Chapter 416: Resonance of Transformation

Boom, boom, boom–!

The powerful thump of a heart echoed like a deity standing atop a mountain, its battle drum pounding with an endless, booming reverberation!

Deafening, like rolling thunder!

Can such a sound truly emanate from a human heart?

Even the most inherently mighty demonic tribes, with their unrivaled blood and flesh, would hardly produce such a terrifying heartbeat!

Inside the study!

The air surged wildly, as if the very atmosphere were collapsing, relentlessly struck by incomparable power, roaring with explosive fury!

Li Che sat upright in his chair, his ink-dark robes billowing wildly. It was as if his clothes were enveloped in his own qi and blood, transforming into razor-sharp blades that sliced through the air in a single flash, shattering the currents!

His jet-black, vigorous hair began to take on a golden hue, as if entering a mysterious, transcendent state!

Each strand danced with the wind, forming a black-gold cloak that waved majestically.

From every one of the 36,000 pores on his body burst forth radiant gold—an astonishing brilliance of qi and blood, like gold panned from the mire, sparkling under the sun!

His eyes opened and closed with precise rhythm!

Dense golden smoke, like fragrant incense, flowed slowly, like fine threads.

“Hoo—”

“Sss—”

Li Che sat with utmost formality, motionless, yet each exhalation and inhalation resounded like thunder. With every breath, he expelled a scorching current that seemed to warp the very air around him!

It was as if a core of superheated divine iron, burning red-hot amid a million-degree inferno, unleashed temperatures so fierce they distorted space!

Rumbling—

Hot currents sank as cold air rose; with each push and pull, a terrifying vortex churned within the room!

Transformation!

The ultimate metamorphosis of the flesh!

His pure martial essence, aided by the overwhelming energy of his Dao Fruit repair and reinforced by three Heavenly Martial Pills, underwent a complete transformation!

He had completed the final phase of his leap!

It was an extraordinary change that only follows destruction and rebirth!

Even if the ink city was shattered and his controlling clone destroyed,

what remained was Li Che’s true flesh!

Moreover, because the Eighth Mysterious Gate drew out the divine seed, Li Che had nearly detonated the eighth gate. Even a slight ignition was like partially opening a dam’s floodgates, unleashing torrents that his body could scarcely bear.

It all collapsed in a thunderous burst—naturally, his controlling clone took the brunt of it.

Remember, that clone carried nearly ninety percent of Li Che’s physical strength and was bolstered by the united support of his Spiritual Confinements!

In terms of physical might, it was nearly on par with Li Che himself!

Yet even that could not withstand the explosive expansion!

This meant that Li Che’s own flesh, when confronting such exponentially expanding qi and blood, would burst apart!

Thus, the Dao Fruit sensed this critical state and released repair energy matching the severity!

The repair force of the 【Dragon Elephant Vajra】 Dao Fruit at level 6 is utterly terrifying; this energy, combined with the Heavenly Martial Pills, propelled pure martial purity ever upward!

The final leap was achieved!

Creak, creak…

Inside the room, apart from the howling airflow, there was the constant sound of Li Che’s flesh — as if his bones were being refined, with joints rubbing and clashing.

That sound could stir a person’s very soul!

Li Che’s Heaven and Earth Soul spread from within the Mud Pellet’s inner view, pervading his body, as he sensed his bones slowly transforming from white to…

a subtle tint of gold!

It was an intensely dazzling golden light!

Like pure golden martial qi permeating his bones, transforming them from mere mortal white into something akin to divine golden bone!

Li Che had heard of the True Buddha Golden Body of the Buddha Cultivators—a transcendent transformation of the physique.

Now, with his pure martial essence at 100%, Li Che had achieved a similar transformation!

It was a profound alteration at the very level of his skeletal structure, as if he were perpetually on the brink of igniting after absorbing at least three divine seeds.

[Dragon Elephant Furnace: Pure Martial Purity (100%)]

……

[Dragon Elephant Furnace: Martial Immortal Golden Body (1%)]

Before his eyes, golden light emerged.

Dao Induction and the Dragon Elephant Furnace transformed, resembling a searing furnace in the hands of a celestial, relentlessly refining Li Che’s body, triggering a unique metamorphosis.

From pure martial flesh, he became the Martial Immortal Golden Body!

What is a Martial Immortal? It is to ascend through the purest martial path and reach divine heights!

It is the ultimate transformation of pure martial cultivation!

