Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

"Are you truly a human cultivator?"

Zhu Haichao stared intently at the strangely shaped man in the green robe opposite him, his eyes revealing surprise and doubt, his voice very weak.

As the chieftain of the Heron tribe, he hadn't experienced the taste of injury for a very long time.

This is in a magnificent hall, with smooth and straight walls made of bluestone, and dozens of golden candles as thick as a human arm burning eternally, all made from the oil of dragons from the Cloud Soaring Realm, emitting a faint fragrance.

Zhu Haichao and the two elders stood side by side. In front of them stood a man in a green robe, much shorter than the dragon-man, with an ordinary appearance, black eyes and black hair, no scales on his body, a calm expression, and a refined demeanor.

Zhu Haichao wasn't the only one with such doubts; the other two elders also looked at the unremarkable man in the green robe with skepticism, their eyes filled with both fear and bewilderment.

Since the human race in the Xuanli Realm evolved into the dragon race, there have never been any pure human cultivators. This is the first time the three of them have encountered such a bizarre event.

The Azure Heron Tribe is just an ordinary tribe in the Xuanli Realm. Although there is a cultivator at the Cloud Ascension Realm in the tribe, the land under its jurisdiction is extremely barren.

There are not many dragon energy stone veins, but many dragon beasts roam the wilderness. They are extremely fierce and often cause large-scale dragon beast tides.

Within tens of thousands of miles of Fuyang City, built by the Heron Tribe, all the small Dragon Breath Platforms were occupied by dragon beasts.

Dragon people from several weak tribes came to Fuyang City, some joining the Azure Heron tribe, others resisting the dragon beast tide under the tribe's protection, dreaming of one day returning to their homeland and rebuilding their tribe.

But their dreams were destined to be shattered. Without the protection of the Heron Tribe, these few weak tribes would soon be swallowed up by the tide of dragon beasts.

However, compared to the surging tide of dragons and beasts, the biggest weakness of the Azure Heron Tribe is still the Dragon Breath Platform of Qingdang Mountain, which they rely on as their foundation.

The dragon energy emanating from this dragon's breath platform is much thinner than that from other dragon's breath platforms.

The chances of a cultivator from the Azure Heron tribe advancing from the Manifestation Realm to the Soaring Cloud Realm are much lower than those from other tribes.

For tens of thousands of years, the Azure Heron Tribe has only had two or three cultivators at the Cloud Ascension Realm. In the most critical times, only the clan leader was a Cloud Ascension Realm cultivator.

The Heron Tribe has survived to this day thanks to the painstaking efforts of successive tribal chiefs and the fact that the land under its jurisdiction is extremely barren.

No other tribe was willing to go to war with the Azure Heron Tribe for such a piece of territory and the Dragon Breath Platform in Qingdang Mountain, where the dragon energy was thin.

But today, the peace of the Heron Tribe was shattered by the green-robed man who descended from the sky before the three of them.

This day is destined to be recorded in the tribal annals and passed down forever.

An hour ago, Zhu Haichao was absorbing dragon energy and meditating when he was suddenly awakened by his panicked clansmen.

His cultivation was interrupted, and anger rose in his heart. He rushed out of the cave and saw the man in green robes above Fuyang City. He then froze on the spot.

The aura emanating from the man in the green robe was vast and profound, far surpassing that of Zhu Haichao, who was in the mid-stage of the Cloud Soaring Realm, giving him the illusion of facing a boundless ocean.

Zhu Haichao felt as if a vast, towering wave was about to crash down and engulf the entire city of Fuyang if he wasn't careful, and he would be the first to be hit.

But the man in the green robe didn't seem interested in making a move; he just looked at Zhu Haichao with interest, sizing him up and down.

Elder Lan was confronting the strange man in green robes from a distance, using the Dragon Transformation Technique to increase his body size tenfold, and holding a long spear.

He had a deep, bone-revealing wound on his right shoulder. Dragon energy surged around him, but he could not heal it completely. His aura was weak, and he stared intently at the man in the green robe, his face full of fear.

Upon seeing Zhu Haichao arrive, Elder Lan hurriedly reminded him, "Clan leader, this person appeared suddenly and, without saying a word, wielded a long sword with incredible speed. He seriously injured me with a single strike. We must not be careless!"

Another Tang Elder also flew into the sky, and hundreds of Heron warriors gathered on the ground.

The cultivator at the Manifestation Realm had already used the Dragon Transformation Technique, his body growing several times larger. He took out his Ruyi Divine Weapon, aimed it at the man in the green robe, and shouted curses. His dragon aura surged around him, ready to unleash his power.

This is the most frequently used and most relied-upon supernatural power of the Dragon People.

Once Zhu Haichao gives the order, these dragon people will unleash their most powerful divine abilities to attack the uninvited guests before them.

More warriors from the Azure Heron tribe surrounded them from all directions. They knew that the man in the green robe could travel through the air and was at least a cultivator at the Cloud Soaring Realm, whose strength far surpassed their own, but they showed no fear.

This barren territory could not make the Heron Tribe strong, but the endless sandstorms instilled a fierce spirit in the tribe's warriors, making them unafraid of any enemy.

