Chapter 176 – Transformation: Muscular Dragonkin

“Si Ye, your son-in-law’s luck isn’t too good. He just entered the Illusion Realm and has already encountered enemies.”

As Mu Lin and the others entered the Illusion Realm, outside, an enormous screen materialized in mid-air, projecting the actions of all the Dao Palace Disciples inside the Tower of Illusory Heavens.

Consequently, the wealthy, influential figures, and military personnel outside could clearly observe Mu Lin and the others’ movements.

While watching, the many spectators also engaged in conversation among themselves.

Some of this discussion was about networking, but more often, it revolved around the Disciples on the screen.

Some debated who among those on screen might claim first place, while others discussed their own familiar juniors or relatives.

At that moment, one person noticed Mu Lin and Chu Lingluo’s predicament and let out a slightly exaggerated exclamation of surprise. In a tone of concern, she addressed Chu Lingluo’s mother.

However, her worried words did not please Chu Lingluo’s mother. A trace of disgust visibly appeared on her delicate brows.

This disgust was directed both at Mu Lin and at the woman before her.

This woman was named Wei Jing, a noblewoman from an aristocratic family like herself. The two had a history of conflict.

That previous clash had ended with her winning by a narrow margin, but now, Wei Jing, believing she had found a weakness, had come to gloat.

Feeling disgusted, Chu Lingluo’s mother’s eyes turned somewhat cold, but she quickly concealed this trace of aversion. Her expression returning to calm, she said indifferently, “Are you probing? Actually, there’s no need for that.”

“???”

“What do you mean?”

Chu Lingluo’s mother’s seemingly nonsensical words left Wei Jing bewildered.

And just as she was at a loss, Si Ye’s composed voice continued to ring out: “I heard the rumors from a few days ago. It’s said your daughter, Wei Man, is actively pursuing Mu Lin. I understand, Sister Jing, you’re thinking of your own daughter and want to eliminate the competition. But I want to say, you’ve misunderstood my Lingluo. She and Mu Lin are just teammates, not lovers. So, you don’t need to worry.”

“Pfft…”

Such a brazen reversal of blame immediately drew laughter from some onlookers.

As for Wei Jing, she flushed crimson with anger.

“Shut up! It’s your daughter who’s pursuing Mu Lin! My daughter is the one being wronged!”

“Alright, no need to hide it. If you weren’t concerned, why would you be so anxious?”

“You…”

Chu Lingluo’s mother, sharp-tongued and striking first with the reversal, left Wei Jing somewhat unable to counter. But soon, Wei Jing began to laugh.

“Hehe, you say your daughter is just Mu Lin’s teammate, but your daughter doesn’t seem to think so. When Niece Lingluo was holding Mu Lin’s arm, she looked quite intimate.”

“Your daughter is also chasing Mu Lin quite aggressively…”

“Your daughter was holding Mu Lin’s arm…”

“Your daughter…”

“Your daughter was holding Mu Lin’s arm…”

In terms of ability, Si Ye far surpassed Wei Jing. However, Chu Lingluo and Mu Lin were too close, and they made no attempt to hide it. This tangible relationship left Si Ye unable to refute effectively.

Just as Si Ye was losing ground and Wei Jing felt she had won, laughing heartily, a sudden exclamation of surprise rang out beside them.

“Huh? That Mu Lin is quite capable…”

The noblewoman who spoke drew everyone’s attention, and then, they noticed that on the screen, Mu Lin was already engaged in battle with the demonic fiends.

His formidable performance exceeded many people’s expectations.

—In recent days, rumors had spread like wildfire throughout the city, giving everyone some understanding of Mu Lin. However, in the perception of the noblewomen, the more they learned about him, the more they despised him.

Coming from a humble background, arrogant and conceited, shamelessly relying on women for support, and showing no sense of responsibility whatsoever—this was the impression the noblewomen had of Mu Lin. It could be said that they saw no redeeming qualities in him at all.

But now, they realized they might have been mistaken about something.

…

Unaware of the discussions about him outside, Mu Lin, after surveying his surroundings, was already preparing to confront the demonic fiends.

Of the three teams that had descended, only Mu Lin intended to take action.

Looking at the apocalyptic scene around them and sensing the powerful aura of demonic fiends everywhere, the Demon Fox Clan and the Merfolk Clan immediately thought of retreating, hiding, and gathering information.

“Splash…”

The Merfolk Clan summoned water currents, while the Demon Fox Clan employed illusion art. Soon, both teams vanished from sight.

This cautious approach was their consistent survival strategy as weaker clans.

Only Mu Lin remained in place.

Noticing this, the horde of evil spirits that had slaughtered their way through the mansion immediately turned their attention to Mu Lin.

The races of these demonic fiends were chaotic—there were zombies, malevolent ghosts, black goat demons, and corrupted anomalous humans.

Though their races differed, the monsters’ gazes upon Mu Lin and the others were filled with greed and malice.

“Hehehe…”

“Souls!”

“Fresh flesh, so hungry…”

Looking at the horde of evil spirits, Mu Lin’s eyes lit up—these were all points.

With no intention of summoning paper figures, Mu Lin, eager to test his physical strength, stepped forward and charged toward the evil aberrations before him.

“Boom!”

As his foot landed, a thunderous heartbeat echoed, and Mu Lin’s form underwent a dramatic transformation.

[Lightning Heart]

A single horn emerged from Mu Lin’s forehead, and dark scales, like armor, covered his entire body.

Beyond these changes, Mu Lin’s physique also transformed drastically. Now half-human, half-Jiao Dragon, his figure was immensely robust, standing a full 2.3 meters tall. Behind him, a thick tail at least 1.8 meters long swung lightly.

Beyond his size, a unique aura of majesty emanated from Mu Lin after his transformation, making the surrounding air feel oppressive and heavy. The demonic fiends felt an overwhelming sense of suffocation.

The sudden transformation and terrifying pressure caused the demonic fiends to halt in their tracks.

They sensed Mu Lin’s terror and were intimidated by him.

However, while they were frightened, Mu Lin was not.

At that moment, he felt immense power surging through his entire body, giving him the desire and impulse to destroy everything.

He did not suppress this impulse.

Clenching his fist and stepping forward, Mu Lin vanished from his spot like lightning.

No, not just like lightning—as Mu Lin clenched his fist, actual lightning crackled and burst from his fingertips.

“Boom!”

“Not good!”

The disappearance of Mu Lin, swift as a flash of lightning, sent a wave of unease through the horde of Demonic Fiends.

Immediately, they began searching in all directions, desperate to locate Mu Lin’s whereabouts.

But it was already too late.

Before they could even react, Mu Lin, moving like lightning, had already crossed dozens of meters and appeared before a Bronze Armored Zombie.

“Hiss!”

The sudden appearance of Mu Lin caused the Bronze Armored Zombie to instinctively reach out with both hands toward him.

Unfortunately, under the stimulation of electric currents, Mu Lin was both faster and stronger.

Standing at a height of two meters and thirty centimeters, Mu Lin was able to strike down at the Bronze Armored Zombie from above.

He thought it, and he did it—clenching his fist, gathering his strength, Mu Lin threw a heavy punch, like a cannonball, straight toward the zombie’s head.

“Boom!”

(End of Chapter)