Night deepened.
Moonlight spilled through the stained-glass window onto the bed, and only Qian Renxue's gentle breathing remained in the hall.
Meanwhile, Chen Qianqiu grew increasingly excited. Nidhogg's bloodline power slowly awakened within him, and all the emotions the little girl had revealed earlier-hurt, sadness, and more-became nourishment for him.
Chen Qianqiu also gradually understood just how domineering this Nidhogg bloodline within him was-it devoured everything, even turning intangible emotions to his own use. It was absurdly overpowered.
As the last wisp of emotional power merged into him, the previously dormant black egg trembled slightly.
Crack.
A crisp cracking sound echoed through the silent room.
Cracks rapidly spread across the eggshell. Immediately afterward, a dragon claw covered in pitch-black scales burst through!
Chen Qianqiu squeezed through the opening in the eggshell, gently shook the moisture from his body, and, treading over the soft bedding, curiously crawled toward the enormous full-length mirror beside the bed.
In the moonlight spilling into the room, the mirror clearly reflected his current appearance-
He was only about the size of a fully grown cat, his entire body covered in black dragon scales as deep and cold as obsidian. A pair of pitch-black membranous wings with clearly defined bones grew from his back, and his dark-gold slit pupils gleamed with a faint ferocity in the night.
Though he was still only a hatchling, he possessed an innate majesty and mystery.
"There's really no helping it. Even as a dragon, I'm still this handsome. What a burden..."
Chen Qianqiu indulged in a little narcissism inwardly.
Just then, a powerful pang of hunger suddenly came from his belly.
He instinctively turned around, grabbed the scattered eggshells, and crunched them down like potato chips, polishing them off in just a few bites.
As the eggshells entered his stomach, a pure warm current immediately flowed through his bloodline into every limb and bone, making him narrow his eyes in comfort. The nutrients in the eggshells were tremendously nourishing to him, and Chen Qianqiu could even clearly feel his strength increasing.
With his hunger and thirst satisfied, drowsiness swept over him like a tide.
Chen Qianqiu yawned, slowly crawled back beside Qian Renxue, and curled up snugly against the warm hollow of the little girl's neck.
Feeling the little girl's steady, gentle breathing, Chen Qianqiu closed his heavy eyelids while silently pondering:
Since I could grow and evolve just by eating, was there any better thigh to cling to in this world than Qian Renxue's?
She was none other than Spirit Hall's young master, a little rich girl at the very pinnacle of the continent! If I stuck with her, wouldn't I get to stuff myself with all sorts of heavenly treasures and top-grade resources?
With this ready-made rich girl looking after me, I could definitely develop safely. When the time came, I could consider giving Spirit Hall a helping hand.
With that thought, Chen Qianqiu nuzzled farther into Qian Renxue's warm embrace and drifted off to sleep amid the faint milky fragrance of the little girl.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, just as gentle morning light streamed through the window, an extremely piercing cry exploded beside Chen Qianqiu's ears!
"Ah!"
Before Chen Qianqiu could open his eyes, he felt himself suddenly lifted into the air.
By the time he snapped to his senses, his entire dragon body had already been squeezed tightly into Qian Renxue's soft embrace, followed by a bout of frantic rubbing that nearly suffocated him.
"Big black egg, you've hatched?! Xiao Hei, you're so cute!"
Qian Renxue's little face flushed with excitement. Still not satisfied, she pressed her delicately sculpted little face against Chen Qianqiu's cool, smooth black scales and nuzzled him wildly.
The little girl's enthusiasm left Chen Qianqiu dizzy and disoriented, his four little claws kicking wildly in midair.
"All right, all right, Xiao Hei, let me take a good look at what kind of Soul Beast you are!"
Qian Renxue's curiosity surged. As though handling a doll, she flipped Chen Qianqiu belly-up, gently pushing his little dragon wings apart with one hand while spreading his little arms and legs with the other.
"How strange..."
After studying him for a long while, Qian Renxue furrowed her delicate brows slightly.
"I've clearly read all the Soul Beast encyclopedias in Spirit Hall several times. Xiao Hei, why don't you seem to be in any of them?"
After racking her brains to no avail, the little girl simply stopped thinking about it, and her eyes suddenly darted around.
She held Chen Qianqiu upright again and met his dark-gold slit pupils. A sly smile curled her lips as she coaxed him with impish patience.
"Xiao Hei, can you understand what I'm saying?"
Chen Qianqiu nodded, though he was extremely dissatisfied with the name Xiao Hei.
"Then did you know, Xiao Hei? You were born under my covers, so that means I hatched you! From now on, I'm your mommy. Once you learn to talk, remember to call me Mommy."
At those words, black lines instantly covered Chen Qianqiu's face.
He had never imagined that Qian Renxue, who looked just like a little angel, could actually be so black-bellied at heart!
He had only just set foot on this fantasy continent, yet a little girl still young enough to play in the mud had already taken such outrageous advantage of him.
How could anyone bully a dragon like this!
Unfortunately, Chen Qianqiu could not speak yet and could not produce human sounds at all, so he could only twist his body in protest.
Unexpectedly, seeing him like this, Qian Renxue actually burst into laughter, her silver-bell-like laughter echoing through the quiet room.
Ah, sure enough, when a creature was too weak, people would think even its angry display was just acting cute.
"All right, all right, I'll stop teasing you."
Qian Renxue suddenly thought of something. Her large, bright eyes instantly sparkled with unconcealable excitement.
"Oh, right, Xiao Hei, I've got good news! I get one chance to go out and play this month, and I haven't used it yet!"
"I didn't know what to do before, but since you've hatched, let's use that chance today and celebrate!"
Without allowing any argument, Qian Renxue scooped Chen Qianqiu up, cupped him in both hands, and settled him securely on top of her head.
At once, fragrance filled Chen Qianqiu's nostrils, leaving him dazed. He had no idea how Qian Renxue had grown such beautiful golden hair in an age without shampoo.
"Hold on tight, Xiao Hei!"
Grinning, Qian Renxue reached up and gently patted Chen Qianqiu's little head, as though soothing a beloved pet.
Then, with light, lively steps, she pushed open the door and ran outside.
As Spirit Hall's young master, Qian Renxue was usually kept under strict supervision, but when she actually went out with a special permission token, the guards naturally let her pass with utmost respect.
At the same time, those guards were also very surprised. Since when had their young master been in such a good mood?
The human and dragon followed the broad white staircase down Martial Soul Mountain.
As they descended, their surroundings quietly changed as well.
Unlike Spirit Hall's oppressive solemnity, the outer-city market on the edge of Spirit City had a touch of the bustle of everyday life.
The streets teemed with carriages and people, shops stood in rows, and cries of vendors and bargaining voices rang out endlessly.
Among those coming and going were not only Soul Masters in fitted outfits of various colors, but also many ordinary merchants selling curious wares from far and wide. As long as you could afford the price, you could buy almost anything you wanted on this continent.
Qian Renxue seemed very fond of this atmosphere, her large eyes brimming with excitement.