Free Web NovelChapter 294: Chapter 222: Transformation Technique 2
It was called a platform, but it was actually an enormous treetop, formed from a sprawling network of lush green leaves and wide branches.
The "ground" was covered in a rugged, uneven tangle of small twigs and leaves, nothing like the flat surface one might imagine.
Every step sank in at a different depth, making it quite difficult to walk.
CHIRP~ CHIRP CHIRP~ CHIRP CHIRP!
A dozen or so Little Guardians arrived on the platform and, as if they were right at home, began to familiarly circle the massive Jade Green Dragon.
It wasn’t until he stood face-to-face with the Jade Green Dragon that Han Ning realized just how enormous it was.
Unlike the Flood Dragon Species of the East.
Generally speaking, with the exception of a few special Western Dragon Clans, the purer a Dragon Race’s bloodline, the larger its body.
A Green Dragon like this Jade Green Dragon, even on all fours, was nearly as tall as a twenty-story building.
Qing Fan leaped lightly from the back of the stone dragon and spoke to the towering Jade Green Dragon.
"Qing Yu, could I trouble you to take us to see Lord Akatos?"
OOH-ROAR!
The Jade Green Dragon let out a deep, low growl, and its draconic body began to shrink, inch by inch.
Before Han Ning’s astonished eyes, it shrank from a height of ten stories to an exquisite little dragon only a few dozen centimeters tall, hovering in mid-air.
"Is that a Soul Technique or a Talent?"
He shot a questioning look at Qing Fan.
Qing Fan smiled and explained.
"It’s the Dragon Race’s Transformation Technique. It allows a Giant Dragon to freely change its size within certain limits. After all, being too large can be inconvenient in many situations."
"So it’s a special Soul Technique... In that case... Egg Pancake is also of the Dragon Race. It should be able to learn it, right?" Han Ning’s eyes lit up as he quickly followed up with another question.
"Yes. If you want it to learn, I can arrange for them to teach it later." Qing Fan smiled faintly and followed the little green dragon.
After walking for several hundred meters across the uneven platform of branches, a plain, unremarkable little wooden cabin appeared before Han Ning.
Around the cabin, lying or sprawling about, were a dozen or so powerful Jade Green Dragons exuding a dangerous aura.
There were also several Dragon Blood People with lizard-like features who closely resembled Qing Fan. They cradled small-bodied Sub-dragon cubs as they walked among the Giant Dragons.
Hearing the commotion from a short distance away, the Giant Dragons opened their eyes in unison, their calm gazes falling upon Han Ning.
’My scalp is tingling, and a chill is running up my spine. This time, I’m really being stared down by powerful Giant Beasts. It’s not just my imagination.’
Han Ning fought to suppress his discomfort.
The little dragon leading them chirped a few times at the others, and Qing Fan, from behind, also waved to the Giant Dragons. This familiar interaction showed they were clearly old friends.
"Lord Qing Fan..."
Qing Fan’s status within the Dragon Blood Race seemed to be quite high; every one of the Dragon Blood People they passed would bow slightly to him in salute.
And Qing Fan, for his part, maintained a gentle demeanor, smiling and greeting them in return.
Seeing that it was Qing Fan, the Giant Dragons all closed their eyes again, returning to their previous state of rest.
The little green dragon flew straight into the wooden cabin.
Ever since setting foot on the platform, Egg Pancake had remained silent. Even without sensing it through their Spiritual Power link, Han Ning could tell that its entire being was radiating an unusual mix of emotions.
It was understandable. The feeling was like a human who had been isolated from society stepping into a populated area for the first time; seeing so many of one’s own kind, it was only normal to feel nervous and uneasy.
Even he was nervous, let alone Egg Pancake, who was one of them, in a way.
"Don’t be nervous, Egg Pancake," Han Ning said with a laugh, teasing it.
"Chirp..."
Egg Pancake was in no mood to respond to his joke.
「Meanwhile.」
Yin Yi and Fei Lin were trembling nonstop. An invisible and terrifying power seemed to be oppressing them from all sides.
"Eee~ Eee!"
Fei Lin suddenly hugged Han Ning’s arm, stroking his face with her delicate white fingers.
"Are you saying you want to go back to the Soul Beast Space?"
"Eee!"
Fei Lin glanced around apprehensively and nodded repeatedly.
"Ling!"
Yin Yi quickly agreed.
