Silence reigned all around as the unmelted ice and snow drifted down to the ground.
The ice magic had not only dispelled every trace of miasma fog but also seemed to slow time itself. It was similar to the way Xuzhi had previously used light magic to restrict movement, yet far gentler.
Everyone stood in shock and bewilderment, staring at the two unfamiliar faces that had suddenly appeared ahead of them.
Who are they… wait, just now that was…
Soon, the fluffy plushies gathered around as well, glaring at the crowd with predatory intent.
Someone finally recognized the fluffy plushies and blurted out in astonishment, “Dragon Clan guardian beasts?”
The fluffy plushies had appeared at the peak of Netherworld Mountain once before. The beast tamers who had gone searching for treasure at that time had all been thrashed by them. Later, the Miasma-Clearing Team had tracked down a few survivors to ask about the incident.
The Miasma-Clearing Team had primarily wanted information on Xiang Lun and Xuzhi, but they had also learned about these peculiar fluffy plushies in the process. Several team members retained some memory of them.
The companion at his side widened his eyes in disbelief. “Dra-Dragon Clan?”
A hush fell over the surroundings, and everyone heard it clearly.
The Dragon Clan, which had vanished from Cangyuan Continent for nearly a century… the Dragon Clan? How could that be possible?
But that little beast from moments ago—covered in scales, with a pair of wings and horns—it certainly looked the part…
Most people went their entire lives without ever seeing a dragon, let alone a young dragon. They could only rely on descriptions and illustrations from books.
However, weren’t all Dragon Clan supposed to have golden pupils?
The beast tamers present were no weaklings, and they could sense that the ice magic from earlier was purer and more potent than Xuzhi’s own ice magic.
Nearby magical beasts with keen senses also cowered, heads lowered in fear as they shrank back, transmitting their terror to their masters.
At that moment, the snow fox aided Xiang Lun in casting space magic. It enveloped Ming Shuang and the two dragons at the center—including Xuzhi—and whisked them away via short-range teleportation.
By the time the crowd snapped out of their daze, the group was gone. The fluffy plushies had fled alongside Tomato and a few other magical beasts.
Elder Qiu shoved aside the subordinate supporting him and hurried forward.
Traces of ice magic lingered in place. An entire stretch of the Element River hung suspended in midair, but the miasma fog had vanished without a trace.
He stared fixedly at the fissures in the ground, his breathing unsteady.
What in the world was that…? The one with the ice magic talent wasn’t Xuzhi?
The two magical beasts from earlier had regained their senses but hadn’t yet received healing from light magic. They lay powerless on the ground.
Fortunately, they hadn’t been possessed by the miasma fog for long. Their beast tamers had used ordinary healing techniques to keep them alive for the time being.
The master of one of the magical beasts couldn’t help asking, “Elder, our magical beasts need treatment…”
Elder Qiu’s mind was in turmoil, and he snapped irritably, “I know!”
The others awaited his orders as well—should they continue the pursuit, or…?
But they had all witnessed Xuzhi successfully dispel the miasma fog and heal the canine magic beast. Even with the unexpected turn later on, the miasma fog had ultimately been cleared.
Moreover, when the academy had been sealed off, their intelligence had indicated a suspected God Clan member had appeared there—likely the source of the recent miasma fog disturbances. They had to be apprehended.
Elder Qiu raised a hand to his brow when a voice suddenly rang out from behind him. “Qiu Lai!”
He turned to see the White-Haired Elder arriving in haste with a small team.
The White-Haired Elder fought to contain his anger. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Qiu Lai’s expression remained calm; he felt no guilt whatsoever. “The Element River appeared too abruptly. The situation was critical, so we opted for the safer approach.”
The White-Haired Elder had indeed instructed them to adopt a gentler attitude, but his health had required rest at the time, preventing him from overseeing matters closely. That had given the other elders their opening.
Someone nearby had already briefed the White-Haired Elder on the situation. He jabbed a finger at Qiu Lai. “You really are…”
With so many people around, he trailed off and instead ordered a portion of the blockade teams outside to withdraw.
Qiu Lai objected firmly. “No!”
“The one with the ice magic innate talent might not be Xuzhi,” he mused. “It could be the one at his side…”
The White-Haired Elder shot him a sharp look. “What are you getting at?”
Qiu Lai fell silent for a moment. He felt his theory was too audacious.
But so many people had seen that little magical beast’s appearance.
And there were the guardian fluffy plushies beside it… Qiu Lai had reviewed the report from Netherworld Mountain as well.
Could it be that what Xiang Lun had brought back from the peak back then—besides Xuzhi—also included… the Dragon Clan?
It appeared to be a young dragon, not yet fully grown.
The Dragon Clan had vanished for nearly a century, but Xuzhi, a God Clan member, shouldn’t exist either. With them appearing together now, even the wildest possibilities didn’t seem so far-fetched.
