As Wang Feng lay exhausted on the ground, a peculiar spirit beast slowly approached the Lake of Life.
The creature measured three meters in length, stood eight feet tall at the shoulder, and was covered in a coat of radiant golden fur. Its entire body shimmered like translucent crystal, its surface etched with strange, intricate patterns.
Though its overall shape resembled a lion, its four paws bore draconic claws, each hovering above a swirling golden fireball. Its muzzle was elongated compared to typical lion-like spirit beasts, and beneath its lustrous mane gleamed dense golden scales.
In addition to two ordinary golden eyes, a third vertical-pupiled eye glowed an eerie crimson at its forehead. From a human aesthetic perspective, this spirit beast was breathtakingly beautiful.
Wang Feng, still panting heavily, remained oblivious to the majestic creature's approach—until it stood barely three meters away.
"Who are you?" The Three-Eyed Golden Lioness spoke in a clear, melodious feminine voice. "Why are you here?"
Startled by the unfamiliar voice, Wang Feng scrambled to his feet and immediately distanced himself, falling into a defensive stance.
He locked eyes with the lioness, noticing an almost human-like puzzlement in her golden gaze. It wasn't that she had never seen a human before—but what was a mere human child doing at the Lake of Life?
Had Uncle Di Tian and the others not sensed his presence?
Unable to suppress her curiosity, the lioness tilted her head slightly, studying him with visible confusion.
Wang Feng held his breath, his heart pounding. Though her voice sounded friendly, his instincts screamed that she was a supreme-level threat.
"My name is Wang Feng," he answered cautiously, maintaining a safe distance. "The Black Dragon King has permitted me to stay here."
Her third eye flashed red, scanning him from head to toe. "Uncle Di Tian allowed a human? That's new." Her tone carried a subtle skepticism.
With graceful movements, she circled him like an inspecting officer.
"You smell... intriguing," she murmured suddenly, her crystalline nostrils flaring as she inhaled his scent. "I detect the aura of a dragon on you."
Wang Feng froze. How could she know?!
Before he could react—
"Qiu'er!"
A thunderous voice shook the surrounding trees. Di Tian emerged from the mist, his expression darker than usual.
"Uncle!" The lioness—Qiu'er—immediately adopted the demeanor of a mischievous child caught in the act, her crystalline tail swaying playfully. "I was just curious about this strange human!"
Di Tian sighed deeply. "He is a guest of Her Majesty. Do not disturb him."
"But—"
"Enough!" Di Tian seized her by the scruff, cutting her off. "Her Majesty will summon him in due time. Let him rest."
Qiu'er whined but reluctantly retreated, casting one last glance at Wang Feng before vanishing into the forest.
Left alone, Wang Feng stood in silence, torn between wariness and... intrigue? There was something undeniably fascinating about her.
Di Tian turned his golden eyes toward him. "Continue your training. I will ensure no further interruptions."
With that, he too disappeared into thin air.
Several hours later, as dusk settled over the lake, Wang Feng decided to end his training and return to the hut.
Feeling the sticky sweat on his skin, he slowly removed his clothes and headed to the bath chamber, carrying fresh garments.
Pushing the door open carefully, he was greeted by the night's chill air. In the corner of the room stood a simple stone basin already filled with crystal-clear water, its surface exuding a faint floral fragrance.
"Strange," he muttered, dipping his fingers into the water. "I didn't fill this."
Cautiously, he lowered his aching body into the bath. The unexpectedly warm water enveloped him, drawing a deep sigh of relief.
Perhaps the Black Dragon King had someone prepare it, he mused, sinking deeper.
After bathing, he retreated to the bedroom and collapsed onto the waiting bed.
His mind buzzed with the day's encounters—the Voidroot Serpent, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, the mysterious woman who knew of the Light Dragon King, and now the Three-Eyed Golden Lioness.
Closing his eyes, he tried to relax his sore muscles. Soon, exhaustion pulled him into sleep.
At the crack of dawn, Wang Feng awoke to rustling noises outside the hut. Sunlight streamed through the wooden slats, casting golden rays that soothed his weary face.
Knock. Knock.
A firm rap sounded at the door.
"Human, awaken," Di Tian's deep voice rumbled from outside. "Her Majesty summons you."
Wang Feng bolted upright and hastily dressed in the fresh robes laid beside the bed.
When he opened the door, Di Tian stood imposingly before him, his golden eyes gleaming in the morning light. Behind him, the Lake of Life shimmered under a thin veil of mist, with several high-ranking spirit beasts gathered in the distance.
"So soon?" Wang Feng asked, straightening his robes. "Yesterday, you said I'd have to wait several days."
Di Tian ignored the question. "Come. Her Majesty awaits you in the same chamber as before."
Following Di Tian through the fog-laden path, Wang Feng felt his heartbeat quicken with each step. The crisp forest air mingled with the mystical scent of the lake, heightening his anticipation.
They soon arrived at the lake's depths, where Di Tian reopened the spatial rift from the previous day.
"Human," he said, halting abruptly, "this time, I will not accompany you. You must face Her Majesty alone."
Wang Feng stared into the swirling portal, his stomach churning.
"Walk straight ahead. Do not deviate—lest you become lost forever."
With a dutiful nod, Wang Feng stepped forward. Darkness engulfed his vision as he advanced, guided only by Di Tian's instructions.
Just like before, a distant light soon appeared. He followed it, emerging into the radiant chamber.
The room was unchanged, yet the woman's presence now felt more tangible. Her white gown glimmered like moonlit ice, and every footstep left frost-tinged imprints on the crystalline floor.
"You've come," she said, her voice whispering like autumn leaves in the wind.
"I'm here as requested," Wang Feng replied, steeling himself. "Now, will you answer my questions?"
Her icy fingers brushed his cheek, sending a shiver down his spine. A foreign energy pulsed from her touch, raising his hairs and setting his blood aflame.
"You are the inheritor of the Light Dragon King's legacy," she murmured, pausing deliberately. "Which means he deemed you worthy to succeed the Dragon God's mantle."
Wang Feng suppressed the strange vibrations coursing through him. "I already knew that. Before bestowing his power, the Light Dragon King recounted the dragon clan's history. He warned me that accepting this inheritance meant bearing an immense responsibility."
Taking a steadying breath, he pressed on. "What I want to know is—who are you truly? What is your connection to all this?"
She withdrew her hand slowly, leaving a fading chill on his skin. "Truthfully," she admitted, her voice trembling, "my memories are fragmented. Shattered."
"The last thing I recall is losing consciousness while ascending the Shenlong Realm to Divine Star." Her eyes narrowed in concentration. "The final image burned into my mind is the Shura God's blade descending—cleaving me in two."
Wang Feng's breath hitched. "Wait… why did you refer to the Dragon God as 'I'? Unless—"
"Correct." She nodded solemnly, her gaze piercing. "I am one of the two severed halves of the Dragon God."
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