Demon Fox Slaughters Dragon Night

Ge Xian had glimpsed his own Dao Path, and excitement surged through him.

His thoughts churned. The more he considered it, the more feasible it seemed.

"Speaking of which, my predecessor was no ordinary person. He awakened two talents, Perception and Allure. By any measure, he was a formidable man. If he'd had the chance to enter the Dao, his future achievements might have rivaled Lu Hualong's, with his Innate Tiger Mark Tiger Eyes."

"Unfortunately, his luck was poor. He died in the calamity that accompanied the awakening of his Second Talent. Still, dying in a burst of bliss wasn't such a bad way to go."

"As for the third talent, [Cai Bu], it came with me. But it has a major flaw: after Cai Bu, it's bound to dissipate, with less than one chance in a hundred of remaining. That means even if I successfully use Cai Bu on an Immortal God, I still won't obtain the power I should afterward. It'd be like drawing water with a bamboo basket."

"If I can verify that this works, then I may have found an ideal use for my talent."

"After all, the Dao Qi Exotic Power I gain through 'cultivation' shouldn't dissipate afterward. I just don't know whether the corresponding Vicious Habit will still develop."

As Ge Xian pondered, he carefully studied the Dragon Transformation Chapter.

It was only a few hundred words, but he couldn't afford to miss a single one.

Cultivation in this world was clearly a matter of life and death. He couldn't afford to be careless.

According to the Dragon Transformation Essentials, once one had gathered the three required conditions, one first had to assimilate the object containing Dragon Essence Blood into the body and endure the "rejection" stage. Then one had to focus on the talent to Call Wind Summon Rain and summon wind and rain. After that, one could cultivate the secret method in the Essentials. If all went well, the body and soul would transform into a dragon, granting extraordinary power.

The strength of the power gained from the first dragon transformation depended on the cultivator's talent and the foreign object used to enter the Dao.

From the looks of it, this Essentials text was a basic cultivation method of the Dragon Clan, specifically meant for entering the Dao.

Clearly, Green Toad Water Lord Wei Dashou had been unwilling to remain an Evil Beast, guarding the Dragon Palace gate or serving as a hired thug. He had secretly obtained this secret method, still hoping to become a dragon.

Unfortunately, he had gone to all that trouble only to make a wedding dress for Ge Huolang.

With that thought, Ge Xian began to act.

First, he went into the courtyard and carried the large water vat inside. The Dragon Transformation Chapter required the transformation to take place near water. Rivers, lakes, and seas were all suitable; if none were available, a mountain stream or pond would do in a pinch.

Ge Xian would have liked to go out and find such a place, but the wilderness outside the city was dangerous, and the nearest pond along the embankment inside the city was the scene of his crime. He couldn't possibly go back there, so he had to make do with the water vat.

This was only an experiment, after all. There was no need to complicate things.

In the blink of an eye, he stripped off his clothes and climbed into the vat.

The first step was Object Assimilation: absorb the Dragon Essence Blood and endure the rejection... He had already done that in advance. The item in question was the Dragon Scale the Beggar Sect had painstakingly obtained to cultivate the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. As for the rejection, Ge Xian had his doubts. With the viciousness of his Cai Bu talent, which one of them had rejected the other? In any case, he had already endured it.

So Ge Xian sat down, closed his eyes, and gathered his focus. The next moment, he called out softly:

"Wind Come!"

"Rain Come!"

Perhaps because he was sitting in the water vat, the wind he summoned was still gentle, but the rain was heavier than before. At least it had progressed beyond merely washing his face; now it could wash his hair.

Amid the gentle rain, which fell only within the water vat's confines, Ge Xian began to cultivate the Dragon Transformation Essentials.

The process wasn't difficult. He used the power of his mind to guide the Dragon Essence Blood through every acupoint in his body, letting it mingle with his Qi Blood and trigger a metamorphosis that manifested the dragon form. This was called dragon transformation.

Surviving the first stage meant success, but only ordinary aptitude.

Surviving three stages meant excellent aptitude.

Surviving six stages meant outstanding aptitude.

Surviving nine stages meant prodigious talent.

At first, Ge Xian wondered how difficult it could be to endure. When the first stage began, he found out.

The unimaginable agony nearly made him howl. He clenched his teeth so hard they almost shattered, his entire body flushed red, veins bulging, sweat pouring down like rain. Worse still was the "itching numbness" that followed, surging from his marrow and even the depths of his soul.

It made Ge Xian want to grab a sharp blade on the spot and scrape every inch of flesh from his body.

The agony lasted a full ten breaths.

At that moment, he completely understood why most cultivators who practiced the Dragon Clan Secret Technique chose to stop after the first stage of dragon transformation.

It wasn't that they were unwilling. They simply couldn't go on.

Ge Xian had originally wanted to do the same, but when the first stage ended, another change took place.

His other talent, Supernatural Perception, seemed to be roused. It tugged at his heart and soul, drawing him deep within his body. As the essence blood coursed through him, he watched the entire metamorphosis with astonishing clarity.

