81: Realm advancement, initial transformation

The next day, the morning light was faint, and thin mist, like gauze, gently enveloped Thousand Sails Ferry's harbor, which gradually returned to calm after a night of hustle and bustle.

The dragon boat had completed all inspections and registrations yesterday and was approved to depart.

The boat untied its moorings and set sail, flowing downstream, breaking through the pale golden river surface, and sailing out of the huge arc-shaped harbor, truly entering the vast and boundless South Sea.

As soon as it entered the sea, the world instantly broadened!

Looking around, there were vast expanses of blue waves, with water and sky merging into one color, occasionally white seabirds flew across the sky, emitting clear and melodious cries.

Just as the boat completely merged into this azure expanse, Li Yinglong's body subtly trembled!

It wasn't the rocking of the boat, but something originating from Li Yinglong himself.

An unspeakable sense of exhilaration instantly surged through his limbs and bones like an electric current, rushing straight to his head!

It was as if a long-dry riverbed suddenly encountered a heavenly river pouring in, or a dragon trapped in a deep pool broke free from its shackles!

"Boom!"

The dormant true dragon source blood within his body actually began to pulse joyfully on its own.

It resonated mysteriously with the surrounding endless water vapor and the deep, majestic rhythm of the sea beneath his feet.

A powerful and irresistible sense of vitality and strength quietly originated from the depths of his limbs and bones, circulating throughout his entire body, washing away the last trace of stagnation caused by his long stay inland.

The Dragon Origin even spontaneously activated the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon Cultivation Technique, beginning to slowly circulate on its own, greedily absorbing the water-attribute Spiritual Qi and vast vitality in the air, which was far richer than inland and more compatible with the Dragon Origin's characteristics.

Strands of pure Azure Dragon Origin originated from the Qi Sea, merging into the Meridians, like streams returning to the sea, surging endlessly.

This scene was exactly as the ancient saying goes:

"A Dragon is not an object of the pond; it will surge once it gets into water!"

This vast and boundless sea was the true home of the Dragon Bloodline, a natural Dao field where its power could expand and sublimate!

Li Yinglong stood alone at the bow of the ship, his dark robe billowing in the sea breeze, flapping loudly.

He took a deep breath of the sea and sky, feeling his chest open up, and the fatigue and emotions accumulated from days of mundane matters such as alliances, conflicts, and farewells seemed to have been blown away by the vast sea wind.

He recalled the brief yet thrilling conflict in the middle of the river yesterday.

Kong Yao of the Xuan Yu Clan's brilliant and dangerous Peacock King power, Aldashir of the Chi Jie Clan's domineering and fiery Huang Jie Sacred Fire, and the unfathomable Elder Xuan Shi, who merely by a word made both sides cease hostilities... Such power, such a Realm, was far beyond what he could achieve at present.

"Qi Refining... Foundation Establishment... Golden Core... and even higher..."

Li Yinglong's gaze fell on the horizon where the sea met the sky. There was no discouragement in his heart; instead, an unprecedented sense of urgency and soaring fighting spirit surged within him.

"The road ahead is long, and strong opponents are as numerous as trees in a forest. Yet, since I have obtained the Dragon Legacy, how can I be content with mediocrity? With the System by my side and the Family as my Foundation, this is an Opportunity bestowed by Heaven! If others can reach the Transcendent Realm, why can't I, Li Yinglong?"

"Strategically despise, tactically value!"

This was his philosophy for dealing with the world, forged through the struggles of the business world in his previous life and the survival of his Family in this life.

He knew that his Foundation had been completely transformed by the true dragon source blood. Although the road ahead was difficult, his potential was infinite.

He was not yet seventy years old, and now he was on this vast sea, most suitable for Dragon Origin Cultivation. It was precisely the time to advance bravely and diligently!

"Captain Long Tao, if there's nothing important, please don't disturb this old man. I've had some insights and might be on the verge of a Breakthrough."

Li Yinglong greeted Long Tao, who stood respectfully to the side, then turned and walked into the quiet room in the boat cabin.

"Yes, Clan Head Li."

Long Tao respectfully assented, signaling his guards to attend to their duties and not disturb him.

Inside the quiet room, Li Yinglong sat cross-legged, holding his breath and concentrating, completely releasing his suppression of the Cultivation Technique.

The first transformation of the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon, "Water-Wood Dragon Origin Transformation," operated at full power!

In an instant, his entire body seemed to transform into an invisible vortex, frantically devouring the massive amount of water Spiritual Qi around him.

The air in the cabin was so humid it seemed to drip, and even faint blue water spiritual light points subtly appeared, merging into his body.

