Men's intuition, though rare, can be startlingly precise when it does surface. Unlike the constant hum of women's instincts, a man's gut feeling tends to cut straight to the heart of the matter. Often, dismissing these flashes of insight amounts to little more than self-deception. Of course, this doesn't apply to those plagued by paranoia or chronic anxiety. But Hong Fei wasn't one of them.
His strength had reached a level where his body could perceive elements beyond the grasp of ordinary people. The future, he realized, was embedded in the informational threads of the past and present. This wasn't deductive reasoning based on evidence, but a precognitive awareness born of immense psychic power.
It might sound mystical, but there was a scientific logic to it if you looked closely. Hong Fei didn't concern himself with whether it was scientifically sound—he trusted his intuition completely. This situation felt difficult, possibly dangerous, though the danger didn't lie in the task itself but in its aftermath. Piecing it together, this was likely the primary reason he'd chosen to leave Earth.
There was no need to fight this outcome; he'd planned to leave anyway. Going with the flow was far easier than swimming against it. The only complication was that he couldn't take his subordinates with him—not yet. The Foundation needed all hands on deck.
As long as the base remained stable, his actions elsewhere wouldn't matter. There would be plenty of opportunities for everyone to reunite in the future. The order of priorities couldn't be reversed. Before departing, Hong Fei met with the three women individually. There were no tearful farewells or lingering embraces.
This was a temporary separation, not an eternal goodbye—and certainly not a breakup. Dr. Helen Cho, ever practical, informed him that the Regeneration Cradle project was nearing completion. Hong Fei laid out three directives: First, Dr. Helen Cho and her lab would relocate to the Dragon Palace. Second, once the Regeneration Cradle was complete, it would first produce a Vibranium body for Arthur.
From then on, Arthur would serve as Dr. Helen Cho's personal bodyguard, and the Vibranium body would include six pre-reserved hidden slots. Third, the Regeneration Cradle would debut as The Foundation's first globally accessible project. The cradle itself wouldn't be sold but rented at a premium through Foundation branches.
Profits beyond operational costs would be converted into subsidies for those in urgent need. Once the Paradise Project began generating revenue, it would be aggressively promoted. Of course, investors would be welcome—everything except core technology and ownership was negotiable.
The last point had been Hong Fei's initial vision for the Regeneration Cradle, though he now cared little for the incremental benefits it might bring. Still, the money had been spent, the work done, and the results achieved—so he might as well put it to use. Mei had no special requests. Her Qi practice had left her looking noticeably younger.
Faced with Hong Fei's candor, she chose to wait. Fortunately, she had a capable nephew to keep her company, so loneliness wasn't a concern. Financially, she was secure; whatever career she pursued, it wouldn't be an issue. Hong Fei gave her no specific instructions, only presenting her with a sleek nano Vibranium iron armor crafted by Dr. Helen Cho.
Sif is a goddess, a goddess of Asgard. Strictly speaking, she was the best match for Hong Fei in his current state. Yet when he first met Dr. Helen Cho, he hadn't possessed the strength or status to align with an Asgardian goddess. This wasn't merely a matter of comparing status and power. She wanted to accompany him, but Hong Fei, after brief consideration, declined.
Hong Fei stepped out into the world like a tiger returning to the mountains or a dragon plunging into the sea. He wasn't sure how much good he'd accomplish, but trouble seemed inevitable. The universe was vast, filled with beings far more powerful than him. Strange challenges awaited, and he might end up doing some equally strange things.
This wasn't a casual outing to impress anyone. It wasn't appropriate. For her safety, Hong Fei had arranged a suit of nano Vibranium armor crafted by Dr. Helen Cho and ensured her return to Asgard. He'd already helped Thor with Jane Foster, and now, whether out of friendship with Sif or his connection with Hong Fei, Thor would look after her. Unless Hela emerged. But Hong Fei had a backup plan for that.
"Small matter," he said casually. "If I die, I'll have Strange keep a constant eye on Asgard."
The Ancient One spoke of death without hesitation, almost as if she welcomed it. Hong Fei couldn't fathom why. What was the appeal of following someone else? Just to dodge debts?
