Chapter 82: The Little Dragon Maidens
Jiang Bai quickly composed himself; his consciousness-form took on a human guise, and he bowed respectfully toward the two ethereal dragon souls.
"This junior, Jiang Bai, pays his respects to the seniors. This place is, indeed, this junior’s Martial Soul Space."
"Mm, we know," the Ice Dragon King nodded slightly, its mental fluctuations calm and steady.
"Those little dragons of yours... have already filled us in on the general situation."
Jiang Bai glanced at the two colossal eggs; he already had a strong suspicion in his heart, yet he still asked, "Seniors, those two eggs... are they...?"
"Just as you suspect." The Ice Dragon King’s gaze also settled upon the eggs, its voice carrying a faint, almost imperceptible trace of anticipation.
"They are, indeed, your Ice Dragon and Fire Dragon. They have consumed our Dragon Cores and are currently undergoing the deepest level of bloodline metamorphosis and power integration. Judging by the looks of it... they should be finishing up very soon."
Dragon Cores! The Dragon Cores of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings!
Jiang Bai’s heart gave a sudden jolt.
He had never imagined that, upon awakening, the remnant souls of these two Dragon Kings would not only refrain from being stingy but would instead bestow such precious, primordial Dragon Cores upon his own dragon beasts!
This gift was truly a monumental one! Good heavens...
The luck those two possess... it truly defies the very laws of nature!
First came the Immortal Herb, and now, the Dragon Cores.
Such fortuitous encounters—even I find myself envious of them...
For a fleeting moment, he even felt tempted to shamelessly ask for a Dragon Core to sample... though that remained nothing more than a passing thought.
Suppressing the shock in his heart, Jiang Bai’s thoughts turned to the Earth Dragon and the Wind Dragon.
Just as he was about to inquire about them, the Ice Dragon King seemed to anticipate his thoughts.
Her massive, ice-blue head turned toward the other side, her mental fluctuations carrying a faint trace of amusement: "Look—over there."
Following her gaze, Jiang Bai looked out to a clearing in the distance. There, the crimson, ethereal phantom of the Fire Dragon King’s soul stood like the strictest of drill instructors, ceaselessly "whipping" the Earth Dragon and the Wind Dragon into shape.
"..."
Jiang Bai was momentarily speechless.
That method of training...
The Ice Dragon King’s voice rang out at just the right moment, offering reassurance: "Rest assured. Although it may look a bit grueling, their progress is undeniably substantial. My brother, while short-tempered, never cuts corners when it comes to teaching combat techniques to our descendants or unlocking the potential within their bloodlines. They have already gained a preliminary grasp of several fundamental Dragon Clan combat skills, and their command over their own innate power has improved significantly."
Jiang Bai nodded, his mind now at ease.
At that moment, he suddenly recalled that having recently broken through to Level 50, he needed to begin making preparations to acquire his fifth Spirit Ring.
His objective was to seek out a powerful and rare Spirit Beast of the Dragon lineage. Before doing so, however, he intended to further bolster his own foundational strength.
"Senior," Jiang Bai began, choosing his words carefully and maintaining a respectful demeanor, "I would like to request a certain Immortal Herb—one known as the Dew of Gazing Through Autumn Waters. I wonder... would that be permissible?"
In the past, he would have simply taken it without a second thought.
But now that the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings had awakened and taken up residence within the tower, both propriety and reason dictated that he seek their permission first, as a gesture of respect.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of human-like amusement flashed within the Ice Dragon King’s massive draconic eyes, and his tone carried a hint of teasing: "You are the true master of this space; every blade of grass, every tree, every drop of water, and every stone here rightfully belongs to you. Simply take what you wish—why stand on such ceremony? It only serves to make things feel distant between us."
Jiang Bai adopted a serious demeanor: "The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was formed through the legacy left behind by two esteemed predecessors; the immortal herbs and spiritual medicines within it grew only because they were nourished by your auras. As a junior, it is only proper that I seek your permission before partaking of them; such courtesy is the bare minimum of etiquette."
