Chapter 653 - 353: 10 Moltings to Become a Dragon, Dragon Tendons Achieved! (Part 2)

The agony of the meridian shedding process was excruciating. At this moment, Su Mu clenched his teeth tightly, his body trembling uncontrollably from the pain, even convulsing violently.

He could not see the path ahead nor did he know how many more times he had to shed his skin now.

After hearing the Sun Family’s words, the confusion in Su Mu’s heart dissipated, replaced by a resolute determination. He set a goal for himself, no matter what, he had to persevere until the tenth shedding!

At this moment, Su Mu found it difficult to speak, only able to silently express his gratitude in his heart.

Time passed by, second by second. In the underground martial arts arena, Su Mu truly felt the torment of staring death in the face for the first time, but he was in pain and pleasure, thoroughly enjoying this process of getting stronger and transforming every minute and every second!

Strength brings a sense of security, it is the most comforting.

While Su Mu was immersed in the painful yet joyous transformation, the undercurrents in the Cyan Fish Gang surged, even many ordinary disciples of the gang felt it.

The next Lunar New Year was less than a month away, but this celebration likely wouldn’t be peaceful.

During these days, it was as if an invisible heavy pressure hung over the Cyan Fish Gang, suffocating everyone, possibly due to this oppressive atmosphere or perhaps some people’s machinations in the dark.

More and more disciples within the gang, even those from the Gang Leader’s faction, began to voice concerns, questioning why the Cyan Fish Gang Leader Baili Hong didn’t come out of seclusion to preside over the situation. Was he going to disregard the efforts of the gang’s ancestors?

Gradually, others started to voice their opinions, suggesting that since the Gang Leader was currently ignoring the big picture, indulging in cultivation, it might be better for him to step down and choose a new Cyan Fish Gang Leader. After all, the gang couldn’t be leaderless!

Following this, the situation escalated, and rumors spread that Vice Gang Leader Gongyang Jue had emerged from seclusion, his strength greatly increased, seemingly about to step beyond the Fourth Grade!

With this development, a few days later, the situation evolved into a contest between Young Master Baili Feng and Vice Gang Leader Gongyang Jue to select a new Gang Leader. After coming out of seclusion, Gongyang Jue’s ambitions began to truly manifest.

The stronger a cultivator is, the better their ability to seek fortune and avoid disaster. Gongyang Jue had the support of a major force outside the Cyan Fish Gang, receiving external resources, significantly boosting his strength during seclusion.

Yet for some reason, upon emerging from seclusion, Gongyang Jue felt a vague sense of unease, as if a great catastrophe was about to befall him. But things had come to this point; he couldn’t possibly give up.

Having reached this stage, he must fight, as his subordinates and those supporting him couldn’t allow him not to fight, even if it meant rivers of blood.

One man’s success stemming from countless sacrifices, Gongyang Jue was willing to pay the price but would never give up. The position of Cyan Fish Gang Leader, held by Baili Hong for so many years, should now pass to him. He believed his ability to manage the gang was no less than Baili Hong’s, possibly even surpassing him.

For so many years, hadn’t he been handling many of the gang’s affairs? Yet, why was Baili Hong so radiant, receiving the admiration of everyone in the Cyan Fish Gang? This glory, this honor, should include a share rightfully his.

"Tell our people to expedite the process... I want Baili Gang Leader gone from the Cyan Fish Gang by next year. Rest assured, once I’m in power, you won’t be treated unfairly."

"Yes, we’re willing to go through fire and water for Gongyang Gang Leader!"

Upon hearing the words ’Gongyang Gang Leader,’ Gongyang Jue burst into a wild laugh, but his gaze toward the Cyan Fish Gang’s forbidden area grew increasingly somber. A year ago, his backers had told him that Baili Hong was as good as dead.

Gongyang Jue was smart; he realized that what his backers feared wasn’t any member of the Baili Clan, but that old snake, Qiu Mountain.

Those people were using him; Gongyang Jue was merely a blade in their hands, a blade to test Qiu Mountain. As long as Qiu Mountain showed any signs of weakness, the ones holding the blade behind him would reveal themselves, and then they would strike Qiu Mountain down with overwhelming force.

At that time, the Cyan Fish Gang might undergo an earth-shattering change, altering the power structure in Donglai, but he didn’t care, as long as he secured the position of Cyan Fish Gang Leader.

