I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Chapter 252

Obtaining spiritual dicine.

That’s always good news, no matter the context.

Lately, I’d been feeling oddly drained, especially after sleeping alongside my followers. It made realize how much I needed spiritual dicine.

I’d already consud a fair amount of spiritual dicines and neidan over ti, so I often let my followers have the less potent ones.

Even when I defeated powerful spiritual beings, I would opt to subdue them rather than kill them to harvest their neidan.

But just because I’ve been sparing doesn’t an I don’t need spiritual dicine myself.

And this ti, it’s not just any dicine—it’s the True Dragon’s. How could I possibly pass up such an opportunity?

I’ll distribute it among my followers and keep the leftovers for myself.

Back in the day, the Snake Queen used to toss a dose of dicine whenever I scratched my belly in front of her.

Since I’m a lizard with a keen sense of gratitude, I’ll set aside so of the stolen dicines for her this ti.

I should also consider giving so to my ntor.

While he might not need spiritual dicine anymore, it wouldn’t feel right not to offer any.

After all, there’s a bond of trust between us.

Though, to be honest, I can’t help but think that if I give him so, he’ll be so pleased he’ll casually toss even better treasures my way.

It’s like trading a ten-year-old fo-ti root for a thousand-year-old one.

He might even reward with a rare Gerorong as a show of approval.

…While that’s a tempting thought, the most important thing is that the dicines I’m about to steal belong to the True Dragon.

Since he’s using them to recover, stealing them would slow down his recovery.

And what we need most right now is ti—there’s nothing better than this opportunity.

“If the True Dragon hears news of his dicine stores being destroyed, he’ll undoubtedly be furious. But don’t worry too much. While he might retaliate, he’s in no condition to act directly,” Docheol explained.

Even in his injured state, the True Dragon is a formidable opponent, but it’s said that he rarely moves when wounded.

Given his recent injuries, he’ll be even more reluctant to act.

While he might send subordinates, that would work in our favor.

Much like Kaichal Goa-Thal’s mistake, it would likely lead to growing even stronger.

“The dicine storage sites are centralized locations where spiritual dicines from all over are gathered. The highest proportion cos from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”

I’ve thought about it before, but the Ten Thousand Great Mountains are far beyond the scale of ordinary mountain ranges.

It’s a vast land where even the people of the Heavenly Demon Cult could coexist, and enormous spiritual beings could live without encroaching on each other’s territories.

It’s fascinating that places as opposite as snowy peaks and volcanoes exist within the sa area.

Of course, this is likely due to the unique properties of the Dragon Gate.

“Even a frontal assault would be enough to annihilate the enemies. But that would only result in a hollow victory.”

This didn’t sound like sothing Docheol would say.

Based on her past behavior, I expected her to chant “chaos, destruction, mayhem” and suggest charging in imdiately.

“If we go in head-on, the spiritual dicines would likely be destroyed. The True Dragon’s subordinates might even consu all the dicines in a desperate final act.”

For her to consider this much, she’s at least on par with Sishishi, if not a step ahead of Soyeong.

“What’s with that look? Anyway, it’s better to discreetly siphon off the dicines little by little and then strike decisively at the end.”

She’s thinking more strategically than I expected.

But her plan has a flaw.

Sneaking in discreetly to steal the dicines is easier said than done.

“Discreet infiltration isn’t that hard.”

That’s exactly what makes it hard!

How are we supposed to infiltrate without being noticed?

“A way to infiltrate discreetly…”

Docheol’s hands started poking and squishing my cheeks.

“It’s right here.”

“Gegegek…?”

What’s that supposed to an?

*

I basked in the wind from atop Docheol’s shoulder.

Unfortunately, as she was currently disguised as an old man, this was the only spot I could stay.

If I went into the compact space below, I’d quite literally end up as dried lizard jerky.

I’d left the managent of our domain to Nephila and Baekrang, so there wasn’t much to worry about.

This task shouldn’t take too long, anyway.

“Rembering the path is fine, but it’s better to forget it. I’ll be coming back when the ti is right, and depending on the situation, I might bring your followers along.”

The destination was farther than expected, so I clung tightly to Docheol’s shoulder.

After hours of travel, an artificial structure ca into view.

The Ten Thousand Great Mountains truly spanned an enormous area.

To think that a place like this could be constructed, even evading my ntor’s notice.

What ca into view was a stone structure—resembling a castle in design.

There was a large gate, as big as my Crocodile King Lizard form, with two armored humans standing guard.

They seed fairly strong, likely at the pinnacle level.

“Who goes there?”

One of the guards drew his sword as Docheol approached.

She, of course, didn’t answer, rely staring at him.

“H-Huh!”

One guard covered his mouth, visibly shaken.

“D-Docheol!”

The other guard hastily sheathed his drawn sword.

“What brings you here…?”

It seed they recognized Docheol even in her elderly guise.

Their trembling underscored just how infamous she was.

“What brings ? I’ve brought sothing useful, that’s why.”

“Sothing useful?”

The guards looked relieved.

Even though Docheol had a chaotic reputation, they didn’t believe she’d cause trouble at the True Dragon’s dicine storage.

But “sothing useful”?

So, this is how we’re infiltrating.

The plan was for Docheol and to get inside together and start looting the dicine.

“It’s a specin worthy of offering to the True Dragon.”

“Of course…! The True Dragon will surely appreciate your offering, Docheol.”

“Indeed.”

“Then… may we inspect it?”

Not a bad strategy.

“Here, have a look.”

