Chapter Seventy-Seven: Transformation into a Dragon

“My old friend, you flatter me too much. I am but a humble household servant,” Wang Zhize replied with a faint smile, dismissing the praise.

“Even so, the two of you will not be able to touch me today,” Qin Tian retorted in a cold voice, then once more unleashed his Twin Azure-Dragon Sleeves, surging with overwhelming might as he lunged at Wang Zhize, claws bared as if to rend the sky.

In response, Wang Zhize’s entire body shone with golden light, transforming into an immovable figure reminiscent of the Unshakable King.

A dragon’s roar echoed. In mid-air, Qin Tian’s left arm, transformed into a dragon, struck fiercely at Wang Zhize, who calmly formed a golden palm print to meet the blow.

Most people on Chaoyang Street could not withstand the force of this confrontation and retreated as one. Only those with considerable cultivation could remain and witness this clash of immortals.

Though Qin Yi and Zhang Chen were not strong enough, they were fortunate to have two mighty guardians at their side, allowing them to witness the battle firsthand—let alone Old Ma and Old He, who stood firm.

“I never imagined Uncle Qin was such a master! If I’d known, and he’s clearly no weaker than the masters of Mount Taiyi, why would we bother apprenticing ourselves there? We could just stay in Yulong Fort and learn from him,” Zhang Chen exclaimed, eyes shining as he watched Qin Tian in mid-air, the twin azure dragons coiling around him like a god’s blessing.

Qin Yi merely smiled, knowing well he had no choice but to go to Mount Taiyi.

Suddenly, the sound of water flowing rose above the din. He Wanting seemed to walk atop the waves, stepping forward to block Wang Anlu, who had been assisting Wang Zhize against Qin Tian. She called out with a laugh, “Brother Tian, it seems we must stand shoulder to shoulder once more.”

Qin Tian, hearing this, gave a rueful smile. “Wanting, I promise you, we will live well from now on.”

Wang Anlu looked at He Wanting, his tone serious. “Miss He, your cultivation is not my equal, and this place does not favor you. Are you certain you wish to stand in my way?”

The woman in green curled her lip, disdainful. “Since when did you start showing mercy to women?”

The sound of water surged again. He Anjian approached his daughter’s side, gazing at Wang Anlu. “What if I join in—will that be enough?”

Wang Anlu laughed. “If the old master of the He family joins, then perhaps I should worry for myself.”

Despite his words, Qin Yi saw no hint of retreat in his eyes—rather, an eagerness for the fray, befitting one of the foremost among the Seven Generals of the Wang family of Eastern Ridge.

Qin Tian looked gratefully at He Anjian for the first time. Yet the stubborn old man replied sternly, “Don’t overthink it. I simply can’t bear to see my beloved daughter suffer.”

Qin Tian only smiled, then turned to Wang Zhize. “What confidence do you have now?”

He launched himself once more, the twin dragons lashing out toward Wang Zhize, who stood firm as a mountain, trading palm for palm.

Elsewhere, though He Anjian and He Wanting were outmatched, they fought together against Wang Anlu. Sometimes, one plus one could indeed be greater than two—Wang Anlu found himself unable to break free.

A dragon’s roar resounded in the sky. Qin Tian struck with both dragons at Wang Zhize, their power peerless. Wang Zhize responded with a palm, but this time, he was forced back in mid-air.

Qin Yi narrowed his eyes. The Twin Azure-Dragon Sleeves were indeed formidable.

“Hahaha! Wang Zhize, your Wang family’s Supreme Sutra cannot compare to our Twin Azure-Dragon Sleeves of the Eastern Realm! How will you take me back to the Wang family now?” Qin Tian laughed in the sky, the dragons twining about him, inseparable, like a dragon god incarnate.

Wang Zhize, having retreated, replied evenly, “Brother Qin Tian, you are a prodigy, always pressing me down. I must admit my admiration. However…”

He paused.

“What is it?” Qin Tian asked, frowning. Could this old fox still have something up his sleeve? With a scornful laugh, he said, “Unless Wang Haoran himself comes today, there’s nothing more to say.”

“Hahaha, so in your eyes, Brother Qin Tian, no one in the Wang family but the master is worthy. In that case, let me try…”

Even as Qin Tian awaited the answer, a voice traveled from the distant sky.

