Elder Candle Dragon of the East Sea Dragon Clan

Li Fan stepped from the Taiyin Star Domain into the Primordial World, a journey that took him one hundred thousand years.

Along the way, he encountered Starry Sky Storms and Void Fissures.

The danger of a Starry Sky Storm posed no problem for Li Fan now. Void Fissures were another matter—space was extremely unstable, and stepping into one would randomly teleport him. If he ended up in a death zone, the danger would be grave.

The spatial barriers of the Primordial World were too strong; without reaching the Great Luo realm, one could not use Vast Horizon.

Passing by the edge of Goddess Taiyuan's territory, he learned a bit about her—this great deity was a battle maniac. Wherever a Chaos Demon God reared its head, Goddess Taiyuan would charge out madly.

He would have to visit her sometime when he was free.

Goddess Taiyuan and Goddess Wangshu were two extremes—one wild, one serene.

One hundred thousand years later, Li Fan arrived at the East Sea Shore, gazing upon the boundless ocean. The seawater ceaselessly crashed against the shore. So this was the blue ocean.

Seeing this sight for the first time, Li Fan's body and mind were struck with immense awe.

Li Fan stepped onto the East Sea, aimlessly searching for the Immortal Islands.

Legend said that the Five Immortal Islands of the Sea were formed when the Great God Pangu split the heavens and shattered chaos—five fragments of chaos fell into the sea and slowly evolved into them.

Li Fan had no idea if he could find them.

Heaven helps those who help themselves; with enough perseverance, even three thousand Yue soldiers could swallow Wu. Keep it up, Li Fan. You can do it. Li Fan's Dao Heart grew ever more stable.

Suddenly, Li Fan discovered a divine material on the seabed—Deep Sea Divine Iron Stone, one of the Primordial Iron Mines.

He slowly began mining, just as he was about to claim it.

A dragon suddenly appeared and said fiercely, "You deity over there, put down that treasure in your hands."

"This is the territory of us East Sea divine beasts. Hand over the treasure willingly."

Li Fan's face was calm. "And if I refuse?"

The golden dragon struck without warning, its dragon might erupting. "Sea-Splitting Dragon Claw Hand!"

The golden dragon used a physical combat technique, but Li Fan was no pushover either.

"Take my sword—Starlight Flicker."

The golden dragon lost sight of him in an instant as Li Fan burst from the seabed and shot above the sea surface.

In the water, the Dragon Clan had the advantage over Li Fan.

The golden dragon had just broken the surface when it took Li Fan's move head-on.

"Great World Technique!"

An illusory Minor World instantly trapped the golden dragon. Li Fan then used his twin swords, unleashing Stellar Sword Qi and Reincarnation Sword Qi without pause.

The golden dragon was reduced to a sliver of health and said viciously, "You deity have some skill, but it's still not enough." Li Fan saw that this guy's mouth was pretty tough.

"Bloodline Divine Ability—Inverse Scale."

The less health this Inverse Scale had, the higher the damage—it was a burst-type divine ability.

Li Fan noticed the golden dragon's mind beginning to cloud—this was the side effect of the Inverse Scale. He prepared to end the fight and teach this golden dragon a lesson.

The battle between Li Fan and the golden dragon churned the sea surface into raging waves. A Great Luo of the Dragon Clan detected the commotion.

"Stop!"

Li Fan immediately sensed that power rapidly approaching from afar—unmatchable, unmatchable.

His sixth sense screamed a frantic warning.

So this was how it went—beat the small one, and the big one shows up.

Still, the golden dragon regained its senses, standing on the sea surface, its dragon claws dripping blood without pause. It was badly injured.

This Great Luo Dragon God should be the legendary Candle Dragon.

His face was stern. "You deity look unfamiliar. Where are you from? I do not know you. What business do you have in the East Sea?"

Li Fan's tone was calm. "I came from the Taiyin Star."

Candle Dragon's expression suddenly changed, his face breaking into a smile. "What a small world! So you are Li Fan, the one the Taiyin Star Lord spoke of, here to travel the East Sea."

"Why didn't you come to the Dragon Clan first, so we could give you a warm welcome?"

Hearing this, the golden dragon said with a aggrieved look, "Elder, this guy took a treasure from our East Sea territory."

Candle Dragon went to the golden dragon's side and gave it a heavy smack. "This has nothing to do with you. Go heal your wounds now."

This Candle Dragon judged people by their standing—pretty shrewd. Still, Goddess Wangshu's face really carried weight. Li Fan hadn't come out on the losing end of this fight either.

Candle Dragon directly grabbed Li Fan's hand. "Come, come, come with me to the Dragon Palace for a chat."

