"This is... Tai Chi?"
Though Po only made one gesture, Tai Chi itself emphasized intent over form. As fellow Daoists, even Shushan had many who habitually practiced a Tai Chi set in the morning. So Xu Qing wasn't unfamiliar with Tai Chi.
What he hadn't expected was seeing Tai Chi's shadow on a panda?
"Dragon Claw Strike?!"
Before he could recover from the scene of a panda using Tai Chi, he heard the middle-aged monk beside him cry out in shock, tone full of disbelief.
Looking at Po again—currently, he'd leaped up from the ground. His right paw presented a dragon claw shape. Faintly, one could actually see a dragon claw phantom manifest.
Buddhism's Dragon Claw Strike—mastered by a panda?
Moreover, the power used was actually impressive?
Both the middle-aged monk and young novice monk's eyes showed disbelief.
Even more terrifying—this panda's Dragon Claw Strike was stronger than his own?!
Afterward, the three fell silent, just watching as martial arts after martial arts from Daoist and Buddhist schools were casually used by Po.
Wudang, Emei, Quanzhen, Shushan, Shaolin, Baiyun...
Palm techniques, fist techniques, leg techniques... even picked up a tree branch from the ground and performed two sword technique sets.
Most crucially—any martial art in Po's hands seemingly transformed decay into magic. The power used was extremely terrifying.
Effortlessly breaking through the mutant lizard's defense, leaving wounds on its body.
Though quickly repaired, it demonstrated Po's powerful strength.
"Roar!!!"
The entire mutant lizard was about to go berserk. This panda was too agile—more agile than any creature it had ever encountered. No matter how it controlled rocks or swung its body, it could discover and dodge in the first instant.
Fighting until now, it had been in the getting-beaten phase throughout—hadn't attacked this panda even once.
"So tired..."
Po had thoughts similar to the mutant lizard. Though he'd caused the mutant lizard many injuries, completely useless—quickly repaired. Moreover, fighting until now—though he also hadn't been injured—very tiring.
He also realized that wanting to defeat the mutant lizard, merely using martial arts just now seemingly couldn't achieve it.
Since that was the case, he should also use that "secret technique."
Po's gaze gradually became serious. His soft belly swayed twice in the air. The atmosphere gradually quieted. Xu Qing and others seemingly also realized Po was preparing to use a big move. The mutant lizard's originally agitated mood also became solemn, vigilantly watching this panda.
"Gurgle gurgle..."
The sudden sound made the surrounding atmosphere somewhat awkward. Po somewhat embarrassedly rubbed his belly.
"Stomach's a bit hungry."
"Roar roar roar!!!"
The mutant lizard burst forth a mighty roar. Both claws fiercely slapped the ground.
"Rumble rumble rumble..."
On the ground—like a tidal sea—countless rock pillars directly pierced through the earth. Po first jumped onto one rock pillar, then feeling a slight sting, couldn't help switching paws. Feeling a bit painful and itchy again, then continuously switching feet.
"Not playing anymore, not playing anymore. I'm getting serious."
Po suddenly realized now wasn't the time for playing around. Pressing palms together, spiritual energy within continuously surged, slowly manifesting outside his body, then under everyone's gazes transforming from green toward golden.
Po also—under some mysterious power's influence—took off from the rock pillar, slowly floating in the air.
The fur outside his body became fluffy and soft. The conical hat he wore and shorts at his waist also flickered with pale golden radiance. Immediately after, a dazzling light bloomed, surging in all directions.
After the radiance dispersed, only seeing Po suspended in the air—on his body, somehow gained a practice uniform. Though a panda, he looked like he possessed an indescribable grandmaster aura.
Pity such an aura didn't last long...
"Whoo-hoo! So cool!!!"
"Though this is my second transformation, this light special effect is way too cool! And these clothes—so slippery and soft, so comfortable to wear."
Po excitedly touched the clothes that appeared on his body, extremely happy.
"Wait a moment—this isn't even my final form yet."
"Let me draw a dragon first."
Speaking, Po performed a Tai Chi set in the air. Golden threads flickered in the air. Gentle radiance outlined a dragon shape in the atmosphere.
With the final turn, Po's body exterior was surrounded by a massive dragon-shaped phantom.
Positioned within the dragon's belly, Po pressed palms together, speaking in majestic tones:
"I am the Dragon Warrior!"
"Dragon Warrior?!"
Xu Qing and others already didn't know how many times Po had shocked them. A panda speaking human language and using martial arts was one thing—but why could it also transform? Were those clothes really included with the transformation and not something you pulled out and put on while the light was blinding?
Also, why could you—a panda—use Tai Chi to outline a dragon?!
They felt they had too many things to complain about. Was this panda really a mutant beast and not something that traversed from another world?
Among mutant beasts' various abilities—did this one even exist?
Currently, Po didn't know Xu Qing and others' thoughts—rather rushed before the mutant lizard.
The mutant lizard also couldn't help retreating one step. Even its body trembled slightly.
Clearly a panda—how did the feeling it gave suddenly become a dragon?
Though lacking instinctive suppression, that pure draconic might truly made it feel fear.
"See it?"
"See this divine dragon?"
"I'm asking you—cool or not?!"
"Hahahaha, were you awed by my coolness?"
"Whoo-hoo!"
Po excitedly swayed his body. The divine dragon phantom covering his body exterior also swayed together, even striking several poses in the sky.
"Simply too awesome!"
"Roar roar roar roar roar, awoo awoo."
"That's how dragons roar, right?"
"Whatever—take this!"
Po controlled the divine dragon, directly flying before the mutant lizard. That divine dragon phantom layer penetrated the mutant lizard's body, then suddenly became substantial, lifting the mutant lizard up.
"Belly Bump."
Though the mutant lizard's body was massive, Po's current divine dragon phantom's physique was no less impressive—even considerably larger.
His soft body was like a spring, occasionally striking the mutant lizard, not letting it fall from the air.
"Divine Dragon Tail Whip."
"Divine Dragon Badminton."
One tail whip sent the mutant lizard flying into the distance, then rapidly flew over and sent it back again.
As though playing badminton, Po continuously traversed between two places, treating the mutant lizard like a shuttlecock.
(End of Chapter)