Chapter 94: Transformation!

The days of training passed one by one.

The four members of the squad grew rapidly, delivering a series of dog-slaughtering feasts for their accompanying instructor, Dou Zhiqiang!

“Pū pū pū~”

Black crows circled in the night sky, overlooking the battlefield.

Below, along the path of torches, cries of battle rang out in waves.

The Red Turban believers were nothing but human war horns!

Their shouts stirred the soul, igniting blood and fury.

So damn inspiring!

For a few fleeting moments, even Dou Zhiqiang wanted to dive down and peck at the evil dogs.

As the dedicated instructor of Squad 98, Dou Zhiqiang had witnessed firsthand the growth of all four.

From initial Mist Realm novices, Lu Ran and the others had now transformed into genuine warriors.

Dou Zhiqiang couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of awe.

These individuals were growing too fast—especially Lu Ran in the squad!

It was simply incomprehensible.

The speed of his combat power surge even gave Dou Zhiqiang, a River Realm cultivator, a faint sense of threat.

In the earliest days of this training, Lu Ran had still been luring the evil dogs into wild chases, constantly fleeing.

But now?

After nearly half a month of grinding, Lu Ran now dared to face River Realm evil dogs head-on!

With his Radiant Light Blade and a pair of thick, majestic ram horns, he repeatedly clashed directly with the demons.

Dou Zhiqiang didn’t believe Lu Ran was a brute or a tyrant.

Yet Lu Ran’s current performance was undeniably heroic and domineering, his aura soaring!

In all his years of military service, Dou Zhiqiang had never seen such a fierce young ram.

Even more terrifying: Lu Ran was still blindfolded.

His control over his body and his agility had visibly skyrocketed since entering the village.

“Ah.”

Dou Zhiqiang let out a soft sigh, releasing his inner emotion.

What were evil dogs known for?

Speed and agility!

And yet, as a human, Lu Ran matched them stride for stride in swift mobility—even against an equal-level evil dog?!

This damn thing.

It was downright unnatural!

One had to admit: geniuses truly existed in this world.

And right before Dou Zhiqiang’s eyes, minute by minute, a genius was rising with terrifying force.

“Kill!!”

Deng Yutang roared with furious might.

In his hand, the Celestial Crimson Spear thrust repeatedly; not far behind him, a large red banner stood planted.

Red Turban Divine Art: Red Turban Domain!

Along this endless path of dog-slaying, Deng Yutang and Tian Tian had both advanced, stepping firmly into the River Realm.

That red banner was precisely the River Realm divine art of the Red Turban sect.

Where the banner stood, the domain fully opened.

Centered on the banner, a translucent, pale red dome extended twenty meters in all directions.

Unless the banner shattered, no one inside could escape, and none outside could enter.

This technique offered a degree of protection, easily mistaken for a defensive art.

But the true purpose of the Divine Being Red Turban in creating it was to carve out an isolated battlefield!

Eight characters:

Fight to the death, until the last breath!

When I plant this flag here, only one of us walks out alive.

Yet within the Red Turban Domain, there was far more than just one man and one dog.

All four squad members were inside, along with seven evil dogs.

Clearly, this squad had encountered a pack of wild dogs.

“Don’t go, don’t run,” Tian Tian murmured, extending her small hands.

Floating within the Red Turban Domain were nine lotus petals.

Sword Lotus Divine Art: Nine Lotus Petals!

Once, Tian Tian could only lift a single illusory lotus petal as a shield.

Now that she had advanced to the River Realm, she could spread nine petals, forming a defensive array.

Interestingly:

The Divine Art Nine Lotus Petals and the Divine Art Red Turban Domain produced a wondrous synergy.

The evil dogs couldn’t escape the pale red dome, nor could they easily shatter the lotus petals.

As a result, each slender dog was pinned like a meat patty inside a hamburger.

Tian Tian muttered “Don’t run,” yet one evil dog frantically wriggled free through a gap.

A sharp *crack!*

A phantom white jade tablet struck the dog’s head dead center.

Frost runes upon it spread thick ice, instantly crawling over the dog’s entire body.

Poor little dog.

Just as it escaped, it froze, shivering violently.

Though not turned to ice sculpture, the evil dog’s whole body was drenched in frost, its teeth chattering.

Directly beneath the banner, Jiang Ruyi turned slowly, her beautiful eyes scanning the battlefield.

Her naturally hanging hand traced the air—another Lightning Shackles Rune flicked out.

“Snap!”

Lightning flashed, electricity crackled.

Another evil dog went limp, its body numbed, no longer struggling.

Jiang Ruyi dared not use the Divine Art: Exploding Flame Rune.

Deng Yutang’s Red Turban Domain was still of low quality.

Even if the banner hadn’t broken, repeated rune throws from Jiang Ruyi could shatter the pale red dome.

“Lu Ran.” Jiang Ruyi called softly.

