Chapter 135: The True Self of the Dragon Lord

Wang Yuanfeng thought to himself.

After a short while, the Dragon Lord slowly opened his eyes. The evil aura was entirely gone, replaced by a deep peace cultivated over many years. He only felt that the shackles binding him for so long had been unfastened, leaving his body with the effortless ease of returning to nature. Looking at Wang Yuanfeng, he said, "Thank you for your guidance. Had it not been for the Exalted God, I would have lost myself and forever strayed from the True Dao."

Wang Yuanfeng replied, "Congratulations, Dragon Lord, on returning to your true self, your spiritual platform clear and bright, with the Great Dao now within reach!"

Pausing for a moment, he continued, "It is because your inner nature is fundamentally pure and kind that you were able to evoke your roots of goodness and seize this fortuitous encounter."

"In the past, I knew not who I was; today, at last, I know who I am." The Dragon Lord sighed softly, then went on, "I have now attained enlightenment of my mind and seen my true nature, recognizing my true self. Yet my karmic burden remains heavy; I am prepared to bear my shackles to redeem both myself and others."

Hearing this, Wang Yuanfeng deemed it reasonable, yet he had no desire to offer any critique. The Dragon Lord had his own Dao, just as he himself had his own. The two did not conflict, nor did he wish to stand upon a pedestal of moral superiority to dictate how the Dragon Lord should act. Doing so would only burden the other with new shackles.

Now that the Dragon Lord understood the heavenly principles, he would likely proceed to do as he wished. As for his own affairs, they were not yet concluded. After this incident, the Dragon Lord would probably no longer stir up trouble in Dongting Lake; the sufferings of the common people would ultimately have to be fought for by the people themselves.

Wang Yuanfeng also felt a sense of self-vigilance. In the past, with his profound cultivation, he had often looked down upon mortals from a god-like perspective. Yet seeing the Dragon Lord's previous state—weighed down and rigidly bound by countless moral shackles that had suppressed his true self for countless years—made him reflect.

Though it had seemed like a destructive upheaval sent by the heavens, was it not also a rebellion of the true self? The true self wished to return to its origin, but the consciousness forged by countless shackles had usurped dominion over the body, causing him to mistake his inner true self for a demonic obstacle and blindly suppress it, ignorant of the fact that the true self was his original face.

Wang Yuanfeng resolved henceforth to follow the voice deep within his own heart rather than letting the will of others govern his selfhood. Otherwise, how would he differ from a mere puppet?

After a moment of thought, he said, "Observing the Dragon Lord's Dao, I have also gained many insights. With your return to your true self, your attainment of the Earth Immortal realm cannot be far off."

The Dragon Lord pondered this carefully and felt that it was indeed not far away. Unlike before, when he could discern no way forward and his future remained utterly blurred, this time he could actually sense it. He now had a rough timeline for when he might break through his realm. Though hazy, he was certain it was correct; with time, this perception would only deepen.

Giving Wang Yuanfeng a somewhat strange look, he blurted out, "The day my reverse scale returns is the day I attain the Earth Immortal realm, though the exact date remains unknown."

Yet the look he cast toward Wang Yuanfeng now held a trace of admiration. Had it not been for Wang Yuanfeng, the Dragon Lord would likely have become a puppet born of the heavens' destructive intent, existing solely for slaughter—seemingly awe-inspiring, but in reality nothing more than a slave to the shackles of heaven and earth.

Finally, the Dragon Lord reached out, grasped the reverse scale upon his neck, summoned all his strength, and gave it a violent wrench.

"Rend!" Following the tearing sound, the Dragon Lord let out a muffled grunt as he ripped the reverse scale from his neck, yet he did not even blink. Blood, crimson tinged with faint black wisps, gushed from the wound, but he paid it no heed whatsoever.

He handed the reverse scale to Wang Yuanfeng, saying, "The Exalted God's immense kindness is something this Black Dragon will never forget. Please accept this reverse scale. Should you ever have need of me, take this as proof, and I shall brave boiling water and tread upon fire, facing a myriad deaths without hesitation."

Wang Yuanfeng looked at the Black Dragon, who had forcefully torn out his own reverse scale, wondering what was going on in his mind. The reverse scale was the core and fatal vital point of any dragon-kin creature. Yet to rip it out and hand it over directly clearly showed that the Dragon Lord had no wish to remain in his debt.

