Since the merging of the Immortal Fantasy Continent and the Magic Fantasy Continent, there has been a fierce collision between Eastern martial arts, Taoist techniques, and Western battle qi and magic. True qi against battle qi, flying swords and magical treasures against magic, sword energy and battle qi crisscrossing, magical treasures and magic shining magnificently.

  In the early days, during the great confrontation between Eastern and Western cultivators, the power of Taoist techniques and magic was unquestionable. Every cultivator with some achievements and every magic user above the mid-level possessed terrifying power. They could directly manipulate the primal energy of heaven and earth. A cultivator could deal with dozens of Western warriors, and a mid-level or higher magic user could similarly handle dozens of Eastern martial artists.

  However, cultivators and magic users were few in number, and cultivating Taoist techniques or studying magic required extremely harsh physical conditions. As a result, Taoist techniques and magic could not be widely spread. Additionally, cultivators often lived far from the mortal world and rarely appeared before the public, making them the most mysterious in the eyes of the people. Magic users, on the other hand, needed vast and expensive magical materials during their training, so becoming a magic user was impossible without money.

  Cultivating Eastern martial arts or Western battle qi, though requiring certain physical prerequisites, was not as demanding, and ordinary people could practice them. However, due to differences in physical condition, achievements naturally varied. Comparatively, martial artists focusing on physical techniques were weaker than cultivators and magic users, unless it was close combat, in which case these martial artists were no match for the cultivators who could directly manipulate the primal energy of heaven and earth.

  Of course, nothing is absolute. Among Eastern martial artists, there were some who could cultivate their techniques to an extremely profound level. Any cultivator encountering such a powerful Eastern martial artist would feel a headache.

  Moreover, occasionally, there were Eastern martial artists who had cultivated world-shaking power, their terrifying strength making them nearly invincible—this was the nightmare of all cultivators. However, it is well-known that martial arts progress slowly, and such world-shaking martial artists were rare, only appearing once in hundreds of years, causing martial arts to gradually decline.

  Similarly, among Western martial artists, though they were numerous, their average strength was far inferior to that of cultivators and magic users. However, among these martial artists, some special practitioners possessed strength that was not weaker than that of cultivators and magic users. These individuals were known as Dragon Knights in the eyes of the world.

  To become a Dragon Knight, one must first tame a dragon of their own.

  Of course, dragons vary in strength. The dragons of the West are classified into five ranks—Earth Dragons, Flying Dragons, Sub-Dragons, Giant Dragons, and Holy Dragons, corresponding to the five ranks of cultivators on the continent. As a result, there are five ranks of Dragon Knights: Earth Dragon Knight, Flying Dragon Knight, Sub-Dragon Knight, Giant Dragon Knight, and Holy Dragon Knight.

  Thus, to become a Dragon Knight, one must reach the corresponding rank and tame a dragon of matching strength. Therefore, all Dragon Knights are powerful, and in a certain sense, the reason Dragon Knights ride dragons is to prove their immense strength.

  In the Western Continent, Giant Dragon Knights are rare, and Holy Dragon Knights are even more so, but those who reach this level possess extraordinary and terrifying power. Even highly skilled magic users and cultivators would not dare to challenge them easily.

  After returning to the Royal Ancient Library and arriving back at the Qi Shi Mansion, Chen Nan couldn't help but recall the experience in the underground ancient tomb, still feeling a sense of lingering fear.

  "This old man is really impossible to predict. He didn't kill me and silence me, but I think I should leave this place of trouble as soon as possible..."

  Through this incident, he finally understood the ancient saying: "There are people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens." The old man, though appearing frail and weak, was actually a terrifying, peerless expert, one of the fifth-tier cultivators he had encountered after Zhuge Chengfeng, and possibly even surpassing the fifth tier.

  "You brat, daydreaming again, how shameful!" the old poison freak said, his hands clutching the courtyard wall, peeking over at him.