"Ancient One," he ventured, "I think I can preserve your remains. If you ever change your mind about dying, I can bring you back."
"I know you have dragon bones," she replied, "but resurrecting me might require a significant amount."
"One… no, I'll soon have two dragon bones," Hong Fei corrected.
"That would be more than enough," she said, "but I truly don't wish to live anymore."
"Now is now, the future is the future. Among infinite possibilities, there might be regret. What then?"
"This…"
"Let's store it. I'll arrange it."
The Ancient One stopped resisting, her smile serene.
"If I come back to life, that would be a big trouble."
Hong Fei shrugged.
"Same old words. Today's trouble might not be tomorrow's."
It was a bold statement, but not entirely baseless. Whether it was Eternity or the Vishanti, power was undeniable, yet there were always stronger beings. That was a fact, and it meant they could be surpassed. The difficulty was just greater.
After a moment of silence, Hong Fei's expression turned serious.
"Ancient One, one last question. Will you tell me everything once I gather all the Dragon Power in this Universe?"
She paused, then smiled faintly. "You're persistent. Yes, once you have all the Dragon Power here, I'll tell you everything you want to know."
Hong Fei nodded.
"The Dragon Power on me, combined with Shou-Lao the Undying's, is all the Dragon Power in this Universe, right?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "You each hold half, and together they make up all of it. But for the Multiverse, it's still just a fragment. I don't know if it's large or small. Your Dragon Dimension is vast; twice the Dragon Power won't fill it."
Hong Fei's expression shifted.
"Is the Dragon Power that fills the Dragon Dimension all of it?"
She shook her head.
"It's unclear. It might grow larger, or there might be a surplus. I don't know much about Dragon Power."
Hong Fei couldn't hide his disappointment.
"Then where does your knowledge of Dragon Power come from?"
If there were corresponding book records, then Hong Fei might find more detailed descriptions of Dragon Power, aiding its application and future searches. The Ancient One hesitated, then said simply, "Me."
Hong Fei frowned. The "Me" in her words wasn't her current self—it referred to other Ancient Ones across the Multiverse. This relationship was messy, and Hong Fei couldn't be bothered to untangle it.
"Forget it," he muttered, rising to his feet. "I'll come back after I get the Dragon Power."
The Ancient One arched an eyebrow.
"When were you planning to visit Kunlun Mountain?"
Hong Fei slashed a portal open without turning around.
"Now."
He'd waited long enough.
The Ancient One gave a silent nod as he stepped through. One stride carried Hong Fei into the Kunlun range. Ancient pines stood buried under drifts of snow, while a screaming gale hurled goose-feather flakes through the mountains. The cold clung like a living thing, gnawing through flesh straight to the bone.
When Hong Fei appeared, the blizzard stilled for kilometers around. Snowflakes pirouetted downward only to veer away meters before touching him. He hadn't consciously done anything—it was pure instinct.
Amusing, really. If he relaxed completely, he wouldn't even be able to take a romantic walk in the snow. The Kunlun entrance hid somewhere in these peaks. Dimensional connections didn't require fixed portals here; the gateway could manifest on any object or hang suspended in thin air, dictated solely by the dance between Kunlun's realm and the prime universe.
Death's Vision washed the world in monochrome. A hundred meters above the snowfield, a vertical black scar pulsed in the void, tendrils of energy licking at its edges.
It might not have been truly black—color meant nothing here—but against the grayscale void, darkness was the clearest marker. Hong Fei soared upward and plunged through without hesitation.
Kunlun.
Yu-Ti's face darkened as he turned to Lei Kung.
"Don't pretend you didn't know they'd left earlier."
The broad-nosed, thick-browed warrior radiated authority even at rest. Lei Kung recognized the subtle tension in his old friend's jaw—Yu-Ti was furious. He offered no defense.
"By the time I found out, they were already gone."
"Why keep it from me?"
Lei Kung shook his head. The answer hung between them, obvious as the jade amulet at Yu-Ti's throat. He'd hoped Kunlun would proactively hunt Hong Fei beyond their borders—rally allies, draw the battle away from their sacred ground. Better odds of victory, and no risk to Shou-Lao the Undying.
