Volume One: Youths Meet in Their Humble Beginnings Chapter Forty-Two: The Unusual Movement of the Dragon Pearl

Li Yu hadn’t thought much about his choice. Whether he might die, whether it was worth it—these questions had vanished from his mind the moment he leapt into the sea. All that remained was a single determination: to save them, no matter what, or, at the very least, to hold on until his master came to rescue him. In that way, Zhou Ce and the others would be saved as well.

Was it calculation? Perhaps. Yet it was the only way he could think to save them.

He had suddenly recalled something his master once said—that any matter in Tianmen Town, if he wished to know it, he would know. Li Yu trusted that his master was watching over him. With that trust, he was willing to stake his life, acting with a fearless confidence that was, perhaps, the very definition of it.

But all of this was for later.

Now, he was submerged in salty, humid seawater, waves crashing over him so fiercely he couldn’t even open his eyes. He struggled to swim toward their direction, but he was still young. Though he’d practiced the martial arts his master taught him, it had only been two days—becoming a martial arts expert in such a short time was impossible.

Soon, he was utterly exhausted. Seawater rushed into his mouth and nose, making it harder and harder to breathe. His consciousness began to blur, and before he lost awareness completely, he wondered, “Is this really the end?”

Then the water dragged him deeper still.

Li Yu’s body floated and sank in the water, unable to avoid sinking further and further. At that moment, a glow appeared on his chest, growing brighter and brighter until it enveloped him. His awareness began to return.

When he opened his eyes, he saw a pale golden dragon hovering before him. It seemed familiar, and he realized—it was the dragon vein from Hongquan Mountain, the one that had been locked away.

He had once offered himself as a sacrifice, his soul as tribute, merging with the earth spirit and the dragon vein to fight the phantom demon. His consciousness hadn’t been extinguished; he had witnessed the entire ordeal, so he remembered the dragon vein.

Li Yu spoke, “Are you the dragon vein?”

“Yes, Master,” replied the dragon vein.

“Master?” Li Yu asked, confused.

“Yes. I was subdued by an immortal and placed within one of your pearls. From then on, I was no longer bound beneath the earth, but became a dragon spirit capable of cultivation. Before him, I acknowledged you as my master.”

Li Yu nodded; he had no time to ponder such matters. He hurriedly asked, “Can you help me save my brothers?”

The dragon spirit replied, “I cannot. My current strength is insufficient, and I cannot maintain my form for long. Furthermore, there seem to be other restrictions in this sea, preventing me from using my true power.”

Despair washed over Li Yu, but the dragon spirit continued, “Though I can’t, you can.”

Li Yu asked anxiously, “What should I do?”

The dragon spirit said, “I have a set of Dragon God Arts. With this technique, you can temporarily merge with me, transforming from human to dragon. My power added to your body will make you a true dragon, and as a king of the sea, rescuing a few people will be effortless.”

Li Yu questioned, “Can I master it in such a short time?”

The dragon spirit reassured him, “You can. You need only temporarily become a dragon, and since we have already merged souls and you are now my master with a contract binding us, you’ll succeed quickly.”

Having heard this, Li Yu agreed at once. The dragon spirit then flew into his mind and imparted the technique.

Though it seemed to take a long time, it all happened in his sea of consciousness, and only a few breaths had passed since he regained awareness.

In just moments, Li Yu transformed from human to dragon. When he opened his eyes, he let out a deafening roar. As a dragon, his gaze pierced the murky depths of the sea, immediately locating Zhou Ce and Shen Xun. With a few swift movements, he swallowed both of them, then broke through the water’s surface and soared into the air.

Those standing by the cliff watched him with grave expressions. One murmured, “So there are still descendants of the dragon clan in this world? Is he a dragon, or a half-demon with dragon blood?”

Li Yu quickly landed by the shore, carrying the two, and spat them out before reverting to human form. He was weakened and pale, having spent much energy and vital force, but seeing the two lying on the ground, he knew that if he did nothing, all his efforts would be in vain. He silently asked in his mind, “Is there any way to save them?”

After a moment’s pause, the dragon spirit replied, “Yes, I can teach you how to use the pearl. With the Heavenly Water Pearl, you can draw the water out of their bodies, and they’ll recover.”

Li Yu noticed the hesitation in the dragon spirit’s words and asked directly, “Will this affect you?”

The dragon spirit answered frankly, “The power of heavenly water within is limited—using some will reduce it further, and it will lessen the chance I can refine the pearl into my true dragon core.”

Li Yu didn’t press further; time was short. He spoke earnestly, “Trust me. I promise to help you create your true dragon core.”

The dragon spirit sensed his sincerity and laughed lightly, “I believe you.”

He then taught Li Yu how to use the Heavenly Water Pearl.

Following the dragon spirit’s guidance, Li Yu took the pearl from within himself and listened to the explanation: “This pearl holds the power of heavenly water from the celestial river. All water in the world originates from the celestial river. Thus, by tracing water to its source, the pearl can summon any water—hence, it can rescue them.”

