Chapter 185 - 214: Golden Dragon Transformation! A Border Town, Falling Fire, Bloody Chaos
"However..."
The youth in the turquoise robe paused.
Then, his expression turning solemn, he said, "To be safe, I can use a Divine Technique and take a look at this man’s true background."
The white-haired old man’s expression flickered upon hearing this.
He knew very well that the youth in the turquoise robe standing before him had been personally chosen by the Bai Gu Great Saint of the White Bone Hall to be his Direct Disciple.
The Bai Gu Great Saint had even personally named him Young Master Bai Gu of the White Bone Hall.
And his most feared ability was precisely this Celestial Divine Technique!
HUMMM!!
The youth in the turquoise robe focused his mind, held his breath, and slowly raised his right hand.
In the flickering candlelight, wisps of crimson light spilled from his fingertips, enveloping a drop of Essence Blood as they gathered in mid-air.
Gradually, the crimson light bled outward like ink in water.
The drop of Essence Blood it enveloped vanished.
Then, a vivid image...
...slowly unfurled before him!
...
「In a secret Emperor’s Hall in Xia Imperial City.」
"Brother! All arrangements have been made."
King Wu said, bowing slightly with a solemn expression.
"Good!"
Emperor Xia stood on the high platform, his eyes seething with killing intent. "Then let the operation begin," he said slowly.
"Yes!"
「At the same time.」
By the light of the bright moon and flickering candles, Su Bai and the others left the prison and made their way to the Yixiang Pavilion.
Unlike the luxurious Yantian Sea, the food at Yixiang Pavilion was not only delicious but also very affordable.
For this very reason, it was a haven for night workers looking for a hearty meal.
By now, it was late into the night, but the atmosphere inside was still lively.
A group of young men in official robes were gathered around a wooden table, laughing and joking as they picked up their bowls and chopsticks and wolfed down their food.
In the center of the room stood a storyteller in a green robe, alone with his table and folding fan. He surveyed the crowd with a smile before beginning a resonant recitation of a classic tale.
Patrons, hearing an exciting part of the story, couldn’t help but jump to their feet and cheer.
A couple of young waiters stopped to listen, becoming so mesmerized that they nearly forgot to deliver their customers’ orders.
And that group of young men in official robes was, of course, Su Bai and his companions.
After eating and drinking their fill, the group supported each other as they made their way back to the prison.
Once inside his personal quarters, Su Bai began the prize-wheel spin.
He had killed several Dao Palace Realm experts during the day’s battle, which naturally granted him chances to spin the wheel.
As the thought formed in Su Bai’s mind, a prize wheel wreathed in black flames appeared before him.
Its pointer, a sinister blood-red, seemed to reflect the deep sins of the slain Dao Palace experts.
The pointer spun and slowly came to a stop.
Su Bai ended up with forty million Experience Points and six hundred thousand Tier Two Experience Points.
Next, he began drawing for their Cultivation Techniques and Divine Techniques.
A short while later, the draws were complete.
Among the Cultivation Techniques Su Bai obtained, most were Seventh Grade. Only one Divine Technique was special enough to catch his eye.
[Divine Technique: Golden Snake Transformation! (Seventh Grade)] [Realm: 4th Layer (45,154 / 5,000,000)]
From the memories of the Dao Palace Realm Demon he had slain, Su Bai learned that the Demon had acquired this Divine Technique in a special treasure trove in the Outer Realm, a fortuitous reward for surviving a life-and-death trial.
It was a special Body Cultivation Divine Technique divided into nine layers. If cultivated to the highest Realm, the technique itself would undergo an astonishing transformation.
’I might as well give it a try.’
Returning to his senses, Su Bai nodded and poured Experience Points into the Divine Technique.
As the Experience Points flowed in, the technique’s Realm began to soar!
5th Layer... 6th Layer... 7th Layer... 8th Layer...
All the way to the 9th Layer!
BOOM!!
