82: Qianjiang Dragon King

The battle at the Deep Pool Water Mansion, where two Core Formation Ancestors of the Green Wave Sect were defeated—one heavily injured and one lightly—was like a giant boulder thrown into a calm lake. It stirred up monstrous waves in the Chu State's cultivation world, which was already surging with undercurrents due to the incidents at Guiche Immortal City and the Xuanjian Sect!

And this time, the speed of information dissemination far exceeded the past, all thanks to the increasingly popular "group chat" and information-sharing functions of the Heavenly Secret Realm.

Less than half a day after True Person Qing Bo fled in a sorry state with the dying True Person Lan Tao, an analytical post with a terrifying level of detail quietly appeared in the [Chu State Chronicle] exchange circle within the Heavenly Secret Realm. It was reposted and commented on at an alarming speed, instantly becoming a hot topic.

The post's title was quite sensational: "[Empirical Analysis] A tough character has emerged in Dongting Lake! Two Core Formation Cultivators from the Green Wave Sect have met their match; could it be the appearance of a Dragon Prince Offspring?!"

The poster was anonymous, but the writing was sophisticated and the data was detailed, as if they had witnessed the entire battle with their own eyes.

The post not only accurately described the time and location of the battle but even listed the Divine Abilities and Magic Treasures used by both sides with near-perfect accuracy—the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water Grand Array, spirit sealing stakes, sea-overturning seal, Heavy Water Whisk, as well as Gao De's signature Purple Lightning Thunder Aura, Thunder Smite Spear, Dragon Might Domain, and his elusive Lightning Evasion Technique!

The post focused on analyzing Gao De's terrifying strength, which didn't seem like someone who had just entered the Third Order. In particular, his incredibly pure and powerful Purple Lightning was definitely not something an ordinary flood dragon could possess.

Combining the location of his appearance—southwest of Dongting Lake, near the Qian River basin of the Yunmeng Great Marsh—along with his revealed flood dragon form and lightning attribute, the poster proposed a shocking speculation:

"Based on this, it is highly likely that this creature is a direct Bloodline descendant of the 'Qianjiang Dragon King' who occupies the depths of the Yunmeng Great Marsh and the Qian River basin!"

As soon as the four words "Qianjiang Dragon King" appeared, the relevant sections for the three states in the Heavenly Secret Realm seemed to fall silent for a moment, followed by an even more heated discussion!

Many young Cultivators might find this title unfamiliar, but Cultivators with some age and experience, especially those from high-level factions in the Chu State, were all very secretive about it!

That was a terrifying existence at the Fourth Order Late Stage!

A true Purple Thunder Flood Dragon! Its attributes highly matched the Purple Lightning Flood Dragon Bloodline displayed by Gao De!

In this current era where True Dragons have vanished and Fifth Order Soul Transformation Cultivators are hard to find, who would dare say no to a Fourth Order Late Stage flood dragon that occupies a massive water System and calls himself a "Dragon King"?

His strength was enough to rival or even crush a great Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Late Stage of the Human Race!

He was a truly dominant, overlord-level existence!

If Gao De really was the offspring of this "Qianjiang Dragon King," then everything made sense—why his strength was so formidable, his Divine Abilities so exquisite, and why he dared to fiercely counter-kill even when faced with a pincer attack from two Core Formation Cultivators of the Green Wave Sect, nearly claiming a life!

With such a backer, he indeed had the capital to be arrogant! This time, the Green Wave Sect had truly kicked a red-hot piece of profound iron!

[Anonymous Cultivator A]: "Holy crap! Qianjiang Dragon King?! That old monster who can supposedly annihilate a mountain peak with a single breath of lightning? The Green Wave Sect is seeking death!"

[Anonymous Cultivator B]: "No wonder he's so fierce! So he's a dragon's son or grandson! The Green Wave Sect is probably going to lose sleep this time. Hitting the young one brings out the old one, hehe..."

