I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 149

Chapter 149 Lizard (Containing Dragon Extract)

I moved with Baek Yeonyeong.

The place we arrived at was a dark basement.

To be precise, it was a large space that could be called a common area.

Judging by the round objects scattered here and there, presumed to be *Bijokdan*, it seemed like a space used for training within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Given that no one else was around, it was likely Baek Yeonyeong’s personal space, or perhaps she had driven others out.

“Let’s begin now.”

Baek Yeonyeong took out a *Core*.

A white-tinted *Core*.

Its appearance had slightly changed from what I had seen last time.

[Core of Oduza]

It wasn’t just the appearance that had changed.

Last time, it had certainly been called a *Top-grade Core*.

But now, it was called the *Core of Oduza*.

A named *Core*, better than a *Top-grade Core*, for sure.

Baek Yeonyeong must have done something to it after obtaining it.

Like how the Snake Queen had refined the *Core* of the *Beihj Bird*.

“Gahk…”

Though I was a lizard without greed, just looking at it made me drool.

“I thought it would take at least three years. I didn’t expect to hand over this *Core* so soon.”

When I first met Baek Yeonyeong, I was merely a tiny lizard.

I coveted that *Core*, but I neither had the strength nor the audacity to claim it.

But Baek Yeonyeong waited for me to grow, and now I was finally worthy of receiving it with confidence.

Even for Baek Yeonyeong, this *Core* wasn’t something you’d come across often.

If she sold it instead of consuming it, she’d get an enormous fortune.

But she gave this precious *Core* to me.

Ordinarily, I should’ve pretended to refuse a few times, but I’m a greedy lizard.

I immediately opened my mouth wide.

“I would like to give you the *Core* of the *Beihj Bird* as well, but understand that I cannot give it to you just yet.”

“Gahk!”

For most *Cores*, swallowing them wouldn’t be much of a problem.

Ever since I was a gecko lizard, my body had been gulping down *Cores*.

But the *Core* of the *Beihj Bird* was a bit different.

A being called Taese had once possessed it.

Naturally, its *Core* was likely contaminated with that power.

If I swallowed it, who knew if tentacles would sprout from my arm instead of claws?

And no matter how strong I was, swallowing two named *Cores* at once would be overwhelming.

Before giving me the *Core*, Baek Yeonyeong explained a few things.

“This is a special *Core*. Do you know about it?”

“Gehk gehk.”

Thanks to my wild instincts, I had a rough idea.

“The being that was once an *Imoogi* has transformed into *Oduza*.”

*Imoogi*.

Its true form was an enormous *Titanoboa*.

It was several times larger than the real ones, making it truly deserving of the *Imoogi* title.

What is an *Imoogi*?

A snake that has undergone endless training is called an *Imoogi*.

If it continues its training and creates a *Dragon Pearl*, it can ascend and become a dragon.

Thus, an *Imoogi* could be considered a type of dragon.

…Of course, saying this in front of a real dragon would likely get me struck by lightning, but still, it could be said to contain 2% dragon essence.

The *Imoogi* I had seen back then had given up on the path of the dragon and instead turned into a five-headed snake.

Baek Yeonyeong was stronger than it had anticipated, so like the *Beihj Bird*, it had evolved for immediate survival.

The *Beihj Bird*, *Oduza*, and the Snake Queen.

These three had one thing in common.

All three were aspiring to become dragons.

Especially the Snake Queen, whose species, the *Basilisk*, was even described as a type of dragon.

__________________________

【Basilisk】

A mythical giant serpent also called a type of dragon.
Its left eye contains the power of poison, and its right eye holds the power of petrification.
It is a top predator with the potential for infinite growth.

__________________________

Of course, it wouldn’t be a complete dragon.

About 10% dragon essence?

Since *Oduza* was a few levels below the Snake Queen, you could say it contained about 3%.

“*Oduza* is an *Imoogi* that has transformed. In a positive light, you could call it a lower dragon species.”

