The palace of the East Sea was silent. The sound of rolling waves and the faint dripping of water from the coral pillars echoed through the vast hall, yet not a soul dared to speak. All eyes remained fixed on the three figures at the center—Feng Jiu, blazing with a restrained yet oppressive phoenix aura; Tie Ling, standing timidly yet unconsciously radiating the slumbering majesty of two divine bloodlines; and Long Bo, the Old Dragon King, whose very presence seemed to bind heaven and sea together.
Long Yan, broken and bloodied from his grandfather's strike, lay slumped against the cracked coral pillar. His chest rose and fell heavily, but even through the pain, his eyes burned with resentment.
Why? Why does grandfather side with her? he thought, his heart filled with venom. Am I not the Dragon King of the East Sea? Why must my authority always be overshadowed by that woman? Why must he acknowledge a bastard born of taboo over his own blood?
But Long Bo ignored his grandson entirely. His gaze lingered on Tie Ling, soft yet profound, like an elder gazing upon a seed that could one day reshape the world.
"Feng Jiu," he said at last, his voice low, rumbling like waves crashing against an ancient reef. "When Taiyi first brought you here all those centuries ago, I thought you were reckless. Your flames were bright but unstable, your heart filled with defiance yet lacking restraint. I never imagined that you would one day stand here, not as his disciple, but as a monarch in your own right… and as the mother of a child that carries the weight of two legacies."
Feng Jiu's lips curved faintly, neither proud nor humble. "Old Dragon King, time tempers fire and sharpens flame. But you are wrong about one thing." She tilted her chin, her eyes glowing with an inner blaze. "This child does not merely carry two legacies. She is the future of two realms. What you saw in her blood is only the beginning. In time, she will either ascend as a sovereign that none in the six realms can oppose—or she will perish, and with her, countless others will fall. I will not allow anyone, be it dragon, god, or heaven itself, to decide that fate for her."
Her words, though calm, carried an undeniable force. The phoenix aura around her stirred, golden-red flames licking faintly at the edges of her form. The temperature of the hall rose, beads of sweat forming on the brows of even seasoned elders.
Long Bo studied her, then slowly nodded. "Your conviction is unshaken. That alone makes you dangerous. And perhaps… necessary." He clasped his hands behind his back once more. "Very well. From this day forth, the matter of your daughter will be sealed within the East Sea. Not a whisper of her bloodline will leave this hall. Should any tongue wag, I shall rip it out myself."
The soldiers and elders immediately dropped to their knees, their voices rising as one:
"We obey the decree of the Old Dragon King!"
The sound rolled like thunder through the palace.
But Long Yan spat blood, coughing violently before shouting hoarsely, "Grandfather! You condemn us all! Do you not see? This is treachery! You protect a heretic! You—"
Another slap echoed before he could finish. This time, Long Bo's palm struck with such force that the marble beneath Long Yan's knees shattered. He fell flat on his face, unable to move.
"You unfilial disgrace," Long Bo thundered, his aura pressing down like the weight of the ocean itself. "Did I not teach you that dragons must discern heaven's will from men's schemes? You see only rules and punishment, but you fail to see opportunity. That girl's existence is not a taboo—it is a turning point! Do you think heaven's laws are eternal? Laws shift with power. And power… stands here before us."
The hall trembled under his voice. Even Feng Jiu raised an eyebrow at the old dragon's words.
Tie Ling clung to her mother's sleeve, her small face pale but her eyes wide. Though she could not grasp the depths of their conversation, she understood one thing: everyone was talking about her, judging her, weighing her existence as if she were both treasure and disaster.
Her lips parted as she whispered softly, "Mother… am I really so dangerous?"
Feng Jiu bent down, her expression softening for the first time since stepping into the East Sea. She cupped Tie Ling's cheek, her fiery aura fading to warmth. "Ling'er, remember this. You are not dangerous. You are not a burden. You are mine—my daughter, born of fire and dragon. If the world calls you dangerous, then let the world tremble. If heaven calls you taboo, then we shall burn heaven itself. Do not let their fear define you."
Tie Ling blinked, her eyes moist, then nodded fiercely though she did not fully understand.
Long Bo watched the exchange quietly. For a moment, a shadow of nostalgia crossed his gaze, as though he were remembering a younger Taiyi standing in this very hall, daring to defy heaven's will with that same unshakable fire.
Finally, he turned away and waved his hand. "Enough. This matter is settled. Feng Jiu, I will grant you access to the Spring of Nourishment and Enlightenment. But remember—once your daughter enters it, the spring itself will choose how much of its essence she may receive. Not even I can interfere."
Feng Jiu inclined her head. "That is all I ask."
The tension in the hall slowly began to ease, though the soldiers still exchanged uneasy glances. They knew the decree was binding, but in their hearts, fear lingered—fear of the heavenly court, fear of punishment, fear of the little girl who carried the weight of two divine beasts.
As Feng Jiu and Tie Ling turned to follow the attendants toward the spring, Long Yan, still lying broken on the ground, clenched his fists. His nails dug into his palms until blood flowed. Hatred blazed in his eyes, not only toward Feng Jiu but also toward his grandfather.
No… I will not accept this. If the East Sea will not act, then I will find someone who will. Let heaven itself judge this crime. Even if it costs me everything, I will see that child destroyed.
The thought took root like venom. Though crushed for now, the current Dragon King's malice would one day resurface—and when it did, it would not only threaten Feng Jiu and her daughter, but the very balance of the realms.
Meanwhile, far above, in the heavenly court, the faint tremor of Tie Ling's awakening bloodline rippled through the divine formation that guarded the skies. Several figures sitting upon high thrones opened their eyes simultaneously, divine light flashing like lightning.
"The blood of the ancient dragon…"
"The primordial phoenix essence…?"
"How could this exist in one vessel?"
Murmurs spread across the hall of heaven as the heavenly king slowly rose from his throne, his expression unreadable.
"Interesting," he whispered. "It seems Taiyi's shadow has not yet left this world. Summon the heavenly generals. The East Sea stirs with secrets—and I intend to know them all."