The Shapeshifting Yokai Oolong? All Things Have Their Form!

The car headed west, the dots on the Dragon Radar blinking steadily.

The atmosphere inside the car was different from before.

Bulma gripped the steering wheel, occasionally stealing glances at Lin Xuan in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

Her eyes were filled with awe and fervor.

Her scientific worldview had been shattered beyond repair.

Now, there was only one thought in her mind.

Hold on tight to this powerful backer!

This man might really be an ancient immortal descended into the mortal world!

Outside the car, Son Goku rode the Flying Nimbus, circling around the vehicle and having the time of his life.

He was clearly far more interested in this newly acquired toy than in the Dragon Balls.

Lin Xuan still rested with his eyes closed, his mind sinking into the panel in his head. He could adjust its position with a thought, something he had discovered by accident earlier.

Merit Value: 1.60.

Master Roshi's 1.5 points had been quite a haul.

After putting it all in at once, his mental strength had solidified a little further, and his senses had grown sharper as well.

The flow of the wind and the veins of leaves in the distance had all become clear in his mind.

He opened his eyes and looked toward the target location.

There was more merit to be earned.

Rather than worrying about the trouble ahead, Lin Xuan was filled with anticipation.

Growing stronger by doing good deeds and accumulating virtue—this feeling was simply addictive.

By the time the setting sun had dyed the sky orange-red, they had finally reached the area indicated by the radar.

It was a small village nestled in a valley.

As the car drove into the village entrance, an eerie atmosphere hit them head-on.

The entire village was deathly still.

Every household had its doors and windows tightly shut. Not a single person could be seen on the streets, with only a few fallen leaves swept into the air by the evening breeze, spiraling past.

The air carried the stench of oppression and fear.

"How strange. Why isn't there anyone in this village?"

Son Goku jumped down from the Flying Nimbus and looked around curiously.

Bulma also tensed up, her hand closing around the pistol at her waist as she surveyed the surroundings.

"Everyone, be careful. Something's not right here."

Lin Xuan got out of the car, his gaze sweeping over the tightly shut doors.

He could hear the suppressed breathing and terrified heartbeats behind them with perfect clarity.

Just then, one of the doors creaked open a crack.

A white-haired old village chief cautiously poked his head out. Seeing the three outsiders, he was startled at first, then seemed to spot his saviors and came scrambling out.

"You must be great masters! Save us! Please, save our village!"

The old village chief dropped to his knees, tears and snot streaming down his face as he kowtowed to them.

"Grandpa, please get up. What happened?" Bulma stepped forward to help him up.

"It's a monster! A monster!"

The old village chief's voice was full of despair.

"Our village has been targeted by a monster! It comes every so often and snatches away the prettiest girl in the village!"

"What?" Bulma immediately flared up. "There's actually a monster this brazen in broad daylight?!"

Son Goku's eyes lit up instead. He clenched his fists excitedly. "A monster? Where is it? Is it strong? Can I fight it?"

The village chief was startled by Goku's reaction and tremblingly pointed toward the eastern end of the village.

"It... it'll be here soon! It demanded that we send the prettiest girl in the village to the square at the entrance today, or it'll destroy the whole village!"

At that moment, the Scripture of Supreme Perception on the panel in Lin Xuan's mind flickered.

text
[Eliminate evil and save the villagers. Estimated merit +0.5]

Just as expected.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Don't worry, Grandpa." Bulma patted her chest in assurance. "We'll definitely help you deal with that monster!"

The moment her words fell—

Rumble!

Heavy footsteps came from the east side of the village, making the ground tremble.

A terrifying aura shrouded the entire village.

Muffled cries of alarm came from inside the houses.

"It... it's here!" The old village chief went pale with fright and collapsed onto the ground.

The three of them looked over together.

In the dim twilight, a tall, terrifying figure was making its way toward the village square.

It was a bull-headed monster over three meters tall, with knotted muscles and two enormous horns.

