196 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 195: Theft of Treasure Fu Zhi noticed that Mu Hua and Fu Xiao, who shielded her on either side, would often cast puzzled glances her way. To be more precise, their confusion was directed at the white fox in her embrace. Though she couldn’t see it herself, Mu Hua and Fu Xiao had a crystal-clear view. Just moments ago, on the deck, a tall woman dressed in white had inexplicably transformed into a plump little fox, leaving not a trace of magic in the air. Now nestled comfortably in Fu Zhi's arms, the fox’s dignified face still bore a strikingly human-like expression. It was apparent that this wasn't any ordinary illusion. Despite Xiang Shi Yan having concealed her demon energy well, her transformation to beast form hadn't escaped the notice of the two. As Fu Zhi absentmindedly pet the little fox, Fu Xiao's face turned pale. Mu Hua and Fu Zhi were both physically weakened by the prophecy, making Fu Xiao, the youngest yet most powerful among them, keenly aware of the extraordinary and ancient aura emanating from Xiang Shi Yan’s leaked demon energy. Exchanging a discreet glance with her senior sister, Fu Xiao shook her head lightly in fear. Could her master be aware of this too...? One of the most renowned prodigies of the cultivation world was actually a demon! Such a revelation sparked a storm of thoughts in the minds of Mu Hua and Fu Xiao. Did Xiang Shi Yan leave Yu Cang Mountain because her identity was uncovered? Why was she raised among humans? And Fu Zhi—did she know all along? Their fierce thoughts turned towards the blue-clad woman who was laughing foolishly while fondling the fox fur, oblivious to their scrutiny. In actuality, Fu Zhi did know some of Xiang Shi Yan's secrets. The odd omens in the divinations correlated with her demon form, but it wasn’t until she felt the soft fur with her own hands that everything seemed real. The little creature in her arms, with its fluffy coat, made Fu Zhi feel as if she was holding a large ball of down. Without realizing it, she began to gently stroke its plush fur. Seeing that Xiang Shi Yan did not resist, she boldly ventured a touch at the fox's belly. The sensation, as if it might swallow her entire hand, made Fu Zhi pause for a moment before instinctively rubbing it. The soft belly fur wove between her fingers, and she contentedly smoothed each strand down. She wished she could touch it forever. The fox, roughly the size of a small dog, turned once in her arms, finding a comfortable position to lie down, obedient like a spirit pet. At that moment, Fu Zhi deeply resented her blindness. She longed to see what the little creature in her arms looked like, its color, whether its plush fur made Xiang Shi Yan appear like a bundle of fluff. The fluffy tail lifted to scratch at her chin, and then Xiang Shi Yan's cool voice, condensed into a line of spiritual energy, sounded: "Don't space out." "Mm." Fu Zhi realized that the three of them had reached the auction hall's entrance, with disciples of the Tai Xu Sect verifying their identities and invitations ahead of them. Flustered, she blushed and clutched the little fox even more tightly in her arms. Mu Hua pushed the pale-faced Fu Xiao behind her, calmly producing their invitations and Tian Ji Sect disciples’ badges for inspection. She glanced at the charms and engravings beside the door, clear indicators of restriction — who knew if they would loudly alert to demon presence? "Ah… Elder, inside the venue, please put away your spirit pet," the gatekeeper addressed Fu Zhi quietly. This wasn’t just any spirit pet; it shouldn’t be casually absorbed into her divine sense. Mu Hua looked at her stiffened shishu and the seemingly indifferent plump fox, reluctantly raising her voice in mockery: "A mere spirit pet; why not? Is it Tai Xu Sect's abundance of rules, or do you two intend to make things difficult?" The two young disciples, merely appointed to welcome guests, could not afford to offend any dignitaries invited here. Seeing Mu Hua's firm stance, they quickly disclaimed being sect disciples themselves and respectfully invited the trio inside. Though unchallenged, the three hesitated simultaneously, only proceeding when the gatekeepers quizzically asked why they’d stopped. Mu Hua gently pushed Fu Zhi’s waist from behind. The blind woman staggered, heading directly for the restrictions, clutching the fox tighter, fearing the array would identify