The Water Dragon King's Trial

That ethereal voice echoed once more, carrying a trace of confusion and contemplation. "This pure law resonance is actually so similar to my power, as though it originated from the same spring..."

"But your life form is so frail and fleeting..."

"Deep within your soul, there seems to be... this world's... favor toward you?"

"...Interesting... A human can actually gather so many contradictory factors within one body... possessing insight approaching the Origin, yet walking a frail, acquired path..."

The Water Dragon King's enormous dragon-shaped phantom slowly circled Jiang Zhen, the scrutiny in its deep-blue, starry dragon eyes growing more pronounced.

It had existed for far too long and seen countless astonishing geniuses, but it had never encountered a complex and contradictory composite like the human youth before it.

"Human, state your name!"

The imposing voice resounded directly through Jiang Zhen's soul.

"Kid Jiang Zhen."

Jiang Zhen suppressed the shock in his heart and cupped his hands in response, neither servile nor overbearing.

Before an existence of this level, any disguise or concealment was meaningless.

"Jiang Zhen... I am one of the Dragon Kings who rule all waters and command the ice."

The Water Dragon King's phantom raised its head slightly. Even as nothing more than a remnant soul, it still carried an innate nobility and majesty.

"Your aura stirred my slumber, and your path aroused my curiosity."

"Yet talent and favor alone are useless. Without matching capacity and comprehension, everything is but empty illusion."

Its enormous dragon head lowered as it stared at Jiang Zhen. "I shall set you a trial. It has nothing to do with the strength of your Soul Power. It will test only your understanding and application of the Origin of 'water.'"

"If you cannot pass, leave at once. Everything here will have nothing to do with you. If you can pass... this remnant of mine may be able to help you along."

Before its voice had even faded, this azure Law Space suddenly transformed!

Jiang Zhen's vision blurred, and he found himself standing atop an endless ocean.

Dark clouds filled the sky, thunder roared, and enormous waves surged beneath his feet as violent winds howled, as though the world itself were ending.

The terrifying might of nature pressed down on him until he could barely breathe. His rank-fourteen Soul Power was as tiny as dust before this overwhelming force of heaven and earth.

"This is the 'Wrathful Sea Illusion' manifested through my remaining Divine Power."

The Water Dragon King's voice seemed to come from beyond the ninth heaven.

"First trial: calm this sea. Use your power to return these turbulent waves to tranquility. You may not use any powerful offensive Spirit Skills. You must use your will to communicate with all waters and make them submit."

Jiang Zhen stood amid the turbulent waves, his body rising and falling with the giant swells, as though he might be swallowed at any moment.

He drew a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

I cannot attack forcefully. I must communicate and make them submit...

He closed his eyes—not in surrender, but to extend all his Spiritual Power outward through the Deep Sea's Eye between his brows, which had yet to close completely.

He no longer tried to resist the towering waves. Instead, he worked to adjust his aura and Soul Power fluctuations until they resonated with the frenzied Water Element around him.

The Profound Water Clear Mind Art began circulating on its own at an unprecedented speed. The newly formed Dragon Core in his Dantian seemed to tremble slightly, releasing a faint, nearly imperceptible Origin Aura of an extremely high level.

"Calm down..."

"Listen to my call..."

"Return to your original forms..."

Jiang Zhen's thoughts spread outward in circles like invisible ripples.

At first, his thoughts were like a stone sinking into the sea, easily torn apart by the raging waves.

But he did not give up. The innate, powerful affinity of his Ultimate Water Martial Spirit gradually allowed him to capture a trace of "rhythm" deep within that violent energy.

He no longer tried to command them. Instead, he began to "listen," sensing the emotions of every wave and the course of every undercurrent.

His will quietly changed from I want you to be calm to I will be calm together with you.

Something wondrous happened.

Centered around him, the surging waves seemed to be smoothed by a gentle yet irresistible force, spreading outward like ripples.

The towering waves gradually subsided, their furious roars fading away. The churning sea became as smooth as a mirror at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The dark clouds parted, and a ray of sunlight streamed down onto the tranquil sea, reflecting thousands of golden points of light.

"Good."

A trace of imperceptible approval entered the Water Dragon King's voice. "You did not suppress them with force, but harmonized with them through your heart. You possess a measure of comprehension."