Yu-Ti had opposed it then. Still did.
"I told you," Yu-Ti said, voice flat as polished stone. "He's beyond us. Chasing shadows wastes time we don't have."
"So we just sit here?"
Lei Kung's eye twitched violently.
"Waiting for the blade to fall?"
"Yes."
No hesitation. No shame.
"It sounds cowardly, but defense is our only option."
Yu-Ti might have been discussing the weather for all the emotion he showed. Not a flicker of reluctance. Lei Kung ground his teeth until his temples ached.
"This isn't you, Yu-Ti. Since when do we surrender before the fight?"
The Iron Fist's master didn't blink.
"I haven't changed. Only grown wiser. His strength isn't theoretical—it's fact."
"What of it? We've faced gods before without cowering like—"
"This isn't cowardice."
Yu-Ti finally moved, stepping close enough that Lei Kung caught the scent of iron and old parchment on his robes.
"You know me, Lei Kung. Trust that I'm not afraid—I'm calculating. His power warrants caution, not because I fear it, but because I respect it."
Lei Kung searched that familiar face for answers. Before he could speak, Yu-Ti continued, "Davos has returned. Where's Danny?"
The question shattered Lei Kung's thoughts.
"This is not passivity, Lei Kung. I know you understand me..."
The question hung in the air. His eyes darkened.
"Dead."
Yu-Ti gave a gentle nod, showing no surprise—and of course, no grief. In his eyes, the Iron Fist with Dragon Power and Danny Rand without it were two entirely different beings. But Lei Kung felt differently. Danny had been his apprentice.
Lei Kung's dissatisfaction simmered, though he couldn't voice it outright.
"Yu-Ti," he said carefully, "you've seemed... colder of late."
Yu-Ti glanced at him, then turned away. His brows flickered briefly before smoothing.
"Davos betrayed Kunlun. Only you and I know this. From today, he's to have no contact with anyone until the external threat is dealt with."
Lei Kung's thoughts stalled. The mention of his son made his cheek twitch. Davos wasn't gravely injured—he'd recover soon enough. The real problem was the video evidence of his betrayal. It couldn't be faked; the secrets he'd spilled were known only to Kunlun's inner circle.
Anger burned in Lei Kung—at Davos, and at himself. But this was his son. Yu-Ti's meaning was clear: he wouldn't pursue Davos's betrayal. Otherwise, there'd be only one outcome: death. Having just lost an apprentice, Lei Kung couldn't bear to lose a son. Not now. He clung to that thought.
His gaze lingered on Yu-Ti's back. A thousand words pressed against his tongue, but only one escaped.
"Thank you."
Yu-Ti stood motionless, silent. Lei Kung turned to leave. As he crossed the threshold, his body jerked violently.
Less than a hundred meters away, a tall, imposing figure waited. His aura was deep, unshakable. Sensing Lei Kung's distress, Yu-Ti turned slowly, his hands tightening behind his back. Their eyes met across the doorway.
Both faces mirrored the same mix of shock and tension.
Hong Fei smiled. He had every reason to. Soon, all the Dragon Power in this universe would be his.
Ever since merging his soul with the Dragon Power, he'd claimed this ancient energy as his own. Not everyone could achieve such a union—just look at the generations of Iron Fist. They'd proven that.
Hong Fei was certain others had coveted the Dragon Power beyond Kunlun's Iron Fist. Its strength was undeniable, and history bore witness to attempts to claim it. But the true barrier was Shou-Lao the Undying.
As the Dragon Power itself, Shou-Lao's consent was essential. Those who wanted it lacked the means to take it; those who could take it had no need. Over time, the Iron Fist's mediocrity dulled the world's interest in the Dragon Power—until the arrival of the wise and mighty Master Hong.
He extracted the Dragon Power from the Iron Fist's body. In doing so, he likely severed Shou-Lao's connection to that portion of energy, allowing Hong Fei to merge his soul with it completely. In the Marvel Universe, special powers came in many forms, but this—this was something else entirely.