It was as if he were watching his own flesh, meridians, internal organs, marrow... and every acupoint transform, bit by bit, into a dragon.

The process of destruction and rebirth, which could be called Racial Metamorphosis, continued in wave after wave. It actually let Ge Xian suppress the pain and itching, replacing them with a feeling of unrestrained exhilaration.

Who knew how much time had passed? With a loud bang, the water vat exploded.

Ge Xian abruptly came to. The first thing he saw was the wreckage strewn across the floor: black water muddied with foul-smelling filth and tainted blood, mixed with scraps of flesh and bone.

There was no time to look closer or even wonder how many stages he had endured. He immediately examined his own body.

At once, horror appeared on his face.

There was no Young Peddler in this room anymore. In his place stood a Dragon Kin Monster.

His naked body was knotted with muscle and covered in Black Gold Scales. His hands and feet had become dragon claws, and a thick dragon tail had sprouted behind him. He reached up to touch his head and, sure enough, found dragon horns, Dragon Teeth, and other features.

"Complete Dragon Manifestation. It's so complete."

"Did... did I make it through all nine stages?"

As he spoke, Ge Xian felt up his brand-new body.

If anyone else had been there, they would have witnessed a bizarre scene: a towering, ferocious Dragonman was touching himself.

And the more he touched, the more excited he became. His hideous Dragon Mouth stretched back toward his ears as he grinned broadly.

"It really worked!"

"The bloodlines and exotic powers I acquire through Cai Bu become my talents as long as I keep them in my body and make them permanent."

"If I get another Dao Pulse Method in the future, I'll be able to cultivate it as long as I gather the necessary conditions."

"Most importantly, after transforming into a dragon, I haven't developed any Vicious Habits like [eating people] or [stealing treasures]."

"That means even when I'm not human, I don't have to cast aside my humanity. Excellent. Excellent."

Since this was the first time he had confirmed his cultivation path, and he had no master to guide him, Ge Xian muttered on and on as he thought things through.

At the same time, he excitedly carried out more experiments.

Ge Xian repeatedly switched between "human" and "Dragonman," confirming once again that he could use this Dragon Transformation Power without any trouble.

Then he took out the Scarlet Tortoise Shell. It had served its purpose, and keeping it around was a risk. He couldn't leave it lying around.

The next moment, Ge Xian gripped the shell in his dragon claws and squeezed with all his might. Amid a series of cracking sounds, the shell—which had been so hard that even blades and swords could barely damage it—crumbled in his hands, reduced to Bone Powder Debris scattered across the floor.

Judging by what he'd seen during the day of the various Evil Cultivators, Water Ghosts, and water monsters, he figured his strength would place him among the top three.

Perhaps only Xu Bai Lian, who had once served as a powerful cultivator's male lover, could surpass him. Cultivators like the Wang Family Eldest Daughter-in-law, who practiced Bizarre Martial Arts, might not even be able to penetrate his defenses.

Of course, he was still no match for the Two Ghoul Generals, Zhang Buzu and Zhao Wuyou.

"This is more than enough. After all, I'm only a novice cultivator who's just entered the Dao."

"From what I've seen and learned over the past two days, this world is truly hard to survive in. Whether I flee into the mountains or hide among the common folk, without power to protect myself, I'm as good as dead."

"For now, I should focus on being a good mole, broaden my horizons, and gather some strength before anything else."

"Best of all would be to acquire more bloodline powers through Cai Bu and collect more Dao Pulse Secret Methods... Hmm?"

As he pondered, Ge Xian suddenly made another discovery.

The exotic powers he acquired through Cai Bu would dissipate after a certain number of hours, with only one or two parts in a hundred remaining.

The two Dao Qi clusters he already had, Dog Beating and Dragon Subdue, were undergoing this process.

But now that he looked, the Dog Beating Dao Qi was still dissipating, while the Dragon Subduing Dao Qi had vanished completely.

No, more precisely, he had used it up during the dragon transformation process.

Realizing this, Ge Xian's eyes lit up again, and he exclaimed in delight:

"That means!"

"If I can use another method to spend the Dao Qi Exotic Power I gain through Cai Bu before it dissipates, I can swallow all of it."

"For example, if I get a Dao Pulse Secret Method related to the Demon Dog, gather the conditions, and follow the same process..."

At that thought, Ge Xian couldn't help shaking his head with a wry smile.

The difficulty was too great, and the requirements too strict. It was impossible.

Getting the Dragon Transformation Chapter had already been a tremendous stroke of luck. He couldn't ask for more.

Just as Ge Xian sighed and prepared to return to his "human form,"

an upheaval he could never have imagined suddenly took place.

Night had fallen over Qiantang County. In the direction of familiar Willow Oriole Alley, a piercingly impassioned horn sounded out of nowhere, thundering on without end.

At the very first note, Ge Xian's heart began to pound wildly. His eyes turned scarlet, filled with greed and possessive desire. An overpowering urge welled up inside him, nearly driving him on instinct to smash through the wall in front of him and race toward Willow Oriole Alley, as if something he desperately craved were waiting there.

