Han floated in midair, having reverted to his human form. He clutched his waist, inhaling sharply through his teeth.


    "Aunt Mo, did you have to hit me that hard? I feel like my waist is about to snap."


    "Watch your manners."


    Lu Qingmo shot him a look, one that spoke volumes.


    You coiled around me tighter and tighter—should I have just let that slide?


    "What''s going on with your soul? Why did it take the form of a flood dragon?"


    She was visibly surprised—she hadn’t expected Han to have such an ability. That said, she had no doubts about his identity.


    "Remember after the Water Origin Festival, when I was practicing martial arts and my body underwent a transformation due to my soul’s influence?" Han explained. "Ever since then, my soul has continued displaying similar reactions. Eventually, I realized I could fully transform it into a flood dragon."


    Lu Qingmo pondered for a moment. "I thought you meant there was something peculiar about your soul because of your secret martial art techniques, that it was just a temporary effect. But this change persisted and led to such a result…"


    She frowned. "Is this truly just a side effect of your martial arts?"


    "Try transforming into a flood dragon again. Let me take a closer look."


    Han did as she asked. Lu Qingmo carefully examined him before exclaiming in astonishment, "I can''t see any flaws. Right now, you are a flood dragon—completely. There isn’t a trace of human characteristics left in you."


    She was utterly shocked. "Even your soul’s essence has changed, and yet you can shift between forms freely without any disharmony. How is this even possible?"


    "If you go out in this form, no one will think you’re human."


    Altering one''s appearance was simple, but changing one''s very essence was a different matter entirely—especially at a fundamental level.


    "A full transformation from one species to another, from human to something else, is unheard of unless done with an artifact. And even then, it’s permanent—you can never become human again."


    "But you can switch between the two at will…" Lu Qingmo felt disoriented. What kind of ability is this?


    If cultivators all had such an ability, the world would have long since plunged into chaos. A little provocation here and there, and it would be an all-out war between races.


    Transforming into a flood dragon is nothing—I could become a two-headed dragon if I wanted.


    A thought struck Lu Qingmo, and she asked, "What visualization technique do you practice?"


    She suspected that his ability might be related to his secret martial arts, but there was also the possibility it was tied to his visualization practice.


    Before Han could answer, she waved him off. "Never mind, no need to tell me. It must be some kind of dragon-related visualization."


    "The world is vast, and history runs deep. Many legacies have been buried. A visualization technique of this nature isn’t entirely out of the question."


    "…"


    Dragon-related? Not at all. I visualize nothing but a humble little tree.


    "Since you possess this ability, you can enter the upcoming Tianhai Ascension Dragon Gathering."


    "That was exactly my plan." Han, still in dragon form, nodded his massive head.


    "But I do have some concerns. I''m worried this transformation might draw unwanted trouble."


    Lu Qingmo chuckled. "What race are you right now?"


    "A flood dragon."


    "Then no matter what trouble you cause, how would it be related to Han of the Taibai Martial Hall?"


    Han was struck by sudden realization. Right! You’re looking for the Overturning Sea Flood Demon—what does that have to do with Han of Taibai?


    "But the gathering begins today. If you want to make it in time, you’ll have to travel with the Dragon Maiden. How do you plan to handle her?"


    "Are you going to tell her the truth?"


    Han hesitated, his face flushing slightly. "I told her that I have a friend who will participate in the gathering."


    Lu Qingmo’s expression turned strange—she understood immediately.


    "That friend… is you."


    "You do have aquatic friends in Heiyun Town. That might be a loophole in your story."


    "I said it was a water-dweller raised by you, Aunt Mo."


    "…"


    Lu Qingmo gave him a look.


    Fine. If you say I raised it, then I raised it.


    "You’ve thought this through well. No ordinary person would suspect you were once human."


    "Even the Dragon Maiden won’t be able to tell."


    Han felt a little pleased with himself after receiving praise. But then a thought struck him, and his heart sank.


    Ordinary people wouldn’t suspect anything, but the Dragon Maiden…


    She had been inexplicably drawn to him before, likely due to the True Dragon Blood Soul Stone within him. It had even allowed her to sense the presence of phoenix energy, though that had been connected to his physical body, not his soul.


    But the power of the True Dragon Blood Soul Stone also flowed within his soul, strengthening and reshaping it.


    Would the Dragon Maiden still feel an attraction to his soul?


    Back then, her bloodline had only reacted after they had made physical contact.


    As long as he avoided any direct contact with her, there shouldn’t be a problem… right?


    Han suddenly felt uneasy.


    "If the Dragon Maiden figures it out, what do I do?"


    Lu Qingmo frowned. "Why would she figure it out?"


    "She has a unique sensitivity to me."


    Lu Qingmo narrowed her eyes at him.


    What exactly have you been up to out there?


    "In that case, you’ll need to be extra careful."


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "But even if you’re exposed, it won’t be a big issue," she continued. "No one else will have seen your transformation process. You can always claim it was an artifact that granted you this form—there are such treasures, though they come with limitations."


    "I doubt the Dragon Maiden would go around exposing your identity. As long as you can keep it from her, that’s enough."


