Chapter 280 : Beginning the Flood-Dragon Transformation

Chapter 280: Beginning the Flood-Dragon Transformation

Clouds dispersed, thunder cleared.

Golden Egg soared amid clouds and mist, stretching his body with satisfaction as he spat out a beast core.

Though it appeared light, this core was actually heavy as Mount Tai. Three swirling core patterns moved like living creatures upon its surface.

With each rotation, more Immortal Metal Attribute gathered within it, exuding an indescribable might akin to that of a flood dragon.

“Buzz!”

After trying for a while and finding no further change in its grade, Golden Egg reluctantly accepted reality. He opened his mouth and retracted the core.

Seeing this, Chen Beiwu gave a speechless smile.

Upon advancing to the Third-Realm Beast General stage, Golden Egg's majestic horn had metamorphosed into a three-foot-long gilded single horn.

At the tip of the horn condensed a trace of Immortal Metal Attribute, radiating an aura that seemed capable of piercing anything.

His vertical pupils changed from gold to dark gold, and his slender body expanded from four zhang to seven zhang in length.

The scales on his body were now threaded with golden lines that flickered with his breath, making him appear all the more awe-inspiring and domineering.

It was no exaggeration to say that—apart from lacking flood-dragon claws and a dragon mane—Golden Egg now looked almost identical to the Golden-Horned Flood Dragon depicted in ancient records.

“Buzz.”

Just then, feedback from the Companion Contract arrived, and Chen Beiwu’s expression shifted slightly. He sat cross-legged and began refining the endless torrent of majestic mana in his dantian sea of Qi.

The difference between a Third-Realm Beast General and a Foundation Establishment cultivator was like that between two dimensions.

If not for Chen Beiwu cultivating the Taiyi True Qi and possessing strength comparable to a Golden Core True Person, he would’ve been unable to suppress the overwhelming mana from the Companion Contract and would’ve started forming his core directly.

Five strands… seven… nine… eleven… thirteen!

As the strands of Taiyi True Qi increased, the aura around Chen Beiwu grew stronger and stronger. Even his body, forged through the Hundred Rivers Dharma Body, was beginning to evolve toward the third tier under the nourishment of the True Qi.

‘Forming a Golden Core isn’t my path—Yuanshi is the true goal.’

Chen Beiwu shook his head, opened his eyes, and compressed the mana within his dantian sea of Qi, completely stabilizing his realm. The surging aura around him calmed at that moment.

“Mas…Mas…Master…”

Golden Egg looked at Chen Beiwu, throat trembling, and let out a crisp sound, “Man!”

Perhaps unfamiliar with speaking for the first time, Golden Egg stumbled at first but soon became more fluent.

“Call me Beiwu.”

Chen Beiwu reached out and patted Golden Egg’s head, not the least surprised.

When a Companion Beast’s cultivation reached a certain point, they could refine the transverse bone and begin to speak.

Some innately gifted Companion Beasts could even speak during the spirit stage.

Golden Egg, being a Fish-Dragon Beast, faced greater difficulty in speaking. Normally, one had to become a Third-Realm Beast General to manage it.

“Beiwu! Beiwu! Beiwu!”

Golden Egg shouted Chen Beiwu’s name repeatedly like an excited child, his tone brimming with joy.

“Heh heh, when are we starting the Flood-Dragon Transformation?”

After playing around for a bit, Golden Egg finally remembered the important matter.

“No rush. Let me first examine the changes in you after becoming a Third-Realm Beast General.”

As he spoke, Chen Beiwu activated his divine sense and scanned Golden Egg’s three meridians.

Hearing this, Golden Egg lifted his head proudly and glanced smugly at Iron Egg, who was lying on the ground.

For Golden Egg, breaking through to Third-Realm Beast General and suppressing the air of sycophancy around Chen Beiwu was undoubtedly something worth celebrating.

Iron Egg let out a low growl to express congratulations.

Unlike Golden Egg, Iron Egg wasn’t thinking that much—he was simply happy for his companion’s advancement.

Upon hearing Iron Egg’s congratulations, Golden Egg raised his head in surprise, then fell silent, no longer feeling smug.

“Excellent,” Chen Beiwu’s eyes lit up.

As the saying goes, the essence of the Five Elements nurtures the immortal; innate One Qi defines the mysterious.