A shaft of golden light streaked over, coming to rest beside Wang Zhize.

Qin Tian did not even look up, his expression dark, fists clenched so tightly that veins bulged. He knew that voice—he could never forget it. The owner of that voice had driven him to live as a humble villager in Yulong Fort, and had made him feel unworthy of He Yongde all these years.

“Old dog, give me your life!”

With a furious roar, the twin azure dragons burst forth, Qin Tian’s figure hurtling toward Wang Zhize and the golden light like a tiger unleashed.

A golden shield formed, effortlessly warding off Qin Tian’s wrathful strike. The figure behind it stepped back a few paces before revealing himself—a short, slightly plump elder with a scruffy beard. He looked at Qin Tian, the way a matador eyes a raging bull, and grinned slyly. “Qin Tian, is this necessary? Back then, it was Wang Zhize who held you back, not I.”

Qin Tian glared at the man he had dreamed of tearing to pieces, suppressing his fury. “Wang Youcai, though Yongde has regained his strength, today you will not leave.”

Wang Youcai smiled. “I have no wish to remain, but today you must go.”

Qin Tian burst into laughter, but in the next instant his expression twisted. Suddenly, his entire body erupted with azure light, which gathered at his back. As the brilliance faded, all present stared in astonishment—for from Qin Tian’s back had sprouted a pair of enormous, blue dragon wings.

With the dragon wings’ mighty beat, the winds howled across Chaoyang Street.

Qin Yi drew a deep breath, struggling to calm himself, eyes wide in disbelief at those vast azure wings. “Dragon transformation—it truly exists.”

He remembered reading in his master’s study about the royal family of the Eastern Realm, whose members, possessing the blood of the Azure Dragon, could assume a dragon’s form. Yet the Eastern Realm had been destroyed a century ago, and royalty was easily forgotten.

Old Jiang squinted and smiled. “Impressive. Pity, though—at this level, such magic cannot show its full power.”

Jiang Fengnian remarked, “Though the Daoist scriptures record it, I never thought the royal family could truly transform.”

“Hmph!” Wang Youcai snorted at the sight of Qin Tian’s dragon wings. “A mongrel, born of human and demon coupling.”

“Mongrel?” Qin Tian sneered. “I’d like to see what you have to say when you’re trampled underfoot by the mongrel you scorn.”

Before the words had faded, Qin Tian vanished, leaving only the sound of the wind being torn apart. In a flash, he appeared before Wang Youcai, the twin dragons crashing down, heedless of Wang Zhize pursuing from behind.

With a resounding crash, Wang Zhize’s golden fist landed on Qin Tian’s massive azure wings. Yet Qin Tian ignored the blow, borrowing the force to drive his own attack with even greater speed and ferocity toward Wang Youcai.

Wang Youcai blocked the onslaught, but though he managed to hold, he staggered several steps back. His expression was dark as he regarded the frenzied Qin Tian, but inwardly he sneered—let’s see how long you can last.

“Brother Tian!” He Wanting cried out in alarm, about to rush to his aid, but knowing her father was no match for Wang Anlu, she gritted her teeth and continued her assault on Wang Anlu.

He Anjian, exerting all his strength, held Wang Anlu at bay alone and smiled at his daughter. “Go, Ting’er. I’ll hold him.”

He Wanting’s eyes shimmered with sorrow, but she gritted her teeth and seized the chance to charge at Wang Zhize.

Once more, the twin azure dragons lunged at Wang Youcai, forcing him into a desperate retreat. His long hair, once neatly tied, now hung in disarray. Yet, instead of anger, he burst out laughing. “Hahaha! Qin Tian, let’s see how long you can keep this up.”

Again, Wang Zhize’s golden palm struck Qin Tian’s dragon wings. This time, Qin Tian’s face flushed, and a mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.

“Brother Tian!” He Wanting shouted in fury, launching a relentless assault on Wang Zhize.

Wang Zhize grew troubled. He could not simply ignore He Wanting’s attacks, but he had never liked harming women.

Qin Tian, feeling his internal energy grow chaotic, paid it no heed. Once more, he summoned his strength. The twin azure dragons soared through the sky, unhesitatingly striking at Wang Youcai.

Seeing this, Wang Youcai’s face darkened, but he only sneered.

Wang Zhize’s gaze sharpened. This time, he would make sure Qin Tian could not move again.