    "That… makes sense." Han nodded in agreement.


    A disciple of Xuandu Temple possessing such a treasure? That wouldn’t be suspicious at all.


    If the Dragon Maiden couldn’t see through the transformation, she might be intrigued but wouldn’t find it too unbelievable.


    After all, she’s only a Dragon Maiden—not yet a Dragon Lord.


    "In that case, maybe I should just tell her outright."


    "She’s been good to me, and if I give her a reasonable explanation, there’s no need to hide it too much."


    If I keep it secret and she finds out anyway, things could get awkward. It might even harm our relationship.


    "That’s also an option," Lu Qingmo said without objection.


    But as she gazed at Han’s massive flood dragon form hovering next to his human body, she shook her head.


    "If someone unfamiliar with the situation saw this, they’d think a flood dragon had possessed a human."


    Han tensed at the word "possession."


    His expression remained calm, but internally, he was on high alert.


    "Aunt Mo, do I look like someone who’s been possessed?" he asked with a casual smile.


    For the first time, he felt genuinely nervous.


    Lu Qingmo shook her head. "No."


    "Those who possess others always have mismatches between their body and soul. No matter how long they inhabit a new body, there’s always a lingering disharmony."


    "And even over time, their features may shift to resemble their original soul—but they’ll never be identical."


    "Unless, of course, one can reshape the body’s essence and bloodline to fully assimilate it into their soul. Then, there would be no difference between the two."


    She studied Han closely. "Your soul and body are perfectly synchronized, your features identical, and your essence completely fused. There’s no doubt—you are the original owner of both your body and soul."


    "If you had been possessed, I would have known from the start. I would have sent you straight to the Ghost Division."


    Han''s heart skipped a beat.


    This wasn’t something Lu Qingmo could have been mistaken about.


    So… what was he, really?


    Had his soul traveled through time? Or had he reincarnated and simply regained memories upon nearing death?


    Or had his soul and body crossed over together?


    None of it made sense.


    For the first time, Han questioned how he had come to this world.


    Han cautiously extended a dragon’s head from the wooden tablet, nodding slightly toward the dragon maiden before retreating back into hiding.


    A flicker of light flashed through the dragon maiden’s eyes, betraying a hint of intrigue.


    “What a magnificent flood dragon. Lu, you’ve raised it well.”


    “It’s all thanks to its own efforts,” Lu Qingmo replied humbly, unwilling to take credit.


    Lu Qingmo’s arrival clearly caught Xuanwei by surprise. “It’s an honor to receive you personally, Lord Steward. But where is Han?”


    “This flood dragon will explain everything to you.”


    Without lingering, the dragon maiden soon left with Han.


    Once they were gone, Bai Ruoyue sidled up to Lu Qingmo with curiosity. “Aunt Mo, since when did you start raising a flood dragon?”


    Having been with Lu Qingmo for over a decade, she had never heard anything about this.


    “Only for a few months.”


    “Is raising a dragon fun?”


    Lu Qingmo hesitated, then sighed with exasperation.


    “Hard to say… but this one is particularly gluttonous. Always looking for food.”


    “What does it eat?”


    “People.”


    “Wha—?!” Bai Ruoyue recoiled in shock.


    “You can’t just keep a dragon like that!”


    “I didn’t have a choice. It latched onto me, and I can’t shake it off.”


    “Do you want it? I’ll give it to you if you do.”


    “No way! Even for free, I wouldn’t take it.” Bai Ruoyue shook her head with conviction.


    Hearing this, Lu Qingmo cast her a meaningful glance.


    I just hope that when the time comes, you won’t be the one offering yourself to this wicked dragon.


    By the banks of the Yunjiang River, the dragon maiden summoned a small boat and guided it forward with practiced ease.


    “Why not come out and have a proper conversation, my friend?” she called out.


    Han emerged from the wooden tablet, stowing it away in his space pouch before floating into the air.


    “Ao Xuanwei, your boat is quite small this time.”


    The dragon maiden furrowed her brows, scrutinizing Han with sharp, assessing eyes.


    “You seem unfamiliar to me. I don’t recall ever meeting your branch of flood dragons before.”


    Her meaning was clear—Why are you calling me by name?


    You won’t even address me as ‘Your Highness’?


    Han sighed. “You were the one who told me to call you by your name, yet now you claim not to know me.”


    “How heartbreaking, Your Highness.”


    The dragon maiden stiffened. She had only ever said those words to one person.


    “…Han?”


    “You should call me Xu Xian now,” Han replied with a smirk.


    That was the alias he had prepared for this journey.


    The dragon maiden chuckled. “How did you end up like this?”


    “Well, as you can see, my transformation into a water creature is flawless.”


    She shook her head. “Seamless. I can’t detect a single flaw.”


    “How did you manage it?”


    “Aunt Mo had a fortunate encounter in her youth and acquired a powerful transformation artifact—one that allows the soul to take the form of a flood dragon,” Han explained, smoothly delivering his prepared story.


    “She told me that even the masters of Xuandu Temple would struggle to see through this disguise.”


