaguya. You are truly my savior."
The Resonance of Fate
Ryuzaki Domain, Heavenly Emperor's Palace.
Miles away, Ryuzaki Haruto sat in a lotus position, floating above a pool of Golden Spirit Liquid. The Supreme Bone in his chest was glowing rhythmically, breathing in the spiritual energy of the universe like a dormant beast.
Suddenly, he sneezed.
"Achoo!"
The spiritual atmosphere shattered. Haruto rubbed his nose, frowning.
"I'm a cultivator in the Divine Bridge Realm. I don't get sick," Haruto muttered, wiping his nose. "Someone is talking bad about me."
He closed his eyes, extending his perception into the void. He felt a faint thread of karma tightening in the distance. It felt slimy, like a snake slithering in the grass.
"It must be that little leek, Xiao Chen... or Seiryu, as he calls himself now," Haruto chuckled. "Or maybe Date Xingyun. They never learn."
He dismissed the feeling. Ants plotting against a dragon were of no concern.
But then, a different sensation washed over him.
It wasn't the slimy feeling of a plot. It was a warm, vibrating hum in his blood. It started in his chest, resonated with his Ancient Sacred Body, and echoed in his soul.
He thought of Minamoto Sayaka.
The image of her standing by the carriage, her Congenital Dao Embryo radiating that pure, azure light, flashed in his mind.
Thump.
His heart beat out of rhythm.
"That resonance... it's getting stronger," Haruto mused, touching his chest. "Why? When I think of her, my cultivation speed increases. My Golden Blood boils, not with anger, but with... excitement?"
"It's not lust," Haruto analyzed coldly. "I've seen beautiful women. Minamoto Ruri, Reika... they don't trigger this. But with Sayaka, it feels like my body is trying to complete a circuit."
"The Ancestor warned me that romance is a tribulation. But this doesn't feel like a tribulation. It feels like a key fitting into a lock."
He frowned, unsure whether to be annoyed or intrigued. He didn't like losing control, but the power boost was undeniable.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed outside the hall.
"Divine Son!"
Ryuzaki Kenji walked in, bowing respectfully. His aura had become sharper since mastering the [Undying Sword Body], his eyes clear and focused.
"Kenji," Haruto nodded, suppressing the strange sensation in his blood. "What is it?"
"Big news," Kenji's eyes were bright with excitement. "The scouts have reported back."
"The Supreme Celestial Void Secret Realm... has appeared!"
Haruto's eyes lit up. He stood up, the spirit water sluicing off his perfect form.
"Finally," Haruto smiled, the boredom vanishing from his face. "The stage is set."
"Prepare the Voidship, Kenji. We are going to the Panwu Divine Dynasty first."
"The Divine Dynasty?" Kenji blinked, confused. "The Secret Realm is in the opposite direction. Why go there?"
"I have a date with a Mausoleum," Haruto said, putting on his white robes. "And I hear there is a tournament for a Princess's hand in marriage. It would be rude not to crash it."
Haruto walked to the balcony, looking out at the vast empire. His eyes glinted with amusement.
"Besides," Haruto chuckled darkly. "I have a feeling my old friend Seiryu might be heading there too. A farmer must check on his crops before the harvest."
"Let's go, Kenji. It's time to remind the world why the name Ryuzaki is feared."