Dragon Power. Phoenix Force. Chaos Magic. Fairy Energy. Among them, Dragon Power might rank as the weakest—but even so, it contained a fragment of power unique to the Marvel Universe. No wielder could possibly be as pathetically weak as the Iron Fist. Unless someone had deliberately suppressed its true potential. Which meant Shou-Lao the Undying was hiding something.
If Hong Fei could uncover that secret, it would give him an edge in hunting down the remaining Dragon Power fragments. But secrets couldn't be forced—not when he'd already carved half the dragon's body away. At this point, even divine beasts had their limits. If pushed too far, Shou-Lao would fight to the death.
Hong Fei's objective was simple.
Crush Kunlun Mountain. Kill Shou-Lao. Claim the Dragon Power. And if possible, pry a few truths from the creature's dying breath.
From a distance, he studied the two figures before him.
"Any last words?"
The Jade Emperor's brow furrowed in silence. Lei Gong shot him a glance, then blurted, "Kunlun relinquishes vengeance."
Hong Fei's gaze slid to the Jade Emperor. The man gave a stiff nod.
"Grudges are better dissolved than nurtured."
"Anything else?"
Hong Fei pressed.
Twin headshakes.
"Good."
Hong Fei extended his hand in mock farewell—then flipped his palm.
A colossal dragon's claw erupted from the sky, wreathed in golden scales. It crashed down with apocalyptic force, shattering the roof instantly. The Jade Emperor and Lei Gong barely had time to look up before the entire structure—and their bodies—disintegrated into dust.
Boom.
The earth quaked. Air ripped apart. Debris compacted into the ground under the claw's weight until nothing remained but a gaping crater, dozens of meters deep.
The explosion drew Kunlun's survivors like moths to flame. Their gasps echoed as they took in the devastation—then, as one, their eyes locked onto Hong Fei. Hatred burned in their stares, sharp enough to flay skin.
"Invader!"
An elder lunged, voice raw with fury.
Hong Fei flicked a finger.
Golden light flashed, crystallizing into a sword's edge that punched through the man's chest. His body hit the dirt with a dull thud, kicking up dust. Silence reclaimed the air.
Shock replaced rage in the crowd's expressions. Courage was admirable. But courage without strength? Worse than useless.
Hong Fei didn't bother slaughtering the rest. He soared skyward, drawn toward distant peaks by the Dragon Power humming in his veins.
And it hummed—not metaphorically. The energy carried a scent, rich and primal, seeping into his pores, his bones, his very soul. No illusion. No trick. Just pure, intoxicating power.
In the blink of an eye, the Kunlun Dimension's highest summit materialized before him. A hundred miles out, his gaze pinpointed a cave midway up the mountainside.
Light-speed flight activated. A golden beam lanced across the sky.
Hong Fei arrived in a single thought.
The cave looked unremarkable—no different from holes dotting wilderness or Huangshan's slopes. Only one detail stood out: a pulsing amber glow deep within, flickering like a heartbeat.
The jagged rocks lining the tunnel grew sharper as he moved deeper, their edges gleaming like teeth. The mud beneath his feet smoothed into something almost polished. Then, without warning, the passage opened into a cavern so vast it stole his breath.
The chamber was perfectly circular, its domed ceiling arching like an inverted bowl. Every surface—floor, walls, vaulted stone above—was etched with overlapping scale patterns that caught the flickering light.
At the far end, a natural fissure pulsed with hellish red light. The sound hit him next: the slow, tidal roar of magma churning somewhere far below. Dominating the cavern's center stood a massive platform—two meters wide, one and a half tall—its blocky form gleaming solid gold inside and out.
No analysis needed. That was pure, unadulterated gold.
The platform's top dipped into a concave basin. Nestled there lay an egg, larger than a grown man. Its shell should've been bone-white, but now it rippled with irregular golden veins, pulsing like a living thing.
Light swelled and ebbed within the egg, making shadows dance across the cavern. If appearances weren't deceiving, this was Shou-Lao the Undying after reincarnation.
He didn't buy it.
Losing half its Dragon Power without a fight? Staying passive in its shell? Either Shou-Lao had another scheme, or this was bait.