The speed and total amount of Dragon Origin surging were more than double what they had been in the mountains of Southern Xinjiang!

The South Sea was not a "Spirit-Severing Land" like the East Sea; the diffused water-attribute spiritual power, though not as dense as on immortal islands, was still sufficient for Cultivation!

He thus immersed himself in deep-level Cultivation, forgetting himself and everything else.

When hungry, he would take a grain of the Grain Abstinence Pill given by the Angry Dragon Clan; when thirsty, he would drink some clear water.

Aside from necessary rest, almost all his time was spent tempering his Dragon Origin, consolidating his Realm, and comprehending the boundless, ceaseless true meaning of Dragon Origin in the vast sea.

Time quietly slipped away amidst the rising and falling waves.

One day, two days, three days... The boat sailed on the sea, day and night alternating.

Outside the window, sometimes the sky was clear and cloudless; at other times, dark clouds loomed, and rain poured down; there were also moonlit nights with starlight scattering on the sea, like countless broken silver pieces.

Li Yinglong was single-minded, only breathing with the sea and sky, pulsing with the Dragon Origin.

He could clearly feel that the cluster of Azure Dragon Origin in his Dantian Qi Sea became increasingly solid and robust day by day. Its previously somewhat ethereal edges became clear and well-rounded, and its color grew deeper and purer.

His Meridians, under the continuous scouring of the Dragon Origin, also subtly conveyed a sense of widening and strengthening.

Until the afternoon of the tenth day of the voyage.

Li Yinglong was circulating his Qi when he suddenly felt the core of the Dragon Origin in his Dantian, which had condensed like mercury, shrink abruptly, then intensely vibrate!

It was as if some invisible barrier had been broken through by a mighty force!

A new Dragon Origin, twice as pure and twice as condensed as before, burst forth from the core, instantly filling the entire Qi Sea and rapidly circulating throughout his body!

His entire body's Qi and blood boiled in response, his bones emitted a subtle yet dense hum, his spiritual platform became clear, and the range of his Divine Sense perception suddenly expanded, as if he could reach further into the sea, sensing deeper currents and life auras.

Breakthrough!

It happened naturally, without any hindrance!

Li Yinglong slowly opened his eyes, a wisp of azure divine light flashing in them, causing the air in the room to ripple subtly.

He raised his hand and saw that beneath the skin of his arm, there was a faint, almost transparent azure glow slowly circulating. If one didn't look closely, it was almost imperceptible.

This glow, like a living creature breathing, carried a unique rhythm of life.

With a slight thought, he activated his Dragon Origin, and that faint glow suddenly became a little clearer!

Upon closer inspection, within that glow, countless extremely fine, illusory patterns resembling dragon scales subtly appeared, covering the entire skin of his arm, shimmering with a faint light, giving a sense of immense toughness and ancientness.

At the same time, he looked inward at his spirit and found that at the center of his forehead, a vertical Azure Dragon pattern, about an inch long and composed of pure light, was faintly visible.

When he retracted his Dragon Origin and calmed his mind, this dragon pattern would quietly disappear; but when he fully operated his Cultivation Technique, this dragon pattern would clearly emerge, like a third eye about to open, emitting a faint but undeniable Dragon Might.

He could feel that these were not actual scales or organs, but rather energy projections and Bloodline imprints that naturally manifested on his body's surface after the true dragon source blood and his Physical Body began a preliminary deep Fusion, indicating that his life level was starting to leap, crossing the boundary of a "Mortal" and beginning its "first transformation" towards a higher life form.

However, unlike his previous Cultivation of the Evergreen Art, where he could clearly perceive the Realm divisions of Qi Refining First Layer, Second Layer, and Third Layer, this Nine Transformations of the True Dragon had its own unique System and was exceptionally profound.

He could only perceive a significant increase in the quality and quantity of his Dragon Origin, but it was difficult to accurately align it with traditional Immortal Cultivation Realms.

"System, detect my current status and compare it to traditional Immortal Cultivation Realms."

Li Yinglong's mind stirred, communicating with the System in his Sea of Consciousness.

