Visitors from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan

Dawn broke. Pale sunlight crept over the eaves, and soft morning mist drifted through the courtyard.

Jiang Baiyu stepped out of the house and stretched. After seeing Qian Renxue off last night, he had gone to rest, drained by the mental effort of refining pills. Now, refreshed, he felt clear-headed and full of energy.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened. He stared at the sky beyond the courtyard.

Thunderclouds crowded the sky, rumbling with electricity. Flickers of light trembled at the horizon as thin blue-violet arcs broke through the clouds, strangely silent.

He focused and saw two figures approaching on bolts of lightning.

In front was a powerfully built middle-aged man in dragon-patterned armor. An ancient, imposing air surrounded him, along with Blue Lightning Dragon Might as vast as a river and as heavy as a mountain. Tall and broad, he commanded respect without a word.

Close beside him stood a straight-backed young man: Yu Tianheng. The respect on his face made it clear that the middle-aged man was an elder of his family.

Is that Yu Yuanzhen? Jiang Baiyu wondered.

The two landed before the courtyard. Neither showed the slightest arrogance; their bearing was impeccable. Yu Yuanzhen looked toward the young man seated beneath the veranda, his gaze solemn.

He had come, first, to thank Jiang Baiyu for helping Yu Tianheng's martial soul evolve into that of a True Dragon. Yu Tianheng's fourth ring was even ten thousand years old.

Second, Yu Tianheng had told him about the Primordial True Dragon Origin within Jiang Baiyu, an aura that surpassed all others.

After carefully sensing Jiang Baiyu's aura, Yu Yuanzhen's eyes lit up. "I am Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. I've brought my grandson Yu Tianheng to thank you in person, young friend Jiang. Thanks to your help, my good-for-nothing grandson's martial soul has evolved." His voice was deep and steady. He exerted no pressure, only showed every courtesy.

Beside him, Yu Tianheng said, "Baiyu, I showed Grandpa my martial soul when I got back yesterday. After that, he insisted on meeting you. He dragged me here first thing this morning."

"Not at all. It's an honor to meet you, Thunderclap Douluo. Yu Tianheng has told me about you, but I haven't had the chance to visit. Please forgive me," Jiang Baiyu replied, returning the courtesy.

"Hahaha! I'd long heard how gifted you were, young friend Jiang. Now that I've seen you, I can say the younger generation truly has its heroes!" Yu Yuanzhen laughed.

Just then, faint dark-green ripples spread across the sky nearby. A languid laugh reached them as emerald light shimmered.

"Well, this is rare. An old dragon who'd happily spend his whole life holed up with his clan actually came out, bringing his precious grandson to ask a favor. What is it? Does Baiyu have some earth-shattering secret you want?"

Dugu Bo appeared in midair and descended to Jiang Baiyu's left, hands behind his back. The pressure of a Titled Douluo spread faintly from him.

Yu Yuanzhen's expression did not change. He gave a slight nod in greeting.

"Old Poison."

The exchange was civil, but tension hung beneath it. The auras of the two Titled Douluo quietly pressed against each other, making the air feel heavy.

Dugu Bo's position made one thing clear: today, he stood with Jiang Baiyu. Today, Dugu Bo had come to back him.

Another gentle aura descended. An old man in white appeared silently beside Jiang Baiyu, his expression mild as he looked at Yu Yuanzhen.

It was Su Wu.

"Oh? Medicine King. I've met you before, young Su. With that aura, I suppose I should call you Medicine King Douluo now." Yu Yuanzhen was mildly startled. As a veteran Titled Douluo, he had met Su Wu years ago, but he had never expected him to reach the rank himself.

"So, old dragon, what brings you here all of a sudden?" Dugu Bo dispensed with pleasantries and got straight to the point.

Everyone looked at Yu Yuanzhen. He answered just as directly. "To be frank, I came in person today for two reasons. First, to thank young friend Jiang for helping my Tianheng advance his martial soul. Without his help, never mind an evolution—my grandson might not even have survived. There was also a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will remember this kindness."