Kunlun Mountain's swift response proved Shou-Lao had known about the outside world's changes long before Hong Fei arrived. They weren't omniscient—just extraterrestrials who'd developed before Earth. But they'd tracked the Iron Fist's stolen power instantly.
And knowing he'd merged with half its essence? Even if Shou-Lao didn't expect him to return for the rest, it would move heaven and earth to reclaim what was taken. This egg was either a decoy or a trap.
The realization crystallized in a heartbeat. He struck without hesitation.
Carol's fusion cards materialized: Photonic Energy Control and Binary Form. The first granted fresh power and a path to grow stronger. The second? Pure, unrelenting force.
"Binary Form—link to White Hole!"
A celestial body exploded into existence behind him, its brilliance searing. Mysterious energies writhed across its surface, dwarfing even solar flares. Outside the cavern, the same impossible sight painted itself across Kunlun's sky, swallowing the horizon. Every head jerked upward, jaws slack.
The entity rose, flooding billions of miles with blinding radiance. Light coalesced into a disk, ejecting multicolored energies in every direction—until they wrapped around him.
Abruptly, the White Hole's chaos stilled. The celestial body hung motionless. Then, impossibly, it began to rotate, the cataclysm of moments before vanishing as if erased.
One second later, the shocking, breathtaking phenomenon suddenly disappeared, like a collective hallucination dissolving.
A White Hole is a Black Hole's opposite. Where one consumes, the other erupts—relentlessly—until the celestial body itself winks out of existence.
The eruption continued, but now its energy poured directly into Hong Fei's body. The moment he activated Binary Form, he felt his body stretch unnaturally, as if being pulled apart from within. White Hole energy surged through him, flooding every corner of his being.
A flash of inspiration struck—he tried to channel the energy into his cells to expand their capacity. But his control over his cellular structure was inadequate. The energy resisted, clinging to the gaps between bones and muscles, mingling only with the water in his tissue fluid and blood. It refused to merge with the smaller units of his body.
His form swelled visibly, expanding in size within seconds. For a brief, delusional moment, Hong Fei felt as though the energy within him could destroy an entire universe. That, of course, was impossible. The White Hole was merely a fragment of the cosmos, not its entirety.
With no way to absorb or fuse the energy, release became his only option. He thrust his palms outward, unleashing two vibrant beams of energy. The moment they met the air, they triggered a violent reaction with the surrounding matter. Light and sound erupted, filling the cave with brilliance.
The beams shot out of the mountainside like flames escaping confinement. They exploded in a deafening boom, forming a towering mushroom cloud of colorful smoke. The White Hole energy struck the dragon egg, its golden-patterned shell melting under the impact, leaving two charred scars.
The blackened marks deepened to crimson under the relentless energy assault, resembling metal scorched by intense flames. Suddenly, a piercing dragon's roar erupted from the egg, chilling to the bone. It sounded like a tortured soul crying out in agony. But Hong Fei found the scene absurd.
He'd already opened with his strongest move when facing Shou-Lao the Undying. Even at its weakest, Shou-Lao shouldn't be hiding in an egg, defenseless and letting him wreak havoc. This felt too easy—like being handed a victory on a silver platter.
Hong Fei knew his orphan background, striking looks, immense power, and unmatched charisma made him the protagonist of this story. But even protagonists don't get handed victories without effort. A boss lying down to die? Impossible. Something was wrong with this egg. Binary Form was active now.
Deactivating it would leave him unable to reactivate it for a while. He redirected his hands toward the cave walls, releasing the White Hole energy while keeping his eyes fixed on the dragon egg. The two fresh crimson scars marred its appearance, making it look grotesque.
The white parts of the eggshell gleamed brighter than before, almost translucent, as if revealing the embryonic dragon within. The golden patterns had deepened in color, their shimmering spots resembling powdered gold meticulously painted on.
And the colors of the two patches formed by the impact of the White Hole energy were fading. The energy trapped within them was slowly absorbed by the surrounding golden patterns and drawn inward. This dragon egg was consuming White Hole energy. Incredible. Hong Fei frowned, baffled by Shou-Lao the Undying's tactics.
