Yuan Rutan’s mind cleared from chaos to clarity, countless images flashing through his consciousness, they were his inheritance memories.
Born weak, and lacking spiritual energy, only half of the memories that every dragon is naturally born with had awakened within him.
In these memories, he saw the aftermath of the great calamity between dragons and phoenixes: the dragon clan was punished to be eternally bound beneath the seas, while the phoenixes were banished to guard the Southern Ming Undying Fire Mountain.
A massive wave of dragons surged into the ocean, constructing dragon palaces beneath the waves.
Yuan Rutan saw the ten-mile-long ancient dragons open their blood-red jaws in the sea, roaring a draconic cry that struck fear across the entire ocean.
Creatures of the sea scattered and fled, while mighty demons bowed before the dragons.
Even through time and space, Yuan Rutan could hear that roar.
He did not feel fear. In fact, he even released the decayed log he had been clutching, leapt into the air, and roared alongside them.
“Ahhhh….. uuuuu…”
He lowered his voice, using magic to contain the dragon roar from spreading beyond.
His golden eyes shone, specks of starlight flickering within.
He reached toward the void, as if trying to traverse time itself, to press close to the dragons of hundreds of thousands of years ago.
But sadly, after the roars of those ancient dragons, their timeworn eyes slowly drooped.
From the gashes across their bodies, golden blood oozed.
Yuan Rutan paused, a sharp ache in his nose.
The dragons had been gravely wounded in the great battle, life itself hanging by a thread.
They escorted the young ones to the sea, subjugating countless demons, while their own bodies were drained of energy, flickering like dying flames.
Their deep eyes gazed slowly over the ocean. Then, letting out a long cry, their bodies coiled and surged into the dragon palace.
The instant their shells struck the palace, they transformed into golden light.
Part of it merged into the ocean, imprinting the creatures with the dragon clan’s supremacy. Part shrouded the palace, ensuring the clan’s eternal prosperity.
The rest flowed into the heavenly dao, allowing future dragons to witness the world’s countless changes, and granting them knowledge of the grand history of the clan.
Yuan Rutan’s eyes blurred with moisture. He understood: these inheritance memories were left behind by the fallen ancestors of the dragon clan for him.
In his final memory, a new generation of dragons was born. Yet their dragon energy waned, their strength no longer rivaling that of the ancient dragon ancestors.
Though they retained the appearance of dragons, their bloodlines were but a fraction of the ancient ones, a mere shadow of the past.
They bowed to the celestial court, becoming part of the ranks of immortals. On the surface, they seemed no different from other immortals but who could comprehend the dragons’ past?
Hundreds of thousands of years ago, the dragons’ power was such that even the primordial forces of the wild revered them.
Yuan Rutan sighed, flying out of the pit and flopping onto his bed, his chin resting on a blanket, golden eyes despondent.
From those inheritance memories, he realized he had no kin in this world.
Were there still dragons in existence? Perhaps. But those clans were separated from him by 180,000 li or more distant than the descendants of ancient hybrid dragons like Cattle Prisoner or Yazi.
Yuan Rutan puffed his cheeks and squinted his eyes.
By that logic, once he grew stronger, wouldn’t he become the most powerful dragon of all?
Relaxing, he buried his head in the blanket.
After a while, he pushed the blanket aside, leaned against the wall, and coughed repeatedly. Dust had settled on it, making him choke.
Just as he was pondering whether to wash it, a knock sounded at the door.
He turned his head, quickly shifted into human form, checked carefully, then opened the door.
Outside stood a middle-aged woman in dark blue coarse cloth, holding a handful of freshly picked vegetable leaves, smiling warmly at him.
“Rutan, in two days the county will hold the Water God Ceremony by the Yuan River. Our Song Family Village has discussed it. Each household contributes one to two silver coins. Three hundred wen we’ll give to the village head to buy offerings on behalf of the village. The remaining seven hundred wen goes to the county, who will manage the ceremony.”
(One tael of silver roughly equals a thousand wen.)