  "Damn, you perverted old man, spying on me again!" Chen Nan walked out of the room.

  "Action speaks louder than words. Come on, let's go see your cool water."

  "You..." Thinking of Nalan Ruoshui, Chen Nan hesitated. If he left like this, he might never see her again.

  "Oh, I forgot, it's Ruoshui, hehe..." The old poison freak had a cheeky grin on his face.

  If it weren’t for the old man’s poisonous aura, Chen Nan really would have liked to give him a good beating.

  The old poison freak laughed and said, “A Dragon Knight has arrived at the Qi Shi Mansion today. A lot of people have gone to see his dragon. Your Ruoshui wanted to go with you, but you weren’t here, so she went ahead. Come on, let’s join the crowd and have a look.”

  A Dragon Knight was the symbol of strength, and dragons were both powerful and mysterious creatures. Upon hearing this, Chen Nan became interested and followed the old poison freak out.

  Today, the Qi Shi Mansion was far from its usual tranquility. The gladiator arena was packed with people, and even the old witch, who usually could rarely be seen, had abandoned her “great magical research” to come here.

  This was the first time Chen Nan had seen so many exceptional individuals gathered in one place. The majority of them were powerful cultivators, though there were also researchers like the old poison freak who were outstanding in their respective fields. Most of these people were over thirty years old, with only three or five young individuals around twenty, so it didn’t take long for him to spot Nalan Ruoshui.

  Nalan Ruoshui was dressed in water-blue robes, resembling an ethereal orchid blooming in a secluded valley—graceful, otherworldly, and with a calm and serene demeanor. When she saw Chen Nan and the old poison freak walk into the arena, a faint smile appeared on her tranquil face.

  Chen Nan waved at her. “Ruoshui…”

  The old poison freak, standing beside him, shouted, “Ruoshui, I’m here! It feels like an eternity since we last met…”

  Chen Nan stepped hard on the old man’s foot, and the old poison freak let out a pig-like scream, drawing the attention of those nearby.

  A smile appeared on Nalan Ruoshui’s face as she said, “Chen Nan, how can you be so careless when walking?”

  The old poison freak shouted, “He’s not careless, he’s doing it on purpose!”

  Nalan Ruoshui ignored him and continued speaking to Chen Nan, “Next time, if the ground is uneven, step more carefully to avoid tripping.”

  The old poison freak muttered, “…”

  Watching Chen Nan and Nalan Ruoshui walk towards the arena together, the old poison freak muttered unhappily, “Crossing the river and tearing down the bridge…”

  In the center of the gladiator arena lay a massive, fierce creature. Its dark green scales gleamed, and its appearance was grotesque and terrifying. No need to ask—this was the dragon of the Dragon Knight. The dragon was about seven zhang long, with two horns on its head, and massive, fleshy wings on its belly. It looked quite ferocious.

  Standing next to the dragon was a tall young man. He had a handsome appearance, a robust physique, and an explosive strength that radiated a sense of masculine beauty.

  A strange expression appeared on Nalan Ruoshui’s face as she said, “Do you see him? This person is the Dragon Knight. He’s the son of General Sima Changfeng, named Sima Lingkong. He’s been cultivating with high-level experts in the Western Continent for the past ten years and has now returned after completing his training. He’s been officially appointed as a Qi Shi by the Emperor and is officially moving into the Qi Shi Mansion today.”

  Chen Nan nodded. “Oh, such a big background. Hmm, do Qi Shis need to be appointed like that?”

  “Of course, every Qi Shi enjoys the status of a national hero. How could there be no official appointment?” Nalan Ruoshui glanced at him and added, “Of course, you’re an exception. You’re a hidden Qi Shi, but… sigh… if only your strength were fully restored. Even without the enviable glory of being a national hero, at least you’d have powerful strength…”

  By the end, her tone was tinged with a hint of sadness.

