I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 291

I abandoned Qi Deviation and picked up Tathagata Divine Palm.

Though it was my first time seeing the book, I could read it effortlessly.

This, too, was a blessing from my status window.

Of course, it wasn’t like a game where reading one book instantly registered Tathagata Divine Palm as a skill.

But I could at least understand the stances and movements required to execute it.

Still, just knowing the movements didn’t mean I could use it right away.

It was easy to read, but much of it was still deeply profound.

Regardless, having another hidden card was always a good thing, so I eagerly continued reading.

Who knows? Maybe I’d master Tathagata Divine Palm in a desperate moment.

After all, my body had already attained the enlightenment of I Alone Am Supreme Under Heaven—so it wasn’t as if I was completely disconnected from Buddhism.

Granted, learning Nine Yin Bone-Crushing Claws and Black Death Palm was a bit of a problem, but surely Buddha’s mercy would overlook such minor details.

With Tathagata Divine Palm tucked safely in my possession, I continued walking, carrying the Red Dragon on my back.

“Heheh, who would’ve thought I’d ride on top of the Divine Beast?”

“Geggek.”

At my current size, I could carry twenty Tang Soyeongs without issue.

So carrying just one Red Dragon was nothing.

Of course, it was a bit odd for a Divine Beast to be carrying a follower, but Gae Gak Sect was already an unconventional place.

Besides, the Red Dragon could always let me ride her someday.

“What? Are you saying you want me to carry you next time?”

Her gaze turned oddly playful.

“...So that’s what you’re into, huh, our Divine Beast?”

...What is she even talking about?

“You said you wanted to ride me someday.”

Well... I mean, what guy wouldn’t dream of riding on the back of a massive, fire-breathing dragon?

It was the ultimate fantasy!

And besides, wasn’t she also enjoying riding on top of a huge, black-scaled lizard?

It was basically the same thing.

“Hmm... Alright. I’ll make it happen. Once we finish this mission, I’ll let you ride me.”

“Gek!”

Finally! My dream of riding a dragon was coming true!

“I was actually hoping to be the one riding, but... this isn’t bad either.”

She said something strange, but I ignored it.

Even the Serpent Queen sometimes gave me looks like that while coiling her tail around me.

Biting her lower lip, making a somewhat suggestive expression...

“Gek.”

...Something’s off here.

“Geggek.”

I quickly changed the subject.

If I didn’t, I had the unsettling feeling that I’d end up as a crispy, roasted lizard.

The best way to divert the conversation was to focus on our mission.

The Red Dragon and I shared a common goal—

Hunting the Ice Dragon and the Thunder Roc.

It wasn’t the best topic to bring up, but it had to be discussed.

“Tch, so dull. But don’t worry. Honestly, if it were the old me, I would’ve gone straight for them without even meeting you first. But not anymore.”

The Thunder Roc and the Ice Dragon were her mortal enemies.

With her fiery personality, it wouldn’t be surprising if she reduced the entire area to ashes in a fit of rage.

But that was the old Red Dragon.

The one before me was different.

Her fire-like temper had cooled, leaving only the warmth of the flames.

“I haven’t forgotten my grudge, but I know charging in alone won’t solve anything. I was wondering when to bring it up, but since we have time, I might as well tell you now.”

Information.

This was the most important thing.

All my battles started by gathering intel on the enemy.

Their names gave me a general idea of what they were, but hearing about them directly from the Red Dragon was far better.

“First, the Thunder Roc—also called the Thunderbird. As its name suggests, it controls lightning and wind.”

The Thunderbird—a famous spirit beast.

A divine bird that manipulates thunder, lightning, and storms.

A legendary entity from Native American myths, also known as the Raijin Bird in some cultures.

“...And it was the one who killed my parents.”

Her expression darkened.

Even if her personality had changed, remembering her parents’ deaths was bound to stir emotions.

“I was too busy running to gather details, but I do know one thing—it’s strong.”

The Red Dragon’s parents were also considered dragons.

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And yet, the Thunder Roc killed them.

Its strength was undeniable.

At the very least, it had to be a Super Peak-level spirit beast.

Possibly even stronger.

I had taken down two Super Peak spirit beasts before, but that was Shimma’s doing, not mine.

“The second one is the Ice Dragon. I encountered it while fleeing after my parents were killed. Unlike me, it wields ice. It has four legs and two wings. It’s a bit larger than me, but its overall body structure is similar.”

The Ice Dragon.

Hearing "dragon," I had expected an Eastern-style, serpentine dragon.

But it seemed to be more like the Western dragons.

That was valuable information.

A creature’s body structure dictated its fighting style and weaknesses.

“Its cold is unnatural—strong enough to freeze my heart solid. Though, of course, it’s nothing compared to the warmth of our Divine Beast.”

“Gek?”

Sorry, but I barely have any heat-related powers?