Cultivating pure martial arts to ascend through the martial way!

“Hoo—”

Inside the room, golden light blazed brilliantly.

Li Che exhaled, releasing a gale-force burst that sent turbulent currents raging.

As his eyes opened and closed, his qi began to contract and shift, while golden blood qi surged, as if lashing against his pale golden bones with a deafening roar!

Even his meridians gradually took on a golden hue, flowing like a gentle stream—no longer turbulent, but calm and steady.

“My flesh… has undergone an unprecedented transformation.”

A faint smile graced Li Che’s face.

His pure martial flesh had transformed into the Martial Immortal Golden Body.

Though he had only just stepped into this new state, possessing a faint golden substance that tinged his bones and meridians…

at least it charted a path; if he continued to refine his body further into the Martial Immortal Golden Body, its strength would increase, able to withstand even more explosive force and damage!

“Now, can I bear the detonation of the Eighth Mysterious Gate’s divine seed?”

Li Che mused thoughtfully.

The Martial Immortal Golden Body stirred in him, filling him with an indescribable excitement and anticipation.

Probably, yes—but it wasn’t possible to trigger it without sustaining injuries.

So, he could offload the damage to his controlling clone, preserving his own flawless condition.

In fact, not even his skin might bear a single scratch.

Li Che raised his hand, each of his five fingers emanating a soft golden glow as the Mud Pellet at his brow tore open and the Star Plucking Gaze emerged.

Sweeping his hand, it was as if one could see the crystalline flesh beneath, with golden bones pulsating with brilliant light!

A terrifying surge of strength erupted from within his finger bones.

Whoosh—!

With his finger like a divine spear, Li Che pierced through the air, carving a cavity in its wake.

Crackle, crackle…

Li Che rose from his chair, his bones creaking and bursting with explosive sound.

“Pure martial cultivation… Is it that Martial Immortal lies above the Martial Saint? And that the path to Martial God is entirely different?”

Li Che pondered deeply.

The path of pure martial arts is the way of celestial martial cultivation.

Whereas martial cultivation fused with divine nature paves the way for the path of divine martial cultivation.

Which of the two is superior?

The divine martial way might be easier, but the celestial martial path is the purest form of martial arts!

Yet, the celestial martial path is incredibly difficult.

Even Li Che, with abundant resources and the aid of his Dao Fruits, barely managed to tread the celestial martial path and forge his Martial Immortal Golden Body.

If it were someone else, relying solely on martial talent…

Li Che couldn’t even imagine what kind of prodigy could walk such a path.

Of course, his inability to imagine does not preclude the possibility that in ancient times someone might have transcended pure martial arts.

Never underestimate the heroes of this world!

Some people are so monstrously gifted that they defy comprehension.

Li Che stretched his body as a mighty roar disturbed the airflow. His eyes opened wide, and above his head, a golden pool of pure martial qi burst forth.

A boundless sea of golden qi roared, and a divine mountain of martial intent materialized!

The celestial mountain shimmered with golden light, while Li Che’s martial spirit ascended like a climber scaling a peak!

His will was as unyielding as tempered steel!

Upon the martial celestial mountain, his determined steps were rock-solid. Within his stomach, the martial pills melted, releasing potent medicinal energy that transformed into the driving force of his ascent.

For his insights during the detonation of the Eighth Mysterious Gate, Li Che’s climb was as if aided by the heavens—what was once only a third of the journey now felt almost complete.

“Not enough… my qi and blood are insufficient. The effect of the Heavenly Martial Pills has nearly run out!”

“Three pills of the Four-Master level martial pill, and yet I can’t fully reach the summit!”

Li Che clicked his tongue in dismay.

Still, he was in no hurry; even without pill assistance, he could steadily push his cultivation higher through his own efforts!

It might take another month or two.

“Before I knew it, seven days had passed…”

Unaware of time, Li Che spent countless days in the study, perfecting his Martial Immortal Golden Body.

Suddenly, his Heaven and Earth Chessboard enveloped the entire Daocheng of Qianyuan as it expanded.

A brief scan revealed no major issues, so his mind gradually withdrew.

Outside in the courtyard, his wife Zhang Ya trained in martial arts alongside Goldmane, every move executed with utmost focus.

Goldmane, Li Che’s servant, answered Zhang Ya’s questions earnestly and taught with great care.

Li Che smiled, flicked his finger, and dispatched a Painted Immortal Clone to step out of the courtyard to handle some matters.

