Born Saints: Starting from Liaozhai

Chapter 105 King You of Zhou and His Metamorphosis into a Dragon! (Two-in-One)

The sky gradually darkened.

Su Chen curled up on the mountaintop, his gaze piercing.

Seeing that he had gathered enough energy, he did not hesitate and immediately began his transformation.

In an instant, the energy decreased sharply.

Energy: 579

A familiar warm current flowed through his body, and compared to before, this warm current was incredibly vast, with a fine and strange tingling sensation washing over him once again.

He began to molt.

However, this transformation was different from the previous ones; Su Chen felt that the structure of his body was changing.

The molting process is incredibly long.

The bright moon gradually faded, and the sky began to lighten with the first light of dawn.

A moment later, a crimson sun slowly rose, its golden light spilling into the depths of the misty mountains.

When the first ray of sunlight shone on his motionless blue body, Su Chen finally moved.

The snake's previously taut body swelled slightly, and a thin crack suddenly appeared between its scales.

Click~

Like cracked tree bark, a thick layer of old bark slowly peeled off, starting from the top of the head, spreading all the way to the neck, and then to the back, the old bark opening up inch by inch.

The giant blue body slowly wriggled, squeezing out little by little from the dried snake skin.

The old leather, like a tattered garment, lay sprawled on the ground.

The figure that crawled out of it was completely different from before; its body was still slender, but it was no longer simply a snake.

Its robust body was even more imposing than before, with layers upon layers of scales as tightly packed as iron plates, which gleamed with a bluish luster when sunlight fell upon them.

The original snake head has now completely changed its appearance.

The head was broader and thicker than before, with a ferocious outline, resembling a tiger or an ox, and vaguely bearing the appearance of a dragon.

Its head resembles a dragon's head, with a wide mouth and sharp teeth, the fangs interlocking like knives.

His vertical pupils opened wide, his eyes like copper bells, gleaming eerily; his nose was high and prominent, and with each breath, faint white breath escaped his lips.

However, his forehead remained smooth, without horns, neither like deer antlers nor flowing dragon mane.

Meanwhile, beneath the thick scales on its belly, two short claws slowly extended.

With its three hook-like toes, curved and sharp, it gently grips the ground, leaving shallow marks on the rock.

Su Chen looked down at his body.

The giant snake that once coiled around the mountains and forests now faintly exudes the majesty of a dragon.

The body of a snake, the head of a dragon, and two pairs of short claws growing from its belly —

"Is this Jiao Yao?"

Su Chen's eyes showed surprise.

Besides the physical changes, what he felt most clearly was the change in the moisture in the environment.

and----

"I think I've become a bit fond of water?"

Su Chen actually felt a restless urge to sink into the water and swim around.

At the same time, he also felt a sense of power to control water and create huge waves.

According to legend, the Jiao (蛟) could indeed cause floods and stir up storms, and was known as a ferocious beast.

At that moment, a notification sound rang out.

[Lifespan increased, Comprehension +428]

Su Chen's mind raced, and he looked at the panel.

Name: Su Chen (0 years old)

Lifespan: 504 years

【Innate Talent & Comprehension: 32461 (Born Divine, Extremely Rare)】————

"Only an increase of 428 years in lifespan?"

Su Chen was somewhat surprised.

It was lower than he had imagined; he thought it would at least add a thousand years to his lifespan.

However, after a moment, he realized that this was probably related to his low cultivation level, and was likely the normal lifespan of a dragon.

After all, even a snake with cultivation can live for a thousand years, let alone a dragon.

Of course, if one has no cultivation, that's a different story; a snake is considered lucky if it can live for more than ten years.

Thinking about it, he didn't pay much attention.

The spiritual energy here is scarce, and there is not much essence from the sun and moon. Most of it is supplied to those with innate endowments, so he doesn't have much hope for cultivation.

Moreover, as long as the transformation continues, lifespan is not a problem.

