Not long after.
When Tang Luochuan and Gu Yue arrived at the outer academy dormitory building, they immediately spotted Dai Yun'er's graceful figure.
"Yun'er."
The two stepped forward and greeted her.
"Luo Chuan, Gu Yue-jie."
"You're here."
Dai Yun'er smiled softly in response.
"Mhm."
"Is that Long Yue over at Senior Tong Yu's place?"
Tang Luochuan replied with a smile before asking.
"There."
"Right over there."
Dai Yun'er silently pointed toward a small pavilion not far away, where Long Yue seemed to be meditating, and answered straightforwardly.
"Hmm..."
For a moment, Tang Luochuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed Long Yue truly hadn't wasted the Mountain Dragon King's bloodline, given his dedication to cultivation.
"His potential isn't bad."
"He's passable as material to nurture, I suppose."
At this moment, the Mountain Dragon King, who had been permitted to sense the outside world, responded with satisfaction, feigning indifference.
But in reality, he could barely suppress the grin threatening to break across his face—because beside him...
The other eight of the Nine Dragon Kings were staring at him with undisguised envy, their longing practically overflowing.
After all, among the Nine Dragon Kings, he was the only one with a successor in the outside world!
And this successor would undoubtedly become an elite under their Lord's command—how could they not be jealous?
"Let's go."
"We'll go meet him."
Tang Luochuan took Gu Yue's hand and headed toward Long Yue, with Dai Yun'er following closely behind.
"..."
Meanwhile, at the pavilion.
At this moment, Long Yue's thoughts, mid-meditation, inexplicably drifted away. Hazily, he found himself in a valley he had once visited.
It was an endless valley, its boundaries unseen, as vast as an entire world. No matter when he looked, countless Dragon Cloud Dragon Souls filled the skies.
In his daze, he seemed to become one of them—transforming into a colossal Mountain Dragon King, coiled atop a towering peak. He was the Mountain Dragon King, the foremost of the Nine Dragon Kings.
Even among the Dragon Clan, his status was exalted.
Yet deep within the clouds at that moment, a figure of overwhelming majesty descended. With just a mere gesture, the sheer presence emanating from them made him want to kneel.
He knew exactly who this was—the true pinnacle of the Dragon Clan, their one and only Lord.
Though his Mountain Dragon King bloodline was among the most revered in the Dragon Clan, only this singular being could rightfully be called Sovereign—the Dragon God...
He had dreamed this many times before—the Dragon Clan's glory restored under their Lord's leadership. But every time, the Lord's face had remained indistinct, blurred beyond recognition.
This time, however, he could see it clearly—a face of unparalleled handsomeness, radiating extraordinary majesty...
"!"
"So it was just a dream..."
The next instant, Long Yue jolted awake. Feeling the air of Shrek Academy around him, he realized the vision had been nothing but an illusion. A profound sense of loss weighed on him as he lowered his head in dejection.
But when he looked up again—
A young man stood before him, having appeared at some unknown moment. And his face... bore an uncanny resemblance to the figure from his dream.
"You... you are...?"
Long Yue couldn't contain his emotions. Even before speaking, his legs gave way uncontrollably as he knelt down, stammering while gazing at the figure before him with unmistakable urgency in his eyes.
At this moment, he nearly blurted out the words "My Lord."
"Long Yue, this is the Luo Chuan you've been looking for, but what are you..."
Beside them, Dai Yun'er watched Long Yue's behavior with astonishment, her face a mask of silent bewilderment.
Seriously, what's with him...
Although Long Yue had only recently appeared at Shrek Academy, he had already given her countless moments of confusion.
Was this guy for real?
"Luo Chuan..."
"So you're Tang Luochuan Gongzi..."
Hearing this, Long Yue's expression remained anything but calm.
Tang Luochuan—was this really him?
Indeed extraordinary, but why did he feel so strongly that this was the one he was truly meant to follow, the only master he would ever serve...
"..."
Gu Yue observed the scene with a faint smile on her otherwise composed face. This subconscious reaction confirmed that the bearer of the Mountain Dragon King Bloodline was truly worth nurturing.
"Long Yue, you've waited long enough."
"This isn't the place to talk. Come with me."
Tang Luochuan smiled faintly, speaking softly. He hadn't expected that releasing just a trace of his aura would have such an effect.
Though he said nothing further, the Mountain Dragon King within Dragon Valley smiled approvingly at Long Yue's instinctive response.
Good. This one was worth cultivating.
Beyond talent, true loyalty was equally important—and this man's reaction to just a wisp of presence proved his absolute devotion.
"I..."
"Yes!"
Though still somewhat dazed, Long Yue responded respectfully to Tang Luochuan's words, answering instinctively.
As he followed the other toward the dormitory, his mind whirled with thoughts...
Could he...
Could he truly be his master?
"..."
Not long after, in Tang Luochuan's room.
The moment they stepped inside, Tang Luochuan, Gu Yue, and Long Yue vanished into the Dragon Valley World, leaving Dai Yun'er standing alone in bewildered silence.
"Huh?"
"Where'd they go?"
Dai Yun'er blinked, her face blank.
Then, as if realizing something, she recalled that Luo Chuan did possess some spatial-element abilities. So that meant...
"Luo Chuan, you left me behind again!"
Her eyes flashed with frustration as she gritted her teeth in annoyance.
That infuriating Luo Chuan, always doing this!
"Just you wait..."
"I'll make you pay for this!"
Muttering to herself, her resentful gaze fell on a nearby snack bucket. She snatched a bag of cookies, pulled one out, and crunched it angrily between her teeth...
"I never really looked around Luo Chuan's room before..."
"Didn't realize his tea set was so pretty."
For some reason, her attention shifted to the tea set on the table. She picked up a delicate cup, murmuring to herself.
Such a lovely little teacup...
Meanwhile, within the Dragon Valley World...
"Tang Gongzi..."
"Where is this...?"
Arriving in this not unfamiliar world, Long Yue felt momentarily dazed. He never imagined he would have the chance to return here in his lifetime!
"My Dragon Valley World."
Tang Luochuan said calmly.
"Dragon Valley World..."
Long Yue murmured under his breath.
In the past, he had stumbled upon this place by accident. It was here that he encountered an elder of the dragon race, whose guidance had helped him become the foremost genius of the Star Luo Empire.
Wait... Did Young Master Tang just say...
This place was his?!
But before he could ponder further, a familiar presence captured his attention.
Not far away, a massive Dragon King exuded an overwhelming aura.
"Mountain..."
"Lord Mountain Dragon King..."
Long Yue stared blankly at the Mountain Dragon King, who had been waiting for some time, and hastily bowed, his voice filled with both astonishment and reverence.
The Mountain Dragon King's Dragon Soul!
Wasn't it Lord Mountain Dragon King who had once aided him? Without his help, there would be no Long Yue as he was today.
"I never thought I'd see you again, human."
"My liege, this is the human who once received my legacy—Long Yue."
The Mountain Dragon King, Gang Yue, glanced at Long Yue before turning respectfully toward Tang Luochuan.
"My liege..."
Hearing this address, Long Yue froze. As if sensing something, he turned his gaze back toward Tang Luochuan, feeling an inexplicable pull in his heart.
In that moment, the figure before him gradually merged with the image of his liege in his mind, becoming one.
"Long Yue pays his respects to my liege!"
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