the small beast as a formidable demon cultivator. The jade plates embedded at the entrance recorded the guests' spiritual energy flows and remained silent, without detecting anything amiss. Mu Hua and Fu Xiao had positioned themselves to shield Fu Zhi, prepared to prevent chaos and injury, but they both sighed with relief as the two Tai Xu Sect disciples stopped paying them attention. This was a trick Xiang Shi Yan had employed before, sneaking Du Ruo into Huaihai City years ago. Given she once dismantled the black dragon’s intricately laid arrays, crossing such crude spells posed no challenge to her. By now, Du Ruo, who had slipped in ahead, should already be in position. Xiang Shi Yan braced herself against Fu Zhi's arm with her hind legs, standing up and perching on the woman's shoulder to survey the surroundings. Her long tail loosely balanced against Fu Zhi’s forearm. Several more dignitaries invited by Tai Xu Sect were ahead and behind them. Xiang Shi Yan recognized an elder from a major sect in front and, trailing behind, a mysterious figure cloaked in dark robes. It seemed to be a young woman. The stranger's cloak likely had magical properties, making her face concealed in shadow invisible to others. The guests passing through weren't usually Xiang Shi Yan's concern, but seeing the mysterious woman stirred a subtle familiarity in her, prompting an unsettling premonition. She called inwardly: "System." The always ready-in-the-background system understood what the little fox was keenly observing. A lazy voice echoed in her mind: "Please wait, loading." The original tone of the system, coupled with the voice of He He, conveyed a nuanced sense of idleness. But with the woman about to disappear around the corner and out of sight, Xiang Shi Yan, with a frown on her fox face, urged, "Hurry up!" Just as the woman's figure was almost obscured by the wall, a faint green force field gradually expanded in Xiang Shi Yan's vision. The white fox pressed her small paws on Fu Zhi’s shoulder, craning to glimpse the mysterious woman's face. Noticing the gaze, the mysterious woman suddenly turned at the corridor's edge, exposing half of herself while warily squinting to identify who was watching her among the crowd. She locked eyes with the alert little fox, whose pitch-black eyes remained fixed upon her. The familiar face was one Xiang Shi Yan had encountered at the Tian Ji Sect nine days prior, although the current pair of somber eyes clearly belonged to another. The young girl bore an uncanny resemblance to her former senior sister Gong Ning, frequently dressing this way when concealing their identities in hostile territories years ago. Upon closer inspection, the cloak draping the young girl was the very magical garment Gong Ning had often used to obscure her presence. That enchanted attire was Xiang Shi Yan's first birthday gift to her after the sisters joined the mountain. Zhu Yun’s cultivation exceeded that of Zhu Yu, whom Xiang Shi Yan had seen a few days prior. Enhanced by the improved technique Xiang Shi Yan had altered for her, Zhu Yun's natural talent had emerged strongly. Promised by Xiang Shi Yan that she'd form her Golden Core within six years, Zhu Yun did not disappoint; sixty years later, she had already reached the Nascent Soul stage and steadily advanced towards the mid-Nascent Soul stage. In these sixty years, Xiang Shi Yan avoided Huaihai City, not daring to engage with the sisters or even showing herself to Yu Ming Shijie, who she had assigned to protect them in the city. Not even a few days ago, when Zhu Yu inadvertently discovered her presence at the Tian Ji Sect and cautiously searched for her, did Xiang Shi Yan dare to reunite. Consistently alert due to the system's warnings, she left no trace for Zhu Yu to track, maintaining a discreet distance behind the dejected girl until He He’s approach forced her to retreat. In Xiang Shi Yan’s sixty-year absence, Zhu Yun also honored her promise, not only revitalizing the Zhu family with strategic management but also unfolding her gradual plans. By absorbing numerous unaffiliated cultivators, she breathed new life into the nearly stagnant Zhu clan. To ensure their loyalty, Zhu Yun diligently invested effort over the years, gradually cultivating a cohort of trustworthy aides. Once she secured her role as family head and revitalized the Zhu family, she finally gained acknowledgment from the Zhu clan's relatives. The Zhu clan