Su Chen's gaze fell upon those with innate endowment physiques.

[Innate Talent & Constitution: Azure Dragon (Transcendental)]

[Energy required for the next stage of physical transformation: 2166961]

Energy: 975

"Azure Dragon? Transcending the mortal realm?"

Su Chen seemed to be deep in thought.

This assessment is indeed well-deserved; compared to the python, the jiao is no longer an ordinary creature.

but----

"Won't this next transformation require just too much energy?"

Su Chen's lips twitched.

Although he knew that the next transformation would definitely be related to dragons, the energy required still surprised him.

It seems that the difference between a jiaolong and a dragon is indeed very large!

Su Chen silently calculated the speed at which the energy was accumulating and murmured, "It will probably take nearly eight years—"

It's only been nearly eight years, and he's not in a hurry. Ever since he arrived in the Western Zhou Dynasty, he has been prepared to spend a long time here.

Perfect timing! Let's take this time to deduce the rudimentary form of the Heavenly Tribulation Dao Fruit.

Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, three days had gone by.

Smoke rose from the chimneys of the village at the foot of Wushan Mountain early in the morning.

The villagers gathered early in the open space in the village, where a flat area had already been cleared out. A few stones were piled up to form a simple altar, which was covered with animal hides.

Offerings were placed in front of the altar.

There were freshly hunted wild deer, goats, and a few pheasants.

There were also several baskets of wild fruits and millet, as well as a jar of cloudy wine, placed next to it.

-

A faint scent of blood and alcohol lingered in the air.

The village shaman wore an old animal skin, his face was painted with grayish-white mud patterns, and he held a wooden staff engraved with runes in his hand.

He slowly walked to the altar, his expression solemn.

Shi, A Niu, and the men, women, and children of the village all gathered around, their expressions filled with awe, and no one dared to speak loudly.

The mountain wind blew down from the misty mountain, ruffling the fur of the beasts on the altar.

Wu first looked up at the misty mountain.

The mountain peaks were shrouded in a light mist, making them appear deep and mysterious.

He slowly raised his wooden staff and spoke in a hoarse but solemn voice, "By the God of Mist Mountain."

"We, the people of Wushan, offer deer, sheep, and wine as sacrifices today."

"Honoring the Mountain God!"

As he spoke, he gestured for several burly men to come forward.

Shi, A Niu, and the others carried the wild deer to the altar.

Ah Niu picked up the stone knife and nervously slit open the deer's throat.

The blood quickly flowed into the prepared stone bowl.

The shaman dipped his hand in deer blood and slowly smeared it on the stone in front of the altar, muttering ancient and indistinct sacrificial incantations.

Then, the shaman slowly poured the bowl of deer blood onto the ground in front of the altar.

Blood seeped into the soil.

He looked up at the misty mountains and spoke again, "God of the misty mountains."

"Please accept our offerings."

"May the mountain god appease his anger and refrain from bringing disaster."

May the mountain god protect us.

"The mountains and forests are teeming with wild animals, and the hunts are plentiful."

"The weather is neither dry nor rainy."

"We will revere and serve you generation after generation, and dare not be negligent!"

After saying this, he picked up the cloudy wine from the altar and poured it on the ground.

The surrounding villagers all knelt down on the ground.

Ah Niu lowered his head and muttered softly, "May the mountain god bless me and let me hunt more deer this year—"

Someone nearby heard this and couldn't help but gently nudge him.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Ah Niu quickly shut his mouth, his face showing tension and awe.

After a moment, the shaman continued, "From this day forward, Mist Mountain is a sacred mountain!"

"Those who enter the Misty Mountain should hold it in reverence. If they encounter the mountain god, they should prostrate themselves and kowtow, and must not disrespect him!"

"Remember the witch's words!"

The villagers shouted one by one.

As they spoke, Ah Niu and the others cast a look of awe and fervor toward Wushan.