Next, Li Che planned to retreat into seclusion to break through to the Four-Opening Realm of martial arts, officially aiming for the summit.

However, many matters in Daocheng demanded his personal presence.

The Painted Immortal Clone was just the right solution.

For example, teaching the woodcarving masters at Shendiao Ridge the divine eagle techniques, among other tasks.

As he watched his clone leave, Li Che’s mind stirred; the Heaven and Earth Chessboard trembled and sealed the room once more.

“Hoo…”

“Sss…”

In every exhalation and inhalation, flickers of light danced through Li Che’s eyes.

[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv6 97%) · Painted Immortal (lv6 30%)]

Before him, two Dao Fruits showing the greatest progress in maturation appeared.

Li Che glanced at them, not overly surprised.

He even felt that the maturation of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit was somewhat lacking – though he had assassinated Xie Yunshen, Xie wasn’t very strong, so the maturation gained was rather meager.

In contrast, his battle with Zhao Beidou, though a decisive victory that left his foe severely injured,

could not compare to the immense difference in maturation between killing an enemy and merely wounding him.

“But it’s almost there.”

Li Che smiled, unhurried.

Zhao Beidou…

Now heavily injured and stabilized by Xie Yunshen within the Imperial Court’s army, he hadn’t left.

It was as if a perfectly matured peach hung from a tree, waiting for Li Che to pluck at any moment.

And the maturation of the [Painted Immortal] Dao Fruit progressed as expected.

With Mo City blown apart and entering a self-repairing state, that repair process greatly enhanced the Dao Fruit’s maturation.

Thus, the Painted Immortal Dao Fruit surged in maturity!

A flicker of thought passed through him.

In an instant, he found himself within the Fengdu of Mo City.

Unbeknownst to him, the once-ruined Mo City—smashed apart by the tremendous power—had largely been restored.

Although some structures were still slowly being repaired,

the overall stability had returned to its former state.

In fact, it had become even more resilient than before.

Mo City’s resilience grew stronger with every cycle of destruction and healing.

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish—

Ink-black raindrops, stirred by a light breeze, cascaded over the many rebuilt structures in Mo City,

evoking the misty drizzle of a Jiangnan rain on a gloomy day.

Li Che took a deep breath, feeling unusually content, and with a flick of his finger, numerous Painted Immortal Clones began to appear one after another.

Within his chest, the 【Xiangong】 Dao Fruit began to pulse fervently.

Li Che retrieved his materials and, under the guidance of the Xiangong Dao Fruit, directed his clones to develop the peerless Mechanical Beast…

Although the battle power of the peerless Mechanical Beast was only top-tier at the absolute peak,

Li Che cared not for its fighting ability but for the maturation it bestowed upon the Xiangong Dao Fruit.

To improve the maturation of the Xiangong Dao Fruit, Li Che had to enhance its aspects in both the divine eagle and the mechanisms.

“Beyond the Divine Eagle Hand, there should be further improvement. However… in this world, it seems the peak has been reached.”

“Perhaps further progress demands entering the Bizarre Temple.”

“Many of those Temple Spirit statues have even surpassed the level of Divine Eagle Hand…”

Li Che’s eyes glittered. He had attained the height of Divine Eagle Hand, yet he understood that this was not the limit.

A thought stirred within him.

Within Mo City, he erected a Divine Eagle Mechanism Tower.

Watching dozens of his Painted Immortal Clones entering the tower in Mo City to study the peerless Mechanical Beast,

Li Che felt a deep sense of fulfillment. With a decisive step, he broke free from Mo City amid wind and rain.

Back in the study,

he first had his Painted Immortal Clone roaming within the Divine Sect to find Fang Han Shu, who had already prepared alchemical resources for him.

After retrieving the alchemy resources, he handed them over to Gu Changqing—the divine elixir expert and Spiritual Confinement master—and finally his hectic work ceased.

“After all this time, I can’t help but miss my daughter,”

mumbled Li Che.

Pouring a cup of hot tea, his mind stirred gently.

On the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, an image of XiXi’s trial immediately appeared.

……

……

Huuu, huu, huu, huu—

Cold winds blew as heavy snow roiled.

XiXi, her twin horn braids flying, donned in a red fitted outfit like a blazing flame, raced across the snowfield.

“XiXi, slow down!”

Jin Taisui silently trailed behind, straining with every step to keep up.

