Chapter 270: A Sudden Transformation

The "Strangeness" likely isn't confined to sect ruins. Li Fan offered the most reasonable deduction.

"Throughout the Xuanhuang Realm, isolated and intermittent incidents of strange occurrences causing harm have taken place. Both the 'Smiling Fruit' and the 'Restless Mind Grass' might be products of 'Strangeness' erosion."

Judging by the Heaven's Secret Hall's actions, the "Strangeness" appears to be under constant, strict surveillance. Presumably, the Five Elders' Council is doing the same.

Li Fan pondered for a moment, then shook his head inwardly: "It's good to know about this, but it's not something a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like myself needs to worry about. Compared to the 'Strangeness,' the many powerful figures in the Xuanhuang Realm are far more terrifying."

The connection drawn from "Restless Mind Grass" to the potential existence of "Strangeness" in the Xuanhuang Realm was merely a minor interlude. Soon, Li Fan dismissed it from his mind.

Following Zhang Zhiliang's instructions, he cultivated peacefully within the Sky Profound Mirror while absorbing the as-yet unfully assimilated power of the "Restless Mind Grass" to strengthen his spirit.

Time flew by, and another half-year passed in the blink of an eye. Deep beneath the Congyun Sea, Ye Feipeng, who had been in a deep slumber, finally began to stir.

A loud, prolonged whale cry echoed from the depths of the ocean, continuously spreading throughout the surrounding sea. Upon hearing this sound, countless marine creatures on the seabed trembled as if facing a natural predator, unable to move, instantly losing all power to resist.

Above Ye Feipeng's head, the illusory figure of the Whale-Peng monster appeared along with the sound. The monster opened its massive maw and, as if ravenously hungry, took a mighty gulp. A colossal whirlpool formed as a result. Turbulent seawater, carrying countless affected marine creatures, was swallowed whole into the monster's mouth.

This continued for a long time; after devouring an unknown quantity of seawater and fish, the Whale-Peng finally sated its hunger. With a contented cry, it raised its colossal tail high and abruptly slapped it downwards. Only then did the giant whale re-enter Ye Feipeng's body.

Following this, Ye Feipeng's eyes fluttered, and he slowly awoke. He first paused, a little disoriented, as he surveyed his surroundings. Gradually, a series of images flashed through his mind, informing him of what had happened to him before and during his unconsciousness.

Ye Feipeng unconsciously touched his belly and murmured to himself, "Indeed, good fortune favors the virtuous. Not only did I survive a great calamity, but I also awakened the bloodline of the ancient mythical beast, the Kunpeng."

The fatty's eyes gleamed as he looked at a large rock on the seabed not far away. His body moved slightly, and in the next instant, he appeared beside the boulder. Without mobilizing any spiritual energy within him, relying solely on physical strength, he casually threw a light punch.

"Boom!"

Cracks appeared on the boulder, and moments later, it shattered with a crash.

"The power of the Kun, the speed of the Peng..." Ye Feipeng stared blankly at his fist, seemingly in disbelief. "The power of an ancient mythical beast is truly terrifying and formidable. Now, merely relying on the strength I can unleash, I should be able to fight on par with my pre-coma self..."

Immediately after, the fatty frowned: "But I am a direct descendant of the Ye family from Dali. How could I have this so-called mythical beast power within me? Could it be that my Ye family ancestors weren't human?"

Even though this deeply hidden power in his bloodline brought him unspeakable benefits, Ye Feipeng found it hard to accept for a moment. A trace of blue light suddenly flashed in his eyes as Ye Feipeng examined the somewhat blurry memories that had appeared in his mind along with the bloodline power.

"All beasts fleeing, saving a heavily injured Kunpeng..."

"So that's how it is."

After a long while, Ye Feipeng let out a sigh of relief. According to the inherited bloodline memories, long, long ago, one of his ancestors, by chance, rescued a severely injured Kunpeng. At that time, for reasons unknown, all demon beasts in the world were fleeing in panic. Out of kindness, his ancestor secretly chose to meticulously care for the Kunpeng, hiding it from others. After the Kunpeng's injuries fully healed, before departing, it gifted a drop of its essence blood to the ancestor as a token of gratitude.

"No wonder most of my Ye family ancestors were stout and possessed immense strength. So it was the effect of this Kunpeng essence blood. Unfortunately, they only passively utilized the power of the essence blood. They weren't able to truly develop its full potential. It wasn't until it reached me, aided by the Ocean Pearl, that its full effects could be completely unleashed."

After experiencing a life-or-death ordeal, the fatty had become much calmer. Had he suddenly gained such a fortune before, he would surely have been overcome with joy. Now, however, he wore a calm expression as he tested the Kunpeng essence blood's inheritance.

"Currently, the inheritance primarily consists of three abilities: Kun Devour, Peng Flight, and Startling Peng Transformation."

"Kun Devour: capable of devouring all matter in heaven and earth, transforming it into resources to strengthen oneself."

"Peng Flight: striking the water fiercely to ascend, soaring high, covering ninety thousand li in an instant. Its speed is no weaker than any escape technique."

"Startling Peng Transformation: the power of the bloodline applied to the body. The human body reverts to its ancestral form, and the Kunpeng reappears."

A sharp glint flashed in Ye Feipeng's eyes. In a mere thought, his already somewhat corpulent body expanded by another size. Furthermore, two abnormal lumps protruded high from his back. During this initial transformation, Ye Feipeng seemed to be in some pain. His face contorted, and green veins pulsed like coiled dragons beneath his skin.

"Ah!"

With an angry roar, two brown feathered wings unfurled from Ye Feipeng's back. Simultaneously, the image of a soaring Kunpeng appeared on his forehead. The transformation consumed a vast amount of energy, and the fatty gasped heavily, trying to recover.

After resting for a moment, he rose confidently. The wings on his back shimmered slightly. His figure transformed into a thin streak, and in the blink of an eye, Ye Feipeng appeared more than ten li away. It was several times faster than the speed he had always been proud of before falling unconscious!

"The Kunpeng rides the wind, traveling ten thousand li in a day. I can be even faster!"

With a thought, the True Intent of Green Wind surged within Ye Feipeng's dantian. Faint streaks of green light subtly appeared around his brown wings. After Ye Feipeng tested it again, he discovered that with the dual blessings of Green Wind and Whale-Peng Transformation working together, they surprisingly produced an effect where the combined power was more than the sum of its parts. His flight speed more than tripled!

"Speed is power! With my incredible speed, coupled with a physical body strengthened by the Kunpeng essence blood, merely crashing into them would be unbearable for most Foundation Establishment cultivators..."

As Ye Feipeng thought this, he unleashed his full speed, violently crashing into a submerged mountain peak below. A streak of light flashed, and the mountain collapsed, stirring up turbulent currents of murky seawater. Ye Feipeng was not yet satisfied; his momentum unchecked, he continued to charge into the distance, carving a deep and long trench into the seabed.

Only when his stamina was completely exhausted did he reluctantly cease his destructive behavior. He opened his large mouth wide, devouring the surrounding seawater once again until it was empty. Before long, Ye Feipeng was full of vigor once more.

"If I had this speed back then, I wouldn't have been captured by Zhang Zhiliang," he lamented inwardly. Recalling that scene, the fatty's expression inevitably turned somewhat grim.