Chapter 84: True Dragon Coin

When Ji Xinghuo saw Dongji Pass situated on a steep mountain, he couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief and exclaimed, “We’re back.”

“Indeed!” Chi Zhonglin nodded vigorously. “It really wasn’t easy!”

Jiangnan Caiyi also looked exhausted.

Only Ren Mian remained energetic and cheerful.

They had walked for fourteen days on their way to Deep Rock Rift but had returned in just ten days, almost never resting.

It was quite necessary.

Not long after leaving Deep Rock Rift, Ji Xinghuo noticed that patrols from the North Luo Master Clan had increased. It seemed they were actively searching for them. Along the return journey, every city sent many teams to search overtly and ambush covertly.

There were also flying teams from Gorlau Krak almost blanket searching the sky.

Ji Xinghuo dared not relax for even a minute.

Relying on magnetic field sensing and Wanxiang Star Pupils, they evaded wave after wave of enemies and even avoided monsters. They rushed back with hardly any rest.

They had finally returned.

Upon entering the Eastern Extreme Pass, the four of them checked into a fortress inn and slept for several hours to recover.

The next day, they rode horses into Yanhuang City and took an airship back to their villa in Olympia.

Back at their familiar home, the four finally relaxed.

Ren Mian went upstairs to her bedroom while Jiangnan Caiyi immediately changed into home clothes and began cleaning as usual.

“Home is indeed the most comfortable!”

Chi Zhonglin put down his lava lance and threw himself onto the living room sofa. “I could lie here all day long doing nothing.”

“Then just lie there.”

Ji Xinghuo chuckled, returned to his room, put down his weapons and armor, and felt much lighter.

Qinghong climbed down off his wrist and curled up in its bed on the windowsill, revealing its iron arrow green body.

It had stood guard every night on the way back and now needed to rest.

After his bath, Ji Xinghuo found Qinghong already asleep.

He opened the Wanxiang Star Pupils interface.

The journey had lasted over twenty Star Realm days, nearly two months on Earth. Despite not practicing specifically, his star force had still grown to 394 points.

“Ether affinity sure helps!”

Ji Xinghuo sighed and checked the progress of his ether affinity, which was still far from next level.

Still, the bounty of spiritual source energy had been no small amount, mostly acquired in the Gekko People’s city.

[Spiritual Source Energy: 820]

Looking at the number on the screen, Ji Xinghuo eagerly rubbed his hands. This was the first time he had possessed so much spiritual source energy and could upgrade several abilities.

“Let’s try upgrading Qinghong’s abilities first.”

He looked at Qinghong coiled up in its bed, began the interface, and selected its “Dimensional Stomach,” pumping spiritual source energy into it.

No response.

The ability progress didn’t change, and neither did the energy diminish.

“Hmm?”

Ji Xinghuo thought for a moment, wondering if direct contact with Qinghong was necessary. He walked over, lightly placed his hand on the snake, and tried again.

This time it worked.

As spiritual source energy decreased, Dimensional Stomach’s progress (level 1, 13/1021) began to rise—14, 15, 16… swiftly breaking past 20. Ji Xinghuo immediately stopped and switched to upgrading “Miniaturization” which also started growing directly.

Qinghong had two abilities synced with his: Golden Scales Iron Ridge and Ether Affinity.

Ji Xinghuo tried upgrading his own Ether Affinity and Qinghong’s progress matched his.

It was the same with Golden Scales Iron Ridge.

He decided, “Let’s boost Golden Scales Iron Ridge first.”

It was because it offered the best value for money, improving their defense substantially for a bit of spiritual source energy; also, it was close to leveling up needing just over two hundred points.

Ji Xinghuo kept his hand on Qinghong, continually consuming spiritual source energy.

The recently asleep Qinghong opened its eyes, filled with confusion and panic as it felt itself rapidly getting stronger!

“Don’t worry.”

Ji Xinghuo sent a mental message to calm it, “I’m upgrading you, and it’s beneficial.”

