>>5574969>>5574978>>5574984"My mom would tell me it would be rude to answer truthfully right now."
Ao Shun chuckles again. "Oh, but you are an amusing one, Izzy Skenazy. Please, speak candidly and truthfully. Truth is refreshing in these celestial courts."
Yeah. There's got to be something dangerous about this realm if Monster had to have his name scrubbed.
"Truthfully, Ao Shun, there's no need to change for my sake. It's just a quirk of my powers is being able to feel other's strength, and yours is incredibly vast."
"Vaster than oceans and deeper besides."
"Yes. It's intimidating, to be truthful, like seeing a giant wave about to crash on top of you, except much more."
"You have skilled tongue for flattery and a pure heart. I can see such things."
You don't doubt him.
"Rare to find them both in the same individual."
"Thank you."
"No need. It was not a compliment. Merely an observation. Another is that your heart is beating rather fast. Perhaps assuming this form will help."
These a crack of thunder that nearly makes you jump out of your skin. Then, before you, sitting on a black thundercloud that forms around his body like a throne, is a man in a red robe with a redder face. His mien is terrible to behold, and speaks of an awesome power, yet it is a human face that regards you, and not the living, curling sky behind him.
But you find that very strange. He's still there, as a dragon.
The human form of Ao Shun sees you looking up at his dragon form. "Izzy Skenazy. Have I not made this form for you to look upon?"
You immediately bring your eyes front and center. "Uh, yes. I was just surprised to see that when you assume a form, you maintain the last form. I expected you to transform fully like your son."
"Ah. There we have the misunderstanding behind your summoning to my presence." the human form says. "We dragons are a mighty race. But we are not born mighty. Our power stems from the cultivation of power through the neidan. You may know it as internal alchemy. When a dragon is young, his power rests within himself. The potential to be all things, to do all things, is under his skin. Therefore, a young dragon may take any shape. But as a dragon ages, he assumes this form." the human form points to the dragon. "His scales, once soft, harden into these immortal jewels of power, and through these scales, he assumes the form and the power of a dragon. He no longer changes, for what form could possibly be more perfect, more beautiful than a dragon? Instead, his power, now cultivated to its maximum, is directed outward. Do you understand, Izzy Skenazy?"
"Dragons go from being able to change themselves into whatever they want to being able to change the world into whatever they want."
"You copied my sons power. His power is the power of a dragon, meant for a dragon, meant to be passed on only through the bloodlines of a dragon. Do you understand why it is not merely his power you attempted to copy, but his identity?"
