The dark clouds of the Black Calamity wrap around the entire barrier, with relentless lightning striking it, probing for any weak points to break through. Everyone watches as the clouds swirl, and each hit makes the barrier glow bright red. They can see the lake water outside their protection, crashing against the barrier like waves hitting the shore, while the one inside everything stays calm and unaffected by the chaos outside.
As the dark energy storm raged on outside, Yun Guang and Siheng emerged from Yichen's pendant, landing in their boat. Siheng, startled to find himself on soft, uneven ground made by fluffy blankets, nearly stumbled into the lake, but Yun Guang grabbed him by the waist just in time, steadying him.
Together, they turned their attention to the chaos demon wreaking destruction around the lake, smashing the barrier with relentless bolts and his own malicious energy. Yichen welcomed them back eagerly. Zhu Yan then quickly conjured another boat for them to board, strategically placing it where it was needed, just like the others.
Everyone understood that they should remain in their positions without acting until Zhu Yan gave the signal. Even Yichen waited calmly as Zhu Yan activated his Truth Eye in an attempt to locate the core of the Black Calamity. However, Zhu Yan knew that it would not be that simple. Firstly, the demon was fundamentally a shifting mass of dark energy capable of constantly rotating his core, and secondly, the core itself could be hidden elsewhere.
High-level demons and those above them possessed the ability to link their cores to external objects. This tactic was often used during the war against the gods. Even if a demon's body was turned to dust, as long as their core was untouched elsewhere, they could regenerate and return since the source of their power remained intact. For a demon as formidable as the Black Calamity, concealing his core was a clever strategy he had used before. Thus, Zhu Yan speculated that, at the very least, the Black Calamity was not directly controlled by Huan Jing, but acted independently of its own will.
"Zhu Yan, can you see his core?" Li Lun asked through their mental connection, already guessing what he was doing.
"No, but this one is old enough to know tricks that we don't. He is pure energy, and his malicious energy can be used to protect his core in a dense enough part of its essence, that not even our Truth Eye can penetrate it." Although there was also a high chance that the core was not there.
"So, should I use my ice against him and find out?" Yichen asked as he looked into his lover's red eyes.
"Not yet. Ice is his weak spot, and he might pull back before we get the information we need. He's testing my barrier, so let's return the favor. Pei Sijing, go ahead and fire some arrows first. Start with a low energy charge and then increase it to four times higher, but hold back your strongest shot for now. Wen Xiao, stay focused on predicting his movements and where his lightning will hit next. This is his true form, so let's see if you can guess how his dark energy will react." Zhu Yan gave the instructions, and Pei Sijing prepared her bow and concentrated her energy, ready to shoot.
Wen Xiao pointed out the spot she should aim for first, and everyone watched as the arrows whistled inside the tranquil barrier and pierced the red shield, penetrating the Black Calamity cloud, which didn't move to dodge any of the shots fired at different points within the barrier.
"It's not dodging them, so it can't see them coming?" Ying Lei asked through their group connection.
"That's not it. He wasn't worried about Sijing's arrows because they didn't affect him," Wen Xiao explained, raising his hand.
"Didi, go ahead and use your blue fire. Just a small flame will do. I'll handle the rest. Just throw it out there." Yichen happily followed the instructions and sent a ball of blue fire into the night sky. Yun Guang quickly took control over it, pushing it past the barrier. He used his own energy to make the fire spread like a blue dome, forcing the Black Calamity to pull his energy away from the barrier.
"Wait, does he also have a weakness to fire?" Bai Jiu asked, seeing the massive cloud of dark energy hovering above the flames, but not close enough to be affected by them.
"It's not the fire, it's Xiao Zhuo's energy that unsettles him." Wen Xiao replied, and Zhu Yan nodded in agreement.
"But it's not ice, so why is he also concerned about fire?" Bai Jiu asked, as the Black Calamity storm raged outside, trying to break the barrier.
"Bing Yi's cold energy flows through his veins, now more active than ever, allowing his essence to remain present regardless of the powers he wields. His blue fire is significantly stronger than that of an average demon. In fact, that flame is unique to dragons. So far, only Bing Yi and Ying Long have wielded it in battle. This serves as proof that my Baobei's dragon blood is also awakening, not just his divine core." Upon hearing this, Yichen felt utterly astonished, as the thought of his dragon side awakening had never crossed his mind.
"What about Yixuan?" Li Lun asked, his face reflecting clear concern for his lover.
"Though he holds Bing Yi's blood sealed within his core, Nuwa has maintained greater control over him than Bing Yi, and as long as she stays connected to him, his blood will remain dormant." This revelation brought immense relief to Li Lun, who instinctively held Yixuan's hand, seemingly trying to comfort himself rather than Yixuan.
"Even if my dragon blood were to awaken too, you don't need to worry about me, Xiao Lun... I'll be alright..." Yixuan said softly, his hand caressing Li Lun's face in a soothing gesture.
