10,000x Cultivation: I Gain Power by Adopting Training Acolytes

Elsewhere in the forest, Zhang Yun froze mid-confrontation as Xu Ming's draconic roar echoed through the trees. "You brought backup?" he hissed at the thunder-wreathed giant.

The assassin's smirk answered him.

Qingyuan Steps!

Zhang Yun blurred toward the sound—only to recoil as lightning scorched his previous position. The ground erupted into a smoldering crater where he'd stood.

"Fleeing?" The thunder cultivator flexed charred knuckles. "Overconfidence suits you poorly, ant."

Zhang Yun's blade flashed without warning.

"Fool!" The giant laughed, gathering crackling energy—then choked as steel phased through his guard like mist.

Schlick.

A meaty thud. The assassin stared dumbly at his severed leg twitching in the dirt. "H-How...?"

No answer came. Zhang Yun's sword danced again—this time at the lanky assassin's throat.

"Veiled Blade Art..." The headless corpse collapsed as Zhang Yun flicked blood from his blade. "Pity you forced its debut."

"Senior Brother!" Wu Xiaopang's panicked cry guided Zhang Yun to a grim scene. Xu Ming lay pale and bloodied, the plump disciple desperately staunching a shoulder wound. Nearby, a one-armed nobleman and his retainer cowered.

"Stay the flow." Zhang Yun pressed glowing fingers to Xu Ming's injury. Golden light pulsed beneath the skin—

Clang!

Wu Xiaopang screamed as a dagger plunged into the wound. "Monster! You're not Master—!"

"Observe." Zhang Yun pinned the thrashing disciple.

Miraculously, Xu Ming's flesh knit around the golden blade. Dragon-scale patterns shimmered across his torso as vital energy surged.

"Void Dragon Constitution?" The captive nobleman gaped. "Impossible! That's a myth—"

"Silence." Zhang Yun's glare froze the man mid-sentence. To Wu Xiaopang: "These vermin attacked you?"

The disciple nodded shakily, awe warring with residual panic. "But Master, those Golden Core experts—"

"Discarded like trash." Zhang Yun tossed a clan insignia at the prisoners' feet—its edges still smoking.

As Xu Ming stirred, golden irises blazing to life, the nobleman finally grasped his doom. The legends were true.

And he'd provoked a dragon.