If I consumed such a *Core*, I would get one step closer to becoming a dragon.

Even though I was a lizard, I already had some dragon-like traits.

My scales, my blood.

Even my fangs could, in a way, be seen as dragon-like.

Of course, I didn’t expect to become a dragon just by eating that *Core*.

Even the *Beihj Bird*, with all its power, didn’t become a dragon.

The dragon it had aspired to become must have been an existence far more powerful.

Still, consuming this would probably elevate me from a *Lizard (Dragon Essence Added)* to a *Lizard (Containing Dragon Extract)*.

I might even transform into a species similar to the Queen.

Maybe something like a *Giant Green Basilisk*?

“Since it’s a lower dragon species, you won’t transform into a dragon immediately after consuming this. But it’s better than not eating it at all.”

I made a chomping motion in the air.

It was my way of asking for it quickly.

“It should be a good match for you.”

Baek Yeonyeong placed the *Core* in my mouth.

Chomp.

Gulp.

I swallowed the *Core* immediately.

“Sit in a meditative posture.”

A *Core* of this level doesn’t just end with swallowing.

You must regulate your energy through meditation to fully harness its power.

With the vast amounts of energy already stored in my body, I needed to organize it.

“I will help guide the flow of your energy, so relax your strength.”

Disruptions during meditation can cause serious internal injuries.

But a master like Baek Yeonyeong seemed unconcerned about such things.

…She could handle it, right?

I trusted Baek Yeonyeong.

After all, during our first encounter, she had lifted me up while I was meditating.

I sat in a meditative posture, and Baek Yeonyeong sat behind me, placing her hands on my back.

“Gahk….”

Even with my scales, I felt an itchy sensation.

“Focus.”

“Gehk.”

I closed my eyes and circulated the inner energy within my *Dantian* throughout my entire body.

“Feel the energy.”

Feel the energy.

She must have meant the energy from the *Core* I had just consumed.

“Which energy among the Yin-Yang and Five Elements do you sense?”

Yin-Yang and Five Elements.

Light and darkness.

Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water.

*Hwary* was Fire, and *Seolsam* was Water.

The *Core* I had just eaten must also possess a unique energy.

This would likely determine my next evolution.

“That energy….”

Baek Yeonyeong trailed off.

Wooong.

Inner energy flowed from her hands.

Her energy scoured my body meticulously, like a master inspecting her disciple.

After quite some time of searching, she spoke, sounding perplexed.

“…Hiya, what exactly have you done?”

Huh?

*

A precious *Core*.

Not just any *Core*, but a named *Core*, yet it had no effect.

I couldn’t sense any energy from the Yin-Yang and Five Elements as my master had mentioned.

Had I not possessed the eyes of the wild, I might have thought it was just a scam or a ball of dough, but I confirmed with my own eyes that it was indeed the *Core of Oduza*.

And my master wasn’t someone who would trick me with something like this.

Baek Yeonyeong placed her hands under my now enlarged armpits and lifted me up.

“Open your mouth.”

“Gahk….”

That’s quite a rude request.

It felt like she wanted to see my insides.

…Well, technically, she was.

I opened my mouth as she instructed.

She stuck her head into my mouth and examined various things.

I briefly wondered what would happen if I closed my mouth, but then I remembered who she was.

If it had been Tang So-yeong, she’d probably scream, “It’s slimy! It’s dark!” like some generic long-living creature, but Baek Yeonyeong wouldn’t do that.

Besides, if I closed my mouth, my teeth would shatter into pieces.

“Gehk….”

I swallowed my saliva while keeping my mouth open.

“I can’t comprehend this. How could the *Core’s* energy disappear in an instant? Hmm….”

The *Core’s* energy disappeared!

What on earth was happening?

Did it accidentally go down my windpipe instead of my esophagus?

“It definitely digested, but why can’t we sense the energy?”

Baek Yeonyeong was deep in thought.

