C117 Azure Found a Dragon Egg!

As long as individuals adhere to the college's regulations and avoid causing trouble, they are even permitted to audit classes at various locations within the College of Ming Dynasty, based on their interests. This privilege essentially affords them the status of a semi-student.

The annals of the College of Ming Dynasty record many who have ascended to the Tribulation Crossing Stage and now preside over cities. These city lords were once servants of senior mentors, attending classes at the college. Consequently, numerous smaller families prefer to pay hefty sums of Spirit Stones annually to a senior mentor in exchange for sending their exceptionally talented offspring to study at the college under the guise of servitude.

Consider Qin Buyi's current situation. Should he announce his search for servants, he wouldn't need to leave his home. Countless individuals would eagerly present themselves at his doorstep, offering their services without asking for payment, and even providing Qin Buyi with copious Spirit Stones each year, all in the hopes of being taken on as servants. This practice has evolved into an unspoken rule among the senior mentors.

Not all senior mentors come from affluent backgrounds; many hail from modest means. Their daily cultivation expenses must be carefully budgeted, leaving little room for additional purchases. This unspoken rule ensures that nearly every senior mentor can amass a significant quantity of Spirit Stones annually.

With a subtle shift of his Divine Consciousness, Qin Buyi found himself in the Small Chiliocosm. Upon his arrival, Azure, no larger than the size of a palm, immediately sensed Qin Buyi's presence and hurled herself into his embrace.

"Master, why didn't you let me join the battle earlier? You have no idea how worried I was," Azure expressed her concern.

Qin Buyi gently lifted Azure by the scruff of her neck to meet his gaze, noticing the reddening around her eyes. He offered words of comfort, "Azure, all is well now. I'm still here, alive and well. There's no need for such sorrow."

"Master, you're well aware of how dire the situation was. If it hadn't been for Sister Honglian's intervention, you might not have survived," Azure said, her voice tinged with reproach.

Qin Buyi wasn't the least bit taken aback that Azure was aware of Honglian. After all, she had been privy to this knowledge since her first venture into the Awakening Secret Realm.

Before the Small Chiliocosm existed, Azure had transformed into a tattoo and resided on Qin Buyi's body.

When it comes to who knows Qin Buyi best in this world, the enigmatic and unpredictable system takes the top spot.

Tied for second are Azure and Honglian.

Qin Buyi placed Azure on his left hand and gently squeezed its belly, saying, "I can't just sacrifice you for my own survival."

"You're the dragon I'm closest to in this world."

Qin Buyi's trust in Azure was absolute.

Azure, whom he had hatched himself and whose life was inextricably linked to his own, could never harm him.

Azure declared, "I fear not death and am ready to sacrifice myself for my master at any moment."

Qin Buyi affectionately tapped Azure's dragon head and reassured, "Nonsense. As long as I'm here, I won't let you make any sacrifices."

Qin Buyi then added, "Master has found a foothold in the outside world this time. Would you like to join me?"

Azure pondered for a moment before asking, "Can I return if I go?"

"I'll establish a teleportation portal in the outside world, allowing for seamless travel back to the Small Chiliocosm," Qin Buyi explained.

Azure's voice brightened, "I would love to accompany Master to the outside world and see what it's like."

Looking back at the palace the Lan family had built with a touch of longing, Azure said, "Once I've had my fill of the outside, I'll come back to the Small Chiliocosm."

Understanding dawned on Qin Buyi as he admired the stunningly beautiful palace, realizing why Azure was hesitant to leave.

Azure then put on a secretive smile and teased Qin Buyi as if revealing a great secret:

"Master, guess what treasure I've discovered in the Small Chiliocosm."

Intrigued by Azure's secretive demeanor, Qin Buyi played along with feigned curiosity, "Did you perhaps find another dragon there?"

Azure, feigning shock, exclaimed, "Master, how did you know?"

With a huff, Azure accused, "Master, you've cheated! You must have used your Divine Consciousness to peek into the Small Chiliocosm."

Qin Buyi, wearing a slightly wronged expression, protested, "I swear on my honor, I did not use Divine Consciousness to probe the Small Chiliocosm."

Azure eyed Qin Buyi with a mix of skepticism and curiosity, "Is that really true?"

"Absolutely," Qin Buyi affirmed. "I was merely speaking off the cuff."

"The master truly lives up to his title; even your offhand comments turn prophetic," Azure remarked with a sycophantic chuckle.

"Did I actually get it right? You found a dragon?" Qin Buyi was incredulous.

It seemed that even Qin Buyi hadn't anticipated his idle words turning into reality.

"You're correct, Master, but not entirely," Azure clarified.

Puzzled, Qin Buyi inquired, "What do you mean by that?"

"Just wait a moment, Master, and all will become clear," Azure assured him.

With that, Azure glided off toward the palace the Lan family had constructed for it.

In a short time, Azure returned, struggling with a pale purple egg that dwarfed its own size.

Qin Buyi accepted the egg and projected his Divine Consciousness into it, glimpsing a black dragon with faint traces of its flood dragon lineage.

After a moment's reflection, Qin Buyi realized the origin of this black dragon.

It was the very flood dragon on the cusp of transformation within the Kunlun Secret Realm.

Qin Buyi had not encountered this flood dragon when he first came into possession of the realm. He had assumed it was out wandering, not within the confines of the realm, and had not sought it out.

Now, faced with the creature once more, Qin Buyi asked, "Azure, where exactly did you come across this egg?"

"In my boredom, I combed through every inch of the Small Chiliocosm with Great Immortal Huang and stumbled upon it," Azure explained.

"It was deeply buried underground. Without the Dragon Clan's aura, akin to my own bloodline, it would've remained hidden from me."

"It seems to have suffered an accident during its transformation, entering a state of suspended animation, with its aura only recently showing signs of recovery."

"Unearthing it was quite the endeavor," Azure added.

Qin Buyi nodded, understandingly. "I see. That explains why my Divine Consciousness, having scanned every inch of the Kunlun Secret Realm when I first acquired it, failed to detect it."

Handing the dragon egg back to Azure, Qin Buyi asked, "How much longer until it hatches?"

Azure gingerly accepted the egg, which was more than twice the size of its own body, and said with uncertainty, "It's really hard to say. It could hatch very soon, or it might just become a dead egg that never hatches at all."

Qin Buyi inquired, "What do you mean by that?"

Azure went on to explain, "Master, there was a mishap during its transformation into a dragon. Even though its life force is slowly returning, the hatching process is still fraught with uncertainties."

"There's a chance it could run into a myriad of unforeseen issues halfway through hatching and end up a dead egg."

"Alternatively, it might hatch without a hitch and come into the world. It's really anyone's guess."