  Chen Nan didn’t notice the subtle change in Nalan Ruoshui, but he did feel a bit sour in his heart. He was about to leave, and he might never see this beautiful and talented doctor again. But at this moment, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

  Nalan Ruoshui said, “Look, this dragon really is impressive. I’ve never seen such a massive, powerful creature before.”

  “Impressive? All I see is a big-winged lizard with a fat belly,” Chen Nan replied.

  “Pfft,” Nalan Ruoshui laughed.

  “Good heavens, what kind of eyes do you have? That’s a dragon!” Chen Nan exclaimed.

  “I saw a green dragon last time, on the western border mountain range. It was at least thirty zhang long. Compared to that, this one is like a baby dragon, a dragon cub,” Chen Nan added.

  “Really? Was it really that big?” A look of doubt appeared on Nalan Ruoshui’s face.

  “Heh heh, this kid’s not wrong. What he saw was a giant dragon. Giant dragons are all over thirty zhang long. This is just an ordinary flying dragon, a little bit more advanced than a ground dragon that can’t fly,” the old witch suddenly appeared behind them.

  Chen Nan turned around and greeted the terrifying neighbor.

  The old witch nodded and continued, “There are five tiers of dragons in the western continent: ground dragons, flying dragons, sub-dragons, giant dragons, and sacred dragons. Except for ground dragons that can’t fly, the other four types can. Ground dragons are around five zhang long, flying dragons are around seven zhang, sub-dragons are between fifteen to twenty zhang, and giant dragons are at least thirty zhang long. As for sacred dragons, I’ve never seen one, but I’ve heard they are rare and special, and their strength doesn’t always correlate with their size.”

  Nalan Ruoshui smiled, “The old witch certainly knows a lot.”

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  “Heh heh, I did spend some time in the Western Continent. If I didn’t know this, I’d be laughed at. But, you, little girl, sure know how to flatter. You’re much more likable than that little brat Chu Yu. That one runs away whenever she sees me.”

  At this moment, the Dragon Knight, Sima Lingkong, was explaining something to the crowd, who were listening intently. Suddenly, Princess Chu Yu appeared sneakily, constantly looking around as if searching for someone.

  Chen Nan and Nalan Ruoshui exchanged glances, both unable to hide their smiles.

  The old witch huffed, “That little brat! Am I really that scary? Every time she comes to the Qi Shi Mansion, she sneaks around. Hmph, it’s driving me crazy!”

  After completing her “recon,” the little princess let out a sigh of relief and, like a lively sprite, ran to the center of the arena.

  “Sima Lingkong, how dare you not report to me after returning!” she called out.

  The crowd, upon seeing the beautiful little devil, smiled, but Sima Lingkong, who had been so full of energy before, immediately deflated like a punctured ball.

  “Your Highness,” he said.

  The little princess’s spoiled nature was fully on display as she said, “All the others who went to the Western Continent to cultivate have come to report to me, except for you. So tell me, did you forget to prepare a gift for me?” As she spoke, she circled around the flying dragon. “This dragon is pretty good. Is it a gift for me? But it’s a bit ugly. Well, I’ll reluctantly accept it.”

  Upon hearing this, Sima Lingkong’s face turned green. With a forced smile, he said, “Princess Yu, this is my mount. The gift I’ve prepared for you is still at home. I’ll send it over shortly.”

  Chen Nan finally understood the meaning of "infamous" when it came to the little devil in the imperial capital. Anyone who saw her had a headache. One could only imagine the tragic childhoods that the noble children of the imperial capital must have had.

  "So, you don't want to give me this dragon?" she asked.

  "No, it's just... this..." Sima Lingkong stammered.

  The little princess huffed and said, "You stingy thing. Don't worry, I wouldn't want such a small, ugly monster anyway. The dragons I saw in the Western Mountains were much bigger than this one."

  Sima Lingkong wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. "This is just a flying dragon. Of course, it's not as big as those giant dragons."

  The little princess asked, "Is this dragon obedient? Can I ride it and fly into the sky?"

  "Of course," he replied.