"Heh, you little rascal—you certainly know a thing or two. You’re sharp-witted, and you have a silver tongue to boot."
The Ice Dragon King chuckled, his tone tinged with appreciation.
"I only wonder how many young ladies you’re going to end up captivating with that handsome appearance of yours."
Flustered by the remark, Jiang Bai felt a blush creep up his face and gave a light cough.
"Come with me."
The Ice Dragon King ceased his teasing; his massive, ethereal dragon-soul form gave a gentle sway, guiding Jiang Bai’s consciousness-body as they drifted toward the vicinity of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Before long, they came to a halt before a medicinal herb that appeared utterly unremarkable at first glance.
The herb was entirely emerald-green; its stalk was short, and its leaves were oval-shaped—it looked, in every respect, completely ordinary.
However, right at the center of the plant, three slender leaves—snow-white and translucent, as if carved from crystalline ice—had sprouted forth.
Nestled within the heart of these three white leaves lay a few drops of liquid, crystal-clear and sparkling.
The Dew of Gazing Through Autumn Waters!
"This is the Dew of Gazing Through Autumn Waters you have been seeking," the Ice Dragon King explained.
"Its entire essence is concentrated within these few drops of dew. You may consume it right here; there is no need to take it out into the external world—that would only risk attracting unnecessary attention. Simply drink the dew."
Jiang Bai turned toward the Ice Dragon King’s ethereal form and offered a solemn bow: "My deepest gratitude, Senior."
He stepped forward and, with the utmost care, gently tilted the stalk of the Dew of Gazing Through Autumn Waters plant.
The few drops of transparent dew resting in the center of the three snow-white leaves slowly slid down the tips of the leaves, falling with pinpoint precision directly into Jiang Bai’s slightly parted mouth.
The dew felt icy cold upon entering his mouth, carrying with it a peculiar, delicate fragrance; in an instant, it transformed into a stream of cool air that surged straight toward the crown of his head!
The very moment the final drop of dew left the blade of grass, the entire Dew of Gazing Through Autumn Waters plant seemed to lose all its vitality; its emerald-green stems and leaves withered and shriveled at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Jiang Bai dared not delay; he immediately sat cross-legged on the spot, using his consciousness to channel that cool stream of air with all his might.
This stream of air did not flow toward his limbs or skeletal frame; instead, it surged directly toward his eyes and the "Sea of Spirit" deep within his brow!
Amidst the coolness, there was a subtle stinging sensation—as if countless tiny needles of ice were pricking at his eyeballs and the very core of his spiritual essence.
He did not know how much time had passed, but when that cool, stinging sensation finally dissipated completely—transforming into an indescribable sense of clarity and serenity—Jiang Bai slowly opened his eyes.
Whoosh!
Two faint, almost imperceptible golden glimmers flashed deep within his eyes the instant he opened them, vanishing just as quickly as they appeared!
His vision was clearer than it had ever been before!
Not only that, but he also felt that his Sea of Spirit had expanded significantly!
His mental energy felt more condensed and acute, and the speed of his thoughts seemed to have accelerated manifold.
A sensation of invigorating clarity—of heightened senses and a sharpened mind—permeated his entire being.
Jiang Bai felt a surge of delighted surprise.
Just as he was carefully savoring these changes within himself, he suddenly felt something—one cold, one warm—rubbing affectionately against his legs.
He looked down to see two massive dragon heads pressing intimately against his body, nuzzling him gently.
One was fiery crimson, its horns rugged and gnarled.
The other was icy blue like jade, its horns crystalline and translucent.
"Eldest? Fourth?" Jiang Bai exclaimed in astonishment.
These two dragons... they had changed so much!
Their physiques seemed even more slender and well-proportioned than before, exuding a powerful, aesthetic beauty.
The scales on the crimson giant dragon were vivid and deep in color, their edges shimmering with a faint golden luster.
