Chapter 208: Chapter 205: Transforming into a Dragon
"Do you think you can beat me?"
Ji Chengye laughed incredulously in response, "You are merely Seventh Rank, and though you possess the ability to slay those of a higher rank and have even killed Sixth Rank adversaries, do you really believe I am an ordinary Sixth Rank?"
Blood surged around his body, interweaving through his armor with a crimson hue, and even forming wolf smoke above him. Despite nearly being defeated by Jiang Li’s attack, his confidence remained unshaken.
"The Dao Fruit of Marquis Guan, although Sixth Rank, is akin to those above Fifth Rank and is unique in this world. Containing this Dao Fruit within me, even if you were to ascend to Sixth Rank, you wouldn’t match me, let alone while you’re still Seventh Rank."
Ji Chengye spoke with chilling murderous intent, the Cliff Sword in his hand glowing brighter, and the Stone Tablet Illusion solidifying further, significantly increasing the gravity of the area, while also keeping Yuan Zhen at bay.
His words were arrogant, but Ji Chengye’s responses were extremely cautious.
He used the Cliff Sword not only to avoid a joint attack from the two of them but also to buy time, waiting for reinforcements to arrive.
People from the Yin Law Department were nearby gathering Yin Souls, they must have already noticed the anomaly here and would notify Lord Cui. The troops at the foot of the mountain were his subordinates, also rushing to aid him at this moment.
Although these soldiers were hardly a threat to Jiang Li and his companion, having soldiers nearby was the greatest support for the bearer of Marquis Guan’s Dao Fruit, as long as...
"One of your Dao Fruit Abilities must be to enhance your own strength and momentum, and it likely increases further with the soldiers under your command," Jiang Li suddenly said.
Upon hearing this, a clear shadow flickered across Ji Chengye’s eyes.
"By that logic, among the remaining Dao Fruit Abilities, there must be at least one that also requires the cooperation of your subordinates to exert its fullest effect, right?" Jiang Li continued.
Gongsun Qingyue knew of the Marquis Guan’s Dao Fruit, but only about the ’Sealing Langju’ ability; he wasn’t very clear about the other abilities. However, Jiang Li had been observing covertly up until now and had a fairly thorough understanding of these abilities.
As Ji Chengye confronted Yuan Zhen, his Qi Mechanism increased, and it connected with the soldiers nearing the mountain peak, allowing Jiang Li to deduce one of the Dao Fruit Abilities from then on.
Now revealing it, although Ji Chengye did not respond, Jiang Li’s observational skills confirmed his own words were true.
Since this Dao Fruit Ability had been exposed...
"Ah—"
Suddenly, from the base of the mountain, screams of agony and brief sounds of slaughter, cries, and increasingly thick scent of blood could be heard.
Zhong Shenxiu slowly ascended the mountain path, flashes of Sword Light appearing around him, soldiers’ lives being claimed by the Blade Energy bursting from within them, sparing none.
Also, Daoists wielding swords emitted Yin Yang Sword Qi in all directions, killing all they encountered.
"Zhong Shenxiu."
"Zhang Daoyi."
Sensing the gradually approaching Blade Energy and the rampant Yin Yang Qi, Ji Chengye finally showed a look of dread.
Zhong Shenxiu had come, and so had Zhang Daoyi.
Yuan Zhen was set to assassinate with his True Body to prove his innocence, naturally, he would not forget to bring witnesses, and Zhang Daoyi was an apt choice.
As the strength of his enemies continually increased, even an arrogant Ji Chengye recognized the severity of the situation.
At the same time, the aura of death converged in the air into clouds, eclipsing the sun completely and darkening the sky immediately. Cries of ghosts and howls of wolves arose around, and one Yin Soul after another in the real world let out wails, as if excited to be part of this world yet fearing something.
Listening to these ghostly wails, Ji Chengye’s complexion grew even more somber.
