Chapter 56: Ah Yin's Human BodyDugu Bo's gaze snapped back to the Earth Dragon Golden Melons. They no longer looked like treacherous poisons but like keys. Keys to a future he had never dared to imagine, a future where the name Dugu Bo would be synonymous not just with poison, but with the unassailable power of a dragon.
Without another word, he strode towards the plant. His movements were stiff, almost robotic, as if he were in a trance. He reached out a trembling hand and plucked one of the heavy, golden fruits from its vine. It was cool to the touch, and a faint, earthy energy pulsed from within it.
'This is it,' he thought, his heart hammering against his ribs. 'Either I ascend to the heavens in a single step, or I turn to dust. There is no in-between.'
He gave Zhang Tian a final, complex look—a mixture of gratitude, suspicion, and desperate hope—before turning and walking away. He didn't stop in the garden but continued past the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, heading towards the outer perimeter of the valley, where the energies were less extreme. He needed a place where he could focus without distraction.
Finding a secluded cave, Dugu Bo sat down, the golden melon resting in his lap. He took a deep, shuddering breath, calming his turbulent emotions. He recalled Zhang Tian's instructions: consume it whole, then immediately circulate his spirit power to guide the medicinal energy.
He brought the melon to his lips. It had no discernible scent, but the moment his teeth broke the skin, a rich, earthy flavor flooded his senses. He devoured it in a few large bites, the dense flesh dissolving into a torrent of pure energy the moment it hit his stomach.
It was not a gentle stream. It was a volcanic eruption.
An unimaginably potent wave of golden, earthy energy exploded within him. It was thick, ancient, and carried with it a terrifying pressure—the indomitable will of an ancient Earth Dragon.
"Arrrgh!" A guttural roar of agony was ripped from his throat. His entire body convulsed. His veins bulged, glowing with a golden light beneath his skin. He felt as if his bones were being ground to powder and his meridians were being torn asunder.
His Jade Phosphorus Serpent Emperor spirit manifested on its own, a massive green serpent writhing in the air behind him, letting out silent screams of agony. The golden energy, like a tide of molten gold, surged towards his martial spirit, intent on remaking it.
Dugu Bo gritted his teeth, blood trickling from his lips. He forced his mind to focus, desperately circulating his spirit power, trying to guide the rampaging energy as Zhang Tian had instructed. It was like trying to steer a tsunami with a canoe.
The transformation began. The sleek, serpentine form of his spirit began to contort and swell. Two bumps appeared on its head, slowly, agonizingly pushing outwards, forming into majestic, spiraling horns. Its long, serpentine body grew thicker, more powerful, and four powerful, clawed limbs erupted from its sides with wet, tearing sounds.
The green scales, once like jade, began to take on a golden, metallic sheen. The very essence of his spirit was being reforged. The serpent was dying, and a dragon was being born from its ashes.
This process raged for a full day and night. Dugu Bo lost all track of time, his entire consciousness focused on the single, agonizing task of survival and guidance.
On the second day, the physical changes began. The golden draconic energy, having reshaped his spirit, now turned its attention to his body. It surged through his flesh, strengthening his bones, toughening his muscles, and reinforcing his organs. The chronic pain from his poison backlash, a companion for decades, was burned away by the pure, vital life force of the dragon.
His long, green hair, a trademark of his poison, began to recede, replaced at the roots by a healthy, glossy black. The transformation swept through his locks until not a single strand of green remained. His pupils, once serpentine green slits, constricted and then expanded, reforming into round, brilliant gold orbs that seemed to glow with an inner light.
The new power flooding him was immense. He felt his spirit power, which had been stagnant at Level 91 for years, shatter its bottleneck with ease. Level 92. The energy continued to pour in, pushing him higher. Level 93. It finally settled there, a deep, vast reservoir of power that was leagues beyond what he had possessed before.
Simultaneously, the Poison Spirit Core in his middle dantian began to spin wildly. The newly evolved spirit power, now carrying a distinct and powerful Draconic Aura, flooded into it. The poison from his Jade Phosphorus Dragon Emperor, now far more potent and tinged with the earth attribute, was drawn in as well, condensing and refining the core to a whole new level of stability and power.
Finally, after two full days of torment, the golden light receded. Dugu Bo slumped against the cave wall, his body drenched in a mixture of sweat and a black, foul-smelling substance that had been purged from his system.
He slowly pushed himself up. He felt… new. The constant pain was gone. In its place was a feeling of vibrant, explosive power. He looked at his hands. They were no longer the pale, veiny hands of an old man, but the strong, steady hands of a man in his prime.
