"Woof... woof?"
Silence enveloped the space inside the Turtle Tower.
Lam Minh stood petrified.
The divine Golden Turtle was also dumbfounded, his wise eyes now filled with bewilderment.
Both of them stared at the tiny creature that had just emerged from the egg.
It didn't have the long, graceful body of an Eastern dragon.
Nor did it have the majestic wings of a Western dragon.
It... looked exactly like a puppy.
More specifically, a Corgi puppy.
Its entire body was covered in shimmering, golden dragon scales, giving it an incredibly noble appearance. It had a round head and large, erect ears. Four stubby little legs. And a round, wiggling butt.
It struggled for a moment before finally crawling completely out of the eggshell. It stood there, wobbling on its four short legs, then looked up at Lam Minh again, its tail (though very short) wagging happily.
"Woof! Woof woof!"
It barked a few more times, then trotted towards Lam Minh, rubbing its small head against his leg, acting incredibly affectionate.
Lam Minh looked down at the "little dragon god" fawning at his feet, his mind a complete blank.
This was the last hope of the Dragon race?
This was the divine creature that would soar through the skies?
He felt as if he had just been painfully scammed.
"Sen... senior..." he struggled to turn and ask the Golden Turtle. "What... what is this? Is there some kind of mistake? How can a dragon egg hatch into... a dog?"
The Golden Turtle was also extremely confused. He had lived for thousands of years, his knowledge vast, but this scene was beyond his comprehension.
"I... I'm not sure either," he replied, his voice a bit uncertain. "Perhaps... perhaps because the egg was in hibernation for too long, and lacked the nourishment of pure Dragon Qi from its parents, so when it hatched... there was a slight 'mutation' in its form?"
Lam Minh wanted to cry. A slight mutation? This was a transformation from a dragon to a dog!
The "Dragon Corgi" seemed unconcerned by their confusion. After rubbing for a while, it seemed to get hungry. It saw the eggshell fragments still brimming with energy, ran over, and began to gnaw on them.
Crunch... crunch...
It ate with great relish, the sound of its chewing crisp and clear. The eggshell, as hard as a diamond, was like a biscuit in its mouth.
After eating a few pieces, its body suddenly glowed. It grew slightly larger, from a newborn puppy to the size of a few-month-old dog. Its golden scales also became shinier.
It let out a loud burp, then ran back to Lam Minh, panting with its tongue out, looking extremely satisfied.
Lam Minh sighed. Although its appearance was a bit... speechless, it was still a real dragon. This ability to absorb energy and grow couldn't be fake.
He squatted down and reached out to pet its head. The dragon scales felt warm and smooth to the touch. The Dragon Corgi seemed to like it very much, rubbing its head against his hand and letting out soft purrs from its throat.
It saw him as its only relative, as he was the first person it saw upon hatching, and the one who had nourished it with Dragon Qi.
"Alright, alright," Lam Minh said. "Whether you're a dog or a dragon, you were still 'raised' by me. I have to give you a name."
He thought for a moment. "Shining gold... short legs... barks a lot... How about I call you 'Golden Shorty'?"
The Dragon Corgi seemed to understand and barked in protest. "Woof! Woof!"
"Don't like it? How about 'Xiao Jin' then? Sounds more elegant."
This time, it seemed to agree, wagging its short tail.
And so, the last hope of the Dragon race was given a very "grand" name: Xiao Jin.
The Golden Turtle watched the scene, only able to shake his head and smile wryly. "It seems your journey of mind cultivation will now have a troublesome 'companion'."
He wasn't wrong.
From the day Xiao Jin arrived, Lam Minh's peace completely vanished.
It was a dragon, but it had the disposition of a puppy. It was incredibly hyperactive and mischievous. It ran all over the Turtle Tower, gnawing on anything it saw. It even tried to "hunt" the fish in the pool, but because its legs were too short, it always fell into the water with a splash, forcing Lam Minh to fish it out.
It also had a bottomless stomach. After finishing the eggshells, it started "eating" spiritual energy. It followed Lam Minh all day, and whenever he meditated, it would lie right beside him, open its mouth, and suck up the spiritual energy he gathered.
But the most troublesome thing was its strange hobby.
It liked to chew on... the Thuan Thien sword.
The God-Slayer, a divine weapon that even Peak Golden Core experts feared, was just a chew toy in Xiao Jin's eyes. It would often sneakily drag the sword away, hide in a corner, and gnaw on it with a "crunching" sound.
Lam Minh had to search for it many times, wrestling the sword back from its mouth. Each time, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
His life of "secluded mind cultivation" had now turned into the life of a reluctant "nanny."
But, despite the trouble, Lam Minh had to admit that Xiao Jin's presence brought him a lot of joy. Its innocence and playfulness helped soothe many of the heavy thoughts in his heart.