Clad in black armor, it held a gigantic axe that gleamed coldly. Two heavy streams of white vapor snorted from its nostrils, while its blood-red eyes brimmed with brutality and greed.

"Demon King Oolong is here! Where are today's beauties? Hand them over to this king at once!"

His voice boomed like thunder, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

That appearance, that presence—it was overwhelmingly oppressive.

Bulma's face turned white with fear. She hid behind Lin Xuan, trembling from head to toe.

"W-What a terrifying monster!"

It was the first time in her life she had seen such a horrifying creature. The sheer visual impact nearly suffocated her.

Rather than being afraid, Son Goku was thrilled beyond measure.

"Whoa! What an amazing guy! He looks really strong!"

His fighting spirit surged. Every muscle in his body tensed as he assumed the opening stance Son Gohan had taught him, ready to rush in and fight at any moment.

Oolong noticed them as well. His blood-red gaze swept over them before finally settling on Bulma.

"Oh? Aside from the offering, a sweeter little girl has actually delivered herself right to my doorstep?"

"Who should I choose today? What a difficult decision. Why not take them all? Hahaha!"

He let out a greedy, maniacal laugh.

"Good! Very good! This king is in a fine mood today, so I've decided to take you with me too!"

As he spoke, he strode forward with heavy steps. His massive axe dragged across the ground, throwing off a trail of blinding sparks as he closed in on Bulma.

A fierce battle was about to erupt.

Lin Xuan, who had remained silent all this time, spoke at last.

His voice was not loud, yet it instantly dispelled the tense, terrifying atmosphere.

"The Dao follows nature; all things have their form."

"Hm?" Son Goku, who had been about to charge forward, paused and turned back to look at Lin Xuan in confusion.

Bulma and the villagers peeking from behind the doors were stunned as well.

At a time like this?

This man was still muttering about his mysterious theories?

Ignoring everyone's confusion, Lin Xuan looked at the menacing Ox-King and curled his lips into a mocking smile.

"A forced transformation is ultimately nothing but an illusion, and it is bound to have flaws."

He spoke as though he were explaining the simplest truth in the world.

"Look, it has the form of a demon god, but its essence is unstable and hollow."

"Fierce on the outside, weak on the inside."

"Its form is terrifying, but its spirit is feeble."

"This is falsehood."

Bulma and the villagers were utterly baffled by his words, unable to make sense of them at all.

To them, the terrifying Ox-King and the enormous axe in its hand, capable of cleaving apart rocks, were the most real things imaginable.

Yet after hearing him, Son Goku froze completely.

A startling light burst from his pure eyes.

That's right!

Big Brother Lin Xuan was right!

He had been deceived by the monster's terrifying appearance and had overlooked the most essential thing!

If he observed carefully, he could tell that there was no feeling of a true powerhouse coming from it at all!

"So that's how it is!"

Son Goku abruptly opened his eyes. There was no trace of solemnity left on his face, only a smile of sudden realization and a hint of anger at having been fooled.

"You coward who only knows how to put on an act!"

He shouted and charged straight at the Ox-King's gigantic axe.

Oolong was horrified to see that Son Goku was not only unafraid, but had even seen through his disguise.

He waved his huge axe threateningly, trying to scare Son Goku away.

But Son Goku had already seen through his true nature. With a flicker of his body, he effortlessly dodged the heavy axe at an unbelievable angle and instantly closed in against Ox-King's chest.

"Hey!"

Son Goku drove a punch straight into Ox-King's stomach.

"Pfft—"

A strange, muffled sound rang out, like a balloon being popped.

Ox-King's three-meter-tall body twisted in an instant, rapidly shrinking amid a puff of white smoke with a bang.

When the smoke dispersed, there was no Ox-King left anywhere.

All that remained on the ground was a little pig in overalls, sprawled flat on his back with all four limbs in the air, clutching his stomach and screaming miserably.