He stumbled to a nearby pool of water and stared at his reflection. A man with a head of thick, black hair and piercing golden eyes stared back. He looked fifty, at most. A deep, rumbling laugh escaped his lips, a sound filled with disbelief, joy, and a terrifying, newfound power. The Dragon's Roar had sounded, and the world had a new apex predator.
While Dugu Bo was undergoing his earth-shattering transformation, a peaceful and profound atmosphere enveloped the heart of the garden.
Zhang Tian sat on the soft grass, flanked by Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing. He faced them, his left palm pressed against Zhu Zhuqing's right, and his right palm pressed against Ning Rongrong's left, forming a small, intimate circle.
"The immortal herbs have remade your bodies and spirits, but a great deal of their medicinal essence remains latent within you," he explained, his voice calm and steady. "If left alone, it will slowly be absorbed over time. We need to actively refine and absorb it. This will not only solidify your foundations but also prepare you to consume another herb each."
Ning Rongrong looked at him, her eyes shining with trust. "Whatever you say, Zhang Tian. I'll do it."
Zhu Zhuqing simply nodded, her expression serene. Her faith in him was absolute.
"Rongrong," Zhang Tian said, turning his gaze to her. "I am going to teach you the same cultivation technique I taught Zhuqing. It is called the Mysterious Heaven Skill. It will allow you to cultivate much faster and give you greater control over your spirit power, which is crucial for a support-type Spirit Master like you."
Ning Rongrong's heart swelled with happiness. He was sharing his clan's secret technique with her. It was another profound gesture of his trust and love.
"Close your eyes and relax," he instructed them both. "Follow my lead."
A gentle, powerful wave of spirit power flowed from his palms into their bodies. He first guided the energy through Ning Rongrong's meridians, patiently teaching her the intricate circulation path of the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Her aptitude was high, and she learned quickly. Just as he had done for Zhuqing, he used his own profound power to gently open the key meridian points in her body, shattering the bottlenecks that would have hindered her progress.
Her cultivation speed, already enhanced by her new Spirit Core and evolved pagoda, accelerated to a breathtaking pace.
For the next seven days, this became their routine. The trio would spend the entire day in this state of shared cultivation. The garden was their sanctuary, a world away from the struggles and politics of the outside. The only sounds were the gentle rustle of leaves, the whisper of the wind, and the faint, harmonious hum of their combined spirit power.
During this time, Dugu Bo, having emerged from his cave a new man, was like a child with a new toy. He was utterly delighted with his transformation and felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Zhang Tian. Seeing the trio deep in cultivation, he chose not to disturb them.
Instead, he ventured into the wider Sunset Forest, a place he had ruled for decades. But now, he saw it with new eyes. He sought out powerful spirit beasts, creatures in the eighty-thousand-year-old range that would have given him a difficult fight before.
Now, they were no match for him. His physical prowess was astonishing. He could meet the charge of a heavily armored beast head-on, his body as tough as refined steel. His poison, now infused with the earth attribute and the dragon's might, was terrifyingly potent. A single breath of his poison mist could cause the ground to petrify and wither, and it corroded spirit power defenses with frightening ease.
His control was the most significant improvement. Thanks to the now-stable and powerful Poison Spirit Core, he could manipulate his spirit power with a finesse he had never known. His recovery rate was incredible. He could fight for hours without feeling the strain. He was, in every sense of the word, reborn.
Seven days later, the trio finally ended their long session of meditative cultivation. The latent medicinal energies within the two girls had been almost completely absorbed, their foundations solidified to an incredible degree.
That evening, after a simple dinner roasted over a clean flame, Zhang Tian looked at them with a serious expression. It was time for the next step.
He first turned to Ning Rongrong. Using his Blood Silver Grass, he retrieved a plant that seemed to be carved from the purest white jade. It was an orchid, but its eight petals were translucent and seemed to glow with a soft, milky light. It was the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid.
"Rongrong, this is for you," he said, his voice gentle. "Its origin energy is vast and pure. It will help you properly advance the condensation of your Nine Colored Spirit Core and will greatly strengthen your foundation. It will improve your aptitude all the way to the Spirit Saint realm, ensuring you face no bottlenecks before Level 70. It should also have a complementary effect with the starlight energy of the Star Luo Holy Pearl you consumed before."
Ning Rongrong accepted the beautiful orchid with reverence, her heart filled with a warm, fuzzy feeling. He was always thinking of her, always planning the best path for her.
He then turned to Zhu Zhuqing, presenting her with a flower that looked like it was made of the finest golden velvet. It was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
"Zhuqing, this will completely open all eight of your extraordinary meridians and temper your body to the state of a Vajra Strength Body. Its immense origin energy will also be enough to push your spirit power from Level 34 directly to Level 40."
