Chapter 0717 – Leap Through the Dragon Gate: Ascension to King City

Contained within the thunderbolts was Tribulation Power.

Even without it, the sheer destructive force of the thunder was enough to obliterate heaven and earth. Thunder represented destruction—pure, raw devastation. Each bolt carried unimaginable power, capable of crushing everything in its path. All creatures under heaven feared thunder.

Now, however, the endless thunder transformed into liquid lightning—Thunder Water, Thunder Liquid. Just a single drop unleashed power no less than an actual thunderbolt.

When it entered the body, it caused every cell to tremble. One could truly understand the phrase "delicious agony."

Yet the Golden Dragon-Serpent showed no sign of retreat. Its scales shattered under the assault, falling away from its body, but were swiftly repaired using the power of fate (Qi Luck). It swam forward relentlessly, ascending against the current.

In its eyes gleamed excitement and devotion.

Its gaze never wavered from the Dragon Gate. As if the outside world no longer existed, it could neither hear sound nor sense pain. Its body radiated unyielding determination.

No matter what, it would reach the Dragon Gate and leap through it.

"The River of Fate, Thunder as Water—ascend it and leap through the Dragon Gate, and a flood dragon shall become a true dragon."

Huang Chengyan whispered softly.

"This is the Dragon Gate Leap. The second time I've seen it. This time, it will succeed. It must. If it succeeds, our Xuanhuang City will ascend to King City status."

"Go! Leap! You can do it!"

Countless citizens silently cheered, fueling the Golden Dragon-Serpent with their hopes. This was their spiritual embodiment of Qi Luck, the guardian spirit of Xuanhuang City. Their will fused into its soul.

Yi Tianxing said nothing. He simply watched quietly.

Nurtured over such a long time, fed by an ocean of Qi Luck, its foundation had grown incredibly solid. Now was the moment of truth.

Within the River of Fate, the Golden Dragon-Serpent surged forward. Lightning exploded around it, striking mercilessly. Its scales peeled off again and again, only to regrow rapidly. It twisted and charged ahead as though it held boundless strength within.

Visibly, it approached the Dragon Gate.

"It's said that the stronger the bloodline, the deeper the foundation, the faster the Dragon Gate leap—and speed matters. The faster the leap, the greater the impact. The greater the impact, the higher the chance of success."

Even Lord Kongxu couldn't take his eyes off the shining gold figure.

Amid the thunder, it looked like a streak of golden light—unstoppable.

"Go! Go! GOOO!!"

The citizens shouted in unison.

A massive wave of collective will merged with the dragon-serpent, accelerating its advance.

Breaking through. Over and over. Against the current.

ROOOAAAR!!

No one knew how much time passed—maybe only a few breaths, maybe an eternity—but the Golden Dragon-Serpent had already reached the base of the Dragon Gate. By then, it was in horrific condition.

Most of its golden scales had fallen off, its body charred black, torn and bloodied. It looked ready to die at any moment, as if it might shatter into pieces.

But at that instant, without hesitation, the Golden Dragon-Serpent leapt toward the gate.

One effort. Momentum builds once, fades the second time, dies the third.

Leaping the Dragon Gate must be done in one decisive strike.

Failure on the first attempt almost guaranteed failure thereafter. Real dragons were proud—they would never accept second place.

"The dragon's head signals great fortune. It must be first, decisive, and unyielding."

Clearly, the Golden Dragon-Serpent had no thought of retreat. Its only purpose: leap.

It stared dead ahead at the Dragon Gate, blocking out everything else. In its vision, there was nothing but that colossal gate.

The Dragon Gate stood nine zhang (30 meters) above the Black River.

In that leap, the dragon-serpent arced like a blazing golden crescent.

SWISH!!

The Dragon Gate constantly exuded a heavy pressure, like a mountain bearing down. But none of that could stop the dragon-serpent's conviction. It soared—straight into the Dragon Gate.

"It's in!"

"It made it!"

"Yes! Look—the head coming out the other side—it's a dragon's head!!"

All eyes were glued to the gate. As the head entered, the transformation began.

The once serpentine head morphed into something majestic, like the head of a steed. On top, two upright horns—not the plum blossom antlers of a true dragon, but straight "whisker-horns" like a bull's, one on each side.

As more of its body passed through the gate, an invisible power surged into it. Its bloodline began to evolve. An ancient force accelerated its transformation toward true dragonhood.

Golden scales spread across its body, gleaming brightly. The pressure it exuded was palpable.

A Flood Dragon!!

A fully transformed Golden Flood Dragon.

At the moment of transformation, it let out a sky-shaking dragon roar. Within that cry was a trace of true dragon majesty. Its body shrank from dozens of zhang to just nine zhang.

Claws emerged beneath it—two front, two rear. Each was a dragon claw, not a beast's paw, and had five dragon fingers each.

This was a Five-Clawed Golden Flood Dragon!

(五爪蛟龙)

It coiled in the air, roaring in joy. In its eyes, pure elation shone bright.

Above, the Dragon Gate vanished without a sound.

Simultaneously, the River of Fate reversed direction, pouring into the Fate Pool. The fountain of Qi Luck at its center became a bottomless vortex, devouring the incoming flow.

In moments, the pool ran dry.

Then, the vortex reversed direction, spinning clockwise—releasing the Qi Luck it had absorbed.

"It's yellow! The Qi Luck has turned yellow. It has evolved. This is the mark of a King City!"

Yi Tianxing's heart surged with joy.

The colors of Qi Luck rose in order: gray, white, red, yellow, blue, green, gold, purple, purple-gold.

Yellow—this was the Qi Luck of a King City. Radiant with royal might.

The pool now overflowed with yellow Qi, not muddy, but glowing with an aura of primordial weight—pure, noble, profound.

Yellow liquid surged like a fountain, filling the dry pool, which visibly expanded.

From 81 zhang wide, the Fate Pool grew with each breath, reaching an astonishing 365 zhang.

365—the number of the heavens.

"Yellow Qi Luck... This is royalty. King Cities truly begin the path of fate. Only a King City can bear the foundation of a Fortune Dynasty."

Master Lu's Eyes of Fate witnessed the changes, his heart filled with awe.

All of Xuanhuang City was now shrouded in a divine majesty.

More than just the Fate Pool was changing.

With the Golden Dragon-Serpent's transformation and Qi Luck's ascension, an unseen force flowed into every corner of Xuanhuang City.

The entire city, built from Willing Power Orbs, began to evolve. Its walls grew stronger, more solid, more immovable. Its defense capabilities increased severalfold.

Even the foundation beneath it silently expanded, nearly doubling in size.

All this without consuming more Willing Power Orbs. It was a natural evolution, guided by the will of heaven.

The massive plaque in the heart of the city flashed with light—then grew larger, transforming into a gigantic city gate inscribed with the glowing words:

Xuanhuang (玄黄)

The Palace Tree received divine energy. The City Lord's Mansion expanded rapidly. The tree itself thickened and grew, its branches stretching across the city like a canopy.

Its roots dug deep into the city's foundation, forming a web of support, making the structure as solid as bone and sinew.

The mansion grew tenfold in size, evolving into a true palace.

Gardens, backyards, courtyards, council halls, pavilions—even small palaces—emerged rapidly.

It now resembled a heavenly palace, wreathed in clouds, floating above the mundane world.

This is a King City—and this is a Royal Palace!

Its grandeur and sacred aura rivaled, if not surpassed, any palace of Earth's past.