The Last Dragon’s Rebirth - Chapter 9

Having regained his memories, Zhao Long was aware of the differences between his previous world and this world. While this world had cultivation, when he was a dragon he controlled magic.

Without having to brag much, as a dragon he had been an expert in using magic.

This naturally made Zhao Long confident on being able to do it again. And yet he now had to think through the differences between magic and the dao. In theory, both of these practices were entirely different. Inner energy and natural energy were used by both magicians and cultivators. While natural energy called upon the world’s resources, inner energy called upon a person’s own individual energy.

As such, there was a natural difference between cultivators and magicians. Using natural energy ensured magicians were capable of connecting with and controlling nature. In essence, both cultivators and magicians could use inner energy. Magicians were capable of guiding their inner energy through their meridians to manipulate the universe’s natural energy. In order to manipulate the natural energy, magicians had to understand the various laws of the universe. These laws included elemental laws such as fire, water, earth and air, as well as philosophical schools of thought from Confucius to Plato where every way of thinking was closely linked to a different law.

Martial Dao practitioners were different. They focused more on following a righteous path, which was closely linked with confucianism and martial arts. By assimilating the natural energies of the world into their dantian, essentially making them their own — this process was named cultivation. It was harder to achieve as it required a deep understanding of confucianism as a whole. In a way, they focused on the internal and external energies surrounding their bodies. It is possible for the practitioner’s body and soul to be tempered through this method, leading to them to overcome their finite bodies and achieving immortality.

As a former dragon, Zhao Long had been able to control magic innately. Dragons were well-known for their innate talent at sensing the world’s natural laws. It was an ability born from their soul. Just like elves, beasts and demons, they had high affinity to the elements. Naturally, they would excel at magic and any other practices that required sensing the natural laws.

However, as a cultivator Zhao Long was but a mere beginner. To him who was connected to the universe’s laws since the beginning, he had never thought of tempering his body or soul. Following the path of cultivation felt foreign for him. Perhaps there was a way to merge the magician’s core elements together with a cultivator’s way of thinking?

As his thoughts reached this point, Zhao Long’s eyes closed and his hand lifted as he took a deep breath in.

Immediately afterwards, a small flame appeared on top of his hand. Zhao Long felt a warm sensation reach his palm. With a thought, this small flame slowly increased in size and sweat trickled down Zhao Long’s forehead. Soon, the flame began to take shape. A small flaming figurine soon lay comfortably on Zhao Long’s palm.

It was at this moment that he smiled and opened his eyes. It seemed like his innate abilities were conserved through the reincarnation.

In front of him was a tiny wisp, although delicate and the size of a small doll, it rested on his palm, almost as if it was alive. After staring at his creation with pride, he closed his palm and the small wisp disappeared.

“That’s it?” a childish voice complained. It was Wu Yagui who had been observing Zhao Long this whole time.

“Your magic sucks, and you call yourself a dragon? Lame!” he said in a mocking tone.

Hearing his annoying voice once more, Zhao Long who had long since grown numb to Wu Yagui’s childish taunts, was expressionless.

“It’s just a confirmation.”

Knock, Knock!

“Master, one of your friends seems to be looking for you!” a sweet voice rang from outside his room.

“Oh? Oh? A beauty? Who’s that?”

Upon hearing Fei Ruo’s sweet voice, the childish demon Wu Yagui’s interest was immediately captured. Zhao Long simply ignored him before telling Fei Ruo he would be there soon. Arriving at the small courtyard, Zhao Long saw Fei Ruo talking to a tall, skinny youth.

Searching through this life’s memories, Zhao Long knew that this person was called Zhao Yan and was the adopted son of one of the sect’s elders. Looking at the youth, he found that he seemed rather familiar. This made Zhao Long curious about him as they both held the same surnames.

Seeing that Zhao Long was staring at him, Zhao Yan smiled lightly, making direct eye-contact with him. He was rather amused at Zhao Long’s behaviour and noticing that he may be staring a little too hard, he decided to greet him.

