Chapter 61: Chu Zihang – Could I Myself Be the Dragon King?

Early Morning

“Good morning, Senior Brother.”

“Morning.”

Unlike usual, today Chu Zihang came out for breakfast holding a puppy in his arms—the one Lu Mingfei had asked him to look after. The little dog was thriving, its fur glossy and sleek, its eyes bright and enchanting.

“Hey, little one, we meet again.” Lu Mingfei teased the puppy with a smile.

“Woof...” The pup timidly lowered its head, burying it deep in Chu Zihang’s chest, as if terrified by the sight of a small monster, dreading that it might glimpse a painful memory.

A hundred times, a hundred times!

“It’s probably a bit shy, still needs time to adjust,” Chu Zihang said with a slight frown. He wasn’t naturally skilled at raising dogs, but he had studied a lot to take good care of this one.

“No worries, let’s eat,” Lu Mingfei replied carelessly.

“All right.”

During breakfast with his senior brother, Lu Mingfei’s gaze drifted repeatedly, almost unconsciously, toward the stoic Chu Zihang. His eyes held confusion and a hint of uncertainty, as if he had discovered something.

“Is something on your mind?” Chu Zihang put down his chopsticks and asked.

“There is, actually,” Lu Mingfei answered.

Lately, his mental strength had increased rapidly, and Chu Zihang’s presence in his spiritual perception was changing just as quickly. At first, Chu Zihang appeared to him as just an ordinary hybrid, save for a somewhat unstable bloodline. Beyond that, there was nothing remarkable.

But as Lu Mingfei’s powers grew, his perception of Chu Zihang began to shift. He sensed a vast, hidden power within his senior brother’s body. This force was subtle, invisible to all but the strongest minds. Yet it was powerful enough that even the newly reborn Lu Mingfei had to be wary—it was at least second-generation in scale, possibly even first-generation, perhaps the supreme Dragon King.

What was going on? Could it be that Senior Brother wasn’t human either, but a Dragon King in disguise? That force was certainly not something hybrids could possess.

“Senior Brother, can I ask you a question?”

“What question?” The stoic senior’s expression changed slightly, a hint of interest flickering in his cold eyes. Though he appeared indifferent, he was actually quite focused, ready to listen and analyze carefully.

“Have you ever felt that there’s a tremendous power hidden in your body, not yet manifested, simply because you haven’t drawn it out?” Lu Mingfei asked tentatively.

“You mean the Blood Rage?” Chu Zihang considered for a moment before replying.

“Blood Rage?” Lu Mingfei was puzzled. The little devil had explained the principle of Blood Rage to him, but the force lurking within Chu Zihang didn’t seem like the aftermath of Blood Rage, though that technique could indeed unlock latent power.

“That’s the secret art of the Lionheart Society. Using it releases the lion within for a short time, granting immense strength and permanently raising bloodline rank. But the side effect is extreme bloodline instability, even... permanent transformation into a dragon,” Chu Zihang answered seriously. He continued, “I don’t know how you sensed that feeling, but unless it’s critical, never use that power. It’s a path with no return.”

“Uh... okay,” Lu Mingfei answered obediently, then pressed further, “Besides Blood Rage, do you feel any other power within you?”

“Other power?” Chu Zihang looked puzzled, carefully recalling and analyzing before replying, “No. I don’t have any other powers.”

Lu Mingfei’s question left him a bit confused, but that was normal. Awakening dragon blood at the most youthful age, having slight fantasies about the world, was perfectly ordinary. Those who walk the path of slaying dragons are either madmen or avengers; someone as cute as him was rare.

“All right.”

Lu Mingfei nodded helplessly. There were two possibilities: either Senior Brother didn’t know about the power within him, or he knew and chose not to say, since exposing his identity would be disadvantageous for a Kassel Academy senior. The first scenario seemed more likely—Lu Mingfei couldn’t imagine Senior Brother lying to him; it was as unlikely as him gossiping with someone.

If that was true, then Senior Brother was one of them. Though not fully awakened, the power within him couldn’t be faked. Judging by his linguistic abilities, he was likely the King of Bronze and Fire.

After all, “Monarch Flame” was the highest attack incantation among hybrids of the King of Bronze and Fire lineage. According to Kassel Academy’s records, ordinary A-level hybrids couldn’t awaken such a powerful and dangerous incantation—this could well be evidence of Senior Brother’s true identity.

“Did you discover something?” Chu Zihang sensed a strange atmosphere.

Rationally, he thought it must be Lu Mingfei’s adolescent fantasies, but his intuition told him there was something else at play.

“You can sense it?” Lu Mingfei’s eyes lit up again.

“A little,” Chu Zihang nodded slightly, a trace of reminiscence in his eyes—a memory he preferred not to recall, but one that had always driven him forward.

“Will you tell me?”

“Let’s talk outside.”

“Okay.”

...

After paying the bill, Lu Mingfei and Chu Zihang strolled along a deserted street. Chu Zihang observed the area carefully, making sure no one was listening, then said, “Lu Mingfei, do you know about Nibelungen?”

“I do, I’ve read about it,” Lu Mingfei nodded. Chu Zihang’s teaching materials had mentioned Nibelungen, and he had studied them thoroughly.

Nibelungen was an alchemically constructed fictional space, internally folded and with time suspended. Yet this space was real, modified atop the real world. Crossing the interface allowed access, but doing so was nearly impossible. Nibelungen was usually created by Dragon Kings, though some second- and third-generation dragons could manage it. Only with a Dragon King’s permission could outsiders enter.

“I once escaped from Nibelungen,” Chu Zihang said simply.

“That makes sense,” Lu Mingfei nodded.

