At the time Du Shentian was running toward the Awakener Association to collect his ID.
Inside the Silver Dragon Headquarters, in Luo Xinyan's private bathroom, thick and velvety steam filled the space, warping everything in a hazy veil.
Luo Xinyan changed her clothes, wrapped herself in a bath towel, and stepped inside. After locking the door, she let the towel fall and revealed her bare skin before sinking into the warm bath waiting in the bathtub.
The water welcomed her like a quiet embrace. Soft white foam gathered around her body, rising to conceal—yet not fully hide—her figure beneath the shifting bubbles. The delicate curves of her flawless body appeared and vanished like a teasing illusion, stirring imagination more than full sight ever could.
Her long silver hair spilled over the edges of the bathtub, some strands slipping into the water and clinging faintly to her smooth skin. Each movement sent faint ripples through the bath, causing the foam to drift apart in slow hypnotic patterns.
Her crimson-red eyes were half-lidded, carrying a languid calm, almost intoxicating, as if the world beyond the steam no longer mattered.
She leaned back and let out a soft breath.
But after some time, that calm faded.
Her crimson eyes now carried suppressed irritation.
She activated her communicator.
A holographic screen appeared before her.
She connected the call.
On the other side was Mei Shiguang — the Time True Saint, her backer in the Silver Dragon Battalion and a veteran warrior.
After accepting the call, Mei Shiguang frowned immediately.
"Why the heck are you calling me at this time? And why are you even in the bathtub?"
Luo Xinyan replied calmly, "Something happened. I don't have much time, and I still have a lot of work left. So I thought it would be better to talk during my bath."
Mei Shiguang stared at her carefully.
"Your face looks angry. Did something happen?"
Luo Xinyan nodded slightly.
"How did you even know?"
Mei Shiguang snorted softly.
"We've been childhood friends for 20 Years now. I will always know when you're angry."
Luo Xinyan leaned deeper into the warm water.
"Something did happen today."
Mei Shiguang's tone shifted to serious.
"What happened?"
Luo Xinyan hesitated briefly.
"My Emperor Core was hurting too much today."
Mei Shiguang's expression immediately tightened.
"Your Emperor Core was hurting again today?"
"Yes."
Mei Shiguang's voice grew concerned.
"You need to be careful. You were once the Space Dragon Emperor, but now you are merely a King-Tier expert after the betrayal of the Moon Dragon Great Emperor. He tried to absorb your power, and you barely managed to escape. Look at your current state. You cannot even use your abilities properly. You had to restart your cultivation from the beginning six months ago."
Luo Xinyan's jaw clenched.
"I know."
"After he destroyed my Luo family eighteen years ago, he absorbed our innate dragon bloodline abilities using his corrupt technique. His awakened ability was originally only A-rank. But after absorbing my entire family's abilities, it evolved into S-rank. He also broke through to the Great Emperor level."
"To the whole world, he claimed he worked hard to evolve his ability."
"But in truth, he devoured my entire family to reach that level."
"Even the government of the Great Dragon Nation knows how he reached Great Emperor. Yet they do nothing. They actively hide the truth from the public."
Her voice trembled with anger.
Mei Shiguang understood. Their families had long shared friendly relations.
Luo Xinyan continued.
"I survived that day because my family sacrificed themselves so I could escape."
"I was four years old when I awakened my abilities through our family treasures."
"I awakened one A-rank ability — Beast Transformation: Wind Wolf. Through it, I can transform into a Wind Wolf or a demi-human state, a half-wolf and half-human state. It increases my attack output and enhances wind elemental control."
"My second ability…"
Her voice lowered.
"SSS-rank. Silver Dragon Transformation."
"That ability allows control over fire, water, wind, lightning, and earth. It even grants limited control over space and time."
Mei Shiguang shook her head slowly.
"I always thought SSS-rank was just a myth from our ancestors. But after knowing you, I realize it wasn't a bluff at all."
Luo Xinyan's voice grew heavier.
"If I had known that new of me awakening an SSS-rank ability will cause so much trouble, I would have hidden it better."
"Somehow, information reached the Moon Dragon Great Emperor. That's why he attacked my family. He wanted to evolve his ability further. My family sacrificed themselves so I could escape."
"After that, your family accepted me. I changed my name and lived with you."
"But I could not stop myself."
"Fourteen years ago, I went to him. I hid my identity. I changed my silver hair and crimson eyes to black hair and green eyes, just like your Mei family traits. I claimed my ability was only A-rank — Space Dragon Transformation."
