Chapter 1: The Ballad Comes from the Heavens

This old master is a teacher in the Xiang Li Bie Yuan, named Li Jinguang. He appears to be imposing and stern, yet in reality, he does not dare to offend these young disciples too much. This is because these boys are all scions sent by the great clans of the Dragon Kingdom to cultivate their skills in Taoism, and should any mishap occur, he truly cannot bear the responsibility

Xiang Xiang, the one who knows how to speak, is a young lady from the Xi family. Her father holds an official position in the same court as the father of Xing Hai, and he secretly chuckles to himself. When she was five years old, Xiang Xiang's parents brought her to visit the Xing Hai family. Xing Hai's father held a significant position in the court, and the Meng family was extraordinarily powerful. The Xi family intended to establish a connection, and since Xiang Xiang was quite charming, the two families arranged a betrothal, agreeing that they would marry at the age of sixteen.

Mu Ge Dao: "Are you saying that I am an idiot? Alright, you little girl, let me kiss you quickly, otherwise I won't let it go."

The various old Daoists at the Xiang Li Bie Yuan imparted their skills in swordsmanship, martial arts, and boxing to Cang Chen Zhe without reservation. They are considered renowned martial artists of the present age, possessing considerable abilities. Although they cannot be compared to the awakened Dragon Fire practitioners, as long as they are sufficiently diligent and bring joy to Cang Chen Zhe, it would be only natural for him to return in the future, after achieving great success, to repay their kindness.

Muge stammered and mumbled a few verses of scripture, then began to imitate the current actions of the figure.

A young girl beside Xinghai said: "Alright, alright, you all stop staring at Xinghai. He is going to take the imperial examination to become a scholar and a jinshi, which is different from us rough folks."

In a state of paralysis, he awoke with his eyes open, only to hear the sound of wheels turning, crushing the stones on the road. He found himself in a large carriage, drenched in cold sweat, his breathing in disarray, still holding a long sword in his arms, sitting cross-legged.

On the right side, a person said: "There isn't much time left. In another year, if I still can't master the second level of this Dragon Fire skill, I'll have to go home and eat idle meals. My parents will definitely scold me, saying I am useless"

Is this song the "Song of the Unrestrained"?

Mu Ge smiled proudly, pointing at Xing Hai, and said: "Sir, Xing Hai was lazy in his practice earlier and fell asleep during the journey. I kindly ask you to punish him."

Li Jinguang said with a stern face: "Xinghai, how old are you this year?"

Perhaps it is precisely because of Xi Xiang that Mu Ge has doubled his malice towards me. While a beautiful woman may not necessarily be a source of disaster, jealousy is always a harmful poison.

A hand covered in scales emerged from the water, and before the figure could evade, it was pulled into the depths. The dark green water engulfed him, and the figure's ears echoed with frenzied, terrifying murmurs. His skin dissolved, his muscles rotted, his bones shattered, and his internal organs burned with pain

At this moment, the carriage stopped by the roadside, and an old man said: "Dear disciples, let us stop and rest, and stretch our limbs"

The young girl then said, "Brother Mu, I am not talking about you."

The young girl giggled and gave Mu Ge a kiss. Some children loudly jeered and made a ruckus, while others turned away in disgust, unwilling to look.

A warmth spread through his heart as he looked at the young girl, yet he felt her gaze was teasing, unsure if it was a form of mockery. His real name was Meng Xinghai, but he was always referred to by others as Xinghai.

Li Jinguang said coldly: "How have I taught you all? Practicing this Dragon Fire Technique requires diligence and perseverance; otherwise, once you reach the age of 15, if you have not advanced to the second level, your innate talent will be set, and you will remain an ordinary person for the rest of your life, making it difficult to continue cultivating and understanding the Dao. Furthermore, you must not give up on yourself or fall into despair. You are only 14 years old, and there are still more than six months left; who knows, before you turn 15, you might suddenly gain insight and break through the threshold in one go? Look at Mu Ge, and then look at your own meager progress. Do you even know how to write the characters for shame?"

With a disheveled appearance and a spirit in turmoil, he cried out: "Spare me, spare me! Why have you tormented me from childhood to adulthood? You can kill me, devour me, yet why do you persist in haunting me, merely to frighten me?"