Zhong Shenxiu’s slaughtering of Ji Chengye’s subordinates was indirectly preparing for King Lu’s Promotion Ceremony. These soldiers dying in such an environment were likely to turn into Yin Souls and persist, becoming one of the foundations of the ceremony.
In such a situation, would King Lu prioritize his promotion, or would he send someone to rescue his son?
As the ghostly wails grew sharper, the answer became clear.
The Yin Souls collected by the Yin Law Department were released; King Lu’s Promotion Ceremony was beginning.
In such a situation, support from the Yin Law Department was thus cut off. Lord Cui would definitely prioritize protecting King Lu’s Promotion, only opting to send reinforcements after King Lu’s promotion was completed.
Then, the sound of thunder erupted, and on the other side of Qi Mountain, flashes of lightning struck, claiming lives.
"Taiping Sect," Ji Chengye ground his teeth.
This lightning, clearly the Law Order of the Taiping Sect, might even mean Yang Ji was present.
Taiping Sect’s Young Sect Leader, Yang Ji, who nearly died at the hands of Jiang Li, was now jointly targeting him, Ji Chengye.
Although the factions were not collaborating openly, there was an unspoken understanding between them, just like...
Just like how they had jointly disrupted the rain-praying event.
They all wanted Ji Chengye dead.
Success brings support; failure results in isolation. Jiang Li may not have succeeded, but Ji Chengye had undoubtedly failed.
Those who once conspired with him grew weary of his manipulation, seeking his death, while Zhang Daoyi and Zhong Shenxiu simply despised his actions and wanted him gone.
As one after another emerged, a storm of shock and fear surged through Ji Chengye’s heart. He gripped the sword handle tightly, thoughts flashing rapidly in his mind, pondering his escape route.
There was still a chance, he still had an opportunity to escape.
As long as he could hold out until King Lu’s Promotion succeeded, the people from the Yin Law Department would indeed come to his aid, there might even be a Fourth Rank King Lu acting to save his son. That was his, Ji Chengye’s, path to survival.
When the path of life appeared in his heart, Ji Chengye immediately looked toward Ming Yang, who had been displaced by the wave of Qi.
"Capture him, and we can control Zhong Shenxiu."
True Qi wildly surged into the Cliff Sword, with the Stone Tablet Illusion almost solidifying, suppressing internally and blocking externally, as Ji Chengye dashed toward Ming Yang.
But at the same time, Jiang Li also noticed Ming Yang, or rather, noticed him through Ji Chengye.
The Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill was fully deployed, not to mention discerning Ji Chengye’s intentions, recognizing his focus was still feasible.
Innate Qi made contact with the external environment, merging with the domain formed by the Stone Tablet Illusion. Under the suppression of the Cliff Sword, Jiang Li still moved freely.
He stepped forward, shrinking the distance like folding space, appearing by Ji Chengye’s Kun position, forming his claw into the shape of a dragon, encompassing his heavenly spirit with Primordial Qi stored within.
Located at the Kun position, channeling Earth Qi, executing the Yinglong Transformation, Jiang Li’s fingers sprouted Red Patterned Dragon Scales, the tips of his claws as sharp as the blades of Magical Artifacts. With such a claw strike, even wearing a Sixth Grade Magical Artifact armor, Ji Chengye couldn’t ensure his safety.
After all, armor could only protect the body, the top of the head could only be guarded by Blood Light, without any real helmet to block.
Ji Chengye made a swift decision, stabbing his sword into the ground. Sword Qi split the earth, blade after blade of yellow sword light shooting up from the ground—"Sweeping Eight Desolates."
Sword light enveloped Ji Chengye’s surroundings; the dense and solid Sword Qi resembled small mountains, defending him as well as attacking the enemy.
Jiang Li transformed his claw, catching one of the segments of sword light, his fingers piercing through it with a screeching noise—this sword light was as solid and durable as Hundred-tempered steel.
"The Earth Deity Dharma in ’Form Tomb’?" Jiang Li pondered the thought.
"Bang!"
The sword light shattered, both from the force of the dragon claw and from Ji Chengye’s counterattack.