"Uh, okay, Fei Lin, you can go back. Yin Yi, you stay. Who knows, there might be some benefits for you here." Han Ning recalled Fei Lin to the Soul Beast Space. Yin Yi was a Wood Type Soul Beast, and the Wood Type Spiritual Energy here was abundant. Perhaps it could also piggyback on whatever benefits Egg Pancake was about to receive.
Just then, the little green dragon that had been leading them flew back out of the cabin and gestured for them to enter.
"Hooo..."
Han Ning let out a breath and walked toward the cabin with Qing Fan.
The cabin was only three meters wide. Its door was wide open, revealing a pitch-black space within, making it impossible to see anything inside.
At first, he was worried about how Egg Pancake would fit inside.
But as soon as they reached the doorway, an invisible suction force pulled them all in.
When he blinked again, the sight before him left Han Ning utterly stunned.
It was a vast palace built entirely from verdant trees.
The pillars on either side of the palace were supported by thick, sturdy logs, their surfaces covered in mysterious draconic runes.
At the very front, in the center, a Green Dragon roughly the size of a human was resting with its eyes closed upon a huge throne made of wood.
It looked no different from an ordinary Jade Green Dragon, with the sole exception of a mysterious marking at the center of its brow that somewhat resembled a tree.
To the left and right before Akatos were two other dragons. One was a coiled Flood Dragon, about ten meters long, with deer-like antlers, a body covered in emerald scales, and tassel-like tendrils hanging from its jaw. The other was a Jade Green Dragon with a piercing gaze.
This Flood Dragon bore at least a seventy percent resemblance to the one previously commanded by the Taman Insect Master.
Led by Qing Fan, they walked to a spot not far from the throne.
Akatos, who was upon the throne, opened its Dragon Eyes.
The instant Akatos’s gaze fell upon him, Han Ning’s vision was filled with colossal trees piercing the clouds and enormous Giant Dragons soaring between the giant trees and the sky.
An ancient, boundless, and primordial aura washed over him.
In Akatos’s eyes, he saw the weight of ages and the light of wisdom.
It gave him the feeling that the creature before him was not a member of the Dragon Race, but a benevolent elder who had weathered the ages and witnessed the endless flow of time.
"Respected Lord Akatos, good afternoon. I apologize for the intrusion." Qing Fan’s tone was neither servile nor overbearing as he took the lead, bowing in a gesture of respect.
For a being of such immense power and profound wisdom, it was only natural to show the utmost respect.
Following the principle of "when in Rome," Han Ning also gave a slight bow.
Egg Pancake went even further, prostrating itself directly on the floor and lowering its head with a solemn and serious expression.
As soon as Qing Fan spoke, the strange sensation enveloping Han Ning instantly vanished.
The next second, he heard a powerful draconic roar: "ROAR~"
As he listened, Qing Fan translated for Han Ning, "Lord Akatos says this is the first time it has seen an intelligent life-form with your appearance."
’Even though its power has reached Monarch Level, it seems Akatos still can’t communicate using Spiritual Power.’
’Perhaps this is a limitation of Soul Beasts.’
Han Ning smiled politely. "I come from an Exotic Realm."
Akatos nodded slightly, turning its gaze to Egg Pancake, whose draconic head was bowed low.
Qing Fan gestured to Egg Pancake and said, "We would like to trouble you to perform a Dragon Power Awakening ceremony for this child."
"ROAR~"
"Understood. A little one possessing the powers of Flame and Earth, is it? Interesting," Qing Fan translated.
Akatos sat up. Without any visible movement, its body levitated slightly above the throne, and it looked down upon the low-headed Egg Pancake.
"Child, raise your head. Come closer and let me have a proper look at you."
Chirp...
Egg Pancake obediently raised its head and, moving its mountain-like body, crossed the distance to Akatos in a single step.
Akatos, only the size of an adult human, seemed so insignificant before the colossal Egg Pancake.
But in Han Ning’s eyes, there was a contradictory illusion: the former was a towering mountain, and the latter was a tiny ant.
Akatos rose higher, extended a draconic claw, and gently tapped the center of Egg Pancake’s brow.
SNAP!
An earthen-yellow ripple emanated from the center of its brow, spreading out in concentric circles across Egg Pancake’s body.
Under this influence, Egg Pancake’s crimson scales began to glow with a subtle yellow halo.
Its pair of sturdy hind limbs began to incessantly draw upon the Power of the Earth Element from within the giant trees.
An ethereal, indistinct draconic phantom slowly emerged from Egg Pancake’s Body, floating above it.
A bright yellow light traced the phantom’s edges, outlining it in a dreamlike, illusory fashion.