He turned his eyes to observe the cave again. As his eyes moved, he suddenly glimpsed that the White Hole energy erupting from his hands, after landing on the cave surface, not only failed to blast out deep pits and cracks but instead caused the scale-like surface to glow with an unusual golden light. It was very familiar, but inexplicably somewhat strange. His brain spun at light speed.
This damn thing is Dragon Power! In an instant, Hong Fei's pupils suddenly contracted rapidly inward! Holy shit! A curse uncontrollably popped into his mind, and without a moment's hesitation, Hong Fei picked up the dragon egg, which was larger than his entire body, and immediately activated light-speed flight to retreat at full speed along the path he had come.
The moment he started, the entire cave suddenly shook violently as if a dragon were turning over. At the same time, the cave that held the dragon egg closed inward in an extremely unreasonable way. The passage contracted and closed from the inside out, and in the blink of an eye, it actually caught up to Hong Fei who was retreating.
Moving through the passage at high speed, the exit was already in sight. However, the originally spacious exit was also rapidly closing at this moment, the bright light from the outside gradually faded, and darkness descended instantly. Seeing that the front and back passages were about to be locked, Hong Fei instantly opened the Dragon Dimension.
The Dragon Power, along with the White Hole energy, erupted violently from beneath his feet. The space around Hong Fei's body instantly shook in a disorderly manner, and the layered dimensions reflected phantoms like pieces of mirrors. The next instant, the passage was completely closed.
Outside the mountainside, a figure suddenly flashed in the air, followed by a rainbow of mixed gold and red light connecting the closed mountainside to Hong Fei. Looking back at this mountain nearly ten thousand meters high, his body was wrapped in the brilliant light of Dragon Power and White Hole energy, and his gaze remained exceptionally sharp.
Old silver coin!
What kind of cave is this? It's clearly a dragon's mouth, thousands of times more dangerous than a tiger's den! Shou-Lao the Undying's reaction speed was too damn fast. After starting at the speed of light, Hong Fei felt like he was stuck in a quagmire; his full speed was reduced to less than ten or twenty percent.
Logically, even ten or twenty percent of the speed of light is incredibly fast, yet Shou-Lao the Undying still almost trapped Hong Fei tightly in its mouth. Although Hong Fei's body had been upgraded and strengthened many times, and he had the active strengthening of Photonic Energy Control, since Shou-Lao the Undying dared to set an ambush to lure him in and even dared to blatantly swallow him after being discovered, the opponent must have had very sufficient preparation and confidence. Staying rashly might lead to a disaster.
Besides, even though Shou-Lao the Undying is a female dragon, Hong Fei still felt that staying inside her mouth was too unhygienic. Unless only Little Hong Fei stayed. In that case, this mountain should be Shou-Lao the Undying's body. Then what about the dragon eggs? Shou-Lao the Undying laid eggs? Who did it? Shou-Lao the Undying can't transform into a human, right? How did that person... hiss!
Hong Fei took a sharp breath of cold air. If that were the case, he'd be much stronger than a Grass-roots Hero. Shaking his head, Hong Fei dispelled these messy thoughts. The thick energy outside his body surged, and the surrounding light and shadows flickered accordingly.
It's impossible for Shou-Lao the Undying to lay eggs; reproductive isolation aside, there's no meaning in her laying eggs. She isn't truly alive in the conventional sense—she is energy incarnate. Reproduction would serve no purpose for her existence. Laying eggs might actually weaken her Dragon Power, rendering the act meaningless. Yet the dragon eggs were undeniably real.
Hong Fei's mind raced as a sudden realization struck him. What if the entire reincarnation cycle was an elaborate ruse? Shou-Lao the Undying's repeated deaths and rebirths could simply be camouflage. She might have used Dragon Power to create an egg-laying creature, then orchestrated its endless cycle of death and rebirth. Beyond forging the Iron Fist for Kunlun, this deception could mislead powerful entities coveting her Dragon Power.
