Chapter 426: Chapter 424: Manifesting the Dragon Demon Body!

After a few pleasantries, Lin Tiannan left with gifts in hand.

Inside the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven.

Ning Daoran gently lifted a hand, and the Cold Dragon Stone Plate appeared before his chest. This treasure was a greyish-green stone dish, exuding an incredibly rich ancient treasure aura, and it was a defensive type of treasure.

A fourth-order middle grade spirit treasure, it was the highest grade among all the treasures Ning Daoran currently possessed.

According to Lin Tiannan’s assessment, the Cold Dragon Stone Plate could withstand a full-force assault from a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivation, making it the finest treasure offered by Sangyu Country, unmatched by any other. For Ning Daoran at his current realm, however, it might consume mana too quickly. It would be fine for one or two sudden uses, but not very practical in a prolonged battle.

Ning Daoran didn’t have much to say about it and proceeded to refine it directly!

Such high-level treasures that could save one’s life were always good to have more of.

By now, he owned three spirit treasures: the Cold Dragon Stone Plate, Extermination of Immortals Divine Crossbow, and Thunder Sword, one for defense, one for sneak attacks, and one for assault – quite a perfect set.

After that, Ning Daoran decided to go into secluded meditation again.

He faintly felt that his cultivation of the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture had reached a bottleneck, and he needed to meditate for a number of years, attempting to break through the bottleneck in one go, reaching a new level!

After entrusting everything on the island to Huang Yiyi, he began a long period of secluded meditation with Big Stupid Deer.

…

Seasons changed, from the blossoming of spring to the harvests of autumn, year after year.

Ning Daoran did not emerge from secluded meditation, and in the blink of an eye, five years had passed.

That year, he was 310 years old, already a venerable Golden Core Cultivator.

Inside the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven.

“Boom~~~”

A fierce storm suddenly exploded from the cabin, causing the surrounding spirit plants to tremble continuously. The entire grotto heaven resounded with dragon roars, and even above the cabin, a colossal Dragon Demon Dharma Form appeared, coiling between heaven and earth as if it were a deity.

“Did it succeed?”

Little Bai opened her beautiful eyes wide.

“Ow ow??”

Big Stupid Deer too widened its eyes, feeling an extremely wild and magnificent aura. At this moment, Big Brother’s entire aura had transformed, becoming more enchanting with a hint of wildness beyond his elegance.

“Rustle rustle…”

A person slowly walked out of the cabin; it was Ning Daoran in tattered clothes.

He had locked himself in the room for five years, his clothes now ragged. However, beneath the tattered clothes was a body with exceptionally well-proportioned muscles. Besides the muscles, his skin was covered with dragon scales, and a mix of crimson and dark dragon energy swirled around him, his entire being exuding wildness.

“I feel like I’ve changed…” Ning Daoran said as he looked up to the sky.

“Oh?”

Little Blackie said, “Brother Ran, how have you changed?”

Ning Daoran furrowed his brows, then unrestrainedly unleashed the power of the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture within him. Instantly, blood qi flowed like rolling fiery red magma within his body. Moreover, his body swelled by at least a third–growing from 1.8 meters to 2.4 meters in an instant. Dragon scales formed all over his body, and his face grew more ferocious, with a glowing crimson dragon horn emerging on the right side of his forehead!

What was even more terrifying was that his eyes had turned into a golden vertical slit. The moment he opened his eyes, the vertical slit glittered, striking fear into the heart of Little Blackie, who cried out in horror and retreated in a submissive manner!

The Dragon Demon Heart Scripture’s twentieth layer, manifesting the Dragon Demon Body!

Ning Daoran took a deep breath. After transforming into the Dragon Demon Body, the strength in his flesh continued to swell. In terms of physical strength alone, it was now at least twice as strong as before. In addition, the natural defense of his body greatly increased after manifesting the Dragon Demon Body. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he was now immune to swords and spears!