Upon ascending to the Third-Realm Beast General, Golden Egg had confirmed the Immortal Metal Attribute. Although his Mystic-Grade Origin Meridian hadn’t transformed into a Legendary-Grade Origin Meridian, the Dao’s Rhythm within it had significantly improved, granting him an additional boost in innate spiritual root purity.

And that little boost in spiritual root purity shouldn’t be underestimated.

The difference between 89% and 90% purity in a Heavenly Water Root was immense—it could increase Chen Beiwu’s efficiency in refining spiritual energy by nearly 10%.

With that thought, Chen Beiwu focused his intent and examined Golden Egg’s attribute meridians.

“Metal: 91, Wood: 85, Water: 95, Fire: 18, Earth: 79.”

Chen Beiwu nodded in satisfaction.

The base value determined how significant a boost in purity was.

For Golden Egg, increasing one point each in Metal and Water roots, and two in Wood root, was already excellent progress.

If Golden Egg could maintain this rate of growth, then in the future when he reached the Fourth-Realm Beast King stage, who knew—his Water Root purity might even reach 99, the limit of the Heavenly Root, one step away from the legendary Immortal Root.

Chen Beiwu shook his head. That seemed a bit unrealistic.

Attribute meridian purity of 99 was the realm only Fortune-Origin Beasts could step into. Even Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beasts might never touch it—let alone Golden Egg, who hadn’t even completed the Flood-Dragon Transformation yet.

“Phew.”

Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Chen Beiwu turned his gaze to Golden Egg’s law meridians.

【Cultivation Years: 590 years】

According to the Immortal Alliance’s standards, each minor realm of a Golden Core cultivator was equivalent to one hundred years of cultivation for a Third-Realm Beast General.

Typically, a Golden Core Early-Stage cultivator corresponded to a Third-Realm Beast General with 500–599 years of cultivation.

By that scale, Golden Core Mid-Stage equated to 600–699 years; Late-Stage: 700–799 years; Peak: 800–899 years; and Full Completion—where a Yang Spirit prototype began to form—was 900–999 years.

In other words, Golden Egg possessed a deep foundation. Despite just entering the Third-Realm Beast General stage, he already had power comparable to a peak Early-Stage Golden Core cultivator.

Of course, realm was one thing; actual combat strength was another.

Such cross-realm battles were rare in the Southern Wastes, but in the Immortal Alliance, it was a different story.

Golden Cores were divided into nine grades—the higher the grade of a Golden Core a True Person formed, the more Immortal Metal Attribute it condensed. The stronger their Dharma Body, the more they could channel the power of heaven and earth.

A First-Grade Golden Core cultivator could easily fight across realms.

According to Chen Beiwu’s estimation, the beast core condensed by Golden Egg was of Third Grade. Coupled with his profound cultivation years, he should have no trouble battling a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator of the Southern Wastes.

With that, the odds of Golden Egg succeeding in his Flood-Dragon Transformation at the Lake of the Emerging Dragon would also increase significantly.

At this thought, Chen Beiwu moved his divine sense, extending it through the Companion Contract into the depths of Golden Egg’s law meridians.

The hallmark of a Golden Core True Person was Earthly‑Sha True Qi—that is, Immortal Mana and the Immortal Dharma Body.

For a Third-Realm Beast General, the hallmark was Immortal Beast Qi and the Bloodline Core.

Of course, because the Companion Beasts contracted by Immortal Alliance cultivators had already been refined from turbid to pure and cultivated using Companion Cultivation Methods,

it would be more accurate to call the Immortal Beast Qi within Golden Egg’s body Immortal Mana.

But what truly drew Chen Beiwu’s attention was the innate mystic ability awakened in Golden Egg’s law meridians by the Bloodline Core.

One must know, every Companion Beast that broke through to the Third-Realm Beast General level could use its core to open the Gate of the Dark-Feminine, awaken the Dao’s Rhythm of its bloodline, and condense Innate Dao Patterns deep within the core. In doing so, their innate treasure arts would undergo qualitative transformation, unleashing their full power.

As expected, both of Golden Egg’s innate treasure arts underwent noticeable changes.

【Gilded Body】: Third-Tier Peerless Treasure Art. Metal and Water in harmony. Soft on the outside, firm within. It can fuse the gentlest of waters into an indestructible body, tempering metal with the virtue of water, nullifying treasure arts.

【All Rivers Embraced】: Third-Tier Peerless Treasure Art. Takes all rivers as the furnace, refines heaven and earth into a pill, seizes creation and returns it to metal nature. Complements the Gilded Body in yin-yang harmony. Can manifest the Grand Dao of the Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beast.