Her true form could remain safely hidden in the Kunlun dimension while her decoy absorbed any threats. At worst, she'd sacrifice another iteration of 'Shou-Lao the Undying'. Whether his theory held water or not, one thing was certain—Shou-Lao was a crafty old fox who always kept multiple escape routes. Wait—why had he thought 'another'? Hong Fei exhaled sharply.
The dragon bones' resurrection must be a byproduct of Dragon Power's life-giving properties. Yet despite being over halfway through fusing with that power, Hong Fei felt no resurrection ability in his own bones. Did he need complete fusion? Or perhaps the full measure of Dragon Power?
If the Phoenix Force governed mental energy, did Dragon Power control life force? Would consuming a dragon egg grant tremendous power? His unanswered questions multiplied like weeds. At the ten-thousand-meter peak, rocks tumbled from the sealed cave entrance as ancient trees toppled. When no response came from the mountain, Hong Fei's sword-sharp eyebrows knitted together.
"You think I'm afraid to fight?"
The Dragon Dimension yawned open behind him. Concentrated Dragon Power took form—a hundred-meter divine dragon surged forward like a tidal wave. Simultaneously, Hong Fei pressed his palms together, focusing White Hole energy into a searing laser beam.
Their combined assault struck the mountain in rapid succession, unleashing cataclysmic force. The very earth seemed to tear apart beneath the impact. Massive boulders sheared away from trembling cliffs, ancient trees ripped from their roots, and panicked creatures fled screaming in all directions.
Twin shockwaves radiated outward, scouring the mountainside clean—nothing organic or inorganic was spared. Ridges fractured, rivers ran backward, and an ecosystem forged over millennia was erased in moments. Two towering columns of smoke punched through the clouds.
The divine dragon twisted midair, sinking razor-sharp claws into the mountainside. White Hole energy continued hammering a single point, filling the sky with blinding debris and energy waves.
"Better she stays hidden," Hong Fei muttered. "No shell can withstand this. Might as well crush her skull directly."
As if mocking his thoughts, the entire mountain suddenly shuddered—a convulsion so violent it resembled continental plates colliding. The base split from the earth with a thunderous crack, and impossibly, the entire mountain began rising into the sky.
The mountainside yawned open like some grotesque maw, shedding rocks, soil and screaming wildlife. The recently sealed cave extended forward as the mountain convulsed violently, its deafening roars shaking the heavens themselves.
A sudden flash of golden light erupted from the earth, followed by collapsing stone and debris crashing into freshly churned soil. Moments later, a golden dragon thousands of meters tall, its wingspan stretching beyond sight, hovered midair.
Every scale gleamed under the sun, its pupils burning like twin stars—far brighter than anything in the sky. Though shaped like a Western wyrm, the 'Golden Legend' skin gave it an almost regal beauty. Its sheer size alone radiated crushing pressure.
Only one word echoed through Hong Fei's mind: Fragrant. Unbearably, maddeningly fragrant. If he hadn't clenched his jaw, he'd have drooled on the spot. How could something this intoxicating exist? The scent overwhelmed him, making him question reality itself.
Compared to the dragon, he was smaller than a speck of dust—yet his eyes held no fear, only ravenous hunger. He wondered if zombies felt this way smelling living flesh. Nothing in the world could possibly smell better.
Shou-Lao the Undying had no true bones, flesh, or scales. Its form was pure illusion, a mass of distilled Dragon Power. Its fusion degree wasn't just high—it was flawless. Perfection didn't come in halves.
After revealing its true form, Shou-Lao shrank rapidly—though "small" was relative. Even reduced, it stood nearly a hundred meters tall, wings stretching wider. Still a colossus by any standard. But the change proved a point: raw size meant nothing without agility. Shou-Lao's adjustment showed it refused to be a lumbering target, lest Hong Fei exploit light-speed flight to chip away at it. The dragon wouldn't risk having its "meow" stolen. That alone meant Hong Fei posed a real threat.
Dragon Power Fusion: 55.03%. Binary Form: Linked to White Hole.
The 45% gap in fusion could be bridged by Hong Fei's arsenal: Binary Form's super-burst, the Ten Rings, photonic energy control, light-speed flight, energy absorption. A messy toolkit, but enough to level the field.
