Chapter 86: Second Layer of the Supreme Dragon Transformation Technique
The Supreme Dragon Transformation Technique was the mysterious cultivation method that resonated perfectly with his Heavenly Devouring Dragon bloodline. It was also the technique that had shaped his cultivation foundation, transforming him into an anomaly among other cultivators—a warrior who defied conventional understanding.
This technique naturally held a high place in Su Tianhao's heart, but he had deliberately set it aside for the sole purpose of pursuing a strong sword dao foundation. And now he had achieved it—what Su Lei called the Indomitable Sword Foundation, and what his mother's inheritance revealed as the Realm of Perfect Edge.
Now it was time to explore this precious technique once more.
By the time he left the Dragonspire Forest, Su Tianhao had already broken through to the Martial Disciple Realm and had also reached perfection in the first layer of the Supreme Dragon Transformation Technique—the Supreme Dragon Body Tempering Method. Having satisfied both requirements, he had long since unlocked the second layer of the technique.
"Time to unlock the secrets of the second layer..." Su Tianhao's voice rang out crisp and clear in the silent courtyard, like a scholar opening a long-forgotten tome—eager and expectant.
Closing his eyes, Su Tianhao sat cross-legged beneath the shifting shadows of the oak tree, sinking all his mind and focus inward with practiced ease.
The Supreme Dragon Transformation Technique.
As if the inherited memories understood his intentions perfectly, the technique immediately appeared in his consciousness without needing active concentration to locate it—manifesting like an ancient scroll unfurling before his mind's eye.
The inherited memories responding to will—that was the additional benefit he'd gained after unlocking the second layer of his memories.
As the name appeared within his consciousness, Su Tianhao suddenly felt a wave of nostalgic emotions wash over him, as if looking at a long-lost friend after years of separation.
"This—" Su Tianhao was stunned, his inner thoughts pausing. "This never happened before... Could it be because I awakened the second layer of my inherited memories?"
Since awakening the second layer of his memories, he had noticed something peculiar. He had inherited some emotions along with the knowledge—fragments of feelings woven into technique and insight. It was similar to what he'd felt when he saw the Nine Heavens Sword Scripture for the first time, that inexplicable sense of connection.
Su Tianhao didn't pay much heed to the mystery and immediately delved deeper into the technique, his blood vitality surging powerfully as if the technique itself was calling to his very bloodline—a song only he could hear.
---
Supreme Dragon Transformation Technique
A legendary cultivation method tailored specifically for those bearing the bloodline of the Supreme Dragons.
Said to be left behind by a Supreme Dragon Monarch who defied the heavens themselves, this technique enables its practitioner to walk the path of true draconic ascension. It is not merely a method of growth—but a metamorphosis of essence, soul, and destiny. By cultivating this technique, one does not simply gain power—they transcend mortality, shedding the shell of limitations to awaken the might of a Supreme Dragon.
The technique is divided into Twelve Transformative Layers, each aligned with a major cultivation realm. Every layer unlocks unfathomable benefits—body refinement, elemental harmony, soul awakening, domain supremacy, and even law comprehension. With each step, the practitioner draws closer to perfection, and at the final layer, attains the ability to transform into a true Supreme Dragon, standing atop all creation.
Only those with latent Supreme Dragon bloodline may even hope to cultivate the first layer. For others, attempting to walk this path invites nothing but madness and death.
---
Su Tianhao smiled knowingly, a distinctive flutter stirring in his heart. These were exactly the same words that had appeared in his mind when he'd tapped into the technique for the first time. At that time, he had been filled with awe and excitement like a child who'd just received candy—but now there was only a sense of gratitude and acknowledgement.
Though his eyes remained closed in deep meditation, a peculiar smile transformed his serene expression.
As Su Tianhao sank deeper into contemplation, he once again came upon the first layer of the technique—the Supreme Dragon Body Tempering Method.
The Supreme Dragon Body Tempering Method focused on the Martial Apprentice Realm and transcended ordinary body tempering techniques by a vast margin.
The most obvious benefit it granted was a two-hundred-pound increase in strength with every minor realm breakthrough—double that of other cultivators. But it went far beyond that simple advantage. It enhanced body endurance and recovery speed, improved spiritual energy absorption efficiency, and gradually awakened draconic instincts that aided in combat awareness and precision.
When Su Tianhao had read through this before, he hadn't thought much of it—the benefits seemed straightforward enough. But reading through this part again with his current understanding, he paused.
'I didn't think much of it before... But now... it explains a lot,' Su Tianhao thought inwardly, understanding crystallizing like ice forming patterns.
'It didn't just resonate with my bloodline but also my physique.' Sudden clarity struck like lightning.
Finally he had answers. This explained why his physique would evolve the stronger he grew, why it seemed to develop new capabilities with each breakthrough. It also explained why the absorption and refinement speed had increased dramatically after multiple breakthroughs from the time he'd first awakened. More importantly—instincts. Su Tianhao's combat instincts were terrifyingly strong, and it was also what had aided his mastery into assimilation of the sword. His instinct had already surpassed that of most Martial Masters despite being only a Martial Disciple.
'Turns out it was dragon instincts all along,' Su Tianhao mused inwardly, a new sense of enlightenment gracing his mind like dawn breaking. 'Truly remarkable...'
At this moment, Su Tianhao's mind was at complete peace—perfectly tranquil and settled, almost as if nothing else existed in the world but the Supreme Dragon Transformation Technique. The warm sunlight cast a gentle glow on his face, and the soft rustling of leaves combined with distant chirping of birds added to the profound serenity.
With such a tranquil state of mind, coupled with the fact that he had long since unlocked it, the second layer of the Supreme Dragon Transformation Technique slowly unveiled itself like a veil lifting to reveal a majestic mountain peak previously hidden by clouds.
