The Dragon Transformation Technique was undoubtedly well-suited to Yang Xiao, and Yang Kai could now cultivate Dragon Blood Flowers and refine Dragon Blood Pills on his own. As long as the supply remained sufficient, the elevation of Yang Xiao's bloodline should pose no difficulty. Transforming into a true dragon was by no means an impossible hope.
While speaking, Yang Kai suddenly furrowed his brow. "What are you squirming for? You get hemorrhoids or something?"
Yang Xiao had been fidgeting restlessly in front of him.
Yang Xiao scratched his head and ear, looking nervous. "Adoptive Father, there's something I'm not sure whether I should say or not."
Yang Kai rubbed his chin and eyed him with suspicion. "Why do you look like you've done something wrong?" Since Yang Xiao was sitting right between his legs, Yang Kai couldn't see the boy's expression clearly, but he had a feeling the brat really had done something underhanded. Otherwise he wouldn't be acting like this. No one knows a son better than his father — that was no idle saying. Yang Xiao's personality was largely inherited from him, so some of Yang Xiao's reactions allowed Yang Kai to deduce quite accurately what was going on.
"I haven't done anything…" Yang Xiao's voice grew even weaker, his eyes darting around evasively. Now even Mo Xiaoqi, sitting across from them, noticed something was off and glanced up at Yang Kai with a meaningful look.
Yang Kai gave a thin, mirthless smile. "Xiao'er, whatever you want to tell your adoptive father, just say it. You should know, no matter when, your adoptive father will always be your most loyal listener."
Yang Xiao coughed dryly. "Let me say this first — you can't hit me."
Yang Kai raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Why on earth would I hit you for no reason? Don't worry, I won't hit you."
Yang Xiao immediately looked up at Mo Xiaoqi. "Sister Xiaoqi, you heard him. Adoptive Father says he won't hit me. He's definitely a man of his word."
Mo Xiaoqi nodded. "Of course, of course. Now spit it out and stop dragging it out."
Yang Xiao licked his lips, then muttered something under his breath.
"What?" Yang Kai rapped him on the skull. "Speak up. I didn't hear that."
Yang Xiao sprang to his feet and yelled, "You said you wouldn't hit me! Look, you did it again!"
Yang Kai's mouth twitched. "Old habit, old habit. I promise I won't lay a hand on you from now on."
Yang Xiao gave him a sideways look. "I'm starting to not trust you. What do I do about that?"
Yang Kai snorted. "While I'm still in the mood to talk to you nicely, you'd better spit it out. Otherwise…"
"My origin is not a problem!" Yang Xiao blurted out at breakneck speed, then darted behind Mo Xiaoqi, watching Yang Kai with a guarded expression.
Yang Kai nodded repeatedly. "Mm-hmm, origin is not a problem… origin is not a problem… How do you know your origin isn't a problem?"
Yang Xiao said, "I found out during the examination in the Dragon Palace."
"Give me the details," Yang Kai said, raising an eyebrow.
Yang Xiao declared proudly, "I can transform into a true dragon form!"
"Ha ha." Yang Kai laughed heartily, his eyes bright with excitement as he looked at Yang Xiao. "You can really manifest a true dragon form?"
"Absolutely certain. Just watch, Adoptive Father!" As soon as the words left his mouth, Yang Xiao's body twisted and shifted, and sure enough, he transformed into a small white dragon, crystalline as jade — exactly as Yang Kai had first seen him, flawless and pale, as if carved from white jade. He was roughly two to three zhang in length.
But Yang Xiao didn't hold the form for long. He merely showed it briefly before reverting to human shape, proving once and for all that he indeed possessed the ability to assume a true dragon body.
Yang Kai clapped his hands. "Good."
A great weight finally lifted from his heart. Yang Xiao's failed ceremony earlier had almost become a persistent worry, because Yang Kai kept wondering whether he had done something wrong while hatching the brat, resulting in an impure origin. Now it seemed his origin was perfectly fine. The ability to manifest a true dragon form was the best proof.
With a loud shout, Yang Kai reached out and grabbed for Yang Xiao, gnashing his teeth. "Today I'm going to spank your backside to pieces, or my name isn't Yang Kai!"
This brat was truly wicked. When they had left the Dragon Palace, Zhu Yan had specifically asked him about this matter, yet the boy had kept it completely hidden. Not only had that made both Zhu Yan and Fu Zhun distraught, it had tormented Yang Kai himself with guilt and self-reproach. If he had known earlier that the boy's origin was fine, would he have ever brought him away from Dragon Island? Yang Xiao had every right to remain there.
Hearing Yang Kai's words, Yang Xiao turned pale with alarm. "Adoptive Father, you went back on your word!"
He tapped his foot, intending to flee, but he had only been born for so short a time, and what was his cultivation compared to Yang Kai's? How could he possibly escape his grasp?
In a blur, he felt his arm seized, and Yang Kai had already scooped him up. Yang Xiao let out a terrified shout. "Sister Xiaoqi, help! Adoptive Father is going to hit me!"
Mo Xiaoqi pouted. "You deserve it!" She felt Yang Xiao was being far too reckless about this. How could such an important matter not be revealed immediately? Instead he had hidden it all the way until now. Fortunately, he had held nothing back from Yang Kai, or Yang Kai would still have been kept in the dark, tormented by self-blame.
When a child behaved this way, he deserved to learn a lesson.
Amid Yang Xiao's wailing and shouting, Yang Kai had already deposited the boy across his lap, laid him flat, raised his palm, and brought it down hard on his backside. When he said he would spank, he meant it — this was no joke.
Yang Kai was genuinely infuriated. He had made up his mind to teach the brat a lesson today, otherwise who knew what kind of trouble he would stir up in the future.
The first smack landed, and Yang Kai suddenly furrowed his brow, because a strange sense of disharmony arose within him. When his palm struck, his eyes went wide.