His mental state, in the process of caring for and playing with Xiao Jin, had an unexpected breakthrough. He had learned to find peace and joy in the simplest of things.
And he didn't know that this gluttonous, mischievous "Dragon Corgi" would, in the future, become a powerful ally, a brother-in-arms through life and death, who would shake the entire universe with him.
...
Another month passed.
Lam Minh's life at Sword Lake continued peacefully. He had completely gotten used to his role as Xiao Jin's "nanny." The Dragon Corgi was growing very fast. After devouring several Foundation Establishment cores that Lam Minh gave it as "snacks," its body had grown to the size of an adult dog, its golden scales even more brilliant, and its aura had reached the peak of the Qi Refining realm.
It was as mischievous as ever, but it had also begun to reveal its draconic abilities. It could spit small fireballs, and its running speed, despite its short legs, was as fast as the wind.
Lam Minh's mental state, with Xiao Jin's companionship and the Golden Turtle's guidance, had reached an unprecedented state of stillness and depth. He had learned to completely control his killing intent, able to release and retract it at will. He understood that true power was not destruction, but protection.
One morning, as he was sitting by the lake, throwing a stick for Xiao Jin to fetch, the divine Golden Turtle slowly approached.
"Young one," he said. "Your time here has perhaps come to an end."
Lam Minh looked at him, a little surprised. "Why is that, senior? I feel I can still learn many things."
"Your heart is still. Your foundation is firm. Like a treasured sword that has been sharpened and sheathed. If it stays in the sheath forever, it will become useless," the Golden Turtle explained. "The outside world needs you. Your friends, your students, and all of humanity are waiting for you."
Lam Minh was silent. He knew the Golden Turtle was right. He had been hiding for long enough. It was time to go back and face his responsibilities.
"Before you go," the Golden Turtle continued, "I have one last gift for you."
He opened his mouth and spat out a turquoise drop of water, the size of a gem, which floated in front of Lam Minh.
"This is a 'Turtle Origin Water Crystal,' a drop of my life essence. It cannot help you increase your cultivation, but it can save your life in the most critical moments. No matter how badly you are injured, even if your soul is damaged, just swallow it, and you will be healed instantly. Keep it safe."
Lam Minh looked at the Water Crystal, feeling the abundant life force within, and his heart filled with gratitude. He knew this was a priceless gift.
He carefully stored it in his storage ring. "Thank you, senior!"
He bowed deeply, bidding farewell to the Golden Tle.
Xiao Jin seemed to sense the parting. It ran over, rubbing its head against his leg, letting out whimpering sounds, clearly unwilling to leave.
"Be good," Lam Minh petted its head. "I have to go to work. You stay here with Grandpa Turtle. This place is safer for you."
He knew he couldn't take Xiao Jin with him. Bringing a "Dragon Corgi" everywhere would attract too much attention. Besides, staying here to cultivate with the Golden Turtle would be the best environment for its growth.
After saying his goodbyes, he prepared to contact Lac Long Quan to leave.
But just then, the military-grade tablet he kept in his storage ring suddenly vibrated violently.
He took it out in surprise. He had turned off all its connections long ago. How could it receive a signal?
On the screen was an urgent message, sent using a special encryption method that only one person knew.
It was Minh Thu.
The message was just one short line, but it made Lam Minh's expression change completely.
"'NURSERY' HAS WEEDS. 'HARVEST' PLAN INITIATED. HEADMASTER, RETURN IMMEDIATELY."
"Nursery" was the slang they used for Lac Hong Academy. "Weeds" undoubtedly referred to the "Holy Way of Salvation."
The "harvest" plan initiated? What were they planning to do?
Lam Minh had a bad feeling. He had been here for too long. While he was "calming his mind," some plot had been set in motion at the academy.
He no longer had a shred of hesitation.
He looked towards Hanoi, where the academy was. He had to go back. Immediately.
"Senior, I must leave now!" he said to the Golden Turtle.
He activated his Dragon God Battle Armor, and his dragon wings unfurled.
"Wait, young one!" the Golden Turtle called out. "Going like that will take too long. Let me give you a hand."
He opened his mouth and spat a stream of water towards the lake's surface.
The calm surface of the lake suddenly swirled, creating a spatial gate made of water, glowing with a turquoise light.
"This is the 'Water Mirror Gate.' It can take you to any place with a large body of water. Think of where you want to go, then step inside."
Lam Minh was amazed. This was a high-level spatial ability.
He didn't waste any time. He thought of the artificial lake in the center of Lac Hong Academy.
He nodded a final farewell to the Golden Turtle, then plunged straight into the water gate.
The gate closed. The lake surface returned to its calm state.
Only the Golden Turtle and Xiao Jin were left standing there, looking into the distance.
"Go, young one," the Golden Turtle murmured. "Show the world just how terrifying the wrath of a man who has found stillness can be."