The fantastical architecture was an eye-opening sight for Li Guanqi. Layer upon layer of buildings were embedded with a dazzling array of pearls and iridescent seashells.
There was a singular beauty to the underwater city.
As the lake waters closed back over them, rich water-attribute spiritual qi washed over everyone's travel-weary bodies.
Thickets of multihued coral shimmered with faint light.
Schools of fish darted past in groups along the lake bottom, swimming in circles around the Spirit Fish clansmen.
Occasionally, massive spirit fish could be seen gliding by, already possessing nascent spiritual energy.
In the distance, an azure water curtain enveloped a cluster of structures.
Yu Bo explained, "The divine dragon's aura of pressure is simply too immense. Without this barrier to hold it back, the fish at the bottom of the lake would drop dead in an instant."
Li Guanqi nodded with a smile, marveling slightly as he watched their gills puff and ripple.
Many Spirit Fish Clan children transformed into fish of their own accord the moment they entered the water, the scales on their bodies gleaming with blue light.
Their eyes were bright and lively, and a pair of barbels drifted along with the water currents.
As they approached the buildings, an escort lined both sides to welcome them.
Experiencing the Spirit Fish Clan for the first time, Gu Li and Meng Wanshu found everything novel—especially this shapeshifting transformation.
Gu Li pulled an old man aside to strike up a conversation, and after obtaining his consent, even probed into the elder's body with his spiritual sense.
Sparks of inspiration erupted in his mind like a volcano. Gu Li plopped down onto the ground like a madman.
Taking out a sheet of yellow talisman paper over a zhang across and pulling out his talisman brush, he sprawled on the ground and began frantically drawing inscribed talismans.
Yet stroke after stroke, he halted and rejected his own work; soon, his brow furrowed deeply.
Seeing him like this, Li Guanqi chuckled. "Let's go. We'll head over and take a look first. Pay him no mind.
"However... it seems this elder of your clan will have to keep him company here.
"If he truly gains any insight, the Spirit Fish Clan will surely reap no small benefit."
Yu Bo naturally would not refuse; anyone with discerning eyes could tell Gu Li was an extraordinarily powerful talisman master.
"Lao Zhao, just keep this young friend company."
The white-bearded elder nodded with a smile. Yu Bo then led the rest to the rear area where Jiuxiao was coiled.
Passing through layers of array screens, Li Guanqi finally saw Jiuxiao.
Jiuxiao's aura was now exceedingly weak. Its colossal body was coiled atop a tall tower, breathing heavily.
Mangled scales were torn across its body, and the wound on its chest was the most conspicuous of all.
Seeing this sight, Li Guanqi felt a sharp ache in his heart. Flashing over to Jiuxiao's side, he gently stroked its brow.
Perhaps sensing Li Guanqi's aura, Jiuxiao shifted slightly, mustering its strength to open its eyes.
Its massive dragon eyes held a natural majesty, and a faint aura of pressure radiated outward beyond its control.
Frightened, Yu Bo tumbled straight out of the air, reverting to his true form.
An old fish over a zhang long flopped onto the ground with a smack, eyes rolling back.
Meng Wanshu knew she shouldn't laugh, but Yu Bo's true form flopped twice, stiffened, blew white froth from its mouth, and rolled its eyes back—it was simply too hilarious.
Li Guanqi was taken aback for a moment as well, and helplessly raised a hand to send the elder out of the barrier.
Turning his head, he saw the Dragon Scale Divine Wood and other heavenly treasures that had already been laid out nearby.
Naturally, as expected, there was also a large chunk of white radish and two leaves radiating dense life force.
Jiuxiao glanced at the radish and green leaves on the tray beside it, an anxious look surfacing in its eyes.
Li Guanqi patted its large head and whispered, "Don't worry, Pengluo is fine now. He's drinking with Ye Feng and the others."
