185 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 855: The Escape Xiang Shiyan disappeared on the third day after that chaotic event ended. He He, lying in bed pretending to be an injured person, finally drifted into a rare nap, only to be struck by a nightmare. He escaped into sleep to avoid the memories of the previous day, only to find them replayed in his dreams. Xiang Shiyan straddled him, pressing him down onto the bed with her half-closed eyes, her face flushed yet filled with bewilderment and sadness. As the heat of the moment faded, the primal instincts that had overwhelmed Xiang Shiyan subsided, and clarity returned to her thoughts. She awoke with a sense of shock at her actions, as if waking from a long dream. He He could see she wasn't regretful, yet the profound sadness emanating from her was like a tide, even He He felt lost, unsure of where to go from here. For a moment, He He forgot he was no longer Xiang Shiyan's beloved disciple and instinctively reached to comfort her. However, still weak from being strangled by the powerful transformed demon, he could only manage a hoarse whisper. Xiang Shiyan forcefully pushed away his approaching hand and turned to flee. With a sore throat, unable to breathe easily, He He painfully wrapped his arms around Xiang Shiyan’s waist from behind. He wanted to speak again, but the words turned into a hoarse, dreamlike murmur against her back, resonating through her heart. He placed a hand over her eyes, and she, slowly ceasing her struggles, fell into slumber. He He didn't know what he was doing. He had many matters to attend to, and shouldn't have been tangled with Xiang Shiyan again... Their relationship should not have been this deep. Even after observing all of Xiang Shiyan's memories, he couldn't fully grasp her secrets. It was as though there was something about her beyond his understanding. But He He had neither the time nor the energy to delve further. What was the mysterious force that rescued Xiang Shiyan from the illusion that day? Did she truly have such a deep connection with others besides himself? What exactly were they to each other now? He He didn't want to ponder these questions any longer. He was ready to leave Yu Cang Mountain. Even before his identity was exposed, He He had decided on this course of action. Being in Yu Cang Mountain, one of the thirteen sects, allowed him to gather information and monitor the actions of the human cultivators. However, his current identity prevented him from creating any significant disturbances, leaving him reliant solely on his own strength. Previously trapping Xiang Shiyan within an illusion, He He had submerged himself into her consciousness to silently explore her memories, particularly those concerning the future. Xiang Shiyan's memories were far clearer than He's. The scenes explained that even with the indomitable strength of a black dragon, there was little to gain facing the Tai Xu Sect, which commanded the entire realm of cultivators. He couldn't simply rely on himself. He needed to utilize everything at his disposal to isolate Tai Xu Sect, thereby avoiding a future where he was surrounded by enemies. Thus, he decided to leave for the demon realm. In his solitary nightmare, Xiang Shiyan expressed her hatred, fading away like a drifting cloud. He transformed back into his original form, desperately chasing after her, unable to reach even a corner of her garment. As the last of the dragon race, nurtured by the essence of the world, He was gifted with sight beyond the ordinary, blending his soul with Xiang Shiyan’s. The dream seemed like a prophecy, or perhaps Xiang Shiyan's overpowering consciousness warning him. The black dragon couldn’t afford to delay, heading straight for the retreat where Xiang Shiyan was being held. Since that day, He He hadn’t checked on Xiang Shiyan for three consecutive days. The inner chamber was impeccably clean, without a trace of the chaos from days before. Xiang Shiyan liked her belongings organized, with shelves and desks restored to their places, and the scattered elixirs and plants collected, the shattered containers swept into a corner. Even the stone bed where they had been together was tidied up. He He touched the folded quilts, recalling how Xiang Shiyan was still sleeping when he left three days ago. The chill he felt upon leaving the warm bed caused a shiver, yet he didn’t dare lie back down, only tucking the blanket around the woman whose furrowed brows had finally relaxed in sleep. The bedspread felt icy cold, devoid of Xiang Shiyan’s warmth. He He touched his own neck, where faint bruises lingered. He had applied makeup to disguise them, worried about being discovered by Huai Ye. His voice remained hoarse, the result of Xiang Shiyan’s grasp, and strangely, he found himself reluctant to erase these marks. It was difficult to say how surprised he was by Xiang Shiyan’s escape. Though a void crept into his heart upon seeing the empty room, it was quickly followed by a sense of relief. Deep down, some part of him hoped for Xiang Shiyan to continually surprise him. Despite the unease, he knew he couldn’t keep her confined forever. He didn't expect her to escape within two months. In his plans, he anticipated her sinking into despair for a long time. Perhaps her previous despondency was merely an act to lower his guard. The demon dragon paced the inner room. It was hard to imagine how a restored Xiang Shiyan, calmly tidying up the aftermath, could return it to its former state, suppressing her emotions once He entered her life. Did her face reflect the same serene sorrow she had when she grasped He's throat? He approached the entrance of the cave where