34: Transformation into countless forms

[In the third year, you wait for news of Zhang Rui, decisively move to kill him, and snatch the heaven-plundering pill.]

[In the sixth year, wearing your signature white smiley face mask, you leave the Yan Imperial Capital.]

[By the tenth year, you have traveled through twelve countries, from the Great Yuan Kingdom to the Qinglan Kingdom, extorting every emperor you came across. You obtained thirty-two bottles of earth vein spiritual milk, eight bottles of spiritual vein essence, and two more heaven-plundering pills.]

[In the eleventh year,]

[You arrive at Tiangang City of the Chu Dynasty.]

[You know the Chu Dynasty is guarded by a Heavenly Human Realm expert, but that doesn't scare you at all.]

[As usual, wearing your white smiley face mask, you brazenly fly into the Golden Throne Hall of the imperial palace.]

[Emperor Chu is furious upon seeing you: "Insolent! Where did this madman come from, daring to break into my Great Chu Palace?"]

[The surrounding guards all raise their spears at you, but none dare to step forward—everyone knows these small fry are no match for you.]

["Marshal Chen, please take action!" At Emperor Chu's command, three Great Grandmasters pounce at once.]

[You don't even move. With a casual wave of your hand, your True Essence transforms into a dragon-shaped phantom, blasting the three of them away with a "buzz."]

[This was only because you showed mercy; otherwise, they would have been turned into meat paste long ago.]

[Suddenly, the sound of breaking air echoes from the sky, and a white-haired old man appears before the hall like a flash of lightning.]

[The old man squints his eyes as he sizes you up: "A dignified Heavenly Human Realm expert bullying juniors? That's not very good, is it?"]

["Shall we talk elsewhere?" you say, intentionally deepening your voice.]

[The old man waves his hand: "After you!"]

[With that, he transforms into a streak of light and flies toward the outskirts of the city.]

[With a "boom," you soar into the sky, kicking up a cloud of dust as you follow closely behind.]

[Only then do the three Great Grandmasters in the hall dare to breathe, each one filled with lingering fear.]

["Is this the strength of the Heavenly Human Realm..."]

["Elder Chen, with your Aptitude, you should be able to achieve a Breakthrough within ten years, right?"]

[Marshal Chen glances at Emperor Chu and remains silent.]

[Outside the city, you learn that the white-haired old man before you is named Chu Tianqi.]

[You casually give a name—Meng Hao.]

[When you mention Cultivators and the Yao Beast Calamity, Chu Tianqi says: "Want me to join? Take three moves from me first!"]

[He stomps his foot, the ground exploding with a "boom." He shoots into the sky like a cannonball, spreading his arms as True Essence surges wildly, actually condensing ten-zhang-long golden dragon shadows behind him!]

["Body Manifests Myriad Forms, First Form—Thousand Shadow Dragon Shape Palm!"]

["Roar—!"]

[The dragon's roar shakes the heavens. In an instant, he transforms into dozens of afterimages, blasting toward you from all directions!]

[Every palm strike carries dragon-shaped Qi force, tearing through the air and producing sharp, explosive booms!]

[You see it clearly—this isn't a cloning technique, but rather his speed is so great and his True Essence so condensed that every palm's trajectory leaves an afterimage!]

[You sneer, neither dodging nor evading. Clenching your right fist, the True Essence within your body erupts like a volcano!]

["I love meeting force with force—Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Fist!"]

["Boom!!!"]

[You throw a punch, the wind from your fist transforming into a roaring dragon-tiger phantom that collides with Chu Tianqi's dragon-shaped palm force!]

["Bang! Bang! Bang!"]

[Airwaves explode, and the ground within a ten-zhang radius is blasted into a two-meter-deep pit!]

[Before the dust settles, Chu Tianqi's true body is already closing in, a palm strike aimed directly at your throat!]

["Body Manifests Myriad Forms, Second Form—Ten Thousand Dragons Raising Their Heads!"]

[The momentum of his palm shifts; the originally fierce force becomes as agile as a swimming dragon, bypassing your fist and striking directly at your chest!]

[This palm strike contains soft force, specifically designed to break hard cultivation arts!]

[Your pupils shrink, and you immediately change your move, your left hand forming a claw to fiercely grab his wrist!]

["Got you!"]