Jiuxiao's eyelids drooped slightly as if finally breathing a sigh of relief, nuzzling its large head gently against Li Guanqi's chest.
Cradling Jiuxiao's snout, Li Guanqi said softly, "All right, all right. Now let's heal your wounds.
"Perk up!"
Jiuxiao dearly wanted to respond, but its eyelids felt heavier and heavier. Trembling several times, it forced itself not to close them.
Li Guanqi knew there was no time to lose. Looking back at Meng Wanshu, he said, "Wanshu, lend me a hand."
The woman gave a slight nod and raised her hand, lowering the massive Jiuxiao down from the high tower.
Li Guanqi reached out to draw all the items into his hands. Looking down at the Dragon Scale Divine Wood, he abruptly shattered it!
Boom!
Pressure expanded as the essence fluid within the Dragon Scale Divine Wood was forced out.
A fist-sized blob of spiritual fluid emanated an inexplicable, profound pressure. Jiuxiao looked at the fluid in astonishment.
Its eyes were filled with confusion and puzzlement, but it knew this thing was beneficial to it.
Roar...
A low growl rumbled out. Li Guanqi carefully parted the shattered scales and seeped half of the spiritual liquid into the wound.
Moving in front of Jiuxiao, he fed the remaining half into its mouth.
An emerald-green glow radiated from Jiuxiao's wound, and the injury began to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye!
Li Guanqi glanced at the blood that had long since dried on its scales. His eyes flickered, and he gave a slightly unnatural cough.
Then, he collected all the dried blood from Jiuxiao's body, filling three large jade bottles to the brim.
The colossal Jiuxiao didn't mind, simply assuming Li Guanqi was bathing it...
Little did they know that on the streets of the Spirit Fish Clan, Gu Li had already drawn a sprawling mess of inscribed talismans stretching over ten zhang.
No one could make sense of the scribbled markings resembling ghostly scrawls; perhaps only the elder at his side could guess a bit of it.
Gu Li was trying to create an unprecedented Transformation Talisman!
While certain existing inscribed talismans could completely alter one's disguise, disguise was all it was—a sweep of divine sense would instantly see through it.
Yet if Gu Li truly unlocked the secret behind the Spirit Fish Clan's transformation, the Transformation Talisman he created would be immensely useful.
A human transforming into a demon beast or spirit creature, or a beast transforming into human form!
After all the essence of the Dragon Scale Divine Wood was infused into Jiuxiao, the dragon closed its eyes.
Coiling slightly, its aura began to surge madly.
Meng Wanshu sensed Jiuxiao's aura in great surprise and exclaimed, "Jiuxiao's bloodline... is undergoing atavism!
"Though this power isn't massive, the process is definitely underway!
"Still, its vital qi and blood are too severely depleted."
Li Guanqi pried Jiuxiao's jaws open and stuffed Pengluo's arm and leaves inside.
He said, "It has... sacrificed far too much for me."
Meng Wanshu naturally sensed the dense, pure dragon qi contained within Li Guanqi's body.
With flushed cheeks, she said, "Indeed. Jiuxiao willingly offered its essence blood for your body tempering—who under heaven could handle that?"
Li Guanqi looked at Meng Wanshu with a teasing grin. "You can."
With that said, Li Guanqi suddenly remembered something. He pulled out a jade slip and inquired through it, "Elder Sun, do you have any pills that replenish qi and blood suitable for demon beasts to take?"
At Pill Peak, Sun Miao was lecturing the disciples when he flusteredly fished out his jade slip and blurted, "Yes! Absolutely! I'll bring them right over to you!"
With that, the old man rushed off in a whirlwind. From behind, he looked like an old hen with flared wings, hiking up the hem of his robe as he sprinted away.
Leaving behind a crowd of disciples staring at one another in bewilderment.
"Uh... understandable. That sounded like Elder Li's voice."
"No wonder. All these years, the Peak Master has been bragging about his companion flame."
Chapter 850