His appearance was both familiar and strange—he bore a certain resemblance to Li Dong, yet differed in the finer details. His eyes held a complex duality: they possessed the guileless innocence of a child or youth, while simultaneously reflecting the seasoned maturity of a man in his prime or middle age. "Boss, you're finally awake! Looks like you and Sister-in-law Lan Yan were in quite a rush..."
Seeing the chaotic state of the bed and the lingering, carnal atmosphere in the air, the young man offered a knowing smile and a playful remark.
He seemed very familiar with Li Dong—and even knew Lan Yan. Moreover, the term "Boss"—in Li Dong's experience—was used by only one individual; or rather, one *orca*.
The Dragon King.
Upon learning that the ship was named "Dragon Palace," Li Dong had already had an inkling.
Taking a good look at the Dragon King, Li Dong asked with some surprise, "Little Hu, when did you reach the 'fixed-form' stage?"
"Little Hu" was another name for the Dragon King. He hadn't originally had a name—"Dragon King" was merely a codename assigned by the Chinese authorities. After being defeated and brought under Li Dong's wing, he had chosen the name "Li Hu" for himself.
For non-human entities like him, the process of transformation is categorized into three stages based on their degree of resemblance to humans.
The first stage is the "beast form"—much like the whale found at Fushima. The second stage allows for the manifestation of a human-like appearance; the higher an animal's intelligence, the easier it is to achieve this.
At this stage, these beings—or "demons," as they are sometimes called—can adopt various guises. This is the origin of the widespread legends about foxes shapeshifting into beautiful women.
During this phase, however, these entities cannot truly grasp human emotions. Lacking the capacity for human empathy, they are often notorious for their cruelty.
The final stage is "fixed-form." This transition is triggered when such a being truly understands and begins to possess human desires or emotions. Crossing this threshold means they lose the ability to alter their appearance, remaining in a single, permanent human form from that point forward. Once it takes shape, it will be able to absorb all the energy of this legend, ensuring that no one else can ever become a new "Dragon King."
Their strength also sees a significant increase.
Moreover, they have effectively shed the label of "otherworldly beings," as they are now capable of intermarrying with humans and leaving behind their own lineage.
Even their descendants possess certain unique abilities; the "Divine Child" of Fushima, for instance, is a descendant of the "Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox."
Li Dong could immediately tell that the Dragon King had achieved a "fixed form." Without such a fixed form, one's appearance remains fluid—and for beings who have absorbed folklore and manifested as the embodiment of specific legends, the number of potential forms can be vast.
In ancient times, beings like the Dragon King—who had absorbed the essence of myth and legend—were regarded as "deities." It was perfectly normal for them to shift their appearance; since every person envisioned the "Dragon King" differently, the entity could adapt its form accordingly.
However, such transformations were primarily projections of human imagery—mimicry rather than a fundamental change in nature. Consequently, subtle traces would always remain—stiff, unnatural features in their facial structure that would immediately betray their "otherworldly" origins to a discerning eye.
This is precisely why, in the eyes of the ancients, "deities" and "demons" were always perceived as possessing strange, non-human physical traits.
In short, they simply did not look human.
Yet, the Dragon King standing before Li Dong now bore no trace of being an "otherworldly" entity. He no longer resembled an orca wearing a human guise; instead, he appeared truly human, his features natural and seamless—a clear sign that he had moved well beyond the stage of mere shapeshifting.
"Big brother... I only just managed to fix my form recently."
The Dragon King rubbed his head, looking at Li Dong with a shy, slightly embarrassed expression—largely because his current appearance bore a striking resemblance to Li Dong himself. If the two were to stand side by side, an unsuspecting observer might well mistake them for relatives.
Li Dong nodded. Shapeshifting is no simple feat, and he felt a sense of gratification—after all, Xiao Hu, despite being an "otherworldly" being, had finally come to understand humanity.
It was also clear that he had exerted a profound influence on Xiao Hu; his physical appearance served as the best proof of this.
There is a common saying that one's outward appearance reflects one's inner state—a concept that holds especially true for non-human beings capable of shapeshifting. Only by harboring a deep, inner longing for another person could one come to resemble them.
When discussing the process of settling into a permanent form, one must naturally consider the catalyst that triggered it.
Li Dong was curious: for the Dragon King—who was once guileless yet completely oblivious to human emotions—to finally grasp them, he must have experienced a truly significant impact.
A peculiar expression crossed the Dragon King's face. He glanced at Li Dong, as if wanting to say something, but held back.
"I suppose it's because I've had much more contact with humans over the past few years..."
Ever since he was defeated and brought under Li Dong's wing years ago, the Dragon King had become one of China's "extra-system" strategic-level superhumans, serving as a guardian of the nation's maritime territories.
He hadn't been idle, either; while patrolling the seas, he assisted China in developing numerous offshore oil fields that had previously been inaccessible. In return, he was granted a substantial share of ownership.
By now, in terms of sheer net worth, the Dragon King could likely rank among the wealthiest individuals on the planet.
With such wealth at his disposal, he commissioned the construction of a 200,000-ton luxury cruise ship.
He named it the "Dragon Palace." As it turned out, the Dragon King—who is usually stationed in the East China Sea—had come to the waters off Shen City at the behest of Zhao Zhiran. Having remained in the area for quite some time, he was able to arrive on the scene almost immediately upon sensing Li Dong's presence.