However, as the clan leader, Zhu Haichao could not act solely based on his bravery.

He bears the responsibility for the entire tribe on his shoulders and must not act impulsively.

He channeled his dragon energy and shouted loudly. His stern voice echoed throughout the entire city of Fuyang, silencing his clansmen and reminding them not to provoke the man in the green robe.

The warriors of the Heron Tribe below were stunned, and the other two elders were also puzzled, all looking at Zhu Haichao.

But the Heron Tribe had long been accustomed to battle; the fierce onslaught of wave after wave of dragon beasts had forged their indomitable spirit.

No matter how strong the man in the green robe is, he has seriously injured Elder Lan. This battle is inevitable. Why should the clan leader take the initiative to show weakness?
Although the crowd had their doubts, the clan leader held immense prestige, so they obeyed his orders. The shouts and curses gradually subsided, and Fuyang City slowly quieted down.

Zhu Haichao had no time to explain to the two elders. He took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to the man in the green robe, and said, "May I ask if you are a senior in the Dragon Transformation Realm?"

Before he took over as clan leader, he traveled abroad and, by chance, encountered a cultivator at the Dragon Transformation Realm.

The cultivator in the Dragon Transformation Realm, like the man in the green robe, had no dragon scales on his body, but his eyes were completely different.

Although Zhu Haichao had never fought that senior, the green-robed man's aura was so powerful, and he had seriously injured Elder Lan with one move. His strength was unfathomable, and he was very likely also a cultivator in the Dragon Transformation Realm.

This senior did not possess the imposing aura of a Dragon Transformation Realm cultivator; perhaps he was deliberately concealing his cultivation level.

That strange spiritual energy might be due to the special nature of this senior's cultivation method.

As soon as Zhu Haichao finished speaking, Elder Lan and Elder Tang's expressions changed drastically, and they turned their heads sharply to look at the strange man in the green robe.

The man in the green robe remained expressionless and did not answer. Suddenly, he raised his hand and made a hand seal. A three-foot-long sword slowly appeared in front of him, its entire body a deep blue, as if it were made of green bamboo.

The man in the green robe smiled slightly. The next moment, the green bamboo sword trembled slightly, emitting a clear sound, and transformed into a streak of green light, heading straight for Zhu Haichao.

Zhu Haichao's pupils contracted, and he immediately used the Dragon Transformation Technique, causing his body to grow more than ten times its original size, covered with thick dragon scales. He then took out a long sword and held it in front of him.

He still felt it wasn't enough. Elder Lan's strength was only slightly inferior to his, yet he was injured by the man in the green robe with a single sword. With just a Ruyi Divine Weapon, he probably wouldn't be able to stop him.

With a thought, Zhu Haichao summoned dragon energy, which transformed into seven layers of mountain walls, one after another, blocking his way.

This is his most proficient defensive divine ability, called "Sevenfold Mountain," which can block even a full-force attack from a late-stage Cloud Ascension Realm cultivator.

The green bamboo sword was not fast; it only flew over after the seven layers of mountain walls had condensed and taken shape.

These seven layers of dragon-spirit mountain walls are several meters high, majestic and imposing.

The green bamboo sword was only three feet long, and its energy was elusive and unpredictable; it seemed like a futile attempt to break a rock.

But when the green bamboo sword pierced the mountain wall, it suddenly became illusory, passing straight through seven layers of the mountain wall before returning to its original state. Zhu Haichao's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly raised his longsword to block, but the longsword simply swept past the green bamboo sword with a crisp sound, as if it had shattered a layer of glass.

The green bamboo sword broke in two, but then mended itself, piercing through Zhu Haichao's right shoulder and leaving a deep bloody hole.

Zhu Haichao's face turned pale, and he retreated rapidly. The man in the green robe then raised his hand and threw out seven green bamboo longswords.

He pointed to one point, and the seven green bamboo swords merged into one, growing several times larger, transforming into a giant sword, no less powerful than the longsword in Zhu Haichao's hand.

The cyan giant sword moved like a meteor, cleaving through seven layers of mountain walls, and arrived above Zhu Haichao, slashing down on his head!

The giant sword was incredibly fast and extremely powerful. Zhu Haichao couldn't dodge it in time and could only roar as he raised his longsword to block it, his eyes filled with despair.

The seven mountains were easily cleaved by the giant sword, how could he possibly resist?

But just as the giant sword was about to strike the longsword, the man in the green robe changed his hand seals, and the giant sword suddenly became illusory, passing by the longsword without being damaged at all.

Zhu Haichao was filled with despair. The giant sword came to his head, but suddenly stopped.

The sword energy surged, severing a strand of Zhu Haichao's hair, which slowly drifted down before his eyes.

The next moment, the giant sword suddenly disintegrated, transforming back into seven green bamboo longswords, which flew back.

The other green bamboo sword also flew back, was put into the sleeve of the man in the green robe, and disappeared.

Zhu Haichao stood there, his face pale, his golden dragon eyes filled with the relief of surviving a calamity.

Just then, a voice transmission sounded in his ear, leaving Zhu Haichao completely stunned.

