Chapter 124: The Dragon Egg, Slashing Fate with a Blade

Zhenyuanzi’s expression turned grave upon hearing this, though his mind remained filled with lingering doubts. He rarely involved himself in the affairs of the Primordial World; his cultivation and combat prowess as a pinnacle Daluo Immortal, combined with his reputation as the Master of the Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain, were enough to make most other Daluo beings steer clear.

As a pinnacle Daluo Golden Immortal of the Primordial World, Zhenyuanzi had, with nothing more than the flick of his vast sleeves, slain no fewer than ten Daluo Golden Immortals.

"Brother, you rarely venture into the Primordial World, and it seems you have been going out even less lately," Hongyun remarked with a playful tone, before turning serious. "During the last immeasurable kalpa, the world was plunged into darkness and slaughter. If I had gone to observe the fate of the Dragon Clan, I doubt even one-hundredth of them would have survived. Coupled with the constant succession of kalpas, how could one ever find peace? But Brother, you seem to have forgotten that the ones currently contending for power are the Wu Clan and the Demon Clan!

"There is no need for us to dwell on the Wu Clan; they claim to be born from the turbid essence and blood of the Father God Pangu, and their fortune is quite extraordinary. As for the Demon Clan... all those feathered birds of the sky, beasts of the earth, and scaled creatures of the waters that have gained sentience—aside from the gods and demons of the chaos—are they not all demons? The Demon Emperors, Di Jun and Tai Yi, have surely set their sights on the Dragon Clan. Even though they are no longer in their prime, the power held by the Dragon Clan of the Four Seas is not to be underestimated."

"Indeed, that is so." The Old Wine-Seller sighed, his voice heavy with helplessness. "As for Tai Yi and Di Jun of the Demon Clan, in terms of sheer methods alone, it is hard to say who would prevail, even when compared to you two. More than a hundred thousand years ago, the Demon Clan already harbored desires to interfere in the affairs of my Four Seas, but they never found the right opportunity and were always driven away. In recent years, their provocations have become increasingly brazen. It seems the Four Seas are destined to be drawn into this quagmire; I fear how many more dragon descendants will have their souls return to the ancestral land."

*This Old Wine-Seller... is he a member of the Dragon Clan?*

Though Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi had long suspected as much, hearing this confirmed it. They did not respond directly, instead communicating through secret telepathy.

"Brother, have we been schemed against?"

"I wouldn't call it a scheme. After all, if they truly intended to manipulate us, the cost would be significant, and we could have simply refused."

"Refusing would likely cause the old man to lose face. We have known him for how many eons? Every time, he has treated us with fine wine; has he ever asked anything of us before?"

"That is true... the wine is indeed excellent."

"..."

"..."

The exchange took no more than a breath or two. Seeing the Old Wine-Seller lost in thought while sipping his nectar, Hongyun smiled.

"It seems Brother Zhenyuanzi and I have fallen for your trap, old man. With the great catastrophe approaching, we should not divine too deeply into matters concerning the Dragon and Demon Clans. Speak your mind, and we shall decide then."

The Old Wine-Seller was overjoyed, his expression shifting noticeably. *Speak your mind?* This was no different from being asked if he wanted his cup refilled.

"The matter is simple, though the process is slightly complex," the Old Wine-Seller said after a moment of contemplation. "Among the Four Seas, there are few dragon descendants left with true dragon bloodlines, but they do exist. I wish to entrust two of you to take one of my dragon kin as a disciple."

He glanced at the expressions of the two men, and seeing they remained silent, he laid out his prepared proposal: "If you two agree, I shall grant you the authority to choose your own disciples. These young ones have not yet hatched. Once you have made your selection, I will use the ancestral artifacts of the Dragon Clan to sever their connection to the clan’s destiny. This will allow them to escape the impending calamity, and my painstaking efforts will not have been in vain."

*Ancestral artifacts of the Dragon Clan? Severing destiny?*

Hongyun was slightly startled, secretly marveling at the deep foundations of the Dragon Clan. A dying camel, it seemed, was still larger than a horse. After a brief consideration, both men understood the implications and nodded in agreement. Had they merely taken them as disciples, their fates would have been tied to the Dragon Clan, dragging them into the murky waters. But by severing that connection, their fate would be linked only to their masters. Even if the worst were to happen, casting them out of the sect or having them bear the burden of the disaster in their masters' stead were all viable options.

They had agreed! Seeing their reaction, the Old Wine-Seller was delighted. He produced a new jar of nectar and fresh cups, refilling them. "Once you have finished this cup, you may go and choose one of the dragon eggs."

Hongyun did not hesitate, lifting his cup and draining it. In an instant, his vision shifted, and he found himself inside a dragon nest. *Is this an illusion made real?* The Old Wine-Seller’s methods were truly unique. He reached out to touch the stone wall beside him; the tactile sensation was so real it left him astonished.

He did not dwell on the principle, turning his gaze toward the nest. In the center lay five dragon eggs, each adorned with distinct patterns; some even showed traces of dragon scales emerging from their shells.

"Friend Hongyun, these five dragon seeds are the last foundation of our clan. You may choose one to take as your disciple according to your intuition, but do not stimulate them with your divine sense at this time."

*Cannot use divine sense?* Hongyun nodded slightly, indicating he understood. He looked at the eggs, recalling what he had seen and experienced before. It was difficult to discern much, but he knew they were undoubtedly extraordinary. Yet, when it came to choosing, he felt there was no need to overthink it. Fixing his gaze on one egg, which appeared to be wreathed in faint, drifting clouds, he pointed to it without further investigation: "I choose this one."

When he regained his senses, the cup in his hand had transformed into a dragon egg larger than his own body, which he now held in his arms. Beside him, Zhenyuanzi also held a dragon egg of similar size, though its aura felt heavier and more profound.

"On behalf of the Dragon Clan, I thank you both."

Knowing they had not returned empty-handed, the Old Wine-Seller was overjoyed. He bowed slightly and produced a wine cup from his sleeve. "I shall now sever their destiny for you. Witness my method."

As he spoke, he shook the cup, drawing forth a long sword. The blade was densely covered in dragon scales, and looking closely, it appeared as if a true dragon was winding around the steel, its mouth snapping shut. He sprinkled some wine onto the blade and swung it. It looked as if a dragon was soaring into the sky, accompanied by a roar that pierced the clouds.

*By my own destiny, I sever this with a single strike!*

...

After the strike, the sword returned to the cup. The Old Wine-Seller silently put the cup away, a smile playing on his lips. "I thank you both once more. If you have any requests, feel free to make them."

"I would like a spiritual treasure that never runs out of wine. Do you happen to have one?"

"Excellent, excellent. That suits my desires as well."