"I will always be mindful of anything that might bring you harm, and I know that turning into a half-dragon won't be simple or comfortable. Zhu Yan, you must know this too, right?" Yes, Zhu Yan knew this well and hoped that Yichen would undergo his transformation within the formation they intended to use in Crystal Valley once they arrived. But as he looked at Yichen, he noticed that he showed no signs of pain as he stood beside him. Only the gleaming ice tattoos stood out.
"Luckily he is currently in no pain, and his transition is going smoothly so far. His awakening has only just begun, but it is gentler than expected, which is a relief. One day, he's going to grow into an extraordinary dragon." Zhu Yan looked at his partner with sincere pride, and Yichen blushed slightly.
Yet, as Yichen's blazing fire continued to dance over Zhu Yan's barrier, the Black Calamity shifted his tactics. The turbulent lake water at the other side, shimmering with luminous energy, began to rise as though drawn by an unseen force. Then, a powerful gust of wind propelled the water even higher, enveloping the dome completely and extinguishing the flames in the process.
"Hey, is that blue fire supposed to be so easy to extinguish?" Siheng asked, almost certain that a dragon's fire should be more powerful, and Zhu Yan sighed.
"Not at all. It's just that my Baobei is still a ba... I mean, a young dragon. His dragon energy is only just beginning to develop," Zhu Yan explained calmly. However, Yichen, unwilling to appear weak, let the surging power within him amplify his will.
"Even if it's just starting, I can do better against this demon..." He murmured to himself, and Zhu Yan smiled.
"Of course, Baobei..." Fueled by the raw energy coursing through his being, Yichen caused the entire lake within the barrier to glow like a blazing blue veil.
Cold air gathered around him, slightly freezing the boat at his feet, and condensation could be seen on the breaths of the others. However, despite the cold energy accumulating at his core, what he was about to unleash was not ice, but a searing heat ten times hotter than anything he had used before. Zhu Yan saw Yichen's eyes brighten a shade lighter, turning ice blue.
Channeling his strength with unyielding resolve, Yichen summoned his fire in an explosive surge and sent it shooting upward. The flames crossed through the barrier, and through sheer determination alone, Yichen spread them outward without relying on Yun Guang's assistance. The intense heat of his new fire evaporated the lake water controlled by the Black Calamity beyond the barrier, a bold act of defiance against his foe.
"Baobei, you're so beautifully stubborn. It's impressive..." Zhu Yan praised him, which made Yichen intensify his fire even further, like a tidal wave of fire that forced the Black Calamity to retreat and use dark energy to protect himself.
"Commander, try your arrows again now," Yichen urged, keeping the fire blazing fiercely. Sijing acted without hesitation, channeling even more divine energy into her arrows before releasing them toward the Black Calamity's churning storm clouds. This time, as her arrows passed through Yichen's flames, they became fully enshrouded by the fire, scorching the very fabric of space itself. The searing projectiles forced the Black Calamity to open gaps in his energy, to evade the relentless fiery onslaught aimed straight at him.
"Oh, that's so bad ass!" Bai Jiu cheered, practically leaping over the boat, but Black Calamity wasn't so easily intimidated, even if it was forced to dodge the attacks.
Before long, they watched as the dark gray clouds turned pitch black, like an infinite void swallowing everything beyond sight. Even from behind their protective shield, an eerie chill ran down their spines as the malicious energy thickened. Even Zhu Yan's barrier seemed to shudder under the pressure, like countless ripples crashing against one another.
"Zhu Yan..." Yichen glanced at him, concern flickering across his face. Zhu Yan, however, responded with a playful wink, leaving Yichen momentarily speechless.
"Don't worry, Baobei, it won't break. But if I didn't allow the barrier to show some effects under a stronger push, I might risk exposing that I've crossed the gate. Isn't that right, Wen Xiao?" He asked her casually, and Wen Xiao nodded with a knowing smile.
"Indeed. I'm certain this Black Calamity, much like us, isn't showing his full strength yet. He's merely trying to identify us and measure our abilities. They already know about Li Lun, reputed to be the strongest among us. However, even a barrier created by him, will begin to show cracks under an attack of malicious energy, because those ripples are there because he's absorbing power from it. If there were no reaction at all, it would mean that someone even stronger than Li Lun is present among us. And we all know what that would suggest," Wen Xiao explained with confidence, prompting Yichen to raise an eyebrow.
"So, what's the plan now? Do we take him on for real? Just say the word, and we'll handle him." Yichen eyes reflected determination, as he glanced at Zhu Yan. He could feel the surge of energy inside him, eager to be set free for real action, if needed.
"Not quite. You see, when you play with fire, there's always a risk of getting burned. Since he's absorbing the energy from my barrier, I think it's time to give him just a small taste of how much it can mess with him. Li Lun, do you still remember our old trick?" From where he stood, Li Lun could see Zhu Yan's grin, which made it very evident what he had in mind.