Ge Xian had no time to think. He bit down hard on his tongue and spat out a mouthful of dragon blood, winning a brief moment of clarity. Then he forcibly dispelled his Dragon Transformation State.

Back in human form, Ge Xian panted heavily. At the same time, he couldn't stop himself from cursing inwardly:

"Was that the crazy woman Yelü Yuyan?"

"Does she hold a grudge that badly? She lost a little face, couldn't find me all day, and now she's unleashed such a huge attack?"

There was good reason for Ge Xian to suspect Yelü Yuyan first after this bizarre change.

The horn had sounded throughout Qiantang without causing any unrest. Clearly, no one except the Dragon-blooded Beings could hear it.

And since it came from Willow Oriole Alley, it was most likely Yelü Yuyan—the County Magistrate's Wife, that deranged young lady of the Yelü family. After losing face so badly last night and failing to catch Ge Xian all day, she had resorted to a powerful move, using some kind of secret treasure to forcibly summon every nearby Dragon-blooded Being to pay homage.

How domineering!

How vicious!

Ge Xian's suspicions were soon confirmed.

The next moment, the entire city erupted into chaos.

It wasn't because the county residents had heard the horn. Instead, countless strange creatures and monsters—snakes, flood dragons, fish, and insects—crawled out of ditches, wells, ponds, rivers, and all sorts of other places, converging on Willow Oriole Alley from every direction.

Though these creatures and monsters had lost their minds and were running toward it with single-minded abandon, they couldn't help but disturb the people along the way.

Fearful screams rose one after another in every lane and neighborhood.

"Snakes! So many venomous snakes with horns!"

"My heavens, is that a flood dragon? It's huge, at least seven or eight zhang long! Has that monster been hiding at the bottom of the well in our Taimiao Alley, stealing incense offerings for years?"

"Hurry and look at Qinghu River! The riverbed's churning, and at least dozens of strange fish and flood dragons are coming ashore!"

"The sky! There are Flying Snakes and Cloud Flood Dragons up there..."

"What on earth is happening? Could the blood descendant of a True Dragon, some Dragon Lord or Dragon Girl, have fallen into Qiantang tonight, drawing all these Dragon Kin Monsters to come pay homage?"

"Pay homage? Look at those monsters, greedy and bloodthirsty. Even if a True Dragon has fallen, they'll probably tear it apart!"

With strange events occurring more and more often in the dynasty's final years, even a Thigh-cutting Magistrate had appeared. The common folk had gradually grown numb.

But tonight's shocking spectacle still left every county resident aghast.

The truly horrifying sights, however, were beyond their eyes.

Ge Xian had already changed back to human form, and at some point had quietly climbed onto a rooftop. Gazing into the distance, he used his Supernatural Perception to clearly witness the terrifying scenes unfolding next in Willow Oriole Alley.

A brutally bloody... slaughter was underway there.

Concealed by the night and a certain ripple of magical power, Yelü Yuyan revealed her True Form.

The Heart Devouring Fox!

She was more than three times larger than when Ge Xian had seen her in her bedroom.

The eerily powerful Dao Qi roiling out of her in plain sight reminded Ge Xian of Lu Hualong, who had recently toured all of Qiantang County in his form as a Gu-Eating Spirit Monster.

He had assumed that County Magistrate Lu, after his promotion, had already outclassed Yelü Yuyan. But now it seemed that the two of them had only reached the same realm after that night.

As for cultivation and divine abilities, Yelü Yuyan might still be stronger.

As Ge Xian watched in astonishment, a terrifying fox with three flesh-and-blood tails crouched over Willow Oriole Alley. Above her head floated a horn that looked as if it had been made from dragon horns. It sounded out Dragon's Roar after Dragon's Roar all on its own, drawing every Dragon Kin Monster and Dragon-blooded Being toward it, one after another.

Yelü Yuyan, meanwhile, slaughtered them without mercy, as if gripped by a fit of madness.

As she killed, she roared in different voices, as though her soul had split in two:

"No, not this one either."

"That Ugly Dragon Girl... where are you? Get out here!"

"Good Dragon Girl, I won't tear your Skin Sac. I won't hold it against you for killing our Chun Niang, either. Hurry over here. Big Sis has a wonderful treasure for you. Have you ever heard of the Immortal Lord Yinglong Scroll, bestowed by the Yinglong Spirit God? I have a copy in my collection. Come out like a good girl, and I'll give it to you."

"You stinking bitch! No matter how far away you hide, once I find your trail, I'll capture you and have my way with you sooner or later..."

Hearing those voices while watching the bloody slaughter left Ge Xian with a complicated expression.

He had no idea how to describe Yelü Yuyan.

She came from a family of high status and was the County Magistrate's Wife. By rights, she should have had a certain bearing.

Yet for the sake of an "Ugly Dragon Girl" she had met only once, she had become so deranged.

And Ge Xian believed that even if he hadn't gone last night, even if it hadn't been a Dragon Girl but someone else, anyone who made her lose face and then escaped before she could catch them and vent her anger would have brought about tonight's bloody slaughter.