Since ancient times, few have cultivated the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture to the twentieth layer. Even Shen Luoyan, a prodigy of her time, only managed to cultivate up to the twenty-fifth layer. Thus, Ning Daoran’s achievement in reaching the twentieth layer was exceedingly precious!

After all, he had plenty of time left. Currently, he is in the Golden Core Late Stage and will eventually form his Nascent Soul and reach the Nascent Soul Late Stage. With such a long period ahead, it was inevitable that Ning Daoran’s Dragon Demon Heart Scripture would surpass Shen Luoyan’s, and by a significant margin!

“Brother Ran… so formidable…”

The Green Water Turtle transformed into a young man in green, widened his eyes, already filled with admiration.

“Master…”

Little Bai too widened her eyes, staring straight at him: “So amazing…”

“Stop there.”

Ning Daoran extended his hand, now covered in dragon scales and nails like dragon claws, to hold Little Bai’s little head, and laughed, “Don’t think flattering me will soften my heart, persuading me to merge your Divine Soul and flesh.”

“Your servant wouldn’t dare.”

Little Bai flashed a dimpled smile: “Your servant has followed the master for many years, whole-heartedly, with only love and no presumption towards the master, which the master must know very well.”

“…”

Ning Daoran looked back at her, his golden vertical pupils revealing a smile: “Little Bai, you should know that my murderous intent is very strong after manifesting the Dragon Demon Body, so you shouldn’t provoke me now, I might lose control and take action.”

“Oh!”

Little Bai pursed her red lips, no longer speaking.

“Hu~~~”

Ning Daoran walked to the lakeside, carefully feeling the changes in the Dragon Demon Body. His body began to return to normal, gradually reverting to his original form, with dragon scales, dragon horns, golden vertical pupils, and the surrounding dark dragon energy all dissipating, saying, “To master such power… indeed feels great!”

Little Bai pursed her lips, not daring to speak, but nodded vigorously, which made her appear very cute.

“Ow ow~~”

Big Stupid Deer rushed over to Ning Daoran’s side, tilted its head and rubbed against him, then let out a series of cries.

After spending eighty years lingering around Kunpeng Immortal City and the Flowing Flower Belt, it was time to leave and see the wider world, to experience more local customs, and enjoy more joys of life. This is the true meaning of cultivation.

“Indeed, it is time to go.”

Ning Daoran took a deep breath and said, “Old Lu, Little Bai, Little Blackie, Little Gui, and also Er Hei, we are leaving Xia Country of Yunzhou. Next stop, Sangyu Country! Now that Sangyu Country is a subsidiary of Xia Country, it is only right for us to travel there and explore the world!”

“Owooo~~”

Big Stupid Deer was the first to express approval.

Little Bai nodded with a smile.

Little Blackie and Ning Xiaogui howled loudly.

Even the Demon Tai Sui, usually kept in the pigpen and harvested for its flesh daily for alchemy, leaped three zhang high with a howl, manifested its face in mid-air, and sycophantically said: “Brother Ran is so wise, following Brother Ran brings happiness at hand, I will listen to Brother Ran and fear nothing as we travel the world!”

Ning Daoran rubbed his brow, actually, what Demon Tai Sui needed was to be sent for a college entrance exam, otherwise, it would delay the child’s future.

…

After coming out of seclusion, there was a celebration on the island.

After satisfying their hunger and thirst with food and drink, Ning Daoran stood calmly atop a cliff, looking down at Qingzhu Peak. It was there that Lin Man and Chi Shan used to live, also where the happiest and most fulfilling few years of Ning Daoran were spent.

After years of cultivation, he considered himself to have an excellent mental state. Although he also liked Han Bing, his young junior sister, and Chen Ping’er, he had never truly been moved by them, except for Lin Man who was an exception.

Regrettably, Lin Man had her own path to follow and would not be delayed for him, and likewise, Ning Daoran and Old Lu had long since made their own plans for the journey of cultivation and longevity, and could not abandon their own paths of immortality to help Lin Man.