Qiu Lai even speculated that the Dragon Clan had suffered a clan-wide extermination long ago, just like the God Clan. For some reason, both races had been reduced to just Xuzhi and that silver one…
A Silver Frost Dragon? That was the name for the Dragon Clan variety that wielded ice magic, as far as he recalled.
As for the young dragon’s blue-gold heterochromia eyes, Qiu Lai didn’t dwell on it. Even in the old days, few had laid eyes on a Dragon Clan member, and virtually no one had seen a young one.
A young dragon… especially if it was truly the last one left on Cangyuan Continent.
That also meant it had no other clanmates to protect it.
The Dragon Clan had always guarded their young so fiercely because they were fragile and prime targets for covetous eyes.
In that brief span, Qiu Lai’s mind raced through countless implications.
He was clever and perceptive, but in his shock and excitement, he overlooked certain details.
Such as the identities of Yan Si and Xing Huai, who had shown up later. Or why Xuzhi had absorbed the miasma fog.
When Qiu Lai raised his head again, he spoke gravely to the White-Haired Elder. “We cannot withdraw!”
~~~
Meanwhile, after a series of space magic jumps, they arrived at the courtyard.
The location was remote, and the Miasma-Clearing Team hadn’t followed, so Xiang Lun decided to pause there for the moment.
As the space magic barrier faded, he immediately checked on Ming Shuang. “Little Shuang!”
The Little Dragon hatchling lay contentedly in Xuzhi’s arms, flicking the tip of its tail. “Awoo!”
“He’s fine,” Yan Si translated. “He didn’t expend much magic power earlier.”
The fluffy plushies had been stored away in the storage space. Tomato and the other magical beasts were all present, though Herl and his giant bear had split off midway.
The four magical beasts clustered around Xuzhi. Mochi had even perched on Xuzhi’s shoulder, leaning down to nuzzle the little dragon hatchling with its wings.
Xiang Lun felt a measure of relief and let out a sigh. “Why did you suddenly leap out like that? And also…”
He glanced at Xuzhi, who appeared fully recovered, without any sign of distress.
Xiang Lun’s brow furrowed deeply. “What was that all about just now?”
The snow fox nearby remained on guard, its gaze fixed intently on Xuzhi.
“Not sure,” Xuzhi replied. “But everything’s fine now.”
Xiang Lun studied him closely before nodding. “Good.”
Yan Si’s eyes lingered on Xuzhi as well, filled with undisguised scrutiny and wariness.
Xuzhi had absorbed the miasma fog; Yan Si refused to believe it had no effect whatsoever.
Yet Xuzhi still wore the alchemy array Yan Si had crafted for him. The bracelet showed no irregularities, and Xuzhi’s power level remained unchanged.
Xiang Lun sighed once more. “It all happened so fast. Little Shuang was seen by all those people. What do we do now?”
From an outsider’s perspective, the miasma fog being drawn into Xuzhi had resolved part of the problem in a way, but it had also left him vulnerable, preventing him from clearing the rest right away.
Ming Shuang had been forced to intervene, and Xiang Lun hadn’t had time to make further preparations.
The Little Dragon hatchling gave a soft “Mm,” glancing warily around the courtyard.
Ming Shuang hadn’t overthought it at the time. He’d overheard Yan Si’s words and feared they might abandon Xuzhi in the chaos, so he’d acted on impulse…
At least the miasma fog was gone now, and the Element River below ground should be free of remnants.
The Little Dragon hatchling licked Xuzhi’s palm, then tilted its head up to look at him.
Xuzhi met its gaze with a gentle smile, silently reassuring it.
Xing Huai spoke up. “Should we leave the academy first?”
“The Miasma-Clearing Team hasn’t caught up,” Xiang Lun replied thoughtfully. “But I’m not sure if they’ll try something else.”
He also wasn’t certain how much those people had pieced together after spotting Ming Shuang.
Ming Shuang was Dragon Clan—unlike Xuzhi—but exposure carried no fewer dangers.
Yan Si closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. “The teams outside the academy haven’t pulled back yet.”
Escaping the academy wouldn’t be difficult. He could shift into his giant dragon form and carry everyone away by air.
Xiang Lun’s expression grew somber. “But that would expose you too.”
Once word spread that the Dragon Clan had returned, everything would change. More people would learn of it and swarm to confirm or pursue.
In this era, only beast tamers could practice magic. The allure of a dragon was beyond imagining.
Wu Shao had left just a few days prior, leaving only Yan Si and Xing Huai to guard Ming Shuang.
Xing Huai glanced around, then quietly pulled out her communication device.
She sent a message to Wu Shao: “Where are you? There’s danger—hurry back.”
~~~