Oh, and he had the "Equal Match" skill—fifty-fifty odds. Or rather, his habit of opening with ultimates forced Shou-Lao to take him seriously. The dragon's edge lay in its purer Dragon Power. What 100% fusion could do remained unknown. For now, Hong Fei was at a slight disadvantage.
Size aside, Shou-Lao's aura alone pressed down on Hong Fei like a physical weight, as if his very soul bore the strain.
"You've gone too far!"
The dragon's voice rumbled, throat exhaling a scorching breath that ignited the ground in bright yellow flames. The tone was gender-neutral but raspy, unused to speech. Hong Fei ignored the words like stale air.
"Too far" was irrelevant—they'd been mortal enemies from the start. Talking now wasted time.
Hong Fei used Psychic Power to connect with the White Dragon possessing him.
"It'll hurt a bit. Bear with me."
"What are you doing?!"
The White Dragon's voice—crisp, delicate, and startled—finally spoke up. Proof she'd heard his psychic messages all along. She'd just been pretending otherwise.
Hong Fei paused, struck silent by the realization. He'd been outmaneuvered by the Little Dragon Maiden.
"Afraid I'll become a Dragon Rider stronger than some Grass-roots Hero?" he muttered under his breath.
"At least turn human first if you're going to pull stunts like that."
In the next instant, his form dissolved into light. The White Dragon burst forth from the glowing mass, shaking her head and tail with restless energy.
Golden Dragon Power surged from within the White Dragon's body, staining her white scales with a radiant glow. Her entire form shimmered as the gilded light spread from head to tail. Through their psychic link, the Little Dragon Maiden let out a piercing wail—a sound more akin to a grieving woman than a dragon.
She craved Dragon Power, but every dragon's body had its limits. Exceeding that threshold brought pain and harm. Though Hong Fei now actively controlled the Dragon Power, guiding its fusion with her form, he couldn't eliminate the indirect agony it caused. For him, the process felt smooth, even comfortable.
Then the White Hole phenomenon erupted once more. The sky transformed into a canvas of celestial bodies and starlight. Energy of countless hues surged forth, pouring into the White Dragon's body. Under Hong Fei's command, it mingled with the Dragon Power, transforming the pure gold into a fiery golden-red. The White Dragon's neck stiffened, her golden eyes widened, and her gaze locked in place as she unleashed a roar of pain.
"I got careless," Hong Fei thought.
"I'm feeling it too."
The White Hole served as the energy source, and his body acted as the conduit. While channeling White Hole energy for attacks, his form endured the relentless pressure and flushing caused by the immense power. No wonder the Binary Form fusion card carried a warning: the stronger the body, the longer the duration. It was a heavy burden.
Fortunately, his physical form was robust enough to withstand it. Though there were reactions, they wouldn't cause immediate damage, and the pain was minimal. But the White Dragon's body was another story. The violent, turbulent White Hole energy began to take its toll.
The White Dragon wasn't a true dragon—not before, and not now. She was merely a novice on the path to dragonhood. Without Hong Fei's Dragon Power, she wouldn't have even known her body could grow stronger and more refined.
She was an alien creature, perhaps akin to Fin Fang Foom. Her race didn't follow the concept of evolution or the idea of becoming a dragon. Just as an ordinary Earthling wouldn't imagine a more perfect form existing above their own, evolution relied on time to guide the entire species forward.
Yet, Dragon Power had undeniably altered the White Dragon's form and enhanced her strength. Whether by coincidence or deeper origins, it wasn't worth pondering now.
Hong Fei had chosen the dragon body because it could carry more White Hole energy while perfectly accepting 55.03% of the Dragon Power. With the White Hole energy continuously protecting her, he wasn't worried about Shou-Lao the Undying breaking through his defenses. From the very beginning, few creatures had ever managed to touch him, and Shou-Lao would be no exception.
Hong Fei tuned out the White Dragon's agonized cries.
"If it hurts, let it hurt," he thought. "Pain is normal. Maybe it'll feel better after a while. Adapt now, and you'll build immunity for the future. I'm doing this for your own good."