If Senior Brother was the King of Bronze and Fire, his escape from Nibelungen was perfectly reasonable. It would be odd if he couldn’t—his power was absolutely at the Dragon King level. No ordinary Nibelungen could confine him.

“It... makes sense?” Chu Zihang was a bit perplexed. He didn’t know why Lu Mingfei understood—did he have some special reason? Did Odin leave something on him that Lu Mingfei could detect?

“Senior Brother, you’re not an ordinary person. I can feel it—a massive, incredible power is hidden within you,” Lu Mingfei said solemnly.

“Me?” Chu Zihang’s brow furrowed. He truly didn’t know what was special about himself. Without any pretense, he asked bluntly, “What did you see in me? What kind of power is it?”

“At minimum, the strongest second-generation, most likely first-generation, perhaps even one of the Four Sovereigns. That power is in you now,” Lu Mingfei said, gazing into his eyes.

“Are you sure?” Chu Zihang’s eyelids twitched wildly. He was a student of Kassel Academy, a dragon slayer. Now someone was telling him he possessed the power of a Dragon King. Wasn’t that the same as saying: You are what you most wish to destroy.

The monster is me?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

“I can help you channel a bit of that power for you to feel it yourself—the power of a Dragon King,” Lu Mingfei said earnestly.

Chu Zihang’s eyes widened as he stared at his former junior, now seeming almost unfamiliar. He couldn’t understand how this person could sense such strength within him or guide it out.

Could it be that he also...

“No need to be afraid, Senior Brother. We are children of this world. There’s nothing special about it. I just want to enjoy these days peacefully,” Lu Mingfei stretched lazily, smiling warmly at the morning sun.

No need to be afraid?

After the initial shock, Chu Zihang’s heart gradually calmed. He knew he had parents, so he couldn’t be a dragon. Lu Mingfei was the same; the dean had said he had parents, so there was no need to worry about being a dragon.

“Let’s try it, then.” Chu Zihang straightened his back, standing before Lu Mingfei like a warrior—no fear, no hesitation in his gaze. He believed firmly that he was human, that he could not possess the power of a Dragon King. If he were a Dragon King, then watching his father die would make him the most miserable Dragon King ever.

“Alright.”

Lu Mingfei took his hand, closed his eyes, and used his authority to sense and activate the power within him—the power of Jörmungandr’s Dragonbone Cross.

Yes, it was Jörmungandr’s Dragonbone Cross!

Jörmungandr had embedded her Dragonbone Cross within Chu Zihang from the start, treating him as her cocoon, accompanying him as Xiami, waiting for the day they might unite and rule as the King of Earth and Mountains.

This was why Jörmungandr was killed by Chu Zihang’s triple Blood Rage—she had planned it all along!

A surge of power erupted within Chu Zihang. He could feel it—a hidden, mighty force deep inside, dragon genes roaring and raging. He felt himself on the verge of transforming, yet he retained clear consciousness.

“Take this.” Lu Mingfei placed the dark purple evil eye in Chu Zihang’s hand, transferring the dragon will into it, helping him master the power perfectly.

“I’m actually... really... a Dragon King...” Chu Zihang looked at his transformed body, feeling the surging power within. With clear awareness, he was forced to accept the shattering, dreadful reality.

He truly was a Dragon King.

The power was flowing from within him—there was no doubt. He was master of his own body and knew better than anyone where this strength came from. Though hard to accept, reality was brutally clear.

“Senior Brother, you don’t need to be sad. Whether you’re a dragon or a human doesn’t matter; what matters is your heart, your convictions. You’re still my senior brother. You haven’t changed—and that’s enough,” Lu Mingfei patted his back in comfort.

“Mm.”

Chu Zihang nodded slightly, quietly withdrawing the immense power from within himself. Though he wanted to say it wasn’t his to control, with the evil eye in hand, he could indeed master the force flowing from the Dragonbone Cross. As the evil eye accepted the power, its shape began to shift and gradually merged into Chu Zihang’s body.

“Has it fused?” Lu Mingfei watched the evil eye merge with Chu Zihang, his gaze shifting. He didn’t know the exact principle, but it must relate to Chu Zihang’s authority and will.

The Dragonbone Cross was pure power and authority. When power and authority met the evil eye capable of bearing them, the Dragon Heart was born.

Although Jörmungandr was the King of Earth and Mountains and the evil eye was of thunder attribute, seemingly mismatched, it wasn’t so. Jörmungandr used the Wind King’s Eye and the elements masterfully, never using her own incantations. A mere thunder-type evil eye was easily handled by her Dragonbone Cross.

But...

Evil Eye + Dragonbone Cross + Chu Zihang’s will formed a new Dragon Heart—raising a serious issue: Jörmungandr had been hacked.

Exactly—her main account was gone!

Normally, this would be impossible; almost no one could detect Jörmungandr’s Dragonbone Cross, not even Odin, who only noticed its absence after Jörmungandr’s death.

But Lu Mingfei didn’t care. Having fused with unknown authority fragments, he could clearly sense the formidable power of the Dragonbone Cross within Chu Zihang.

Chu Zihang was Jörmungandr’s cocoon. Through him, she could be resurrected and naturally wield her Dragonbone Cross. But her consciousness hadn’t transferred yet—she wasn’t dead. How could it move to the cocoon?

“I have another question.”

“What is it?”

“If I’m a Dragon King, why, after gaining the power, don’t I have the corresponding memories? And my personality hasn’t changed at all. It’s as if... I simply received the Dragon King’s power,” Chu Zihang asked.

“Don’t worry. I’m the same. We are children of Earth, both human and dragon. There’s no need to be concerned about identity,” Lu Mingfei smiled reassuringly.

“Mm.”

At that moment, the morning sun rose, and all things were renewed.