members originally intended to isolate Zhu Yun, waiting for her to struggle in the chaotic waters of Huaihai City and eventually turn to them in despair, planning to leverage her vulnerability to their advantage. Consequently, they offered no support when she clashed with the Bai family, opting instead to hinder her efforts. To their surprise, the young girl proved exceptionally capable, and it became apparent to all that the Zhu family was thriving under her leadership. Aware that swift allegiance was needed to ensure future benefits, the kin rushed to court Zhu Yun's favor. Yet, even as estranged relatives clambered over each other to kneel before her, Zhu Yun remained unmoved. It was at that moment they comprehended Zhu Yun's true intentions. Over twenty years ago, under the guise of expanding the household, Zhu Yun purged the clan's eyes and ears, took in talented youths, and utilized the Zhu family’s resources to nurture them. To prevent criticism from the clan elders, she compellingly had these children adopt the Zhu name, outwardly branding them as house servants. Now powerful and secure in her position, Zhu Yun no longer acknowledges the clan elders. Her frequent recruitment of fresh blood into the household every few years has become highly suspicious, leaving the clan in turmoil. They are more desperate for her to declare the true purpose of gathering so many children, fearing she might claim she intended to cook them. A few months ago, Zhu Yun issued an unexpected decree: those who had changed their surnames to Zhu could revert to their original names and would be handsomely rewarded. For orphaned children unaware of their original names, she graciously allowed them to adopt the surname Gong. At this, everyone finally grasped what Zhu Yun aimed to achieve. The existence of Qiwei Jun had been an open secret within the Zhu family, shrouded in mystery for the public. Zhu Yun's directive fueled citywide speculation about hidden truths from that era. Huaihai City’s atmosphere is rife with intrigue, functioning not only as the frontline for clan disputes but also as a proxy battleground for major sect alliances. Zhu Yun’s peculiar actions had drawn much attention, making her intentions crystal clear. She intended to sever the bloodline bonds with the Zhu clan and transform the Zhu family into a sect. This affront to ancestral systematics was intolerable not only to Zhu clan members but also to many allied noble families who swiftly condemned her. Thus began another round of conflict. Although the assassination attempt last month appeared to stem from minor family disputes, it was evident to discerning eyes that the Zhu clan had orchestrated it. Xiang Shi Yan retracted her head, avoiding Zhu Yun's puzzled gaze, and ducked back into Fu Zhi’s embrace. Her tiny paws anxiously kneaded Fu Zhi’s soft chest. Xiang Shi Yan stole another glance at where Zhu Yun had vanished. In this perilous situation, why would she come alone without any attendants? Her first suspicion was that Zhu Yun was aware of her presence, that the girl's appearance here carried deeper significance, but this was evidently impossible. The white fox nestled against Fu Zhi's shoulder, whimpering twice. Concerned, Fu Zhi reached out to stroke her head, smoothing the laid-back ears: "What’s wrong?" Just as the trio was about to enter the private booth, the little fox perked up her ears again, leaping out from Fu Zhi's arms. Standing on a railing, she looked around and unsurprisingly saw Zhu Yun seated below. Could she truly be here just for the auction item? "I owe the three of you my thanks; Xiang notes the favor. If chaos breaks out later, protect yourselves and don't worry about me." The glossy-furred fox spoke human words, politely bowing before darting off, disappearing into some corner in the blink of an eye. Equipped with a map infiltrated from within the Tai Xu Sect, Xiang Shi Yan had thoroughly memorized it. She knew by heart the locations where treasures were kept, the guards assigned to the prized items, and the security measures in place. Upon entering the inn that the Tai Xu Sect used for auctions, Xiang Shi Yan immediately sensed a resonance. Her ominous premonition proved true, as the Xuan Lin armor she wore emanated an extremely unpleasant vibration. The Tai Xu Sect had first established itself as a leading sect among the thirteen immortal gates. Following this prestige, they avenged their masters