Dragon Tiger Transformation! Clash of Auras!

"Uncle Li!"

"Zhong Li!"

Zhong Yu, Zhong Shan, and Zhong Hu cried out worriedly, not knowing what had suddenly happened to make Zhong Li collapse to the ground.

"I'm fine!"

Zhong Li shouted, bracing himself with both hands as he struggled to rise. It was as though he bore a massive boulder on his back; lifting his feet was difficult, and he could not continue forward.

"There's an incredibly powerful pressure here. I can't walk any farther in."

Zhong Li turned back and retreated. The pressure immediately vanished from his body. Returning to Zhong Yu's side, he looked shaken. That pressure had felt as though he were facing a supreme powerhouse between heaven and earth, leaving him utterly unable to move.

"Miss, there's a powerful pressure surrounding that skeleton. It's difficult for us to enter."

Hearing Zhong Li's words, everyone finally understood why the Dragon Tiger Beast had been wary, and why that Dragon Python had not eaten the Dragon Elephant Fruits. Neither of them could approach the place.

The reason that Dragon Python still occupied this valley was not because it was waiting. It was absorbing the aura of the Dragon Elephant Skeleton to transform itself and evolve toward becoming a flood dragon, then it would set its sights on the Dragon Elephant Fruits.

"Then what do we do? Are we supposed to just stand here and stare?"

Zhong Shan and Zhong Hu were somewhat dumbfounded. Their emotions were like riding a roller coaster—shooting to the highest peak one moment, then plunging into the depths the next. It was miserable.

"Miss Zhong, this is a treasured place for cultivation. It would be a pity to waste it."

Taishu Jing reminded them with the calm composure of an old hand.

Zhong Yu immediately understood Taishu Jing's meaning: use the pressure around the skeleton to cultivate and break through her own bottleneck.

"Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Jing. I know what to do."

With that, Zhong Yu walked toward the Dragon Elephant Skeleton. Once she entered within three zhang, a crushing pressure descended upon her. She realized that this was not mere pressure, but might—the might of a powerhouse. It targeted not only the body, but the mind as well.

Under this oppressive might, the circulation of Zhong Yu's blood and qi became much slower. Her body felt far heavier, as though she carried a Ten-Thousand-Zhang Divine Mountain upon her back.

Bearing that pressure, Zhong Yu took two steps forward. The might became even more formidable; the closer she drew to the Golden Dragon Elephant Skeleton, the more terrifying it became.

After advancing half a zhang, Zhong Yu could no longer move forward. She stopped, sat cross-legged where she was, and began cultivating.

"Miss is using that pressure to cultivate!"

Zhong Li and the other two saw through Zhong Yu's intentions and were somewhat astonished. Their gazes toward Taishu Jing became even more reverent. This kind of cultivation method was not something an ordinary person could think of.

"And you—swallow the Dragon Bone Grass and go in to cultivate."

Taishu Jing patted the Dragon Tiger Beast on the head and spoke to it.

Roar!

The Dragon Tiger Beast shook its head. The bloodline pressure made it instinctively afraid to approach that place.

"Oh? You blockhead, what are you afraid of? Listen to me. Once you get in, swallow the Dragon Bone Grass."

Taishu Jing grabbed one of the Dragon Tiger Beast's fangs and dragged it toward the Dragon Elephant Skeleton. Unable to break free, the Dragon Tiger Beast's four hooves scraped shallow furrows into the ground.

Seeing this scene, Zhong Li and the others found it rather amusing.

After dragging the Dragon Tiger Beast within three zhang of the Dragon Elephant Skeleton, Taishu Jing also felt a surge of oppressive might. However, it had little effect on him; this was only the weakest outer edge.

Bang!

The Dragon Tiger Beast fearfully lay prone on the ground, not daring to move. It was not being suppressed by the might, but was simply terrified, like a subordinate encountering one of higher rank.

"What the hell are you afraid of? The path of evolution has always been a journey against heaven. If you don't even dare defy your own superior now, then keep that dragon head of yours for the rest of your life and be a Dragon Tiger Beast," Taishu Jing barked.

Roar!

It finally reacted somewhat. The Dragon Tiger Beast slowly rose to its feet, light shining in its dragon eyes. It seemed to grasp the true meaning behind Taishu Jing's words. It affectionately nudged Taishu Jing, as though expressing its gratitude.

"That's more like it. Swallow the Dragon Bone Grass and use this might to see how much you can transform."

Taishu Jing smiled. This Dragon Tiger Beast was quite intelligent.

The Dragon Tiger Beast understood Taishu Jing's words. It swallowed the Dragon Bone Grass it had hidden in its mouth in a single gulp. A strange energy spread from within its body throughout its entire frame. It let out a resonant dragon roar, and its aura began to grow stronger.

The surrounding spiritual energy and vital essence began gathering around the Dragon Tiger Beast. As though sensing something, the Golden Dragon Elephant Skeleton trembled slightly, releasing a wisp of golden aura that entered the Dragon Tiger Beast's body along with the vast spiritual energy.

