Now that Tu Xiao’an’s believers had rapidly surpassed one million, he received a reward from the System.
’A lottery drawing?’
’When I was first reborn as a snake, I did a few drawings, but then the feature disappeared. This kind of lottery isn’t bad; with good luck, you can get some heaven-defying ability. But if I wanted a sure thing, I’d much rather get a direct level-up.’
Even though this level-up wouldn’t be for him, it was still pretty great if one of his Battle Companions could gain a Level.
’I can’t just use this level-up randomly. Of course, I should choose the Battle Companion with the highest current Level.’
The higher the starting Level, the more value was maximized with each subsequent level-up.
Zhang Qinglong was Level 35, the Bull Demon King was Level 35, and while the Ape King was originally Level 34, he was now Level 35 as well, thanks to Tu Xiao’an’s help.
In other words, he now had three great generals among his Battle Companions at the Pseudo Demon King Level. In addition, the Azure Owl, Golden Pupils, and the Five-headed Evil Snake served as his three lesser generals.
Tu Xiao’an thought about it carefully. ’This single Level could create a powerhouse at the Demon King rank. That’s a terrifying thought.’
A Demon King was no joke. Across the entire Yaoling Mountain Range, with its countless races, the existence of a Demon King was exceedingly rare.
This Level had to go to one of the three great generals.
’I should raise Qinglong’s power to the Demon King Level first.’
Tu Xiao’an couldn’t stay holed up in Bai Town forever, but if he wanted to leave, he needed a Battle Companion to stand guard.
Qinglong was the best choice. Humans had a natural reverence for Dragons. Having a Cyan Dragon protecting Bai Town would be a blessing for its people.
Besides, even if it was just a clone, the Fierce Beast Taotie was not something an ordinary person could handle. If Qinglong became a Demon King, his power would skyrocket. Plus, he possessed the Thunder Attribute, making him a completely reliable general. Protecting Bai Town would be absolutely no problem.
Tu Xiao’an had another reason for choosing Qinglong. Originally, when Celestial Master Zhang endowed the Hu Snake with the Azure Dragon Bloodline, it should have been born at the Demon King Level. However, it had emerged prematurely to protect him, causing its Cultivation to stagnate at the Pseudo Demon King Level.
’I’ll consider this compensation.’
Besides that, Tu Xiao’an was suddenly flush with Faith Points, so it was time to upgrade the Bull Demon King’s bloodline. Upgrading a bloodline could also result in a level-up.
Otherwise, that bull would pester him to death.
It was always clamoring to evolve.
Besides the Bull Demon King, Tu Xiao’an also planned to upgrade the bloodlines of all his Battle Companions one by one.
After their time in the Yaoling Mountain Range, all his Battle Companions had reached Rank 3, and he thought they had made a meteoric rise. But with the advent of the Fierce Beast Era, Rank 3 strength was simply not enough.
Mere Taotie clones were already difficult to handle.
One-on-one, neither the Azure Owl, Golden Pupils, nor the Five-headed Evil Snake was afraid. But if several attacked at once, or a dozen, they wouldn’t be able to hold their ground.
’Who the hell knows how many more Taotie clones will appear.’
Only by evolving all of his Battle Companions’ bloodlines one more time could they become stronger and more invincible.
Now, with the addition of a new System Ability, he had believers. The more believers he had, the less Tu Xiao’an had to worry about Faith Points.
His current one million believers could bring him ten million Faith Points every day. It was like collecting daily interest.
’If my believers reach ten million in the future, I’ll get a hundred million a day. It’s awesome just thinking about it.’
Tu Xiao’an pondered for a moment and opened the biological bloodline interface. After a quick scan, his expression turned to one of astonishment.
The prices for biological bloodlines had actually changed.
’An ordinary Ancient Bloodline used to cost a few million Faith Points, but now they all require tens of millions. And Divine Beast bloodlines are all over a hundred million.’
Simply put, the prices had skyrocketed by more than tenfold.
’Fuck, does it have to be this ridiculous?’
’Is the System jacking up the prices just because I’m getting Power of Faith too easily now?’
’And I can’t even haggle.’
He currently had one hundred and ten million Points. He had originally planned to buy several Divine Beast Bloodlines.
