A large Airbus was smoothly flying above the clouds. Steven, seated in the economy class, gazed at the strange and ever-changing clouds outside his window. As a professor of paleontology, he was deeply fascinated by the dragon's image. Since hearing about the dragon, he had been obsessively captivated by everything about it: its diamond-hard scales, massive body, ability to breathe high-temperature fire, and even its capacity to cast spells. The dragon was a marvel of biological evolution. He tirelessly searched for information and pictures of the dragon, eager to learn about this wondrous creature.
The dragon's scales were said to surpass the toughness of alloys. Steven had never imagined that flesh could reach such a level, becoming impervious to weapons. Maybe there really were gods in this world; otherwise, how could a mythical dragon appear? Why had it suddenly emerged now, when it had never been discovered before?
Steven turned away from the window. Beside him was a young woman with light makeup, spraying perfume into the air with her slender, fair fingers, moving gracefully. The fragrance reached Steven's nose, making it itch. He tried to resist sneezing, but the more he suppressed it, the stronger the urge became. Finally, he couldn't hold it back and sneezed loudly.
"Sorry, I'm allergic to that scent," Steven said, turning slightly to apologize to the woman.
"Oh, I should be the one to apologize. I'll put it away. I just felt there was a strange smell in the cabin," she replied, putting the perfume bottle back into an elegant little bag, blushing slightly.
An awkward silence followed. Strangers often struggle to find topics of conversation.
Just as Steven was about to say something, the plane suddenly shook violently. A flight attendant stumbled down the aisle, her face filled with fear. Steven had a sinking feeling.
"The plane has encountered strange turbulence. Please stay in your seats, do not move around, and fasten your seat belts…"
Meanwhile, several giant beasts had returned by noon. Skyler circled in the sky, while Kong carried a large prey, striding towards them. Several enormous jiao dragons followed, their massive forms appearing and disappearing in the dense, towering jungle. After a month, the giant beasts hadn't changed much; cultivation took time and progression. Initially, the beasts had abundant energy essence and vitality, making their cultivation relatively fast, but once they reached the Earth level, the speed slowed down.
Even the most gifted creatures only advanced rapidly in the early stages. Once they reached later stages, their cultivation speed generally matched that of ordinary creatures. At this point, their progress depended on their perseverance, effort, and personal insights.
Skyler saw Brandon and, after a brief moment of surprise, recognized him immediately. She swiftly flew over to him, her body a blur of green. Skyler had grown far beyond the size of a typical bird. Her wingspan reached fifteen meters, and her body was as large as an elephant.
Skyler also cultivated internal energy. Since Brandon frequently helped her with internal cleansing, her body naturally carried a flow of internal energy, though Brandon had no idea what she was practicing. Everything she did was driven by instinct, but she had already reached the sixth level.
Kong threw the giant prey to the ground with a thunderous boom. He quickly stepped forward, looking very pleased, dancing and waving his arms around. His eyes sneakily glanced at Brandon, clearly intrigued by the noticeable shrinking of Brandon's body.
Several giant jiao dragons lay on the ground. Although they had not moved, their cold eyes glowed with excitement.
Brandon took out the god's blood wrapped in leaves and distributed it to everyone, including a few humans who each received a portion. At the same time, Brandon's mental power enveloped all the giant beasts. A booming voice echoed in their minds.
"Eat this. You may experience severe pain later, but the benefits will be unimaginable."
Without hesitation, the giant beasts swallowed the jelly-like substance in one gulp. Their absolute trust in Brandon made them never question whether their king would harm them. The humans, bound by demonic contracts, were even more obedient, never resisting, and would gladly die if commanded.
Half an hour after consuming the god's blood, both the humans and beasts were suddenly struck with excruciating pain, thrashing about wildly. Their convulsing bodies caused the entire cave to shake, and their anguished screams resembled the cries of the dying. Brandon paused, feeling a pang of sympathy, and turned to leave the cave until he could no longer hear their cries. The pain lasted for a full two hours before gradually subsiding.
When Brandon returned to the cave, all the creatures were lying on the ground, recuperating.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Kong was the first to rise. Apart from Brandon, he was the strongest. He stood up in a daze, the recent intense pain leaving him momentarily confused. However, he quickly recovered and began to examine his body.
Kong's original length of twelve meters had suddenly shrunk to around ten. Though his body had decreased in size, it appeared more compact. Beneath his shiny black fur, dense scales had grown. These emerald-green scales gleamed like gemstones. His muscles had become even more robust, transforming from blocky chunks to tightly knit strands. Thick, purple-black veins crisscrossed his entire body, making him look like a devilish powerhouse. His strength seemed to have increased significantly. Known for his immense power, Kong's evolution made his strength even more terrifying, and the scales on his body indicated a significant boost in defense.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Several giant jiao dragons also awoke, their bodies having shrunk by about a meter in circumference. Aside from their reduced size, they showed no apparent changes in their bodies, but their heads had undergone a significant transformation. Originally, their heads bore two sharp horns but still resembled those of snakes. Now, their nostrils had widened, and their once crescent-shaped pupils had become rounder, losing some of their previous coldness.
Their facial expressions had become more varied, and their gaping mouths were filled with beast-like fangs. Long whiskers had grown above their noses. They were gradually shedding their snake-like features; aside from their serpentine tails, they no longer resembled snakes at all.