Being used and becoming a blade isn’t a privilege everyone holds.

Recently, Gongyang Jue has been frequent and unrestrained in inviting other neutral Hall Masters within the gang who hadn’t pledged allegiance, promising them great rewards and profits, encouraging them to support him in the upcoming storm, preparing for his ascendancy to the position of Gang Leader!

Unlike Gongyang Jue’s faction, which no longer hid its ambition, the Gang Leader’s faction, consisting of the Baili Clan and Cyan Flood Dragon Hall, was restless and suspicious, growing increasingly dissatisfied and furious.

Just at this critical moment, the Young Master disappeared. Rumors spread within the gang, suggesting that their Gang Leader, Baili Hong, had already perished, a truth supposedly concealed by the Baili siblings and the Great Elder Qiu Mountain, keeping everyone in the dark.

On the day this news spread, even many staunch supporters of the Gang Leader’s faction began to waver internally, pondering whether continuing to support a Young Master who hadn’t shown his face for years and had recently vanished was the right choice.

After all, if Gongyang Jue ascended to power with his vindictive nature, they would likely face a brutal purge. They had to secure a fallback for themselves.

Recently, Baili Hongtang was exhausted and overwhelmed, facing rumors which were, in fact, truthful. She was unable to refute them effectively, as any attempted defense would only make things worse unless her father reappeared in front of everyone.

"No, the third brother closed off the martial practice area from the inside; he must not be disturbed at this critical moment of cultivation."

Baili Hongtang, the Second Miss, could only do her best to reassure the people, but she also sensed that the situation was slipping out of control, and people were leaning towards Gongyang Jue’s faction. She learned that some in the Gang Leader’s faction had privately started contacting Gongyang Jue.

"Baili Hongtang, you must hold your ground... As long as you can hold out until the third brother and brother come out of seclusion, the situation will surely! "

Baili Hongtang motivated herself, steadied her mind. This time, if she moved, it would be decisive, and she would clear out the traitors within the Cyan Fish Gang with the force of thunder.

All this, for now, had nothing to do with Su Mu. He was engrossed in the excruciating process of the Jiao Tendons shedding and impacting the Dragon Tendons, forgetting self and time, focusing solely on achieving the ten sheddings to complete the transformation into Dragon Tendons!

At the third shedding, the patterns on his meridians slowly became clear from previously being blurry.

At the fifth shedding, the changes within each tendon were astonishing; Su Mu perceived that each of the twelve major tendons was constantly subdividing into finer tendons. These fine tendons seemed weak but could easily withstand tens of thousands of pounds of force and even more terrifying destructive power.

When these tendons twisted together under the mysterious inscriptions, they contained indescribable strength!

At the seventh shedding, Su Mu’s breathing was heavy like a beast, gasping for breath, his eyes bloodshot, his body, transformed into one of a bloodied man, constantly warning of the imminent point of complete collapse.

Even with Su Mu’s powerful will, which mastered four Daoist Martial Arts, he frequently experienced intense disorientation, with past memories fleetingly flashing before his eyes, and even long-sealed memories of past lives flickering like a carousel.

He knew that if he relaxed for a moment, all would be in vain. The night before dawn was the darkest, so he began to relentlessly pierce his brow with a mental sword to maintain the last thread of consciousness with this insane method of self-harm.

Time passed, twenty days flew by.

"Roar roar roar—!"

In the tightly shut underground hall, a loud and uncontrollable roar rang out, seemingly depleting the youth’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

"Succeeded!"

The next moment.

The youth’s head drooped, showing a hint of wild joy as he collapsed heavily in the pool of blood. After the boy fell unconscious, however, his body erupted with an unimaginable exuberance of vitality.

The bleeding stopped almost immediately within a few breaths, the terrifying wounds on his body healing, crusting, and completely recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The body, after twenty days of ravaging, was chaotic like a tangled skein.

Yet, the boy’s powerful internal organs were methodically circulating the Five Elements and Yin-Yang Power, featuring bones akin to golden beams supporting the ocean and meridians flowing with ancient and majestic patterns emanating ancient mighty power.

Even with the boy completely unconscious, an opened box full of Yin Evil Power near him dared not erode his body in the slightest!

Even with the boy completely unconscious, full of Yin Evil Power, even an open box near him dared not invade his body in the slightest!