Dragon Transformation, Repaying Kindness with Enmity

Time flew by, and another year passed. Zhao Ping'an turned four, and he was as tall as a ten-year-old boy.

Zhao Ping'an, who looked ten, was no longer cherubic and doll-like. His features had grown into their proper shape, his figure was slender, and dressed in splendid robes with his hair bound up, he had become a graceful young nobleman. Countless girls blushed and fell into lovesick reveries at the sight of him.

Now that he was four, Zhao Ping'an could finally come into contact with Martial Arts again.

Jiang Wen personally taught Zhao Ping'an a set of the Jiang Family's inherited swordsmanship—Spirit Star Swordplay.

Spirit Star Swordplay was nimble yet ruthless, perfectly complementing the Jiang Family's Wind Spirit Physique bloodline. Its power was formidable, making it a mid-grade Martial Art.

Before Zhao Ping'an, Jiang Wen first demonstrated the complete Spirit Star Swordplay. Then he sheathed his sword, returned to Zhao Ping'an, and said, "Spirit Star Swordplay requires True Essence when used. You have not yet begun cultivating a method and possess no True Essence, so first memorize the forms and stances of Spirit Star Swordplay."

At this point, he paused and deliberately tested him. "Have you remembered every move?"

After three and a half years, he was uncertain whether Zhao Ping'an still possessed the Photographic Memory he had shown when learning Martial Arts at half a year old, able to completely grasp the true essence of a martial skill after merely one night.

"I remembered them all. Thank you, Grandfather," Zhao Ping'an said.

Jiang Wen could not help smiling. "Demonstrate it once for Grandfather to see."

Zhao Ping'an walked several steps away, drew a real longsword, and seriously began to demonstrate Spirit Star Swordplay.

Naturally, he did not use True Essence.

Even so, Jiang Wen could not help nodding in approval as he stroked his beard.

For he could see that although Zhao Ping'an's Spirit Star Swordplay was not infused with True Essence, it had already captured the swordplay's true flavor.

Zhao Ping'an had only watched it once, and this was his first demonstration!

When Zhao Ping'an finished, Jiang Wen could not restrain his delighted laughter. "Good, good, good! You have learned it well and already grasped the true flavor of Spirit Star Swordplay. Once you cultivate True Essence, you will be able to unleash Spirit Star Swordplay's true power!"

"It is because Grandfather taught me well." Zhao Ping'an sheathed his sword, returned to Jiang Wen, and smiled.

Jiang Wen laughed happily again. He could not help saying, "Grandfather will teach you another inherited movement technique of the Jiang Family—Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows!"

Having said that, he began demonstrating it before Zhao Ping'an. His body moved like willow catkins borne on the wind, elusive and unpredictable, impossible to grasp.

"All attacks stir the wind, and we move with the wind. No matter how swift or strange the enemy's attacks, they cannot even touch the corner of our robes..."

Zhao Ping'an watched intently. Compared with Spirit Star Swordplay, he was more interested in Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows.

Spirit Star Swordplay was a method of attack, while Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows was a method of preserving one's life. Staying alive was more important than killing enemies.

After Jiang Wen finished demonstrating the Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows movement technique, Zhao Ping'an half-closed his eyes and opened the panel in his mind.

Techniques: Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows [Mid-grade] (0/300), Spirit Star Swordplay [Mid-grade] (300/300), Arhat Subduing Fist [Mid-grade]...

He casually filled the proficiency of Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows to the maximum.

In the dead of night, all was silent.

Zhao Ping'an climbed out of bed, dressed himself, opened his door, and walked into the courtyard.

He and Jiang Shuyue now slept in separate beds. Although he was only four, he was already as tall as a ten-year-old boy and mature beyond his years.

Jiang Shuyue had been reluctant, but Zhao Ping'an had insisted, so she had no choice but to agree.

After gaining an independent bedroom, Zhao Ping'an could finally sit in meditation at night, absorb Heavenly Essence, and cultivate.

By now, his speed of absorbing Heavenly Essence had surpassed that of an adult Primordial Sea Realm cultivator, and it was still continuously increasing.

