Chapter 571 - 532: She Is a Soft-Hearted Goddess
Chapter 571: Chapter 532: She Is a Soft-Hearted Goddess
This was the first time since becoming "Xing Lan" that Song Ciwan had encountered a target so emotionally ripe for the fleecing.
’Ao Feng was a truly rare, emotionally susceptible creature—perhaps because he was still so young.’
’It was true what they said: you had to fleece them while they were young. Which of those old masters with profound Cultivation wasn’t cunning and calculating? A straightforward Celestial Pride Level expert like Ao Feng was a true rarity.’
In the end, Song Ciwan’s words moved Ao Feng to tears.
As two teardrops finally welled up and began to fall from the corners of the great dragon’s eyes, Song Ciwan stepped into the void and flew forward. She gently wiped the tears away, deftly collecting the two drops of pure dragon tears into her Heaven and Earth Scale.
The soldiers on the city wall saw only a woman in white under the moonlight, gazing at the great dragon as if she were a goddess.
Not only did she heal the great dragon and soothe him with her gentle voice, but she even stepped forward to wipe away his tears.
At that moment, it wasn’t just Ao Feng who was moved. Even the soldiers of the West Wind Army on the wall—men who spent their years drenched in the blood of demons—couldn’t help but feel a stir of emotion.
Sitting on the battlements, Wen Tingyu leaned forward, poised to leap from the wall at a moment’s notice, and sighed to herself.
She even used her Identity Token to send a message to Grand General Guo and Yu Wenxu. "Xing Lan Fairy is far too kind and benevolent. She’s a top-tier Medical Cultivator through and through, with a true healer’s heart... she’s so gentle. But because she’s so gentle, she’s bound to be taken advantage of. What are we going to do?"
Yu Wenxu’s reply came in a flash: "You’re right. Xing Lan Fairy is incredibly gentle and kind. She can’t bear to see suffering in the world. That’s exactly why we must protect her! We can’t let anyone take advantage of her!"
Guo Wanjun’s reply was simpler: "It’s fine. We will watch over her."
Slightly reassured, Wen Tingyu turned her gaze back to the scene below.
Below, the great dragon lowered its head, as if in shame or embarrassment. His voice grew softer, quieter. "You’re right. With my integrity, of course I can accept a loss with grace! This Monarch was born noble. It is simply my nature!"
At this, he lifted his lowered head slightly. His bright, watery eyes looked at Song Ciwan as he spoke softly, "This Monarch is not someone who fails to recognize a kindness. You are not a bad person. You saved me. I should thank you. Name your reward. You can ask for anything!"
[Demon Heart. Celestial Pride Level Great Demon. Shame, gratitude, and pride of a Demon Core Stage Dragon Race member. One jin and two taels, tradeable.]
Song Ciwan just smiled gently and shook her head. "I’ve already collected so much of your Dragon Blood. Let’s call that my payment. I’m just glad you don’t hold it against me."
Ao Feng’s eyes went wide. "How—how can that be considered payment! I—I don’t hold it against you!"
Then, he threw his head back and insisted forcefully, "No, absolutely not! Do you know who I am? You showed me mercy and healed my wounds. How could I offer nothing in return? The life of this Dragon Monarch is not so cheap! Tell me, what reward do you want? If you don’t, I’ll... I’ll..."
Just as he was about to make a threat, Song Ciwan raised her hand and gently stroked the dragon’s face again.
The great dragon’s words caught in his throat. In an instant, his entire head and neck went rigid.
Song Ciwan spoke unhurriedly. "If the Dragon Monarch insists on offering more payment, then would you do me the honor of listening to what I have to say? It would be best if you relayed my words today back to the Dragon Race, so the elders of your people may also know."
Ao Feng asked dazedly, "What is it? What could be so important?"
Song Ciwan said, "My heritage is in the cultivation of Astrology, Medicine, and Divination. As such, I have four Ultimate Skills: the Star Cross Skill, the Great Derivation Birth Skill, the Fetal Breathing Saint Method, and the Void Illusion Demon Sword. Among them, the Great Derivation Birth Skill can be used to deduce fortune and misfortune, and to perform Divination upon Celestial Secrets."
As she uttered the final words about deducing fortune and divining Celestial Secrets, her tone remained calm and gentle. Yet high above, a dark cloud suddenly drifted across the bright moonlight.
The dark cloud blotted out the moon, and a wind blew in from the distance.
The great dragon’s heart suddenly pounded in his chest. He watched Song Ciwan nervously, waiting for her to continue.
High on the city wall, Wen Tingyu, who had seen and heard everything, couldn’t help but hold her breath. She leaned even further forward, her scarlet cape draping behind her, accentuating the startling curve of her back.
Song Ciwan continued at her unhurried pace. "From what I have seen and what I know, a great calamity is coming to this world. This calamity is not merely caused by the eight-thousand-year Spiritual Energy Tide; there is another reason besides."
The eight-thousand-year Spiritual Energy Tide was likely no secret among the upper echelons of the Ten Thousand Races, but rather a widely accepted fact.
And indeed, Ao Feng was aware of this.
He couldn’t help but swallow a mouthful of Dragon Saliva and press on, "You said there was another reason. What is it?"
Instead of answering, Song Ciwan posed a question of her own. "A few days ago, a new Ancient Divine Palace appeared in the Wind Mist Plain. Is the Dragon Monarch aware of this?"
Ao Feng said, "I’ve heard bits and pieces, but I paid it no mind. In recent years, all sorts of strange and mysterious places have been popping up. The Dragon Race has its own heritage; this Dragon Monarch has no interest in those chaotic Secret Realms. Who cares what it is!"
Song Ciwan said, "You may not care about the Ancient Divine Palace, Dragon Monarch, but on its outskirts lies a Nine Transformation Lotus Pool, and some... unusual things have appeared within it."
At this, she proceeded to describe the matter of the Alien Gu as simply and precisely as she could.
She emphasized the Alien Gu’s bizarre and terrifying ability of parasitic control, a description that made the great dragon’s scales stand on end.
Ao Feng was horrified. He shuddered and said, "How can such a grotesque and disgusting creature exist in this world?"
’Grotesque and disgusting indeed.’
Song Ciwan said, "It is a vast world, full of wonders and horrors. But the crisis I foresee is countless times more terrifying and powerful than even the Alien Gu! All of the Ten Thousand Races under heaven may face this calamity. No one will be spared!"
Her voice softened once more. "Fellow Daoist Ao Feng, please return to the Dragon Race and relay this to your elders. And please, be careful. Do not be so reckless as to invite disaster again."
With that, she gave his scales one last, light caress and drew back slightly.
It was a gesture of gentle farewell, and once again, Ao Feng was moved to the brink of tears.
He felt more than just moved; he was also filled with remorse, a remorse quite different from his earlier shame and embarrassment.
[Demon Heart. Celestial Pride Level Great Demon. Shame, self-reproach, and gratitude of a Demon Core Stage Dragon Race member. Four jin and three taels, tradeable.]
Ao Feng’s Dragon Body soared into the sky. Amidst the clouds and mist, he looked back three times and nodded three times.
Song Ciwan waved to him. With a final flick of his tail, the great dragon serpentined away through the clouds, just as he had arrived.
The dark cloud in the sky parted, and moonlight once again spilled down.
Song Ciwan flew up to the tower. Wen Tingyu, who had been on the battlements, quickly leaped back onto the wide walkway of the wall, rushing to greet Song Ciwan with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
The first words out of her mouth were, "Xing Lan Fairy, what you said just now about a great calamity... is it true?"