Meanwhile, Chubby Kid Zhou Peng was panting heavily, drenched in sweat.

Yun’e, draped in a white veil that revealed only her delicate eyes and brows, followed gracefully—her gaze as exquisite as a masterpiece.

“You’re the one shouting ‘slow down’! Hurry up—up ahead lies Guangling Daocheng! Let’s go check it out!”

XiXi, hands on her hips and proudly puffing out her small belly, glared at Chubby Kid Zhou Peng.

“Every day it’s always you complaining of exhaustion. How can you gain experience on the martial world like this?”

Chubby Kid Zhou Peng merely chuckled and, nonchalantly, pulled a steamed bun out of a Qian Kun Jade and devoured it with gusto.

“XiXi, why must we go to Guangling Daocheng? Isn’t Elder Li’s order to deliver the mechanism to True Martial Divine Sect?”

“We can go straight there…”

Chubby Kid Zhou Peng replied carelessly.

XiXi, as feisty as a little chili, glared at him, “We set out to experience the martial world. Sure, the mechanism must be delivered to True Martial Divine Sect… but how can you gain any experience when you’re always on the run?”

“Besides, don’t you know why we were sent out early to gain experience?!”

XiXi took a deep breath; her red robe fluttered vigorously.

Chubby Kid Zhou Peng fell silent—how could he not know?

“The Divine Sect is besieged by the Imperial Court’s forces. Elder Li sent us out early not just for training, but to prepare. If the Divine Sect were attacked and destroyed, at least we could ensure the legacy of Qianyuan Divine Sect.”

Chubby Kid Zhou Peng said sadly, stuffing three more buns into his mouth in his sorrow.

For a moment, a heavy silence fell over them.

After days of travel, the four children, having passed several cities, finally arrived at Guangling Daocheng.

XiXi stamped her foot, and the packed snow exploded as torrents of scorching qi and blood burst forth from her body.

“Why be so glum? With my father at Divine Sect and our master so formidable, nothing can go wrong!”

“Did you hear about the Divine Sect Leader who came to reinforce them during that campaign against the Imperial forces?”

XiXi narrowed her once-lustrous eyes into fine slits, now exuding a dangerous gleam.

She raised her hand and methodically counted, “Tian Dan Divine Sect, Bashu Sword Pavilion, Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect, Haoran Academy, and Seven Treasure Divine Sect…”

Then she pointed at the outline of Guangling Daocheng emerging in the swirling snow.

“Tian Dan Divine Sect is located right here in Guangling Daocheng! Hmph! How dare they challenge our Qianyuan Divine Sect—I, as the Young Divine Sect Leader, cannot stand for this insult!”

XiXi crossed her arms, puffing her small belly with indignation.

Yun’e paused briefly, caressing the white rabbit in her arms, “XiXi, what do you intend to do?”

With an unprecedented determination in her youthful voice, XiXi replied, “We fight them!”

“But that’s too dangerous!”

Yun’e responded sternly, shaking her head.

“Tian Dan Divine Sect is as formidable as any Divine Sect. Despite many of their experts being reassigned by the Imperial Court, they remain not to be underestimated.”

Chubby Kid Zhou Peng quickly chimed in, “Yun’e is right. We should keep moving—quickly head to True Martial Divine Sect and complete Elder Li’s task…”

Yun’e gave Zhou Peng a meaningful look before adding, “Even though the Divine Sect lost their leader, Tian Dan Divine Sect still boasts numerous Martial Saints and even Divine Seeds. In fact, they likely have more top experts than our Qianyuan Divine Sect…”

“I know, XiXi, you’re exceptionally strong—I mean, you clinched first place at both the Peach Festival and the Young Dragon Championship—but… we’re still just children.”

“We can’t possibly stand up to the grown-ups.”

Listening to Yun’e’s earnest advice, XiXi eventually ambled over to her, took the little rabbit from her arms, and placed it atop her head between her twin horn braids. Her large, bright eyes sparkled as she said,

“Yes, Yun’e, you look so cool—I agree completely!”

Chubby Kid Zhou Peng immediately looked irritated. Is it that he’s clumsy and inarticulate?

Then, he glanced at the silent Jin Taisui, “Old Jin, what do you think?”

After a long pause, Jin Taisui replied, “I think XiXi is absolutely right.”

Zhou Peng, red-faced, stuffed three more buns into his mouth in frustration.

