Only after the Dragon God Palace was left far behind did Nie Kong feel as though the preceding scene were a dream upon reflection.

It was not surprising that Long Tian Gong had proactively asked Nie Kong to call him Uncle. Yet, Long Tian Gong was the Dragon King of the Dragon Spirit Race, and according to Long Xue Chan, he possessed an arrogant nature and exerted terrifying authority over outsiders. How could he treat Nie Kong with such deference simply because Nie Kong and Long Yi were seemingly sworn brothers?

The brief contact of mere minutes had completely overturned Nie Kong’s impression of Long Tian Gong.

However, this only strengthened Nie Kong's suspicion: the relationship between Long Tian Gong and the sisters Long Mei Xian and Long Xue Chan was far more complex than it appeared on the surface.

Could the sisters be Long Tian Gong’s illegitimate daughters?

The bizarre thought flashed through Nie Kong’s mind only to be immediately dismissed. The purpose of the "Dragon Mate Love Seal" was to ensure the fidelity of married couples within the Dragon Spirit Race, while simultaneously enhancing mutual desire to increase the chances of conception. If Long Tian Gong had fathered Long Mei Xian and Long Xue Chan with another woman, would that not constitute infidelity toward Long Yi’s mother?

Such an act would clearly violate the terms of the "Dragon Mate Love Seal."

The primary reason Nie Kong could form the "Dragon Mate Love Seal" with both Long Mei Xian and Long Xue Chan was his lack of Dragon Spirit Race blood and the extremely close timing of his intimate moments with both sisters. Otherwise, Nie Kong would only possess the "Dragon Mate Love Seal" with Long Xue Chan.

Yet, Nie Kong soon felt a fresh surge of uncertainty. The "Dragon Mate Love Seal" was, after all, a creation of man, and Long Tian Gong was renowned as the strongest figure in the Dragon Spirit Race after the Ancestor. Perhaps, much like the sisters had broken free from spiritual body constraints, he too was no longer bound by the restrictions of the Love Seal.

After wrestling with the dilemma for a time, Nie Kong could not resist asking Long Yi beside him, "Brother Long, has Uncle always been this amiable?" Since Long Tian Gong had requested this form of address, Nie Kong saw no reason to refuse.

"He is like this toward his own kin."

Long Yi also appeared rather perplexed. "But toward outsiders, he is extremely stern and never smiles. It's slightly better now; according to the elders, thirty or forty years ago, when those Heavenly Spirit powerhouses visited my father, they dared not even breathe loudly."

"It seems now that Father treats you as one of the clan."

Long Yi finally drew this conclusion. While the conclusion was correct, the reason behind it remained utterly baffling to him. Logically, Nie Kong was still an outsider. Even though he was now the man to both Long Mei Xian and Long Xue Chan, given the Dragon King’s temperament, he should not have been treated with such warmth.

"It looks like I’m benefiting from Mei Xian and Xue Chan's favor."

"..."

They did not linger long on the journey. Their figures flickered ceaselessly between the forest and the beach, arriving at the central part of the island within minutes. Here lay numerous small valleys, not deeply carved, but exquisitely beautiful, resembling layers of overlapping dragon scales from a distance.

This area served as the main residential zone for the Dragon Spirit Race, where visiting guests were also lodged. However, their quarters were confined to two rows of simple wooden huts at the edge of the beach, equipped only with the most basic necessities. Behind these huts stretched a main thoroughfare leading directly into the cluster of valleys within.

Within the valleys, both facilities and environment far surpassed the wooden huts by the shore. This was a distinct characteristic of the Dragon Spirit Race: no matter if the visitor was an Eighth Grade Heavenly Spirit powerhouse or a mere Spirit Master, they had to stay by the sea. If dissatisfied with the accommodation, they were free to leave.

It was rumored that a high-ranking Eighth Grade Heavenly Spirit Master from the Spirit Imperial Hall once arrived at Dragon Island. Confident in his status and strength, he insisted on entering the inner Dragon Valleys for a look. Without a word, the Dragon King transformed into his Heart Form and, with two claws, swatted the Heavenly Spirit Master clear off Dragon Island onto the massive rock outside.

The Heavenly Spirit Master could only retreat shamefacedly to the Spirit Imperial Hall, and in the end, the Spirit Sovereign merely issued verbal reprimands regarding the Dragon Spirit Race’s lack of hospitality, letting the matter drop.

Nie Kong now understood clearly why the Dragon Spirit Race rigidly maintained this rule. Dragon Island itself was formed from the Ancestor Dragon King; only on this island did the Dragon Spirit Race enjoy a higher birth rate. Therefore, those Dragon Valleys housing the clan members represented the continuation of the Dragon Spirit Race’s lineage.

In the hearts of the Dragon Spirit Race, the Dragon Valleys were sacred grounds, absolutely forbidden to outsiders.

Initially, before setting foot on Dragon Island, Nie Kong had assumed he would also be relegated to a wooden hut. But when he saw Long Yi leading him past the huts, following the main path directly toward the island's interior, Nie Kong finally believed that Long Tian Gong was genuinely treating him as an equal to his own people.

"Nie Kong?"

Suddenly, a low voice sounded beside him.

"She Ya?"

The name flashed reflexively in his mind, and Nie Kong swiftly turned his head. He saw She Ya staring intently at him, his cold, grim face etched with unconcealed confusion. Seeing him, Nie Kong experienced a fleeting illusion, as if he were looking not at a man, but a cold, venomous snake.

Of course, given its abilities, this "venomous snake" posed no threat to the current Nie Kong.

Meeting his gaze, Nie Kong smiled genially and said, "Isn't this Young Master She? Are you quite surprised to see me on Dragon Island?"

She Ya’s eyes returned to normal, and he replied coldly, "Indeed. I assumed you were still in Spirit Imperial City."

Nie Kong chuckled, a hint of mockery in his tone, "Young Master She, your words ring hollow. If I haven't misjudged, you probably expected me to already be in the Underworld meeting my ancestors."

"What’s going on?"

Long Yi frowned upon hearing this exchange.

Nie Kong casually laughed it off, "Shortly after we opened Spirit Imperial City, Xue Chan and I encountered two venomous snakes blocking our path. However, one was too fat, and the other too thin—they were simply too weak. In less than a minute, two living snakes became two dead ones, which I then incinerated until nothing remained."

There was no need to hide this matter.

While on Dragon Island, communication was cut off, but once outside, She Ya would immediately know of She Ming's demise. Moreover, the moment She Ming died, the brand in the Spirit Scroll would vanish. She Ya must have started harboring suspicions long ago. Since he would eventually pin the blame for She Ming's death on Nie Kong anyway, Nie Kong might as well inform him clearly now. This individual was prone to suspicion; knowing this truth might make him think twice before plotting against Nie Kong in the future.

"What?"

She Ya's expression changed dramatically.

Just as Nie Kong predicted, the dissipation of the brand She Ming left in the Spirit Scroll alerted She Ya that She Ming was dead. Initially, he had suspected She Ming was killed because he hadn't been careful enough when striking at Nie Kong, perhaps getting discovered by the powerhouses in Spirit Imperial City. But Nie Kong claimed he was the one who killed She Ming.

If Nie Kong had said he killed She Ming’s Seventh Grade Peak Spirit Beast, She Ya would not have doubted it for a second. But She Ming was a genuine Heavenly Spirit expert…

By what merit or power could Nie Kong have slain him?

... ...RO