After a while, he finally realized what was happening, and his eyes were filled with shock as he looked at the man in the green robe.

He couldn't understand the language used in the telepathic communication, but he could understand its meaning.

The man in the green robe in front of them was not a cultivator in the Dragon Transformation Realm. His identity was even more mysterious. He was actually a human cultivator from outside the realm!
A storm raged in Zhu Haichao's heart. He sheathed his longsword, ordered Elder Lan and Elder Tang to withdraw their supernatural powers, and sternly commanded the warriors of the Azure Heron tribe below to retreat. He then invited the man in the green robe into the hall.

The exchange between Zhu Haichao and the man in the green robe lasted only a few breaths; within that short time, the giant sword had already reached the top of Zhu Haichao's head.

As everyone watched their patriarch suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of the green-robed humans, their initial fervor vanished without them realizing it. A chill ran down their spines, and they silently dispersed.

Even a dragon-man at the Dragon Breath Realm could see that the man in the green robe was far stronger than the clan leader. He defeated him with ease, and it would not be difficult for him to annihilate the entire Azure Heron Tribe.

However, he stopped at the last moment and did not take the chieftain's life, which was already a mercy.

This greatly reduced the hostility of the crowd, and recalling the clan leader's question earlier, they finally confirmed the identity of the man in the green robe.

This person must be a legendary cultivator at the Dragon Transformation Realm; no wonder the clan leader and Elder Lan were defeated so decisively.

The man in the green robe descended with a burst of light and entered the hall with the clan leader and two elders, much to everyone's relief and relief.

They actually dared to scold a cultivator at the Dragon Transformation Realm. Fortunately, this senior did not take it to heart, otherwise the entire Fuyang City would have been razed to the ground.

……

Hearing Zhu Haichao's slightly hesitant question, Junior Brother Han nodded slightly: "That's right, I am a human cultivator."

He tilted his head slightly, looked at the three tall dragonmen, and a smile appeared on his lips.

As expected of a secret realm created by a true dragon, it has actually given rise to a dragon-human race.

When he saw the dragon people in Fuyang City, he found that they looked very similar to humans, only taller, covered in scales, and had golden eyes, so he decided to join forces with them.

The demon race entered the Xuanli Realm several days ahead of time, gaining an advantage.

Only by cooperating with the natives of this realm and quickly ascertaining its situation can we prevent the demon race from breaking the formation.

However, Junior Brother Han did not communicate directly with the dragon people. He had followed the sect to conquer several minor worlds and was experienced, knowing the way of using both kindness and severity.

He first injured Elder Lan and Zhu Haichao, then spared Zhu Haichao's life before transmitting his thoughts through divine sense.

If it were any other cultivator in the sect, they might kill a few dragonmen first, then plant a soul restriction to force them to obey.

This is also the most common approach taken by cultivators in the spirit realm when dealing with other races—simple, direct, and effective.

After all, in the eyes of many cultivators in the spirit realm, the human race is the most intelligent of all beings and they do not take other races seriously at all.

Even when facing humans from other realms, the cultivators of the Spirit Realm are full of arrogance.

However, some cultivators in the spirit realm believe that there is no difference between alien races and humans, and that as long as they can be recruited for their own use, they might as well give them some benefits.

Junior Brother Han was the latter. He knew very well that although the alien races were not as strong as the human race in the Spirit Realm, there was actually no difference between them.

These alien races also have emotions and desires, and are not lacking in wisdom and courage. If you want to gain their help, you cannot treat them roughly, otherwise you will suffer a backlash.

Of course, if the alien race doesn't know what's good for them, Junior Brother Han won't show any mercy.

After a brief exchange, Zhu Haichao indeed invited him into the hall with great respect.

Junior Brother Han took out a dictionary of human languages ​​and also asked Zhu Haichao for some books.

In a short while, he mastered the language of the dragon people and learned the identities of Zhu Haichao and the other two.

To Han's surprise, the Dragon People were actually evolved from the Human Race.

This makes it much easier for the two sides to join forces.

Zhu Haichao's face lit up with joy: "I never thought that one day I would be able to meet fellow Daoists of the human race. It is not an exaggeration to say that we come from the same origin and are of the same race."

Junior Brother Han said, "I used too much force just now and injured you two fellow Daoists. Please forgive me."

Zhu Haichao certainly wouldn't dare to be presumptuous in front of Junior Brother Han, and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. This is just a misunderstanding."

"As the saying goes, no fight makes friends. Today we have witnessed your supernatural powers, and we realize that we have always been like frogs in a well."

Elder Lan also repeatedly said he dared not, both of them knowing very well that this mysterious human fellow had already shown mercy, otherwise they would have already lost their lives.

Zhu Haichao asked, "May I ask your esteemed name, fellow Daoist, and what brings you here?"

"If there is anything I can do to help, please feel free to ask, and I will not refuse."

Junior Brother Han slowly said, "I am Han Xuan, a true disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect in the Spirit Realm. I have come to the Xuanli Realm on my master's orders to search for the True Dragon Cave!" (End of Chapter)