Zhu Zhuqing took the chrysanthemum, her gaze unwavering. Reaching Level 40 in a single step was a dream for any Spirit Master, and he was handing it to her like a simple gift.
"Consume them as I instructed," Zhang Tian said. "Then meditate and absorb the energy. I will stand guard."
The two girls nodded, finished their meal, and then carefully consumed the immortal herbs. They immediately sat down and entered a state of deep meditation, their bodies glowing with soft white and golden light respectively as they began to absorb the incredible power.
Seeing them settled and safe, Zhang Tian's expression softened. He stood up and began to walk slowly towards the edge of the garden, his steps silent on the soft grass. He stopped before the spot where the elegant stalks of the Black Jade Divine Bamboo once stood.
Now, there was only a patch of empty earth. But Zhang Tian knew better.
"You can drop the illusion now, Ah Yin," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "It's just me."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the air in front of him shimmered, like heat haze on a summer day. The illusion dissolved, not just breaking, but melting away to reveal what lay beneath.
His breath caught in his throat.
In place of the bamboo grove, a colossal plant now stood. It was a mass of crimson vines, each one as thick as his arm, covered in the familiar, beautiful golden scale-like patterns.
The sheer mass of it was staggering, a living mountain of Blood Silver Grass that pulsed with a terrifying, ancient power.
This was the true form of the Blood Silver Empress, restored to her peak.
Zhang Tian felt a profound sense of joy and pride. This was a powerful version of his own spirit. This was her.
As he watched, the massive tangle of vines began to shift and contract. The overwhelming aura of power receded, drawing inward. The crimson mass flowed like liquid mercury, shrinking and reshaping itself with an impossible grace.
In a matter of seconds, the mountain of vines was gone. Standing in its place was a woman.
And she was the most breathtakingly seductive creature he had ever laid eyes on.
She was tall, her figure a masterpiece of mature, feminine curves that put even Zhu Zhuqing's voluptuous body to shame. Her waist was impossibly slender, flaring out to hips that were wide and perfectly rounded. Her buttocks were full and curvaceous, promising a heavenly softness. Her breasts were magnificent, large and heavy, straining against the simple, form-fitting red dress she wore, a testament to her status as a mother who had nurtured life.
This was not the budding allure of a young girl; this was the full, intoxicating bloom of a mature woman in her prime. A true, devastatingly sexy milf.
Her hair was a cascade of crimson silk, flowing down her back to her knees. Her face was one of perfect, classic beauty, with full, plump lips that were curved in a soft, welcoming smile. But it was her eyes that held him captive. They were the same crimson as her hair, filled with ancient wisdom, boundless love, and a teasing, seductive warmth that made his blood run hot. A mature, irresistible charm radiated from her very being, a silent invitation that tempted him to cast aside all reason and commit the most wonderful of crimes.
"It has been a long time, Zhang Tian," Ah Yin's voice was like velvet, rich and melodious. "It feels… wonderful. To have a body again. To be able to feel the air on my skin."
She took a step forward, and her hips swayed with a natural, hypnotic rhythm that was unconsciously seductive. It was a movement that spoke of confidence and a deep, instinctual understanding of her own allure.
She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her magnificent, soft body against his. "I am so happy I can finally hold you like this."
Zhang Tian's arms instinctively went around her thin waist, pulling her even closer. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent greedily. She smelled of fresh earth after rain, of blooming flowers, and of something uniquely, intoxicatingly her. It was a lustful, possessive gesture, and he made no attempt to hide it.
"Ah Yin," he growled, his voice thick with emotion and desire. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this."
She chuckled, a low, throaty sound that vibrated through his chest. She pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, her own filled with a playful, tempting light. "Oh, I think I have some idea. I've been with you every step of the way, remember? I've felt everything you've felt."
Her hand came up to cup his cheek, her thumb gently stroking his skin. "I felt your desire for those two little girls. They are lovely. But," she leaned in, her plump lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "they are still children. You need a real woman to show you what true pleasure is, my little Emperor."
A jolt of pure lust shot through him. He tightened his grip on her waist, his fingers digging into her soft flesh. "Is that an offer, my Empress?"
"It's a promise," she purred, her body melting against his. "Once you complete the Second Awakening, once you truly become the Blood Silver Emperor… I will be your Empress in every sense of the word. And our union… it will be the most natural thing in the world."
He looked down at her, at the seductive promise in her crimson eyes, at the full, ripe curves of her body pressed against his. He was a man who had lived two lives, but in that moment, he felt like a starving man before a feast. And he had no intention of holding back.