During their sacrificial rites.

In the misty mountains.

Su Chen's gaze turned toward the foot of Misty Mountain.

After becoming a Azure Dragon, his perception and eyesight were greatly enhanced, allowing him to clearly see their rituals and even hear what they were saying.

He was speechless as he watched their sacrificial rituals.

How did I become a mountain god out of nowhere?

"Never mind, it doesn't matter anyway. I'll be staying on this mountain for a long time anyway. As long as they really respect me as they say they do, and bless them with good weather and good harvests, it doesn't really matter."

Su Chen shook his head slightly, not really caring.

Although he is still a dragon now, he can't bring good weather or anything like that; he can only cause floods and water disasters.

But in a few years, he will be able to transform into a dragon, and then making this place prosperous and peaceful will be just a piece of cake.

Time passed slowly under these circumstances.

In the blink of an eye, seven and a half years have passed.

For more than seven years, the villagers of Wushan have indeed made offerings every year, just as they said, and they would pray devoutly before entering Wushan each time, seeking blessings.

Seeing this, if Su Chen sensed any ferocious beasts approaching them when they entered the Misty Mountain, he would also release the aura of a dragon to scare them away.

As the years went by, almost none of the villagers who went hunting in Wushan died.

The villagers, including Shi, Aniu, and Wu, felt even more awe and immediately realized that it was the God of Wushan who was protecting them.

As a result, the offerings for the annual sacrifices not only did not decrease, but increased, and the sacrifices held became more and more grand, no different from the New Year, and almost became a custom in their village.

That is, it is now the late Western Zhou period, not the early Western Zhou period, and this is just a small village.

Otherwise, Su Chen suspected that these people might carry a few people up during the sacrificial ceremony.

In the village.

Gazing at the misty mountaintop, where the golden light shimmered faintly, Ah Niu's eyes revealed a look of emotion.

Several years have passed, and he has gone from looking like a young man to looking like a middle-aged man, and he looks very old because of hard work.

Even the village's old shaman passed away two years ago, and a young shaman took his place.

The dazzling golden light from the top of the misty mountain every day, and the bright light at night, have never disappeared; they remain the same as before.

Every time he saw it, he felt a sense of awe.

"Father, are you watching the mountain god again?"

A seven or eight-year-old child looked at Ah Niu curiously and asked, "Father, did you really see the mountain god with your own eyes back then? What did the mountain god look like?"

"Was that golden light truly emitted by the mountain god?"

"You child—" Ah Niu said, both amused and exasperated, his face filled with reverence, "Your father is not lying. I really did see the mountain god back then. When I saw the mountain god, your father—"

Just as Ah Niu was talking to the child.

On the banks of the Wei River.

The capital city, Haojing.

The palace walls are built of rammed earth, thick and simple, with dark-colored tiled eaves covering the top of the walls.

The palace gates were tall, with royal guards in full armor and wielding spears standing on both sides, their long spears gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

Beyond the palace gates lie layers of halls and courtyards, with wide stone steps and bronze animal-shaped lampstands and large cauldrons displayed among them. The air is faintly filled with the scents of incense and pine resin.

The main hall in the center rises from a high platform, with a double-eaved roof and thick wooden beams painted with ancient cloud and animal patterns.

The interior of the hall was dimly lit, with a few beams of sunlight streaming through the tall windows and illuminating the carpets spread on the floor.

The bronze tripods, chime bells, and jade ornaments are displayed quietly, appearing solemn and ancient.

On the high platform in the palace sat the emperor of the Western Zhou Dynasty.

King You of Zhou.

He was dressed in a black royal robe, embroidered with simple yet majestic patterns, with a jade belt around his waist, and his handsome face carried a hint of languor and arrogance.

Not far to her side, reclining on a soft mat, was the renowned woman, Bao Si.

She wore a light-colored long dress, the hem of which spread out on the mat like water. Her face was aloof, her eyebrows were long and slender, and her skin was fair.

