175: Dragon Carp Evolution

Lin Yan couldn't help but think of the Dragon pearl that had been lying in his Storage Pouch all this time.

"I need to give the Dragon Carps a real boost!"

He took out the Dragon pearl.

After several years of settling, the fist-sized Dragon pearl had completely retracted its radiance.

However, the immense Dragon essence within it had not diminished in the slightest, remaining as profound as ever.

Over these past few years, Lin Yan's knowledge had greatly increased, and he had come to understand the true value of a Dragon pearl.

Generally speaking, a Dragon pearl is used by Nascent Soul Cultivators to achieve a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation.

Because the Dragon Clan is favored by heaven and earth, they carry a trace of Dragon Clan Luck.

A Nascent Soul Peak Cultivator who refines a Dragon pearl can directly receive recognition from the world will and achieve a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation.

One Dragon pearl represents the quota for one sixth-realm great expert.

Of course, Lin Yan did not intend to feed the Dragon pearl to the Dragon Carps.

He placed the Dragon pearl into the water and sealed it at the bottom of the pond.

He did not trigger the immense Dragon essence within it, but instead allowed the threads of Dragon Qi naturally emitted by the Dragon pearl to slowly merge into the pond water.

This Dragon Qi was not like a violent surge of spiritual power; it was more like a gentle nourishment that silently improved the Foundation of the entire water area, making it more suitable for the Dragon Carps to breed.

The power of the Dragon Clan is overbearing; even without directly absorbing the power of the Dragon pearl, the Dragon Carps would be subtly influenced.

...

To further improve the water quality, Lin Yan took out six pitch-black lotus seeds from his Storage Pouch.

These were the mysterious lotus seeds obtained from the Water Palace in the True Dragons Nest Secret Realm.

These lotus seeds showed no signs of vitality, faintly exuding a sharp Geng Metal Qi.

Over these years, he had scoured the 'hundred appraisals of spirit lotuses' gifted by Su Wan Yue and found records similar to these lotus seeds.

If he guessed correctly, these lotus seeds were actually the legendary sacred Buddhist plants, the earth-emerging golden lotus.

This was a legendary spirit plant with the ability to focus the mind, purify karma, and suppress water malevolence.

"It is rumored that the earth-emerging golden lotus was born with the Buddha and is not a natural spirit plant of heaven and earth, which is why it can contain the Metal attribute!" Lin Yan couldn't help but exclaim: "The wonders of all things in heaven and earth are truly indescribable."

He dared not be negligent, using his Wood Spiritual Power to carefully moisten each lotus seed. After confirming everything was correct, he then one by one cast them into the mud by the pond.

...

Several days later, ripples appeared on the calm pond surface; the seeds of the earth-emerging golden lotus broke through the soil and sprouted tender shoots.

Perhaps these lotus seeds were too ancient, and their vitality was weak. Only four of the six lotus seeds sprouted, while the other two were dead seeds.

The earth-emerging golden lotus that did sprout grew quite well, and under Lin Yan's cultivation, they grew steadily and vigorously.

Several months later, the four golden lotuses actually grew lotus flowers that were golden all over.

The lotus leaves were like jade, and the petals were layered, as if cast from gold. Above the lotus pedestal, a circle of faint golden Buddhist light circulated, solemn and sacred.

The Dragon Carps swam between the lotus leaves, and their scales seemed to be stained with a layer of pale gold, appearing increasingly spirited.

...

Lin Yan's hard work did not go to waste. Under his efforts, some of the Dragon Carps in the pond slowly began to change.

Originally, the largest Dragon Carp would not exceed one meter in size, but Lin Yan observed that some Dragon Carps began to break this rule.

Their bodies became more slender and robust!

More obvious was the aura on the Dragon Carps.

The Dragon Carp is a first-rank Spirit Fish, and a rather weak one at that. The aura they emitted was mostly at the first-rank Early Stage, which is equivalent to a Cultivator not exceeding the Refining Qi Third Layer.

Among them, individual "excellent" Dragon Carps could reach the first-rank Middle Stage, comparable to a Cultivator at the Refining Qi Fourth Layer to Sixth Layer.

And now, the aura of several Dragon Carps had broken through the shackles, reaching the first-rank Late Stage.

