At the Celestial Island of the Mystic Ice Sect, the Heavenly Maiden gazed into the ripples of the future. A grim vision appeared: her disciple, Noe, was destined to face a life-threatening calamity. Bound by sect rules and karma that prevented her from interfering directly, she traveled to the Indestructible Earth Sect to seek the aid of its Sect Leader, Matriarch Tu.

  Both women were formidable powerhouses at the Nascent Soul stage (S-rank), each having lived for over 500 years. Their friendship spanned centuries.

  "My dear friend, I need a favor," the Heavenly Maiden pleaded. "My apprentice prophet, Noe, is about to face a disaster that could cost him his life. Please, you have to help me."

  Matriarch Tu smirked playfully. "Helping isn't hard, but there's a price. You must stay here and enjoy yourself with me for a whole year. I’ll treat you like a queen."

  The Heavenly Maiden sighed deeply. "Be reasonable. You know how busy I am. My husband, Seven Star, has gone into secluded cultivation again, leaving the entire sect's affairs on my shoulders. I don't have the luxury of playing for a year."

  Matriarch Tu’s expression immediately soured. "Is that so? Well, if you’re so busy, don't let the door hit you on the way out. Forget the favor. Some 'close friend' you are—we haven't met in decades, and you can't even stay for a bit. How dull!"

  The Heavenly Maiden laughed, trying to soothe her. "Alright, alright, lower the fire! A beautiful fairy like you shouldn't get angry; you’ll age too fast. How about this: I’ll stay for a month or two? Deal, my temperamental queen?"

  Matriarch Tu finally cracked a smile. "Now that’s more like it. Wait here. I’ll send a disciple to handle the matter so we can catch up properly, gorgeous."

  "Melodia! Come here, my girl. I have a task for you," Matriarch Tu called out.

  Melodia stepped forward. She was a True Immortal (born of two immortal parents), possessing striking blue eyes, fair skin, and golden hair, clad in pristine white robes. Known as the "Lucky Girl," she was at the Core Formation stage (A-rank) and was one of the Matriarch’s eight inner disciples.

  The Matriarch handed her the White Jade Treasure Tower. "Take this. Go to the coordinates and time written on this slip. Save a man named Noe."

  The Heavenly Maiden smiled at the young girl. "Melodia, please be careful."

  "I will, Great Immortal. Thank you for your concern," Melodia replied respectfully.

  The Heavenly Maiden chuckled. "Oh, I trust your strength. When I say 'be careful,' I mean don't go falling in love with my disciple the moment you see him. He’s currently under a trial; it’ll be at least 200 or 300 years before he’s allowed to marry."

  Melodia blushed. "Many have pined for me, Great Immortal, but I have never lost my heart to anyone."

  "But this time is different," the Heavenly Maiden teased. "Noe is exceptionally handsome; even fairies lose their sleep over him. But because of his Daoist path, he hasn't loved anyone yet. Hehe."

  Matriarch Tu cut in, "Hey! I’m lending you a treasure to save a student, not gifting you my disciple as a bride! Now tell me, what did you see in the future? If you don't talk, I’ll pin you under a mountain for 500 years!"

  Intrigued by the conversation, Melodia set off. Not far from the sect's mountain, she encountered a familiar face: Tu Trung Sa. He had been officially expelled for leaving the sect without permission to save others, yet he remained beloved by the disciples. His "crimes" were seen as acts of sacrifice for the families of the sect members.

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  "Tu Trung Sa? Why have you returned to the sect?" Melodia asked.

  Tu Trung Sa explained the situation regarding Han Thuong, a friend who had been victimized by the Dragon Girl. Though Han Thuong had recovered, he was still under the lingering influence of manipulation magic and couldn't help. Tu Trung Sa himself wasn't strong enough to stage a rescue alone. He had returned hoping to buy a treasure tower from an old acquaintance to save his friend.

  Hearing Noe's name again, Melodia's curiosity peaked. She questioned Tu Trung Sa extensively, and strangely, she felt a spark of affection for this mysterious Noe before even meeting him. She hurried to Noe's location. The moment she saw him, she was smitten. However, she remained hidden; the Heavenly Maiden had instructed her to intervene only when Noe’s life hung by a thread.