Docheol handed the “offering” to the guard.

“Gegegek?”

Wait… the offering is ?

Hold on a second.

I’m the dicine?

“This is…!”

The guard’s eyes widened in astonishnt.

He seed shocked by the sight of this sacred lizard—but there was sothing odd in his expression.

“I apologize, Docheol. I’m far too unworthy to comprehend this…”

“Don’t recognize it, do you?”

Of course, they wouldn’t. I’m not listed in any dicine registry.

“It’s not cataloged in any record…”

“So, you don’t know.”

No kidding—I'm not even dicine in the first place!

“We’re deeply sorry!”

“Hmph. Is that all you’ve got?”

“…Forgive , but to my eyes, it just looks like a lizard…”

The other guard hesitantly spoke, earning a sharp glare from Docheol.

“…Did you just imply that I, Docheol, would offer the True Dragon sothing as lowly as a re lizard?”

That’s not exactly what he said…

“P-Please forgive him! He’s new here!”

“We’re terribly sorry!”

At least their reactions were imdiate.

“Hmph. No sense of discernnt, as expected. Take a closer look.”

The guards scrutinized with exaggerated focus.

“Hoo…”

“Gegek.”

What are you looking at?

“Gasp!”

When I mimicked biting at them, they flinched in alarm.

“Q-quite remarkable…”

“Though its eyes seem dull at first, they’re strangely sharp. Its teeth are perfectly aligned, and its belly looks soft…”

Are they insulting ?

“Gegek.”

“And that tail… so long…”

Yeah, my tail is long, but why does everyone always comnt on it?

“Indeed. This should prove highly beneficial to the True Dragon.”

“Absolutely!”

“And those who offer it will be rewarded as well.”

“T-That ans…!”

“Thank you!”

The guards, who had looked wary before, now brightened with relief.

They were likely terrified that soone as unpredictable as Docheol might wreak havoc but were reassured that her presence actually benefited them.

But they didn’t know.

They had no idea that this was all part of a plan to destroy this dicine storage and bring down the True Dragon.

Let’s go, Docheol.

It’s ti to head inside.

Your act wasn’t half bad.

Plop.

Docheol dropped into a basket.

Was this to make my journey more comfortable?

How thoughtful of her.

“Take good care of it. It needs to be delivered alive, so keep it away from any danger.”

“O-Of course, ma’am! You have my word!”

As expected of Docheol.

Look at the level of her performance—it’s almost like she really plans to hand over and leave.

Rattle.

Wow, this basket is impressive.

It’s designed so it can’t be opened from the inside.

“Take care!”

…Wait, what?

*

Docheol abandoned .

Well, not really—this was probably part of the plan.

After all, the result was that I infiltrated the storage.

There’s a saying: To fool the enemy, first fool your allies. By that standard, this was a brilliant move.

…Still, couldn’t she have told ?

While I could undo my miniaturization at any mont to handle any dangerous situation, it still stung a little.

I was expecting a thrilling escapade featuring the master thief lizard and the disguise genius Docheol.

But sneaking in like this wasn’t too bad either.

“Kiiek.”

“Krkrk, krkrk.”

Currently, I found myself in a place resembling a small cave.

Judging by the continuous sound of insects chirping around , this was likely a storage area for living spiritual dicines.

Living dicines like Hwarina, Geumgu, or Geumwa—creatures that were both spiritual beings and treated as spiritual dicines. It wasn’t strange to find such beings here.

“Kwieeek!”

A black mantis swung its scythe at , trying to intimidate .

If I were still in my Green Basilisk form, I might have fought it to the death. But now, it barely registered as a threat.

I could quite literally look at it as if it were just a bug.

“Kwiik…?”

The mantis seed startled by my lack of reaction. Then, as if reevaluating the situation, it cleared its throat.

“Ahem. So, you’re new here?”

It spoke—not in a roar, but in actual words I could understand.

Wait, mantises can talk? Why couldn’t I?

“A rock lizard, huh. You look a bit like a Byukho,” it muttered, circling and providing comntary.

The mantis began explaining things—what this place was, the rules I had to follow, how I should behave, and how it had been here longer, making it my senior.

It went on about respecting it, the five crickets it had eaten, and other tedious details.

The lecture was so boring I almost yawned but held it in.

“Ha… a yawn? You dare yawn in the presence of your senior in the Ten Thousand-Year Venom Cave?”

The mantis’s scythe ca swinging toward without warning.

What’s with the sudden hostility?

If it kept this up, it’d regret it.

Even in this shrunken form, my dragon scales would easily break its scythe in two.

I was already preparing to mourn for the soon-to-be one-ard mantis when—

Thunk!

Soone smacked the mantis on the head.

Thud!

Thanks to the tily intervention, the scythe struck the ground instead of .

The mantis was lucky.

“Kwieek! Can’t you see I’m teaching it so manners?”

The mantis glared at the one who had struck it.

It didn’t realize this bug had just saved its arm.

“Kiek…! Why are you acting like this? We’re all in the sa boat here.”

Whoever this was, they seed reasonable.

As a lizard with a strong sense of gratitude, I decided to rember this bug and repay it later.

Curious, I turned to look at the voice’s owner.

It was a long-bodied creature with countless legs and sharp mandibles.

Unlike other bugs, its face looked oddly honest and familiar.

“Hmm…?”

The centipede seed to recognize too, raising its third leg to its head as if trying to recall.

“Gegegek!”

It was the kind centipede I’d t in the Silver Dragon Cave!

Wait, you’re alive?