The sun blazed mercilessly over the Azure Dragon Empire. Once, its lands had been filled with prosperity and the proud roars of the dragon clan, guardians of the mortal realms. Yet on that day, blood drowned the earth, and screams drowned the skies.
At the center of it all stood a man—a king, a protector, and a son. His name was Ao Xuan, ruler of the Azure Dragon Kingdom and the strongest cultivator of his era. His strength was said to be infinite, his cultivation unparalleled, so vast that a single skill of his could shatter Heaven Immortals like glass. But strength came with envy, and envy bred betrayal.
A sharp voice split through the chaos.
"Ao Xuan! You are not a king—you are a demon! Only Heaven holds the right to the highest cultivation!"
The accusation came from Mo Hei, once Ao Xuan's sworn brother, now the sharpest blade of the Immortal Clan. They had grown together, trained together, shared dreams together—until jealousy poisoned their bond. Now Mo Hei's sword pointed at the man he had once called friend.
Around them, chaos reigned. Immortals clashed with dragons, blood staining both sky and earth. Demons howled from the shadows, delighted by the carnage. Lightning raged through the clouds, blades flew like rain, and the once-sacred Azure Palace collapsed under the weight of betrayal.
Ao Xuan's crimson eyes glimmered with rage and heartbreak. He watched his people fall, slaughtered by those they had sworn to protect. For three hundred years, the dragon clan had stood as guardians of the realms, yet the very mortals and immortals they shielded now turned their blades against them.
His trembling voice shook the heavens.
"Ungrateful! For centuries my clan has bled for you, shielded your lands, guarded your realms! And this is your answer? Betrayal?!"
Flames wrapped around his body, his dragon aura erupting like a storm. But beneath his fury lay a shattering heart. His kingdom crumbled before his eyes. His parents—noble rulers, guardians of the old ways—fought desperately against the Immortal Clan, their robes drenched in blood.
His mother's voice broke through the storm, filled with love and desperation.
"Xuan! Leave us! Let your father and I fight! You must live… You must protect our bloodline. One day, you will rise again!"
Her figure swayed, blood spilling from her lips, yet her eyes blazed with determination. But Ao Xuan could not move. He was king. He was son. He was protector. To run would mean abandoning everything he had sworn to guard. Yet his heart shattered as he watched the people he loved reduced to ash.
The chaos swelled. Thunder rumbled, the sky darkened, and the shadow of a colossal dragon rose behind Ao Xuan, its fiery eyes blazing with wrath. The sight sent shivers down the spines of even the proud immortals. For the first time, they felt fear.
One immortal shouted over the roaring winds.
"Are you insane?! If you unleash that power, you will destroy this world!"
But Ao Xuan's gaze was distant, his soul torn between grief and vengeance. His mother, bleeding and trembling, raised her final prayer. Her body dissolved into ash, leaving behind a single pearl of soft blue light. It floated upward, unnoticed by most—even by Ao Xuan himself—as it sank into his chest.
Mo Hei, blinded by fury and jealousy, lunged forward. His blade aimed straight for Ao Xuan's heart. Yet before steel could pierce flesh, the shadow dragon struck. A roar split the heavens as the spectral beast's claw hurled Mo Hei away, shattering mountains in its wake. Mo Hei's cry was drowned by the storm.
The Immortal Clan panicked. Their combined cultivation flared, weaving into a single strike meant to obliterate Ao Xuan. But they were too late.
Drawing upon every fragment of aura, blood, and flame, Ao Xuan rose into the sky. His body burned, his soul ignited. His dragon shadow unleashed fire that scorched heavens, and thunder cracked like divine judgment. Blades of qi rained upon the immortals, piercing flesh, shattering bones. Blood fell like rain.
Then came the end.
The sky trembled. A storm of flame and thunder erupted, tearing apart clouds and mountains alike. The sound was so sharp, so deafening, that immortals clutched their bleeding ears in agony. And when the light finally dimmed… Ao Xuan was gone.
The Azure Dragon Empire lay in ruins, its palaces reduced to rubble, its rivers flowing red. Half of the Immortal Clan was dead, their corpses littering the scorched land. Those who lived whispered through trembling lips: Ao Xuan is no more.