The Great Dao is simple.

Compared to before, the descriptions of Gilded Body and All Rivers Embraced were clearly more concise.

Yet through the Companion Contract, Chen Beiwu could clearly sense the strength of these two innate treasure arts.

Especially that final line—Can manifest the Grand Dao of the Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beast—which filled Chen Beiwu with surprise and joy.

...

At the same time, the thunderclouds above the Three-Peak Cave Residence dispersed, leaving an eerie silence.

Immortal Students and senior Ninth- and Tenth-Rank Sect-Level students living nearby could not conceal the shock in their hearts.

The waves of the Yangtze River push the old forward with the new.

Chen Beiwu had joined the Yuqing Immortal Sect for only three years and had already thoroughly surpassed these older fellow students.

“Astonishing. First, a Flawless Foundation Establishment, and now, at only twenty-two years of age, he’s nurtured a Third-Realm Beast General.

This rising star, with such monstrous aptitude and comprehension, is only beneath those with the Innate Dao Body. He is destined for greatness—saying he has the potential for Divine Transformation is no exaggeration.” An Immortal Student sighed.

Comparing oneself to others only invites frustration.

He had to admit, compared to Chen Beiwu’s cultivation progress, his own years of bitter training seemed like a joke.

“Strange. Why didn’t Chen Beiwu use this opportunity to form his core?” Shen Yuanbao’s eyes flashed, somewhat surprised.

After being defeated, he challenged a senior Second-Rank Sect Student to a cave residence duel and successfully seized the Three-Peak Cave Residence, becoming Chen Beiwu’s neighbor.

Naturally, everything occurring around the Three-Peak Cave Residence had not escaped Shen Yuanbao’s senses.

‘Could it be that Chen Beiwu’s goal isn’t just a First-Grade Golden Core, but a Titled Golden Core?’

Shen Yuanbao furrowed his brows slightly, surprised by Chen Beiwu’s ambition.

A Flawless Foundation Establishment cultivator who refined Top-Grade Earthly‑Sha Essence would surely form a First-Grade Golden Core.

With his deep foundation and the momentum from his Companion Beast’s breakthrough, even without a Tribulation-Breaking Golden Core Pill, Chen Beiwu’s success rate for forming a core was still as high as seventy percent.

To be honest, if he were Chen Beiwu, Shen Yuanbao would’ve formed his core without hesitation.

After all, in the Yuqing Immortal Sect, forging a First-Grade Golden Core already put one among the elite.

Yet Chen Beiwu could even pass up such an opportunity. Shen Yuanbao could think of no other reason except that he aimed directly at the Titled Golden Core.

‘Lost again!’

Shen Yuanbao pursed his lips, his smile somewhat bitter.

Forming a Titled Golden Core was extremely difficult—not something that even most top Immortal Alliance prodigies could dream of.

Forget the Upper Three Immortal Sects—even counting the Five Great Grotto-Heavens, those who had formed a Titled Golden Core in the past thousand years were few and far between.

Yu Zhaohua possessed the Innate Dao Body and was regarded as the most talented prodigy in the Yuqing Immortal Sect in centuries.

Yet even so, she might not succeed in comprehending the Immortal Art needed to form a Titled Golden Core.

Therefore, even Shen Yuanbao—himself a Flawless Foundation Establishment prodigy—had no ambition to comprehend Immortal Arts and forge a Titled Golden Core.

...

Yuqing Immortal Sect, Admissions Department.

“Not bad.”

True Monarch Jiang Chuan took a sip of tea, smiling with satisfaction.

If even Shen Yuanbao could figure it out, how could a Nascent Soul True Monarch like Jiang Chuan not know the ambition in Junior Brother Chen’s heart?

‘No wonder Master ordered me to deliver the Dragon Vein Pill and Fourth-Realm Beast King Marrow Blood—it was because he valued Junior Brother’s spirit.’ A trace of reminiscence flickered in True Monarch Jiang Chuan’s eyes.

To be honest, he himself hadn’t possessed such ambition back then.

To be accepted under his master, and achieve Nascent Soul True Monarch status, he had relied on both family connections and personal talent and effort.

Sitting across from Jiang Chuan was Dean He Zhengyu, who chuckled with interest:

“The student surpasses the master. The younger generation is truly impressive.”