"I became his disciple."
"I thought I could find a chance to kill him."
"But that damn snake…"
"He tried to absorb to me, his own disciple's to evolve his ability further."
Mei Shiguang sighed.
"You should have known. If he could sacrifice an entire family for power, why would he hesitate to sacrifice his disciple?"
"You were the youngest Awakener to ever reach Emperor level. You reached Emperor at the age of 23. The entire world was shocked."
"Instead of cultivating you, he tried to devour you."
Mei Shiguang said coldly,
"You shouldn't speak casually. The difference between Emperor and Great Emperor is like heaven and earth. Not every Emperor could reach Great Emperor Level" said Luo Xinyan.
Mei Shiguang nodded and said-
"Still, what can I expect from a snake who can sacrifices anyone for one step of ascension?"
Luo Xinyan thanked her and said-
"Because of your help, I was able to enter Dragon Sanctuary 007. You ensured my identity cannot be linked back to the Luo family. Even using my real name now, I can live without fear."
Mei Shiguang smiled faintly and said-
"That's what friends are for."
After some time, Mei Shiguang narrowed her eyes.
"You're still hiding something."
Luo Xinyan stayed silent.
Then she told her what happened that day.
About the sword.
About being stabbed.
Mei Shiguang blinked once.
Then burst into laughter.
"You got stabbed?"
She laughed harder.
"An unawakened kid stabbed you? Inside your body?"
"Did he just take your ass's virginity like that?"
The temperature in the bathroom dropped.
Killing intent surged from Luo Xinyan's crimson eyes and she became silent.
"....."
Mei Shiguang immediately raised her hands.
"I'm joking! I'm joking!"
She cleared her throat.
Then her expression turned serious.
"You were in Beast Transformation. A normal sword shouldn't pierce you."
Luo Xinyan blinked.
She hadn't thought about that.
"Could the boy have stolen it?"
"I don't think so," Luo Xinyan replied. "Du Shentian seems honest, I don't think he is a type of person who would steal."
Mei Shiguang's eyes gleamed.
"Oh? You're saying his name so naturally."
Luo Xinyan's face flushed slightly.
"Looks like I'll get a new brother-in-law at this rate."
The communicator flew out of the bathroom.
After a while, Luo Xinyan picked it up and said calmly,
"Sorry. I was angry."
Mei Shiguang laughed softly and said-
"Find out who forged that sword. If it truly pierced you, it's no ordinary weapon."
Luo Xinyan said-
"I invited him for a practice match next Sunday at the Silver Dragon Base."
Mei Shiguang said-
"Good. Ask him then. And don't try to kill him."
"I have control." said Luo Xinyan
"Also, don't use Silver Dragon Transformation," Mei Shiguang warned. "Every time you try to use it, you start bleed and Your Emperor Core worsens."
Luo Xinyan nodded.
Her Emperor Core was nearly scattered.
When she reaches Emperor level again, will she build a second core? Or will it merge with the shattered one?
She didn't know.
Then Mei Shiguang asked softly,
"Why did you really call me?"
Luo Xinyan hesitated.
"I traced information about your missing sister."
Mei Shiguang froze.
Seven years ago, thieves invaded her territory and stole her only sister.
"The trail ends in Blood Stone Heaven."
Mei Shiguang's eyes widened in shock.
Blood Stone Heaven — a place where the weakest creatures were King Tier. Emperor and even Great Emperor monsters roamed freely.
If her sister was taken there…
Survival was nearly impossible.
Tears nearly fell from Mei Shiguang's eyes.
"She was my only sister. Born from my late mother. My mother died after giving birth to my sister."
Luo Xinyan said firmly,
"There is still a chance."
Mei Shiguang's eyes regained a faint light.
"Thank you for looking into this even when you are struggling yourself."
"We're friends," Luo Xinyan replied. "You used to tell me that."
Mei Shiguang stopped herself from crying.
"Thank you."
Then she ended the call.
Silence filled the bathroom.
Minutes passed.
Then—
Her Emperor Core hurt again.
Sharper.
Worse.
She gripped the edge of the bathtub.
"It's not stopping… the pain is growing."
"But I couldn't tell Mei Shiguang."
"I need confidence."
The bathroom fell into complete silence.
And beneath that silence—
Her Emperor Core continued to crack.
End of Ch 9
Author's Note
This is my first novel, so there may be mistakes along the way. Please feel free to point them out so I can improve.
Also, English is not my first language, so there might be some inconsistencies.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the story!