However, her expression was very calm, as if nothing in the world could truly arouse her interest. Only at this moment, upon hearing the report from the Crown Prince's messenger, did she slightly raise her eyes.

Your Highness, an envoy who has come from afar kneels before the throne.

He was still covered in dust from his journey, his clothes stained with the grime of travel, clearly indicating he had rushed there. The messenger raised his hands above his head and whispered, "Your Majesty, I come from a village in the southwest. The locals say there is a misty mountain nearby, and they suspect a mountain god dwells there—"

As he spoke, the hall fell silent.

King You of Zhou's eyes were filled with surprise, and Bao Si's beautiful face also showed surprise.

King You of Zhou leaned forward slightly, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "The Mountain God?"

He raised his hand to indicate, "Explain in detail."

The envoy quickly kowtowed and said, "I have inquired with the villagers and hunters in the vicinity, and they all say that Wushan is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, with golden light shining on the mountaintop at sunrise and white light flashing at night."

"—Legend has it that the mountain god is several feet tall, with bluish scales, and is a giant snake. The nearby villagers call him—the God of Fog Mountain!"

'

Bao Si and the several officials standing in the palace looked even more astonished upon hearing this.

Upon hearing this, King You of Zhou exclaimed in surprise, "Is that giant snake a mountain god?"

He was very curious about the giant snake that was said to be a mountain god. How could a giant snake be a mountain god?

Bao Si tilted her head slightly, looking at King You of Zhou, her voice soft and tinged with a hint of curiosity, "Your Majesty, are there truly gods in this world?"

King You of Zhou turned his head to look at her, and his eyes immediately showed a look of doting affection.

"It's rare to find that my beloved concubine is curious about these things."

King You of Zhou suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing throughout the palace.

"Since my beloved concubine is curious, then I will send someone to investigate that misty mountain!"

"Let's see what that so-called Great Serpent, the God of Fog Mountain, really is!"

He waved his sleeve as he spoke, his eyes full of laughter, his expression relaxed and casual. "If it really is a giant snake, perhaps I can catch it and show it to my beloved concubine!"

Upon hearing this, the doctors in the hall looked at each other, but none of them dared to utter a sound.

Bao Si was slightly taken aback, then gently lowered her eyes, feeling touched, and a very faint smile appeared on her lips.

King You of Zhou waved his hand and called out, "Guards!"

Royal guards immediately entered the palace in response to the call.

The guards were clad in leather armor, with bronze swords at their waists and long spears on their backs, their steps precise and powerful.

They knelt on one knee in the hall.

"Your Majesty."

King You of Zhou said directly, "Issue my order: select several hundred elite soldiers, led by military officers, and immediately proceed to the village of Wushan to see what this so-called Wushan Mountain God really is!"

"If it really is a giant snake, then catch it for me and bring it back to the palace so my beloved concubine can see this novelty!"

The soldiers responded in unison.

"promise!"

They got up and quickly retreated.

Before long, outside the palace, hundreds of armored soldiers, wearing armor, leading their horses, and preparing their weapons, lined up in formation under the leadership of a military officer.

With a command given, they stepped out of the city gates of the capital, Haojing, and headed southwest along the ancient road toward the misty mountain where, according to legend, a mountain god would appear.

Mount Wushan.

On the rock, a massive figure lay silently coiled.

The scales were layered and tightly packed, like iron plates, and shimmered with a bluish-green luster under the sunlight.

Its body is over ten zhang long, coiled among the giant rocks on the mountaintop, resembling a section of green mountain ridge.

Su Chen's gaze fell on the control panel.

-

[Innate Talent & Constitution: Azure Dragon (Transcendental)]

[Energy required for the next stage of physical transformation: 2166961]

Energy: 2166962

After seven and a half years, the energy has accumulated to the point where it can transform!

A look of anticipation appeared in Su Chen's eyes.