Qinghong relaxed, its scales began to glow slightly and gradually changed color.

The original emerald hue faded slightly, the edges of the scales turned golden, seeping towards the center, becoming harder and more resilient. Inside, its spine was also strengthening, enhancing strength and burst capability.

Ji Xinghuo’s skin also showed scales, and his defense gradually enhanced while his strength increased.

Soon, Golden Scales Iron Ridge advanced to level three (level 3, 1/1237).

He immediately stopped pouring in spiritual source energy.

Both exceptional abilities now at level three, Golden Scales Iron Ridge required more spiritual source energy than Thousand Clever Hands, and he didn’t have enough left.

Now, a quarter of Qinghong’s scales had turned golden, and Ji Xinghuo looked less green himself.

“Another two levels and I might completely turn into a little golden man.”

Ji Xinghuo joked to himself.

Qinghong looked up at him conveying its inner joy and also asking why he had stopped.

“Strengthening isn’t without cost,” Ji Xinghuo explained, but Qinghong didn’t quite understand, perhaps pretending not to, nudging his hand non-stop seeking attention, much like a child wanting candy.

Slightly helpless, he continued, “I’ll enhance your sense of smell again.”

Qinghong’s spirit smell was at level two, 50/113, and needed just 63 points to level up.

As he injected 63 points of spiritual source energy, its spirit smell advanced to level three(instance 3, 1/503).

Spirit smell is a premium ability, not demanding too much energy to upgrade, but Ji Xinghuo decided not to continue though the remaining 525 points could take its “Miniaturization” to level two; he needed to save it for his own use.

Soon he would merge another hybrid, possibly requiring the spiritual source energy.

Qinghong blinked, seemingly saying, “That’s it?”

“That’s it, wait until next time.”

Ji Xinghuo was stern, and the snake appeared slightly disappointed, crawling back into its bed, but its eyes kept drifting towards Ji Xinghuo, devoid of any previous sleepiness.

Having already rested at Dongji Pass, Ji Xinghuo felt good with nothing else to do, so he headed to the training room.

After over twenty days without practice, his star force growth was slow, and he felt somewhat uneasy throughout.

Hours later.

Ji Xinghuo went through three training cycles in one go, drenched in sweat but feeling extremely refreshed. His star force increased by one point.

“Xinghuo, come over here,” Chi Zhonglin peeked his head out and yelled.

Wiping off his sweat, Ji Xinghuo entered the living room where all his teammates were gathered.

Chi Zhonglin smiled and announced, “Time to distribute the spoils of war!”

When Ji Xinghuo sat down at the table, Ren Mian opened a box in front of her and handed out several small glass bottles to each person. Each bottle contained a Chan Spirit Egg. “Everyone gets a Chan Spirit Egg. It takes effect once you consume it.”

She had barely finished speaking when Chi Zhonglin unscrewed the cap, poured the Chan Spirit Egg into his mouth, and washed it down with a big gulp of water.

“Just like that?” he smacked his lips.

Ren Mian nodded.

Ji Xinghuo also followed suit, swallowing the Chan Spirit Egg with water. The egg was about as small as a mung bean, lacking any peculiar taste.

However, he soon felt a change—a renewed hunger for different species surged within him.

It was indeed an enlarging marvel!

Ren Mian and Jiangnan Caiyi also consumed the Chan Spirit Eggs, albeit more gracefully than the men.

“The Chan Spirit Egg came just at the right time,” Chi Zhonglin joyously exclaimed, “Last time I got Bloody Frenzy, perfect for merging. I’ll practice for some time and then choose a suitable star gland to aim for becoming a super mutant!”

Star glands are mostly man-made, though some are natural organs born inside of monsters.

None is necessarily better; it depends on compatibility.

It must match the mutant’s personal genetics to prevent rejection and also align with their professional template to maximize potential.

Many companies and research institutes on Earth develop star glands, priced from several million to dozens of millions, even reaching hundreds of millions, depending entirely on personal choice.

Some companies also sell natural star glands, but implantation success rates and power aren’t guaranteed.