Being born with all the body's meridians open was truly extraordinary, granting overwhelming advantages.

Through his daily, unceasing absorption of Heavenly Essence and consumption of Spirit Pills, his Innate Primordial Sea had finally produced one-thousandth True Essence.

Though the proportion was tiny, the amount of True Essence exceeded all the True Essence possessed by an ordinary Essence Sea cultivator.

In the center of the courtyard, Zhao Ping'an half-closed his eyes and opened the panel in his mind. Then he added enough proficiency to Spirit Star Swordplay to increase it a hundredfold.

At once, a vast number of profound insights concerning Spirit Star Swordplay flooded into his mind. They cast off the old and brought forth the new, allowing him to comprehend a swordplay of a higher level.

"Let's call you Xun Star Swordplay." Zhao Ping'an named this entirely new high-grade swordplay.

The next moment, he opened his eyes. His gaze was like sword light as he drew his sword with a clang and began practicing Xun Star Swordplay.

The sword qi of Xun Star Swordplay swept like gusting wind, while the sword tip struck like flying stars. Its power was formidable, fully a level stronger than the Spirit Star Swordplay Jiang Wen had demonstrated.

After finishing Xun Star Swordplay, Zhao Ping'an closed his eyes again, opened the panel, and added a hundredfold amount of Proficiency Points to Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows.

Before long, he comprehended another, even stronger movement technique.

Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows had originally been a passive evasive movement technique. The new technique Zhao Ping'an comprehended rose to another level, allowing him to use the wind to make his movements and attacks sharper, swifter, and as ghostly and unfathomable as demons. It also allowed him to attack proactively.

"Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows is quite a nice name. I'll keep the original name." Zhao Ping'an murmured inwardly.

Just then, an immense Hooting Sound suddenly came from afar, like a dragon roaring through the nine heavens.

Startled, Zhao Ping'an immediately opened his eyes and looked toward the source of the sound.

In the direction of the city's central district, an enormous and surging mass of True Essence shot from the ground into the sky, piercing the clouds. The clouds high above were forcefully swept apart. Like a hidden dragon emerging from an abyss, its momentum was vast and shocking.

"So powerful. Is this the legendary Dragon Transformation?" Zhao Ping'an could not help marveling.

The immense Hooting Sound continued without pause, waking countless people in White Emperor City from their sleep. They hurriedly put on clothes and came outside, looking up at the enormous mass of True Essence piercing the heavens with envy and worship.

"Ping'an." A gentle, pleasing voice came from behind him.

Zhao Ping'an turned and called to Jiang Shuyue as she approached, "Mother."

Jiang Shuyue walked to Zhao Ping'an's side and looked up at the enormous True Essence soaring into the sky. Speculation appeared in her eyes. "The True Essence came from the Zhennan Marquis Estate. Could it be that he has entered the Dragon Transformation Realm?"

Everyone in the Zhennan Marquis Estate had risen. They left their bedrooms, looked up at the True Essence soaring into the heavens, and hurried toward Great Peng Courtyard.

Within Great Peng Courtyard, Su Yingluo stood in the courtyard dressed in white, with a white dharma cloth draped over her head. She looked up at her husband's dragon-like True Essence, a faint joy on her face.

In her arms, she held her three-year-old son, Zhao Zhenming, whom she had just dragged out of bed.

Zhao Zhenming was still bleary-eyed with sleep, but it did nothing to diminish his cherubic appearance and innate air of nobility.

Behind Su Yingluo stood Qiushui and the other maids, servants, and retainers of Great Peng Courtyard. Their faces were filled with wild delight. Some even knelt on the ground, tears streaming down their faces.

Their master had entered the Dragon Transformation Realm. This meant their status and fate would be different from now on; following their master, even chickens and dogs ascended to heaven.

The enormous True Essence soaring into the sky finally began to fade. The door to the cultivation room opened, and Zhao Yingpeng emerged from within.

