Golden Scale Leaps in the Shallows to Take Dragon Form

Upon seeing the spirit ring, the nerves Wang Chuan had kept taut for the battle finally relaxed. His Armament Haki faded away, and he slumped to the ground, feeling somewhat exhausted.

Although Wang Chuan looked disheveled, Wang Lie walked over with a look of astonishment on his face.

"Xiao Chuan, you've got talent; my estimation of you has just gone up even higher."

"An average spirit master probably wouldn't even be a match for you, let alone someone who has just stepped into the Spirit King realm."

"However, I could tell through this battle that you lack real combat experience against spirit beasts. Otherwise, your strength should have been even greater."

Wang Chuan smiled as he met Wang Lie's gaze.

In those eyes, there was only praise for a younger generation, without the slightest hint of covetousness regarding the so-called self-created soul skill Wang Chuan had just displayed.

Wang Chuan felt a warmth in his heart once again, and then, showing a rare moment of bashfulness, he said, "Hehe, Grandpa, I told you I could do it."

Afterward, Wang Chuan took a large amount of dry rations from his storage soul tool and began to eat, using the food to replenish the energy consumed by his Haki.

He did not sit in meditation to recover his spirit power.

This was because, as mentioned before, the cultivation system of Haki came from the low-fantasy world of One Piece, while the spirit power of Douluo Continent was a system of xuanhuan cultivation.

The most fundamental difference between these two systems was that the source of Haki depended entirely on one's physique and willpower.

Spirit power, on the other hand, incorporated the concept of heaven and earth energy on top of an internal circulation loop.

Therefore, Wang Chuan's spirit power could be used as Haki, but Haki needed to be combined with heaven and earth energy to be converted into spirit power.

After using a rudimentary form of Life Return to digest the food and replenish his physical strength, Wang Chuan recovered his vitality in just ten minutes, much to Wang Lie's amazement.

As for the spirit beast meat, Wang Chuan was in no hurry to let Golden Scale eat it.

Because the spirit power and effects of spirit beast meat would not dissipate as quickly as a spirit ring, otherwise, no one would specialize in that kind of business.

After telling Wang Lie, Wang Chuan sat cross-legged and summoned Golden Scale.

The moment it appeared, Golden Scale's gaze was locked firmly onto the purple spirit ring.

Through their mental connection, Wang Chuan could feel Golden Scale's desire to reach its peak.

"It's time, Golden Scale. Whether you become a dragon or a worm, it all depends on this moment!"

"Ying ying ying!"

Golden Scale responded excitedly.

As Wang Chuan and Golden Scale guided the purple spirit ring with their intent, it suddenly settled onto Golden Scale's body. Surging spirit power flowed through Golden Scale, then to the spirit seal on Wang Chuan's right hand, and finally through his meridians, pouring rapidly into his body.

It eventually established a connection with Wang Chuan's core, his dantian.

The refinement of the spirit ring had officially begun.

Perhaps due to his naturally strong physique, or perhaps for other reasons, Wang Chuan did not feel the sensation of being scorched by magma like Tang San did during his first spirit ring absorption. He only felt as if every cell in his body was cheering with joy.

Outside, Wang Lie watched with a look of pure astonishment.

Because Golden Scale was undergoing a massive, visible transformation.

The creature, which had previously resembled Luo Sanpao by eighty percent, began to change rapidly.

Its muscular, meter-long body began to visibly thin out, and then its frame began to stretch.

Its limbs remained largely unchanged, as short as ever, but its claws became increasingly sharp and defined. Five razor-sharp talons formed, looking much like the talons of an eagle.

Beyond that, Golden Scale's facial features also began to change drastically.

Its face, which had been neither pig nor dog, now saw its snout develop like a puppy growing into an adult dog, the dragon-like muzzle becoming more slender.

The final change was the pair of small horns on Golden Scale's head, which had grown and now featured branches.

Looking at Golden Scale, which was now an entirely different species than before, Wang Lie was completely shocked.

Because this was the ultimate form that their Serpent-Dragon Species martial soul dreamed of!

However, Wang Lie soon sighed, because this was ultimately still a sub-dragon, lacking many of the physical characteristics of a true dragon of the Serpent-Dragon Species.

For instance, the most prominent feature of a true dragon—dragon scales—was something Golden Scale still lacked.

Not to mention the camel-like head or tiger-like paws, nor the legendary ability to fly without wings.

In the end, Golden Scale reached a length of three meters. It woke up from the deep meditation of refining the spirit ring even before Wang Chuan, coiling around him to stand guard.

Seeing this, Wang Lie nodded with satisfaction.

If it wasn't a true dragon, so be it. Just based on this level of spirituality and the combat power Wang Chuan had displayed earlier, he no longer needed to worry about Wang Chuan's future. That alone was enough.

Time passed quickly, and Wang Chuan finally finished refining the energy the spirit ring had channeled into his body.

He slowly opened his eyes to see that the sky was already dotted with stars.

Before Wang Chuan could react, Golden Scale instinctively wrapped itself gently around his body, rubbing its still somewhat smooth and tender cheek against him.

After a brief moment of struggle and confusion, Wang Chuan finally understood the current situation through their soul power connection, and then he stroked Golden Scale's head with a wry smile.

"You, oh you."

Wang Chuan muttered speechlessly, at which point Wang Lie, who was standing to the side, spoke up.

"Heh, it seems you are very satisfied with the changes in Golden Scale."

"Yes, Grandfather. I didn't expect Golden Scale to turn out like this; I thought it would evolve toward the Pterosaur Species."

Wang Chuan said with deep emotion, his eyes filled with expectations for the future.

After all, a Golden Sacred Dragon or something like that...

How could it compare to a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon!

Seeing Wang Chuan so happy, Wang Lie nodded with a smile, but his expression soon turned serious as he shifted the tone of the conversation.

"Xiao Chuan, with your intelligence, you should know what it means for your first soul ring to be a thousand-year one, right?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Chuan immediately stopped interacting with Golden Scale, sat up straight, and said solemnly.

"Yes, Grandfather, I know what it means. It means that every soul master on the Douluo Continent would want to uncover my secret."

Wang Lie nodded slightly, but his expression remained grave, as if he were about to add something more.

At this moment, Wang Chuan continued.

"But that is not the biggest problem.

If the clan were to discover my secret, the main branch might seize my cultivation method, and to ensure the inheritance does not leak, they might even kill me.

Because only the dead can truly keep a secret."

Looking at the cold and detached Wang Chuan, Wang Lie opened his mouth.

In the end, he shut it sheepishly, feeling that sometimes it isn't great for the younger generation to be too intelligent.

For instance, at this perfect opportunity for a lesson, he found himself unable to display any of his elder authority.

However, Wang Lie felt more gratified than anything else in his heart.

Since Wang Chuan could foresee such a distant future, he no longer needed to worry about him.

Afterward, Golden Scale began to devour the corpse of the Titan Golden Python.

This also led Wang Chuan to discover that Golden Scale's teeth had become even sharper, while he and Wang Lie prepared some of the meat, enjoying this rare dragon feast.