As the viscous substance was incinerated to ash, Qu Yue’s human shell underwent a transformation. The rift gradually vanished, and as it closed, the surrounding space began to warp and tremble. The true storm of the Heavenly Realm had only just begun.
The "Ugly Little Snake" felt himself tossed through hundreds of somersaults by the incessantly twisting and rotating space. The spatial distortion moved faster than his own flight speed. When the distortion finally ceased after more than ten hours, the rift had completely disappeared, and Qu Yue’s physical body had turned into a withered skeleton, which scattered and vanished.
Cold Jing’s first thought was: *Find a place to bathe.*
As he surveyed his surroundings, he discovered that the ruined Heavenly Realm had transformed into a breathtaking landscape of vast seas of clouds, towering immortal peaks, and lingering auspicious mists. It seemed the Heavenly Realm had been reborn following the monster’s demise.
Cold Jing flew about aimlessly until he found a secluded immortal spring and dove in for a thorough bath.
Once clean, he leaped onto an immortal peak. Since there was currently no one else in the Heavenly Realm, he decided to stake his claim on some territory. He would use this place as a base for his family in the future and build a mountain villa as grand as the Heavenly Palace itself.
Seeing that this particular peak was lush with trees, Cold Jing decided to prepare the timber first. In a matter of moments, the "Dragon-model Ferrari" had uprooted every beautiful tree and immortal wood on the mountain, stacking them neatly.
Then, with a flick of his tail, he went to find Cold Qingqing.
In truth, the "Ugly Little Snake" had no idea that the closing of the rift had brought about a distortion of space that also warped time. The Heavenly Realm he now occupied was actually the Heavenly Realm of several thousand years later.
The mountaintop he had just stripped bare happened to be the domain of a certain Heavenly King.
***
The Dream Marsh was a stretch of shimmering green water located at the blurred boundary between the Heavenly and Human Realms.
Even after a thousand years, this desolate border saw few visitors. The entire Dream Marsh was as quiet as a lonely dream—placid, stable, and solitary. It had remained unchanged for ten thousand years.
No—it ceased to be peaceful the moment the Dragon-model Ferrari arrived.
Under the astonished gaze of an immortal fishing by the marsh, a rare, valiant, and dashing white dragon descended from the sky and plunged straight into the thousand-year-old frigid pool—a pool cold enough to freeze an immortal’s divine body.
"Another young man troubled by love, coming here to seek 'coolness'?" The fishing immortal shook his head. Once the dragon couldn't take it anymore, he would come up on his own.
Sure enough, a moment later, the white dragon emerged, but he was balancing a block of ice on his head that contained something inside.
The fishing immortal was about to praise the white dragon for his extraordinary cultivation when the dragon ignored him, breathing fire to melt the ice and revealing two figures wrapped in a quilt.
"Little Jing... we haven't left yet?" Cold Qingqing shivered, finally coming back to life.
The White Mink added, "Young Master, can we bring a thermos next time?"
Just as Cold Jing was about to brag about his achievements, the fishing immortal shook his head and said, "Young people these days, always playing such tricks. Really. If you have the time to mess around with such boring things, you’d be better off focusing on your cultivation. I don't expect you to be as dedicated as the Dragon Lord, but you should at least make some contribution to the Heavenly Realm!"
"White-bearded old man, get lost. This is my, Cold Jing’s, territory." Cold Jing naturally assumed the entire seemingly uninhabited Heavenly Realm was his private property.
"What did you say?! You dare claim the title of the Dragon Lord!?" The fishing immortal was so angry his beard fluttered.
"Scram, old man! Does my Young Master’s name offend you? Don't push your luck! Get lost!" the White Mink barked, acting tough by association.
"My Little Jing is the best~ making the old man scream and protest~" Cold Qingqing added insult to injury, making up a song to mock him.
The fishing immortal was about to lose his temper, but remembering the great deeds of the Dragon Lord he most respected, he forced himself to calm down and tried to win them over with reason. "Young people, do not be so arrogant. Have you not heard the legend of the Dragon Lord?"
"Not interested," Cold Jing said, flicking his tail.
But the fishing immortal continued loquaciously, "Five thousand years ago, the barriers of the Heavenly Realm collapsed, and demonic creatures invaded in force. The White Dragon Lord, Cold Jing, stood alone against the cataclysm. He sacrificed himself to mend the barriers, performing such meritorious service that the Three Realms enjoy peace today. You young people..."
Before he could finish, he was swatted into the sky by the white dragon’s tail, vanishing from sight.
