As Long Chen stood stunned, the mysterious dragon jade surged with torrential true qi, flooding his dantian.
"Where is this qi coming from? Could it have been drained from my father?"
Though only at the peak of Body Refinement, the overwhelming qi burst from his limbs, scattering dust into the air. A searing heat tore through his chest—Long Chen gritted his teeth, drenched in sweat, his eyes bloodshot at the thought of explosive death.
"I won't die so easily! Dragon Meridians—break!"
Beyond Body Refinement lies the nine Dragon Meridian realms. When dantian qi reaches critical mass, it coalesces into a dragon to shatter the first meridian. Long Chen's current qi far exceeded this threshold.
"Blast!"
With a roar, he channeled his will. Qi erupted into dragon form, crashing against the meridian barrier. BOOM! The first meridian shattered, qi flooding through like a flood, expanding the channel inch by inch. The dragon-shaped qi grew fiercer with each collision.
POP!
Fifteen minutes later, the first meridian fully opened. Qi circled the meridian thrice before returning to his dantian, still turbulent.
"First meridian broken—I've reached Dragon Meridian Realm Level 1! But this qi is too potent—might as well try Level 2!"
The second meridian requires several times more qi. True to the old man's words, he clenched his jaw and surged forward.
An hour later, sweat-soaked and trembling, he recalled his father's tearful gaze. "That bastard wanted me strong, didn't he? I'll keep my promise—even if it kills me!"
He thought of the Yang clan's mockery, of every snicker he'd endured.
"Fine—I'm no monster. But when I surpass you, I'll return every insult tenfold!"
POP!
Two hours later, the second meridian cracked open. Qi surged through both meridians, nourishing his body. His senses sharpened—night vision improved, hearing grew acute. This was true transformation.
Standing, he flexed newfound strength. A full-strength punch could now split this tree. At last, he was a true cultivator—Dragon Meridian Realm Level 2.
Kneeling before the tombstone, he kowtowed. "This power comes from you. I once resented your absence—now I apologize. You were a good father."
Riding the cart back to White Poplar Town, questions swirled. Why did the jade vanish into his Sea of Consciousness? The old man must've known. "Dragon Sacrifice Continent… Superpower Long Clan…" Were these ravings or truths?
The jade still trickled qi into his dantian. Long Chen grinned. "Constant qi growth—faster than their cultivation. Soon I'll catch up."
Hope flickered. But the clan tournament loomed. "Yang Zhan and those geniuses? I can't match them yet. But that Dragon Seal—is it worth this risk?"
Back in town, he avoided the Yang Estate, settling in an eastern pavilion. At midnight, unease prickled his neck—someone lurked outside.
He triggered a bed-trap, sinking into a secret basement. Through a crack, he watched two masked figures slash his bed.
"Gone? Must've noticed our trace!"
"He can't hide forever. We'll finish him tomorrow."
Long Chen's pulse raced. These were no ordinary thugs—their aura threatened even him.
"Who wants me dead? Not the Yangs—they ignore me. A larger plot?"
At dawn, he packed light, returning to the Yang Estate. "For safety, and for martial techniques. Without skills, even Level 1 could best me."
The clan's Martial Scripture Tower allowed access to any Yang at Dragon Meridian Level 1 or higher. Long Chen qualified.
Guards sneered as he passed—he'd memorized the path from childhood. But at the stone gate, Chen Liu barred his way.
"Lost your father already? Shouldn't you be mourning instead of skulking here?"
Long Chen's gaze chilled. "I've entered the Dragon Meridian Realm. And what business is it of yours?"
Chen Liu sneered. "Prove it, then. Let's test your 'strength'!"