Refining the True from the False: Becoming a God Starting with Devouring a True Dragon

"Where did you find the snake carcass?"

Zhou Fu spoke, even walking towards Wang Qi, his words carrying a hint of interrogation.

Seeing this man's attitude, Wang Qi sneered, "Sewage Alley."

"They're everywhere over there."

He disliked this person, both for the attitude he displayed and for his character as observed over the past few days.

Zhou Fu was speechless.

It's common knowledge that the sewer alleys are teeming with demons.

However, those demons were so cunning that even the fastest constables could only go in groups and dared not go alone.

If you're not careful,

The roles of prey and hunter must be reversed.

"How could you, a mere martial artist who only practices external martial arts, possibly kill so many snake demons?"

Zhou Fu pressed for an answer.

"Am I supposed to tell you what I ate this morning as well?"

Wang Qi's disgust was almost undisguised, but fortunately Zhou Fu's jealousy was also written all over his face, which made him seem less petty.

"you!"

Zhou Fu stared wide-eyed.

Suddenly, the arguing on the street caused a commotion in the courtyards on both sides of the street.

Before long, the doors on both sides opened.

Several men came out.

"Zhang the Soaphead, Liu the Stronghead!"

"Wu Zhuangtou..."

On Zhengyu Street, all the drivers are at the Inner Strength realm, and they are all everyone's superiors.

The previously unruly Zhou Fu also quieted down.

Zhang Yuan cast an approving glance at Wang Qi, but didn't speak immediately.

"Wow~"

Liu Zhuangtou, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise when he saw Wang Qi's spoils.

"This young hero is truly skilled."

"To be able to capture so many snake demons in the snowy winter."

As he spoke, Liu Zhuangtou came up to check the wound.

"It was made by the Punishing Evil Blade, ouch... these are just sword wounds."

Liu Zhuangtou looked up at Wang Qi and said, "I guess it's Sun Li from the fast-track class."

Wang Qi was slightly taken aback, then quickly offered a compliment, "Lord Liu, your strategies are truly brilliant!"

Liu Zhuangtou waved his hand.

"No, I saw Fairy Sun heading towards your yamen's office this morning..."

"There aren't many sword masters in the government office, and even fewer who are skilled in the metal and earth elements. It was easy to guess."

Zhang Yuan, who had been silent until now, also came over.

He beckoned to Wang Qi, then squatted down in front of the snake demon's corpse and said, "You can tell which of the five elements the other party used by looking at the wounds."

"If you use fire, there will be very slight scorch marks on the wound."

"Using water will make the wound appear more sticky."

"Using earth magic will cause a dull sensation in the wound."

"The blood at the wound site will remain blood red for a long time and won't turn black so quickly."

"The element of metal will cause the wound to bleed uncontrollably."

Wang Qi listened attentively, nodding repeatedly.

In fact, the traces that Zhang Yuan described sounded very concrete and could be identified at a glance... but in reality, perhaps because his cultivation level was too low, or because his refinement of the Five Elements was not high, these symptoms were not obvious.

It needs to be examined carefully.

For example, the so-called "blood flowing endlessly from the metal element" is actually a "spring" at the cut site of the snake demon's corpse, which is not much thicker than the eye of a needle and keeps the cut site moist with blood.

You wouldn't notice it unless you looked closely.

Seemingly sensing what Wang Qi was thinking, Zhang Yuan said, "When someone reaches a higher level, they will hide their attributes. As a result, you can still only observe them from the smallest details."

The burly man also came over and continued the conversation, saying, "Having enough information about your opponent is sometimes more effective than using a force that's only a fraction of your strength."

"Of course, it would be best to crush them with sheer strength."

"It's not easy to find so many snake demons in the dead of winter!"

"You're quite capable."

Liu Zhuangtou grinned, "I was originally thinking of protesting to the higher-ups, because this points system is too harsh."

"Our constables don't have that much money to pay the fines, so we might as well lower the passing score."

"Now that I see you... I think our Master Huang was very farsighted. Talent is brought out by necessity."

"Exactly! If one person can't do it, then two will. If two people can't do it, then a group of us can work together!" Wu Zhuangtou agreed. "The demons in the mountains are a hundred times more ferocious than those around Heihe County. Are we supposed to protest that it's unfair and too harsh on us when they come to attack?"

"really."

Zhang Yuan nodded as well.

