What was the Dragon God Claw? Legend had it that the Black Dragon Clan had originally served as the Dragon God's personal guard. Later, the Dragon God split into the Golden Dragon King and the Silver Dragon King, and the Black Dragon Clan had continued protecting those two incarnations. Even the Dragon God's nine Dragon Sons had not dared provoke the Black Dragon Clan lightly. This was because the Dragon God had rewarded their loyalty by granting the Black Dragon Clan's patriarch the title of "Dragon King" and passing the Dragon God Claw down to them. This supreme innate technique could only be inherited by successive Black Dragon Clan patriarchs.
To humans, the Dragon God Claw was not much different from other powerful soul skills. But to soul beasts, it was the difference between heaven and earth. The Dragon God Claw carried a trace of the Dragon God's aura. Once unleashed, unless a soul beast had likewise received Divine Protection, all other soul beasts would either bow in submission or suffer body and soul alike being annihilated after being struck by the Dragon God Claw.
Lin Yuan looked at Di Tian, who was kneeling on one knee, his little face full of seriousness. Although he knew the Dragon God Claw's fearsome reputation, he also understood how domineering the technique was. Even the Black Dragon Clan could only inherit it on the condition of becoming patriarch, which showed just how harsh its requirements for bloodline and strength were.
"Uncle Di Tian, is the Dragon God Claw difficult to cultivate?" Lin Yuan asked, his soft voice tinged with curiosity.
Di Tian abruptly raised his head. His golden eyes were filled with fervor, and his voice was several degrees louder than usual. "For others, the Dragon God Claw is a peerless battle technique that takes a hundred years just to begin learning. But for you, Xiao Yuan, it is merely an instinct embedded in your bloodline! You are the true Dragon God. This battle technique was meant to be yours, and cultivating it will come as naturally as water flowing downhill!"
Lin Yuan nodded as though he understood. He knew that he possessed the Dragon God Bloodline, but the word "instinct" sounded far too mystical, and he could not help feeling uncertain.
Gu Yue Na saw Lin Yuan's hesitation. She reached out and rubbed his silver hair, saying softly, "Di Tian is right. You do not need to rush. Starting tomorrow, follow Di Tian and first familiarize yourself with how the Dragon God Claw channels power. Your bloodline will help you find the cultivation rhythm that suits you best."
As soon as she finished speaking, Biji approached carrying a white jade tray. On it sat a lustrous green fruit—the Golden Jade Fruit Lin Yuan had eaten before—and beside it was a small bowl of Soul Condensing Dew that glowed warmly. She held the tray out before Lin Yuan and said softly, "Xiao Yuan, you exhausted too much energy today. Eat these first and replenish yourself."
Lin Yuan took the Golden Jade Fruit and swallowed it in just a few bites. The sweet flesh, carrying a faint bitterness, slid down his throat, and a gentle warmth instantly spread through his dantian. More than half the exhaustion caused by activating his authority and domain vanished. Then he picked up the Soul Condensing Dew and sipped it slowly. The warm liquid flowed down his throat, intertwining with the Golden Jade Fruit's energy and turning into an even gentler current that gradually nourished his meridians.
"Sister Bi Ji, thank you." Lin Yuan set down the empty bowl, his soft voice brimming with gratitude. Ever since arriving at the Star Dou Great Forest, Biji had silently prepared clothes and supplements for him. Her thoughtful care reminded him of how his mother had once looked after him.
Biji smiled faintly without speaking. She merely reached out and gently wiped away the trace of Soul Condensing Dew at the corner of Lin Yuan's mouth. "You do not need to be so polite with your sister. Nothing matters more than you growing up well." As she spoke, her gaze fell upon the pale cyan pattern between Lin Yuan's brows. "The power of the Living Being Gold has already begun merging with your body. From now on, I will deliver Golden Jade Fruits and Soul Condensing Dew every day to help stabilize this opportunity."
Lin Yuan nodded vigorously, then suddenly remembered something and looked up at Biji. "Sister Bi Ji, can you make me a hairband? Mine just broke. Silver-white would be fine, something that matches my current hair color. It does not need to be too elaborate—just enough to tie my hair back so it will not get in the way while cultivating." As he spoke, he lifted a hand and brushed the silver hair hanging over his shoulders, his soft voice carrying a hint of embarrassment. "If you are busy, it is fine if it takes a few days."
Seeing the expectation hidden in Lin Yuan's eyes, Biji smiled gently. "I am not busy. I will make one for you right away. I promise you can use it tomorrow morning." Her gaze fell upon Lin Yuan's silver hair, and a softness flashed in her eyes. "A silver-white hairband will definitely look lovely with your hair."