A massive transformation began.
Scales, fine and wrought from brilliant gold, sprouted across Su Bai’s arms.
The scales emanated a faint yet noble aura, like those of a legendary True Dragon.
They seemed to demand the worship of all beasts.
With this, Su Bai’s Physique had been strengthened once again!
He checked the Divine Technique’s information again and saw it had changed significantly.
[Divine Technique: Golden Dragon Transformation! (Eighth Grade!)] [Realm: 10th Layer (0 / 15,000,000)]
After its transformation, the Divine Technique’s level cap had increased to the 13th Layer. Perhaps another transformation awaited him after he maxed it out.
Just as Su Bai was about to leave the prison to test the true power of this new Divine Technique...
"Hm?"
...he suddenly frowned, his gaze fixed on a particular spot in the room.
His powerful Divine Thoughts blanketed the area, and he sensed someone was secretly spying on him.
The feeling was faint, almost imperceptible.
But Su Bai’s keen senses still managed to lock onto a faint, obscure aura hidden within the room.
The next moment, his eyes narrowed and he shot his hand out, grabbing at the empty air!
RIP!
In that instant, a sound like tearing flesh rang out in the room.
Su Bai withdrew his right hand.
He slowly uncurled his fingers.
A single, glistening drop of blood lay in his palm!
...
「Meanwhile, in the pavilion at the border.」
The youth in the turquoise robe violently spat out a mouthful of blood!
The dark red blood sprayed onto the candle flame before him, extinguishing it.
"What’s wrong?" the black-robed old man sitting across from him asked, his brow furrowed.
"I... I’m fine..."
The youth in the turquoise robe wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and shook his head, his face pale.
"That Great Xia Boxing Saint... his Divine Thoughts are unbelievably powerful. He actually detected my Blood Painting Divine Technique."
"He captured my Essence Blood, causing me to suffer the backlash."
"However, using the Divine Technique this time wasn’t a total loss."
The youth in the turquoise robe said, composing himself.
"What did you gain?"
"He’s been hiding his true strength. His attainments in Body Cultivation are truly impressive. Not only that, but he also cultivates the Golden Dragon Transformation Divine Technique!"
He had, of course, seen the image of Su Bai’s arms sprouting golden scales through his Blood Painting Divine Technique.
"The Golden Dragon Transformation!!"
Hearing this, the black-robed old man’s expression darkened.
The Golden Dragon Transformation!
It was a secret technique of the Celestial Dragon Sect in Cangzhou, one that only Core Disciples and Inner Sect Elders were qualified to cultivate!
’Could the Great Xia Boxing Saint have ties to the immensely powerful Celestial Dragon Sect?’
’This is not good news at all.’
"While he’s still in the Imperial City."
"We have to speed up our plan."
After a moment of thought, the youth in the turquoise robe said in a low voice, "We’ll do it tomorrow morning."
"So soon?" The old man frowned, clearly hesitant.
The plan was originally set for three days from now.
Three days would have been enough time for him to make his own preparations and secure an escape route.
But now, the date was too soon. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to get away, which would be a huge problem.
"You can rest assured. When the time comes, my master will arrange an escape route for you."
The youth in the turquoise robe said reassuringly, "As long as the plan succeeds, you will be able to leave the Celestial Spirit Sect and join my White Bone Hall as an Elder."
"Furthermore, once my master succeeds, your contribution will be undeniable. He will surely help you condense a Third-Grade Daoist Palace Dharma Aspect!"
"Then I must thank the Great Saint in advance!"
The old man’s eyes flickered at these words, and he spoke with a smile.
The candlelight flickered as the two continued their idle chat.
Each harbored their own ulterior motives.
...
「In a small, mist-shrouded city on the Great Xia Border.」
Dawn was approaching.
The long-slumbering horizon began to glow, and a few birds soared freely, their chirps echoing as their graceful silhouettes streaked across the sky.