He paused, then looked at Jiang Baiyu. A trace of longing showed plainly in his eyes.

"Second, I wished to experience the aura of the Primordial True Dragon up close. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has a long history, older even than Spirit Hall's. Records of True Dragons have been passed down through our clan. The moment Yu Tianheng told me about it, I wanted to sense that ancient aura for myself. Nothing more."

With that, Yu Yuanzhen raised a hand, and an object flew out. It was a palm-sized, vivid-blue jade pendant shaped like a dragon. Fine sparks danced over its ancient dragon pattern. A faint rumble of thunder accompanied its appearance, and ripples of lightning spread through the courtyard air.

"This is my Blue Lightning Family's Thunder Dragon Pendant, one of our clan tokens. To bear it is to carry the authority of the clan head. I give it to you today, young friend Jiang. From now on, you are an honored guest of the Blue Lightning Family."

Yu Yuanzhen held out the Thunder Dragon Pendant, his manner sincere. "I also invite you to visit the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Our ancestral grounds contain the remains of dragon relics, as well as many rare treasures. The Blue Lightning Family would be honored to welcome you."

Unable to refuse, Jiang Baiyu reached out and took the pendant. It felt cool in his hand. The instant he touched it, the jade blazed with red and blue light.

That wisp of aura alone made Yu Yuanzhen's martial soul tremble involuntarily. At once, he knew: the young man before him truly possessed the aura of an ancient dragon.

Having confirmed what he had come to verify, Yu Yuanzhen rose to leave. "Well, I've thanked you in person. There are many matters awaiting me in the clan, so I won't impose any longer. Farewell."

He and Yu Tianheng bowed. Lightning curled around their feet as they prepared to depart through the air, but a clear voice stopped them.

"One moment." Jiang Baiyu stepped forward and raised a hand to halt them.

Yu Yuanzhen lifted an eyebrow and withdrew his Soul Power. The blue lightning slowly faded. "Is there something else, young friend Jiang?"

Jiang Baiyu did not answer. He extended a hand, summoning the ancient, imposing Shennong Cauldron. It rose slowly, gold and green patterns flowing across its surface while red and blue halos spiraled around it. The boundless vitality of plants spread outward, mingled with the vast pressure of a Primordial True Dragon.

Jiang Baiyu tapped the cauldron lightly. Radiant light surged from its mouth, and an illusory projection appeared, showing everyone the Cauldron Grotto-Heaven within.

Immortal Herbs and Spirit Plants swayed across the misty hills, while clear streams wound through a landscape bathed in ethereal light. At the center of the grotto-heaven, two stone platforms held enormous dragon eggs, one of ice and one of fire. Cold mist swirled around one; flames rose from the other. Two ancient waves of dragon might rushed through the projected image, so powerful they caught everyone's breath.

"Those are—!" The instant Yu Yuanzhen saw the two Dragon King Eggs, his whole body shook. His pupils widened, and he froze where he stood, unable to stop himself from crying out.

The Blue Lightning Family had a long history, and Yu Yuanzhen had spent much of his life studying its surviving ancient records. He recognized them at once: dragon eggs left behind by Dragon Kings of ages past.

There was nothing else like them in the world. Desire surged through him. If the Blue Lightning Family could obtain even one, its power would soar to unprecedented heights.

His throat bobbed, and he nearly asked for one. Then he came to his senses. A treasure like this could bring prosperity to an entire faction, and these eggs were bound to Jiang Baiyu himself. There was no chance he would simply hand one over.

Yu Yuanzhen swiftly suppressed that flicker of greed, though his heart still churned. "Dragon eggs... left by ancient Dragon Kings," he murmured, unable to calm himself.

"You stopped me for a reason, young friend Jiang. What did you have in mind?" he asked. A daring possibility took shape in his mind. What if? His heart pounded.

Jiang Baiyu caught every change in his expression. "Clan Head Yu, I'd like to make a deal with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."