Nether Dragon

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Nether Dragon (冥龙)
Alias(es)	Yellow Springs Nether Dragon
Species/Race	A Nether Dragon of the Yellow Springs lineage; initially a soul body born from the Yellow Springs 366 368 378
Affiliation	Jiang Changkong's partner; later recognized as the Yellow Springs lineage's totem 368 458
Occupation/Role	Corpse seeker, Yellow Springs cultivator, and combat partner
First Appearance	Chapter 363

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Star Dao Realm	378	Devoured a Star Saint's corpse during seclusion and used its golden stone slab to accelerate its transformation and Great Dao comprehension.
Mid-stage Star Dao limit	405	Reached the limit of the mid-stage after another period of secluded cultivation.
Star Saint Realm	439	Completed its breakthrough while Jiang Changkong confronted pursuing enemies.

Appearance

The Nether Dragon is a gray, flood-dragon-like being with a half-real, half-illusory body. It radiates deathly, cold, sinister energy and is usually accompanied by the fetid waters of the Yellow Springs 363.

• Initially measured roughly one hundred zhang in length; after reaching the Star Dao Realm, it grew to one hundred and fifty zhang 363 378.
• Has a camel-like head, two fleshy bumps rather than horns, a serpentine scaled body, four legs, and razor-sharp claws 363.
• Can shrink its body to approximately one zhang 378.
• Possesses a gray dragon pearl infused with corpse qi and Corpse Path Dao imprints 382.

Personality

The Nether Dragon is direct, instinct-driven, and intensely focused on corpses, death qi, and the Yellow Springs. It initially has limited language and knowledge because it was never taught and lived alone in the Yellow Springs; after learning Star Script, it becomes capable of fluent communication 368 378.

Its partnership with Jiang Changkong turns its natural greed for corpses into fierce loyalty. It readily shares its most valuable treasure with Jiang, carries him through dangerous terrain, and allows him priority over resources when Jiang needs to cultivate 378 399 438.

Successive breakthroughs make it boastful and reckless. It repeatedly speaks of destroying the Void Realm and establishing a death-filled kingdom, though Jiang Changkong regularly restrains its ambitions 378 380 399 400.

Abilities & Skills

Yellow Springs Manipulation

The Nether Dragon commands the waters and deathly energy of the Yellow Springs.

• Floods battlefields with Yellow Springs water capable of corroding star formations, Star Power, bodies, and some treasures 366.
• Uses Yellow Springs to move underground and create sheltering spaces within earth and Nether Soil 368 393.
• Can suppress or consume corpse poison that threatens Star Path martial artists 391.
• Its Yellow Springs can contain and transport refined evil ghosts 452.

Corpse Path Cultivation

The Nether Dragon grows by consuming corpses and the Great Dao imprints remaining within them.

• Seeks corpses by instinct and is described as highly proficient at locating hidden graves 366 368.
• Devoured a Star Saint's corpse to reach the Star Dao Realm 378.
• Gains more from corpses with intact energy and Great Dao imprints; severely decayed remains offer limited benefit 379.
• Receives Star Saint corpses from Jiang Changkong during their campaigns 405 452.

Dragon Pearl

After reaching the Star Dao Realm, the Nether Dragon cultivates a dragon pearl as a major offensive weapon.

• Fires the pearl with concentrated corpse qi and Corpse Path Dao might 382.
• Can pour Yellow Springs water into the pearl to strengthen its attacks 384.
• The pearl was damaged when it clashed with a Star Dao martial artist's lunar sword technique 382.

Ghost Path Cultivation

Jiang Changkong gives the Nether Dragon the Yellow Springs Ghost Path and Corpse Path cultivation arts acquired from the Merfolk King 399.

• Refines captured souls into evil ghosts within the Yellow Springs 400 452.
• Prioritizes weaker souls for ghost cultivation, allowing Jiang Changkong to retain stronger souls for the Soul-Anchoring Tree 400.
• Builds an army of evil ghosts while traveling toward the unsealing of Yellow Springs 452.

Yellow Springs Lineage Techniques

Although its inheritance is initially incomplete, the Nether Dragon can recognize and use Yellow Springs-related locations and formations.

• Identifies Merfolk King City's formations and guardian corpses as products of the Yellow Springs lineage 393 394.
• Travels freely through Nether Soil by instinct 393.
• Opens a sealed Yellow Springs formation on Death Star using inherited Dao patterns 451.
• Recognizes that the Yellow Springs domain can prevent near-gods from entering without assistance from the lineage 451.

Star Script and Soul Communication

The Nether Dragon learns Star Script and communicates through soul fluctuations before it can speak fluently 368.