The long-silent city gradually came to life with the joyful songs of the birds, revealing its immense vitality.
And as the first rays of the rising sun streamed into the city as usual, the countless cries of vendors, mixed with sounds of laughter and playful banter, raised the vitality of this remote little city to its peak.
In the most remote northeastern corner of the city stood a slightly dilapidated, dark-colored hut.
It was simple and squat.
At one point, the hut’s dusty, chipped wooden door slowly creaked open.
"How wonderful! The sun is as warm as ever."
The faint light of dawn danced on the smiling face of an old woman. She lifted her withered face to the distant sun.
Her left hand clutched a small, square wooden box, which she held tightly against her chest as she slowly closed her eyes.
The corners of her dry, cracked lips curved into a smile, making no attempt to hide the deep joy in her heart.
A moment later, the old woman took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale every last wisp of her overflowing joy.
Then, satisfied, she opened her eyes. Her scar-covered right hand tightened its grip on a cracked and rotting wooden cane.
Facing northwest, she took a gentle step forward.
In the brilliant sunlight, her thin, stooped figure seemed to shrink, until it disappeared into the light...
"Grandma Xu, you’ve come."
Seeing the familiar old woman approach, a young shop assistant in a white uniform went up to greet her with a wide smile.
He expertly reached out to support the old customer, helping her to the front of the shop before crouching down.
He took a pastry that he had already set aside from a Jade Plate and handed it to the old woman with a gentle laugh. "Here you go, today’s breakfast."
"Such a good boy."
The old woman chuckled as she took the pastry and paid. Then, with a beaming smile, she asked, "Would you like an old woman like me to introduce you to a few potential matches?"
"Let me think..."
Before the young man could say a word, the old woman chuckled to herself.
"I heard the third daughter of the Wang Family Patriarch in the north of the city is a legendary beauty. They’re holding a martial tournament to find her a husband. Why don’t you go give it a try? Seize the opportunity!"
"Hmm... if you don’t go, there’s that little miss from the Zhao Family in the east."
"That one has wide hips. Good for childbearing!"
"And in the south of the city..."
The old woman reeled them off as if she were a professional matchmaker.
Her voice wasn’t quiet, and passersby began to stop and watch, smiling at the exchange.
"Grandma Xu!"
Her rather blunt words made the conservative young man blush bright red.
"Alright, alright! I’ll stop teasing you, child."
After a few more teasing remarks, she left the pastry shop.
On the bustling street, the old woman moved against the cheerful crowd, her steps faltering as she walked back toward her little hut.
Back at home, she sat on a wobbly wooden stool and carefully placed the small wooden box she had been clutching onto another stool.
This stool was right beside her.
The old woman raised her right hand and gently caressed the small wooden box.
Her deep eyes were filled with a surging love.
She couldn’t help but reminisce about the old days.
She remembered countless mornings when she and her old man would sit arm in arm, leaning against each other, bathing in the warm sunlight together.
It was as if no one had ever left, as if no one had ever passed away.
Everything seemed so tranquil and peaceful.
RUMBLE—
Suddenly, a deafening explosion ripped through the sky!
The old woman looked up, her eyes narrowing.
She saw an enormous, blood-red fireball plummeting from the heavens!
The black flames of its tail writhed like stampeding Demon Dragons, their roars shaking the very heavens!
And the fireball’s destination was this very city!
"What is that!?"
"Dammit! Run!"
"AHH!!"
More and more people in the city noticed the strange sight in the sky.
Panic and terror washed over everyone like a tidal wave, drowning their bodies and souls.
Instantly, the entire city descended into chaos!
Countless roars, screams, wails, and cries...
Rose and fell in waves!
RUMBLE!!
As the giant fireball drew ever closer, the old woman by the wooden hut remained calm.
She picked up the wooden box, held it to her chest, and peacefully closed her eyes.
She whispered softly.
"This is fine too."
"Old man, I’m coming to join you..."