  Noe’s cultivation was still low, having only recently reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Furthermore, he had lost his ability to access the Akashic Records, meaning he was unaware of Melodia’s watchful eyes.

  She observed his disciplined routine: waking early to gather herbs, making medicine, eating wild fruit, and drinking dew. In the afternoons, he meditated under a waterfall, followed by reading and nighttime sword practice.

  Meanwhile, the Dragon Girl and Lien Tran, accompanied by the Black-White Night Walkers, were hunting for Noe. However, they were hopelessly lost in the desert. The locals of the Northern Barbarian lands were cold and intentionally gave them false directions. Lien Tran was uncooperative, and Tu Trung Sa secretly sabotaged them by conjuring mini-sandstorms. It took them over six months to escape the desert—ample time for Tu Trung Sa and Han Thuong to warn Noe.

  Noe found the reports of the Dragon Girl's manipulation fascinating. Usually, such control involved hypnosis, toxins, or mind-reading. But this girl used her own blood and an ancient tongue. The fact that Lien Tran—a member of the Shadow Guard—was controlled was even more baffling. Every Shadow Guard was bound by a blood oath of absolute loyalty to the King. The Dragon Girl’s magic had to be older and more potent than the royal curse.

  Han Thuong recalled a chilling detail: Lien Tran’s Giaolong (Flood Dragon) arm had acted on its own, attacking Han Thuong while Lien Tran’s human arm tried to restrain it. The dragon arm had even clawed Lien Tran’s own face in rage.

  "Dragon Blood," Noe realized instantly. "This is how the Dragon Tribe enslaves other races. By introducing their blood—or even waste—into water sources, they force evolution upon lesser creatures. They gain dragon-like features but become absolute slaves to the dragons' will." Because Lien Tran had a grafted Giaolong arm, the control was even more violent.

  Noe advised Han Thuong to head west to Ying City to find Ying Thuong Nhan. Dragon blood had various effects: the worst was becoming a Dragon Slave, but the best was becoming a Dragon Master. Ying Thuong Nhan had consumed dragon blood and achieved the status of Dragon Friend, allowing him to borrow dragon strength without losing his soul. Noe and Tu Trung Sa also headed west, but took a different route to avoid detection.

  When the Dragon Girl finally reached Noe’s empty home, she flew into a rage and demolished the house. Lien Tran returned to the Shadow Guard to dig for more info.

  Phong Tran, the Commander-in-Chief of the Shadow Guard, noticed the change in Lien Tran. Previously, Lien Tran had lost a hand and both legs in a great war, replaced by a Giaolong arm and heavy iron legs that caused him constant pain. Now, the iron was gone, replaced by legs of flesh and bone—stronger and faster than before. Even the dragon arm moved with newfound grace.

  Phong Tran understood this all too well; he also possessed a Giaolong arm. But Lien Tran’s behavior was the real red flag. The once meticulous officer was now turning in sloppy, brief reports. Phong Tran summoned him to a private room.

  There, he noticed a discrepancy: Lien Tran’s mouth said one thing, but his hands moved in another. The Shadow Guard used a secret hand-sign language to communicate in the presence of spies.

  Lien Tran’s hands signaled: "I am being manipulated by a Dragon Girl. Her power is immense. She uses dragon blood to control me. Her goal is to find the prophet Noe to avenge her father. We were lost for six months... Noe has escaped."

  A chill ran down Phong Tran’s spine. Nearly half of the Shadow Guard used dragon blood to accelerate their cultivation. If the Dragon Girl could control Lien Tran, she could control them all. He dismissed Lien Tran and began a secret investigation.

  Phong Tran dove into the underworld, where Demonic Cultivators used dragon blood. He scoured the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion’s auctions for a solution. Eventually, he obtained a single drop of "Pure Ancestral Dragon Blood" from a Dragon King. It was powerful enough to force a breakthrough from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, but it was a deadly gamble—99 out of 100 people who drank it died instantly.

  Looking at the vial, the Commander felt a heavy weight of dread. He wasn't ready to use it—not yet.