• Forms its first agreement with Jiang Changkong through the Spirit Controlling Formula and soul communication 368.
• Uses a gray-and-yellow bead to contact Jiang Changkong over distance 378.
• Learns more about the Star Path and the divisions within the Star Dao Realm from Jiang Changkong 379 385.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Golden stone slab — A master-recognized divine auxiliary artifact that accelerates transformation, Great Dao comprehension, and Dao condensation. The Nether Dragon lends it to Jiang Changkong but states that only it can fully use it 378 381.
• Gray-and-yellow communication bead — Allows the Nether Dragon to locate and contact Jiang Changkong through Star Script and Dao resonance 378.
• Dragon pearl — A Corpse Path weapon cultivated by the Nether Dragon itself 382.

Relationships

• Jiang Changkong — Partner and sworn “brother.” Their agreement gives the Nether Dragon corpses while Jiang keeps other treasures; they later campaign together against Immortal Palace strongholds and seek to restore the Yellow Springs lineage 368 378 399 451.
• Feng Qixing — Provides early information on the Yellow Springs Clan and the Nether Dragon's nature. The Nether Dragon distrusts him when he discusses the value of a Star Saint corpse 368.
• Liangqiu Xuanyi — Initially travels with Jiang Changkong and the Nether Dragon during the Star Saint tomb expedition; the Nether Dragon reacts with displeasure when she expresses surprise at its intelligence 368.
• Yellow Springs lineage — The Nether Dragon seeks to restore this lost lineage and is later installed as its totem after Yellow Springs is unsealed 451 458.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Emergence from the Yellow Springs

The Nether Dragon first emerges from the Yellow Springs in the Void Realm. It passes Jiang Changkong's group without attacking, then dives back into the river. At the time, Jiang judges it to be slightly below the top tier of martial artists 363.

Star Saint Tomb Expedition

The Nether Dragon devastates the tomb city with the Yellow Springs, corroding its formations until it exposes a hidden pit. It attempts to enter the pit and fights the Immortal Palace martial artists and Star Demons who want the treasures for themselves 366.

Though initially hostile to all nearby parties, it chooses to fight alongside Jiang Changkong against their shared enemies. It later rescues Jiang, Feng Qixing, and Liangqiu Xuanyi by carrying them underground through the Yellow Springs 367 368.

Alliance with Jiang Changkong

Jiang Changkong negotiates directly with the Nether Dragon through soul power. The dragon asks only for corpses; in exchange, it helps locate graves and recover hidden bodies. This agreement becomes the basis of their long-term partnership 368.

Star Dao Campaigns

After consuming a Star Saint corpse, the Nether Dragon emerges from seclusion at the Star Dao Realm. It joins Jiang Changkong in raiding Immortal Palace strongholds, destroying formations, defeating Golden Crows, and consuming enemy corpses 378 380.

It is badly wounded while fighting a lunar Star Dao martial artist, revealing that it has not yet fully stabilized its new realm. Jiang later explains that it has condensed only five percent of its Great Dao, forcing it to recognize its own inexperience 382 385.

Merfolk King City and the Yellow Springs Inheritance

Within Merfolk King City, the Nether Dragon recognizes the remnants of Yellow Springs formations and Yin Soldiers. It helps Jiang Changkong gather Star Crystals, but cannot claim the guardian corpses without provoking the resurrecting Merfolk King 393 394.

Jiang later obtains the Nether Dragon's Ghost Path and Corpse Path cultivation arts from the Merfolk King and passes them on to it, greatly expanding its Yellow Springs inheritance 399.

Restoration of Yellow Springs

The Nether Dragon accompanies Jiang Changkong to Death Star, where it opens the sealed Yellow Springs domain. There they learn that the Yellow Springs Clan sealed itself within the Immortal-Slaying Platform in the Immortal Wasteland 451.

As Jiang Changkong gathers strength for the journey, the Nether Dragon refines captured souls into evil ghosts and receives Star Saint corpses to aid its own growth 452. When the Yellow Springs Gate is opened, numerous Nether Dragons and ghosts recognize the returning dragon as one of their own 455.

After the lineage reorganizes, the Nether Dragon becomes its totem 458.

Notable Quotes

“Humans... cooperate.” 368

“From now on, we brothers will join hands and slaughter every living thing, turning this Void Realm into a world of death.” 378

“Besides, I want to build a kingdom of death.” 399

Trivia

• The Nether Dragon was originally only the spirit of the Yellow Springs; a chance-born thread of consciousness and the golden stone slab allowed it to develop rapidly 378.
• It has an unusually poor sense of restraint after breakthroughs, prompting Jiang Changkong to repeatedly warn it about stronger enemies 378 380.
• It considers itself a “shut-in dragon” and admits it may remain motionless for years when it has nothing to do but comprehend the Great Dao 379.
• It is willing to act as Jiang Changkong's mount after receiving the Yellow Springs inheritance 399.