"Congratulations, Husband, on your Dragon Transformation. From this day forward, you will soar straight up thirty thousand miles; seeking immortals and asking Buddha will be as easy as turning your hand." Holding Zhao Zhenming, Su Yingluo bowed to Zhao Yingpeng and congratulated him.

Qiushui and the other maids and servants all knelt, crying out in unison, "Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness!"

"Hahaha..." Zhao Yingpeng threw back his head and laughed heartily, high-spirited and full of vigor.

He strode to Su Yingluo, reached out to take Zhao Zhenming into his arms, and smiled at her. "You deserve credit for this as well."

He was exceedingly fond of Zhao Zhenming, for when Zhao Zhenming turned three some time ago, his aptitude had been tested as peak ninth-grade. He possessed two supreme bloodlines—the Divine River Physique and Chilong Physique. The two bloodlines complemented each other, raising his potential to an even greater level.

"I would not dare," Su Yingluo said.

Just then, the other members of the Zhennan Marquis Estate entered Great Peng Courtyard, led by the elderly Marquis and Marchioness of Zhennan.

Seeing them arrive, Zhao Yingpeng carried Zhao Zhenming and led Su Yingluo forward. "Greetings, Father. Greetings, Mother."

"Yingpeng, you truly did not disappoint me." The Zhennan Marquis said happily, "The Zhennan Marquis Estate has a worthy successor."

The Zhennan Marquis continued, "At dawn tomorrow, I will submit a memorial to Emperor Qian and request that you be named Young Lord of the Zhennan Marquis Estate!"

It turned out that the position of Young Lord in the Zhennan Marquis Estate had always been granted to the worthy rather than the eldest. Usually, whoever first reached the Dragon Transformation Realm would be named Young Lord and become the next Zhennan Marquis.

Among the Zhennan Marquis's several children, Zhao Yingpeng was the first to enter the Dragon Transformation Realm. Moreover, Zhao Yingpeng had no other issues, so the Zhennan Marquis readily named him Young Lord.

The title of Zhennan Marquis was hereditary and immutable. Requesting Emperor Qian's approval to appoint a Young Lord was merely a formality. Emperor Qian had no authority to interfere, so Zhao Yingpeng becoming the Young Lord of the Zhennan Marquis Estate was as certain as a nail driven into a board.

"Thank you, Father!" Zhao Yingpeng bowed excitedly.

The next day, news that Zhao Yingpeng had advanced to the Dragon Transformation Realm and would be made Young Lord of the Zhennan Marquis Estate spread through White Emperor City at an astonishing pace, then radiated outward.

The Zhennan Marquis Estate was extremely important in the Southern Border. The choice of Young Lord would profoundly affect every aspect of the Southern Border.

The news also reached Jiang Manor, and Zhao Ping'an and Jiang Shuyue both learned of it.

However, neither felt any joy. Instead, the unease in Jiang Shuyue's heart deepened by several degrees.

As time passed, this unease grew stronger and stronger, even causing Jiang Shuyue to suffer nightmare after nightmare.

More than ten days later, Jiang Shuyue finally could not endure it any longer and sought out her father Jiang Wen for a private conversation.

"Dad, I want to take Ping'an away from White Emperor City, far from the Southern Border," Jiang Shuyue said with exceptional seriousness.

Jiang Wen was startled and hurriedly asked, "Why? Has anyone in the manor treated you mother and son badly? Tell me, I..."

When Jiang Shuyue had married into the Zhennan Marquis Estate, the dowry she brought had indeed emptied the Jiang Family. However, the soap formula Zhao Ping'an later gave Jiang Manor had allowed the Jiang Family to rake in money hand over fist over the past three years. Given time, the Jiang Family would not only recover its strength but rise to another level.

"No one has treated Ping'an and me badly." Jiang Shuyue shook her head. "I am worried about the Zhennan Marquis Estate."

Jiang Wen frowned. "Ping'an has a Mortal Body. That woman surnamed Su has no reason to harm Ping'an again, does she? Ping'an has secretly gone out of the manor to play many times, and nothing has happened."

"I'm not worried about her. I'm worried about Zhao Yingpeng." Jiang Shuyue said anxiously, "Now that he is about to be named Young Lord of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, I fear he may harm Ping'an."

