Chapter 772 Those Who Follow the Path of Human-Spirit Protection Are All Big Shots

The Black Dragon currently had Mastery at the peak of Tier Four. In essence, it was just a Chi Dragon—well, a Chi Dragon that had grown horns and was evolving into a Serpent-Dragon.

When the Black Dragon appeared, it was not only ferocious in appearance, but its entire body also exuded an extremely evil aura that was, inexplicably, also righteous. It was like a righteous evil. Sensing this aura, Zhang Deming’s brow furrowed slightly.

‘The characteristics are too distinct. A path like Qu Qingxian’s was born from an extreme stroke of luck. If an identical path were to appear, it would be too easy for people to make certain connections.’

Therefore, Zhang Deming paused. The aura of ultimate righteousness and guardianship from Qu Qingxian began to surge from his body and flow down into the Black Dragon.

Ordinarily, these two forces should have been unable to merge. But after a Tai Chi diagram of a Yin Yang Fish slowly materialized on the Black Dragon’s forehead, the two forces actually fused.

The original Chi Dragon evolved into a Serpent-Dragon just like that. Even its ferocious appearance became peaceful and beautiful, its scales grew smooth and round, and its color changed, turning it into a transparent Water Dragon, no longer the Black Dragon from before.

The transformation was enormous. Under normal circumstances, no one would ever connect it to the previous Black Dragon.

Sensing the effects of > for the first time, a faint smile appeared on Zhang Deming’s face. ‘I never expected my first attempt at a Tier Five Technique would be under these circumstances, created through the fusion of United Force.’

And so, with his hands clasped behind his back and a faint smile on his face, Zhang Deming flew out, standing atop the transparent Water Dragon.

However, his face was no longer his own. It was now that of a middle-aged man, bearing a slight resemblance to Zhang Deming. He possessed the unique charm of a mature man, tinged with the refined elegance of a scholar.

That’s right. Zhang Deming was using another of his alternate identities: Seventh Uncle, Zhang Buyi! The same Seventh Uncle who had entered the Hengduan Mountain Range to retrieve a lotus more than two years ago!

…

In the Flower Swamp, the moment Zhang Deming summoned the Black Dragon, Guan Lijuan sensed the evil aura that soared to the heavens.

Although the evil aura vanished afterward, Guan Lijuan’s expression grew even more serious because… while that aura had become peaceful, it had also grown stronger.

She tossed the five people she had just lifted aside, shed her casual demeanor, and tensed her entire body, her expression grave as she stared in a certain direction in the forest.

She didn’t have to wait long. A moment later, a figure with a transcendent air appeared. It was Zhang Deming, his expression serene and his hands clasped behind his back as he stood atop a Water Dragon, his hair and Daoist Robe billowing.

On her guard, Guan Lijuan sensed the newcomer’s Cultivation at the Peak of the Celestial Realm and was slightly startled. She then bowed to Zhang Deming and said, “I am Guan Lijuan. A pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist.”

Zhang Deming nodded calmly. “Greetings, Fellow Daoist Guan. I am a Loose Cultivator named Zhang Buyi.”

As he spoke, the Water Dragon shrank to a miniature size and coiled around him.

Upon hearing this, Guan Lijuan smiled faintly. “A pleasure, Fellow Daoist Zhang. Might I ask where Fellow Daoist Zhang is head…ing…”

Before Guan Lijuan could finish her sentence, one of the five people she had tossed aside, Ji Ming, suddenly cried out, “Senior, be careful! This person is one of the Five Elements Remnants! He’s even more terrifying than a Demon Cultivator… a Sinful… Cultivator…”

The boy was quite shrewd. He didn’t cry out for help directly. Instead, he chose to hint at Guan Lijuan’s origins.

Ji Ming, who had a clear understanding of the laws of the Cultivation Realm, knew full well that if the other party intended to intervene, these words were more than enough.

If the other party had no intention of intervening, then crying for help directly—even revealing his own identity—would not necessarily be as effective as what he had just said.

Because… this was the Hengduan Mountain Range. His identity alone was definitely not worth enough for this newcomer to fight a Three Talents Great Cultivator just to save him.

Therefore, pointing out that she was a Sinful Cultivator was absolutely the best choice. It seemed like a warning, but it was also a plea for help.

“Silence!”

Before Ji Ming could finish, Guan Lijuan’s face turned cold. Muttering, she waved her hand. Mud mixed with a strange type of grass root shot out from the Flower Swamp, lashing toward Ji Ming with the full power of a Three Talents Great Cultivator and without holding back.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming made a gesture with his hand. A faint stream of water flowed out and transformed into a transparent barrier in front of Ji Ming and the other four, enveloping them.

POP…

The vine of mud and grass roots struck the Shield, making a soft sound. The Shield rippled slightly, easily blocking the attack.

The five, who had been in despair, now had looks of joyous surprise on their faces. Since Zhang Deming had intervened to block the attack, it meant there was a chance for survival—and a good one at that.

With Zhang Buyi’s Cultivation as a Peak Three Talents, holding off Guan Lijuan, an Earth Realm Three Talents, for an hour would be no problem at all.

“Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this? Intervening in my affairs for no reason… Do you wish to create a karmic bond with me?” Guan Lijuan’s face darkened as she spoke coldly.

With his hands behind his back, Zhang Deming replied with a matter-of-fact expression, “Under normal circumstances, I couldn’t be bothered to meddle in your business. Demon Cultivators, Remnants… what are they to me? As long as they don’t provoke this old man, it’s fine.”

“However, among these juniors is an acquaintance of one of my own. That makes them half a junior of mine, you could say. I can’t just let you bully and kill them like this.”

“Otherwise, if that kid of mine finds out when I get back, she’ll raise a fuss, and that’s the least of it. This old man would lose so much face I wouldn’t know where to hide. That’s the real problem here.”