The Stars Beyond

Chapter 134: A Dragon?

In the early morning, the secluded area was rich with various energies. Mist intertwined with colors, enveloping the forest in bands of light. Zhao Qinghan approached the lakeside, her slender silhouette highlighted against the vibrant luminescence of the forest mist, creating an ethereal beauty. She fixed her gaze on the pale golden creature lying on the ground, mulling over it. Before entering this secret land, she had studied various records, some compiled by explorers and others excerpts from archives detailing the medicinal herbs and exotic beasts.

"It's a Croc-Dragon hybrid!" She shot Wang Xuan a glance, incredulously amused. To think he'd relegated such a creature to mere 'alligator' status. But what astonished her more was how Wang Xuan had, with his fists, managed to break the bones of this formidable beast. Although it hadn't died, it looked to be on the brink.

"A dragon? That can't be!" Wang Xuan expressed genuine surprise. Running his hand gently over the golden creature, he mused, "If this truly is a dragon, every inch of it would be a treasure."

Zhao Qinghan was left speechless, observing Wang Xuan tenderly caressing the massive creature as if petting a dog or stroking a cat. "What are you doing?" she finally asked, bemusement evident in her voice.

"I've never even tasted alligator meat before," Wang Xuan admitted candidly. Growing up, he led a simple life, with nothing extraordinary. Now, in contrast to Zhao - a woman accustomed to opulence - he displayed no hint of inferiority, his interest clearly piqued by the creature before them.

"When we return, I'll treat you to all kinds of feasts," Zhao Qinghan responded, her tone softening as she recalled his past feats.

"If this is indeed a dragon, its meat would be incredibly nourishing," Wang Xuan mused, thinking of the high praise dragon meat received in various accounts. He turned to Zhao Qinghan with a curious tilt to his head, "Can you cook?"

"Why?" Zhao Qinghan had an inkling of what was coming but still nodded. "I've occasionally cooked, just to test my skills."

"Great! We won't wait to return then, let's roast the dragon!" Wang Xuan circled the creature on the ground with an enthusiastic glint in his eyes.

Feeling a bit out of her depth, Zhao Qinghan hesitated, "I've only ever cooked basic dishes. Never grilled meat for anyone. You'll have to make do."

"As long as it's cooked through," Wang Xuan replied optimistically. He imagined it would be better than the charred game he'd eaten in the Cloudy Highlands.

However, he had not lost sight of the main task. The most valuable item here was the five Spirit Nourishing Lotuses in the lake. To avoid any mishaps, he intended to dive in and collect them.

"There's another Croc-Dragon in the lake. Be careful," Zhao Qinghan cautioned.

A golden shadow loomed ominously beneath the water's surface, casting cold, menacing glances at Wang Xuan. After witnessing the fate of its companion, it dared not approach the shore.

To Zhao Qinghan's surprise, Wang Xuan began removing protective gear. He took off several steel plates that were a few inches thick from his chest and back.

"How heavy must that be?" she wondered.

And there was more. From his arms and legs, Wang Xuan removed thinner plates. "Such thorough protection," she marveled silently, recalling her earlier comment about him being hard to the touch. No wonder, he was practically armored!

Once disarmed, Wang Xuan, with his short sword in tow, prepared to dive. Without those heavy plates, he would not sink straight to the bottom.

"It's too dangerous," Zhao Qinghan voiced her concern. Fighting underwater was a completely different challenge compared to land.

"Don't worry. These Croc-Dragons are still juveniles, pitifully weak. Like that genetically enhanced creature, they're just for show. Paper tigers," Wang Xuan assured.

Feeling fearless, especially after mastering his unique martial technique, he wasn't afraid of the dragon's bites. With the sharp blade by his side, taking it down wouldn't be too hard.

With a splash, Wang Xuan dove in.

The eyes of the golden-scaled creature grew cold and menacing. It shot through the water like a golden missile, the waves rolling heavily at its sides, its speed almost incomprehensible. In the water, it was a force to be reckoned with. With a swift lunge, it opened its mouth wide, aiming to trap Wang Xuan in its deadly jaws and initiate a lethal roll.

Wang Xuan sized up his opponent, glancing at the short blade in his hand. It felt almost insignificant against the immense creature. But his mastery of the "Golden Body Technique" endowed him with extraordinary agility. Dodging swiftly, the sharp teeth of the beast, each over a foot long, narrowly missed him.

With a powerful smack, Wang Xuan's palm connected with the side of the creature, flipping the massive 6-7 meters long beast and causing a surge of water to erupt, turning the lake's surface into a turbulent, white froth.

On the shore, Zhao Qinghan's face turned pale with worry. The idea of Wang Xuan battling such a monster underwater was terrifying, and she had never wanted him to take the plunge in the first place.

Wang Xuan dived, ruthlessly plunging his blade into the creature's underbelly. With a swift cut, the waters around them turned a deep shade of crimson. The creature, now wounded, flailed in pain. With a quick swipe of its tail, it attempted to escape, sensing the looming shadow of death.

Such creatures, while monstrous, possessed a certain intelligence. It had not expected to be bested by a human in its own territory. Desperate and in pain, it made a beeline for the heart of the lake where five precious "Spirit Nurturing Lotuses" grew. It had hoped to bide its time until the lotuses bore fruit, but now, it wanted to devour them ahead of time for sustenance.

Wang Xuan, however, was prepared. Grabbing hold of the beast's tail, he followed it to the heart of the lake. Leaping onto its back, he brandished his blade without hesitation.