Yuan Rutan frowned. “Song Erniang, didn’t we only pay two hundred wen a few years ago?”
For over a decade in Song Family Village, the Water God Ceremony had been held yearly. In previous years, he vaguely remembered paying mostly two hundred wen, with only a few instances of four hundred.
Song Erniang, anticipating his question, smiled and said, “We live by the water, so of course we hold the ceremony to pray for good weather. In past years it was small-scale, but this year we’re going all out!”
Yuan Rutan: “?”
Seeing his impatience, she sighed and looked away.
“The Water God Ceremony happens every year. Last year we honored the Turtle God, the year before the Clam God, the year before that the Fish God. Five years ago, we worshipped the Jiao God. Remember? That year, you paid four hundred wen.”
Yuan Rutan nodded, though he didn’t actually remember, only that each year, offerings involved fish and shrimp.
Song Erniang continued, “There are twenty Water Gods in total. Every five years, one Water General is honored. Jiao God is one of them, so that year we went big. This year, it’s the head of the Water Gods, so the county is going all out!”
Curious, Yuan Rutan asked, “Who will we honor this year?”
She looked at him with pity. “Of course, you grew up here, you should know who the Water Gods are.”
She sighed, gazing into the distance. “This year, we honor the Dragon King.”
Yuan Rutan: “?”
The purest-blooded dragon alive: Yuan Rutan scratched his head. “Isn’t one to two silver coins a bit much?”
Song Erniang glared. “You little brat, don’t speak nonsense!”
Then she quickly clasped her hands in respect, whispering, “Dragon King, please don’t mind this little one…”
Yuan Rutan: “…”
He tugged at his lip. “So what gifts should we give the Dragon King?”
He thought: If the county truly worships the Dragon King, after the ceremony, he could secretly transform into a dragon and take the offerings when no one is watching.
To avoid suspicion, he’d leave a claw mark on the altar so people would think the Dragon King had claimed the offerings.
He might be punished by Heaven for stealing but if it’s just taking offerings meant for him, surely no one would object.
Song Erniang considered, “We’ll offer a head of ox, a sheep, prepare the Dragon King’s sedan, incense, eighteen types of sacrificial cakes, and a few miscellaneous items.”
Yuan Rutan knew the cakes were made from flour, mixed with chicken blood, bitter leaf juice, and yolk to color them.
Making a face, he cautiously suggested, “Perhaps the Dragon King prefers pastries from Zhen Cake Shop. They recently made Peach Crystal Cakes. Should we include them?”
Song Erniang: “?”
She glared fiercely. “What nonsense are you spouting? You’re thinking with your own mouth, not the Dragon King’s. Do you think he spends all day in town’s pastry shops like you?”
Yuan Rutan: QAQ
But dragons do like sweets.
Song Erniang took the money and left, leaving Yuan Rutan sulking.
He had only one to two silver coins. He earned half a tael in Hanyuan County, just paid one tael, leaving him with half.
He couldn’t delay payment, the village demanded it within three days. Yuan Rutan had no choice.
He thought of a way to earn money.
Transforming into a golden dragon, he flew to the mountains and picked herbs.
On the way down, he passed his fields.
The rice was dense, each grain plump, a promising harvest. Yuan Rutan relaxed, noting his tightening purse.
He glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, then spat twice into the irrigation water. Dragon saliva.
The rice plumped visibly. Yuan Rutan smiled, now he could afford a few more Peach Crystal Cakes.
He cast a protective barrier over his fields to contain the dragon energy. When the rice matured, the dragon energy would dissipate, ensuring the phoenixes couldn’t track him.
Speaking of phoenixes, Yuan Rutan frowned. Though he had awakened many inheritance memories, one final memory remained hidden, connected to the phoenix clan.
He calculated: if he saved thirty more people, the merit from Heaven would allow him to awaken all dragon inheritance memories.
Stashing the herbs in his cloth bag, he noticed weeds growing among the rice.