“If we’re heading to Guangling Daocheng, just take a look around. But be low-key—don’t stir up too much trouble. Our main goal is True Martial Divine Sect on Tongyou Road, to complete Elder Li’s assigned mission.”

Yun’e bent her long legs slightly and, smiling sweetly, pinched XiXi’s cheek.

XiXi made no objection.

After a moment’s thought, she realized that with her current cultivation, while facing a Grandmaster she’d be unfazed, a Martial Saint, however…

she’d probably have to hightail it away with her little belly leading the escape.

Oh, the perils of the martial world.

After a sigh, XiXi bounced energetically toward the outskirts of Guangling Daocheng, found a tree, dug a small hole, raised her hand, and began to condense a Feilei Chess Piece before burying a white chess piece into it.

“This is the Feilei Chess Piece my father gave me. With this thing… I, Li Nuǎnxi, will be the best at escaping danger in the world!”

XiXi laughed brightly.

“When the time comes, you guys come stick with me—I’ll lead you in the escape.”

Li Che, ever diligent in ensuring XiXi’s trials, had spared no effort.

He had condensed the traits of both the Dragon Elephant Vajra and the Chess Sage Dao Fruits into a Dao Fruit imprint which he transferred into XiXi’s body.

Now, XiXi could preliminarily harness the characteristics of the Dao Fruits.

For instance, the Chess Sage Dao Fruit’s Feilei Chess Piece mobility, the small Heaven and Earth Chessboard, and likewise, the Sleeping Dragon Elephant and Vajra Transformation from the Dragon Elephant Vajra.

Of course, these were incomparable to the Dao Fruit power that Li Che commanded.

Only XiXi could bear the Dao Fruit’s power like his controlling clone—this was due to the bond between Li Che and XiXi.

Anyone else simply couldn’t handle that power.

Li Che had even tested it on Zhang Ya before—only XiXi could sustain it.

“Let’s go.”

After embedding the Feilei Chess Piece, XiXi stamped her foot.

Then, with her small companions, she set off toward Guangling Daocheng.

Amid the swirling snow, the four young ones, in the guise of martial wanderers, entered Guangling Daocheng.

……

……

Guangling Daocheng.

The Mountain Gate of Tian Dan Divine Sect.

The Zijin Alchemy Pavilion.

“Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—”

Within the blazing Alchemy Pavilion, a massive furnace suddenly emitted a crisp, muffled sound.

And the robed figure sitting cross-legged before the furnace, disheveled hair loosely framing his face, slowly opened his eyes.

A flash of blood-red gleam danced in his eyes.

“Such a sublime medicinal aura…”

“Heaven has favored me!”

……

……

Qianyuan Divine Sect.

The Elders’ Court and the Study.

Li Che slowly opened his eyes, savoring the scene as it closed.

“Thank goodness Yun’e is with me—otherwise, no one could hold back XiXi’s wild streak. That girl, if left unchecked, might even dare to challenge the Emperor of Divine Capital!”

“And who cares if my cultivation isn’t high…”

Li Che shook his head.

“So, are we off to Guangling Daocheng?”

News had already reached that Tian Dan Divine Sect’s leader had just fallen—a top-level Divine Sect leader perished. With Guangling Daocheng adjacent to Lingnan Path, the news traveled quickly.

After keeping a vigilant mind on the children’s trial,

Li Che let his thoughts settle.

He planned to use the insights gained from his Dao Fruit’s maturation to further elevate himself.

But then, Li Che suddenly recalled something.

Deep in his chest, the [Wan Yao Di] Dao Fruit was pulsing as if aggrieved.

With a gentle smile, Li Che rose and stretched languidly.

“I nearly forgot about those four demon dragons…”

The Dragon God Clan—though called dragons—they were, in fact, demons.

The Dragon Prince, along with the three dragon offspring who could combine to form a power approaching that of a half-step Dragon God,

had caused considerable trouble for Qianyuan Divine Sect during the Imperial Court’s assault on the sect.

If not for Fang Han Shu’s outbreak, it would have been nearly impossible to repel the Imperial forces.

Additionally, Li Che remembered the time during Xie Yunshen’s assassination, when the Lie Shen Assassin had blocked Gu Qianchi, the Divine Calamity practitioner.

“The Elder… so he turned out to be a Lie Shen Assassin.”

Li Che narrowed his eyes.

Though Fang Han Shu had concealed his aura, that Star Whirl Mask made his aura seem entirely different.

