Advancing through Dragon Transformation

The morning mist over Wushan Town had not yet fully dispersed. Milky vapor shrouded the old residence's blue tiles and white walls like gauze, and a thin layer of dew coated the courtyard's bluestone paving, making it slippery and cold underfoot. A slightly chilly breeze swept past the Chinese parasol tree in the corner, lifting a few yellowed, withered leaves that spiraled to the ground with faint rustles.

Hogg stood proudly in the courtyard, his blue-gold dragon scales gleaming coldly in the hazy light. Each scale followed the contours of his muscles, reflecting a sense of hardness. The dragon horns on his forehead were sharp as carved jade, their tips glowing faintly. Behind him, his long, spike-covered tail swept lightly across the ground, stirring a gust that swept the scattered leaves aside. He slowly clenched his fists, feeling the power surging within him. The Battle Qi bottleneck that had held him at the peak of a seventh-level warrior for three full years had now been easily broken by the power of dragon blood. Powerful 8th-level Douqi roared through his meridians, each pulse sending a faint tremor through the air and even shaking the surrounding mist slightly apart.

"So strong... so this is the power of dragon transformation!" Hogg growled, indescribable excitement and astonishment surging in his chest. He abruptly turned sideways and punched the arm-thick hardwood post beside him, his fist carrying the sharp force of 8th-level Douqi with a piercing whistle.

With a sharp crack, the iron-hard post shattered. Amid the flying splinters, the residual force of his 8th-level Douqi spread outward, making even the stone mill in the courtyard's corner tremble slightly. Dust accumulated in its crevices sifted down. He lowered his head to look at his scale-covered palms, the scales over his knuckles gleaming coldly. Feeling the dragon's might flowing through his veins, his eyes filled with astonishment-this power was far greater than he had imagined. An ordinary seventh-level warrior probably could not withstand even one of his blows.

Holding the yellowed Dragonblood Secret Manual, Hillman strode into the courtyard. Its cover was made from the hide of some unknown beast, its edges worn, though the ancient patterns on the title page remained clear. Looking at Hogg's transformed appearance, he spoke with admiration. "Big brother, in your dragon form, you've firmly entered the realm of an eighth-level warrior. Your strength and defense have both more than tripled. This improvement is nothing short of earth-shattering."

Hogg slowly stretched his body, trying to withdraw his dragon form. At his mental command, the blue-gold scales began receding bit by bit from his fingertips, revealing his original skin. The horns on his forehead slowly vanished, and the long tail behind him withdrew into his body. As the last scale disappeared, his aura gradually fell from the might of an eighth-level warrior to his original seventh-level peak. He moved his hands and feet, feeling the lingering power of dragon blood still active in his meridians. That scorching energy had not dispersed; instead, like dormant embers, it burned quietly deep within his blood. He said in a low voice, "Dragon transformation can temporarily advance me to the eighth level, but once the form fades, my strength returns to where it was. But... the power of dragon blood hasn't dispersed inside me. Instead, it seems to be showing faint signs of merging with my Battle Qi."

Hearing this, Hillman immediately handed him the Dragonblood Secret Manual, his gaze turning somewhat solemn. "That's the key! Look at what the manual says-dragon transformation isn't just a way to temporarily increase your strength. It also allows dragon blood to merge into your bloodline. By cultivating with the manual's methods, you can slowly turn the power of your dragon form into your own foundation and completely break through the constraints of your realm."

Hogg solemnly accepted the Dragonblood Secret Manual, brushing his fingertips over the ancient patterns on its title page. The words written in special ink now seemed to come alive, appearing clearly before his eyes, as though an invisible force were guiding him to understand their mysteries. The Battle Qi cultivation method recorded in the manual was entirely different from that of ordinary warriors. Its core lay in nourishing Battle Qi with dragon blood, allowing Battle Qi and bloodline to merge deeply, thus breaking through the barriers between realms and truly increasing one's strength. Ordinary cultivation drew Battle Qi from the world into the body, but the Dragonblood Secret Manual used dragon blood as a catalyst to temper one's own Battle Qi, imbuing it with dragon's might and naturally making it far more powerful than that of others at the same level.