Only after they had driven the fishing immortal away did they begin to realize something was wrong.
Regardless, since the disaster had subsided and it was a rare occasion to be in the Heavenly Realm, Cold Jing and Cold Qingqing decided to take a slow tour first. Whether a thousand years or five thousand years had passed mattered little to them; they were all unattached wanderers. They were vagabonds wherever they went.
As long as the father and son were together, it was enough.
Thus, the three of them had a picnic by the Dream Marsh. The frozen noodles that had been sealed for five thousand years were still edible after being thawed in the sun. They caught fish from the Dream Marsh and grilled them.
After eating and drinking their fill, basking in the sunlight of the Heavenly Realm and lying on the shore with a satisfied burp was quite a pleasant experience.
Five thousand years felt as short as five days.
After a wonderful nap, the Cold family trio began their true journey through the Heavenly Realm. It happened to be the day of the millennial Heavenly Festival. All the immortals were heading to the New Imperial Palace for a grand celebration. Seeing the crowds and excitement from the air, Cold Jing carried Cold Qingqing and the White Mink along to join the fun.
This was the true prosperity of the Heavenly Realm. Five-colored auspicious clouds lingered among magnificent pavilions and towers, and seas of crimson flowers bloomed everywhere. Cold Jing and Cold Qingqing walked upon the long white jade steps, petals drifting onto their shoulders like falling rain.
Many passing immortals greeted them, and Cold Qingqing returned their smiles, even though he didn't know a soul.
"The Fox King is here! The Heavenly Fox King has arrived!" Just as Cold Qingqing was busy looking for someone to chat with, the celestials grew restless. It turned out the new Heavenly Fox King had arrived.
Rumor had it that this Heavenly Fox King possessed peerless elegance and a charm that could enchant all living beings. All the immortals scrambled to catch a glimpse of his grace.
Cold Qingqing naturally dragged Cold Jing along to watch the spectacle. Watching a spectacle was always fun!
Amidst lingering fragrances, a man in snow-white robes adorned with jade rings walked slowly up the celestial steps. His eyes held a myriad of charms, yet his aura was elegant and transcendent. Wherever he went, he drew envious gazes.
"Isn't that Xue Rumeng?" Cold Jing and Cold Qingqing were perched atop a decorative amethyst-carved beast, looking out. Cold Jing crossed his arms and said, "He actually became the Fox King. Tsk."
"Xue Rumeng—! Little Dreamy—!" Cold Qingqing shouted at the top of his lungs toward the crowd.
The White Mink didn't know why, but he followed suit, screaming, "Xue Rumeng!!"
Xue Rumeng, now the Fox King, felt a sudden chill. Very few people still mentioned his childhood nickname. Who could it be? He looked around.
"You three, get down! No standing on the carved beasts!" At that moment, a celestial official maintaining order called the Cold father and son down and gave them a scolding. In his eyes, these three were just country bumpkins from the mortal realm who had recently ascended.
Thus, Xue Rumeng ultimately failed to see the three who had called his name.
Xue Rumeng continued toward the Great Hall. This final stretch of the path was reserved for high-ranking immortals, so it was much quieter. Unexpectedly, a white mink suddenly popped out from the sea of flowers to block his path.
"Are you Xue Rumeng?" the White Mink asked, paws on its hips.
"I am indeed Xue Rumeng," he replied, lowering his gaze. "How does Your Excellency know my name?"
"You'll know if you come with me. Someone is looking for you," the White Mink said, playing coy.
"My apologies, I have urgent business. I cannot accompany you. If someone wishes to see me, let them show themselves!" He grew slightly displeased.
As soon as he spoke, Cold Jing and Cold Qingqing crawled out from the flower bushes.
After a long silence, Xue Rumeng’s face suddenly collapsed.
"How can it be you...?" Xue Rumeng felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
"White Mink, this Xue Rumeng was 'Pet Number One' before you. He’s your senior," Cold Qingqing introduced. The White Mink looked enlightened.
"Who is your Pet Number One... you two bastards..." Just as Xue Rumeng was about to explode, he was dragged into the bushes by the three ill-intentioned visitors.
Before long, a humiliated large snow fox slunk away from behind the bushes, taking a detour, while Cold Jing swaggered through the streets wearing Xue Rumeng’s luxurious robes.
"They say the Heavenly Emperor is hosting a banquet for the immortals. We can sneak in using Xue Rumeng’s celestial tablet," Cold Jing and Cold Qingqing plotted privately. Then, they boldly entered the Heavenly Gate and made their way to the Jade Pool Immortal Palace.
