Chapter Two: This Woman Is Truly Formidable!
The sky was already bright, and Yang Ye could clearly see the dragon egg in his arms split open with a crack.
“It’s hatching!”
He couldn’t contain his excitement and cried out with delight.
He had spent two whole years incubating this dragon egg. If it hadn’t hatched now, Yang Ye would have begun to suspect it was just a dud. Or perhaps, the events that had transpired two years ago on that rainy night had been deliberately orchestrated by his master, all to keep him from leaving the mountain.
After all, in Yang Ye’s mind, his master was hardly a proper old man; such schemes were entirely within his capabilities.
But now, finally, the dragon within the egg was about to break free.
Yang Ye not only had a wife, but his mission was also completed. He’d spent ten years in these mountains and had long yearned to depart.
A crisp sound echoed.
The dragon egg shattered completely.
A small dragon, just over a foot long, colored in shades of green and yellow, appeared before Yang Ye’s eyes.
The little dragon’s appearance was much as Yang Ye had imagined: antler-like horns atop its head, two long whiskers at its lips, its body covered in fine, dense scales, claws like those of an eagle...
The tiny creature poked its head out of the shell, opened wide eyes, and quietly stared at Yang Ye.
“Little Dragon Qing…”
Yang Ye was stunned for a moment before calling out.
“Husband~”
To Yang Ye’s astonishment, the newly hatched dragon spoke in human words, her voice tender and childish.
The sound lingered, reminiscent of a three or four-year-old girl’s voice—clear, gentle, and melodious. Hearing it, Yang Ye felt his bones grow soft.
“Little Dragon Qing!” Yang Ye called again.
“Husband~”
The little dragon replied.
“Little Dragon Qing!”
“Husband!”
“Little Dragon Qing!”
“Husband!”
…
Yang Ye truly loved listening to Little Dragon Qing call him “husband,” teasing her to repeat it again and again.
After she had called him “husband” over a dozen times, Yang Ye was finally satisfied, grinning with joy as he scooped up Little Dragon Qing and planted a kiss on her dragon face.
Little Dragon Qing opened her mouth, stuck out her tongue, and licked Yang Ye’s lips.
Hmm?
Did that count as losing his first kiss?
---
Looking at his not-quite-human wife, Yang Ye felt emotions few other men could ever comprehend.
“Husband, I’m hungry!”
Suddenly, Little Dragon Qing spoke with a coquettish tone.
Yang Ye laughed, “What would you like to eat, Qing? Your husband will cook it for you!”
She raised a claw and pointed at the sky, “Husband, I want to eat that big bird up there.”
Hmm?
A big bird?
Yang Ye carried Little Dragon Qing outside and looked up; there was no big bird in the sky.
A sharp cry echoed from afar.
Yang Ye turned toward the sound, and a huge black eagle appeared in his sight.
Clearly, the big bird Little Dragon Qing referred to was this black eagle.
What puzzled Yang Ye was how Little Dragon Qing, only just emerged from her shell, already knew about the bird in the sky.
As he pondered this, Little Dragon Qing pointed with her claw at the black eagle, “Husband, that’s the big bird I want to eat.”
“Qing, how about something else? Your husband can’t reach it,” Yang Ye said, feeling awkward.
The black eagle circling overhead was no ordinary creature, but a star beast, cultivating by absorbing star energy. At Yang Ye’s current level, he was no match for it.
The black eagle was at the Fallen Star level, while Yang Ye was only at the late Mist Star stage.
To talk of cultivation, one must start from the beginning.
Cultivation originated in 2145, a century ago. A group of self-proclaimed “Star Martial Artists” arrived on earth by spaceship, communicated with nations, and began teaching the path of cultivation.
After two decades, these mysterious humans departed, leaving behind a complete cultivation system and environment for advancement.
Cultivation realms, from lowest to highest, are: Body Refinement, Mist Star, Fallen Star, Planetary, Stellar, Super Star, Star River, Star Lord, Star God...
Each realm is divided into Early, Middle, and Late stages.
Whatever methods those mysterious figures used, it was not only humans who could cultivate—animals on earth gained the ability as well.
These cultivating animals came to be known as star beasts.
Unlike humans, star beasts possessed energy crystals called beast cores.
Humans hunted star beasts to extract energy from their cores, greatly accelerating their cultivation.
Humans hunted star beasts, and star beasts devoured one another.
“Don’t worry, Husband, I’ll catch it for you!”
As Yang Ye hesitated, Little Dragon Qing spoke with confidence, as if the black eagle in the sky were already hers.
Without another word, she leapt from Yang Ye’s arms and soared into the sky.
---
After circling above Yang Ye’s head, she transformed into a streak of azure light, lightning-fast as she shot toward the black eagle.
Was Little Dragon Qing a match for the star beast black eagle?
She was so small!
Suddenly, Yang Ye felt worried.
From the moment Little Dragon Qing was born, Yang Ye couldn’t discern her level.
…
Eagles have exceptional vision, and this one, a Fallen Star beast, was no exception.
As Little Dragon Qing flew toward it, the eagle spotted her instantly.
It didn’t recognize a divine dragon, nor understand its power. Yet, an instinct deep within its bloodline made it slightly wary of Little Dragon Qing.
Even so, its proud nature refused to flee, and it lunged at Little Dragon Qing with its sharp talons.
However—
A sharp sound echoed.
It was the last thing the black eagle ever heard.
Just as its talons were about to seize Little Dragon Qing, she accelerated, instantly appearing above its head.
She unfurled her dragon claws and struck the eagle’s head.
Its brain shattered, the black eagle died instantly and plummeted toward the ground.
Not wanting it to be ruined by the fall, Little Dragon Qing quickly bit the eagle’s neck and, hauling its massive body, flew back toward Yang Ye.
When Yang Ye saw her return with the black eagle clamped in her jaws, he was astounded.
Though he hadn’t seen the battle in the sky, Yang Ye knew that the moment Little Dragon Qing met the black eagle, she had dispatched it almost instantly.
“This wife is truly formidable! No wonder she’s a divine dragon!” Yang Ye thought.
“Wait! The beast core!”
He came to his senses and cried out in delight.
Drawing the short blade from his belt, he sliced open the black eagle’s skull.
From within, he dug out a white beast core the size of his thumb.
A streak of azure flashed across the blade.
The newly extracted beast core vanished.
Yang Ye laughed and shook his head.
Little Dragon Qing was far too impatient.
Of course, Yang Ye understood—Little Dragon Qing was simply starving.
A newborn needs milk, and even more so a dragon—she required far greater nourishment.