The Cliff Sword thrust out from the encircling sword light, like a mountain breaking the earth, its massive force hitting head-on.
Jiang Li changed his claw to a grab, clenching around the sword blade, the sword tip and the palm rubbing fiercely, sparking countless sparks.
Jiang Li had already made a move on Ji Chengye, and even if Ji Chengye were to counter-kill him, there would be no consequences, so this sword stroke was with Ji Chengye’s full strength, yet it was still defended by Jiang Li.
"Yinglong Transformation! Impossible!" Ji Chengye exclaimed resolutely.
He was both furious and incredulous.
Furious that Jiang Li would use the Yinglong Transformation against a person from the Ji Family, and incredulous that Jiang Li had once again surpassed him in strength.
If the earlier strike could be attributed to being caught off guard, losing the initiative, this time, the difference in their strengths was clearly demonstrated.
Jiang Li, having cultivated the Yinglong Transformation and undergone a physical metamorphosis, possessed the Six-character Great Brightness Mantra, and operating the Innate Qi to its full extent naturally resulted in greater strength than Ji Chengye. However, in Ji Chengye’s view, this was utterly incomprehensible.
"I have embraced a Uniqueness Dao Fruit!"
Ji Chengye roared angrily, manifesting his ability "Courageous Crown of Three Armies", the Cliff Sword erupting with fierce sword power, capable of crushing mountains and breaking rocks.
’Coincidentally, I have also embraced a Uniqueness Dao Fruit, and three at that,’
Jiang Li responded in his mind.
Ninth Grade, Eighth Grade, Seventh Grade, each less powerful than the Sixth Grade Marquis Guan Dao Fruit alone, but the combined enhancement undoubtedly surpassed the Marquis Guan Dao Fruit.
Moreover, although Ji Chengye had met the Fitting Conditions and underwent the Promotion Ceremony, his fusion with this Dao Fruit was far from perfect, unable to utilize the full Dao Fruit Ability.
"Boom!"
A cracking sound came from his palm; under the oppressive force of fierce sword power, Jiang Li’s dragon claw was barely enduring.
But in the next instant, Kun Earth Qi wrapped around his palm, forming a massive dragon claw that completely gripped the sword blade, with Innate Earth Qi covering his body, blurring his features.
"Roar!"
As Ji Chengye watched in shock, Jiang Li’s form was enveloped by the Dragon Shadow, with Innate Earth Qi manifesting externally, further executing the Yinglong Transformation.
Jiang Li, transformed into a dragon.
With the further progression of Jiang Li’s Yinglong Transformation, his Primordial Qi also became more complete, now fully mimicking the form of a Yinglong.
It was not a transformation of the physical body, but rather a transformation of Primordial Qi, yet it was enough to awe the soul. The roaring Yellow Dragon spread its dragon wings, gripping the Cliff Sword with one claw, stretching and fiercely yanking it open, while the other claw, like lightning, reached out, carrying the heftiness of the earth, ruthlessly smashing down on Ji Chengye’s head.
"Bang!"
In the blink of an eye, Ji Chengye blocked with his arm covered in armor, shielding his head before it, resisting against the dragon claw, but under the relentless, powerful crush of the unresistable force, his entire body emitted cracking noises, as if unable to bear the burden, his right knee bent halfway.
Dragon body, dragon claw, Yinglong Transformation!
Jiang Li’s initial showcasing of the Yinglong’s might with Transforming Qi into Dragon, although Ji Chengye had also cultivated the Cultivation Techniques from "Form Tomb", under the suppression of the Yinglong, he still fell into a disadvantage.
"Impossible!" Ji Chengye yelled madly.
His eyes were full of blood, completely unable to accept the reality.
Strategizing to reach this point, he had thought himself invincible among his peers, expected to surpass Zhong Shenxiu, Yun Jiuye, and others, yet he found himself suppressed by this Seventh Rank, Jiang Li.
Ji Chengye was utterly devastated.