Overall, man-made star glands are more stable and easier to obtain.

Most people opt for man-made star glands.

Ji Xinghuo is still two ranks away from becoming a super mutant, so he need not worry about star glands yet. He remarked, “Caiyi, you should also prepare to advance to super mutant, right?”

“Yes,” Jiangnan Caiyi lightly nodded, “but I’m still missing one species.”

She is a Demon Refiner and Evil Spirit.

Demon Refiner is a special professional template; its core ability is “Dark Matter Demonic Body,” and with “Iron Will,” one can seal demons inside their body and borrow their power.

Jiangnan Caiyi solely possesses “Mind Demon,” which can amplify the power of evil spirits.

However, she lacks the “Demonic Transformation” ability.

Nor does she have other Demon Refiner seals like “Power Demon” and “Night Demon,” her combat style leans more towards stealth and control.

Her powers as an Evil Spirit are also incomplete.

Although possessing aspects of two professional templates gives her strong control abilities, her direct combat capabilities are somewhat lacking.

“Caiyi, I’ll look around to see if anyone’s selling a demon soul. If not, you should merge with Demonic Transformation first,” Ren Mian clearly had plans.

“Okay, sister,” Jiangnan Caiyi happily agreed.

Ren Mian then announced, “I’m taking the remaining two Chan Spirit Eggs; they might have other uses. I’ll compensate you financially, thirty million each.”

Chi Zhonglin immediately shook his head, “Sister Ren, just take them.”

Ji Xinghuo agreed as well.

“It’s not the same,” Ren Mian insisted firmly. “I’ve already taken the most valuable spirit energy; I can’t just take these eggs for free.” As she spoke, she retrieved over twenty golden coins from the box, “These are True Dragon Coins from the True Dragon Dynasty, each worth ten thousand golden dragons. Take good care of them.”

True Dragon Coins!

Ji Xinghuo had seen photos before but this was his first time seeing them in person.

These pentagonal coins, one side engraved with a fierce dragon, the other with the dragon language character for “ten thousand,” seemed to be made of gold but were actually a very expensive rare alloy containing a unique energy used as an identifier, the official currency of the True Dragon Dynasty.

The True Dragon Dynasty is one of the most powerful nations in the Star Realm, ruling over vast territories.

Tianyu Wangting in Thousand Peak Abyssal Forest is just a vassal state of the True Dragon Dynasty, a relatively unknown and insignificant one.

The True Dragon Dynasty, however, is a dominator of the Star Realm!

Their True Dragon Coins, made with ether technology, are widely circulated in the Star Realm, highly valuable and stable, one of the most common currencies.

Because they’re easy to carry, durable, and transactions are discreet, True Dragon Coins are very popular among mutants. Besides the largest denomination of ten thousand, there are also denominations of one thousand, five hundred, and one hundred. Smaller denominations of True Dragon Coins aren’t as common; usually, cash from Earth suffices.

A True Dragon Coin valued at ten thousand golden dragons is worth about 4.5 million Asian Yuan on Earth.

Ren Mian handed out seven to each person.

Ji Xinghuo held the seven True Dragon Coins in his hand, feeling their substantial weight. They clinked together, producing a pleasant sound.

With them, he could exchange over thirty million Asian Yuan on Olympia or Earth.

“Thank you, Sister Ren,” Chi Zhonglin saw Ren Mian’s insistence and happily accepted.

Ji Xinghuo didn’t hesitate either.

“The remaining hybrids, Xinghuo, you sell them. Just don’t sell to Dragon Lookout Pavilion. Divide the money among the three of you,” Ren Mian handed over the remaining Chan Spirit hybrids and other hybrids obtained on the way to Deep Rock Rift and from hunting monsters, all to Ji Xinghuo.

“Okay,” Ji Xinghuo nodded. These hybrids could also fetch millions.

With business concluded, Ren Mian went upstairs to begin merging with the spirit energy.

Ji Xinghuo then took the hybrids and left the house.