Li Fan saw the East Sea Dragon Palace, surrounded by Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals on patrol.

The entire palace was held aloft by nine thousand Coiled Dragon Jade Pillars, their bodies wrapped in resplendent gold.

Stepping inside.

The dome was inlaid with three hundred and sixty Night Pearls, each one sealing a Minor World within, glittering with golden light.

Candle Dragon waved his hand grandly. "Someone, attend to this distinguished guest who has come to our door."

Li Fan sat to the side, watching nine fair-skinned and beautiful Clam Maidens begin serving dishes.

But compared to Goddess Wangshu, how could the light of a firefly contend with the radiance of the bright moon!

The banquet began. Candle Dragon took the seat of honor with six gods, sitting at the center.

Candle Dragon began introducing them to me. "To my left is the newly joined Thunder God, Leize. To my right is our Dragon Clan's Dragon Mother."

"The other four are Heavenly Dragon, Earth Dragon, Mysterious Dragon, and Yellow Dragon—the four ancestral elders of the Dragon Clan."

Li Fan's expression was blank as he perfunctorily said, "I have long heard of your esteemed names."

Candle Dragon also introduced Li Fan to the six great gods. "This is Li Fan from Taiyin Star. He has been traveling through the East Sea recently and has come to be a guest in our Dragon Clan."

The banquet was in full swing when Golden Dragon appeared. Heavenly Dragon led Golden Dragon over to Li Fan. "This old brother Golden Dragon of mine doesn't know his manners. Don't take it to heart."

"If there's anything our Dragon Clan can help with, we will certainly do our part."

Li Fan said flatly, "No need. I haven't suffered any loss."

"But I'd like to ask—are there any special places in the East Sea? I'm traveling through here and thought I'd take a look around."

How could Li Fan ever reveal his true purpose of searching for the "Five Immortal Islands of the Sea"? The Dragon Clan was already in an uproar over a single primordial ore; he wasn't that foolish.

Heavenly Dragon curled his lip. "Our Dragon Clan has turned the East Sea upside down, and there's nothing particularly special."

Candle Dragon suddenly interjected, his expression grave. "There is. Heavenly Dragon, have you forgotten the Return to Ruins deep in the East Sea?"

"The Return to Ruins connects to the Primordial Chaos. It has several entrances. Li Fan, do not go to the Return to Ruins—it is dangerous even for a Great Luo."

"Thank you for the warning, Candle Dragon."

The banquet ended after three days. Li Fan prepared to take his leave. The dishes at the feast were somewhat lacking. Thinking of the Dragon Liver and Phoenix Gall of the later Investiture of the Gods Era, he supposed he could sample them once the Dragon Clan declined—for now, he'd pass.

Candle Dragon spoke with a smile. "It's rare for us to gather. Let the three of us Great Luos hold a Dao discourse in three days. I have long admired the Great Way cultivated by our newly joined Leize."

This was an open scheme. The Way of Cause and Effect was the most profound. If Li Fan listened to this discourse, he would owe the Dragon Clan a favor. Still, Li Fan wasn't losing out.

At the mention of a Dao discourse, dragons from all around the East Sea Dragon Palace, along with Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals and Clam Maidens, began to gather.

A lively, bustling scene of chattering beauties—this was the first time Li Fan had seen such a boisterous gathering since crossing over into the Primordial Chaos world.

The day of the discourse arrived.

Candle Dragon: "The Way of Time—look down and see white hair stretching three thousand feet; look up and see green mountains wither in an instant. Every crack is covered with the rings of new sprouts."

Leize: "Divine Firmament Divine Thunder—the ninefold heavenly abyss transforms into divine thunder. Majestic Heavenly Might, drawn forth by thunder."

Dragon Mother: "The Way of the Dragon—take bloodlines as the warp, take Weak Water as the weft, and dance on the blade's edge between destruction and creation."

As these three great gods expounded the Dao, heavenly flowers rained down within the hall, and golden lotuses sprang from the earth.

Li Fan listened, utterly entranced.

A hundred years later, the discourse ended. Li Fan's Lightning Law and Law of Time had entered the True God Realm.

Li Fan focused his comprehension on the Lightning Law, nearly breaking through to the Venerable God Realm. He gained only a slight understanding of the Way of the Dragon.

Among the Water Tribe within the Dragon Palace, most listened to the Way of the Dragon—what suits oneself is best.

The Lightning Law and the Law of Time were excellent supplements to Li Fan's Law of World.

This trip to the East Sea Dragon Clan had been highly fruitful for Li Fan. It was a pity he hadn't met Ancestor Dragon, that Great Divine Power.

After bidding farewell to the Dragon Clan, he continued his journey in search of the immortal islands.