  "That's great!" The little princess's face immediately lit up with excitement.

  Sima Lingkong patted the flying dragon and said, "When it takes off, be steady, okay?"

  To everyone's surprise, the dragon nodded as if it understood.

  The crowd was astonished.

  The little princess, equally surprised, exclaimed, "It understands human speech!"

  "Of course. Dragons are intelligent creatures. Even though this one is just a second-tier flying dragon, it can understand some simple human words," Sima Lingkong explained.

  Excited, the little princess climbed onto the dragon's back.

  At that moment, the old witch called out from the back of the crowd, "Yu’er, if you want to fly, you can learn magic from me. Look how easy it is; why bother riding someone else’s dragon?"

  With that, the old witch floated up and glided to the center of the arena.

  As soon as the little princess saw the old witch, her expression changed dramatically, but she quickly put on a sweet smile.

  "Hello, Granny! I have something to do. I need to go back to the palace," she said, and without hesitation, she quickly slid off the dragon's back and darted through the crowd like a mud fish.

  The onlookers exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.

  The old witch yelled, "The little brat always runs when she sees me. Come back here!" She muttered an incantation and used Wind Glide to chase after her swiftly.

  From a distance, the little princess's voice could be heard, "No, I really need to go back to the palace..."

  ...

  In the end, the little princess was caught and brought back. She pouted but didn't dare to cause a scene.

  Chen Nan couldn't hold back any longer when he saw her embarrassed expression and burst into laughter.

  Nalan Ruoshui tugged at his sleeve and said, "Stop laughing. Can't you see everyone else is holding it in? If the little princess sees you, you're in trouble."

  Chen Nan understood the little princess's devilish nature all too well. As soon as she turned her gaze toward him, he immediately stopped laughing.

  The old witch chuckled, "Hehe, don't be upset. Many people want me to teach them, but I don't. You want to fly, right? I can teach you!"

  The old witch recited an incantation, and a pale blue light surrounded the little princess, lifting her into the air.

  "How does it feel? If you learn from me, you could do it too," she said.

  Although excitement showed on the little princess's face, she shook her head resolutely after hearing the old witch's words.

  Furious, the old witch immediately stopped channeling her magical energy. The little princess screamed as she fell from the air, but just before hitting the ground, a soft glow caught her. However, her face was as white as a sheet from fear.

  Chen Nan finally understood why the little princess was so afraid of the old witch, and why she refused to become her apprentice.

  At that moment, Sima Lingkong stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Magic Granny."

  "Mm, no need for formalities. You're quite the young man, having your own dragon at such a young age," the old witch said.

  Sima Lingkong replied, "Senior, you're too kind. I'm far from your level. When you were cultivating in the Western Continent, your fame spread far and wide. Even now, people still mention you."

  The old witch cackled, "You're already quite impressive. Among the younger generation, you're probably one of the strongest. If you keep working hard, you'll definitely become a fourth-tier giant dragon knight."

  The old toxic monster appeared behind Chen Nan and Nalan Ruoshui at some point, muttering softly, "This old hag is so shameless, look at the smug look on her face. I really don’t know how she got that grand mage certification, she must’ve had some luck. But this muscled kid is truly strong. To become a flying dragon knight at his age is no small feat."

  Chen Nan nodded in agreement. He could already feel the immense power in Sima Lingkong, confirming that the second-tier flying dragon knight title was well-deserved.

  Taking advantage of the old witch's words, the little princess quietly stood up and sneaked out of the crowd.

  After a while, the old witch suddenly realized the little princess was missing. In a huff, she returned to her "great magical research" endeavor.

  At that moment, Sima Lingkong spotted Nalan Ruoshui, and his eyes brightened. He walked through the crowd of people watching the flying dragon and made his way toward her.

  "Ruoshui is here as well. If you want to see the flying dragon, I can just take it to your house," Sima Lingkong said.

  At that moment, Chen Nan suddenly felt his right hand tighten as Nalan Ruoshui's soft little hand grasped his.

