Su Jingxuan was not one to easily admit defeat. If he encountered a challenge, he wouldn’t give up; otherwise, he wouldn’t have recovered his consciousness in the once illusory world, and he wouldn’t be who he was now.
The black dragon proved difficult to handle, and until the final moment, uncertainty loomed. Moreover, Jiang He couldn’t fathom that the black dragon would easily resign itself, willingly awaiting absorption by the old demonic emperor.
Jiang He opted to stay in the cave, tirelessly working on convincing the black dragon. The old demonic emperor, both powerful and cunning, effortlessly manipulated the entire demon world. Those powerful beings outside were mere jesters attempting to overthrow the old demonic emperor.
The black dragon, harboring a deep-seated grudge against the old demonic emperor, who had trapped it for an unknown number of years, appeared to be the sole contender capable of challenging the tyrant. The outcome between them, should the black dragon break free, remained unpredictable.
As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest. This held true in the world, with the cave trapping the black dragon right under the old demonic emperor’s nose. However, precisely because of this proximity, none dared to approach. Perhaps the old demonic emperor was occupied with other matters, preparing for possession, or dealing with something else. Since the day of the fierce confrontation with the black dragon, he hadn’t returned.
Although Su Jingxuan was confident in his ability to conceal himself, the possibility of discovery lingered. The absence of the old demonic emperor, however, provided some relief, offering enough time to persuade the black dragon.
The mysterious black dragon’s cultivation level remained uncertain, but it was clear that it was at least in the Return to Void stage, if not higher. The dragon’s body underwent transformative changes, with a split forming on the single horn atop its head and its body transitioning from two claws to four, resembling the appearance of a transforming dragon more than a simple one.
The black dragon’s temperament, though peculiar, presented a challenge. It ignored Su Jingxuan’s words and actions, closing its eyes as if oblivious to him. When annoyed, it would open its eyes and stare at him coldly. Its silence and gaze carried an oppressive pressure that even the imprisoning formation couldn’t resist.
Fortunately, as long as Su Jingxuan stayed three meters away from the black dragon, he remained out of harm’s reach. Otherwise, he had no doubt that the dragon could easily swallow him whole.
After half a month of struggling, the black dragon remained indifferent. Su Jingxuan, somewhat frustrated and helpless, refused to accept defeat.
Frustrated, he said, “Why are you so stubborn? I merely want to take a look at the spiritual book of your demon clan. I’m searching for someone, not stealing anything from you. I’ll help you escape, and you just need to let me glance at the spiritual book. Can’t we cooperate for mutual benefit?”
For a month, Su Jingxuan attempted various methods, from magical spells to persuasive words. Although the black dragon appeared unaffected, when Su Jingxuan provocatively demanded a response, the dragon surprisingly made a sound in agreement.
This unexpected response left Su Jingxuan with his forehead veins throbbing. “You… just wait!”
Unable to harm the dragon and facing a creature as unyielding as a stone, Su Jingxuan could only leave the cave in frustration. He needed to calm down; he hadn’t been this angry in many years.
Unbeknownst to him, as he turned away, he failed to notice the change in the black dragon’s gaze. The once icy stare seemed to carry a hint of warmth as it observed Su Jingxuan’s departure.
Despite experiencing numerous cycles in the illusory world, Su Jingxuan’s emotions were well-controlled, except when it came to his search for Jiang He. The combination of not finding Jiang He and the black dragon’s unyielding behavior made his emotions fluctuate uncontrollably.
Unable to confront the black dragon directly, Su Jingxuan, typically calm and composed, found himself frustrated and agitated. However, he couldn’t confront the dragon, especially given its formidable strength and the risk of retaliation in the future. Approaching within three meters would likely cost him his life.
After leaving the cave to cool down, Su Jingxuan felt a bit relieved. He couldn’t afford to be impatient; it would only make things worse. He needed to find a way to locate Jiang He. He wouldn’t give up; he couldn’t afford to give up. Just as he hadn’t given up on Jiang He in the illusory world.
When they first met in the illusory world, he was no better than the black dragon in stubbornness. He resisted everything from the outside world, struggling and resisting when Jiang He suddenly appeared. But Jiang He had never let go of him, chasing after him until death.
Su Jingxuan didn’t know if people, in reality, would fall in love again after their loved ones passed away. Still, for him, the name Jiang He was etched into his bones. Throughout the numerous cycles in the illusory world, Jiang He filled his hollow soul, making him vivid and alive.
Ji Baiyin once said he pursued the Dao of Eternal Life, but without Qi Yan, he would rather not have it. Su Jingxuan liked Ji Baiyin for saying that because they were similar. Without Jiang He’s rebirth, he would rather stay forever in the illusory world.
After calming down, Su Jingxuan returned to the restricted cave to continue his struggle with the black dragon. The dragon, still unresponsive, remained unyielding. However, Su Jingxuan, having built his mental resilience, was not bothered. As long as the dragon was trapped and unable to harm him, he felt secure standing three meters away.
Regardless of whether the black dragon preferred soft or hard approaches, Su Jingxuan used all methods at his disposal. There must be a moment of vulnerability; no one is perfect, not even the black dragon.
Given the dragon’s power, Su Jingxuan avoided directly pressuring it to prevent potential reprisals after its escape. Most of the time, he used Tang Monk-style incantations to try to persuade the dragon.
Although it seemed to have little effect, gradually, as he tentatively reduced the safe distance to three meters, the black dragon no longer responded with immediate aggression. It merely stared at him, sometimes ignoring him.
Su Jingxuan, indifferent to the dragon’s disregard, continued his monologue, regardless of whether the dragon was responsive or not.
“You’re quite powerful. How did the old demonic emperor trap you here for possession?”
“I thought the demon clan was united, but it seems not much different. Equality among all beings under heaven holds some truth.”
“Hey, dragons have long lifespans. You must be several thousand years old. Have you heard of Jiang He? He’s also from your demon clan, a black dragon. You might be related. Do you know him? He’s handsome, especially in human form. Oh, I forgot; you might not understand ‘handsome.’ It’s similar to being majestic or attractive.”
“I want you to help me find him. I’ve been looking for him for so long, but I can’t find him. I miss him so much. Help me, and I’ll get you out. You just need to let me see the demon clan’s spiritual book. I’m not a bad person. Do I look like a bad person to you?”
“By the way, we’ve known each other for so long, and I still don’t know your name. I’m Xiao Jiu, but I also have another name, many names. I don’t even know what I’m called. So, I’ve stuck with the first name I learned, and that’s Xiao Jing.”
“You might find it cheesy. I’ve lived for so many years, and that old monster still calls me ‘Little Little Little.’ I corrected him many times, and he changed it many times, but it’s useless. ‘Little Su,’ ‘Little Jing,’ ‘Little Xuan,’ can you believe it?”
Perhaps due to the prolonged suppression or the perception that the black dragon, being so unresponsive, was the perfect receptacle for venting frustration, Su Jingxuan continued to ramble. As he spoke, he lay back, hands behind his head, staring at the illusory starry ceiling of the cave.
Forgetting the serious and pressing matters, he spoke freely. Eventually, he closed his eyes, experiencing the serene sleep of mortals.
Once he had fallen into a deep slumber and entered the realm of dreams, the enormous claws of the black dragon slowly tore through the imprisoning membrane. Through the opening, the dragon cautiously extended its claw towards Su Jingxuan, delicately brushing away the disheveled hair on his forehead and gently tapping his cheek.
The powerful and fearsome black dragon, in a moment of vulnerability, displayed a touch of tenderness in its actions.