    Bluffing with absolute confidence.


    The dragon maiden’s eyes gleamed with intrigue. “Such an artifact exists?”


    “So, can I attend the grand gathering in this form without raising suspicion?” Han asked.


    “No issue at all,” she affirmed. “If that treasure is as miraculous as you claim, even the Sea Dragon King wouldn’t notice anything unusual.”


    She paused, a playful glint in her gaze.


    “But didn’t you tell me you had a water-dwelling friend?” She smiled knowingly.


    “Looks like that ‘friend’ was you all along.”


    Busted.


    Han coughed awkwardly. “Well, it was Aunt Mo’s treasure. At first, I wanted to keep it a secret.”


    “I understand.” The dragon maiden nodded before extending her hand.


    “Then, you are no longer Han.”


    “From now on, you are Xu Xian.”


    “Xu Xian… a fine name. A heart devoted to immortality.”


    Han reached out his dragon claw, meeting her handshake.


    But then, he noticed her smile growing more radiant, and she inched closer.


    “This feeling… now I’m convinced. You truly are Han.”


    That familiar pull, that instinctive bloodline resonance—it could only be him.


    “… …”


    Since when did this become our method of identity verification?


    Hastily, Han shifted into his humanoid form, breaking free from her grasp.


    This wasn’t a full transformation into a human but rather a standard shape-shifting technique among demons—altering only the outward appearance.


    Yet even in human form, Han still looked exactly like his old self.


    Among demon clans, one’s first humanoid transformation was often influenced by their subconscious self-image. Once set, it became difficult to change.


    If a demon’s human form fluctuated, it was either an illusion, the effect of an artifact, or a rare innate ability.


    Han’s dragon soul had solidified his humanoid form—his own.


    “I suppose I’ll have to maintain this flood dragon form throughout the gathering.”


    “This form is more familiar to me.”


    The dragon maiden’s smile remained as she studied Han’s new form.


    “This flood dragon you’ve taken the shape of—it’s extraordinary. I can sense immense power within its bloodline. Do you know where it originates?”


    She wasn’t merely offering flattery; she genuinely felt it.


    There was a latent ferocity, a subdued yet overwhelming aura that she had never encountered in any other flood dragon.


    Her judgment was clear—this bloodline was no ordinary lineage.


    Among the aquatic races, true dragons reigned supreme, their status unparalleled. Most water creatures aspired to transform into dragons.


    But in the vast world, there were always exceptions.


    Some aquatic beings chose not to pursue dragonhood. Instead, they refined their inherent bloodline over generations, reaching unparalleled heights.


    With each breakthrough, their lineage evolved, becoming just as formidable as the dragon race.


    Even a mere koi fish, if it achieved immortality, could rival a dragon in strength. History had proven this.


    The descendants of such beings, at least in the first few generations, could easily match the offspring of dragon royalty.


    Yet, sporadic powerhouses among the water races could never challenge the dragons’ dominion.


    These extraordinary bloodlines, no matter how potent, would inevitably fade. The dragon race, however, had an unshakable foundation.


    Countless water creatures toiled endlessly, striving to become dragons. That alone ensured the dragon lineage thrived indefinitely.


    “Aunt Mo mentioned that this transformation artifact mimics the form of a ‘Overturning Sea Flood Dragon.’”


    Han took the opportunity to probe. “Have you heard of such a breed?”


    The dragon maiden’s expression turned thoughtful.


    “My father once mentioned it…”


    Suddenly, her eyes brightened.


    “Yes, I remember now! Legends speak of a supreme flood dragon—one so powerful and ruthless that it never sought to become a true dragon. Instead, it ruled over the Four Seas, subjugating even the dragon clans.”


    “In ancient texts, he was known as the ‘Overturning Sea Sage.’”


    “But in the old dragon records, he was referred to as the ‘Overturning Sea Demon.’”


    “They say his lineage, the Overturning Sea Flood Dragons, vanished long ago. After his death, the dragon clans supposedly eradicated them all.”


    The Overturning Sea Sage.


    The title resonated with what Han had heard before.


    “Let me take another look at you.” The dragon maiden’s gaze shimmered with curiosity.


    Han sighed and reverted to his dragon form once more.


    “I’ve never seen an Overturning Sea Flood Dragon before. My father hasn’t either. But your bloodline… it’s remarkable.”


    “Even if you’re not of that legendary lineage, you must hail from an extraordinary one.”


    “And combined with your rapid ascension to the Day-Touring realm, Xu Xian—at this gathering, you will surely make a name for yourself.”


    She had high expectations for him.


    “I only just broke through. I still have much to refine.”


    “With your bloodline, once it awakens, your strength will be unmatched among common water creatures.”


    “…I haven’t awakened any bloodline.”


    “No,” she countered, shaking her head.


    “The fact that your bloodline resonates with mine proves otherwise.”


    “You advanced so rapidly in mere months. That is the sign of an awakening.”


    “… …”


    So that’s why she wasn’t surprised by my power?


    She had already prepared an explanation for me.


    You’re brilliant.


    And now, this explanation is mine to use.