The form has no answers, yet one can faintly see the bright flame within one's soul, the flame burning softly, swaying with the melody, each time protecting the form from returning to the nightmare

The children spoke in unison: "Yes, Master"

Another person remarked: "The master is reluctant to hit him; he is so thin that he would die with just a touch. Although the master is strict, the Meng family is not to be trifled with"

This extraordinary skill is divided into nine levels of mastery. The first level is accessible to everyone, even a simpleton from a farming family can learn it to some extent, but it is of limited utility. However, once one successfully cultivates to the second level, they will undergo a transformation known as awakening. Regardless of gender, they will stand out among their peers, attracting the attention of their clan, and are destined to be valued by the Dragon Kingdom's court in the future, becoming a person of significance.

Though his demeanor may appear rigid, he remains steadfast in his own ways, indifferent to whether others treat him well or poorly

It opened its golden eyes and gazed at the figure.

The children gradually emerged from the carriage, stretching their muscles and straightening their backs, raising their hands and feet; this is referred to as expelling stale air and revitalizing the body. It turns out that after practicing this "Dragon Fire Technique," it is essential for everyone to engage in such activities, otherwise, it may lead to physical injury

Currently, Xi Xiang is evidently quite dissatisfied with this agreement. Among the young women in the other courtyard, she is the most beautiful and is deeply favored by Mu Ge. She is also quite close to Mu Ge, often pairing up with him and making disparaging remarks about appearances.

The song is distant and lonely, yet it carries a sense of freedom. The physical form no longer exists, but the melody of this ballad can still be heard clearly

In the blink of an eye, amidst the crowd, I once again saw a handsome young man, and a sense of reverence arose within me. This young man is named Cang Chen Zhe, a prodigy of extraordinary talent, rare in the world. At the age of nine, he arrived at the Xiang Li Separation Institute, and within a year, he had comprehended the true essence of Dragon Fire, thus awakening his potential. Everyone held him in high esteem, and the Xiang Li Separation Institute regarded him as a treasured jewel. However, this individual was as reclusive as Xing Hai, yet his solitude was a matter of choice, while Xing Hai's reclusiveness was somewhat involuntary.

An old Taoist in a gray robe and leather shoes walked over slowly and said: "Disciples, if it is not achievable, do not force it. One must understand the principle that without cause and condition, one should not insist. Some are intelligent, while others are foolish; one cannot generalize.

Li Jinguang thought to himself: "The Meng family wields immense power; although this child is merely a small member of the family, he is still a person of the Meng family. It is best to say a few casual words and not take it seriously, lest I provoke him." He then replied: "That is very good."

A child laughed and said, "Skeleton, if you do not practice diligently, your master will surely punish you with a stick."

Once again, a young girl asked, "Brother Mu, what are you reading?"

Let him laugh, this ignorant person. The body does not hope for awakening, nor does it expect any progress in the Dragon Fire Technique; the body only seeks a moment of tranquility

In addition, twenty imposing men followed behind, each wielding a broadsword. They were the guards of the other courtyard, skilled in their abilities, and since the entire route was along the broad official roads, they would be able to ensure the safety of this journey

Mu Gedao: "Isn't that so? This is like a fresh flower inserted into a skull." His tone was filled with indignation. He had already awakened, feeling superior in status, while some sycophants behind him loudly echoed his sentiments

Mu Ge Xi Dao: "Are you referring to the physical form? This person is indeed your future husband"

He turned to ashes, leaving only the remnants of white flames in his mind. Is that his soul? Soon, a song echoed between the sea and sky, singing: "Burning fiercely, the world is hot, murky and turbid is the river of the mundane world, the soul traverses the sea of yin and yang, singing freely and carelessly."

He said with a weary expression: "Master's guidance is something I cannot dare to disregard." Since childhood, he has suffered from this nightmare affliction, not due to a lack of diligence in his studies, but rather because most of the time he must concentrate his will to resist the terrifying nightmares, and his martial arts skills are not particularly advanced. He excels in his studies and possesses good knowledge, yet this is not highly regarded in the Daoist tradition.

According to the regulations of the court, regardless of how early the youth awaken, they must remain in school until the age of 15, studying various classics and texts. Only after that can they further study the profound realms of Dragon Fire skills. This is because the Dragon Fire skills can strengthen the bones and muscles, and if practiced before the age of 15, when the bones of the youth have not fully developed, it may lead to lifelong disability or, in severe cases, death. Moreover, it is essential for young people to interact with their peers to prevent future damage to their mental state, which could result in them becoming strange, gloomy, or even rebellious individuals. Therefore, this age limit of 15 is indeed a wise regulation established by the current sovereign. Furthermore, it is crucial for young people to engage with their contemporaries to avoid potential harm to their mental well-being, which could lead to them becoming odd, morose, or even treasonous individuals. Thus, this age limit of 15 is truly a sagacious rule set by the current emperor.

