Chapter 123
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Chapter 123: Refining Dragon Blood, Dragon Transformation
Mu Lin agreed with one principle: all else was illusion, only magical Cultivation held true.
Thus, he prioritized strengthening his magical cultivation above all.
Though the Polar Violet Formation offered nothing else, its mere ability to connect him with Substitute Paper Figures and boost refining efficiency made Mu Lin value it immensely.
"The Polar Violet Formation is an Earth-level supreme formation… obtainable, but I must consult Mountain Elder."
"I’ll trouble you with this, Teacher."
At Mu Lin’s request, Dongfang Ya went to seek Mountain Elder.
Meanwhile, Mu Lin reflected how displaying overwhelming power had earned Qi Qiu’s invitation, classmates’ respect, and Taoist Palace teachers’ cordiality. This confirmed his belief—in this world where might reigns supreme, sufficient strength makes everything beautiful.
This conviction hardened his resolve to cultivate further.
"Fists embody authority—this truth holds everywhere."
After musing, Mu Lin resumed training.
Possessing dragon blood, he now prioritized the Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique in his regimen.
The dragon blood-diluting spiritual liquid wasn’t rare. Yan Yunyu procured a large vial that very afternoon.
Upon consuming it, Mu Lin sensed immediate changes.
"ROAR!"
As the liquid coursed through him, draconic energy surged. A thunderous roar echoed through his sea of consciousness.
A majestic black dragon materialized within his Mind Image world—the visual manifestation of his consciousness.
"SPLASH…"
Torrential rains followed, instantly flooding his mental landscape.
The dragon fixed its gaze on Mu Lin’s soul.
Unfazed, Mu Lin recalled Dongfang Ya’s instructions: refining demon beast vital blood required subduing its residual will, not mere absorption. Hence she’d forbidden consuming pure blood, permitting only diluted essence.
This weakened the beast’s resistance. Though imposing, the dragon’s form flickered insubstantially upon closer inspection.
"Hmph. A true dragon might intimidate me. But you’re mere remnant essence—submit!"
"VVRRM!"
Mu Lin manifested the City God Realm within his Mind Image world. Here, his divine avatar operated at full potency.
His defiance enraged the dragon. An oppressive aura erupted, crushing downward.
"WRETCHED INSECT! KNEEL!"
“Ziz…”
The oppressive aura pressed down on Mu Lin like a colossal mountain, making his soul in the Mind Image world feel suffocated. A primal dread, as if facing a natural predator, surged through him.
This was dragon might.
Dragons wielded overwhelming might. As nearly flawless beings, their presence alone instilled terror in most demon beasts and humans. Ordinary people and even Qi Practitioners of the same rank would feel like prey before a flood dragon or true dragon. Dragon might was the first barrier to challenging dragon-kind—many foes faltered under its crushing weight.
Yet while dragons had their might, gods too held their own majesty.
Facing the flood dragon’s oppressive aura, Mu Lin willed the City God’s first power into motion: Divine Might Like a Prison!
“Boom!!!”
Terrifying divine authority erupted from Mu Lin’s soul, spreading across the Mind Image world. Under this pressure, ordinary people would tremble in fear, while wrongdoers suffered even greater torment.
“Ziz ziz ziz…”
Mu Lin now hurled this force toward the dragon’s phantom.
“Boom!”
Dragon might and divine might collided, splitting the Mind Image world into two raging fronts. The clashing energies warped reality itself, cracking buildings and causing weaker visitors to flicker like mirages.
“Boom… roar…”
“Ziz ziz ziz…”
Initially, the contest was even. But soon, the dragon’s phantom weakened—it was merely a wisp of aura, not the true entity. Its power dwindled rapidly.
“Boom boom boom…”
Seizing the moment, Mu Lin’s divine might surged forth, shattering the phantom entirely.
“Bang!”
Fragments of the broken phantom fused into Mu Lin’s soul. Insights flooded his mind—secrets of the dragon clan.
*“…So that’s how they summon winds and rain…”*
*“…Their blood can create thralls…”*
As the flood dragon was an evolved form of the Black Water Mystic Serpent, absorbing its spirit deepened Mu Lin’s grasp of the Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique. His Attribute Panel flickered: *+7… +9… +13…* In moments, his cultivation progress soared by 39 points.
