"Let me ask bluntly, is your fiancé a person? Or... a dragon?"
Faced with this question, Kushina was visibly stunned for a moment.
"Of course he's a person... How could Ryun be a dragon..." Kushina answered instinctively.
"Are you sure???" Sara looked deeply skeptical.
She swore the creature at the bottom of the Dragon Vein was definitely a dragon. Moreover, she had been feeding this black dragon for quite a long time; there was no possibility she was mistaken.
"Of course I'm sure. He's my man, how could I not be sure." Kushina felt this queen was somewhat baffling.
"Alright then..."
Sara said no more, and the two of them then watched as Minato jumped into the spirit liquid pool.
Minato used the Water Surface Walking technique, then tentatively reached out his hand to touch the purple spirit liquid.
Instantly, a large amount of natural energy surged into his body through the pores on his palm, startling him so much that he quickly pulled his hand back.
"Such powerful natural energy, it's just like the toad oil from Mount Myoboku!" From that brief contact, Minato immediately reached this conclusion.
He had encountered Sage Art before, so of course he understood what natural energy was.
"This energy is gentle and balanced, extremely easy to absorb, and doesn't have the side effects of toad oil." The side effects Minato referred to were Toad Transformation and petrification.
The toad oil spring had been soaked in by who knows how many toads; the Toad Transformation phenomenon was largely due to the spring water containing a great deal of toad bodily fluids and toxins.
The energy of the Dragon Vein was the essence of the earth. This purple energy was clean and pure, naturally not something Mount Myoboku's toad oil could compare to.
The natural energy that invaded Minato's palm quickly merged with the chakra inside his body. The next moment, he closed his eyes and easily entered Sage Mode.
"So fast... This place is simply perfect for cultivating Sage Art. No wonder Ryun-kun chose to stay here in seclusion..."
Minato couldn't help but sigh in admiration. He felt that Ryun was too good at finding places; such a treasured cultivation spot could be found by him. His instinct for seeking power was so sharp, it was no wonder that someone his age could achieve god-like status so early...
"Minato-kun, what's the situation down there? Can I come down now?" Kushina called out loudly from above.
"Come down. But be careful, use the Water Surface Walking skill properly, and don't casually touch this liquid." Minato reminded her seriously.
He had learned Sage Art and knew how to handle natural energy entering the body. Kushina hadn't learned it; recklessly entering the spirit liquid would most likely cause her body to explode and die.
Kushina nodded, then executed a graceful leap through the air, landing steadily on the surface of the spirit liquid.
The Water Surface Walking skill was taught to her by her Ryun-niichan. She had fully mastered this ability by the age of twelve.
"What now? Should we try to pull him out?" Kushina asked, looking at Minato who had his eyes closed.
But as soon as she finished speaking, she saw Minato suddenly open his eyes and instinctively take a step back.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Minato who seemed frightened, Kushina quickly asked.
"A black dragon, coiled head to tail, sleeping at the bottom of the pool..." Minato said with a grave expression after steadying his mind.
"A black dragon? Could that be Ryun???" Kushina's eyes widened in surprise.
"I'm not sure... The natural energy here is too vast. I can sense him, but I can't identify his aura." Minato told the truth.
"That black dragon is the Ryun you mentioned. When he arrived, he was a cold, unsmiling, handsome man. After absorbing the Dragon Vein's power, he gradually began transforming into a dragon. For these past four years, he has maintained this dragon form. That's why I asked you earlier: is your fiancé a person, or... a dragon?"
Sara on the platform above gave the specific answer.
Hearing this, Kushina was dumbfounded. She didn't understand the situation clearly, but upon learning that Ryun had begun turning into a dragon, Kushina instinctively touched her neck.
Around her neck was a uniquely shaped black necklace, a birthday gift given to her by Ryun. It was said that Ryun 'crafted' and strung it together entirely by hand himself.
At the time, Kushina asked him where this thing came from. Ryun instinctively replied: picked it off my body...
Back then, Kushina thought the unserious guy was joking with her...
"Mi... Minato... look, is this thing a scale..."
Kushina took the black necklace from her neck and handed it to Minato.
After examining it for a moment, Minato replied, "It is indeed a scale. This black scale has excellent toughness and hardness. Such a small piece can actually be pinched into a small cylindrical shape..."
After receiving this confirmation, Kushina couldn't help but gasp.
Her Ryun-niichan... actually picked off one of his own dragon scales, thoughtfully made it into a necklace, and gave it to her... How much it must have hurt... and how much he must love her!
Ever since she started wearing this black necklace, she had never been bitten by bugs or mosquitoes again. Even the big wolf dogs from the Inuzuka family would pee themselves and run away when they saw her... So it turned out it was because the necklace carried the aura of a dragon!
Thinking of this, Kushina's eyes immediately reddened again.
"I don't care if he's a person or a dragon. Minato-kun, can you help wake him up..."
"I can, but Ryun-kun is probably undergoing some very important training right now. If we wake him rashly, it might lead to some unforeseen consequences..." Minato reminded her with a serious expression.
Hearing this, Kushina fell silent.
After a long while, she nodded heavily and said,
"You're right. If it weren't important training, he wouldn't have stayed here for five years. He must be in some critical stage now; otherwise, he wouldn't have cut off contact with me."
"We shouldn't disturb him for now. Also, I want to stay here and guard him until he wakes up."
Kushina looked at Minato with a serious expression.
"I need to send a message back to Konoha. If the Hokage allows you to stay here, then it's fine..." Minato said with a wry smile.
"I don't care what the Hokage allows. Even if he doesn't allow it, would you dare to arrest me and take me back?" Kushina smiled charmingly with composure.
Now that Ryun-niichan was right beneath her feet, she was no longer anxious or hurried. As long as Ryun was safe, waking up was just a matter of time. The people of Konoha wouldn't dare to act recklessly and arrest her in front of Ryun.
Even if Ryun couldn't take action right now, no one could guarantee whether his consciousness was clear or if he might suddenly wake up.
Trying to arrest the Queen Mother in front of the Jade Emperor, wasn't that asking for a death sentence?
"Queen Sara, may I stay here for a while? I can pay for lodging and meals..." Kushina looked up, gazing pleadingly at the Queen of Loulan above.
"You may. But there's no need for payment... Your man controlled me to stabilize Loulan's government and helped me avenge my mother's murder. He's already helped me a great deal. This small request I can certainly fulfill for you..."
Sara's resentment towards Ryun stemmed from his refusal to communicate with her at all, while controlling her for so many years...
If he just wanted to cultivate in the Dragon Vein and needed some food, he could have just told her...
Controlling her for ten days or half a month she could understand, especially since initially she was deceived by Anrokuzan, thinking he was a loyal minister. But even after Sara knew the truth, Ryun continued to control her. Anyone would find that hard to accept...
This guy would rather endure years of cultivation in the silent Dragon Vein than talk to her. He never even said an unnecessary word to her... Was her charm as the Queen of Loulan really that low? So she was really just a pure tool person???
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