But none truly knew. Had he perished? Or had he vanished, waiting for the day of his vengeance?
---
Five hundred years passed.
The Azure Dragon Kingdom was nothing but a forgotten legend, a tale whispered by storytellers. To many, Ao Xuan was remembered only as the betrayer who had destroyed his own people.
Far away, beyond mountains and seas, stood the Lotus Kingdom—a realm larger and more prosperous than any immortal sect. Its palaces shone like jade, its lakes bloomed with endless lotus flowers, and its royal bloodline was revered as divinely blessed.
Inside one of its grand palaces, the soft voice of a maid echoed.
"Lady Bai Lian, please! You must wear this dress. Today you meet the leader of the Blade Clan!"
But the young woman in the bed stirred only faintly. Wrapped in silk sheets, her black hair scattered across the pillow, Bai Lian, princess of Lotus, groaned in protest.
"Don't force me… I don't want to meet him. Tell Father and Mother I refuse to marry!"
The maids exchanged nervous glances. They had been ordered strictly: today was important. But Bai Lian, the only daughter of King Bai Yuan and Queen Bai Xueya, had always been stubborn, wild as the spring wind.
Her rebellion did not last long.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the palace hall. The chamber doors slammed open. A cold voice thundered.
"Lian!"
Queen Bai Xueya entered, clad in white and crimson, her golden hairpin glittering with red and green gems. Her sharp gaze cut straight to her daughter.
"You dare defy me? Get up. Get dressed. Now!"
Bai Lian yawned, hair messy, eyes half-lidded, yet the fire in her heart burned bright. Still, she rose reluctantly, her lips pressing into a pout. Her mother's fury was not something to challenge lightly.
"What kind of princess are you? Hurry. Master Li Feng and his family have arrived."
The queen's robes swept behind her as she left. Bai Lian sighed deeply, looking to her maid with helpless eyes.
"Why must I obey them? I'm still young, aren't I?"
The maid smirked, tying ribbons around her lady's dress.
"Aiya, Lady Lian, you are eighteen already. The perfect age for marriage."
Bai Lian groaned dramatically. To her, eighteen was youth, freedom, adventure—not chains of duty and arranged marriage. Yet after nearly an hour of preparation, she found herself walking toward the main chamber.
She muttered complaints the entire way—until she tripped at the doorway.
"Argh! My hands!"
She sprawled on the floor, mortified, as laughter echoed faintly. In front of her, seated in grandeur, were the high nobles of the Lotus Kingdom and the delegation of the Blade Clan. At the center stood Li Feng, son of the clan's head, his gaze locked upon her with obvious admiration.
Her father chuckled warmly, her mother's glare sharp enough to cut steel. The maids hurried to help her up, guiding her to her seat. She slouched in defiance until her mother whispered a venomous warning.
"Lian. Sit properly."
With a sigh, she straightened. The talks began.
The Blade Clan's leader, Master Li Gong, bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, it is an honor to stand in your radiant halls. The aura of your kingdom shines like that of a goddess."
King Bai Yuan smiled, gracious yet unreadable.
"Master Li Gong, the honor is ours. Welcome."
Li Feng stepped forward, his eyes never leaving Bai Lian.
"Your daughter is truly a vision of beauty, Your Majesty."
Bai Lian clenched her jaw, whispering silently in her mind: I will never marry this man.
When the gathering ended, and arrangements were subtly confirmed, Bai Lian returned to her chambers in despair. She threw herself onto her bed, fists gripping her sheets.
"I don't want to get married!"
Her scream echoed through her room. But then, an idea sparked. Wild. Dangerous. Perfect.
She sat up, eyes gleaming.
"Yes… I'll run away! I'll leave the palace, leave the kingdom. That's the only way!"
Excited, she called her maid.
"Go find my childhood friend in the village. Bring her to me. Please—I need her before the marriage."
The maid hesitated, horrified at the thought of such recklessness. But Bai Lian clasped her hands together, begging with such sincerity that resistance crumbled. With a resigned sigh, the maid agreed.
And thus, the princess began to weave the first threads of rebellion—threads that, unknowingly, would one day entangle her fate with that of the Eternal Dragon.