Life is short, always a mix of happiness and pain.

“Uncle Ning…”

Huang Yiyi appeared in a long dress, looking elegant and sophisticated. She also looked at Qingzhu Peak and said, “I suppose Talisman Master Lin is the one who genuinely touched Uncle Ning’s heart, and only… only such a woman deserves Uncle Ning.”

“At your young age, what do you know?” Ning Daoran turned around and teased her.

Immediately, Huang Yiyi’s face flushed red as she said, “Uncle Ning, I am already sixty years old, not a child anymore. Please do not treat me like a child, I naturally understand all the things I should.”

“Alright, you understand everything.”

Ning Daoran took a deep breath and said, “You should know that I am leaving, right?”

“Yes…”

Huang Yiyi’s brows furrowed slightly, and she said softly, “Although I knew this day would come… are you really going to leave, Uncle Ning? I don’t want to let you go… Talisman Master Lin left, Sister Zhuyue left, and now you are leaving too. It seems… now only I am left on this island.”

“How could that be?”

Ning Daoran said with a smile, “You are the chief steward of Liuhua Island, and this family business is for you to manage for me. When Old Lu and I are tired and weary from our travels, we will come back. Each year’s audit and profits, I will need to collect them.”

With that, he lifted his eyebrows lightly and continued, “Huang Yiyi, from today onwards, I hereby appoint you as the acting Island Master of Liuhua Island, to manage all the major affairs of Liuhua Island on my behalf. I will leave the land and house deeds with you, and all the income of Liuhua Island has to be tallied, with fifty percent of the profits deposited into the manor treasury every year, and you may allocate the other half yourself, I permit you to be half an island master.”

“Yes…”

Huang Yiyi pursed her lips, her eyes filled both with reluctance and excitement.

If half of Liuhua Island belonged to her, it would be truly incredible.

“There’s more.”

Ning Daoran continued, “If Zhuyue returns, you shall share the administration of Liuhua Island with her, and that fifty percent of the profits you can split with her. Yiyi, you need to remember these things well.”

“Yes!”

Huang Yiyi’s expression was a bit forlorn as she whispered, “Uncle Ning, Yiyi will always listen to you, waiting for your return.”

“There is no need to be so sad.”

Ning Daoran gently rubbed the top of her head, smiling, “Old Lu and I are just going on a trip for a while, this place is still our home, and you are the Great Protector left to watch the home, do you understand?”

“I understand!”

Huang Yiyi revealed a smile.

“Furthermore, do not neglect your cultivation.”

Ning Daoran said, “I hope that when I return, you will have reached Core Formation, otherwise, how can a Foundation Establishment Stage island master hold Liuhua Island steady?”

Saying this, he pulled out three Class A Paperfolk from his sleeve, all refined in his likeness, and said, “These three Class A Paperfolk, you keep them well. There is no need to declare my departure publicly, just let the paperfolk show up from time to time. I will leave the Fourth-Order Array on the island to you, along with five Third-tier Lower Grade Puppets which your father had left behind, all of these you must use wisely.”

“Yes, Uncle Ning!”

Huang Yiyi bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears.

What Ning Daoran considered for her before his departure was truly too much.

“Moreover.”

Ning Daoran said, “Lin Tiannan of Kunpeng Immortal City and Fellow Daoist Chen Liang are both considered my good friends. If Liuhua Island encounters any difficulty, you can directly ask them for help. They will certainly not sit idly by. In short, I entrust Liuhua Island to you for the time being.”

“Yes, Uncle Ning!”

Huang Yiyi nodded, and turning back to look at Qingzhu Peak, she said, “I will seal off this Qingzhu Peak, no one may enter, just waiting for Uncle Ning and Talisman Master Lin to return.”

“Good!”

…

Deep into the night.

A figure flitted away from Liuhua Island, treading lightly on the sea surface, at that moment already disguised as a remarkably handsome young cultivator — Master Qiu Shui, a Loose Cultivator traveling far from Xia Country to Sangyu Country!