"We had many back then, but I think I know which one you mean. It's been a while since we did something like that, so we are not as in sync as before." Li Lun remainded him, but Zhu Yan remained unfazed, perfectly capable of managing Li Lun's energy.
"That's perfectly fine. Since they think this is your doing, let's have some fun like we used to." Zhu Yan smiled mischievously, while Li Lun sighed and Yixuan looked at him with evident curiosity.
"Should I even ask what this is about?" Yixuan couldn't hold back his curiosity, though Li Lun figured the question was inevitable.
"Just watch, and you'll see." His voice was soft as he closed his eyes. With calculated intent, he lifted his hand toward the 'breaking' barrier. In an instant, a surge of dark blue energy materialized, cascading from all directions. The force struck Zhu Yan's barrier, yet it did not break it, as it wasn't intended. Instead, it merged with the barrier, forging a seamless union between the two.
As Zhu Yan allowed his barrier to draw in Li Lun's energy, the Black Calamity eagerly consumed it. However, the moment Li Lun's energy merged with the malicious energy, he took control of it, letting the tiny hidden seeds he had carefully planted within Zhu Yan's energy infiltrate and overtake the Black Calamity itself.
Then, Yixuan watched in awe as the thick darkness of the Black Calamity began to fall apart as large red glowing flowers bloomed all over it, as did dozens of green vines that grew at breakneck speed, tearing the darkness apart in countless spots.
Caught in a life-threatening snare, the Black Calamity gave up on his true shape and assumed human form to escape from the sudden internal attack, and descended onto the lake's surface as if it were solid ground. On his knees, he spat dark blood into the water before purging Li Lun's and Zhu Yan's energy from his smaller body.
"Curse you, Li Lun! This isn't over yet!" The Black Calamity roared before spinning around and vanishing into the shadows quicker than the lightning he commanded.
"He ran away!" Bai Jiu exclaimed, beaming as he wrapped Ying Lei in a tight embrace.
"Wen Xiao, did our little trick work?" Zhu Yan asked eagerly, watching her expression closely. A satisfied smile spread across her face.
"It worked. I have to say, you're truly a crafty monkey. From the beginning, you charged the barrier not with your own energy, as we initially assumed, but with the energy of the lake—energy deeply tied to Li Lun, given his centuries of cultivation here. It cleverly concealed your true identity. Although he may be more wary of us because of the baby dragon in our group, he is convinced that Li Lun remains the true target. Sorry, Xiao Zhuo, that he thinks of you that way, is entirely his doing, not mine." Wen Xiao tried to suppress a smile as she spoke, but Zhu Yan responded with a mischievous smirk that his lover didn't miss. Yichen, then, gave Zhu Yan a shove on the shoulder, causing him to stumble forward a step.
"Baobei, that was rude..." Zhu Yan rubbed his shoulder in exaggerated pain, prompting Yichen to roll his eyes.
"You perverted monkey, I can tell you actually liked me being called a baby dragon. But I'm not..." Yichen grumbled in frustration.
"Hate to break it to you, but you're not just a baby dragon in transition, but as a human, compared to Zhu Yan, you're more like a toddler," Li Lun retorted, causing Yixuan to suppress a chuckle.
"Come on, Xiao Lun, cut my poor Didi some slack. He gets embarrassed easily," Yixuan tried his best to get serious, but everyone just kept laughing. Yichen turned as red as lava and mumbled, "It's not my fault he's such an old monkey."
"Baobei, don't be harsh on your loving husband. Please stop calling me old." Zhu Yan pretended to be offended, but Yichen just ignored him.
"Facts remain facts. Will they attack again?" Yichen inquired, attempting to divert his focus from his embarrassment.
"Not for now. Even if the Black Calamity wasn't critically injured, it'll take some time for him to recover from all the damage inflicted by Li Lun," Wen Xiao replied calmly.
"In that case, we should head back inside the house," Siheng suggested, though Yun Guang merely sighed in resignation.
"What? Wen Xiao just said the fight is over, didn't she?" Siheng argued.
"Seriously, Siheng... there's no immediate danger anymore, but take a moment to appreciate this. We're paired off, floating on a luxurious boat full of blankets, under a stunning night sky, on an enchanting lake. With such a romantic backdrop, you want to head back inside?" he teased, drawing laughter from the group.
"I'd definitely prefer to stay here a little longer... You don't mind, right, Commander?" Wen Xiao leaned closer to Sijing, linking her arm with hers.
"Not in the slightest." Sijing offered her a warm smile.
"What about you, Baobei?" Zhu Yan playfully teased him again.
"Oh, be quiet!" Yichen shot back, but his own body betrayed him, as he did want to spend more time with him. At the end he dropped onto the soft mass of blankets, flushing a deep red.
The message was loud and clear, and Zhu Yan couldn't help but be amused. With a knowing smile, he settled beside Yichen, gently pulling him down and out of view from the others. It was the perfect moment to steal a kiss from his embarrassed baby dragon.
AN: Thanks for reading, love you all. Love and peace for the world, until next time, take care.