The crocodile dragon's eyes glinted a fiery red. Wang Xuan, relentless in his assault, clung to its back like a persistent pest, repeatedly driving his blade into its flesh, leaving gaping wounds that oozed dark blood. Despite nearing the Spirit Nurturing Lotuses, the creature feared it might meet its end here.

It tried to dive deeper, hoping the lake's depths might deter the human clinging to it. But Wang Xuan held on resolutely, continuing to bury his short sword into its scales. In its desperation and frenzy, the creature thrashed about, its tail accidentally severing the stems of two of the lotuses.

Witnessing the potential damage to the precious herbs, Wang Xuan released his grip, propelling himself to the surface to salvage the glowing lotuses. The crocodile dragon, meanwhile, red-eyed and filled with a mix of anger and despair, glared at Wang Xuan one last time before retreating to the farthest reaches of the lake.

Wang Xuan acted quickly, ensuring the two glowing lotuses did not fall and get lost in the lake. He managed to harvest all five plants successfully. Then, before leaving the water, he dug up several segments of lotus root, curious about their medicinal properties.

As he emerged, dripping wet, Zhao Qinghan rushed over, her eyes filled with concern after witnessing the violent underwater confrontation. She quickly checked him for injuries, her heart still racing.

"Combining the spiritual herbs with dragon meat should be incredibly nourishing, don't you think?" Wang Xuan said with a gleam of triumph in his eyes. He felt certain this combination would significantly boost his strength.

A hint of color crept into Zhao Qinghan's cheeks at his words. She was well aware of the older men around her who would go to great lengths, spending vast sums on rare delicacies all in the name of "nourishment" and "midlife health". Their true intentions, however, were an open secret.

Oblivious to Zhao Qinghan's subtle reactions, Wang Xuan cheerfully suggested, "Let's prepare these together, Zhao. They're excellent for health and beauty."

Zhao Qinghan just looked at him, her response lost amidst the silence.

Suddenly, a strange cry echoed in the distance. It carried an indescribable emotion. The source? The crocodile dragon. It had migrated from the lake to the nearby river.

Wang Xuan's expression briefly faltered, then hardened into one of intense focus as he tuned into the sound. Zhao Qinghan turned towards the river, her brow furrowed, contemplating the dragon's cries. "The way it's fluctuating in pitch... Could it be calling out to its kind?"

"There's definitely something going on," Wang Xuan replied, concern evident in his tone. "I just heard a deep, thunderous response from downstream." His face paled as a second booming growl reverberated in the distance.

While Zhao Qinghan had not achieved the level of a Master to perceive distant sounds, her instincts were sharp. She quickly surmised, "Could there be an even more powerful dragon lurking below?"

Given the ancient records, the crocodile dragon was no ordinary creature; it was transcendent, setting it apart from common beasts.

"Let's go!" Both Wang Xuan and Zhao Qinghan exclaimed in unison, realizing that staying was no longer an option.

After gathering the five mystical plants, Wang Xuan couldn't resist slicing off a chunk of the dragon's meat with his short sword, still fixated on its purported "restorative" properties.

Every member of their expedition team carried a specially crafted "collecting bag" designed to hold such treasures without letting their fragrant aroma escape and attract unwanted attention.

Zhao Qinghan, seeing Wang Xuan's unwavering focus on the meat, rolled her eyes and urged, "Come on, let's move!"

"Right!" Agreeing, they both sprinted into the forest, running as fast as they could. Wang Xuan didn't even bother to pack up the steel plates; there simply wasn't time.

From the distant river, a deafening roar boomed, so powerful that it sent waves surging hundreds of meters into the air. A "Majestic Dragon" was indeed present, its roar causing thunderous echoes throughout the mountains.

A thick golden light streaked upstream towards the lake. "It's a giant!" Wang Xuan exclaimed in awe. He trusted Zhao Qinghan's words – this creature belonged to a class of dragons that, once matured, transcended the ordinary.

He realized that the massive dragon was beyond his current capabilities. It had surpassed ordinary lifeforms, ranking at least among the enigmatic, higher-tiered beings.

Waves rose to the sky as a monstrous dragon, spanning over thirty meters, burst forth from the river. Its aura was filled with malice, a testament to the countless creatures it must have slain. Its roar resonated so powerfully that all creatures in the vicinity were paralyzed with fear.

Wang Xuan, clutching Zhao Qinghan's hand, raced through the forest. They had already covered several miles, but it became apparent that Zhao Qinghan couldn't keep up with Wang Xuan's pace. He was practically dragging her along, and she nearly collided with trees on several occasions.

From behind, a massive figure appeared atop a mountain, casting a menacing gaze in all directions. With a swing of its tail, it shattered a cliff, shaking the entire landscape.

Peering through the trees, Wang Xuan stole a glance back and was met with the sight of the fearsome creature on the distant mountain peak. Goosebumps covered his skin. The transcendent dragon was hunting them!

"Qinghan," he whispered urgently, "you can't keep up like this. I'll carry you."

Panting heavily, with her chest heaving, Zhao Qinghan shot him a glance. Had he just belittled her?

Without waiting for a response, Wang Xuan scooped her up and sprinted even faster. Their immediate survival was the priority. The dragon was an undeniable threat, capable of annihilating any expedition team.

Resting on his back, Zhao Qinghan hesitated for a moment before correcting him, "Don't call me 'Little Zhao', especially not in front of Wu Yin and others. In our circle, it's considered... disrespectful, even offensive."

Wang Xuan instantly made a connection. "So, is 'Little Zhong' a classic example?" However, he soon realized his blunder.