【Command confirmed. Scanning host's current energy level, life Origin strength, Divine Sense range, and true dragon source blood Fusion rate... Scan complete. Performing cross-System energy level conversion assessment...】

【Assessment complete. host's current status: Nine Transformations of the True Dragon, First Transformation · Water-Wood Dragon Origin Transformation · Initial Metamorphosis Realm】

【External manifestations: Dragon Scale Glow (energy phantom), Forehead Dragon Mark (Bloodline imprint)】

【Trait description: This is a sign of the initial leap in life Origin. The Physical Body is undergoing deep draconic tempering. All manifestations are energy manifestations and can be initially retracted at will.】

【Cross-System energy level assessment: Approximately equivalent to the Peak of the Qi Refinement Stage Sixth Layer to the Early Stage of the Seventh Layer in the traditional Immortal Cultivation System.】

【Note: Due to the extremely high rank of the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon Cultivation Technique, the quality of Dragon Origin far surpasses Spiritual Qi of the same rank. Comprehensive indicators such as actual combat power, endurance, Physical Body strength, and life resilience all significantly exceed this energy level standard. The specific extent of the vượt needs to be verified through actual combat.】

【Special Notice: Detected that the host's core Cultivation Technique has been replaced from "Evergreen Art" to "Nine Transformations of the True Dragon." The life form has undergone an essential leap, and the difficulty of corresponding Realm advancement has increased. This change has also caused the System's level to receive a corresponding upgrade. The Family function 【Aptitude Improvement LV1】, originally triggered by Realm advancement based on the "Evergreen Art," can no longer adapt to the host's current life level and Family development needs.】

【Function upgrade conditions met. Upgrading...】

【Upgrade complete: New function: 【Aptitude Improvement LV2】 activated.】

【Effect: Each time the host advances one minor Realm in the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon, they will receive 4 opportunities to bestow a random Low Grade Spiritual Root or a basic Cultivation Physique compatible with their Physique to any four core Family members (must meet loyalty requirements). The bestowal effect and success rate are influenced by the host's current Realm, the target individual's condition, and resource input.】

【Current available uses: 4 (obtained due to this Realm advancement).】

"Peak of Qi Refining Sixth Layer... even touching the threshold of the Seventh Layer?!"

Li Yinglong's heart trembled, then surged with ecstasy!

One must know that when he left Linhai City, he was merely at the Perfection of Qi Refining Third Layer.

When he first transformed his Dragon Origin, he was only at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining.

This Breakthrough directly skipped two minor Realms!

This journey to Southern Xinjiang was perilous and dangerous, like walking on thin ice. When did he ever have a moment of peace to sit in meditation and refine Spiritual Qi?

He had thought his cultivation would surely stagnate, who would have thought... "What is lost in the morning is gained in the evening... The ancients truly did not deceive me!"

He sighed with emotion in his heart.

How could this encounter be simply described as "gain"?

It was clearly a narrow escape from death, an Opportunity found where he least expected it!

"No wonder..."

Li Yinglong's gaze was distant, as if piercing through the cabin, looking towards the profound and unfathomable trajectory of the Great Dao:

"Ancient texts say: 'Fifty for the Great Dao, forty-nine for Heaven's Evolution, one for man's escape.' This escaped one is the variable, the Opportunity! Bitterly cultivating in seclusion only seeks steady accumulation within the forty-nine Heavenly Dao; while the true path to transcendence often lies within this 'one' of unpredictable Opportunity!"

He recalled a famous saying from the Daoist scriptures of his previous life on Earth:

"To follow is Mortal, to defy is Immortal; it's merely a reversal in between."

Now, combining it with his own experience, he gained a different understanding.

Blindly cultivating is "following," proceeding step by step, steadily accumulating; but seizing Opportunity and rising with the tide is "defying," opening up possibilities in the impossible!

More importantly, this Opportunity not only benefited him but also blessed his Family!

The 【Aptitude Improvement】 ability, which upgraded along with his Breakthrough, had its effect doubled. This meant that the Foundation of the Li Immortal Clan would be laid incredibly firmly, and disciples with Spiritual Roots and a path to cultivation would emerge like bamboo shoots after rain!

"Every sip and peck is predetermined; every cause and effect has its Origin."

He murmured to himself, his heart filled with an unprecedented reverence for the profound word "Opportunity."

Another two days passed, and the dragon boat had completely entered the East Sea waters, getting closer and closer to Linhai City.

On this day, Long Tao knocked on the door of the quiet room and respectfully reported from outside:

"Clan Head Li, there are more seabirds ahead, and scattered fishing boats are visible. According to the sea chart, in about half a day's journey, we should be able to see the coastline of Linhai City."

Li Yinglong pushed open the cabin door and walked to the bow of the ship.

Gazing into the distance, the familiar outline of land was faintly visible at the horizon.

The scent carried by the sea breeze also seemed to contain the familiar smell of his homeland.

Months away from home, experiencing life and death, making powerful allies, achieving his own Breakthrough, upgrading Family functions... All sorts of encounters surged into his heart like a tide.

"Finally... I'm back."