His original name is Meng Xinghai, but due to the teasing of others, he is called Xinghai. He replied: "Respectfully reporting to my master, I am fourteen years old this year"

The earth is scorched and searing, the world is murky and turbid like a river, souls traverse the sea of yin and yang, indulging in a carefree song of freedom

These children are all offspring of noble families from the Dragon Fire Kingdom in the world, currently residing temporarily as acolytes at the Xiangli Departure Institute of the Luoshui Sect, where they study, write, and practice martial arts. The Dragon Kingdom is powerful and unparalleled in the world, invincible from all directions, with nations submitting to its authority. Within the kingdom, there are several prominent clans, each with a long lineage and noble bloodline, containing the latent "Dragon Fire" within them, with potential that is profound and difficult to measure. Therefore, each clan sends their young members to various Taoist temples, where they are guided by renowned masters to practice a form of "Dragon Fire Divine Skill".

He did not know where he had heard this song, its pronunciation was extremely strange, but every time he recited it, it brought him a sense of calm, allowing him to forget the haunting nightmares that had plagued him for over a decade. He regarded this moment as an escape; even when awake, he still feared the monsters from his dreams, as if they might suddenly leap out and engulf him.

This group of people is composed of the practitioners from the Xianglibie Courtyard of the Luoshui Sect. This grand outing, traveling westward to the coast, is a customary practice for the disciples who are nearing their expedition. They will journey to the western coastal border of the Dragon Kingdom to observe the mist over the water, gaze at the clouds and marshes, and contemplate the sun and moon in order to gain insights into their cultivation.

The figure turned its eyes and gazed at the fellow disciples, first noticing the tallest among them, Mu Ge. A sigh escaped from the heart, and it dared not look too long. This Mu Ge had suddenly gained enlightenment several months ago and had made significant progress in practicing the Dragon Fire Divine Skill, reaching the second level of its profound realm. Upon turning fifteen, he would be sent to one of the four major sects in the Dragon Kingdom for advanced training, with an unlimited future ahead. The master held this individual in high regard and was quite partial in his dealings, yet Mu Ge had a penchant for causing trouble for the figure.

Mu Ge laughed heartily and said, "Whatever Xinghai is reciting, I am reciting as well"

With a splitting headache, he murmured, "I... I am not feeling well, please do not make noise, please do not make noise."

A robust young man exclaimed: "Where do you feel unwell? You are always feeling unwell! The master has instructed us to practice, yet you only know how to be lax and lazy."

Xinghai found an empty space, he walked to the edge of the stream, found a clearing, and sat down again, facing the shaded area under the trees. He slightly parted his lips and murmured a verse, reciting a stanza of a song.

They all call me "Form", so I shall be Form. In my dreams, my body is dissolved in the sea; in the waking world, I must cherish my Form

Beneath the surface of the sea, there are large shadows. At first, the figure harbored a sense of luck, thinking that it was merely clouds in the sky. However, it gradually became apparent that this was not the case; the shadows were shifting, resembling human forms.

Xinghai let out a sigh, harboring no hope of mastering the Dragon Fire Technique. He prided himself on having read countless books and possessing considerable writing skills; if he could not become a dragon among men, he could still return and take the examination to become a scholar. However, this would inevitably disappoint the high expectations of his elders, and he could hardly escape a reprimand.

The form gazes into the distance, the sea is boundless, the water vapor rises to the sky, and the clouds are in turmoil. The water appears dark green, with giant waves rolling, never ceasing at any moment

Having read too much of the writings on the human condition, coupled with having had a nightmare, my mood soured, leading to a somewhat cynical mindset. I thought: "A group of ignorant individuals, a group of cold-blooded beings! You know nothing about me; simply because I do not fit in with you, you distance yourselves from me, mock the ailments I bear, ridicule the weaknesses I reveal, and regard me as a freak."

The girl also smiled and said, "Why does it sound so silly? Don't imitate it."

The young girl angrily said: "What nonsense are you talking about? That was decided arbitrarily by my parents, it doesn't count!"

He leaned against the carriage, wanting to fall asleep, yet fearing to have nightmares again, while hearing people whispering in his ears