  "No need. I’m just here to accompany Chen Nan and take a look," she replied.

  Sima Lingkong's eyes shot out two cold beams of light as he looked at the hands they were holding and then at Chen Nan. "Who is he?"

  Nalan Ruoshui calmly answered, "He is the person I can entrust my life to."

  Chen Nan felt a bit uncomfortable. It was clear that Nalan Ruoshui had known this muscle-bound man for a long time, and it was obvious she was using him as a shield. He had the feeling of being manipulated.

  Sima Lingkong’s eyes nearly spit fire. He glared fiercely at Chen Nan and said, "Kid, stay out of this. This is between Ruoshui and me, and I hope you don’t get involved."

  The old toxic monster, who had been standing behind Chen Nan, said, "Young man, don’t speak so harshly. There’s no need to be so confrontational."

  At this point, the crowd of oddities around the flying dragon noticed the disturbance and turned to look.

  Nalan Ruoshui said, "Let’s go."

  She grabbed Chen Nan’s hand and started walking toward the exit of the arena.

  Sima Lingkong, unable to contain his fury, dashed in front of them and shouted, "Ruoshui, I hope you remember that you’re my fiancée now. Don’t be playing around with others. Not only does this disgrace our family’s reputation, but it also tarnishes your family’s name."

  Nalan Ruoshui snapped, "Nonsense, who is your fiancée? Please show some respect and stop speaking nonsense. Move aside!"

  She pushed Sima Lingkong away with one hand and pulled Chen Nan, running toward the exit.

  Chen Nan felt very displeased. He thought about shaking off Nalan Ruoshui’s hand, but after a moment’s hesitation, he decided against it.

  The oddities in the arena were murmuring among themselves.

  Sima Lingkong stood there for a moment, a cold smile curling on his lips, before he followed after them.

  After Nalan Ruoshui and Chen Nan left the arena, they made their way toward Chen Nan’s courtyard.

  At the entrance to Chen Nan’s courtyard, Sima Lingkong caught up with them. "Ruoshui, what is this about? You know I like you. Soon, my father will go to your family to propose. How can you be with someone unrelated to you like this?"

  Nalan Ruoshui said, "You can forget it. I will never marry you."

  "You..." Sima Lingkong's eyes flashed with a cold glint. "Fine, you really have some skills. Hmph, when your father agrees, I'll see if you still want to marry or not."

  His eyes were filled with fierce light as he turned to Chen Nan. "Kid, did you take what I just said as a breeze? I told you to stay away. Did you hear me? Get lost!"

  Chen Nan was already extremely displeased, and hearing those words made him explode in anger. His family’s secret martial arts, which had been forcibly suppressed, surged up uncontrollably. A powerful aura burst forth from his body.

  Nalan Ruoshui, fearing that Sima Lingkong might attack Chen Nan, stood in front of him. At the same time, the bodyguards sent by the Princess to protect the Hou Yi Bow sensed a powerful energy fluctuation. In an instant, seven figures appeared in front of the three.

  Chen Nan silently cursed himself, feeling ashamed for being too impulsive. He quickly reined in his energy, and the overwhelming aura vanished in a flash.

  The people present were puzzled. Nalan Ruoshui and a few of the warriors eventually believed that the murderous intent had been released by Sima Lingkong. However, Sima Lingkong thought that the powerful energy came from the warriors in front of him, as at that moment, Chen Nan showed no signs of any energy fluctuation. No matter how he tested it, he couldn’t feel any cultivation energy from Chen Nan.

  Sima Lingkong sneered, "Are you even a man? Hiding behind a woman, what kind of skill is that?"

  Chen Nan coldly glanced at him and said, "What are you barking about? She doesn’t even like you, and you’re still clinging to her, shameless."

  Sima Lingkong, enraged, laughed bitterly. "Heh, you kept man, if I don’t tear you to pieces, I’ll...!"