He cast a spell. Soon, a yellow rat wolf appeared.
The yellow rat wolf bowed, smiling obsequiously, “Greetings, Immortal Lord.”
Yuan Rutan nodded, handing a clay pellet to the wolf, “Clear the weeds in my fields.”
Delighted, the wolf accepted. “Immortal Lord, I will remove all weeds and pests by tomorrow!”
Yuan Rutan “hm” and left the fields.
The pellet was actually mud from his pit, infused with dragon energy from when he accidentally dipped his tail into the water.
Yuan Rutan returned as a small golden dragon, perched on a branch.
The wolf beckoned a rabbit spirit. Yuan Rutan tossed a little mud to it.
The wolf turned away, calm as a sage: “Do the work well.”
The rabbit spirit bowed. “Rest assured, it will be done perfectly.”
The rabbit mixed the mud with water in a bamboo tube, summoned a grasshopper spirit, and had it remove weeds and pests. Then an ant spirit completed the task with the remaining mud water.
Yuan Rutan watched this chain of spirits, finally understanding why tasks that could have been done in one hour with magic dragged into the next day.
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Little DragonChapter 2 · Selling FishChapter 3 · DraughtChapter 4 · Giving LifeChapter 5 · MeritsChapter 6 · Dragon can summon Rain?!Chapter 7 · Wicked Dragon?Chapter 8 · Dragon likes sweetChapter 9 · Dragon WineChapter 10 · Snow Mountain ElixirChapter 11 · The official forced the dragon to rebelChapter 12 · Ministers kneel down and confess their sinsChapter 13 · Court struggle, faith is the dragonChapter 14 · Why do others have auspicious signs, but I don’t?Chapter 15 · Corrupt officialsChapter 16 · The dark side of officialdomChapter 17 Part 1 · Transforming into a golden dragon in full view of all!Chapter 17 Part 2 · Transforming into a golden dragon in full view of all!Chapter 18 · Wrath of the True DragonChapter 19 · Give him a ninth-rank official position!Chapter 20 · The days of being loved by Longlong have begunChapter 21 · Pamper the little dragon, finally full!Chapter 22 · It’s perfectly normal for humans to like dragonsChapter 23 · Avenge Longlong against corrupt officialsChapter 24 · Is being an official like the Dragon King difficult?Chapter 25 · Dragon-shaped woodChapter 26 · Emperor felt the vibrancy of lifeChapter 27 · Do you like the obedient and affectionate little dragon?Chapter 28 · Your Majesty’s PastChapter 29 · A ray of light in a noisy worldChapter 30 · Let’s give the dragon a lake!Chapter 31 · Dragon, don’t run aroundChapter 32 · YaunBaoChapter 33 · Recruiting soldiers and buying horsesChapter 34 · Expand Dragon armyChapter 35 · Longlong is in a dilemmaChapter 36 · Being a king is difficultChapter 37 · Attended the morning court session.Chapter 38 · Secretly feeding the dragonChapter 39 · The restless little golden dragonChapter 40 · Your Majesty foreshadowed thisChapter 41 · Fostering teacher student bondsChapter 42 · Now that the dragon has an official positionChapter 43 · If a dragon wants to become an official, why not touch it?Chapter 44 · Longlong enters officialdomChapter 45 · The Emperor’s disciple?Chapter 46 · Long day’s laborChapter 47 · Being a dragon is comfortableChapter 48 · Thank you, YuanbaoChapter 49 · Very sleepyChapter 50 · The Dragon Who Saves the WorldChapter 51 · Strange storiesChapter 52 · Dragon God saying it wanted to eat peach crystal cakesChapter 53 · The tree is aliveChapter 54 · We can just hold a family feastChapter 55 · What kind of worship?Chapter 56 · Don’t be naughtyChapter 57 · Why does Teacher always avoid my human formChapter 58 · I will be an indifferent learning machineChapter 59 · Jinlong made a fortuneChapter 60 · Ten thousand taelsChapter 61 · FamilyChapter 62 · Will you accompany the dragon?Chapter 63 · What did you hunt, sir?Chapter 64 · From fifth rank to proper fourth rankChapter 65 · Orange PeelChapter 66 · Great Xuan may have enough to eatChapter 67 · Poisoned GrainsChapter 68 · The balance of the mortal world is about to changeChapter 69 · Teacher’s lap truly was very comfortable.Chapter 70 · Caught the little dragonChapter 71 · Only he alone could see that golden lightChapter 72 · Great King must not declineChapter 73 · The top scholarChapter 74 · I do not like other defying meChapter 75 · Great Xuan truly has quite a number of martial expertsChapter 76 · What was there to fear?Chapter 77 · Then Teacher can raise the dragonChapter 78 · Little Dragon Steals Peaches.Chapter 79 · Resentment and Poison.Chapter 80 · Male PartnerChapter 81 · How about choosing a human?Chapter 82 · Young Lord Zhen has a friendChapter 83 · Morning DewChapter 84 · Earth DragonsChapter 85 · Greetings, Your MajestyChapter 86 · Then what am I allowed to do?Chapter 87 · What exactly Happened?Chapter 88 · Praise The golden Dragon!Chapter 89 · ComplexionChapter 90 · Gift is almost readyChapter 91 · Surely Sir would no longer refuse himChapter 92 · Seven YearsChapter 93 · She is really just a childChapter 94 · Good YuanbaoChapter 95 · Ten Thousand year old JadeChapter 96 · They were overwhelmed with griefChapter 97 · Villain: So what if I use magic?Chapter 98 · The Dragon Clan MeetingChapter 99 · The Big reveal!Chapter 100 · The prototype of His MajestyChapter 101 · Autumn HuntChapter 102 · This painting was created by the Emperor’s consortChapter 103 · They gave themselves away and caught the plush rabbit doctor.Chapter 104 · The Rabbit gangChapter 105 · The scars on the fox spirit’s handsChapter 106 · Wang JinzhongChapter 107 · I don’t believe the White Tiger doesn’t protect its foodChapter 108 · Karmic SinChapter 109 · Yuanbao, would you take me a thousand li away?Chapter 110 · Pear FrostChapter 111 · If Yuanbao ever loses sight of the road ahead, then come find meChapter 112 · Let’s take a step at a time..Chapter 113 · The imperial marriage was announced to the public.Chapter 114 · The army, navy, and air force are preparing to attack the Yujing River.Chapter 115 · The attack on Yujing River-humans should not spread rumors!Chapter 116 · King Golden Dragon ascends the throneChapter 117 · Sir, would you like a bowl of dragon soup?Chapter 118 · Wedding celebrationChapter 119 · Establish the Demon RealmChapter 120 · Lord of the Demon RealmChapter 121 · Flourishing and decliningChapter 122 · The Ling Dynasty was defeated, and father and son fought amongst themselvesChapter 123 · The gentleman’s is dragon-themedChapter 124 · People from HeavenChapter 125 · The truth behind the White TigerChapter 126 · Azure Dragon, WarChapter 127 · A great war is about to break outChapter 128 · Victory in the great battleChapter 129 · Side Story (1)Chapter 130 · Side Story (2)Chapter 131 · Side Story (3)Chapter 132 · Side Story (4)Chapter 133 · Side Story (4)Chapter 134 · Side Story (5)Chapter 135 · Side Story (6)Chapter 136 · Side story (7)Chapter 137 · Side Story (8)Chapter 138 · Side Story (9)Chapter 139 · Side Story (10)Chapter 140 · Side Story (11)Chapter 141 · Side Story (12)Chapter 142 · Side Story (13)Chapter 143 · Side Story (14)Chapter 144 · Side Story (15)Chapter 145 · Side Story (16)Chapter 146 · Side Story (17)Chapter 147 · Side Story (18)Chapter 148 · Side Story (19)Chapter 149 · Side Story (20)Chapter 150 · Side Story (21)Chapter 151 · Side Story (22)