Thinking was good.

I was also curious about where that *Core* had gone.

But could she do it outside my mouth, please?

She finally withdrew her head just as my jaw was about to unhinge.

“Hiya.”

“Gehk gehk.”

I put on the face of a sad lizard.

I had somehow wasted the *Core* Baek Yeonyeong gifted me.

It probably wasn’t my fault, but I made sure to look as pitiful as possible.

Maybe then, my master would pat me and toss me another *Core*.

“This is just my guess, so don’t take it as certain.”

Baek Yeonyeong looked intrigued.

“You can’t feel Oduza’s energy because you’ve absorbed it all.”

“Gehk?”

What does that mean?

If I had absorbed it, shouldn’t I be able to feel its energy in my *Dantian*?

Just like I could with *Hwary* and *Seolsam*?

“You’ve likely converted all of Oduza’s energy into potential.”

Converted into potential?

“Usually, at best, 30% of the energy gets converted like that, but for it to disappear without a trace…”

Let’s break down Baek Yeonyeong’s explanation.

Normally, after consuming the *Core of Oduza*, I should have gained its power.

That’s how it worked with *Hwary* and *Seolsam*.

By mastering their power, I could control both fire and cold to some extent.

But now, all of Oduza’s energy had vanished.

Not because it ran away, but because I had absorbed all of it.

Where?

Into what she called my potential.

“It’s not bad. Though there’s no immediate change, it will be far better in the long run. Besides, aren’t you on the verge of undergoing another transformation?”

Since my battle with the *Beihj Bird*, I hadn’t evolved.

I hadn’t gained enough levels.

But now, my potential had risen once again.

In other words, I only needed to level up a little more to see my next evolution, and the options had become much better.

“Gahk….”

At this rate, am I really going to become a dragon?

Maybe something like a Black Dragon?

“Hiya. Do you remember the Dragon Gate in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains?”

The Dragon Gate.

A place Baek Yeonyeong had mentioned before.

It referred to the four peaks, and she had told me that a spiritual beast had once evolved into a dragon there.

“If you were to conquer the trial at the Dragon Gate with your current state, even I can’t predict what you’d transform into.”

Numerous battles.

The immense amount of rare elixirs and *Cores* I had consumed.

The potential raised by the Great Heaven and Earth Shift.

And now, I had even converted all of Oduza’s energy into potential.

And if I conquered the trial at the Dragon Gate on top of that?

“Gehk gehk gehk gehk!”

Master.

Please keep this a secret from that unnamed cult leader.

Otherwise, they might ask me to become the sacred beast of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

I can already see my bright future.

The Snake Queen falling for me, Shikshik falling for me, Jjaekjjaeki falling for me, Tus and Pus falling for me, even Nephila Jurassica falling for me…

Why are all these scenarios just about everyone falling for me?

“Are you that pleased?”

“Gehk!”

I felt like I could run to the Dragon Gate right now.

“I’ll adjust the plan to send you there as soon as possible.”

As expected of my master.

“Now then.”

I know when to strike while the iron is hot.

“Take your stance.”

…Huh?

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Gahk…?”

Come to think of it, this place.

It’s deep underground, isn’t it?

There’s no one around.

It’s pretty spacious.

Even if I scream, no one would hear me.

…And there’s a lot of *Bijokdan* stacked up too.

“Let’s see how strong you’ve become.”

Baek Yeonyeong rolled up her sleeves.

Now I understood.

I understood what *Gaetsalgoadal* had felt.

“Gehgehgehgehgehk!”

Save me!

—

**New Elements:**

1. **단전** = *Dantian* = Neutral
2. **음양오행** = *Yin-Yang and Five Elements* = Neutral
3. **화리** = *Hwary* = Neutral
4. **설삼** = *Seolsam* = Neutral
5. **용문** = *Dragon Gate* = Neutral
6. **십만대산** = *Hundred Thousand Great Mountains* = Neutral