by slaying demons, forcing the demonic tribes to continually retreat in fear of inciting conflict. This had propelled their influence to its peak, but their actions had become increasingly arrogant, especially the unnecessary conflicts with other sects over recent years—at least half orchestrated by He He in secret—resulting in their prestige plummeting in the mortal realm. This auction of their rare goods was merely an appeasement gesture, even offering dragon meat; the Tai Xu Sect spared no expense. Years on, Xiang Shi Yan couldn’t help but speculate why He He harbored such intense animosity toward the Tai Xu Sect, to the extent of wanting its total annihilation. He He was reborn from the womb of a peasant, her human body forged by dragon soul refinement, yet her degree of transformation was so subtle that Xiang Shi Yan hadn’t detected it for such a long time. This was attributed not only to He He's expert metamorphosis but also to her lack of sustenance from flesh and blood. Speculating further, perhaps He He's soul was damaged, which may explain why she sought concealment through Xiang Shi Yan. The demon dragon had used dark magic to mold the girl’s body into a cocoon, nurturing a new form within the chest cavity, solid proof of her soul-body separation. So, where was He He's original, mature draconic body? Naturally, in the hands of the Tai Xu Sect. Xiang Shi Yan had witnessed the dragon king, a colossal being from primitive ages, whose remains had become part of the mountains and valleys in a wraith’s past life lament. Although He He belonged to a newer generation of dragons birthed after the cataclysm, and not very ancient, her original form should still be considerable in scale. Days ago, upon seeing a palm-sized scale clutched by a celestial artifact’s remnant, she estimated the size of He He's original form. This raised a perplexing question: given He He's massive size, known to have been slain and dismembered at the sect’s main grounds, why wasn't this accomplishment heralded? Instead, the Tai Xu Sect seemed to suppress any news, implying a guilty conscience. Xiang Shi Yan had no clue how much He He's flesh remained with the Tai Xu Sect, but whatever portion they decided to auction was undoubtedly an invaluable treasure. The black dragon had a keen sensitivity to parts of her body, connecting across miles. When Xiang Shi Yan had tried to mask her presence and conceal her movements back then, it had been an exhaustive effort; could she still sense her own flesh even now? She wondered, should she have to endure the agony of her body being consumed over centuries, could she ensure not losing sanity? Two Tai Xu Sect disciples conversed as they passed by Xiang Shi Yan, neither noticing the white shadow slipping past their feet. Like a ghost, the accomplished demon cultivator weaved through the corners. She mentally noted the positions of the guards and transformed back into a human form as she rounded the next corner. Du Ruo had been waiting for some time. As Xiang Shi Yan arrived quickly, Du Ruo was in the midst of stripping a patrolling Tai Xu Sect disciple of his uniform and waist badge. Without exchanging words, Du Ruo tossed the robe to Xiang Shi Yan and dragged the hapless young disciple into a secluded room. This piece of dragon meat might not significantly impact human cultivators but was an unrivaled treasure of immense significance, thus meriting dedicated protection. Xiang Shi Yan sensed a total of four Nascent Soul cultivators within the inn, two seated in the secret chamber where the final auction item was stored, and two others patrolling inside and outside the inn. It wouldn’t be impossible for Xiang Shi Yan and Du Ruo to overcome the two elders within the secret chamber, or even subdue all four, but this inn’s proximity to the Tai Xu Sect’s headquarters advised against an overt heist, lest they be encircled by reinforcements. A subtle approach was necessary, and many solutions remained. "Has the patrol not arrived yet? Half a moment has passed," one man meditating on a cushion opened his eyes, puzzled as he looked toward the secret chamber door. Besides safeguarding treasures, they were tasked with supervising the patrolling disciples and monitoring event guests. Scheduled for checks every quarter-hour, movement should have been continuous. Yet, half a moment had elapsed without the disciple reporting to them. One elder stood confused, "Let me check." His