Little Green Dragon was outside, playing with Lin Ke Xin.
“Young Master, your friend says he’s made up his mind and asked me to call you in,” the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon reported.
“Alright, I’ll head in.”
“Ke Xin, Godfather’s going to talk with your dad for a bit. I’ll come back to play with you soon,” Little Green Dragon said, setting Lin Ke Xin down.
“Okay!” Ke Xin smiled with childlike innocence.
In the Courtyard.
Little Green Dragon walked back in.
“Punk, thought it through? Trading a decade or so of my time for your life is totally worth it!” Little Green Dragon said, grinning as he approached.
Lin Yun, facing away, gazed at the peach tree and said slowly, “I’ve decided. I can’t transfer the poison to you. Little Green Dragon, drop this idea.”
“Drop it? Punk, why’re you so stubborn? I’d only deal with the poison for a decade or two, then recover. If you don’t transfer it, you’ll die!” Little Green Dragon shouted.
“Little Green Dragon, my mind’s made up. No need to say more. Go back to the dragon clan. I won’t keep you. I’m not dying anytime soon—I’ve got eighty years left,” Lin Yun said, still facing away.
“Damn it, you stubborn mule! I’m telling you, you’re pissing me off! If you don’t agree today, we’re done as brothers!” Little Green Dragon roared.
“Fine, then we’re done. Little Green Dragon, get back to the dragon clan. You’re not welcome here,” Lin Yun said without turning, his voice steady.
As he spoke, his eyes reddened, tears welling up…
“You… you damn bastard!”
“Fine, you’ve grown some guts! I don’t need you as a friend either! I’m leaving!”
Little Green Dragon turned and stormed out.
With Lin Yun so resolute against transferring the poison, what could he do?
The transfer required both parties’ cooperation; he couldn’t force it.
After a few steps, he turned back, pulled out a jade gourd, and placed it on the table.
“You jerk, this is Dragon Flame Essence. It can strengthen your physique. The stronger your body, the less the poison will affect you!”
Leaving the gourd, Little Green Dragon strode away, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon hurrying after him.
After Little Green Dragon left, Yu Ying rushed in from the courtyard.
“Brother Yun, why… why did you cut ties with him?” she asked, running over.
She knew how close Lin Yun and Little Green Dragon were.
“He needs to return to the dragon clan. I can’t hold him back. I had to be harsh…” Lin Yun closed his eyes slowly, his eye corners twitching, his heart aching.
“This…” Seeing Lin Yun’s pain, Yu Ying felt it too.
“Our bond isn’t something most can understand. We won’t truly break off. Don’t worry, Ying’er. Please, let me be alone for a bit,” Lin Yun said softly, eyes still closed.
“Alright…” Yu Ying nodded.
…
Meanwhile.
After leaving the Prefecture Lord’s Palace, Little Green Dragon walked on.
“Young Master, are you really done with that guy? Honestly, it’s for the best. Our proud dragon clan doesn’t need human friends. He’d only drag you down,” the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon said.
“Shut up! He refused my plan, so I said some harsh words in anger. Break off? Nonsense!” Little Green Dragon snapped.
Then, muttering, he complained, “That guy’s so damn stubborn!”
…
Prefecture Lord’s Palace, Courtyard.
Lin Yun stepped forward and picked up the Dragon Flame Essence Little Green Dragon left.
He’d read about it in ancient texts. It was a precious dragon clan resource, highly valued even among dragons, rarely obtained by clan members and nearly impossible for humans to acquire.
The cauldron spirit’s voice sounded: “Master, your dragon friend said you’re done, yet he left a whole gourd of Dragon Flame Essence. This stuff is measured by drops. I can’t believe you built such a bond with him. A human forming such a deep friendship with a dragon is unthinkable!”
“He’s helped me a lot,” Lin Yun murmured.
He felt he’d let Little Green Dragon down, but what could he do now?
As a cripple, he was powerless.
Looking down at the Dragon Flame Essence, he said, “This can strengthen my physique. A stronger body should better resist the soul-severing poison.”
Lin Yun had survived the poison partly due to his late-stage Myriad Form Body.
His eyes lit up. “Spirit, if I train my physique to an extreme level, could I purify the poison myself?”
Little Green Dragon’s plan relied on his robust dragon physique and pure bloodline to slowly purify the poison.
In theory, a human could do it too, right?
“In theory, yes, but your physique would need to reach the Chaos Body level to purify the poison. With your current state, that’s impossible. No human today likely has such a physique,” the spirit said.
“Chaos Body?” Lin Yun gave a bitter smile, shaking his head.
Such a realm was impossibly distant. His Myriad Form Body was already impressive.
“I’ll use the Dragon Flame Essence first.”
Determined, Lin Yun returned to his bedchamber to enhance his physique.
Not cultivating these past few days had left him restless. The chance to improve his strength excited him.
Using the Dragon Flame Essence to boost his physique didn’t require internal energy, so it wouldn’t trigger the suppressed poison.
In the Bedchamber.
“Let’s begin.”
Lin Yun dripped a single drop of Dragon Flame Essence onto his skin.
The golden essence seeped through, spreading instantly throughout his body.
Despite being just a drop, its energy was immense.
Lin Yun’s skin, muscles, organs, and tissues were all nourished.
“What potent, refined power!” Lin Yun marveled.
No wonder it was a dragon clan treasure from Little Green Dragon.
It took over ten minutes to fully absorb that single drop.
