The cliffside rumbled again.
Not violently—
but with a heavy, slow, ancient weight.
Like something enormous was exhaling after sleeping for centuries.
Lin Xuanji stepped back, dragging Ruolan behind him.
"Everyone, stay calm," he said, voice cracking.
Kai Yun grinned.
"This is the opposite of calm! This is AMAZING!"
Feng Xiao hissed, "Will you stop smiling?!"
Tian Wen stood firm, expression serious but unafraid.
Mu Xiaofan placed a hand on the bear beside him, whispering something too soft to catch; the bear lowered itself respectfully.
Wei Tian stared at the cliff as if ready to block a mountain with his body.
Ling Xueyin was the only one showing no tension at all.
Her eyes were steady, calm, prepared.
She knew something.
Ling Xueyin always knew something.
—
The crack widened.
Dust fell like rain.
A massive shape began to pull itself forward.
Not a beast lunging in fury—
but a creature dragging itself from exhaustion.
It was huge.
Not large like a bear.
Not towering like a giant bird.
Huge like—
—its head alone was the size of Lin Xuanji's hut.
—its wings were folded like broken flags.
—its scales were dim and lifeless.
A dragon.
A primordial dragon.
Mu Xiaofan whispered,
"…He's hurt."
Kai Yun nearly dropped her sword.
"DRAGON?! I KNEW IT! I FELT IT!"
Feng Xiao punched her shoulder.
"STOP CELEBRATING! WE MIGHT DIE!"
Ruolan fainted again on the spot.
Wei Tian stepped in front of everyone instantly.
Tian Wen narrowed his eyes, qi gathering naturally around him—not to attack, but to shield the weaker disciples behind him.
Lin Xuanji's voice cracked:
"A-A… a dragon?! Why is there a dragon?!?!"
(Host. Correction: Not fully a dragon.)
NOT NOW—
(It is a Primordial Guardian Dragonling.)
THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT LESS SCARY!
(Estimated age: unknown. Estimated power: greatly reduced.)
Reduced from WHAT?
(Yes.)
THAT IS NOT AN ANSWER.
The dragonling raised its head slightly.
A single golden eye opened.
It swept across Ruolan, Feng Xiao, Tian Wen, Wei Tian—
Then settled on Mu Xiaofan.
The boy stepped forward without hesitation.
Everyone panicked.
Lin Xuanji: "DON'T—!"
Kai Yun: "CAN I RIDE IT?"
Feng Xiao: "STOP HER!"
Wei Tian: "DANGER!"
Tian Wen: "…Mu Xiaofan."
Ling Xueyin: "It's fine."
Lin Xuanji turned to her.
"WHAT PART OF THIS IS 'FINE'? THE DRAGON? THE CLIFF? THE TREMORS? WHICH PART?!"
Ling Xueyin met his gaze calmly.
"He is waking up. Not attacking."
The dragon let out a low rumble—
not threatening.
Not hostile.
Mournful.
Mu Xiaofan kneeled before the creature and placed a hand on the ground.
"…You're lonely," he whispered softly.
Lin Xuanji felt the air shift.
A deep, ancient breath passed through the courtyard.
Kai Yun lowered her sword.
Feng Xiao's flames flickered out.
Tian Wen's eyes softened slightly.
Wei Tian relaxed his stance by a fraction.
Even the bear bowed its head.
Mu Xiaofan stood up and took a single step closer.
The dragonling lowered its head to meet him.
Mu Xiaofan touched the side of its snout.
The ancient creature exhaled sharply—
and dust blasted across the courtyard
like a sigh that had been held for centuries.
Ling Xueyin stepped forward.
"This," she said softly, "is the original guardian of Heavenly Peak."
Lin Xuanji's jaw dropped.
"A dragon… is the PEAK'S GUARDIAN?!"
Ling Xueyin nodded.
"…Then what are the phoenix and the OTHER dragon in the System?"
"They are part of your old sect, brought here through the pocket worlds," she said calmly. "This one… was born from the mountain itself."
Lin Xuanji felt faint.
"I have too many dragons."
Kai Yun raised her hand. "I volunteer to take care of one!"
"No," Lin Xuanji said immediately.
Tian Wen asked quietly, "Why did it awaken now?"
The dragon's golden eye opened again.
It looked at Mu Xiaofan, not Lin Xuanji.
Ling Xueyin answered instead:
"Because of him."
Mu Xiaofan blinked, confused.
"Me?"
Ling Xueyin nodded.
"Your physique carries the natural resonance of ancient beast tamers. The dragonling recognized you."
Mu Xiaofan placed a hand on the dragon's head.
"…You're tired," he whispered gently.
"I'll help you."
The dragon rumbled in response—
a soft, deep vibration like gratitude.
Lin Xuanji looked at the sky.
"…System."
(Host?)
"PLEASE tell me we don't have more beasts hidden under the mountain."
(This information is classified.)
"…That means yes, doesn't it?"
(No comment.)
Lin Xuanji grabbed his hair.
"I HAVEN'T EVEN TRAINED MY HUMAN DISCIPLES YET!"
Ruolan revived and immediately fainted again when he saw the dragon.
Kai Yun lunged toward the dragon.
"I NEED TO NAME HIM—"
Everyone: "NO."
Ling Xueyin smiled faintly.
Tian Wen let out a small breath.
Feng Xiao muttered, "This sect is insane."
Wei Tian bowed respectfully to the dragon.
Mu Xiaofan whispered softly to it:
"You're safe here."
The dragonling closed its eyes and lowered its massive head into the courtyard, finally resting—
—for the first time in centuries.
The mountain hummed—
quiet, relieved, ancient.
Lin Xuanji sighed.
"…At least it didn't explode."
The mountain hummed louder, almost teasing.
"…Please don't explode tomorrow."