Jiang Chuan’s generation had been the weakest in recent years—even forging a Second-Grade Golden Core was enough to become the leader among the youth, and become Chief Disciple of the Yuqing Immortal Sect.

But this generation was filled with dragon-tiger competition. Even those who formed First-Grade Golden Cores might not necessarily stand above all or defeat someone with the Innate Dao Body to become Chief Disciple.

“Xiao Chuan, do you think Chen Beiwu will form his core first—or Yu Zhaohua?” Dean He Zhengyu looked at Jiang Chuan, his gaze profound.

“Why ask the obvious, Uncle He?” Jiang Chuan shook his head. “With a Dao Venerable’s support, if Yu Zhaohua wanted to form her core, she probably already succeeded long ago.”

He paused slightly. “As for the Titled Golden Core, I place my bet on Junior Brother Chen.”

“Oh? Why?” He Zhengyu was slightly surprised.

“Can’t say.” Jiang Chuan chuckled, gazing up at the azure sky.

If one could even simplify an Immortal Art like the Yuqing Nine Revolutions Yuanshi Pill Canon, Junior Brother Chen’s comprehension was nothing short of terrifying. Otherwise, Master wouldn’t have placed such a heavy bet on him.

But that wasn’t something Jiang Chuan needed to say out loud.

...

Qiyun Residence, Three-Peak Cave Residence.

After a full day of familiarizing and stabilizing his new strength, Golden Egg had finally mastered the power of a Third-Realm Beast General. He looked toward Chen Beiwu.

“Almost ready.”

Chen Beiwu nodded, stored Golden Egg and Iron Egg into the Spirit Beast Pouch, then activated the Gate of Ten Directions and vanished from the cave residence.

With a seclusion plaque hanging at the entrance, even if he skipped a class or two, no one would come to disturb him.

At the Cloud-Dragon Marsh, Lake of the Emerging Dragon, Chen Beiwu’s figure appeared silently.

He summoned Golden Egg and Iron Egg and sank his mind into the Chaos World.

After two years of accumulation, there were now three strands of Orange Fate within the Chaos World.

“Buzz.”

With a thought, Chen Beiwu activated the seventh breath of the Nine-Breath Chaos Divine Ability—Nurturing Heavenly Fate—and fused the three strands of Orange Fate into one, birthing a single strand of Golden Fate.

‘Let this Flood-Dragon Transformation succeed.’

With that wish, Chen Beiwu pressed a finger to the Fate Bell.

“Clang—!”

With the resonant toll of the bell, the golden Spirit Fish within transformed into motes of light, scattering and forming an elusive encounter.

Only then did Chen Beiwu open his eyes and nod at Golden Egg.

There were three mainstream evolution methods for Companion Beasts in the Immortal Alliance: one, the Celestial and Earthly Treasures Refinement Method; two, the Heaven-Bearing Mystic Blood Refinement Method (Companion Landscape Evolution); and three, the Bloodline Reversion Awakening Method (Flood-Dragon Transformation).

Chen Beiwu had great confidence in Golden Egg.

Thus, instead of choosing a single Bloodline Reversion Awakening Method, he incorporated the experience of predecessors who had undergone flood-dragon transformations, repeatedly deducing and evolving the process—and chose to employ all three methods together.

That’s right—Chen Beiwu intended to nourish Golden Egg’s scales using the Tri-Edged Twin-Blade Saber, temper his body with Flood Dragon Essence Blood, ignite his bloodline with Twin-Polar Mystic Flood Dragon Marrow Blood, refine the essence with Gold-Edged Chi Dragon Essence Blood, and leap across with a Dragon Vein Pill.

Then, he would use the Golden Armored Corpse King Pill to preserve the dragon blood within Golden Egg and activate it with the Landscape Diagram of Heaven-Reaching Tree, All-Encompassing River, Ascending Profundity, and Five Elements Unified Dragon Transformation.

By combining all three methods, Golden Egg would surely ride the storm, undergo the Flood-Dragon Transformation, draw upon Dragon Vein Qi, leap the Dragon Gate, and achieve bloodline sublimation.

“Begin.”

As soon as Chen Beiwu spoke, Golden Egg’s expression turned resolute as he charged into the depths of the Lake of the Emerging Dragon and vanished from sight.

With the Crimson Fortune Dragon Fate suppressing misfortune and the Golden Fate encounter laying the foundation, and with so many preparations in place, Chen Beiwu could not imagine any possibility of failure.