The scene changed again.

The calm sea vanished in an instant. Jiang Zhen found himself standing atop a vast, dry, cracked riverbed. The scorching sun blazed overhead, not a trace of moisture hung in the air, and the land was covered in deep gullies from the lack of water. Silence and desolation reigned.

"Second trial: awaken this river."

The Water Dragon King's voice rang out. "The water veins here have run dry, and all life has withered. Use everything at your command to bring forth the underground currents and nourish this land."

This time, Jiang Zhen did not hesitate. He bent down and gently pressed both hands against the scorching, cracked earth.

The Deep Sea's Eye opened to its fullest, and his senses extended endlessly downward through the earth.

Dryness, deathly silence...

His Spiritual Power was like the most patient prospector, constantly probing downward, then farther down.

He did not know how much time passed. When his Spiritual Power was nearly exhausted, he finally sensed, deep beneath the earth, an extremely faint trace of water intent that was almost on the verge of vanishing.

It was an ancient underground current cut off by thick layers of rock and about to dry up completely.

I found it!

With a thought, Jiang Zhen's Soul Power resonated faintly with the Dragon Core. An incomparably pure Water Origin Power, infused with Life Aura, slowly flowed from his palms into the earth.

This power did not forcibly break through the layers of rock. Instead, it seeped downward like the gentlest of messengers.

It gently "awakened" the underground current that was about to fall dormant, guiding it, giving it strength, and encouraging it to surge upward.

"Gurgle..."

A faint sound came from deep beneath the earth.

Immediately afterward, a clear spring suddenly welled up from the crack beneath Jiang Zhen's palm, carrying a refreshing chill.

Then, like a chain reaction, countless springs burst through their restraints across the entire dry riverbed!

The clear water swiftly gathered and flowed merrily along the parched riverbed. Wherever it passed, the yellowed earth bloomed with vigorous life at a visible speed. Even some drought-resistant plant seeds instantly sprouted and sent out shoots.

In the blink of an eye, the dead riverbed became a clear river, its surface glittering with ripples and brimming with life.

"Boom!"

The surrounding scene shattered like flowers reflected in a mirror or the moon reflected in water. Jiang Zhen returned to the azure Law Space, with the Water Dragon King's enormous phantom directly before him.

The last trace of scrutiny in those starry dragon eyes had transformed into complete recognition, and even... a hint of gratification.

"Very good... Very, very good..."

The Water Dragon King's voice had become much gentler.

"Your understanding of water has surpassed my expectations. You do not crudely control it, but understand the true meaning of its 'moistening,' 'nourishment,' and 'life.'"

"My legacy may be entrusted to you. Perhaps it can shine once more instead of remaining buried in dust."

The enormous dragon head slowly lowered as it stared at Jiang Zhen. "Human Jiang Zhen, I acknowledge your capacity and comprehension."

"Today, I shall give you my remaining essence. I hope you will use it well and not disgrace the dignity of 'water.' I also hope that... if you encounter descendants of my Dragon Race in the future, you will offer them some assistance within the limits of your ability."

With that, before Jiang Zhen could respond, the Water Dragon King's enormous phantom suddenly erupted with dazzling azure Divine Light!

Within the Divine Light, two of the brightest rays separated from it.

One ray took the shape of a dragon. It was a fist-sized pearl, blue all over like the purest sapphire.

Countless icy star crystals formed and vanished within it, containing unimaginable, surging energy and profound laws—it was the Water Dragon King's Origin Dragon Core!

The other ray faintly took the shape of a skull. It was crystal-clear, as though forged from Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice and sapphire together.

It radiated majesty that made the soul tremble.

A Million-Year Head Soul Bone!

The Dragon Core transformed into a streak of light and entered the Qi Sea in Jiang Zhen's Dantian. Like a gentle giant, it floated there quietly and began rotating slowly.

Threads of Origin energy it released began silently nourishing his entire network of meridians and Martial Soul.

The Spirit Bone gently landed in Jiang Zhen's raised hand. It was icy to the touch, yet it strangely resonated intensely with his skull.

"Remember my words..."

The Water Dragon King's voice grew increasingly distant and faint. Its enormous phantom gradually became transparent, finally turning into countless blue motes of light like shattered bubbles before dispersing throughout the Law Space.