“Oh, Jigme Perma! Wait, how the fuck!” Ling Xuan was nodding his head when he realised something was off. Jigme Perma was supposed to be a child! How the hell, in just a week or more, did he become so bulky and lose his hair?

“I think you’ve got the wrong person,” Ling Xuan tried to say, but the man who claimed to be Jigme Perma shook his head vehemently.

“No! You were once the most renowned Markseeker in Kinnara’i Gyi Sangsum! You pulled me into the feast to celebrate you leaving the island,” Jigme Perma insisted, making Ling Xuan realise that this was indeed the same boy he had met.

“Uh, how the hell did you get so bulky?” Ling Xuan asked, genuinely perplexed.

“Oh, well, you see, the very day you left, I was approached by a group of people who took me to Lhayi Dewa. They gave me tons of elixirs and pills, making me, well, bulky and hairless,” Jigme Perma revealed, rubbing his bald head with a sheepish smile.

“Ah, so why are you here?” Ling Xuan asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Oh, well, they said that I was no longer needed and then booked me a ticket to Kundang Ling Island.”

“Oh, I see.” Ling Xuan nodded, though he still had questions swirling in his mind.

As Jigme Perma was about to say more, he suddenly felt an intense pressure in the air. His expression changed, and he quickly excused himself. “Well, I’ll leave you now, Senior,” he said, bowing respectfully before hastily walking away.

Ling Xuan turned to Xia Longwei, who had been silent but observant throughout the conversation. “Looks like The Empire has completed its preparations,” Ling Xuan remarked, his tone carrying a note of foreboding.

“Looks like it,” Xia Longwei nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. “They’re moving faster than I anticipated.”

“Do you think you’ll be able to win?” Ling Xuan asked, his gaze steady and his tone probing.

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“That’s a funny question, Junior,” Xia Longwei responded, a smile playing on his lips. “The only being who can bring about my demise is Father—nobody else. And the day I obtain a drop of pure Dragon Blood, well, no one can.” He looked out at the approaching island.

Ling Xuan watched Xia Longwei closely, noting the confidence and perhaps even a touch of arrogance in his words. “You’re putting a lot of faith in that Dragon Blood.”

Xia Longwei’s smile widened. “With good reason.Once I have it, I’ll be unstoppable. No more destabilisation, no more weaknesses. Just pure, unadulterated strength.”

Ling Xuan stayed silent, deep in thought as the ship continued its approach to Kundang Ling Island. The rocky cliffs and lush greenery were now clearly visible.

“Well, our destination is near,” Xia Longwei said, breaking the silence. With a confident stride, he climbed onto the ship's railing. As he stood there, his back began to bulge and shift, his clothes straining against the emerging form.

And then suddenly, with a powerful swoosh, two enormous wings burst forth from Xia Longwei's back, unfurling to reveal a span more than twice his height. The wings were a deep, obsidian black, with veins of crimson running across them, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. The air around them seemed to hum and crackle with the raw power of his transformation.

Mythical Beast Semi-Transmogrification – Wings of Kun Peng!

He turned to Ling Xuan and stretched out his hand. “Hold my hand!”

Without hesitation, Ling Xuan grabbed it, feeling the surge of power emanating from Xia Longwei’s grip. “Time to beat up a god!” Ling Xuan grinned, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

BOOM!

A sonic wave erupted as the duo took off, propelled by the mighty wings of Kun Peng. The force of their departure sent a shockwave across the water, causing the ship to rock violently and leaving a trail of disturbed air in their wake. They soared through the sky, the landscape below blurring as they accelerated towards Chenrezig Ling with incredible speed.

The wind whipped past them, the roar of their flight drowning out all other sounds. Ling Xuan felt a mix of exhilaration and determination. The power of Xia Longwei’s wings was astounding, and the sheer speed at which they travelled left him breathless. The island grew larger and larger as they approached, its ancient temples and towering peaks coming into sharp focus.

As they approached the island, a figure became visible standing in front of the ancient stone temple. The silhouette was imposing, exuding an aura of raw power and ancient authority. As they drew closer, the details of the figure became clear.

Ling Xuan's heart skipped a beat. He knew exactly what it was.

There, guarding the temple, stood the Ashborne of The Creator, Protector of The First Men, The Sealed One and The Headless God.

The Maitreya.