Skyler's body had become more elongated, like an arrow. His sharp bird beak was even more pointed and blood-red, as if dripping with blood. The red feathers on his head had grown out extensively, making Skyler look like he was wearing a blood-red crown. His claws, resembling the roots of an ancient tree, were covered in red, keratinous skin, and they gleamed with a crimson hue. They no longer seemed made of flesh, clearly indicating their powerful destructive capabilities.
Several humans didn't undergo significant changes. Aside from their bodies being coated in black oil and developing terrifying muscles that made them look like bodybuilders, they appeared much stronger and fiercer. Fortunately, Angela didn't grow those frightening muscles. Instead, she suddenly became more beautiful, her every movement radiating a holy light, as if she had undergone a miraculous transformation. Brandon couldn't help but glance at her several times.
The evolution induced by the divine blood seemed to be selective. Each creature evolved differently, and it was hard to determine who was better or worse. Besides the substantial increase in physical strength, it was still unclear what other abilities they had gained, which would only become apparent over time. However, it seemed that the more energy they absorbed, the more evident the evolution. Although several humans had reached the strength of level 6, the energy levels of a level 6 human and a level 6 giant beast differed immensely, by hundreds of times. This significant energy disparity was a crucial factor in why magical beasts of the same level were far more powerful than humans, apart from the differences in physical strength.
As Brandon observed the changes in the giant beasts and humans, he began to ponder the effects of the divine blood. Suddenly, the distant roar of an airplane interrupted his thoughts. He quickly climbed out of the cave and headed outside.
"Humans, I wasn't seeking you out. Have you come after me again?" The sound instantly ignited a fury within Brandon, and he flew into the sky. However, he stopped halfway upon realizing it wasn't a military plane but a passenger jet. He was surprised to see the plane wobbling violently as if it had gone mad, with several engines spewing blue smoke. The plane was nose-diving toward the sea, about to crash. Brandon's keen eyes could see the terrified and panicked people inside through the windows.
The plane rapidly descended, and with a loud crash, it plunged into the water. The immense impact twisted the aircraft's sturdy alloy like paper, slowly tearing it apart. The plane began sinking into the water, and Brandon watched coldly from above as a large amount of blood poured into the sea. A few surviving humans, terrified, escaped from the plane while more people struggled inside. Water continued to flood the aircraft, causing further panic. They desperately fought to escape the sinking plane, their despairing screams reaching Brandon's ears.
Watching the struggling humans, Brandon felt conflicted. Hearing their screams, he suddenly felt a pang of compassion, and memories of his past life as a human resurfaced.
He hesitated briefly, then flapped his wings forcefully, diving towards the sea. The distance of several kilometers was covered in an instant. Brandon descended from the sky, his sharp claws gripping the plane. With a screeching sound, his claws pierced the hard alloy. Brandon exerted his strength, energy surging through him, and with a powerful flap of his wings, he lifted the plane from the water. Despite the plane being filled with seawater and weighing over a hundred tons, Brandon's enhanced strength allowed him to lift it. Flapping his wings vigorously, he began flying towards the island, holding the plane.
The humans inside the plane suddenly realized it was airborne again and stopped struggling to escape. Overwhelmed with relief, they called out for God’s blessing. The emotional rollercoaster left them utterly exhausted, and they collapsed onto the floor, too tired to move. Every survivor on the plane was injured. They thought a miracle had occurred, that the plane could fly again. Once their emotions settled, they noticed the eerie silence. A few brave souls peered out of the broken windows and gasped in astonishment.
“A dr-dragon! The plane is being carried by a dragon!”
The entire plane erupted in loud screams. Brandon, holding the plane, shook his head and continued flying forward. As time passed, the seawater inside the plane gradually receded, making the aircraft lighter and allowing him to fly much faster.
After the initial panic and screams, the inside of the plane became as noisy as a marketplace. There were sounds of discussions, crying, and wailing everywhere.
“A dragon, I never thought I’d see a real dragon. God must be protecting us. I can't believe the dragon is saving us humans,” Steven said loudly, his face filled with excitement.
“Do you think…the dragon might eat us?” a young woman asked fearfully. After struggling in the water earlier, she was soaking wet, and her clothes were torn open at the chest, leaving most of her bosom exposed. The way her clothes half-covered her made her look even more alluring.
Steven glanced at her, swallowed hard involuntarily, and quickly shifted his gaze, trying to answer seriously.
“It probably won’t. A dragon this big wouldn’t bother eating humans, we’re too small for it. Plus, a dragon is at the top of the food chain, with plenty of food in the sea. It wouldn’t waste effort on us. According to natural laws, a lion doesn’t hunt mice.”
“The dragon destroyed an American city. Why would it save us? Isn’t it supposed to be cruel and vicious? What if it tortures us and kills us one by one?” The woman adjusted her torn clothes as she noticed Steven sneaking glances at her, and continued her questioning.
Steven felt a bit flustered because the possibility seemed quite real.
“Let’s hope God protects us.”
With a loud thud, the plane suddenly shook and landed. The humans were jostled around, falling over each other. At the same time, a powerful and majestic voice echoed in their minds.
“Humans! Step out of the plane one by one. Welcome to the dragon’s territory. You will receive the most generous hospitality.”