Chen Changsheng cupped his hands respectfully. “I greet the Dragon Lord.”
He felt some wariness towards this sudden appearance of the Old Dragon King, having heard bits and pieces from the Old Sword Cultivator before.
The Old Dragon King said, “How did you know it was me?”
“Amidst this heavy rain, the visitor has a human body with a dragon head. Besides the Dragon Lord, I couldn’t think of another.”
The Old Dragon King chuckled, then stepped forward to stand before Chen Changsheng.
A smile curved at the Old Dragon King’s mouth. “Indeed not a mortal. That explains your Sword Intent.”
Chen Changsheng looked at the Old Dragon King before him, a bit confused.
The Old Dragon King said, “Your Sword Intent held within it the shifting tides of time. No mortal could achieve that. I was puzzled by it earlier.”
Chen Changsheng smiled gently. “You flatter me, Dragon Lord. I was merely feeling a little troubled and practiced swordplay to clear my mind.”
He simply didn’t understand how he had drawn the Old Dragon here.
“May I ask why the Dragon Lord has come?” Chen Changsheng inquired.
The Old Dragon King shook his sleeves. “I came here to bring rain by the Will of Heaven. Seeing your swordwork form an Intent felt intriguing, so I lingered to watch awhile.”
“I see,” Chen Changsheng said.
“Feel free to step inside, Dragon Lord. The temple has some tea and a few ripe peaches. Simple fare, but quite pleasant.”
The Old Dragon King shook his head. “No need for trouble. I cannot linger here long.”
He looked at Chen Changsheng again, his gaze carrying a peculiar quality.
Chen Changsheng found it strange, but didn’t know where to begin.
Since entering, the Old Dragon had been sizing him up repeatedly. He didn’t know what was so interesting to see.
Gently stroking his white beard, the Old Dragon said, “No Magical Power, yet your Divine Sense has reached the Third Heaven. I once met someone similarly unusual.”
Chen Changsheng’s heart skipped a beat. “I have been here less than a hundred years.”
The Old Dragon nodded after hearing this. “Then it wasn’t you.”
Chen Changsheng felt odd and asked, “Dare I ask, Dragon Lord, are there no Cultivators in this world who focus solely on Divine Sense?” ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡✶𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚✶𝙣𝙚𝙩
The Old Dragon replied, “Divine Sense dwells within the Mortal Body. The three gates – Essence, Breath, Spirit – are inseparable. Even those bald fellows of the Buddhist Sect must eventually abandon their Mortal Body. None could have Divine Sense alone, preeminent like yours.”
Chen Changsheng paused inwardly. “What consequences if Divine Sense grows stronger?”
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The Old Dragon thought, then said, “Only abandoning the Mortal Body.”
But then he abruptly added, “The Fifth Heaven of Divine Sense. Yet you possess no Magical Power, nor have you refined your Mortal Body. Logically, the flesh couldn’t hold Divine Sense beyond the Second Heaven. You truly are an anomaly, still possessing your Mortal Body.”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng understood. His ability to retain his body must be due to the Curse.
Chen Changsheng asked, “You said you met someone like me. Do you know what became of that person?”
The Old Dragon King tried to recall but suddenly frowned.
This wasn’t right. He was certain such a person existed, yet he couldn’t picture their face, no matter how hard he tried.
This was most alarming. Though long ago, he was already at least a Flood Dragon then. Forgetting was impossible.
The Old Dragon King coughed. “I have forgotten.”
Chen Changsheng took it as reluctance to share and pressed no further. “I see…”
Seeing Chen Changsheng seemed unconvinced, the Old Dragon King added, “Truly, the memory is unclear. I do not lie.”
Perplexed by this extra assurance, Chen Changsheng said, “I never thought you unwilling to tell me.”
The Old Dragon King nodded and offered no further explanation.
He glanced at the rain and flicked his sleeve. “This rain will end shortly. It’s time for me to leave.”
“Your swordsmanship is rather good. Should you ever journey to the Tongtian River, remember to offer incense at my temple.”
Relieved to hear of his departure, Chen Changsheng said, “Naturally.”
The Old Dragon King’s form shimmered. Under Chen Changsheng’s gaze, his true form took flight, soaring into the sky.
Legends spoke: the horns like a stag’s; head like a camel’s; eyes like a hare’s; neck like a serpent’s; belly like a clam’s; scales like a fish’s; claws like an eagle’s; paws like a tiger’s; ears like a bull’s. Beside the mouth were flowing whiskers; beneath the jaw, a luminous pearl; below the throat, the counter-scale…
Now seeing it, exactly so.
Chen Changsheng’s first glimpse left him stunned. He murmured, “Is this the True Dragon? Truly, seeing once surpasses hearing a hundred times.”
Only when the dragon form vanished into the night did Chen Changsheng slowly snap out of it.
He raised the Rain-Listening Sword in his hand and examined it.
“Sword Intent holding the shifting tides of time…”
Chen Changsheng thought inwardly.
If he could choose, he’d rather not have it.
Not long after the Old Dragon King left, the rain over Anning County ceased.
Meanwhile, the Old Dragon King was still pondering that person in his memory.
He was absolutely certain. Long ago, there indeed was a Cultivator whose Divine Sense stood preeminent. But when he tried to remember, he couldn’t even picture the person’s face.
The Old Dragon King muttered to himself, yet found no answer.
Once back, he’d have to ask the old turtle to divine a hexagram.
He wanted to understand why someone could simply vanish from his memory.
Chen Changsheng returned to the Library Pavilion.
“So it seems,” he mused, “the Divine Sense peaks at the Fifth Heaven. And I’ve already reached the Third.”
The Old Dragon King certainly wouldn’t lie.
Chen Changsheng pondered: he’d only practiced Divine Refinement for a few years. How had he reached the Third Heaven?
Was this the normal speed of Spiritual Refinement for Cultivators in this world?
“I should have asked the Old Dragon King.”
Chen Changsheng sighed, regretting the missed chance.
He set these thoughts aside and turned to read his books.