The Celestial Dragon Continent earned its name during Ancient Times, when the Dragon Race—the strongest of all races—ruled the land. But as the ages turned, the once-prosperous Dragon Race gradually declined, eventually becoming Divine Objects spoken of only in legends.
The people of the continent revere the path of Martial Arts, which is inextricably linked to the Dragon Race. The goal of Cultivation is to open the Dragon Veins within the body. There are nine Dragon Veins in total, each divided into nine layers. Only after breaking through the Ninth Layer of one vein can a cultivator begin to open the next.
Legend has it that anyone who completely opens all nine Dragon Veins can transform into a Divine Dragon, becoming the ultimate master of the continent. However, in millions of years, no one has ever succeeded. Even the most powerful Martial Emperors have only managed to open seven.
However, another legend also circulates on the continent: when the Dragon Race fell, many of its powerful members sealed their immense Dragon Power within their Dragon Pearls. It is said that obtaining a Dragon Pearl can make one's Cultivation progress with twice the results for half the effort.
The Dragon Ball Energy left behind by the War Dragons is said to be the most potent of all. Thus, countless people dream of obtaining a War Dragon Pearl to become a true expert, hoping to one day break through to that legendary Realm…
In the faint light of early morning, just as the horizon began to glow, a young man was already training on the Ye Family's Martial Arts Training Ground in Lisha City, his fists a blur as sweat poured down his face.
Most people were still sound asleep at this hour, but the youth had already been training for quite some time. His fair, handsome face wore an expression of grim determination and persistence. His eyes, in particular, were bright and clear, radiating a powerful fighting spirit...
The young man's name was Ye Tian. He was fourteen years old. Six months ago, he had come from a branch of the Ye Family to join the main Ye Clan in Lisha City, becoming a disciple of the Outer Sect.
Before arriving in Lisha City, Ye Tian had been the prodigy of his family's branch clan, practically glowing with talent. But here, he discovered that his past advantages meant nothing. He was at the bottom of the hierarchy, and many others had already surpassed him.
He had dreamed of making a name for himself here, of distinguishing himself and becoming a powerful expert others would look up to. Now, however, he could only pour more and more time into his Cultivation just to keep from being left completely in the dust.
As the sky brightened, other disciples began to trickle onto the Ye Family's Martial Arts Training Ground for their morning practice. These were all disciples of the Outer Sect. The Inner Sect disciples had their own exclusive grounds for Cultivation and would rarely deign to appear here unless they wanted to show off or had some other specific business.
"Look! That guy Ye Tian is out here training early again. He sure is diligent!" said a disciple arriving at the training ground.
"It's useless no matter how hard he works," another chimed in. "He's only at the Second Layer of the first Dragon Vein, which is way too far behind us. If he can't break through to the Fourth Layer before the clan assessment next month, he'll probably be sent away."
"Break through two layers in a single month? You think that's possible for him? He hasn't had a single breakthrough since he arrived. Even with a miracle, the best he could do is reach the Third Layer. Let's not waste our time on a good-for-nothing like him. He's getting kicked out soon anyway."
The voices weren't loud, but Ye Tian heard every word distinctly. He'd lost count of how many times he'd heard such things. Perhaps he was already used to the cold mockery. He paid them no mind.
For he knew one thing with perfect clarity: 'If I can just awaken the Dragon Ball Energy within the Dragon Pearl, I'll instantly become the greatest prodigy in Lisha City. Then, everyone who looks down on me will be forced to eat their words.' No one knew that deep inside him, Ye Tian possessed a Dragon Pearl—the very thing every Martial Artist on the continent coveted. He had obtained it by a stroke of pure luck.
One night, as he was drifting in and out of sleep, he thought he heard an ancient voice whisper in his ear. The sound was ethereal, impossible to pinpoint.
Ye Tian's heart skipped a beat. He shot up in bed, straining to hear the source of the sound. After waiting a long while with no result, he figured he must have been hallucinating from the exhaustion of his recent training. Shaking his head, he lay back down to sleep.
A short while later, the voice returned. This time, he heard it with perfect clarity. Someone was definitely speaking to him. But the speaker wasn't anywhere near him; it was as if they were using some method of long-distance communication.
Ye Tian was now wide awake and completely unsettled. He sat up once more, concentrating all his effort on pinpointing the voice's origin.
After another ten minutes, he clearly heard five words: "Come to the back mountain river!"
Ye Tian had always been daring. Intrigued by the strange occurrence, he was determined to get to the bottom of it. He quietly slipped out of his room and headed for the river on the back mountain.
Though it was the middle of the night, the bright, silvery moon overhead illuminated his surroundings, allowing him to reach the river on the back mountain with great speed.
The river on the back mountain wasn't particularly wide or deep. Ye Tian often came here to catch fish and shrimp, so he knew its waters like the back of his hand.
Now he stood quietly at the river's edge, watching the water flow by. He had no idea why the strange voice had summoned him here; he was utterly confused and bewildered.
"You have come." The ancient voice, now right beside his ear, startled Ye Tian. He scanned his surroundings, but there was still no one in sight. A prickle of fear ran down his spine. He'd heard tales of mountain spirits and ghosts, and he began to suspect he had run into something of the sort.
"Who are you? Why did you summon me here?" Ye Tian asked, mustering his courage and directing his voice toward the surface of the river.
A resounding Dragon's Roar echoed out. Ye Tian didn't know if anyone else could hear it, but to him, it was deafeningly real. Following the sound, the ethereal image of a colossal golden dragon materialized above the river, radiating an aura that compelled reverence.
'A dragon?' The word flashed through Ye Tian's mind. Dragons were Divine Objects of legend. He couldn't believe he was actually seeing one, let alone that it had sought him out. This was all too incredible.
It felt like a dream, yet it was undeniably real, right before his eyes. He had no choice but to believe it. Fear mingled with excitement, churning his emotions into a complex knot.
"I know you wonder why I have sought you out," the golden Divine Dragon's phantom said. "What you see is but a Divine Shadow I left behind. Your natural Pure Yang Body makes you the successor I have sought for tens of thousands of years. Once you receive my inheritance, I hope you will fulfill my unfinished wish."
Ye Tian's eyes went wide. Everything was happening too fast. Even for someone as daring as he was, this was overwhelming. "Why should I agree to your request?" The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them.
"You have no choice!" the Divine Shadow boomed, its voice filled with rage. "Do you have any idea who I am? Encountering me is the greatest fortune of your life, and you dare refuse? In my time, I would have obliterated you for such insolence! Don't be so ungrateful!"
Ye Tian was suddenly crushed by a suffocating pressure that nearly buckled his knees. But with sheer stubbornness, he forced himself to remain standing. "I know you're a Divine Dragon. But even a Divine Dragon has no right to force me to do something I don't want to do!"
The Divine Shadow nearly went berserk at Ye Tian's words. Countless mortals dreamed of an encounter like this, yet this boy acted as if it were a misfortune. The sheer audacity was infuriating enough to make it want to strike him down.
Ye Tian knew his words would likely provoke the entity, but his unyielding nature compelled him to speak his mind. Just as he expected, the Divine Shadow roared in anger:
"Brat, my decisions are not for you to question! In time, you will understand the favor I am bestowing upon you! I trust you will fulfill my wish!"
As soon as it finished speaking, the Divine Shadow erupted in a blinding golden light, forcing Ye Tian to shield his eyes. A Dragon's Roar shook the heavens, and then a golden pearl materialized above the river, shooting rapidly toward him.
A searing pain erupted in his chest, and Ye Tian collapsed by the river's edge, unconscious…