As night deepened, the wooden house beside the Lake of Life lit up with warm yellow light. Lin Yuan leaned by the window, replaying the scenes of merging with his authority during the day over and over in his mind. Gu Yue Na sat nearby, wiping a lustrous white Soul Crystal with a handkerchief. Her gaze occasionally fell upon him, and when she saw the light in his eyes, she knew he was still pondering cultivation.
"Do not keep thinking about cultivation. You just merged with the Living Being Gold, and your body still needs time to adapt." Gu Yue Na set down the Soul Crystal, pulled Lin Yuan to her side, and let him lean against her shoulder. "Rest properly today. You will need the strength to endure training in the Dragon God Claw with Di Tian tomorrow."
Lin Yuan obediently nodded. Looking up at the moonlight outside the window, he suddenly asked in a quiet voice, "Sister Nana, when do you think I will become as strong as you?"
"Very soon." Gu Yue Na gently rubbed Lin Yuan's silver hair, her voice tender. "You are luckier than all of us. You were born holding the most complete Dragon God inheritance. As long as you take each step steadily, in the future, not even the Douluo Continent—nor even the God Realm—will have anyone capable of stopping you."
Just then, the wooden house door was gently pushed open, and Biji entered carrying a wooden tray. Resting on it was a brand-new silver-white hairband. Fine pale cyan dragon patterns were embroidered along its edges, shimmering faintly beneath the lamplight.
Biji gently placed the tray on the low table and looked at Lin Yuan. "I made it overnight. The stitching may not be delicate enough, but it is sturdy and will not tear easily even if it gets tugged during cultivation." As she spoke, she picked up the hairband and moved behind Lin Yuan, gently gathering his loose silver hair. "I deliberately left some extra length. You will still be able to use it when you grow taller."
Lin Yuan could clearly feel the hairband winding through his hair. It was soft, yet resilient. He raised a hand and lightly touched the knot, his soft voice full of delight. "It fits perfectly! It is much more comfortable than my old one. Thank you, Sister Bi Ji."
Biji adjusted the tightness of Lin Yuan's hairband and smiled as she shook her head. "I am glad you like it. It is getting late, and you should rest too. You need to get up early tomorrow to cultivate the Dragon God Claw." With that, she turned and left quietly, gently closing the wooden house door behind her.
Moonlight shone through the wooden house window, scattering silver radiance across the floor. Lin Yuan touched the soft silver hairband atop his head, unable to hide the smile on his face. Seeing how content he looked, Gu Yue Na drew him into her arms and said softly, "It is late. Time to sleep. Di Tian will definitely be waiting for you by the lake early tomorrow."
Lin Yuan obediently nodded and let Gu Yue Na lead him to the bed. As soon as he lay down, he habitually snuggled closer to her, resting his little head against her shoulder and breathing in her familiar crisp scent. Before long, his even breathing filled the room. His purple eyes were tightly closed, his long lashes casting faint shadows beneath his lids, and even the crease between his brows had relaxed. He was clearly completely at ease.
Gu Yue Na gently patted Lin Yuan's back, her eyes filled with tenderness. She could sense that the Living Being Gold's power was still slowly circulating within him, continuously merging with his Dragon God Bloodline and Dragon God Bone. This opportunity alone would spare him countless detours on his future path of cultivation.
The next morning, before dawn had fully broken, Di Tian's footsteps sounded outside the wooden house. He did not dare knock rashly. He simply stood outside, his eyes filled with expectation, even deliberately restraining his aura. To personally pass the Dragon God Claw on to the true Dragon God was something he had dreamed of for tens of thousands of years.
Lin Yuan was awakened by birds chirping outside the window. He rubbed his sleepy purple eyes, and as soon as he sat up, he saw Gu Yue Na already fully dressed and holding out his clothes. "Get up and wash quickly. Di Tian is already waiting outside."
Lin Yuan swiftly put on his clothes, then touched the silver hairband atop his head. Only after confirming it had not loosened did he follow Gu Yue Na out of the wooden house.
The Star Dou Great Forest was still shrouded in a thin veil of mist in the early morning. The damp air carried the fresh scent of vegetation and morning dew. When Di Tian saw Lin Yuan emerge, his eyes instantly brightened, yet he deliberately slowed his steps to avoid frightening the still-young body with his pressure.
"Uncle Di Tian, release the Dragon God Claw at me once first. Let me experience its power, at least so I have a general idea. Powerful battle techniques all emphasize intent preceding form. I want to first grasp the 'intent' of this technique, so I can take fewer detours when I train later."
After speaking, Lin Yuan took two steps back, his purple eyes filled with seriousness. He knew Di Tian's strength was unfathomable. Even if he was merely demonstrating the Dragon God Claw, it would surely carry terrifying pressure. Yet Lin Yuan did not retreat in the slightest. Since he was going to learn it, he had to first see the technique in its entirety. If he lacked even the courage to face it head-on, how could he ever master it?