---
Second Layer: Supreme Dragon Essence Refinement Art
Realm: Martial Disciple
Focus: Essence Refinement
The Second Layer of the Supreme Dragon Transformation, just like the First Layer, channels the essence of a Supreme Dragon into the cultivator's physique—but not for tempering. For refinement. Unlike other body refinement techniques, it doesn't just refine the body but also the essence itself.
---
"This—" Su Tianhao paused for a moment, a flicker of amazement blooming in his heart. "Heavens! It actually refines essence?!"
What was essence?
It was the core being of any living thing that defined their unique qualities, traits, and fundamental characteristics. It was also the core of the body that determined the talent and future potential of any cultivator—the very foundation upon which all advancement was built.
During his farewell with Yuexin, Su Tianhao had learned that his mother had actually left a part of her essence within her spiritual will to help him awaken her sword insights without causing dangerous backlashes. If it were any other cultivator attempting such actions, it would undoubtedly deal severe injuries to the body and even affect their talent and future potential permanently.
Even a Martial Saint was no exception to this immutable rule.
Su Tianhao's mother, however, was different. Because of her heavenly constitution that allowed her to recover her essence and body by drawing power from the moon itself, she was able to recover her essence even after giving away a part of it—thereby escaping the dire consequences that most Martial Saints dreaded with every fiber of their being.
From this alone, one could see how incredibly important essence was.
"If this technique refines the essence, doesn't that mean it stimulates growth in everything—including body, talent, and potential?" Su Tianhao drew in a sharp breath as the profound implications sank deep into his mind.
His heart burned with curious hunger, motivating him to dig deeper into the technique's mysteries.
---
...The technique draws out the draconic potential of one's talent, bloodline, and physique. With every breakthrough, it draws forth phantom dragon roars that resonate with the practitioner's essence, refining the body with the force of dragon might.
Every breakthrough refines the physique and washes away body impurities. Every breakthrough grants a two-thousand-pound increase in strength—double that of a Martial Disciple realm cultivator.
At Peak Mastery, the body becomes flawless and the Untainted Body is achieved. Vitality becomes like raging waves and endurance as firm as mountains. Advanced Draconic Instinct is also attained.
---
Su Tianhao was completely fascinated, his consciousness drinking in every word. Five things particularly caught his attention:
It doesn't just refine the body but also the essence.
Washes away body impurities.
Grants a two-thousand-pound increase in strength.
The Untainted Body is achieved.
Advanced Draconic Instinct is also attained.
Any one of these benefits would be considered heaven-defying. Although the other four actually built upon the first one, it didn't make them any less shocking—each was a prize that cultivators would kill to obtain.
"Washing away body impurities..." Su Tianhao mumbled, his voice trembling in awe.
He knew what this truly meant for him. After all, he had experienced something similar when he first awakened his bloodline and physique.
The so-called impurities were toxins that naturally existed within mortal bodies as a result of eating mortal food or inhaling mortal air. They accumulated over time like sediment in a river—unavoidable for every human being. However, the fewer impurities a person had in their body, the faster their cultivation speed became. For this reason, everyone desperately wanted to rid themselves of their impurities.
Su Tianhao's eyes gleamed with peculiar brightness, a smile creeping unknowingly onto his lips.
'Although there exist resources that help cleanse bodily impurities, they're extremely rare and astronomically expensive,' Su Tianhao thought inwardly, his mind calculating rapidly. 'Even with those so-called miraculous spiritual lakes and heavenly grounds, the amount of purification would be minimal at best... but yet the Supreme Dragon Essence Refinement Art can achieve such precious effects continuously!'
What truly fascinated him wasn't just this ability alone. Setting aside the two-thousand-pound increase in strength that was already completely absurd—beyond what should be possible—one could even achieve the Untainted Body.
What was the Untainted Body?
It was an extremely rare physique that no mortal could ever naturally possess. Although it wasn't technically a heavenly constitution, it granted benefits in no way inferior to a heavenly constitution—and to those who already possessed a heavenly constitution, it was no different than receiving a blessing directly from the heavens themselves.
The Untainted Body was a physique only achievable when the body became completely free of impurities—meaning the body is flawless without any toxins whatsoever, pure as newborn jade.
What did that mean in practical terms?
Better talent. Better cultivation speed. Better potential. Such a physique didn't exist in the mortal realm at all—it was the stuff of legends.
"Truly remarkable," Su Tianhao nodded with a broad smile spreading across his face, satisfaction warming his chest.
And finally, the Advanced Draconic Instinct.
'Although I don't know exactly what Advanced Draconic Instinct entails... it must also be exceptional,' Su Tianhao thought, his expression full of warmth like someone who'd just received an unexpected gift.
After all, even if he didn't fully understand the benefits of attaining Advanced Draconic Instinct yet, just from the benefits basic dragon instincts had already provided—even allowing him to achieve the Realm of Perfect Edge without conscious thought—this feat alone already demonstrated that Advanced Draconic Instinct wouldn't be simple at all.
Su Tianhao was completely marveled by all these benefits, his mind still reeling from the implications.
"This is only the second layer... What happens when I awaken the third or fourth?" Su Tianhao muttered in awe, his eyes widening as imagination painted possibilities.
However, before the excitement could fully take root and distract him, Su Tianhao suppressed it—balancing passion with prudence. Only one thought remained crystallized in his mind—
Cultivate.
Cultivate and test these benefits for himself. Experience them firsthand rather than merely imagining their effects.
Su Tianhao's golden eyes flashed with inner light beneath closed lids, his smile shifting into iron determination that brooked no compromise.
"It's about time I left the 1st level Martial Disciple Realm..."