spiritual investigation revealed nothing unusual, the auction in the main hall underway, colleagues detecting no anomalies. His partner sitting across yawned complacently, "Why bother? In this small inn, it’s not like they could get lost! Ah, there they are." Approaching the secret chamber from the corridor, two figures appeared, though one clearly wasn’t a Tai Xu Sect disciple. One elder frowned, watching the leading disciple open the door with ease, utilizing the secret code. He eyed the exotic woman warily, "Who is this?" The leading disciple saluted them, "This esteemed guest is a superior invited by the sect master, hoping to preview the auction items ahead of time." "Is there an order from the sect master?" "Here it is." The elder scrutinized the golden-eyed woman, finding her face vaguely familiar yet unable to place it. Still, he accepted the jade plate extended by the leading disciple, keeping watch on the woman’s movements out of the corner of his eye. Despite the distraction, he quickly realized the item wasn’t a sect master’s command, merely an ordinary Tai Xu Sect disciple’s waist badge. Momentarily startled, he lifted his gaze, "You—" The words halted abruptly as a blade pierced through his jaw, emerging from the crown of his head, freezing his gaze before he fell backward. "Who goes there?" His companion reeled in horror, but before rising from the cushion, his vision spun wildly—he tumbled onto the ground, blinking as he saw his own headless corpse. Two Nascent Soul cultivators silenced within moments, no chance to alert their comrades outside. The chamber’s obscuration of external spiritual intrusion meant that by the time the absence was noted, Xiang Shi Yan and Du Ruo had already vanished. Crude plan, straightforward execution, but Xiang Shi Yan knew the true challenge lay in the exit. Their adaptability would be key in this perilous scenario, and the gravest threat wasn’t the Tai Xu Sect. It was He He. The Tai Xu Sect's auctioning of He He's flesh—how could the black dragon possibly refrain from causing havoc? Not to mention that doing so could also disrupt the Sect's attempts to mend relations with other sects—killing two birds with one stone. Xiang Shi Yan lifted the jade box at the center of the secret chamber, casting a discreet glance at Du Ruo without opening the box for inspection. Having consumed dragon blood before, she had developed a resistance to He He's body, and she was aware of the colossal allure a true dragon's body held for ordinary demons and demon cultivators. Even now, the memory of that exotic fragrance made her mouth water instinctively, although her stomach churned in protest at the thought of consuming a part of He He. This internal conflict allowed Xiang Shi Yan to control her actions, but she couldn't guarantee Du Ruo wouldn't be driven to madness by it. With the mission's goal in hand, the two were about to make their escape when they simultaneously hesitated. In the next moment, a muffled explosion echoed through their ears. The distant, rumbling noise left them stunned, coming from where the Tai Xu Sect's main grounds were located. The sound waves traversed miles, and they could faintly feel the tremors—clearly, the explosion was of considerable scale. Before they could react, Du Ruo anxiously stopped Xiang Shi Yan, who was about to hurry away: "Senior, wait. My mechanism outside has been triggered; someone is approaching us." The four elders stationed at the inn were tasked with maintaining the safety of the venue and ensuring the smooth conduct of the auction. Now that a significant incident had occurred at their main grounds, they couldn’t abandon their post but had to consider if this chaos was a deliberate distraction to steal the dragon meat. The two elders guarding the perimeter moved towards the secret chamber without prior consultation. The chamber's barriers could obscure external spiritual perception, but the sturdy box they had seized couldn’t be easily concealed. The Tai Xu Sect disciples gathering outside couldn’t be swiftly dealt with either, leaving Xiang Shi Yan and her group in a tight spot with seemingly no escape. Exchanging a glance with Du Ruo, they each positioned themselves on either side of the main door. Their best option now was to fight their way out. Author's Note: Du Ruo, the most reliable sidekick, always accompanies the master when things get heated. 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