he had cast a barrier. The barrier remained intact, unchanged from the last he saw. He tilted his head, his right eye detecting the flow of spiritual energy like a pale golden wall sealing the exit. Yet curious blood-red patterns etched themselves upon its surface. So that’s it. He placed a hand on the transparent barrier, light golden ripples flickering as intricate crimson patterns slowly emerged. His captive spent each day at the cave entrance, drawing a formation with her blood not in an attempt to escape, but meticulously studying the barrier’s ebbs and flows, uncovering a passage for herself through its subtle variations. Day by day, she focused intently on certain aspects of the barrier's changes, piecing them together in her mind. Meanwhile, she used her blood-drawn formations to mislead He He, making him believe the barrier's resistance was as futile as before. Their souls were fused, rendering barriers useless between them. This door was He's crafted effort, meant to hinder Xiang Shiyan, yet it confused the two. Xiang Shiyan's blood rendered the door an invitation for He He, allowing her to leave Mozhu Peak unimpeded. As He He touched the mottled bloodstains, his fingers trembled. An unsettling premonition crept upon him. Xiang Shiyan had sealed her own consciousness, indicating she had unlocked her spiritual aperture, or that mysterious power aided her once again. At that moment, He He could no longer sense Xiang Shiyan nor ascertain her location. Yet this disturbing feeling wasn’t solely due to Xiang Shiyan’s mysterious whereabouts, but a peculiar certainty that she would grant him another great surprise. ...Would she really have included even that in her plans? He He couldn’t help but glance back at the neatly made bed, a ripple stirring in his heart. Even if she used her emotions to create an opportunity, the time to escape was brief; if someone aided her, He could surmise who it might be, but chasing Xiang Shiyan now would be pointless. Three days prior, Huai Ye, who finally had time to tend to He He at Mozhu Peak, was suddenly called away due to the visit of an envoy from the Tianji Sect. The relationship between the Tianji Sect and Tai Xu Sect, once about that newly acquired Qingshan Forest, increased communications between them. This time a young elder from Tianji Sect arrived unannounced at Yu Cang Mountain to discuss a newly discovered relic. Word had spread across the cultivator realm that the preordained fate calculated by Tianji Sect had fallen at He's hands. Mozhu Peak was shattered overnight, and Yue Hua Jun's disappearance after slaying his chief disciple had reached everyone. Tianji Sect’s actions were swifter than He’s expectations but didn’t surprise him. Qin Miao, like He, was just a scapegoat meant to protect the true fate holders. Fu Zhi, having long known his identity, doubting him immediately after Xiang Shiyan’s disappearance was hardly unexpected. Yet Xiang Shiyan, unaware of He's and Fu Zhi's connection, unable to discern the outside world from within her confinement, managed to choose perfectly coincidental timing... The black dragon paced the inner room, unable to resolve his confusion. Forget it, matters that cannot be resolved should be set aside for the moment. The immediate priority is to prepare for the journey to the demon realm. From the memories He acquired from Xiang Shiyan, it's clear that the leader of the Xiao clan has the potential for success. At least in the envisioned future, she did manage to kill her master, and if not for He's intervention, she nearly ascended to the position of Demon Emperor. So, perhaps it would be best to let her take this position spotlighted by all; He could then leverage his contributions to the dragon lineage to gain the support of the demon clan without provoking a large-scale retaliation from the human cultivators. The envoy of the Tianji Sect departed Yu Cang Mountain on their flying vessel three hours ago. It's likely that once Xiang Shiyan reaches safety, she will disclose everything about He to them. At that point, He would have no choice but to leave. When the existence of the dragon clan is known across the cultivation world, the demon tribe will likely catch wind of it as well. If He could capitalize on this reveal, perhaps his plans would progress even more smoothly... Even if Xiang Shiyan hadn't escaped, He would have released her in a month's time. His continued stay at Yu Cang Mountain was merely to observe his demon allies. If Xiao Luan proves to be of great utility, He would naturally lift the barrier on Xiang Shiyan once he leaves Yu Cang Mountain. But now that she has escaped on her own... What is this subtle feeling of unease? He couldn't help but place a hand on his chest, where his slowly beating heart was beginning to accelerate. Would his master truly act as He's anticipated, following the path He expected for her? It turned out He's unease was justified. On the third day of Xiang Shiyan's escape, no news of the black dragon's emergence spread through the cultivation world. And for the following month, three months, a year, five years… up until the sixtieth year, the missing Yue Hua Jun never openly returned to the cultivation world. Author's note: The demon realm arc begins! Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient liquids between 2022-10-27 20:59:57 and 2022-10-30 02:25:00~ Special thanks to the little angel who gave a rocket launcher: Yuan Yan Tiandie 1; And to the little angel who provided nutrient fluids: Has the author updated 2 bottles; Thank you all for your support, I will continue to work hard! No pop-up ads on this site, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)