I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1734 - 172: Bowing Down or Looking Up

Chapter 1734: Chapter 172: Bowing Down or Looking Up

The muddy ground was torn open like cotton candy by the thick dragon claws, and the Dragon Beasts cautiously placed the body they were holding into the hole, one of them even shedding tears.

A few prison guards leading the way saw them acting like this and laughed out loud in delight.

The tearful Dragon Beast roared and turned its head, its crimson eyes filled with murderous intent.

Anyone watching would not doubt that the next second the reckless prison guards would be torn to shreds like paper by the Dragon Beast.

But after the furious roar, the Dragon Beast made no further moves, only beating the ground forcefully with its dragon tail, causing the land to shake and the mountains to tremble.

The prison guards were not afraid at all; instead, they laughed even louder and urged, "Stop dawdling, if you make the warden impatient, the three of you won’t have an easy time—oh no, you’re not people now, you’re Dragon Beasts, hahaha, hahaha!"

Stung by a piercing remark, the three Dragon Beasts angrily turned away and meticulously buried the body, even erecting a tombstone.

After doing all this, the Dragon Beasts were in no hurry to leave, but stood still in front of the tombstone, as if reminiscing about something.

Only after being urged several times by the prison guards did they reluctantly follow, looking back three steps at a time, and return to Luyang.

If the high towers on the ground of Luyang City were the prison, then the underground caverns were the research institute belonging solely to the warden Cao Lie.

What was supposed to be an area patrolled by the Dutian Heavenly King housing serious offenders had, after Cao Lie’s lengthy management, been transformed into his very own kingdom.

But as the saying goes, ’new king, new court,’ when Cao Jinyu was in charge, Hanging Sky City would allocate an astonishing amount of resources to Luyang City every year.

However, after Cao Jinyu’s death, An Jingtian directly abolished this expenditure. But someone as strong as Cao Lie, how could he not secure the resources he needed?

After making a little deal with the Nong Family of Yancang for some research results, the issue of resources was smoothly resolved.

And what made Cao Lie even happier was that the new Great Commander who took over was completely hands-off, no longer meddling with his research, so he didn’t have to explain to anyone, even if he used up all of Luyang City’s materials.

This feeling of unparalleled freedom greatly improved Cao Lie’s efficiency, and in direct proportion to the efficiency, were the research results.

After more than ten thousand failed attempts, he finally found a way out for this research that nobody had faith in!

Looking at the three Dragon Beasts huddling in front of him in fear, Cao Lie’s gaze was as fervent as if he were looking at a treasure.

"Don’t be scared, you are different from those failures locked in iron cages."

Cao Lie, who had risen from his Jade Throne, smiled and said, "You have clear minds, are not influenced by beastly instincts, and still retain the judgement and wisdom of being human. What’s more important is that you now possess the powerful bodies and Spiritual Power control of Dragon Beasts. You must have already felt it, although martial artists of Fierce Realm and fierce beasts are comparable, the reserves and control of their Spiritual Power are not on the same level at all."

"What’s even more valuable is that you have obtained the Dragon Clan’s long lifespan, giving you ample time to strengthen yourselves and break through boundaries! Grandmasters, the other shore, with enough time, these will no longer be your shackles."

"And what have you lost? In truth, you have lost nothing. Perhaps you are not used to your beastly form right now, but once you complete the Spirit Qualification of your beastly body, what’s so difficult about returning to human form?"

Looking at the dazzling light bursting from the eyes of the Dragon Beasts, Cao Lie continued, "Think about it! You’re only temporarily giving up your familiar human body, but in return, you’ve gained the Spiritual Power reserves and control of Dragon Beasts, the formidable physical capabilities of Dragon Beasts, and even the long life of the Dragon Clan. If this path becomes successful, you will be the saints leading a new era of martial arts for the Human Race."

"And unlike those names written in history books, you will exist for a thousand years, two thousand years. Do you know the Blood Sovereign who ravaged Longzhou during the Dark Era?"

"This ancient great demon has appeared again in Xiehe, proving that not only Human Race’s broken mirrors extend lifespans, but the Demon Race does too."

"Whether you want to become humans again or seek revenge against me, success is more likely with the bodies of Dragon Beasts than before."

With an easy countenance, he spoke of the hatred that Dragon Beasts concealed beneath their fear. Cao Lie carried his left hand behind his back, while his right thumb and forefinger were almost but not quite touching: "The only small difficulty you need to overcome is adapting to the brand new bodily organs, meridian structure, and internal organ structure of the savage beasts."

"This process, if left to your own devices, is undoubtedly a fanciful impossibility. Therefore, you need help, and now in Xiehe, only one person has both the capability and the willingness to assist you, and that is me—Cao Lie."

"So, think it through and then come find me."

Having said that, Cao Lie left the underground palace, leaving behind the Dragon Beasts shivering and curled up in the corner.

Many of life’s difficulties lie not in presenting you with one right choice and one wrong choice for you to decide.

Instead, they outright give you two or more wrong choices, and regardless of which one you pick, it is a mistake.

But the biggest mistake has never been the choice itself, but rather the relinquishment of the right to choose, at the moment you feel you have nothing left to lose and might as well let nature take its course.

You will find that the outcome can often be worse than the worst scenario you can anticipate, and now the three Dragon Beasts are faced with such a choice.

Cao Lie is undoubtedly their enemy, but the disparity in strength is simply too vast; so vast that even if they obtained the power of the Dragon Beasts, they wouldn’t have the courage to rebel.

So vast that even if they broke through to become city grandmasters, they would stand no chance to resist, and the other party didn’t leave them any room to refuse at all.

One of the three Dragon Beasts roared in grief and indignation, faintly discernible were human-like tones within its roar.

This was Shi Sanke telling his two brothers that, despite their unwillingness, they must accept Cao Lie’s suggestion.

The Dragon Beast cornered in the corner clawed at Shi Sanke’s chest and roared furiously; this was Fu Yuanshan’s angry response to Shi Sanke’s decision.

Shi Sanke didn’t dodge or retaliate but just coldly stared at the furiously roaring Fu Yuanshan.

This silent gesture expressed eloquently the words he wished to convey.

Don’t be deceived by Cao Lie’s smooth talk and soft words; they really aren’t important at all.

Looking at those spirit beasts in cages in this underground palace who are living a fate worse than death, you can see how many tens of thousands of times Cao Lie has conducted such experiments.

Perhaps they were the first three successful cases, but now that they have been successful, Cao Lie has the means to create three more cases, thirty cases, or even three hundred cases.

Shi Sanke does not know how long this attention will last, but he knows that if they resist and refuse to cooperate, their end will be no better than those spirit beasts who die miserably in the cages.

So-called rationality is to make decisions unaffected by emotions even at the most desperate times, but sadly, human nature never shines because of rationality.

When they became Dragon Beasts, they were not in despair because they believed they were still humans and might still have a chance to revert back.

When they buried their own corpses, they were not in despair either; though their bodies were buried, as long as they were still alive, and as long as there was life, there was hope.

But when Shi Sanke expressed the intent to accept Cao Lie’s arrangement, the Fu Yuanshan Dragon Beast and Lu Zhongyan Dragon Beast truly despaired.

Because they could no longer distinguish whether the person standing before them was their respected, wise, and brave senior, the compassionate and righteous leader.

Or whether it was a shameless Dragon Beast, without any bottom line or decency.