The Current State of the Dragon Clan

The eight dragons simultaneously bowed to Qing Xuan. Though they did not address him as Master, the gesture they performed was the formal rite of apprenticeship.

Qing Xuan did not refuse. He accepted their bow with complete composure, then spoke to the Four Seas Dragon Kings.

"The key to the Dragon Clan Inheritance does not lie in how to enter the Dragon Seed, but in cleansing one's own Karmic Debt."

"And the Karmic Debt of the dragon clan differs from other karmic debts. One could even say it is an Inner Demon planted by the Heavenly Dao, stemming from the transgressions committed during the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation."

"If we can help the dragon clan dispel this Inner Demon, they can cultivate all the way to the Zenith Heaven Realm. Then every dragon can enter the Dragon Seed and receive the inheritance."

"The best way to wash away Karmic Debt is through Merit. Therefore, the Four Seas Dragon Clan should accumulate merit broadly and benefit the Primordial Wilderness, rather than focusing solely on cultivation."

"As for how the Four Seas Dragon Kings choose to act, that is beyond what This Daoist can influence. So This Daoist can only say this much."

After hearing this, the Four Seas Dragon Kings showed grateful expressions. They immediately bowed to Qing Xuan in thanks. At the same time, Ao Guang did not forget to add, "Qing Xuan Daojun, from today onward, these eight dragons are no longer of the Four Seas Dragon Clan. They are Qing Xuan Daojun's Island Protecting Divine Dragons. Their life and death are entirely at Daojun's discretion."

Only then did Qing Xuan fully understand why the eight dragons the Four Seas Dragon Kings had first sent were not their direct descendants.

So this was their plan—not only to test the waters with these eight dragons, but also to use them to build goodwill with Qing Xuan.

This made Qing Xuan mutter inwardly: "If it were your own sons, still unhatched from their eggs, that would be one thing. But as it is, you'll regret this."

"The achievements of these eight dragons will one day become the pride of the dragon clan. As for what comes after, that depends on their individual fortunes."

Qing Xuan thought to himself, then nodded to Ao Guang. "If I had known the East Sea Dragon King was so generous, I would not have let them take Ao as their surname. They should have taken Qing, to follow me."

After saying this, Qing Xuan laughed heartily, exchanged a few more pleasantries with the Four Seas Dragon Kings, and then saw them off Fangzhang Island.

Once the Four Seas Dragon Kings were gone, Qing Xuan's gaze fell upon Ao Gan and the other seven dragons.

"Your current cultivation is merely Profound Immortal. That is far from enough to guard my Fangzhang Island. From today, transform into your Dragon Bodies and cultivate in that pool."

As he spoke, Qing Xuan pointed toward the Three Lights Divine Water Pool, signaling the eight dragons to go there and train.

Just as the eight dragons were about to transform and enter the Three Lights Divine Water Pool, Nuwa came over again and asked Qing Xuan, "Little Gourd Vine, can you make them turn into koi and cultivate in the pool? That would be so much more pleasing to the eye."

Qing Xuan's forehead filled with black lines. "Only by maintaining their original form can they speed up their cultivation. Don't you know even that?"

Nuwa pouted, then pointed at the eight dragons. "Ask them yourself—are they of the True Dragon Bloodline?"

The moment Nuwa said this, Qing Xuan was stunned. He immediately turned his gaze to Ao Gan.

To Qing Xuan's surprise, Ao Gan actually nodded and said to Qing Xuan, "Teacher, Shiniang is right. The ancestors of the eight of us were indeed Fish Dragons."

Suddenly being called Shiniang, with Qing Xuan as the Teacher, made Nuwa's cheeks flush crimson instantly.

Even Qing Xuan was frozen in place. He thought to himself, calling me Teacher is fine, but where did Shiniang come from? Are you just pairing people up randomly like this?

But Qing Xuan couldn't correct them now—that would truly embarrass Nuwa. So he simply changed the subject.

"Your ancestors were all Fish Dragons. So what are you now—fish or dragon?"

Qing Xuan couldn't help wondering inwardly: Did Ao Guang send eight fish to fool me? If so, then from now on, don't expect me to care about dragon clan matters.

But Ao Gan answered with certainty, "Teacher, the eight of us are all dragons, not fish. Whether Fish Dragon or Flood Dragon, both are races within the dragon clan."

"As for the true dragon clan, they are called True Dragons. After the ancient war, very few True Dragons remain. In all the vast Four Seas today, True Dragons number no more than the fingers of one hand."

Qing Xuan counted: the Dragon Clan Leader Ao Pinghe, plus his four sons, the Four Seas Dragon Kings. That made exactly five. Were there truly no more True Dragons in the Primordial Wilderness besides them?

"No way. Are the dragons really that badly off?" Qing Xuan asked in disbelief.

At that moment, Fu Xi also walked over and said to Qing Xuan, "Qing Xuan, even during the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation, True Dragons were one in a hundred."

"Among the billions of dragon clan soldiers, most were Scaled Tribe who had transformed into dragons. In those days, the dragon clan possessed a supreme treasure called the Dragon Gate. Any member of the Scaled Tribe who leaped over it could transform into a dragon."

"So it's already remarkable that the Four Seas have True Dragons to hold court. And since True Dragon reproduction is extremely difficult, birthing a pure bloodline takes at least Ten Thousand Years, or even several epochs."

"Otherwise, there wouldn't be the saying 'Nine Sons of the Dragon, none becoming a dragon.' That was the Ancestral Dragon's failed attempt to quickly propagate the True Dragon line."

Qing Xuan nodded after hearing this, then asked Ao Gan and the other seven, "If you transform into koi, will it affect your cultivation speed?"

Ao Gan shook his head directly. "Teacher, rest assured. The Dragon-Fish Tribe can freely switch between dragon and fish forms. Either form is our Main Body."

"It's just that in the Four Seas, we were used to appearing as dragons. We rarely took the form of koi."

Qing Xuan nodded. "Then do as you please. Transform into dragons or koi as you wish. Just cultivate in this pool."

The eight dragons acknowledged in unison, then transformed into eight Golden Dragons and headed into the Three Lights Divine Water Pool.

But upon entering the pool, they immediately transformed into eight koi and swam straight toward the Pure World White Lotus.

This instantly created a beautiful scene of Koi Playing with Lotus in the Three Lights Divine Water Pool, making Nuwa clap and cheer repeatedly.

Qing Xuan sighed helplessly and said, "This pool contains Three Lights Divine Water, and this white lotus is the Pure World White Lotus."

"Both the Three Lights Divine Water and the Pure World White Lotus have the power to cleanse your Primordial Spirits. I hope you can raise your cultivation to the Zenith Heaven Realm within Ten Thousand Years."

"As for cultivation techniques, I will find the most suitable ones for you. Until then, continue cultivating as you have before."

The moment Qing Xuan finished speaking, the eight koi leaped out of the water simultaneously and spoke in human tongue, "Thank you, Teacher, for granting us this opportunity."