The night sky, choked with stars, spilled down a soft, pearlescent light; the insects chirped their low thrum, and the fierce beasts lay quiet.
Ji Changkong sat cross-legged beside the Poison Dragon Pool. He lightly extended a hand, and with a suction of Yuan Power, a wisp of black smoke vanished into his palm. He then expelled a breath of Yuan Power, and that same vanishing wisp drifted out from the tips of his fingers, coiling around his palm, condensed and unyielding.
The Two-Pole Heaven Realm!
Reaching this stage of cultivation meant Yuan Power could now be projected from the body. Likewise, this realm was segmented into three critical checkpoints: the limbs, the skin's pores, and the mind. Only when Yuan Power could erupt fully from the hands, feet, pores, and brain could the mastery of the Two-Pole Heaven be deemed complete.
One Yuan begets Two Poles; this is transformation!
The Two-Pole Heaven Realm placed its primary emphasis on the character for "Change." When Yuan Power could be released from every corner of the body, it could be shaped into myriad forms. Driven by specialized secret techniques, it could morph into astonishingly powerful moves, or it could be channeled into weapons and armor for offensive or defensive application.
Within the Two-Pole Heaven Realm, one could truly begin to study the secret arts of the Sky Adepts. Mo Yunyi of the Scripture Pavilion had even mentioned that once he broke through to the Two-Pole Heaven, she would personally select a Sky Adept secret art for him to practice within the Pavilion.
However, upon achieving the Two-Pole Heaven Realm, Ji Changkong did not immediately return to the Ji Family of Green Rock Mountain to seek out Mo Yunyi and demand a Sky Adept secret art. Instead, he remained in the Great Marsh of Yunmeng, intending to seize the momentum and thoroughly master the transformations of his Yuan Power. He planned to wait until the power could flow freely from his limbs, pores, and mind before visiting the Scripture Pavilion.
He sensed that his stay in the Two-Pole Heaven Realm would not be prolonged.
…
“Big Wind, come and eat!”
On the fire pit, the roasted meat smelled heavenly, golden brown and glistening—a sight guaranteed to stir the appetite. Ji Changkong used a long bamboo pole to skewer several large chunks of meat, each weighing five or six catties, holding the pole steady in his left hand while skillfully turning the roast.
From the distance, the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon, alerted by the call, suddenly burst from the Poison Dragon Pool, stirring up a gale that sent fallen leaves scattering. As usual, the creature halted before Ji Changkong, its eyes fixed longingly on the golden, cooked meat skewered on his bamboo pole.
“Here!”
He tossed the bamboo pole toward the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon. It stretched its long neck, its monstrous jaws opening suddenly to seize the pole. With a mighty shake of its head, the cooked meat fell, chunk by chunk, into its gaping maw. The bamboo pole itself was then flung back toward Ji Changkong.
Seeing the pole fly toward him, Ji Changkong’s right hand shot out like lightning, catching it precisely.
He swiftly threaded more coarse chunks of meat from a Saber-Toothed Rhino onto the bamboo, expertly positioning it over the fire. Seasonings, salt, and crushed leaves of exotic herbs were sprinkled over the meat, and soon, a thick, rich aroma began to waft again from the pieces roasting on the spit.
…
He had spent more than half a year in the Great Marsh of Yunmeng. During this time, Ji Changkong not only managed to force his Yuan Power out through his limbs but also forged a deep friendship with the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon. The man and the beast often sat facing each other beside the Poison Dragon Pool, sharing the spoils of the ferocious creatures the dragon hunted.
The overlord of Yunmeng, viewed by others as savagely poisonous, treated Ji Changkong with a friendliness that bordered on unbelievable. If any other fierce beast cast a menacing look his way near the pool, the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon would either kill the offender outright or leave it severely wounded.
For over half a year, under the fearsome might of the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon, not a single one of the most vicious beasts lurking near the Poison Dragon Pool dared to approach Ji Changkong, let alone attack him.
Because the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon generated a strong gust of wind every time it flew, Ji Changkong named it “Big Wind.”
It seemed to accept the new name wholeheartedly; whenever Ji Changkong called out, “Big Wind,” regardless of where it was, it would immediately rush to his side upon hearing the summons.
…
“Big Wind, want some Fire Dragon Brew today?” Ji Changkong asked with a smile, after taking a few sips from a flask of the fiery liquor.
After finishing its meal, the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon immediately raised its neck and opened its massive mouth wide, waiting silently.
Laughing robustly, Ji Changkong sat up, showing no fear as he climbed directly onto the dragon’s truly enormous body, positioning himself atop its neck. He stretched out his arms and poured nearly half the flask of Fire Dragon Brew directly into the beast’s gaping, monstrous jaws.