The scales on the icy-blue giant dragon were crystal-clear and translucent, resembling the finest blue crystal.
Yet the aura they exuded was something far more ancient, far more pure, and imbued with an even greater, majestic draconic might!
At that moment, the Ice Dragon King’s ethereal yet commanding voice rang out once more, carrying a hint of satisfaction mingled with a touch of reserved dignity.
"Hmm... not bad. You have attained the rank of True Dragons, and your cultivation bases have advanced considerably. It is... passable."
Upon hearing this, the Fire Dragon and the Ice Dragon hurriedly lifted their massive heads, then bowed them reverently toward the ethereal apparition of the Ice Dragon King, offering their most sincere expressions of gratitude.
The Ice Dragon King gave a slight nod, signifying her acceptance. She continued, "Very well. The essence of the Dragon Cores has now fused with you. From this day forth, cultivate diligently; do not squander this rare blessing. With the Dragon Cores within you, your future cultivation efforts shall yield twice the results with half the effort."
Having spoken, her colossal, ice-blue draconic soul—a mere apparition—gave a gentle shimmer before transforming into a streak of flowing light.
It plunged back into the depths of the ice-blue spring within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and its aura faded once more into silence.
The Fire Dragon King’s crimson apparition also cast a fleeting glance in their direction before likewise transforming into a beam of red light and diving back into the crimson spring.
The remnant souls of the two Dragon Kings...
They had once again fallen into a deep slumber—or perhaps, a state of meditative seclusion.
Jiang Bai was just about to ask the Fire Dragon and the Ice Dragon about the specific changes they had undergone.
Suddenly!
Two beams of dazzling, brilliant light—one red and one blue—erupted violently from the bodies of the Fire Dragon and the Ice Dragon!
The radiance was so intense that it instantly flooded Jiang Bai’s entire field of vision!
Jiang Bai instinctively narrowed his eyes.
The light quickly began to recede and condense.
When the light finally dissipated completely, what appeared before Jiang Bai was no longer two colossal beasts, but rather...
Two graceful young maidens, standing tall and slender, each wearing a charming, gentle smile!
The maiden on the left wore a magnificent, flowing gown that shifted in color from red to orange.
She possessed long, flowing hair that transitioned from crimson-gold to a lighter shade, cascading smoothly over her shoulders. Her cheeks bore a natural, rosy blush, and her skin was the color of ivory.
Most striking of all were her crimson-gold eyes—bright as burning flames, brimming with vitality and passion.
Upon closer inspection, two tiny, exquisitely delicate, pale-red dragon scales could be glimpsed hidden just behind her earlobes, lending her an air of otherworldly allure and mystery.
The maiden on the right wore a gown of interwoven pale blue and moon-white fabric, the hem of which was adorned with a scattering of delicate, ice-crystal-like ornaments.
Her long, flowing hair—shifting from silvery-white to icy-blue—cascaded down to her waist.
Her features were cool and refined, as if sculpted from ice and snow, and her skin was so fair as to appear almost translucent.
Her icy-blue eyes were both crystal-clear and profound.
Along the side of her slender, elegant neck, a faint blue pattern resembling ice crystals wound its way downward, disappearing beneath the collar of her gown—a detail that only heightened her cool, aloof beauty.
Both maidens possessed a beauty that could only be described as peerless, yet their styles were vastly different: one was passionate as fire, while the other was cool and serene as ice.
At this moment, they stood gracefully before Jiang Bai, their faces lit by smiles—one bright and radiant, the other gentle and subtle.
Then, before Jiang Bai had fully recovered from his shock...
The two maidens simultaneously took a step forward, each raising a hand as fair and smooth as jade.
Resting in the palm of each hand was a distinct object. The two spoke in unison—one voice crisp and enthusiastic, the other cool and melodious:
"Master, these are my Soul Bones; please absorb them!"
Jiang Bai: "???"
!! (•’╻’•۶)۶
A little Dragon Girl?! And she even brought a Soul Bone as a welcome gift?!