The Birth of the Last Divine Dragon Emperor

3. The mysterious people came again and killed everyone.

Hearing the words of the Fire Spirit, Yuan Bei, who was in the middle of his attack, momentarily lost focus.

"What did you just say? Weren’t you the one who wanted me to master the techniques left by others?!"

Receiving no response from the Fire Spirit, Yuan Bei regained his focus to face the black-horned tiger before him. His flexible movements, perfectly timed strikes, and seamless tempo were mesmerizing, but the tiger did not feel admiration—it felt fear, knowing the flaming sword could pierce its body at any moment.

Sriiing!

The tiger’s claws clashed with the flaming sword, producing a sharp, piercing sound. Yuan Bei spun his body, rolling forward, and slashed at the tiger’s leap with precision.

Slaaaash!

Groaaaarh!

The tiger roared in shock as its front legs were severed from its body. Its footing faltered, and it collapsed, letting out weak growls toward Yuan Bei.

Slaaaaash!

"Click, click, click! Your way of killing the tiger is quite brutal..." The Fire Spirit remarked to Yuan Bei.

With a faint smile, Yuan Bei, determined to grow stronger, replied, "If I am not brutal, how else will I survive? This cruelty is something I’ve learned since I was a child."

"Your words ring true. In the world of cultivators, cruelty is the only way to survive. The strong trample the weak—it is the law of cultivation itself. But I suspect you’ve endured many bitter experiences in your life?" the Fire Spirit said before emerging from Yuan Bei’s body.

"Your guess is not wrong. If my parents hadn’t left me a message to survive, I would have ended it all... But now, my meridians have healed. Thank you." Yuan Bei knelt before the Fire Spirit, whose voice carried the tone of a woman. His action clearly startled the spirit.

"Don’t kneel before me... We were destined to meet, and besides, you are my new master!"

"So?"

The Fire Spirit then explained in detail about the former wielder of the Heart of the Dragon Flame. Yuan Bei understood everything but immediately asked, "So I must also bear this heavy burden?"

"Yes... My former master foresaw the arrival of a great storm. That’s why he sealed me in the ancient stone you destroyed."

"Master, now that you know me, allow me, Cai Lin, to pay my respects to my new master..."

Yuan Bei shook his head and said, "Cai Lin, the word ‘master’ is too formal for me. Let’s be friends and companions. Let’s share our joys and sorrows together. That’s far more meaningful than the enslaving term ‘master.’"

"Friends and companions..." Cai Lin’s voice trailed off, and then her flaming form transformed into a young girl with striking beauty.

Startled, awed, and mesmerized, Yuan Bei couldn’t help but stare at Cai Lin, who now appeared puzzled.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, no... I’m just speechless. For the first time, I’ve finally gained a friend and a companion!" Yuan Bei quickly replied.

Their conversation continued until Yuan Bei, realizing he had been in the forest for over a month, decided to return to Cenayang Village.

---

Five hours later.

Thump!

Yuan Bei’s heart seemed to stop. His eyes turned blank as he saw enormous flames consuming Cenayang Village.

"W-what happened?!" he stammered, his trembling body stepping forward.

The scent of burning flesh filled the air, but without hesitation, Yuan Bei continued walking toward a small house where an old woman lay motionless, a sword embedded in her body.

"Gr-grandmother..."

Rushing over to check the condition of Grandma Bing, who had cared for him since childhood, Yuan Bei, panicking, cried out, "Grandma, what happened? Why are all the villagers dead? And this wound—what really happened?"

"Uhuuk!" Grandma Bing stirred slightly, her breath faint. With her last strength, she pointed toward Yuan Bei’s body.

"GRANDMA!"

"I understand your grief, Bei, but look at the masked man who lies dead beside you. At least you can uncover the perpetrator behind the destruction of your village..." In Yuan Bei’s subconscious, Cai Lin, who witnessed the scene, provided a hint.

Snapping back, Yuan Bei turned his gaze toward the man Cai Lin referred to. His eyes widened in shock as he recognized the tattoo etched on the man’s arm.

"This tattoo..."

"Do you recognize it?" Cai Lin asked.

Yuan Bei said nothing but whispered to himself, the seeds of vengeance from his past growing once more within his heart.

"Twelve years have passed, and yet you’ve returned... Back then, you stole my happiness. Now you’ve taken the one who cared for me since I was a child. I, YUAN BEI, SWEAR TO DESTROY EVERY CULTIVATOR WHO BEARS THIS TATTOO!"

Swuuuuung!

Suddenly, the sky trembled violently. Dark clouds gathered above Cenayang Village, accompanied by streaks of lightning that crackled and flashed, reflecting the rage and thirst for vengeance swelling in Yuan Bei’s heart.

"Even the heavens seem to respond to Bei’s oath. It seems the Last Dragon Emperor will truly rise through him..." Cai Lin murmured, her tone laced with awe.

Such celestial phenomena were rare and typically only occurred during battles between powerful cultivators.

"Cai Lin... tell me, how can I become stronger than I am now?" Yuan Bei spoke in his mind, his determination unshaken.

Cai Lin replied without hesitation, "Bei, you need to hunt far more demon beasts than the ones in the previous forest. Do you know of such a place?"

Yuan Bei fell silent. He had no idea which forest Cai Lin was referring to. Resolutely, he buried his grandmother’s body, along with the villagers whose remains were still intact.

One day later.

Clenching his fists tightly, Yuan Bei finally responded to Cai Lin with resolve, "We’re going to Shang City... I’ve spent too much time in Cenayang Village. Other than the forest I was in, I know of no place with many demon beasts."

"Very well, I’ll follow your decision..."

After paying his final respects, Yuan Bei embarked on his journey. While utilizing the body-lightening technique, he pondered the art of deploying a killer formation. Curious, he questioned Cai Lin.

"By the way, why can’t I use killer formations yet?"

"Killer formations aren’t ordinary, Bei. Considering you’ve lived in such a remote area, it’s likely only a handful of powerful cultivators know how to use them. First, focus on improving your cultivation and mastering the basic knowledge. Once the time comes, I’ll teach you myself!"

Yuan Bei nodded, continuing to use his body-lightening technique. His mind, however, wandered back to Bing’s last moments, specifically when she pointed at his body.

"Bei, do you want to ask me something else?" Sensing his unsettled thoughts, Cai Lin resumed their conversation.

"Yes, do you know why Grandma Bing didn’t speak and instead pointed at my body?"

Cai Lin fell silent for a moment before answering through Yuan Bei’s thoughts.

"Perhaps the attack was because of you. Or maybe those mysterious people wanted something from you, like an artifact left by your parents, or something else?"

"Do you mean something like this?"

Yuan Bei revealed a small jade pendant given to him by his mother during his childhood. The sight of the pendant, etched with a moon, made Cai Lin gasp.

"Wait! Let me see that!"

A fiery figure of the beautiful girl emerged from Yuan Bei’s body. Upon examining the pendant in his hand, Cai Lin’s eyes widened in disbelief as she muttered, "The Moon Palace!"