  "Enough! Sima Lingkong, are you finished? If you keep being rude and causing a scene, I’ll report you to His Majesty," Nalan Ruoshui said with a dark expression, losing the calmness she usually held.

  "This guy is nothing, he’s got no skills, not even worth being a kept man. Ruoshui, you..."

  "You’re shameless!" Nalan Ruoshui gritted her teeth in fury. She turned around and pulled Chen Nan into the courtyard.

  Sima Lingkong was about to follow when a few of the warriors stepped forward to block his way. One of them said, "Young Master Sima, please wait. Princess Chang has given an order: no one is allowed to enter this courtyard without her approval."

  At this point, Sima Lingkong was nearly driven mad with anger. His fury surged, and he yelled, "Why? How did those two dogs get in?"

  "Because this is Young Master Chen’s courtyard, and Miss Nalan is here to treat his injuries under orders."

  "What? That useless one is also a strange person?"

  The warriors fell silent.

  Sima Lingkong's mind gradually calmed down. He gave the courtyard one last, fierce glare before turning to leave.

  Once inside the courtyard, Nalan Ruoshui quickly released Chen Nan's hand and turned her face away. "I’m sorry."

  Chen Nan’s displeasure had mostly faded. "It’s fine."

  "Don't you want to ask me why I'm doing this?"

  "I was waiting for you to tell me."

  Nalan Ruoshui turned to face him and said, "My father is the Left Chancellor of the court, Nalan Wencheng. Sima Lingkong’s father is the Tiger General, Sima Changfeng. Both are prominent officials of the Chu Kingdom, but they have never gotten along. In recent years, some court officials have tried to mediate between them, and their relationship has slightly improved. Later, someone suggested that the two families marry off their children to further strengthen their ties."

  "Discord between generals and chancellors is detrimental to the country. My father agreed to the mediation, and at that time, even the Tiger General agreed willingly. Others may not know what kind of person Sima Lingkong is, but I do. Over the past few years, he has returned to the capital several times, each time causing scandals and behaving like a wild young rake."

  "I understand my father’s difficulties and know he only has the country’s best interests in mind. I despise Sima Lingkong, but I am powerless to change this situation. In a few days, Sima Changfeng will send someone to formally propose. I have no choice but to provoke Sima Lingkong, make him despise me, and ruin the engagement. So..."

  "So, you dragged me along and deliberately appeared in front of Sima Lingkong to provoke him?"

  "Yes... I'm sorry."

  "Sigh, you really don't understand a man's heart. Doing this will only have the opposite effect." Chen Nan genuinely felt some sympathy for Nalan Ruoshui. This usually quiet woman was so helpless, unable to control her own happiness despite being of noble birth, reduced to a mere pawn in political schemes. He sighed deeply and said, "How can I help you?"

  Tears welled up in Nalan Ruoshui's eyes, and her voice trembled as she said, "I don't know... I really don't know what I should do..."

  "How about..." Chen Nan almost said, "How about I take you with me and leave?" but the words stopped in his throat. He still wasn't sure if Nalan Ruoshui had any feelings for him.

  "How about what?" Nalan Ruoshui looked at him with a hopeful expression.

  "Well, how about you run away? Escape to another country, and come back once the situation calms down."

  Nalan Ruoshui’s face showed disappointment. "I’m a woman, where could I go? I’ve never been far from home, I have no experience in the world. I’m all alone... wuwu..."

  By the end, she could no longer hold back and began crying uncontrollably.

  Chen Nan awkwardly scratched his head. He had no handkerchief, so he raised his wide sleeve in front of her.

  Nalan Ruoshui grabbed his sleeve, gently wiping away her tears, and then suddenly threw herself into his arms, crying loudly.

  "What should I do? What should I do... wuwu..."

  Chen Nan was at a loss for what to do.

  After crying for a while, Nalan Ruoshui’s voice softened, and she finally said in a low voice, "If you had a prominent background, if you had peerless martial arts... I... I would leave."