“The pearl’s marvel lies in its ability to create boundless torrents, but that requires exceptional cultivation and profound understanding of the heavenly water’s way. For now, I’ll teach you how to draw their water out; the other mysteries you can explore in time.”

As he finished, water threads began to stream from Shen Xun and Zhou Ce’s eyes, ears, mouths, noses, and pores, flying straight into the floating pearl in Li Yu’s hand.

Once all the excess water was extracted, their faces visibly regained color.

The distant observer watched Li Yu with the pearl, noting, “That pearl carries a faint dragon aura and pure water power—is it his true dragon core? To have even a nascent dragon core at such a young age, his talent ranks among the highest in the cultivation world. No wonder the Daoist brought him back; he’s truly remarkable.”

Having considered this, as if confirming his thoughts, the figure flicked a hand and vanished without trace.

Li Yu had noticed the person on the cliff when he emerged from the sea, but the distance was too great. Though he could sense the presence through the fluctuations of yin and yang, he couldn’t see their face.

Focused on saving the others, he pretended not to notice, going about his work. If the stranger intended to act, he would have done so already, and Li Yu could hardly resist him anyway.

Not far from the seashore, an old fisherman wearing a bamboo hat and raincoat, holding a fishing rod and basket, spat and muttered, “Calling himself an ancestor, yet doing such disgraceful things—using two children’s lives to test his own doubts. Luckily, they’re unharmed, or I’d see if he could walk out of Tianmen Town alive.”

He strode toward Li Yu and the others. Feeling the mysterious figure on the cliff depart, Li Yu relaxed, slumping to the ground and regulating his breath.

When the old fisherman arrived, Li Yu finally noticed someone approaching. Nervous, he glanced back, but seeing no yin-yang fluctuations in the man, he felt a bit relieved. The old fisherman looked them over kindly and said, “What happened? Did you fall in the water?”

Li Yu stood and nodded, “Yes, sir. My brothers accidentally drowned—but they're fine now.”

The old fisherman examined them closely, satisfied they were alright, and cautioned, “Good, as long as you’re safe. Don’t come to the seashore alone again—it’s dangerous, you hear?”

Li Yu sensed the genuine concern and nodded, “Yes, sir, we won’t come alone next time. You can rest assured.”

The old fisherman smiled, his wrinkled face relaxing. He took out a shell and handed it to Li Yu, saying, “First time meeting you, child—you’re quite adorable. Take this little trinket as a gift, don’t be shy.”

Li Yu didn’t understand why the man was giving him something and wanted to refuse, but seeing his sincerity, he hesitated. The fisherman guessed his thoughts and continued, “I’m an old friend of your master. Take it—he won’t blame you.”

Li Yu looked up, “You know my master took me as his disciple?”

“Of course,” the fisherman replied. “Others don’t know, but I do. If he keeps you by his side, you’re his only disciple.”

Hearing this, Li Yu’s doubts faded. He reasoned, “Since he’s my master’s friend, he’s my elder. Thank you, sir. I’ll tell my master when I return, and I’ll visit you at your home.”

The old fisherman gave Li Yu a meaningful look, smiled in satisfaction, and walked away.

Li Yu watched him leave, then tucked the shell into his breast. Before long, Shen Tang returned with several others. Seeing Li Yu sitting on the ground, her brother and Zhou Ce lying beside him, she hurried over. Li Yu greeted her, “Sister, you’re back.”

With reddened eyes and tear-streaked cheeks, Shen Tang rushed to her brother, checked his breath, and, finding it steady, finally relaxed, slumping to the ground like Li Yu.

She hugged Li Yu, sobbing, “You scared me so much—I thought we wouldn’t make it. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d been hurt.”

Li Yu patted her back gently, “It’s all right, sister. We’re fine—see, everyone’s okay.”

Among the adults was one Li Yu recognized—Jiang Dafeng. He asked, “Who rescued them?”

Li Yu had already prepared a story during the wait. “After you left to get help, the sea began to recede. I saw the water push my brothers toward the shore, and as it kept dropping, I went in and pulled them out myself.”

That story fit the current state: the sea level had returned to normal, and the waves had calmed. No one questioned further. Jiang Dafeng checked Zhou Ce and Shen Xun, found their excess water gone, and judged they were merely exhausted; they’d recover after some restorative soup. He organized everyone and took them home.

Li Yu, still weak, was carried by Jiang Dafeng. At first he felt awkward—no one had ever carried him before—but he had no strength left and couldn’t refuse Jiang Dafeng’s kindness. He shyly thanked him, “Thank you, Uncle Jiang.”

Jiang Dafeng laughed, “It’s nothing. Just don’t come to the seashore alone again, or you might not be so lucky next time.”

Li Yu nodded, “Yes, we won’t be so reckless again.”

Jiang Dafeng ruffled Li Yu’s hair, “Were you scared?”

Li Yu nodded quietly, saying nothing—perhaps embarrassed and ashamed.

Jiang Dafeng continued, “I bet this was Shen Xun’s idea—that boy always drags you all around. I’ll tell his parents and make sure he gets a good scolding.”

Li Yu glanced at Shen Xun, carried by others, and sighed to himself, “Brother Shen, this is beyond my help now. Good luck to you.”