"So that's how it works." Hogg's eyes shone as he quickly turned to the "Dragonblood Body Refinement" section. The obscure formulas now became easy to understand. From that day onward, he threw himself into cultivation, temporarily putting both clan affairs and the caravan's business out of his mind.

The old residence's courtyard became his private training ground. Every day before dawn, while Wushan Town was still asleep, he could be seen sitting cross-legged in meditation. Following the manual's guidance, he stirred the remaining power of dragon blood within him, drawing his seventh-level Battle Qi through the meridians throughout his body. At first, his Battle Qi and the power of dragon blood still repelled each other somewhat. As the two forces collided in his meridians, fine beads of cold sweat appeared on Hogg's forehead, and waves of aching pressure spread through his meridians, as though countless fine needles were pricking them. Yet he gritted his teeth and persevered, studying the manual's methods without sleep or rest, repeatedly adjusting the course of his circulating Battle Qi so that it flowed slowly along the pathways of dragon blood, trying to find the balance at which the two could merge.

When thirsty, he drank a mouthful of mountain spring water from the well; when hungry, he gnawed on a few pieces of dry rations; when sleepy, he leaned against the Chinese parasol tree in the courtyard for a nap. Over the course of half a month, Hogg barely had a few restful sleeps. His clothes were soaked with sweat and dried by the wind over and over, leaving a thin, pale crust on the fabric that gave off a faint salty odor. His cheeks grew somewhat thinner, but his gaze became increasingly sharp, with dragon's might faintly stirring in the depths of his eyes.

During that half month, three hardwood posts in the courtyard had been replaced, each blasted to pieces by his Battle Qi as he practiced his punches. Several fist impressions of varying depths had also appeared in the courtyard wall. Again and again, he stirred the power of dragon blood and attempted to merge it with his Battle Qi. From their initial rejection, to a strained coexistence, and finally to their gradual, seamless fusion, every step forward came with unimaginable pain, yet also made his Battle Qi increasingly condensed.

One morning, as the first ray of sunlight pierced the clouds and fell into the courtyard, its golden light dispelled the last trace of morning mist. Sitting cross-legged in meditation, Hogg abruptly opened his eyes, a keen flash of dragon's might passing through them. The air around him suddenly compressed with a faint hum. The Battle Qi within him abruptly surged, and under the combined support of dragon blood's power and the manual's methods, the barrier that had held him at the seventh-level peak shattered!

Powerful 8th-level Douqi roared through his meridians like surging rivers. A sense of strength far beyond anything before spread from his limbs and bones throughout his body, making him unable to resist throwing back his head and letting out a long cry. His cry pierced the clouds and echoed over Wushan Town, startling the birds in the woods into scattering flight.

Hogg sprang to his feet. Without the enhancement of his dragon form, the formidable aura of an eighth-level warrior already surrounded him. He raised his hand and punched, sending blue-gold Battle Qi carrying a faint dragon's might straight into the courtyard wall. It instantly blasted a fist impression several inches deep into the wall. Fragments of stone showered down, exposing the rammed earth inside.

"I did it! I really broke through to the eighth level!" Hogg's voice held unconcealable excitement, and his eyes reddened slightly. Feeling the 8th-level Douqi surging within him, he was so filled with strength that he wanted to find an opponent and fight immediately. Three years-he had been stuck at the seventh-level peak for three full years. Countless days and nights of grueling cultivation had brought no progress at all. He had never expected to break through successfully in just half a month with the help of dragon blood and the manual.

Standing watch nearby, Hillman looked at the 8th-level Douqi surging around him, and a gratified smile lifted the corners of his mouth. He had witnessed all of Hogg's arduous cultivation over these past days. Anyone else probably would have long since given up on such a nearly self-abusive training regimen.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the rustle of the breeze through the leaves and a few rooster calls from afar. Hogg tightened his grip on the Dragonblood Secret Manual and turned toward Hillman, his gaze firm as iron. "The hardship of this past half month wasn't wasted! Next, I'll become more proficient in this method and fully stabilize my eighth-level strength. Then I'll start preparing to let the younger members of the clan try awakening their dragon blood too."

Hillman nodded and looked toward the Wu Mountain Mountain Range, where clouds and mist swirled and the Iron-Armored Dragon lay deep within the dense forest. Sunlight fell on the two men, casting two long shadows, while the glory of the Baruch Clan was only just beginning to unfold.