This was not even the end; Lin Yan could clearly perceive that these Dragon Carps were still continuing to grow stronger.

The changes occurring in the Dragon Carps deeply fascinated Lin Yan. Every day when he had time, Lin Yan would come to check on the condition of the Dragon Carps.

The Dragon Carp that evolved the fastest had already reached the first-rank Peak. Its appetite was growing larger and larger, and its aura was becoming increasingly restrained and profound.

"I estimate it will be within these few days!"

Lin Yan threw a small piece of flood dragon meat to this Dragon Carp.

With a splash, the Dragon Carp stirred up a spray of water, accurately caught the flood dragon meat, and quickly swallowed it into its belly.

Its slender and robust figure far exceeded what it had been in the past. It was not just an external change; the Dragon Carp's eyes were no longer so dull and stupid, possessing a bit more spirit.

He estimated that this Dragon Carp would be the first to undergo a transformation, completely stepping into a new level.

Because the Dragon Carps were rapidly becoming stronger, the previously set up Small Five Elements Formation was no longer sufficient.

Lin Yan simply planted several Spirit Woods around the Dragon Carp pond, invoking the power of the 'Thousand Wood Spirit Raising Formation' to seal off the several Dragon Carp ponds.

The fifth-rank Thousand Wood Spirit Raising Formation, with even a sliver of its power, was not something the Dragon Carps could contend with.

...

As the night deepened, the pond at the foot of the North Mountain was quiet and silent, with only the earth-emerging golden lotus emitting faint Buddhist light, intertwining underwater with the soft Dragon Qi emitted by the Dragon pearl.

Beneath the calm water surface, a Dragon Carp with a body of pure red gold was undergoing a transformation that would shed its mortal shell.

It was no longer the inconspicuous little fish from before, but a Spirit Beast nearly two meters long with a profound and steady aura.

The Dragon Qi overflowing from the Dragon pearl was like threads and wisps, greedily absorbed into its body.

This power washed over its flesh and bones, and every inch of its scales trembled, emitting faint "clatter" sounds, as if it were struggling to break free from the shackles of its mortal body.

"Roar!!!"

A low roar burst from its throat, and the thick sound waves surged underwater.

The two originally inconspicuous fleshy little horns on top of its head, at this moment, were like spring shoots breaking through the soil, suddenly protruding and becoming sharp and imposing.

The Dragon Carp's figure also elongated accordingly, its muscle lines becoming increasingly smooth and robust, and as its fish tail swung, it faintly brought up circles of water ripples.

The transformation did not stop there. The Dragon Carp's mouth suddenly expanded, its lower jaw split and closed, and two rows of dense and sharp teeth grew quietly, flashing with a chilling cold light.

It was no longer just in the form of a "carp"; its fish whiskers became longer and thicker, clinging tightly to its gradually widening fish head, adding a bit of majesty.

The red-gold scales all over its body were layered, with edges as sharp as knives, and under the reflection of the Buddhist light and Dragon Qi, they circulated with a heart-palpitating luster.

As it swam, its fish body broke through the water surface, bringing up a string of crystalline water splashes.

In the brief moment it stayed in the air, those smooth lines and the majestic dragon horns made it look like a little golden Dragon leaping out of a painting.

The transformation was complete, and it was as if an invisible shackle within the Dragon Carp's body had been instantly shattered.

An immense Spiritual Pressure erupted from its body with a boom, the water waves surged violently, and the Spirit Lotus by the pond trembled slightly because of it.

Hum...

A faint, indistinct spiritual light burst from the little horn on its forehead, shooting straight into the sky.

This momentum was already equivalent to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

Lin Yan stood on the shore, a flash of surprise and joy appearing in his eyes.

He clearly perceived that this Dragon Carp had completely stepped into the second-rank level.

This was a true transformation.

The strength of a Spirit Beast is often closely related to its own Bloodline.

This Dragon Carp being able to break through its strength shackles also meant that the Bloodline within its body had undergone a qualitative evolution!

"This appearance is completely unlike a Dragon Carp anymore." Lin Yan whispered to himself: "But it is still far from a flood dragon, and not quite a flood dragon either, probably somewhere between a Dragon Carp and a flood dragon..."

"I shall call you Dragon Carp King."

Lin Yan named this Dragon Carp with great interest.