Chapter 408 - 182: Dragon Form

Chai Liang left a string of afterimages in his wake, covering several meters in the blink of an eye.

Li Li was even faster. The afterimage from her start couldn’t even keep up with her real body. In an instant, she left both her own afterimage and Chai Liang far behind.

Chai Liang’s eyes widened. He couldn’t even see her back, let alone the trail of bubbles kicked up by her feet.

’Chen Cheng? Why aren’t you moving?’

Lü Qinyi frowned, her eyes filled with astonishment as she looked at Chen Cheng, who was still hovering in the same spot.

’...I’ve already got a measure of their speed.’

Chen Cheng said calmly,

’I’ll give them a moment. Otherwise, if I leave them in the dust right away... it would be too crushing for them.’

’This kid...’

Lü Qinyi was completely stunned.

She didn’t want to believe Chen Cheng’s words, but her eyes saw his calm, earnest expression, and her Heart Spirit sensed his rock-solid aura.

"Senior Sister Lü, were there any developments regarding the enemy invasion that night?" Chen Cheng asked casually.

’How can you be thinking about that right now?’

Lü Qinyi was taken aback for a moment. She steadied her Heart Spirit before replying,

’Nothing came of it. The invaders either died or escaped, leaving no clues behind...’

"The area has been patrolled day and night for the past few days, and everything has been quiet. The matter should be considered closed."

’Closed?’

Chen Cheng’s heart stirred. He couldn’t help but think of the Treasure Map.

Of course, now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

’Senior Sister, I’m ready.’

Chen Cheng announced, his body shifting from an upright hover to a prone one.

’Go...’

Lü Qinyi’s lips had just begun to move. Before she could even finish the word, a look of absolute horror flooded her face, and her pupils trembled violently.

One moment, Chen Cheng’s figure was reflected in her pupils; the next, he had vanished without a trace.

Only the trail of afterimages lingering in the water proved he had ever been there.

Lü Qinyi steadied herself and shot forward at her top speed.

Her power was profound. A moment later, she had closed the distance on Chen Cheng.

By then, Chen Cheng had already caught up and, a moment later, left Chai Liang far behind.

Chen Cheng was so fast that Chai Liang, still sprinting with all his might, was completely unaware he had been overtaken.

’So fast! And so stable!’

Lü Qinyi, trailing behind Chen Cheng and taking it all in, couldn’t help but marvel.

’Junior Brother Chen’s swimming speed is astounding. It’s not just based on the strength of his Blood Qi and physique; his Water Manipulation Skill, his posture, and his Bone Form all play a part...’

Lü Qinyi stared fixedly at Chen Cheng’s undulating form, her lips trembling uncontrollably.

’His tendons are supple, his joints unnaturally flexible... his body moves like a dragon...’

’A posture like a dragon, a Bone Form like a dragon... With a Root Bone like this, how could his talent be rated only mid-to-upper Fourth Extremity?’

While Lü Qinyi was still reeling in shock, Chen Cheng had already smoothly overtaken Li Li.

But unlike Chai Liang, Li Li’s eyes and Heart Spirit could track Chen Cheng’s form, and she was keenly aware of the moment he surpassed her.

At the same time, she too could see what was so special about his posture and Bone Form.

For an instant, she froze in place, her pretty face completely overcome with utter astonishment.

WHOOSH—

Meanwhile, Lü Qinyi suddenly accelerated, catching up to Chen Cheng and stopping him.

’Junior Brother...’

Lü Qinyi made no attempt to hide the delighted surprise on her face.

’Your performance today was simply divine! I’ll make time to tell the Pavilion Master about this later. When he finds out, he’ll be overjoyed!’

’Junior Brother Chen!’

Li Li swam right up to Chen Cheng and carefully looked him up and down again.

’Your posture and your Bone Form... they don’t seem natural. C-can you tell me, how exactly did you train to make them resemble that of a True Dragon?’

When Chen Cheng didn’t answer, Li Li hurriedly added,

’As long as you can teach me, you can name any price. No matter what you want, I’ll make sure you get it!’

’...Senior Sister Li, I could help with other things, but this... I really can’t teach you...’

Chen Cheng said calmly,

’Because I don’t even know how I did it myself. I just put in more sweat and effort than everyone else, every single day. When the time was right, the results came naturally.’

[Wandering Dragon Technique]: Minor Achievement (231/1000), Traits (Dragon Form)

Dragon Form: Enter the water like a dragon. Spinal joints become more flexible and supple. Posture and Bone Form approach that of a True Dragon. Greatly increases underwater mobility.

Clearly, Chen Cheng wasn’t lying to Li Li. The results were, in fact, born from his sweat and effort.

As for the principles behind it, even he didn’t understand them, so of course he couldn’t teach anyone.

However, in Li Li’s eyes, Chen Cheng must have mastered a special Technique. Her offer simply hadn’t been sincere enough to move him.

’Junior Brother Chen, do you feel my offer wasn’t sincere enough? How about this: you can state your conditions right now. I’ll fulfill them first, and then you can teach me!’

SWOOSH—

Just then, Chai Liang rushed over.

’Senior Sisters! Chen... Junior Brother Chen!? How did you get in front of me!?’

’...It’s not just you.’

Lü Qinyi said with a smile,

’Chen Cheng overtook Li Li, too.’

"This... Uh..."

Chai Liang’s eyes shot wide open, and goosebumps erupted all over his skin. His chest seemed to seize up, throwing his Inner Breath into chaos, and he scrambled frantically toward the surface for air.

’Junior Brother Chen, how about we make a bet?’

Li Li said,

’Let’s see who can last longer underwater. The first one who can’t hold their breath and has to surface for air loses. If you lose, you have to teach me how to forge the Dragon Bone Form!’

At these words, Chen Cheng just smiled silently, but Lü Qinyi pulled Li Li aside.

’Silly girl! You just got back to the Sect, so you have no idea how deep Chen Cheng’s waters run! It’s one thing to compete with him in other areas, but you must not compete in endurance... He has an Innate Iron Lung!’