The Inevitable Tide, Waterwalk Dragon Transformation!

"Why wait until now?"

Luo Chen did not understand.

"For a Flood Dragon to take the path of Waterwalk Dragon Transformation, it must stir the entire water vein of the White Dragon River, borrow the momentum of heaven and earth, cross the Dragon Gate, and break free from the shackles of the waters!"

"The White Dragon River runs through the entire Northern Border before finally flowing into the North Sea."

"If the Flood Dragon chooses Waterwalk Dragon Transformation, living beings will surely be devastated, and countless common people will become wronged souls."

As Li Changsheng explained,

A flash of insight struck Luo Chen, and he understood something.

"While that Martial Saint Ancestor of Dagan had not fallen, he would never have permitted the Flood Dragon to undergo Waterwalk Dragon Transformation!"

Li Changsheng nodded.

"The Dagan Martial Saint fell a hundred years ago, yet the dynasty's National Destiny remained. The Old Dragon could not stir the water vein of the White Dragon River."

"But three months ago, we Heavenly Saints clearly sensed that Dagan's National Destiny had vanished!"

"No, Dagan has not yet collapsed. Its National Destiny should have been suppressed by something."

Li Changsheng thought for a moment, though he was somewhat uncertain as well.

Hearing such a secret, Luo Chen's heart surged with turbulent waves.

Li Changsheng's half-smiling voice rang out again.

"I was injured by the Old Dragon because I went to warn him."

"Whether I live or die, it changes nothing."

After a long while,

Luo Chen calmed himself before speaking slowly.

"You are right, Senior. Knowing too much is not necessarily a good thing."

"Hahaha."

Li Changsheng suddenly burst into laughter, his smile carrying a sense of release.

"The Old Dragon becoming a dragon is the inevitable tide. Dagan's Imperial Preceptor supports it, the king of the Southern Border tacitly accepts it, and King Zhenbei is ambitious enough to have long anticipated it."

"The Old Dragon has undergone Nirvana nine times and transformed nine times. He reached perfection a thousand years ago and has accumulated enough power. If not for the Martial Saint's suppression, he would not have waited until now."

"He possesses the right time, the right place, and the support of the people—all of it!"

Li Changsheng's laughter gradually faded.

Man and turtle both fell silent.

After a long while,

Li Changsheng spoke in a slightly low voice.

"I still have some assets in the North Sea. You saved my life, little friend, so why not return to the North Sea with me?"

"With your talent, you may have a chance to reach the Nirvana Realm in the future."

"Are you leaving Dagan, Senior?"

Luo Chen asked, somewhat reluctant in his heart.

"I cannot return for now. It will take at least ten years before I can move about again."

Li Changsheng sighed once more and spoke helplessly.

"Senior, have you considered another possibility?" Luo Chen pondered for a long time before speaking seriously.

"What?" Li Changsheng revealed a trace of confusion.

"The Flood Dragon will become a dragon within the Northern Border. When that time comes, the Northern Border's living beings will be devastated. Will King Zhenbei tolerate that?"

"You are still too young," Li Changsheng said directly.

"This old man has also made some guesses about Dagan's Imperial Preceptor's plan."

"He merely wishes to use the Flood Dragon's power of becoming a dragon, along with the wronged souls of countless Dagan commoners, to shake the National Destiny."

"By this old man's estimate, Dagan's National Destiny is currently declining and has encountered a great calamity. That Imperial Preceptor likely possesses some means of scattering the National Destiny."

"When that happens, the Great Gan Dynasty will collapse. Is that not exactly what King Zhenbei wishes to see?"

"..."

Luo Chen fell silent for a moment.

He could not find any reason to refute him.

No wonder the Old Dragon from the Dragon Palace had not personally come to hunt down Li Changsheng.

Just as Li Changsheng had said,

Whether he lived or died would not affect the bigger picture.

At present, the three most powerful forces in Dagan all openly hoped for the Old Dragon's successful transformation into a dragon.

They wished to use it to cast off the suppression of the National Destiny hanging above their heads.

The right time, the right place, and the support of the people!