Crack!

The sound of bones grinding came from within the Dragon Tiger Beast. Its four tiger paws began to twist as its bones changed, blood gradually seeping from its legs.

Tiny gray scales began growing where the blood seeped out. They slowly covered its entire legs, replacing the original fur. Then, its four tiger paws began to retract. Having lost its support, the Dragon Tiger Beast fell to the ground.

Taishu Jing was not worried. This was the sign that dragon claws were about to emerge.

Rip!

Four dragon claws suddenly burst from beneath the Dragon Tiger Beast, bringing forth a great deal of blood. Each of those dragon claws had three toes, and the claw blades upon them looked even sharper.

It was not only its four limbs. The Dragon Tiger Beast's tiger tail also began transforming. Its original tiger tail vanished, replaced by a thicker new tail densely covered in dragon scales. It looked tough and powerful. This was already a dragon tail.

Roar!

This transformation turned the Dragon Tiger Beast's four limbs and tail into dragon claws and a dragon tail. With its dragon head, only its largest section—the torso—still belonged to the tiger.

Zhong Li and the other two clicked their tongues in wonder as they watched the Dragon Tiger Beast transform.

Now, half of this Dragon Tiger Beast was already dragon. Only its body had yet to transform. If its body transformed successfully as well, it would become a true dragon beast.

That Dragon Python from before had two straight pointed horns on its head, showing that it was evolving toward a flood dragon. The Dragon Tiger Beast, however, had been born with the head of a True Dragon. Once its body and limbs evolved, it would become a True Dragon.

However, although the Dragon Tiger Beast was born with the head of a True Dragon, its transformation was also far more difficult. Unlike a python becoming a flood dragon, or a flood dragon becoming a dragon, once the Dragon Tiger Beast transformed, it would become a True Dragon.

Roar!

After transforming dragon claws and a dragon tail, the Dragon Tiger Beast excitedly leaped up. Though its current appearance was somewhat strange, there was no doubt that it had become stronger.

In Taishu Jing's eyes, this Dragon Tiger Beast was only half a step away from entering the third tier.

If its body also transformed into a dragon body, it would likely leap straight past the third tier and enter the fourth. At that time, it would no longer be a Dragon Tiger Beast, but a True Dragon capable of Aerial Movement, soaring through the heavens and burrowing into the earth.

"Though you look a little strange, you've indeed grown stronger. Not bad."

Taishu Jing praised it.

Receiving Taishu Jing's praise, the Dragon Tiger Beast was extremely happy. It bounced around him a few times, and although it remained beneath that oppressive might, it was not affected in the slightest.

Actually, Taishu Jing had another sentence he did not say aloud...

Still weak in my eyes!

"Alright. Let's see how far the transformed you can go under this oppressive might."

The Dragon Tiger Beast familiarized itself with its dragon claws, then continued approaching the Golden Dragon Elephant Skeleton.

Seeing how noticeably shorter the Dragon Tiger Beast had become, Taishu Jing inexplicably wanted to laugh. The current Dragon Tiger Beast looked like a True Dragon that had yet to learn how to fly, able only to crawl along the ground.

The Dragon Tiger Beast continued forward for two zhang before it began to tremble, no longer quite able to withstand the increasingly powerful might. It stopped where it was and turned back to look at Taishu Jing.

Taishu Jing chuckled softly and stepped toward it. Though the oppressive might grew heavier and heavier, Taishu Jing remained calm, as though he could not feel it at all.

"What a monster!"

Watching Taishu Jing stroll leisurely through it, seemingly without feeling the slightest pressure, Zhong Li and the others could do nothing but marvel.

"Alright, don't stand around foolishly. This place is filled with spiritual energy and vital essence. Cultivating without delay is what matters."

The three sat cross-legged and began cultivating, absorbing the spiritual energy and vital essence within the valley.

"Cultivating here will bring you tremendous benefits."

Taishu Jing gave the Dragon Tiger Beast a reminder, glanced at Zhong Yu, who had sunk into cultivation, then withdrew his gaze.

Only one zhang remained between him and the Dragon Elephant Skeleton.

Taking another step, Taishu Jing continued onward. The oppressive might radiating from the skeleton grew increasingly heavy, and an inexplicable force slammed against Taishu Jing's mind. Even Taishu Jing began to feel pressure.

Twang!

The cry of an arrow rang out. His gaze gradually changed, and an incomparably sharp aura surged from his body into the heavens, clashing with that inexplicable force.

The two forces collided, like an invisible battlefield, a clash of wills. One force was as heavy as the earth, as steady as mountains, as indestructible as Divine Iron. It came from the skeleton's former owner—an Ancient Dragon Elephant.

The other force was as sharp and unyielding as an arrowhead, looking down upon all things like a heavenly god. Heaven and earth could scarcely withstand it; all things had to retreat before it. It was unstoppable, and it came from Taishu Jing.