’Qinglong’s bloodline used to cost only forty million, but now it’s four hundred million.’
And Qinglong’s bloodline wasn’t even the final one. The next stage of evolution was the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon.
Price: 4 billion.
’Holy cow!’
’Forget it. I’ll deal with the Bull Demon King’s bloodline first.’
Although the prices on the biological bloodline interface had all increased, it was also much more extensive and organized.
Searching directly for bull-type bloodlines, a number of precious options immediately appeared.
Mutated Berserk Bull: 500,000 Faith Points.
Ancient Azure Bull: 30,000,000 Faith Points.
Primordial Bull Demon King: 150,000,000 Faith Points.
’Haha, found it. It’s this Primordial Bull Demon King. This must be the bloodline of the Bull Demon King from *Journey to the West*, who was known as one of the Seven Great Demon Kings alongside the Great Sage Equaling Heaven.’
’If the Bull Demon King were endowed with this Primordial Bull Demon King bloodline, he’d probably become a Demon King himself upon a successful evolution.’
’It’s just...!’
Tu Xiao’an was a bit baffled. He had thought he was "rich," but he discovered he didn’t have enough Faith Points.
He only had a little over one hundred and ten million Faith Points in total right now.
He was still forty million short.
The System’s price gouging put Tu Xiao’an in an awkward position.
He had quite a few Battle Companions whose bloodlines needed to be raised to the Divine Beast Level.
’How many Faith Points would that require?’
’I’ll just have to wait.’
’It’ll probably be enough in a few days.’
’With a million believers, they can provide me with ten million a day. Four days should be enough.’
’Besides, I probably won’t even need four days. The number of my believers is constantly skyrocketing.’
’I’ll raise Qinglong’s Level first.’
"Come out, uh... Zhang Qinglong!"
’What a shitty name.’
WHOOSH!
Space rippled, and a miniature Cyan Dragon appeared in the second-floor hallway. It looked rather cute.
"Why do you look like this?" The appearance of the tiny Cyan Dragon stunned Tu Xiao’an.
Qinglong spoke. "I see you shrink yourself down often, so I thought I’d give it a try. It feels pretty good."
Tu Xiao’an: "..."
’I used to shrink for convenience, to make it easier to hide. But you’ve long been able to use Transformation, so why appear like this?’
’Are you bored or something?’
"Celestial Master, I have to say, by following me, your master, you must have saved the Milky Way Galaxy in a past life."
Tu Xiao’an said this out of the blue.
The miniature Cyan Dragon hovered in the air, listening in utter confusion. ’Did he summon me from the System just to say this?’
"Do you know how many cultivated creatures in this world can’t even break through to Rank 3? Do you know how many accomplished Rank 3 Demon Spirits find the Demon King Level to be an unattainable dream?"
Qinglong remained lost. ’I just want to know what you’re trying to say.’
"I, your master, am in a good mood today, and I’ve decided to raise your Realm to the Demon King Level. Yuan Fang, what do you think?"
’Who is Yuan Fang? What scoundrel is that?’
What? Zhang Qinglong’s train of thought short-circuited. He stared, his dragon eyes locked on the faintly smiling Tu Xiao’an.
’Demon King Level???’
The tiny Cyan Dragon gasped sharply, trembling uncontrollably with excitement.
"Now, I, your master, will raise your Realm to the Demon King Level."
"Wait... This Cyan Dragon needs to prepare."
Tu Xiao’an was taken aback. ’What the hell are you preparing for? It’s not like you have to do anything.’
"Master, let this Cyan Dragon show off a bit. I’m going to fly up into the sky."
’As the saying goes, if you’ve got it, flaunt it.’
’Ascending to the Demon King Level is such a momentous occasion, it’s worth celebrating with the whole world!’
’Besides, these days, the major awakened Cultivated Creatures don’t need to hide anymore.’
WHOOSH...
The miniature Cyan Dragon instantly transformed into a streak of cyan light, shooting up into the clouds above Bai Town.
’Hah, looks like this Celestial Master Zhang has been hanging around me for too long. He’s learned how to be a show-off.’