When Mu Lin finally opened his eyes, he found his body thrumming with vitality. The spiritual liquid infused with dragon essence had not only stirred his Mind Image world—it had awakened his flesh to new heights.
Mu Lin’s body had involuntarily activated the Transforming into a Serpent process due to stimulation. Violent energy surged inside him, creating an overwhelming sense of fullness.
Without delay, he shut his eyes and fully activated the Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique to refine the energy within his body. He initially expected controlling this wild energy would be challenging, but soon realized how wrong he was.
Having crushed and fused with the Dragon’s soul, Mu Lin’s spirit now carried a trace of draconic aura. Controlling the dragon energy with this merged soul, he effortlessly converted the chaotic power into his own.
After several breaths, Mu Lin opened his eyes with a peculiar expression. "At this refining speed, I’ll completely process the dragon blood in five to seven days. This isn’t as difficult as Teacher Dongfang Ya claimed…"
"…Makes sense. She knew my soul quality was decent, but not about my City God status making me immune to dragon might. My elevated rank allows easy assimilation of the dragon’s soul without backlash."
Since this worked in his favor, Mu Lin simply adjusted his refining pace accordingly rather than overthinking it.
"Roar!"
"Boom!"
With each dose of diluted spiritual liquid, Mu Lin shattered the dragon’s spiritual thoughts repeatedly. Now permeated with draconic essence, his refining of the dragon blood became increasingly efficient. Soon he’d processed a faint strand of dragon aura.
As he absorbed more dragon soul and blood power, Mu Lin’s serpent transformation gradually developed draconic characteristics. His eyes gained imposing authority, scales hardened like armor, and tiny bumps emerged on his forehead.
Continuous refining enhanced both his physical strength and vitality dramatically. Mu Lin was developing true draconic traits.
He originally planned seven days of closed-door training to fully refine the dragon blood. But Yan Yunyu and Dongfang Ya moved faster than expected.
That very night, Yan Yunyu delivered the requested ten-thousand-year Sui Mu paper. "Brother Mu Lin, here’s your… Hsss!"
When she opened the door, her initial joy turned to shock. An overwhelming presence radiated from Mu Lin, making her feel like an insect facing mountainous beasts or a mouse confronting a tiger. She instinctively retreated two steps.
Mu Lin frowned. "What’s wrong…"
He trailed off as he saw his reflection in her widened eyes – scales covering his body, emerging horn buds, radiating draconic majesty. Finally understanding her reaction, he realized his transformation’s visible progression.
"Were you intimidated by the dragon’s aura…"
Thought Mu Lin as he closed his eyes, awakening the Trait of Transcendence.
"Hum…"
The moment this trait activated, Mu Lin’s entire demeanor shifted. Where before he’d radiated the ferocious perfection of a primordial beast, now he carried the detached serenity of an immortal unbound by earthly concerns. Within moments, the unsettling effects from refining the dragon blood vanished under the trait’s influence.
Regaining full control, Mu Lin turned to Yan Yunyu with an apologetic nod. "My apologies. I lost focus during cultivation and let my aura slip."
"It matters not," she replied smoothly. Though her voice remained calm, conflicting emotions churned beneath the surface—genuine pleasure at his progress warring with growing unease.
‘His talent defies reason. At this pace, he’ll leave me trailing in the dust.’ The memory of their transactional relationship, built on schemes rather than trust, twisted like a knife. ‘This morning’s confrontation settled past deceptions… yet his indifference cuts deeper than anger ever could.’
Her intuition proved accurate. To Mu Lin, betrayal from kin warranted rage and hurt. But between strangers? Cunning was expected. A misstep meant self-reflection, not resentment—weaklings clung to grudges. ‘Kindness isn’t owed. Learn from losses, then outmaneuver them next time.’ This philosophy let him dismiss her schemes without bitterness.
Yan Yunyu craved that spark of fury instead. Anger would mean she mattered. Now, watching him grow ever more untouchable, desperation whispered: ‘Bind him. Before he slips away entirely.’
Yet none of this showed as she produced a lacquered case with practiced grace. "Mu brother, the Thousand-Year Sui Mu Paper you requested." Her smile could melt winter frost. "Sourced from a ten-millennium royal tomb. The lingering aura… quite exceptional, wouldn’t you agree?"
Mu Lin’s gaze sharpened. "Royal tomb… Then the Fortune of a Dynasty…"
