An immortal affinity

Outside Yueyang City, in the Great Marsh Dragon King Temple.

Fang Zelin had followed the trail all the way here.

The Dragon King Temple thrived with incense offerings. Countless commoners came before the temple bearing incense and candles.

"Let's go inside and look."

Fang Zelin looked around outside the Dragon King Temple but could make nothing of it, so he immediately stepped inside.

Upon entering the Dragon King Temple, Fang Zelin saw a huge stone statue standing in the main hall. It had a human body, wore a royal crown, and had dragon horns sprouting from its head.

The stone statue resembled a middle-aged man, its gaze level as it looked out toward the great marsh before the temple.

As Fang Zelin swept his gaze around, something soon made him freeze.

Beside the Dragon King's stone statue, two middle-aged men sat talking. One of them looked exactly like the statue in the Great Marsh Dragon King Temple.

The two conversed, while the commoners nearby seemed not to notice them at all.

There was also incense Qi, which the middle-aged man beside the statue slowly inhaled.

Fang Zelin's gaze sharpened at the sight. Could this man be the Great Marsh Dragon King?

The other man wore a purple-gold crown and also had an extraordinary countenance. Was he perhaps of the same kind?

At this thought, Fang Zelin hesitated, then decided to listen to what the two dragons were saying.

"You failed to pass your tribulation before, and now your cultivation has fallen greatly. What are you to do?"

The Dragon King looked at the middle-aged man before him and sighed softly.

On this outing, he had stopped by along the way to visit him.

He had heard that the other man had failed his tribulation and suffered a sharp decline in cultivation, but had been unable to visit before.

Only upon seeing him today did he discover that the damage to his cultivation was even worse than expected.

"Alas, my fortune on the Dao was poor. I thought that tribulation was as good as in the bag, yet I failed to pass it."

The middle-aged man sighed as he spoke.

Listening nearby, Fang Zelin was taken aback. He had not expected that this man really was a Dragon King.

Now, hearing them speak of a lightning tribulation, he could not help feeling startled. There were lightning tribulations here too?

"As for what to do, I don't know myself at present. Perhaps only by finding some immortal affinity will I have a way to petition Heaven for investiture and face the tribulation again."

The Great Marsh Dragon King continued speaking, his face filled with desolation.

When the lightning tribulation descended, he had been unable to withstand it. Although he had not perished, it had cut off his chance of ascending the Immortal Investiture Platform again.

If he could not attain the body of a true dragon, only after receiving the investiture of Heaven and Earth could he advance further.

Moreover, the lifespans of ordinary members of the Dragon Race could not compare with those of true dragons.

Let alone their Divine Abilities, Law Techniques, and the like.

Immortal affinity?

Fang Zelin froze upon hearing this.

What, even a Dragon King like you has to seek immortal affinity?

Then what had he come here for?

He had originally hoped to ask the Dragon King whether there was any immortal affinity to be found here, and seek some for himself.

Now, judging by the situation, the other party seemed to be worse off than he was.

At this thought, Fang Zelin sighed endlessly to himself.

Sure enough, immortal affinity was hard to come by in the Seeking the Dao World.

Even a dragon was no exception.

With this thought, Fang Zelin could not help continuing to sigh inwardly.

"How could immortal affinity be so easy to encounter? If it really were that easy, we members of the Dragon Race would not find it so difficult to attain the bodies of true dragons."

Hearing this, the Dragon King beside him shook his head as well.

"There are rumors, though, of immortal abodes in certain famed rivers and great marshes. Unfortunately, even now, none of us members of the Dragon Race have ever seen where those immortal abodes are."

There were immortal abodes in famed rivers and great marshes?

Fang Zelin's interest stirred. At last, he had heard a little useful information.

But famed rivers and great marshes were hardly easy to search either. How many years had the Dragon Race lived? Even now, they had not found these supposed immortal abodes.

Would he be able to find them just by going there?

Besides, which places counted as famed rivers and great marshes?

Did the common people have the final say, or did cultivators? Could there be two different versions?

At this thought, Fang Zelin fell into contemplation.

"How could the immortal abodes in famed rivers and great marshes be so easy to find? Besides, according to the rumors, all is well so long as the people in those immortal abodes remain secluded. If they emerge into the world, I fear something will happen to this world."

The old dragon continued speaking.

At this point, he sighed as well.

It seems I won't find immortal affinity here. I'd better look elsewhere and see whether I can find an immortal abode in those so-called famed rivers and great marshes.

Given the current situation, that was his only option.

With this thought, Fang Zelin turned to leave.

If he stayed and listened any longer, the two dragons might notice him soon.

Everyone who came here was offering incense or the like. He alone had come empty-handed, which was indeed rather strange.

Fang Zelin turned and left without attracting the two dragons' attention.

"Speaking of immortal affinity, there is something I ought to tell you."

At this point, the old dragon directly recounted what had happened below Yingping Peak.

"If my guess is correct, this man should be an immortal's disciple. Since he could allow that water ghost to attain the ghost Dao with a single sentence, surely he also has a way for us members of the Dragon Race to attain the bodies of true dragons."

The Great Marsh Dragon King froze upon hearing this. "Is this man truly so wondrous?"

His heart suddenly began to stir. If that man truly possessed such abilities, did that not mean he still had a chance?

"We members of the Dragon Race lack nothing when it comes to cultivation. If we could receive a little guidance from this man and gain some understanding of the Dao of Heaven and Earth, surely the heavenly tribulation would be easier to pass."

As the Great Marsh Dragon King said this, his face filled with excitement.

"Elder brother, do you know where this man is now?"

The Great Marsh Dragon King asked eagerly, looking ready to pay the man a visit the moment he learned his whereabouts.

"Alas, after my child parted from him at Yingping Peak, he was seen setting off to wander the world. As for where exactly he went, we do not know. If we could find him, it would surely become much easier for the Dragon Race to become true dragons in the future."

The Dragon King beside him sighed at the question.

Apart from telling him about this matter, he had come here hoping the other dragon could keep an eye out along with him.

To see whether they could find this man.

Great Jin was so vast, and this man was no mortal.

It would be exceedingly difficult for him to find this man alone, but with the other dragon's help, it should be much easier.

The Great Marsh Dragon King immediately understood and replied repeatedly, "Rest assured, elder brother. From now on, I will certainly keep an eye on this matter and find this man!"

Seeing this, the Dragon King beside him rose at once. "Good, then. I'll go search in other territories."

The days when his sons and daughters would face their tribulations were approaching. All he wanted now was to find that man as soon as possible.

To see whether he could secure a little fortuitous opportunity for his sons and daughters.

As for everything else, he had already set it all aside for now.