Chapter Thirty-Two: The Power of the Dragon Spring

Mo Bufan felt the last trace of the Dragon Ancestor's breath dissipate, leaving his heart in a turmoil of conflicting emotions. This old dragon, so willful and capricious, had bestowed upon him such generous gifts, yet at the same time had forcibly intervened in his life. Gratitude mingled with helplessness within him.

Yet, in the end, the old dragon had shown loyalty and affection. No matter what he had done in the past, his unwavering adherence to the so-called legacy of the War Emperor moved Mo Bufan. In truth, this was an old soul who, though appearing cold and heartless, was in fact full of feeling. Mo Bufan knew little of the cold-blooded deeds attributed to the old dragon in days gone by, but he had experienced the warmth himself.

As this thought crossed his mind, Mo Bufan put down the orange cat, then turned respectfully toward the place where the Dragon Ancestor had vanished, and bowed three times. “Ah, Senior Dragon Ancestor, I am in your debt. I will fulfill your instructions with all my heart, so rest easy.”

Within the grand hall, Long Ling’er regained consciousness. Before she could survey her surroundings, she heard Mo Bufan’s words. Her heart trembled, and she immediately looked around, her eyes soon lighting up in astonishment.

“This is actually the Dragon Ancestor’s Immortal Court?” she exclaimed, delighted.

Finding no trace of the Dragon Ancestor’s remnant soul and recalling Mo Bufan’s words, she realized that their Dragon Ancestor had truly vanished.

Long Ling’er frowned, then finally sighed. “The remnant soul of the Dragon Ancestor remained, yet for so many years he never let any member of the dragon clan searching for him enter this place. It seems the old Dragon Ancestor was indeed as the legends say—completely devoid of affection for our clan.”

Zhao Yuan’er, a pampered girl, awoke next, calling out, “Master, where are you…”

Her eyes were filled with fear, her fragile nature laid bare now that her master was gone.

Mo Bufan had little interest in speaking to either of them, not least of all Long Ling’er—he’d hardly spoken to her before. Although he knew she had some purpose for seeking the Immortal Court, he neither knew nor cared what it was.

“Since you’re both awake, let’s leave this place together,” Mo Bufan said to them, glancing at the ruined Immortal Court.

Long Ling’er, however, acted as if she hadn’t heard him. Her spiritual sense swept the hall, and her gaze fixed on the dragon throne once occupied by the Dragon Ancestor.

There, upon the throne, lay a faintly green dragon pearl, its luster faded and unremarkable. If Long Ling’er hadn’t noticed it, none would have discovered such a treasure remained.

Mo Bufan certainly hadn’t noticed it, but the orange cat had.

Long Ling’er caught sight of the dragon pearl and, without hesitation, darted toward it, afraid someone else might seize it first. But just as she made her move, a streak of orange flashed past—faster even than Long Ling’er—and in the blink of an eye, the orange cat snatched the dragon pearl in its jaws.

Seeing the pearl stolen, Long Ling’er’s pretty face flushed with rage. She shouted, “You wretch, drop the dragon pearl!”

With that, she whipped her long silk ribbon through the air, channeling spiritual energy as she struck at the orange cat’s mouth.

Mo Bufan was alarmed at the scene. “Stop!” he cried.

He wasn’t worried for the orange cat, but for Long Ling’er herself. Even if the cat was just a feline, it was also the Dustless Emperor. No matter how the Supreme of the Myriad Realms had come to be a cat, he was surely not someone Long Ling’er could contend with.

Indeed, Long Ling’er’s silk ribbon struck the orange cat, but only sent it tumbling head over heels, leaving it entirely unharmed. However, the dragon throne beneath was shattered, and clouds of dust billowed as the orange cat was covered in grime.

In a panic, Mo Bufan darted forward, placing himself in front of the cat, shielding it from Long Ling’er. “Miss, please—don’t act rashly.”

Long Ling’er was startled to find her angry strike had left the cat completely unscathed. Yet with the dragon pearl their clan had sought for millennia at stake, she cared for nothing else. She snapped coldly, “Step aside and make the cat hand over the dragon pearl.”

Mo Bufan smiled bitterly. With the Dustless Emperor behind him, he had no authority to command such a being, nor did he wish to.

But before Mo Bufan could say another word, the battered orange cat sprang up with a furious yowl, shaking off the dust and glaring at Long Ling’er as though about to pounce.

Mo Bufan’s heart clenched, not knowing how to intervene.

Yet, in its fury, the orange cat bit down too hard and, with a crisp snap, shattered the dragon pearl in its mouth. Dozens of fragments flew in every direction.

No one present had anticipated this outcome.

Mo Bufan was stunned; Long Ling’er, caught between shock and fury, immediately swept up dozens of fragments with her silk ribbon.

Yet nearly a quarter of the fragments flew to Zhao Yuan’er, who, still in a daze, reflexively grabbed them.

Long Ling’er moved to snatch them back, but the orange cat tossed the remaining fragments into Mo Bufan’s bamboo basket, then leapt at Long Ling’er’s ribbon, biting at it furiously.

The speed of the enraged orange cat far surpassed that of Long Ling’er’s ribbon. As the ribbon reached toward Zhao Yuan’er, the cat tore it to shreds as easily as ripping paper, and in a flash, its jaws were at Long Ling’er’s hand.

Long Ling’er had never seen such a terrifying sight—no spiritual energy, no mystical aura, merely speed and strength, yet the orange cat shredded her treasured ribbon in moments.

This was a treasure woven from the dragon clan’s ice silkworm silk. Even a celestial immortal would struggle to break it, let alone a mere cat.

Seeing the cat about to reach her hand, Long Ling’er quickly released the remaining ribbon and leapt away, watching in horror as the cat savaged the silk into scraps.