Yet Li Che sensed the aura not with his own Heaven and Earth Soul but through the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

Under its perception, the aura of the Lie Shen Assassin was identical to that of Elder Fang Han Shu.

“How deeply he’s hidden it…”

Li Che couldn’t help but click his tongue.

Divine calamity indeed!

Even Li Che hadn’t anticipated that elders like Fang Han Shu, Gu Qianchi, and Zhao Beidou—such divine calamity practitioners—could act freely in the mortal world without stirring the attention of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations.

How was that possible?

Li Che’s eyes glittered.

“Lie Shen Pavilion?”

It was probably connected to Lie Shen Pavilion.

Not dwelling on the elder’s matters any further, Li Che stood up, spreading his arms slightly as his bones erupted with cracking sounds.

“The Dragon God Clan… according to Xie Yunshen’s feedback, they have entirely pledged allegiance to the Imperial Court. They plan to come ashore from the Eastern Sea. Even the venerable Old Dragon God has been chosen to leave the sea.”

“The Emperor has ordered permission for the Old Dragon God to come ashore. With his divine realm, he seeks to battle for his race. If he can attack Qianyuan Divine Sect… then the Dragon God Clan will have a future on land.”

“Qianyuan Daocheng will be their future haven…”

Li Che’s eyes shone brightly.

“This Old Dragon God is no pushover. Comparable in strength to the Ancestral Patriarch himself, a divine calamity practitioner of the First Disaster and Second Tribulation level, he surpasses Zhao Beidou and Gu Qianchi. Truly a formidable opponent.”

Li Che had to consider the threat posed by the Old Dragon God’s arrival.

Although Xie Yunshen was now under his Spiritual Confinement, the Old Dragon God was still an ancient beast of the First Disaster and Second Tier…

If he were to act recklessly, things would be troublesome.

Li Che stood in the study, a faint smile curving his lips as if dark light shadowed his face.

“Thus, the Dragon Prince must become my Spiritual Confinement, so I can later deliver a stunning backstab to the Old Dragon God.”

A First Disaster and Second Tribulation divine calamity practitioner is immensely powerful.

Li Che had to admit the foe’s strength, so…

he could only resort to underhanded means.

Is backstabbing despicable?

Certainly it is, but Li Che never cared—when it comes to survival, a bit of skullduggery isn’t a crime!

In these turbulent times, treading on thin ice with one’s loved ones, being a bit unscrupulous—what’s the harm?!

Too much? So be it…

For only the living have the right to reason.

Li Che exhaled a powerful current of qi.

“Perfect… This is also a chance to test the strength of my flesh after transforming into the Martial Immortal Golden Body.”

In the next moment, with his five fingers spread wide, a cute Cow Mask was instantly pressed against his face.

His fingertip brushed against the mask,

and a white chess piece materialized in his palm.

The moment his fingers clenched, he vanished from the study.

……

……

Down on the surface of the Grand Canal, water flowed in a wild torrent, while high above the Heavenly Dome, snowflakes danced in the air.

Before even landing on the water, they were melted by an intense, searing heat!

At the riverbed, dark currents surged endlessly, erupting in violent bursts.

A long blue dragon, every scale a dense shade of blue, burst forth hot currents, its aura overwhelming as it lay sprawled beneath the river, with countless water streams appearing as if boiled by scorching qi and blood.

Its body stretched for nearly ten zhang, like a terrifying behemoth lurking low and oppressive!

With every breath, its dragon whiskers flew, and the roar of the water sent towering waves quaking.

In the distance,

three or more smaller dragons lay dozing.

As the Dragon Prince—bearing the title of Dragon King—swallowed a Dragon Emperor Pearl, he was absorbing its energy in a bid to break into the Dragon God realm, though his hopes were slim.

No new Dragon Gods had been born in the Dragon God Clan for many years.

Though the Dragon Prince was ambitious, he never imagined that a single Dragon Emperor Pearl would suffice.

Huuu, huu, huu—

Waves roared and churned.

Suddenly,

the slumbering Dragon Prince felt as if every dragon scale on his body had frozen.

Two enormous dragon eyes suddenly snapped open, glaring fiercely.

And there, he beheld…

A figure in a flowing black robe, wearing a cute Cow Mask, as massive as a mountain,

standing in the water with arms crossed, his hair flowing like seaweed.

He watched the dragons with detached indifference, as if eyeing minnows.