“You are Senior Brother Zhao right? We hold the same surname, maybe we are distant relatives?” he joked.

With the many years of experience that Zhao Long had as both a dragon and a human, he was perfectly aware that having the same surname didn’t always mean they were relatives. Seeing that the person before him made a light joke about it, he smiled in return.

“Junior Brother Zhao, what brings you here?” he asked as the name Zhao tickled his tongue. He felt strange addressing someone else with his surname.

Once he asked that question, Zhao Yan decided to get straight to the point. Yes, unbeknownst to Zhao Long, the Zhao Yan before him was the same Zhao Yan that had reincarnated together with him.

“Senior Brother, the reason I am here is rather private. If it’s possible, can we discuss it elsewhere?” he said with a serious expression.

“Sure.” Zhao Long nodded before inviting him inside.

While Fei Ruo, who noticed the serious atmosphere decided not to go with them and instead went straight to her room.

Both men sat facing each other in the living room. The residence was rather ample, and had enough space to receive up to 10 people, making it appropriate to receive visitors. Of course, as there was only one extra person, they both sat in the living area.

Once they were away from prying eyes and noticing that Fei Ruo had left them alone, Zhao Long took this opportunity to find out the reason why this person who he had never spoken with had come.

“Speak. Why are you here?” he said in a rather cold tone. The previous pleasantries exchanged seeming to have gone down the drain.

Zhao Yan was a rather straightforward individual who had always been righteous and polite to others. That’s why Zhao Long’s sudden change in attitude took him a little by surprise as he lifted his eyebrow.

“That’s a rather sudden change of attitude, senior brother. Okay, I’ll be straight with you. Your memories have returned, right?” he said smiling.

Zhao Long’s eyes flickered for a moment before calming himself down.

“What do you mean?” he frowned.

“I mean exactly that. Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I am talking about, dragon. We were the ones who brought you here to begin with.”

“We?” he asked, cold sweat trickling down his back.

Zhao Long was rather bewildered as he realised he had been called a dragon. Naturally, Zhao Yan’s next words were going to shock him even more.

“Senior Brother Zhao, in your previous life you were a dragon, as I am sure you are aware. However, when you died, your soul didn’t go where it was supposed to go– the heaven realm. It instead went to the Netherworld, to be consumed by the Nether God like the others.” having said this, Zhao Yan paused, as if to give Zhao Long some time to digest this information.

After a few minutes of shock, Zhao Long asked in puzzlement:

“Others? Other dragons? I don’t understand–”

“It is rather simple, you see The Nether God is the current godly being that is governing the Netherworld. But somehow, he has managed to intercept the dragon souls which were originally going to go straight for the heaven realm and consumed them one by one.

The only people who know of these terrible happenings are the people residing in the Netherworld. They however, are weaker than the Nether God. This is not all, with all the dragon souls he has consumed, the Nether God has gotten stronger and gained the innate powers of the dragons he has absorbed. We brought you away before this could happen to you. Sadly…”

Zhao Yan trailed off as he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

“When we brought you away, the Matriarch was discovered by the Nether God, only me and you managed to escape and Matriarch she was imprisoned.” he said as his eyes reddened and an expression of frustration showed on his face.

As Zhao Long listened to his rather long story, various thoughts ran through his head. Truthfully, he was rather overwhelmed. He had just regained his memories and now a lot of drama has appeared out of nowhere.

During his past life, he would steal many stories from the human libraries with fictitious encounters such as– the hero saving the damsel in distress, weak heroes rising to be the strongest– he was a geek, and he knew very well that this kind of plot was a rather old-fashioned way to get the hero to do their biding.

“No way.” he coldly stated.

Hearing his sudden cold reply, for a moment Zhao Yan didn’t know how to react. It was only when he saw Zhao Long’s expression did he understand what he was talking about. The dragon seemed to be quite smart as he had quickly caught on to Zhao Yan’s hidden meaning.

Zhao Long was showing him an extremely vexed expression, as if Zhao Yan had killed his parents and screwed his wife. It was rather ridiculous. But the sole reason for this reaction was simple.