"This..." Jiang Wen could not help falling into thought.

He understood that the higher a person's rank and power, the more they cared about their face. Zhao Yingpeng had previously only been one of the Zhennan Marquis's sons, but now he was about to become Young Lord, the next Zhennan Marquis. Face would naturally become all the more important.

He let out a long sigh, feeling utterly helpless and stifled. His daughter had clearly done nothing wrong, so why would fate refuse to spare her?

"Fine." Jiang Wen said weakly. His entire spirit seemed to wilt. "Spend these next two days making preparations, then quietly take Ping'an and leave White Emperor City."

Jiang Shuyue suddenly began weeping sorrowfully. "Your daughter is unfilial. From now on, I will never again be able to serve you in your old age."

If she had any choice, she would never want to leave her father, brothers, and family behind.

"Silly girl, why say such things? The world is vast. Even if you can never return to White Emperor City, can I not go see you?" Jiang Wen comforted Jiang Shuyue, his eyes moist.

At dawn on the third day, a carriage without the Jiang Clan emblem quietly departed from Jiang Manor and headed toward the northern city gate.

Inside the carriage sat Jiang Shuyue and Zhao Ping'an.

Zhao Ping'an was somewhat unwilling. He felt that the Great Barrens World was so dangerous, and before he had grown strong enough, running around everywhere was not a wise move.

Moreover, he believed that even a vicious tiger would not eat its cub. After Zhao Yingpeng became the Young Lord of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, he would not go so far as to kill him.

The carriage smoothly left White Emperor City and continued northward.

In order to get as far from White Emperor City as quickly as possible, Jiang Shuyue avoided stopping to rest. Only when the afternoon sun became too scorching and the horses could no longer bear it did they have no choice but to stop at a tea stall beside the official road.

Zhao Ping'an and Jiang Shuyue got out of the carriage, walked to the tea stall, sat down, and drank water to catch their breath.

"Amitabha. This Old Monk greets you."

A voice proclaiming a Buddhist invocation sounded. Zhao Ping'an turned and saw a fat old monk, as round as Maitreya, standing beside him with an alms bowl, begging him for alms.

Zhao Ping'an casually placed a piece of broken silver into the Fat Old Monk's alms bowl.

"Many thanks, Young Benefactor." The Fat Old Monk pressed his palms together in thanks.

Zhao Ping'an waved a hand, turned back, and continued drinking his tea.

Yet after taking two sips, he noticed that the Fat Old Monk had not left. He could not help turning around again to look at him.

The Fat Old Monk said, "This Old Monk is Kong Nian of Pudu Mountain. This Old Monk sees that the Young Benefactor is entangled in karmic misfortune, yet deeply rooted in wisdom. You are fated with Buddha. Please follow this Old Monk to Pudu Mountain to cultivate."

"Old Monk, you repay kindness with enmity." Zhao Ping'an could not help laughing as he scolded him. "I'm perfectly fine. Why should I become a monk?"

"Amitabha, sin upon sin." Old Monk Kong Nian said, "Your glabella is darkened. A great calamity is imminent, yet you do not know it. As long as you follow this Old Monk to Pudu Mountain to cultivate, beneath the illumination of boundless Buddha Light, all disasters and misfortunes can be eliminated."

Jiang Shuyue abruptly stood, grabbed Zhao Ping'an's hand, and said to Kong Nian with extreme vigilance, "Old Monk, my son will never become a monk!"

With that, she pulled Zhao Ping'an toward the carriage at a quick pace, intending to get away from Kong Nian.

She was highly sensitive toward Pudu Mountain.

Unexpectedly, after they had only taken two steps, Kong Nian's body moved like a god or ghost. In an instant, he appeared before Jiang Shuyue and Zhao Ping'an, blocking their path with his fat body.

"Female Benefactor, you may leave, but the Young Benefactor must remain." Kong Nian spoke in a tone that allowed no refusal, carrying an air of tyranny. "He is fated with Buddha and must go to Pudu Mountain!"