I ate a Fire Pill once, but that wasn’t enough for me to actually use fire in battle.

“Hmm... You don’t realize it yet, Divine Beast. But trust me—its cold won’t even touch you.”

I appreciated the confidence, but... wasn’t she the one who should be fighting the Ice Dragon?

“There might be other spirit beasts, but for now, these two are the only ones we need to focus on. I can take care of the rest in one shot.”

I trusted her firepower.

The only issue was that I might get caught in the crossfire.

“...I don’t know exactly how strong they are, but I don’t think we’ll lose.”

It might sound arrogant—typical of a Western dragon.

But she earned the right to be confident.

“Still... something’s bothering me.”

I listened closely.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

As a mid-tier dragon, her intuition was worth paying attention to.

“The Thunder Roc and the Ice Dragon. The fact that these two appeared together is strange.”

That was true.

Why them?

Of all the spirit beasts Jinryong could have sent, why these two, who had a history with the Red Dragon?

“I’m sure there’s something behind this. Of all the spirit beasts, why them? Did they know each other before? If so... was my parents’ death planned from the start?”

It was all too perfectly connected.

The Thunder Roc, who killed her parents.

The Ice Dragon, who separated her from her younger sibling.

And now they had both returned.

“...No, that can’t be. Back then, I was just a young dragon. There was nothing to gain from killing me.”

Something wasn’t right.

If they wanted a dragon’s Neidan, killing her parents would have been enough.

But they didn’t stop there.

They chased after her and her sibling, even after they escaped.

And not just any spirit beasts—two high-tier ones.

If their goal wasn’t just to kill a young dragon, then why?

And as the Red Dragon said, there was no practical gain from doing so.

“I need to find out why. And now... I finally have the power to do it.”

The Red Dragon looked at me.

“Geggek.”

I, too, was curious about their true motives.

Why did they do something like that?

And after hearing the Red Dragon’s words, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of discomfort.

It wasn’t anxiety—it was pure irritation.

After walking a bit further, both the Red Dragon and I flicked our tongues.

Yes, at the same time.

It might have looked strange, but for reptiles like us, flicking our tongues was how we smelled things.

“...I’m starting to pick up a scent.”

“Gek.”

“Wait, over there....”

The Red Dragon pointed toward a corner of the forest.

There lay shattered wood and torn fabric.

“...A carriage?”

It was easy to tell that it had once been a carriage.

“Ugh, I didn’t expect to see something like this here.”

The Red Dragon frowned.

Then she turned to look at me—and for some reason, her expression turned awkward.

“Gek?”

What’s wrong with a carriage?

“What’s wrong with it? Ah, right. Our Divine Beast is still a baby.”

I wasn’t a baby, but I decided not to argue.

“Hmm... This is a bit difficult to explain.”

The Red Dragon hesitated before continuing.

“You do know that Western dragons and the dragons of the Central Plains look different, right?”

I didn’t know why both were still called "dragons," but yes, I was aware.

“If they look like me, they’re from the West. If they look like a snake, they’re from the Central Plains.”

If they had wings like the Red Dragon, they were dragons. If they had long, serpent-like bodies like the Serpent Queen, they were Eastern dragons.

Though the Serpent Queen wasn’t technically a dragon yet, she was at least a low-tier dragon species.

“In the West, carriages like this... have a bit of a special meaning.”

A special meaning?

“Geeeek?”

She was making things unnecessarily complicated.

“Don’t look at me like that! I don’t know how to explain it either!”

Her face turned slightly red.

...What exactly was she talking about?

I had no choice but to examine the carriage myself.

“Ugh.”

How should I put it?

It looked... used.

“I’ve only heard stories, but I didn’t think I’d actually see something like this....”

The carriage was in bad shape.

It looked like it had been handled very roughly.

“...But at least we’ve found a way to lure out the Ice Dragon.”

...Excuse me?

Well, if she thought it was useful, that was a good thing.

Maybe, as another dragon, she understood something from this that I didn’t.

I still had no idea what this special meaning of the carriage was supposed to be.

“Divine Beast, listen carefully. I have a plan to capture the Ice Dragon.”

The Red Dragon put a finger to her lips.

She wanted me to be quiet.

...Why was she acting shy?

Her face was still red.

“I hate to do this, but... we need to prepare a carriage.”

...Why was she saying that so seriously?

“One with a very large rear.”

...Carriages have rears?

“Then... no matter how strong the Ice Dragon is, he won’t be able to resist.”

Okay, seriously—what the hell is a carriage supposed to be?!

“Huhu, I’m really looking forward to his face when he realizes... the beautifully crafted carriage was actually a trap.”

Why was she so sure that a dragon would fall for this?

........

I had a vague idea of what she meant.

But for the sake of preserving my illusions about dragons, I refused to bring it to the surface.