Although only high-ranking immortals were permitted entry, many new God-Kings from the mortal realm had emerged this year. Consequently, the guarding heavenly soldiers did not recognize Cold Jing, but seeing the celestial tablet, they allowed him in.
Cold Jing sat among the various immortal families, eating, drinking, and watching the dances. He even clinked cups with other immortals, showing no awkwardness at all. Cold Qingqing and the White Mink watched him with reverent gazes—this was the pinnacle of freeloading! Cold Jing gave them a wicked smile; he had been the Alliance Leader of the martial world for ten consecutive years—what kind of occasion hadn't he seen?
The Heavenly Emperor finally made his appearance. Surrounded by attendants, he ascended his throne, followed by the Crown Prince. Having not seen him for five thousand years, the Heavenly Emperor had aged significantly and looked very solemn. However, the young Crown Prince beside him bore a resemblance to his father’s dashing appearance from years ago.
A celestial official received the imperial decree and announced that each immortal family would report their duties one by one. The music, dance, and banquet paused as the immortals walked to the center according to their seating to give their reports.
It was then that the Heavenly Emperor noticed Cold Jing sitting in the lower section. He had thought the young man looked familiar from the start, and now, seeing him sitting there with such perfect posture, he felt even more certain he had seen him somewhere before. The aura radiating from the youth made the Emperor lose all interest in listening to the officials' reports.
Who was he? The Heavenly Emperor kept eyeing the white-clad youth. Suddenly, the youth turned his head to look at him, and their eyes met.
The Heavenly Emperor then performed an action he hadn't done in five thousand years—he fell right off his throne.
This was a massive loss of composure!
It could be called the greatest accident in the history of the Millennial Festival—the Heavenly Emperor actually tumbling from his throne!
It must be said that the Heavenly Emperor was truly getting old. Having lived through the Great Cataclysm, he was already an elderly man in his twilight years. The Crown Prince stood worriedly by the bedside, watching his father panting incessantly. The Emperor reached out a hand and said, "Go... call... Cold Jing here..."
"Father, you’ve forgotten. The Dragon Lord has long been living in seclusion at the Sea of the World's End. It is a hundred thousand miles from here!" the Prince reminded him gently.
"Go call Cold Jing here!" the Emperor repeated, followed by a fit of violent coughing.
"But... but..." The Prince was at a loss. He didn't know how to invite the legendary Dragon Lord Cold Jing. Although he had grown up listening to stories of Cold Jing, it was said that since the Great Cataclysm, the heavily wounded Cold Jing had never appeared again.
In the hearts of the gods and demons of the Three Realms, the name Cold Jing was like a mountain. He had sacrificed himself to bring stability and peace, turning the tide of disaster. There was no hero more worthy of respect; he was the moral compass of the entire Heavenly Realm. The Millennial Festival was a grand holiday held specifically to commemorate the Dragon Lord, Cold Jing.
At that moment, Cold Jing and Cold Qingqing were in the Heavenly Realm’s plaza, watching the demon-exorcism ceremony with great interest. Dancers in costumes played the roles of the Dragon Lord Cold Jing and the demons, reenacting the scene of Cold Jing’s victory through song and dance to pray for blessings.
Cold Jing couldn't help but sneer. "Mortals pray to celestials for blessings, and celestials pray to the 'Dragon Lord.' Just who is it that bestows these blessings?"
Cold Qingqing thought for a moment and said, "Good food, good drink, and good fun—that is a blessing."
And so, the two of them joined the ceremony of ten thousand people, praying to the so-called ideal Dragon Lord. They wrote their wishes on silk ribbons and tossed them into the Dragon Lord’s Pool.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 梦沼 | Dream Marsh | A boundary location between the Heavenly and Human realms. |
| 龙君 | Dragon Lord | The legendary title given to Cold Jing after his "sacrifice." |
| 天涯海 | Sea of the World's End | A remote location where the Dragon Lord is rumored to reside. |
| 瑶池仙殿 | Jade Pool Immortal Palace | The site of the Heavenly Emperor's banquet. |
| 天狐王 | Heavenly Fox King | The title now held by Xue Rumeng. |
| 龙君池 | Dragon Lord’s Pool | A pool dedicated to the legendary hero where people cast their wishes. |
| 仙牌 | Celestial Tablet | An identification medallion or pass for immortals. |
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The Ugly Little Snake: My Dragon Son | Chapter 44 | Five Millennia Hence | Novela.app | Novela.app