Otherwise, such a favor would inevitably demand repayment, and who knew what hidden troubles might arise from an unfulfilled obligation in the future? The centipede spirit Cihang Pudu was a prime example: he had incurred a favor from Young Master Li of the Nine Mountains, only to be subjected to endless demands until he nearly lost his life. The Dragon Lord's approach was far more brilliant—he directly entrusted his life to Wang Yuanfeng once and for all.

The Dragon Lord had also glimpsed the workings of karma through this, knowing that the entire event had been guided by Wang Yuanfeng—though perhaps not intentionally targeted at him. Since it began with Wang Yuanfeng, it should also conclude with Wang Yuanfeng. Only thus could a complete cycle be achieved, bringing perfection.

Wang Yuanfeng nodded and said, "Very well, I accept this reverse scale. The day I have occasion to use it, I imagine, will not be far off."

He then solemnly took the reverse scale and held it in his hand.

At that moment, the Dragon Lord stood up, bowed to Wang Yuanfeng, and said, "The Black Dragon takes his leave. The matters that follow, I trust the Exalted God will handle properly."

Recalling that in his blind rage he had injured his sworn brother, the Sturgeon Spirit, and wondering how the latter was faring now, he did not wait for Wang Yuanfeng's reply. Transforming instantly into a black dragon, he plunged straight into the earth and vanished.

Wang Yuanfeng could well understand the Dragon Lord's series of anomalous actions. When a person undergoes a profound transformation in character, their destiny is elevated and their deportment changes accordingly, making their actions seem as though performed by a completely different person. Yet he knew within himself that this was true metamorphosis.

Outside the chamber, the group of figures watched the shifting aura within the room with varying expressions. Though the Great Python and the Water Leopard remained stationary, their eyes betrayed lingering anxiety. The Water Leopard even gripped the Soul-Devouring Spike in his right hand tightly, as if ready to attack at any moment.

Meanwhile, the Golden Dragon and Prime Minister Turtle were far more composed, their minds as tranquil as still water, convinced that Wang Yuanfeng and the Dragon Lord were merely enjoying wine and discussing the Dao.

"Creeak!"

The heavy stone door swung open, and the figure of a youth emerged. He looked like a sharp sword newly drawn from its scabbard, radiating a faint edge to all who beheld him. Yet his aura remained utterly harmonious; one could not sense his presence with divine perception, but only perceive with the naked eye that he was simply standing there.

As the onlookers gazed upon him, they experienced an illusion: when they looked at him, he was undeniably there, but the moment they averted their gaze, he seemed to vanish entirely. They saw only Wang Yuanfeng, while the Dragon Lord was nowhere to be found.

"What profound cultivation!"

The exact same thought flashed simultaneously through the minds of the Water Leopard and the Great Python.

Prime Minister Turtle and the Golden Dragon felt a slight surge of excitement, realizing they had not chosen the wrong master. Failing to sense the Dragon Lord's presence, the Golden Dragon stepped forward incredulously and asked, "Exalted God, did everything go smoothly?"

"It has all been resolved. You may go and clear up the aftermath shortly," Wang Yuanfeng said.

"Then... the Dragon Lord?" the Golden Dragon asked hesitatingly.

Seeing the others straining to peer into the room, eager to learn the Dragon Lord's fate, Wang Yuanfeng replied, "The Dragon Lord and I discussed the Dao. He has attained enlightenment, pierced through the mysteries of his true self, and departed elsewhere to recover from his injuries and continue his cultivation."

The group fell into a daze. They had all anticipated a fierce battle requiring arduous struggle, yet the matter had been single-handedly resolved by Wang Yuanfeng, filling them with secret admiration.

They heard Wang Yuanfeng continue, "Although I initially used the incantation technique of Zhuyou to guide the Dragon Lord into a state of agitation, stirring his heart-mind to induce inner demons, he awoke from it remarkably quickly."

Hearing this, varying degrees of tension gripped their hearts. The Golden Dragon asked, "What happened after that?"

"After that?" Wang Yuanfeng pondered for a moment, feeling an urge to curse, and said, "Although my initial use of Zhuyou was indeed ill-intentioned—meant to subdue the Dragon Lord and strike directly at his spiritual core—a miraculous turn of events occurred. I never expected his innate roots of goodness to be so profound. At the very last moment, he faced it with total equanimity, using that very trace of Zhuyou's aura to guide himself into that state."

Without waiting for them to react, he added, "The Dragon Lord has achieved great awakening and has left this place to heal."

Only then did the group heave sighs of relief. The Dragon Lord had long weighed upon them like a massive boulder; with his departure, they felt an incomparable sense of lightness.

"What is to become of this underwater mansion, then?"