Mo Bufan dared not even breathe. Who could say what kind of temper this cat had? To offend such a being was to court death—among legends, the strong could kill as easily as crushing an ant.

Fortunately, after shredding the ribbon, the orange cat’s anger subsided. It eyed the remains of the ribbon with smug satisfaction, then sauntered back to Mo Bufan.

It seemed the cat regarded the ribbon, not Long Ling’er, as the true source of its grievance.

“Elder sister… do you… want this?” Zhao Yuan’er suddenly asked Long Ling’er, shyly offering the nearly quarter-fragment of the dragon pearl in her hands.

Long Ling’er was still reeling from the trauma of her ribbon’s destruction when she saw the foolish but adorable girl offering up the treasure. She reached for it instinctively.

At that very moment, the shattered dragon pearl glimmered with heavenly runes, and streams of draconic essence surged into Zhao Yuan’er’s body.

Long Ling’er grasped at it, but caught only air.

At the same time, the fragments she had retrieved began to dissolve, filling her with dragon essence as well.

Meanwhile, the half of the fragments thrown into Mo Bufan’s bamboo basket lay beside the newborn fire ferret cub, and in moments, the dragon essence suffused the tiny beast’s body.

The rapid turn of events left Long Ling’er flustered. Sensing the infusion of draconic power, she immediately sat cross-legged to absorb the essence, stealing a glance at Zhao Yuan’er, who still stood there blankly, and recalled her earlier gesture of returning the pearl. She urged, “Quick, sit down and channel your energy to absorb the dragon essence—this is a rare chance for you.”

Zhao Yuan’er was not stupid. At once, she sat down to begin the process.

Only the fire ferret cub continued to sleep soundly, occasionally letting out a satisfied burp.

Mo Bufan scratched his head, feeling he ought to do something as well. He set down the bamboo basket, cradled the sleeping fire ferret, and began channeling his spiritual energy to help the cub absorb the draconic essence.

Dragon essence, as the core power of the dragon clan, greatly enhanced both the physical constitution and cultivation potential of its recipients. For other races, it even offered the chance to transform into a dragon.

As one of the supreme races of the world, dragons were regarded as divine beasts. Many demon beasts aspired to become dragons through cultivation, for such a transformation shattered previous limitations, opening the way to far greater heights.

Thus, the importance of draconic essence to demon beasts was clear.

The mother fire ferret now realized her child had encountered a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. Delight shone in her eyes, and with utter trust in Mo Bufan, she watched him help her cub cultivate, bowing repeatedly before settling quietly to one side.

The idle orange cat glanced at the mother fire ferret, then at Mo Bufan, and then, mimicking the fire ferret, sat properly before Mo Bufan, watching him intently.

As for the earlier dispute over the dragon pearl, the foolish cat seemed to have forgotten all about it—or perhaps had never cared in the first place.

Time slipped by like a fleeting horse. Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

Mo Bufan sensed that the dragon essence within the fire ferret cub had dispersed throughout its limbs and bones under his guidance. After a final transformation, a grain-sized dragon pearl formed within the place where a demon beast’s core would normally reside. Only then did he stop.

Opening his eyes, he saw the fire ferret cub still asleep, but now a pair of tiny horns had sprouted beneath the thin fuzz atop its head. Mo Bufan couldn’t help but smile—this little one truly was blessed.

The other two had also opened their eyes by now, smiling contentedly, their harvests clearly significant.

Yet Long Ling’er seemed dissatisfied. After scanning the surroundings one last time, she fixed her gaze on Mo Bufan, who was tending to the three animals.

“Friend Mo, it seems you woke up long before us,” she remarked.

Mo Bufan glanced at her, fully aware that she suspected him of pocketing the treasures of the Immortal Court. Recalling how she had attacked him earlier, he replied with deliberate provocation, “I didn’t wake up early—I never lost consciousness at all. I chatted with your ancestor for quite some time and gathered up all his treasures. If you’re unhappy, you’re welcome to try and take them.”

“You…” Long Ling’er was speechless with anger, glaring at Mo Bufan but unable to do a thing.

The way Mo Bufan had dealt with the Bloodscale Python was still fresh in her mind—she stood little chance against him. Besides, he was clearly well-equipped, and his utter indifference now only made her more wary. Even if the three dragon siblings banded together, she doubted they could best him.

In her frustration, she could only fume inwardly.

“Hmph,” Mo Bufan snorted, “If you want to hunt for treasures, be my guest. I won’t keep you company.”

He slung the three animals onto his back and prepared to leave. As he turned, he asked Zhao Yuan’er, “Will you come with me?”

Zhao Yuan’er glanced at Long Ling’er, then nodded quickly, hurrying after Mo Bufan.

Long Ling’er swept the Immortal Court with her spiritual sense, finding not a trace of spiritual or mystical energy remaining. Seeing Mo Bufan about to depart, she hurried after him, inwardly muttering, “Boy, in the eyes of the dragon clan, your Tianxuan Sect is just a middling sect. You may be arrogant now, but once we’re out, I’ll see that your sect pays the price.”

Aloud, she called, “Friend, wait for me—I’ll leave with you.”

Mo Bufan ignored her, carrying his bamboo basket and leading Zhao Yuan’er down the mountain.

Zhao Yuan’er stole a few glances at Mo Bufan, her mind filled with memories of him rescuing and rejecting her. In the end, only two words lingered in her heart: “So handsome!”

“Friend Mo, forgive my persistence, but may I ask—did the ancestor say anything regarding the dragon clan? After all, he was our clan’s founder, and this concerns the fate of our entire race. Please, do tell me…” Long Ling’er chattered on.