Tu Xiao’an smiled faintly, his eyes glinting. He murmured softly, "System, I’m using the reward for surpassing one million believers. I want to raise Zhang Qinglong’s Level by one."
"System acknowledges. Now raising Zhang Qinglong’s Level."
"DING... Congratulations. The host’s Battle Companion, Qinglong, has successfully been raised to Level 35. A new Demon King is born!"
RUMBLE...!
The sky above Bai Town suddenly churned with storm clouds. A brilliant light erupted from within them, and the majestic, domineering silhouette of a Dragon flickered in and out of view, scattering the clouds with its sheer presence.
In an instant, an incomparably powerful, suffocating pressure washed over everything below. It was immediately followed by a tyrannical dragon’s roar that tore through the Azure Sky.
This grand phenomenon once again shocked the people of Bai Town, who had only just breathed a sigh of relief. What was going on?
Had another terrifying monster emerged?
As they trembled, the people noticed the strange phenomenon overhead. They looked up, stunned motionless. A mysterious, blurry silhouette of a Dragon grew more and more distinct, its roars echoing without end. Its sacred, inviolable, and incomparably powerful presence was now fully revealed.
"Heavens, what is that..."
"It’s a Dragon, a Divine Dragon! Oh my god!"
The people of Bai Town simply couldn’t believe their eyes. An incomparably tyrannical Dragon had manifested, its majesty inviolable, its divine might overwhelming.
What was happening to the world? What was happening to Bai Town? A Divine Dragon had actually appeared.
From Pangu creating the heavens and the earth, through the contests of the Primordial Chaos and the age of the Five Emperors, the Divine Dragon has always been a powerful creature from the Primordial Era. As a Divine Beast of Ancient Times, it was worshipped and revered by mortals. Gradually, humans came to be known as the descendants of the Dragon.
The Dragon is the world’s greatest totem, holding a sublime status. Major nations all over the world have their own myths and legends about Dragons.
"The Divine Dragon of Huaxia has appeared! I’m not seeing things, am I?"
The people of Bai Town were practically petrified, their expressions a mixture of shock and awe.
The reporters who had been covering the earlier events went wild. They felt that coming to Bai Town was the single wisest decision of their lives. The incident with the Bai Town Snake King battling over a hundred Fierce Beasts had only just concluded.
Now, in the blink of an eye, a Divine Dragon had appeared in the skies above Bai Town, vivid and lifelike. This wasn’t some specimen; it was a real, living Divine Dragon.
The reporters were excited beyond words. They scrambled to turn on their cameras and start another live broadcast.
If this footage went out, the entire world would be stunned.
Bai Town truly lived up to its name as a thousand-year-old town. It was a literal case of crouching snakes and hidden dragons.
High in the clouds, Zhang Qinglong roared at the heavens. The single Level increase allowed him to feel the astonishing changes within his body. His power soared, and his Divine Beast aura climbed to its absolute peak.
"Mortals, come and worship this Divine Dragon!"
He had seen the people of Bai Town prostrating themselves in worship before his master, Tu Xiao’an the Snake. To be honest, he was a little envious.
’It seems like that’s the kind of treatment a Dragon is even more deserving of.’
’Now that I, Zhang Qinglong, have manifested, I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest. I’ll accept the prostrate worship of the masses, the tsunami of adoring screams.’
Zhang Qinglong, now at the Demon King Level, was feeling a little full of himself. But when the Dragon lowered his head, he nearly fell out of the sky.
Not a single person in the dense crowd below in Bai Town was kneeling to him, this incomparably majestic and sacred Cyan Dragon. They were all just staring up blankly, dumbfounded.
Zhang Qinglong was completely baffled. He was on the verge of speaking in human tongue to ask the crowd below, ’Why aren’t you worshipping this Divine Dragon?’
’Are they blind? Can’t they see the magnificent form of this Cyan Dragon?’
...
PS: The discussion thread I started yesterday is a little quiet. Has the book’s popularity really dropped this much? I’m at a loss, completely baffled. I carefully read through the few comments, and there weren’t any particularly outstanding or novel suggestions, and certainly nothing that made my, Qing Bai’s, eyes light up. It seems like you guys don’t want me to write you bonus Chapters, huh?
Get those creative juices flowing and keep the comments coming!