[Chu Tianqi gives a sinister laugh: "Fool, you've fallen for it!"]

[With a shake of his wrist, his entire arm becomes like a boneless snake, instantly breaking free and delivering a backhand palm strike toward the crown of your head!]

["Body Manifests Myriad Forms, Third Form—Nine Dragons Falling from Heaven!"]

[This palm strike is like a meteorite crashing to earth. Before it even lands, the terrifying pressure causes the ground beneath your feet to cave in by three feet!]

[This is his killer move; the palm force contains a thousand-jin crushing weight, and anyone hit by it would surely explode and die!]

[You finally become serious. Your True Essence circulates frantically, your entire body radiating golden light as you fiercely thrust both palms upward!]

["Vajra Indestructible Divine Art, Third Form—Overlord Lifting the Cauldron!"]

["Boom—!!!"]

[The two forces collide, and a shockwave sweeps across the field. The ground collapses by three meters, and smoke and dust soar into the sky!]

[When the dust clears, both you and Chu Tianqi have retreated three steps, the ground beneath each step cracking inch by inch.]

[He stares at you and suddenly laughs: "Good! What a fine Overlord Lifting the Cauldron! It's been thirty years since I've met someone who could take three of my moves head-on!"]

[You shake your numbed arm, secretly shocked: "This old fellow's palm force is even fiercer than I imagined..."]

[But on the surface, you remain as calm as a breeze: "The three moves are over. Can we talk properly now?"]

[Chu Tianqi withdraws his palms and stands tall, laughing heroically: "Fine! Actually, I just had an itch for a fight!"]

[You sneer inwardly: You used your killer moves and you call that an itch?]

[Chu Tianqi strokes his beard and smiles: "Don't think too much of it. I've long suspected there was something wrong with the Cultivators."]

["Those three moves just now were to test your mettle." He squints his eyes. "If you couldn't even pass my test, wouldn't your Anti-Cultivator Alliance be a joke?"]

[Then he opens up and begins to speak of the past.]

[It turns out this old man killed a Cultivator fifty years ago!]

[From that unlucky fellow's mouth, he extracted many shocking secrets.]

["That time nearly cost me my life." Chu Tianqi touches a scar on his chest, still feeling a lingering fear.]

[Since then, he felt that the waters of this world were very deep.]

[That "Body Manifests Myriad Forms" specialty from just now was something he figured out after over a decade of secluded meditation following his fight with the Cultivator.]

["A pity, though. After practicing for so many years, I've only just reached the initial stage." The old man shakes his head and sighs.]

[Your heart skips a beat hearing this: Just the initial stage is this fierce? If it reached Major Achievement, how powerful would it be!]

["If I could get my hands on this move..." you think to yourself while touching your mask.]

[Over the next few days, you drink and talk merrily.]

[The old man is very straightforward. He agrees to join your plan and even offers to find a few old friends to pull off something big together.]

[From beginning to end, you wear that white smiley face mask, and the old man doesn't mind.]

["It's good to be cautious." He pats your shoulder. "When fighting against Cultivators, any slight carelessness can cost you your life."]

[Seizing the right moment, you grin: "Old man Chu, that specialty of yours, Body Manifests Myriad Forms, is quite interesting. How about I trade my Vajra Indestructible Divine Art for it?"]

["Hahaha!" Old man Chu laughs so hard his beard trembles. "What a coincidence! I've been eyeing your technique as well."]

["However, while your Vajra Indestructible Divine Art is marvelous, it consumes True Essence like drinking water. It's not nearly as practical as my Body Manifests Myriad Forms."]

[Hardening your heart, you pull out another jade bottle: "Then I'll add a bottle of spiritual vein essence!"]

[To your surprise, Old man Chu waves his hand: "I don't care for that stuff. As long as you promise me one thing."]

["Let's hear it!" You immediately perk up.]

[The old man shouts toward the courtyard: "Yaoer, come meet the guest!"]

[Before he even finishes speaking, a little girl of about seven or eight years old comes skipping in. Her round eyes, like black grapes, dart around as she keeps staring at you.]

[This is my great-great-granddaughter, Chu Yaoyao.]

["That's it?" You are a bit confused.]

[The old man nods solemnly: "That's it!"]

[You agree without a second thought, trading your Vajra Indestructible Divine Art for that book of Body Manifests Myriad Forms.]