[Anonymous Cultivator C]: "Watch your words! Watch your words! Is the Dragon King's name something you can just discuss casually? However... if this is true, the situation in Dongting Lake and even Southwest Chu is likely to change."

[A certain Disciple of the Green Wave Sect (Suspected)]: "Stop talking nonsense! Don't defile my Sect's reputation! That Demon Flood Dragon is clearly..." (This comment was quickly buried or deleted.)

Public opinion almost unilaterally leaned towards believing this speculation, and with a mindset of watching a good show, everyone watched for the Green Wave Sect's next reaction.

Provoking an existence suspected to be a Dragon Prince Offspring—now this was going to be fun!

---

Deep Pool Water Mansion, Core Jade Platform.

Gao De was surrounded by dense spiritual mist and tiny electrical arcs, putting all his effort into healing his wounds and recovering his Demonic Power.

The consumption and injuries from the great battle were no small matter. Even with his powerful Physical Body and recovery ability, he wouldn't heal overnight. Fortunately, he had prepared a batch of healing Medicinal Pills for emergencies, and they were really coming in handy now.

Turtle Three Thousand stood respectfully to the side, cautiously reporting the buzzing rumors from the Heavenly Secret Realm to Gao De through their internal exchange circle.

When he heard the speculation of being the "Qianjiang Dragon Prince Offspring," Gao De slowly opened his massive flood dragon eyes. A flicker of extremely complex emotion passed through his pupils—there was astonishment, absurdity, and even a hint of... amusement.

He recalled when he had first transmigrated and possessed a black fish in this world; he was just an ordinary wild fish. If not for the existence of the System, how could he have achieved what he has today.

"Qianjiang Dragon King... Purple Thunder Flood Dragon..." Gao De muttered in his heart.

He was certain he had no relation whatsoever to that "Dragon King" he had never met, and his own Bloodline was the result of a chance Opportunity.

But regardless, in the current situation, this sudden "identity" was far more beneficial than harmful to him!

This was equivalent to an invisible protective talisman!

It was enough to make the Green Wave Sect, and even other forces coveting his Water Mansion, think twice before acting—could they afford the wrath of a Fourth Order Late Stage flood dragon?

"Turtle Three Thousand."

"This old servant is here."

"As for the outside rumors, there is no need to admit them, nor is there a need to deny them," Gao De said slowly. "Everything in the Water Mansion will proceed as usual, just strengthen the guard. Additionally, use our channels to secretly keep an eye on all news regarding the 'Qianjiang Dragon King' and the Qian River basin in the depths of the Yunmeng Great Marsh."

"This old servant understands!" Turtle Three Thousand got the point. The Master was going to borrow the momentum! He would use this vague "background" to win precious time and space for his own growth!

Gao De closed his eyes again and continued healing. His heart was far from as calm as his appearance.

"Offspring of the Qianjiang Dragon King... this identity might protect me for now, but fortune and misfortune are two sides of the same coin. It's an Opportunity, but it could also bring greater trouble. If that 'Dragon King' finds out about this, how will he react? Will he acknowledge it, or... clean house?"

"Strength! In the final analysis, it still depends on one's own strength!" The sense of urgency in Gao De's heart grew even stronger. "I must recover as soon as possible and then charge into the Third Order Mid-Stage! Only by being strong enough myself can I be fearless in the face of any storm and truly control my own destiny!"

He composed himself, putting all his effort into guiding the medicinal power and Spiritual Qi to repair his injured body, and mobilizing the spiritual power within his flood dragon pearl to slowly recover from his physical wounds.

While public opinion was surging outside, inside the Water Mansion, it had fallen into a strange calm after the storm, along with intense preparations to meet even greater challenges in the future.

The name of the Purple Lightning Flood Dragon King, accompanied by the speculation of being a "Dragon Prince Offspring," officially resounded throughout Lake and entered the vision of the high-level forces of the Chu State and its surroundings.