Chapter 400 — The Team's First Quasi-Divine Skill

An Chang's strength did not look like much, but he had been introduced by Shi Jin, so he probably would not be too weak. Duckie thought it over and went straight into its second form—better to take him a little seriously.

The next moment, as it looked at An Chang, its body surged—reaching two meters tall!

Its all-blue skin began to be covered in black, leaving only a few patches of deep blue markings.

At its neck, black water currents solidified like ribbons into something like a scarf, floating behind it.

In but a brief instant, the platypus's appearance had changed utterly.

Gu Ruan.

The terrifying aura it radiated made An Chang's expression, still relaxed a moment before, change drastically.

The platypus opened its deep red eyes and looked at An Chang. In that instant, An Chang's spirit seemed to plunge into an abyss; cold sweat broke out all over his body, and he stumbled back a step, sensing an incomparably horrifying aura of evil.

【Name】: ???

【Energy Value】: 74747

"Quack! (Come, let's warm up in a weaker form first and see what you've got.)"

An Chang: ???

For the past few months, Duckie had been feeding on the Abyssal Reincarnation Beans cultivated by Ginseng Baby. Each time it ate one, it could awaken a portion of the abyssal power. At first it was indeed hard to control, but as Ginseng Baby reduced the dosage of the Abyssal Reincarnation Beans, and as Susu used Memory Droplets to let Duckie comprehend max-level Purifying Water, it gradually gained control over this abyssal power within its body.

Thus Duckie had gained two new forms. The first was this one, taking in part of the abyssal power—fairly easy to handle, and in this state it could barely hold its own against Little Ji, an overlord-species commander-rank.

There was also a final form, taking in even greater abyssal power, but that was much harder to control—it required pairing with an overlord's will, and after a fight it was dead tired, so Duckie rarely used it. Above all, even when it did, it still could not beat the Green Worm Chrysalis's phantom.

Though it had taken in only part of the abyssal power now, it mattered whose abyssal power it was. In its past life, as a demigod-level powerhouse, Duckie's aura was still utterly terrifying—enough to leave An Chang momentarily dazed.

It gathered a lance of black water and drove it into the ground, signaling that the youngster across from it had better send out his beast quickly.

"W-wait, Senior Platypus, what are you doing?"

"For teaching a rookie, wouldn't that initial form from just now have been enough...?"

An Chang panicked. Why could the platypus still transform? The textbooks really couldn't be trusted.

Yaya: ?

………………

By now Shi Jin had already called out for Lin to assume her Qilin form, and was riding her through the sky at ten thousand meters.

Shi Jin had originally intended to enter the ruins as well and arrange a match between Yaya and An Chang, but as a man forever buried in business, he had never found a free moment.

Just as he was about to set off for Fuguang City, he received a call from the Legend of Bahai.

"Senior Yu, what is it?"

The Legend of Bahai said, "The legends Feng Jue Jixiang and Feng Jue Jieyi of the Phoenix Shrine of the Seven Isles are coming to Donghuang shortly. They most likely wish to see you. Do you have time?"

Shi Jin's face turned bitter. Why hadn't they said so earlier?

He was already on his way to Fuguang City.

"Wait—Feng Jue Jieyi has passed the legend assessment too?" Shi Jin caught the problem.

The Legend of Bahai said, "She should have. She has become a new legend of the Seven Isles. Which is why this trip to Donghuang is no easy matter for them—the Seven Isles put up many obstacles. It may be because of the 'Red God's' attack on the Phoenix Shrine Master back then, which left the Phoenix Shrine somewhat estranged from the Seven Isles. So Donghuang's position is this: see whether the two can be persuaded to bring the Phoenix Shrine into Donghuang."

"As the designated heir of the Phoenix Secret Realm, you may have a way."

Donghuang had always welcomed immigrants of such high caliber with open arms—the nations were all poaching from one another. Of course, if it were those lazy, useless foreign beast tamers who contributed nothing yet loved to boss others around, Donghuang would never accept them. If just anyone could walk in, Donghuang would not be the foremost great nation it was today.

Shi Jin was vexed. "Hmm... let them go be guests in the Ancient Capital first. Lu Yan and Feng Jin both know the history the Undying Nether Phoenix spoke of, so let them receive the visitors for now. I'm about to reach Shenyuan City—I have some business to attend to, and I'll head back once it's done."

"That works. They haven't arrived yet anyway." The Legend of Bahai nodded. On this trip, the two Feng Jue legends likely would not be leaving anytime soon.

After a couple more exchanges, Shi Jin ended the call with the Legend of Bahai, and then sank into thought.

So the Phoenix Shrine really was coming.

He just didn't know whether they could be cajoled into joining Donghuang.

Never mind.

Shi Jin entered the ruins—but the moment he stepped in, he saw Yaya in its normal form wearing the lonely expression of a master with no worthy rival, and An Chang, the sea serpent, and the White Star Phoenix Butterfly lying on the ground like dead dogs, covered in wounds.

"Whimper..." An Chang lay on the ground, limbs twitching, face full of sorrow. Why—why was this platypus still so strong after reverting to its normal form? It was nothing like the commander-level beasts around thirty thousand energy he had fought before!!

It was as if it had been through a hundred battles, rich in experience beyond measure, toying with him the way a grandmaster toys with a child.

"Ya... (Even after fusing with its beast, it still can't fight as well as Shi Jin himself...)" Yaya sighed.

It seemed he had overestimated the boy.

"Looks like your training is far from complete..." Shi Jin looked at An Chang and sank into thought as well. He couldn't even beat a beast that had never been allocated a single point—that wouldn't do. Once they reached Tingxue City, he would have to drill him properly.

………………

Shenyuan City.

First riding Lin through the air, then diving to the seafloor through Susu, Shi Jin and the others reached the place in no time.

In the past, to go to Fenxing City, Shi Jin had needed the Legend of Bahai to carry him, or the Gem Cat—but now he had the ability to reach Shenyuan City on his own.

This time, Shenyuan City had no idea Shi Jin was coming, nor had he given any advance notice, so when he arrived, the Dragon Palace troops guarding the Shenyuan City secret realm were astonished. They had not expected Minister Shi Jin of the Shiyun rank to come.

Still, Shi Jin counted as high-ranking in Qixia City, and even had his own palace in Shenyuan City. Coming to Fenxing City was like coming home—he loved the place.

After entering Fenxing City, Shi Jin did not hurry home, but first paid a visit to Dragon Mama.

"You brat, what are you doing here!"

Inside the Ice Dragon Palace, the Frost Dragon looked at Shi Jin with undisguised disdain.

Whenever Shi Jin showed up, nothing good followed.

"I missed you, so I came to visit," Shi Jin said with a grin.

"Cut the nonsense. Spit it out and be quick about it—you're delaying my cultivation," the Ice Dragon said.

"It's nothing major. I was thinking of going to Tingxiang for a few days of fun later. Isn't your old home over there, Dragon Mama? Want to come along for a few days of travel? The Gem Cat will be going too."

The Frost Dragon was about to refuse, saying it had no time—but then it suddenly thought of what the boy Shi Jin had gained in the Seven Isles.

One mythic item, two legendary ones!