“Coming, coming!” Lu Ran abandoned his River Realm opponent, mist surging beneath his feet.

His voice came from afar, then drew near, accompanied by a streak of white mist passing beneath the banner.

Lu Ran, starting late, arrived first—his speed was terrifying!

By the time Deng Yutang pierced the “Frost Dog,” Lu Ran had already severed the head of the “Lightning Dog.”

“Don’t move!”

Lu Ran’s voice rang out again; Jiang Ruyi instantly stood still.

The next instant, Lu Ran brushed past her, then returned to his original position.

“Woof! Woof woof! Woof!”

The River Realm evil dog was furious!

Lu Ran didn’t understand dog speech, but he could feel the insults were vile.

Indeed, as the man and dog battled fiercely, Lu Ran had suddenly been called away—and vanished at blinding speed.

The River Realm evil dog was utterly bewildered!

By the time it recovered, Lu Ran had come and gone like the wind, reappearing before its eyes.

It was as if he’d said: “Excuse me for a moment—I took a quick break to kill your buddy. Now, let’s continue.”

Who wouldn’t be enraged?

The evil dog opened its bloody maw and lunged forward: “Woof!”

Lu Ran, with his thick ram horns, charged straight back: “Baa!”

“Thud!”

A muffled crash, the sound of cracking bone, and a howl of pain followed in succession.

The evil dog, spewing blood, slammed hard against the pale red dome.

Lu Ran followed close behind, mist churning underfoot, his icy Radiant Light Blade stabbing straight for the dog’s head.

“Pū pū pū~”

The black crow descended, landing directly atop the pale red dome.

It lowered its head, its crow eyes fixed on the battle within the Red Turban Domain.

The once-fierce, brutal demons were being slaughtered without mercy by these few.

Next full moon night, this team might just take to the skies!

“We won.” Tian Tian lowered her small hands, and the lotus petals hovering all around faded silently.

“That was exhilarating!” Deng Yutang tore off the red headband and shook his damp short hair.

The team’s combat power was no longer what it once was.

Jiang Ruyi commanded the center, controlling the entire battlefield and suppressing every petty troublemaker.

Tian Tian diligently used her defensive shield to produce offensive and control effects.

Lu Ran, occupying the jungle role, moved back and forth across the battlefield.

The lingering white mists crisscrossed, tracing out his path of movement.

Deng Yutang loved this team dearly.

“Yutang.”

“Here!” Deng Yutang turned his head toward Jiang Ruyi.

The girl pointed upward: “The instructor is coming in.”

“Understood.” Deng Yutang immediately dispersed his divine technique.

The red banner stirred without wind and vanished silently.

As the pale red barrier disappeared, a black crow landed, settling directly atop Tian Tian’s head.

“Mmm.” Tian Tian pulled her head down.

“It’s the fifth day again—you must return.” The black crow spoke in human voice.

“Already the fifth day?” Deng Yutang, still fired up from battle, felt a pang of disappointment.

“Leave Dogfang Village before the tenth.” The black crow spoke, then flapped its wings and soared high.

Tian Tian tilted her small face upward, watching the crow fly farther and farther away.

“If you’re unhappy, tell the instructor.” Jiang Ruyi placed a hand on Tian Tian’s head and smoothed her hair.

Tian Tian pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

If every time could earn her such a gesture from Jieyi, it would be worth it.

Deng Yutang: “Another month, another month—time flies too fast.”

"Set yourself a goal each month, achieve incremental growth, and summarize your progress on the fifteenth night—it’s beneficial." Jiang Ruyi spoke, then turned her gaze toward the distance.

In her line of sight, Lu Ran crouched before the dog corpse, silently absorbing the demonic remains.

Deng Yutang followed her gaze and smiled: “Lu Brother, the squad leader says we should set a growth goal each month.”

Lu Ran didn’t turn his head: “By the fifteenth, I’ll reach Creek Realm, Stage Two!”

Deng Yutang: “.”

Deng Yutang was utterly in awe of Lu Ran’s growth speed.

He and Tian Tian had only just advanced to Creek Realm Stage Three a couple days ago—Lu Ran was already aiming for the next stage.

Lu Ran fully drained the dog corpse, muttering to himself:

“Next month, I’ll let them off for now.”

By now, within Lu Ran’s demonic sculpture garden, the Dog Demon sculptures had been cultivated to Creek Realm, Stage Three!

His mission was complete.

The demonic technique, Evil Shadow, had been added to his skill library.

Unfortunately, Lu Ran’s strength was still insufficient—he was only Creek Realm, Stage One—and could not yet use demonic techniques suited to Stage Three.

Now, he could seek a new target.

For instance… the Soul-Split Demon clan?

Lu Ran’s heart stirred with interest.

It was time to activate another demonic statue!

Power boost: Soul-Split Demon horns, Soul-Split Demon hooves

Just thinking about it made him thrilled!

(End of Chapter)