Hearing this, Di Tian slowly raised his left hand. As it rose, it gradually transformed, his human palm turning into a dragon claw as black as ink. Yet in Lin Yuan's eyes, the dragon claw seemed to carry a sense of emptiness. At the same time, a shudder rose from the depths of his heart. He could clearly feel that this was a terrifying existence capable of taking his life directly!
The black dragon claw hung in midair. Though it was clearly solid, Lin Yuan saw it as though it were shrouded in a layer of hazy radiance, as if it might pierce through space and strike a vital point the next instant. The trembling sensation that came from deep within his bloodline ran up his spine to the top of his head, making his body tense slightly. Yet he clenched his fists tightly and refused to look away. He wanted to remember this pressure, to remember the "intent" contained within this claw.
A low dragon roar emerged from Di Tian's throat, and the black dragon claw suddenly thrust forward. There was no earth-shaking sound, not even a violent stirring of air. Yet Lin Yuan clearly saw fine ripples appear in space wherever the dragon claw passed. The surrounding grass and trees instantly lost their vitality. Leaves yellowed and curled at a visible rate, as though an invisible force had drained away all life.
"This is the Dragon God Claw." Di Tian's voice carried the authority unique to dragons. As he slowly withdrew the dragon claw, the black scales on his palm gradually faded and returned to the appearance of a human hand. "It is absolute destruction against enemies, ignoring defenses and striking directly at the source. It is bloodline suppression against soul beasts, making them submit from the depths of their souls, unable even to form the thought of resisting. Xiao Yuan, try sensing the lingering aura from my claw."
Lin Yuan drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, and carefully sensed the dragon's might lingering in the air. The next moment, an image suddenly flashed through his mind: a black dragon claw tearing through the clouds, countless soul beasts below prostrating themselves on the ground. Even the fiercest Fierce Beasts did not dare raise their heads. It was absolute control standing above all beasts.
With that image in mind, he slowly raised his right hand. A faint Nine-Colored Flowing Light first appeared at his fingertips. The light spread through the gaps between his fingers, and the instant it covered his palm, faint cracking sounds came from his bones, as though some power was awakening from the depths of his bloodline.
His originally tender, fair palm gradually transformed within the flowing light. Dragon scale patterns faintly emerged beneath his skin. His fingertips glowed with a lustrous sheen as they slowly lengthened and sharpened, shining with nine-colored brilliance entirely unlike Di Tian's.
Without deliberately imitating anything, guided purely by his bloodline instinct, his hand completely turned into a dragon claw within the nine-colored glow. The five talons were long and tough, while fine nine-colored scales covered the back of his hand. Pale golden patterns intertwined along the edges of the scales, each one exuding holiness and majesty. Compared to Di Tian's ink-black dragon claw, this dragon claw possessed less savagery and more of the Dragon God's authority.
"Dragon God Claw!" Lin Yuan cried out. His five talons closed together at once, and Nine-Colored Flowing Light surged from his palm like a crashing tide. He did not imitate Di Tian's movements. Instead, he let his bloodline instinct guide him, lightly curling his fingers as space rippled in circles, as if stirred by an invisible hand.
The next instant, the claw shadow flashed and vanished.
There was no earth-shaking roar, only an extremely soft pop. Several yards ahead, a long, narrow tear suddenly split open in the empty ground. Its edges were as smooth as a mirror, and even the wind seemed to have been cut in half. More shocking still, the life force in the ground beneath that rift was instantly drained away. The grass turned into fine ash and scattered with the wind.
Di Tian's pupils contracted sharply, and he could scarcely believe his eyes. "This... this is instinct?!"
Gu Yue Na's eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded in satisfaction.
Lin Yuan himself was somewhat stunned as he looked down at his hand. The claw shadow dispersed, the Nine-Colored Flowing Light withdrew, and his palm returned to its fair, tender appearance, as though that earth-shaking strike had been an illusion. Yet the severed trace in space before him silently attested to what had just happened.
Di Tian was so excited he nearly knelt, his golden eyes filled with fervor. "Born already knowing the Dragon God Claw—this is the talent of the true Dragon God!"
Lin Yuan scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "I just moved my hand according to what I felt. I did not expect it to turn out like this..."
Gu Yue Na stepped forward and gently rubbed Lin Yuan's hair. "That is enough for today. After this attempt, Xiao Yuan's grasp of the Dragon God Claw has already far exceeded expectations. All that remains is refining it day after day."
Only then did Di Tian suppress his excitement and solemnly remind him, "Xiao Yuan, your talent is extraordinary, but remember this well: the Dragon God Claw's highest realm lies in reaching its target with a single thought. The claw intent must arrive before the form does. Only then can it truly ignore defenses and strike directly at the source."
"Reaching it with a single thought? I will definitely do it!"
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