The Old Dragon had probably never imagined that he would fight such a lavish battle.

"Do not think too much about it. Even if you were in the Nirvana Realm, you could not change it."

Li Changsheng began comforting Luo Chen instead.

Luo Chen smiled at him.

He rose and walked to the window, stretching a hand outside.

It was raining!

Dark clouds were like overturned ink, swallowing the entire sky in an instant.

Daylight plunged into darkness, while the gale carried a piercing howl.

Rain poured wildly from the eaves, and thunder rumbled within the clouds.

Luo Chen returned to Liu Manor.

He looked up at the sky, his gaze solemn.

Li Changsheng's words echoed in his ears.

"The White Dragon River is about to begin!"

Luo Chen hurried back.

At this moment, all the servants of Liu Manor were busy.

The rain had come far too suddenly, without any warning.

As he entered the main hall, he faintly heard a little girl crying.

Luo Chen approached and saw Uncle Liu's Family gathered in the main hall. In Aunt Madam Wang's arms, Yaoyao's little face was red from crying.

"Be good. Who bullied Yaoyao? Big Brother will go beat him up later."

A relaxed smile appeared on Luo Chen's face as he went to Yaoyao's side and pinched her chubby little cheek.

"Big Brother~"

When Yaoyao saw Luo Chen had returned, she sniffled and opened her arms.

Luo Chen picked Yaoyao up onto his lap and sat down nearby.

When Liu Xingsheng saw Luo Chen, he smiled and said,

"This little girl was frightened by the thunder just now. It is nothing serious."

"Why did you come back so early today?"

As Luo Chen rubbed the little girl's head, he said,

"There was nothing important at the Demon Suppression Bureau today, so it was rather easy."

The youth's smile was sincere.

Aunt Madam Wang watched the brother and sister, a kind smile appearing on her face.

"Perfect. I will have the servants prepare dinner."

"Chen'er has been too busy. It has been so long since our Family last had a meal together."

After saying that, Madam Wang went toward the kitchen.

Liu Xingsheng did not notice anything unusual either, still smiling cheerfully.

After soothing the little girl,

A smile returned to her round little face.

Luo Chen had always liked this adorable younger sister ever since he was little.

As a result, Yaoyao loved clinging to him most.

Ever since he entered the Demon Suppression Bureau, he truly had shown the little girl less concern.

"Big Brother~ This is delicious..."

Yaoyao stretched out her little arm, picked up a pastry from the table, and held it toward Luo Chen's mouth.

"Alright, alright, alright..."

After playing with the little girl for a while,

He also ate a lavish dinner at home.

By the time he returned to his room, the sky outside was black as ink, so dark that one could not see a hand before one's face.

"Senior Li, how long will this rain last?"

Luo Chen sat upon the bed and softly asked the air.

Li Changsheng swayed as he crawled out from his sleeve.

"This old man does not know, but it will not end soon. The Old Dragon is gathering momentum! He must succeed in one burst of effort—if he fails, his body and spirit will both perish."

"If he succeeds, he will become a true dragon, carefree between heaven and earth, right?"

Luo Chen added calmly.

"Hehe." Li Changsheng chuckled faintly.

The Green Turtle crawled into a corner, tucked in its limbs and head, and began to shut out all matters beyond its ears.

Looking at the Mystic Turtle that had withdrawn into itself,

Luo Chen ignored it. A flash of light shone in his palm, and a pockmarked round ball appeared.

This Star Fragment, which Li Changsheng claimed contained an unparalleled Visualization Chart, truly looked rather shabby.

Looking at the Small Broken Ball lying in his palm,

Luo Chen decided to indulge himself a little tonight.

He would first condense a thread of spiritual power and inspect the inheritance within.

He now had an ample lifespan. That was his confidence.

"Invest lifespan to simulate cultivation."

[Lifespan successfully invested to simulate cultivation.]

[Year 1: You meditated in stillness, nurturing your sea of consciousness... You gained a little.]

[Year 5: You concentrated with all your mind. An invisible force from your sea of consciousness left your body, condensing into a thread of spiritual power—better than nothing.]