Tossing the empty flask aside, Ji Changkong smacked the terrifying giant head of the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon and commanded, “Big Wind, let’s go! Take me for a spin south today!”
The Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon let out a roar and ascended, carrying Ji Changkong as it spread its wings, soaring above the vast Great Marsh. Lakes and swamps receded beneath them. Clutching its neck, Ji Changkong rode freely, savoring the grand scenery of Yunmeng.
…
Another half-year slipped by in a blink.
Ji Changkong sat bare-chested amidst the toxic miasma covering the Poison Dragon Pool. His lean frame was corded with firm muscle, his skin as smooth and warm as white jade, faintly shimmering with a soft, gentle light.
With a mere thought, the pores of his body seemed to open, drawing in the dense poison fog swirling above the pool. After a long moment, Ji Changkong expelled his Yuan Power, and wisps of black smoke drifted out from the pores all over his body.
In half a year, Ji Changkong had broken through again; his Yuan Power could now erupt through the pores covering his entire body.
Splash!
The Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon suddenly shot out of the Poison Dragon Pool with an earth-shattering roar. The fierce beasts usually hidden in the dense thickets surrounding the pool emerged one by one at the sound—the Nine-Headed Bird, the Flying Blood Serpent, the Green-Eyed Scorpions, the Three-Eyed Dragon Pythons—all surged forward, aiming directly for two young Nanyi individuals whose faces were etched with sheer panic.
The man appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, his long hair braided into small plaits that hung over his shoulders; he possessed a handsome, refined look.
The woman looked barely fifteen or sixteen, with delicate features. She wore a scanty leather vest, leaving her arms, midriff, and smooth thighs bare. On her head was a crown woven from wildflowers, and her body was adorned with strings of bright silver ornaments that jingled melodiously with every movement. They carried large bamboo creels on their backs, from which new flowers and herbs poked out; clearly, they had ventured into the Great Marsh to gather rare flora.
The handsome youth, upon seeing the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon take flight and the numerous beasts charging from the Poison Dragon Pool, cried out in alarm, urging the girl behind him to flee quickly in the Nanyi dialect. The delicate girl, though visibly terrified, frantically shook her head, absolutely unwilling to leave.
The man, seeing no other option, drew a massive longbow from his creel, notched an arrow, and aimed it at the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon. As he loosed the shot, the arrow burst into fierce flames, transforming into a blazing serpent that shot straight toward the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon.
Aow!
The Winged Dragon roared in anger. A mere sweep of its colossal, fleshy wings slapped the terrifying fire-arrow harmlessly onto the ground. It remained still, simply glaring fiercely at the two Nanyi youths, commanding the beasts of the Poison Dragon Pool to surround and kill them.
In its view, these two Nanyi teenagers were not worth its personal effort.
Seeing his flaming arrow fail, the handsome youth’s face contorted with terror. He grabbed the girl beside him, desperately trying to retreat.
When he turned, he found a Nine-Headed monstrous bird manipulating the very poison miasma of the Pool. Its nine heads bobbed and swayed, causing the deadly vapors to billow out and completely cut off their retreat path.
The Green-Eyed Scorpions moved with terrifying speed; hundreds of them swarmed forward, their venomous eyes fixed greedily on the delicious prey, ready to feast.
The complexions of the two Nanyi youths turned ashen white, their bodies trembling. Realizing they had no escape, they braced themselves for a final, desperate fight, intending to slay at least a few Green-Eyed Scorpions before they died.
“Big Wind!”
Just then, Ji Changkong shouted abruptly. Once he saw the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon turn its gaze toward him, he quickly added, “Don’t kill them. Let them go!”
At these words, the Nanyi man and woman, who had believed death was certain, both fixed their eyes on Ji Changkong. They seemed to understand the Middle Kingdom dialect, their faces filled with baffled confusion, perhaps wondering how Ji Changkong dared speak to the Overlord of Yunmeng in such a manner.
The beautiful girl, in particular, had a brilliant sparkle in her bright eyes. Survival is an instinct; filled with despair moments before, her hopes flared anew at Ji Changkong’s words, and gratitude naturally bloomed in her heart.
However, the fierce beasts tightly surrounding the pair stared malevolently at Ji Changkong. He had spoiled their meal, and it was clear they were deeply displeased.
Aow!
The Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon paused in silence for a moment, then suddenly bellowed, seemingly unwilling to involve itself further in the matter. It lazily turned, flew back toward the Poison Dragon Pool, and submerged itself into the water.
The surrounding beasts, their eyes possessing an unnerving sentience, glared fiercely at Ji Changkong. After a moment, unwilling to disobey the Sky-Yuan Winged Dragon’s command, they reluctantly retreated into the dense woods or sank back to the bottom of the Pool.
Under such extreme peril, the Nanyi man and woman, who were certain to die, found their crisis instantly averted by a single sentence from Ji Changkong!