Chapter Four: Rebirth and Transformation into the Asura Form
“What is this?!”
Before Xiao Zizai could react, the assailants outside surged forward once again. He had no choice but to raise his hands in defense, condensing golden qi in his palms.
“Golden Bell Shield!”
Bang—
“What?!”
To his astonishment, the very Golden Bell Shield that had allowed him to single-handedly fend off a group of martial monks without injury was powerless against their attack. His entire body was blasted backward, crashing through the wall!
Boom!
Falling onto the muddy ground outside the house, Xiao Zizai scrambled to his feet, only to see several figures swiftly encircle him. Without a word, they launched their assault.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The clanging of metal and iron filled the air. He could only summon all his strength to maintain the Golden Bell Shield, but even then, he struggled to withstand their strange, overwhelming force. The fierce qi quickly invaded his body!
“If this continues... I’ll die!”
A thought flashed through his mind. Red glimmers appeared in his eyes as his entire aura surged with a terrifying killing intent.
Bang!
At that moment, he blocked a punch and immediately gathered qi in his left hand to perform the “Great Compassion Hand,” while his right hand formed the “Flower Pinching Finger.” In one swift motion, his right hand aimed directly at an assailant’s throat!
However—
Crack!
“Hmm?!”
When Xiao Zizai grasped the man’s throat and tried to crush it, he found the neck was as hard as metal and stone. No matter how he exerted his qi, he could not budge it an inch.
Then, in the next instant—
Boom!
He was blasted away again, thrown like a torn sack. He fell heavily to the ground, utterly powerless. The Shaolin supreme skill he wielded was completely ineffective, and an unprecedented sense of helplessness surged within him.
But just then—
Xiao Zizai suddenly felt something slip from his sleeve. It was the pill that Xia Ye had given him earlier. His eyes flickered with determination.
Facing the advancing figures once more, he understood he had no choice. Without hesitation, he swallowed the pill and got to his feet.
---
“Ugh!!!”
The moment the pill entered his mouth, it transformed into a clear stream flowing down his throat. It rapidly coursed through his limbs and body, causing his entire being to tremble as his temperature soared and his skin flushed red, as if immersed in a blazing sea of fire.
Then—
Creak! Creak!
The bones and muscles throughout his body began to tremble. The grating sound of grinding echoed from within him. His limbs convulsed violently, and his muscles swelled visibly before his eyes!
“Ahhhhhhh!”
Overwhelmed by excruciating pain, he howled toward the sky!
As his muscles rapidly expanded, his skin tore open only to instantly heal again. His bones grew thicker and stronger, as hard as steel.
In mere breaths, his already tall frame of 1.86 meters grew even larger, reaching about 2.5 meters. His bulky, sinewy muscles resembled those of a giant!
At this point, his transformation ceased. But his shoulder blades began to writhe, two fleshy buds rising on them...
In the next moment—
Pfft! Pfft!
Two thick arms sprouted from the buds, indistinguishable from his original limbs. A single clenched fist caused his muscles to bulge fiercely, sending ripples of qi radiating outward!
Hiss—
As his new arms formed, hot steam billowed from his body, distorting the air with its heat. His skin deepened to a blood-red hue, like a battle-hardened demon drenched in blood.
“Huff... huff... huff...”
Only now did the unbearable pain begin to subside. The transformation seemed complete. He panted heavily, examining his body with shock.
Though his eyes remained bloodshot, his mind was crystal clear. The chaotic haze that had accompanied his red-eyed state vanished entirely. He felt his body thoroughly, every drop of blood flowing within him.
Clenching his fists lightly, an explosive force instantly gathered. He glanced at the approaching figures with a sudden sharpness in his gaze, suppressing his surprise and curling his lips into a faint, cruel smile.
Thud!
In an instant, the ground beneath where he stood caved inward, and he vanished from sight.
Whoosh!
The next second, his enormous frame appeared before one of the attackers, delivering a straightforward, devastating punch—
Boom!
The man exploded instantly, shattered into pieces!
---
Blood and flesh splattered onto Xiao Zizai. The blood’s qi was absorbed by his skin, transforming into strands of deadly energy embedded within his flesh and bones.
He could clearly sense his strength increasing slightly, his body growing sturdier by a fraction. A surge of exhilaration flooded him like a tide, immersing him in unprecedented ecstasy.
Swish—
Without hesitation, Xiao Zizai pivoted, his eyes blazing red as he faced the remaining assailants with a merciless grin.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The valley echoed with dull thuds and the sounds of flesh tearing apart. The monstrous enemies crumbled like paper, reduced to heaps of shredded meat in moments!
“Huff... huff... huff...”
Xiao Zizai dispatched all foes effortlessly. His heavy breathing was not from exhaustion, but from reveling in the thrill—a pleasure he had never known before.
Throughout the battle, he noticed his newly grown arms felt natural as if born with him, smooth and precise in every strike, much to his delight.
Indeed, at this moment, Xiao Zizai harbored no resentment toward his monstrous new body. Instead, he felt it was his true self—he was a “monster” by nature, and such a body suited him perfectly.
Only now did he fully comprehend the words Xia Ye had spoken earlier. He had to admit, that man knew him perhaps better than he knew himself.
“Ah, right…”
Thinking of Xia Ye, Xiao Zizai immediately moved to return and check on him.
But perhaps because it was his first time transforming into this Ashura form and his body was not yet fully accustomed, the moment he lifted his foot, his strength faltered, and he collapsed to the ground!
Gurgle, gurgle...
Then came the sound of flesh and muscle shifting. To his surprise, his newly grown arms began retracting slowly, and his body started shrinking back. Within moments, he returned to his original size.
At the same time—
Tap, tap, tap!
Footsteps sounded from the direction of the wooden house. He struggled to lift his eyes and looked toward the noise, freezing in place.
There stood Xia Ye, now dressed in clean clothes. He stepped out of the house and approached him with a smile, a satisfied expression upon his face.
“Sorry, I took the liberty to give you a little push. I hope... you don’t mind?”
He apologized softly, though no true regret showed on his face. Then, bending down, he hoisted Xiao Zizai onto his back and carried him back inside the house...