Zhao Long was perfectly aware that with this story came a long goal ahead. Obviously, he was being asked to take care of the Nether God and stop his cruel acts, perhaps in the process saving Zhao Yan’s Matriarch.

It was all too obvious. An obvious flag for this obvious story.

Zhao Long wasn’t having any of it though. He wasn’t a good samaritan anyway.

Poor Zhao Yan was left near speechless at the way his request had been rejected. The only thing he could reply was:

“W-what do you mean, Senior Brother Long plea-”

“Just because I’m the last dragon, and I’ve been reborn because of you, it doesn’t mean I’m going to agree to whatever request you have.” he said frustrated.

“What do I have to do with the Netherworld and your matriarch? I’m a dragon, not your fucking hero.”

Zhao Long had just about had it. All he had wanted to do since forever had been to die peacefully and hope to meet Yulin someday. But no. There just had to be a maniac absorbing souls out there, and he just had to be the one being rescued.

Couldn’t they just have let him be eaten?!

Zhao Yan’s face darkened.

“Senior Brother Long. It isn’t that we are taking advantage of you or anything. Honestly, if I had the sufficient power to stop the Nether God and rescue Matriarch Shan Lin, I would have done so a long time ago. If I had the power then my parents wouldn’t have–”

Zhao Yan’s eyes reddened with tears threatening to fall. His previous calm demeanour was gone. Instantly replaced with exasperation and frustration. Just before he finished his sentence, he stopped himself.

Honestly, Zhao Yan had been through too much. His parents had been killed for opposing the Nether God, and the matriarch he viewed like a big sister had been captured for this damn ungrateful dragon. To top it off he had been made to reincarnate.

Even when he had been reincarnated, he had not felt so aggrieved– until now.

It was almost as if all of those suppressed feelings had piled up and Zhao Yan was ready to erupt.

He was angry and a deep crease appeared between his eyebrows.

For a slight moment, there was silence in the room as Zhao Long who had previously been childishly denying his duties had become quiet from hearing of his junior brother’s misfortune. Honestly, Zhao Yan and Shan Lin were his benefactors. They had every right to ask for something in return. He too had lost someone very special, and couldn’t forgive himself for it. Now all he wanted to do was find her, so he understood Zhao Yan’s feelings of loss.

“I can pretty much smell your anger kid.” he said as he sighed deeply before choosing his next words carefully.

“Alright, alright. I was just a little overwhelmed earlier. No need to get so angry. I’ll take care of it and save your matriarch.” he said in defeat.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yan who had been about to gnash his teeth, heard that Zhao Long had agreed and was immediately brought to tears.

“Sheniiour Bwrother Looong!” he bawled as he practically jumped to hug him in gratitude.

“Ah, so noisy! Would you please not act like a kid and stop crying?! You’re my benefactor, solving this issue is the least I can do.” he said rather vexed.

“Mm!” replied Zhao Yan as he wiped his tears and stopped hugging him.

“This kid is rather girly eh?”

At this moment, a voice had echoed inside Zhao Long’s head. This was of course, the one and only Wu Yagui who had been listening the entire time. Zhao Long just nodded at the demon’s random comment. It appears he too felt that this junior brother of his was rather girly.

“Brother, I know who this Nether God is. I suggest you be careful. It looks like you’ll have a hard time ahead of ya!” Wu Yagui snickered.

“Who is this Nether God… he couldn’t be that strong right?” asked Zhao Long.

It wasn’t like he was particularly interested in someone he was going to defeat, but Wu Yagui’s warning had bothered Zhao Long. Suddenly he felt that defeating such a figure might not be as simple as he thought.

Let’s see… 1… 2… 3… wait how long has it been? ()

In any case, I am sorry to keep you waiting! It’s just that for a while I have had a massive writer’s block for TLDR.

But now I’m back and with more energy than ever!

I have a schedule now! 😀

TLDR will be updated 3 days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from now on!

Additionally, I will be releasing 2 extra chapters on Saturday to make up for being late.

_ So sorry!