The three taxi drivers surrounded Wang Qi, chatting and laughing with smiles on their faces, their eyes full of admiration.

Seeing Zhou Fu left standing to the side, his anger surged.

"Hey, Young Master Zhou, you're not bad either." Liu Zhuangtou quickly added, seeing that Zhou Fu's expression was off.

"Being able to earn points and put food on the table by leading so many constables—isn't that a skill in itself?"

Liu Zhuangtou was still somewhat cunning.

She was afraid that Zhou Fu would turn around and sneak into the boudoir of the county magistrate's daughter to whisper in her ear and disgust her.

Then, as if remembering something, she looked at Wang Qi.

"Hey kid, are you married yet?"

"My daughter is seventeen this year, the same age as you..."

Wang Qi was a little embarrassed and hadn't figured out how to start the conversation.

Wu Zhuangtou, standing nearby, immediately chimed in, "Your girl's legs are indeed about the same size as Wang Qi's waist!"

"Go away, go away..." Liu Zhuangtou said reluctantly, but with a smile, "I don't want you to be a live-in son-in-law. I'll give you a dowry of one hundred taels! How about it?"

"snort!"

A heavy, cold snort came from behind.

Zhou Fu's face flushed red as he quickly left.

"Ouch!"

Liu Zhuang slapped his thigh, "Why did I say that? Oh no, oh no..."

Liu Zhuangtou was filled with remorse.

Wang Qize was pulled into the courtyard by Zhang Yuan.

The little girl, nicknamed "Baozi," was holding a book against the wall, reading the lessons taught by her private tutor.

Madam Zhang, standing to the side, frowned, holding a wooden stick and glaring menacingly.

"You've been running around to the little girl's private school these past few days, not studying properly."

Zhang Yuan looked helpless.

"Baozi is only five years old, take it slow."

Wang Qi offered some guidance.

The social atmosphere in Da Tang is relatively open-minded, with quite a few female warriors. However, most ordinary families still prefer their daughters to learn needlework and marry early.

People like Zhang Yuan, who are willing to let their daughters go to school, are actually in the minority.

He took out a red-skinned snake demon and placed it on the table.

"Knowing that you are skilled in fire cultivation, this one was specially reserved for you."

"Okay, okay."

Zhang Yuan's smile widened even further.

These days, talented apprentices are as numerous as carp crossing a river, but few remember their masters.

"These days, it's difficult to get a child into school."

"I plan to save money to send her to university so she can become a female teacher in the county town, at least far away from the border," Zhang Yuan muttered to himself. "There have been constant disturbances beyond the border. I think Master Huang's recent changes have a deeper meaning."

"There's such a saying?" Wang Qi pricked up his ears.

Zhang Yuan nodded, "Otherwise, why would Master Huang drastically change the government's system just because the giant dragon was dead, even though it was a common snake calamity?"

"Peace won't last much longer."

"If that's the case, we really need to seize the time to cultivate," Wang Qi sighed.

"Don't tell anyone about this," Zhang Yuan warned. "And your two brothers too."

"But I reckon that Ge Daniu knew about it earlier than you did."

Wang Qi nodded.

Zhang Yuan hesitated, as if time itself had fallen silent.

I don't know how much time passed.

Zhang Yuancai spoke first, "In the government office, those who can get a job as police officers all have a few tricks up their sleeves."

"Let me boast a little, but in my early years I was quite fair and followed the rules very well, and I was known for being very meticulous... Once, when I was on a mission for the county magistrate, he bestowed upon me a forbidden technique."

"Fire Serpent Technique"

"Extended from the Ox-Snake Blade Technique, it can summon a fiery serpent to coil around the blade, exploding with a single strike! Its power is immense!"

"I once used this move to kill three second-tier great demons in succession, forced back a third-tier great demon, and broke through the encirclement."

"The price is that it requires a large amount of fire serpent blood and one's own blood as a catalyst, which wastes blood and depletes essence. After use, one needs to replenish one's energy to recover."

"Do you... want to learn?"

Wang Qi stood up and took two steps back.

He knelt down facing Zhang Yuan, saying, "Master, please accept my bow!"

Forbidden Techniques—just hearing those two words tells you they are incredibly powerful.

Moreover, by possessing the aura of a dragon, he can bring about astonishing changes to all techniques, secret arts, and secret methods related to dragons.

The Fire Serpent Technique can still achieve such results.

Then, with the dragon's power added, wouldn't it be soaring to new heights?!