Azure Dragon Star, Blue Dragon Temple under the Southern Gate Monastery.

  Blue Dragon Temple was the home of Daoist Qing Long(1). This name held great importance among the fiends. It was said that he practiced Dao for over nine millennia, a Supreme Gold Immortal. He watched over the Blue Dragon Temple, never taking a foot outside and always in seclusion.

  Below the Blue Dragon Temple, a black-garbed man with a smiley mask was requesting water from the guard boy to quench his thirst. The boy gave Chen Ming a once over, not minding it in the least, and brought him a ladle of water, “Drink your fill and beat it.”


  Chen Ming found it odd, to say the least, What’s going on exactly? Didn’t Star Dragon Crown Prince have glorious prestige among fiends?

  Why is this kid so cold to me? Is my acting lacking? Don’t I look the part?

  That’s not it, it’s all the same. Oh, except for the extra pink spice pouch.

  Yet at that particular moment, a dude dressed, give or take, 90% like him showed up. His gait was wide and firm, bossy and conceited, “This lord is Star Dragon Crown Prince. Call your manager!”


  The boy eyed Crown Prince, “See? I’ve seen three hundred like you already. His Majesty is undergoing a great undertaking for us fiends and is unwilling to show his true face. This led to many people play dress-up to get their hands on Blue Dragon Temple’s resources.”


  “We have it easy at least. I heard Southern Gate Monastery saw their three thousandth not too long ago.”


  Chen Ming’s eyelids twitched, Come on! Are you telling me my reputation precedes me that much? And another thing, since I never showed my face it stirred a storm of copycats enough to circle the Azure Dragon Star three times?

  That’s funny though. His thoughts went along taking a peek at the Alldragon Stele, at least till he formed the precious Dao Seed.

  The fiends were strong, yet bellow the four Great Immortal Domains. They were weak, yet the four Great Immortal Domains were unable to defeat them. Fiends were clever, tangling with the Headless Assembly and keeping the four factions at bay.

  Posing as the Star Dragon Crown Prince should, at least, let him get the fiends’ cherished scriptures. For the other factions, however, he’d have to think again.

  As for that tidbit called Draconic Influence, our dear Immortal Master Chen could learn any cultivation method he put his mind to. That Daoist Qing Long was but a Flood Dragon turned into a genuine dragon. He cultivated the Dragon Evolution Art. If he could get it, other matters were negligible.

  However, there seemed to be a flood of posers for some reason.

  Chen Ming looked around the foot of the mounted and, sure enough, he spotted three more. They just don’t let up!

  The four posers met Chen Ming, “Sigh, is everyone Star Dragon Crown Prince?”


  “Hello, good to see you!”


  Good my ass!

  Chen Ming shuddered and the Star Dragon rose from his back, overshadowing the world. The posers were crushed into the ground.

  He looked at the dumbstruck boy, “Go and call the temple Overseer!”


  The boy had his eyes riveted to the Star Dragon, perfectly clear as to who he was dealing with.

  “Please wait, Your Highness, as I go and report your coming!”


  The boy scampered up the mountain, excited beyond belief.

  The fakers turned pale as paper. Seriously? With so many posers to circle the Azure Dragon Star three times, how did we bump into the real one?

  We’re finished!

  They wished for nothing else than to bolt, yet found themselves nailed to the ground, courtesy of the Star Dragon.

  One man said, “Hey, uh, Your Highness, we did nothing wrong. We are good guys!”


  “Day in day out dressing up like Your Highness was all to remove the sins in our hearts through good deeds!”


  “Yeah, yeah. Just before I climbed here, I helped an old lady carrying her water!”


  “I even helped a widow chopping firewood.”


  Chen Ming rolled his eyes, You’re geniuses in the truest sense. “Behave and wait here!”


  They bobbed their heads like chickens, “Yep, yep!”


  The boy staggered in his rush to the overseer’s cultivating room and shouted, “Overseer, Star Dragon Crown Prince is here!”


  The Overseer snapped with a glare, “Three hundred of him came, yet it’s still not over. Tell them to scram!”


  Going back and forth three hundred times, plus, got the best of even him. The boy panted, “It’s r-real this time.”


  The azure Daoist robed Overseer rolled his eyes, “Yes, really funny!”


  “Look at the sky Overseer. It’s the Star Dragon!”


  He lifted his head in passing and, true enough, a Star Dragon glided above. The Overseer laughed, “Wow, how interesting. Even the Star Dragon showed up.”


  “Get lost, they’re all frauds!”


  The boy saw the Overseer close to erupting, Forget it. Better not poke his anger and just bring His Highness over.

  The boy left in a hurry and left the Overseer to his ramblings, “Back up, something is off here.”


  He checked the sky again. It was the same as Fairy Star Dragon. Who could fake such a view?

  No one!

  “It’s real! What have I done?”


  The Overseer shot out of the temple and was lucky enough to find the boy running. He roared, “It’s the real deal, why didn’t you say so?”


  I did! Whatever, better not say it since he won’t admit it anyway.

  “I am going to welcome His Highness personally! You go and call Protector Qing Long, summon the army and seal the Blue Dragon Temple. No one must know of His Highness’ coming!”


  “If the four Great Immortal Domains caught wind of it, it will be a disaster! Not even a fly is allowed to leave the Blue Dragon Temple’s domain!”


  The boy nodded, “Yes, Overseer!”


  Chen Ming stood before the gate, with the surrounding fiends watching him like their savior. Some hot ladies were about to hit on him, yet the peach blossoms spice bag acted as deterrence, He’s taken.

  Chen Ming was clueless he fell in Chen Lingyu’s obvious ploy.

  Soon he saw an azure Daoist robe-wearing man rushing down the mountain. Many started greeting him.

  He arrived before Chen Ming and stooped, “I was unaware of His Highness’ coming and was late in greeting you. I ask that Star Dragon Crown Prince pardons my crime.”


  (1) lit. Blue Dragon