Chapter 12: Sheep-Transformation Technique

March 15, 9996 of the Yunluo Li.

Morning sunlight streamed through the window into the dormitory. Aikesi opened his eyes and saw Leinuo sneaking back from Yelu's bedside, clutching a pink bundle in his hand.

"What are you doing?" Aikesi lowered his voice.

Leinuo held a finger to his lips in a "shh" gesture, then shoved the pink bundle into his own quilt. First release of this book: Find books at tian tian kan xiao shuo, ttk s. tw. Complete collection, providing you with error-free chapters and non-misordered reading experience.

Aikesi asked no more, rolled over, and closed his eyes again.

An hour later, Yelu's screams echoed through the entire dormitory.

"Who did this!!!"

Aikesi sat up and saw Yelu standing by the bed, holding a pink robe—more precisely, his newly bought blue robe, now dyed an eye-searing pink.

Leinuo huddled in his quilt, his shoulders shaking.

"Leinuo!!!" Yelu rushed over. "Get out here, you!"

"It wasn't me!" Leinuo shouted from under the quilt.

"If not you, then who?"

"Maybe it was the third brother?"

Aikesi leaned against the headboard: "Why would I dye your clothes?"

"Maybe... maybe you're jealous of my handsomeness?"

Aikesi laughed: "Do I need to be jealous of you?"

Qiaozhi poked his head in from the next room: "What's all this noise so early in the morning?"

"Look!" Yelu held up the pink robe. "Leinuo's handiwork!"

Qiaozhi took one look, his expression subtle: "It looks quite good. Suits you."

"Suits my ass!"

Yelu threw down the robe and lunged at Leinuo's quilt. The two wrestled into a tangle, rolling from the bed onto the floor. Leinuo dodged while laughing; Yelu chased while cursing.

Aikesi and Qiaozhi leaned against the doorframe, watching the show.

"Want to bet?" Qiaozhi asked.

"I'm betting on Yelu," Aikesi said.

"Then I'll bet on Leinuo, ten silver coins."

"Deal."

An hour later, both lay panting on the floor, neither having won. Yelu had a scratch on his face; Leinuo's clothes were torn open.

"A draw," Qiaozhi announced. "The bet is off."

"Why cancel it?" Yelu sat up. "I was clearly gaining the upper hand!"

"Where did that mark on your face come from?"

Yelu touched his face, wincing in pain.

Leinuo chuckled and climbed up, only to be kicked back down by Yelu.

After a morning of commotion, the five finally got ready and headed to class. Yelu ended up wearing that pink robe anyway, drawing an extremely high rate of turning heads on the road.

"It actually looks quite good," Aikesi said.

Yelu shot him a glare: "If it's so good, you wear it."

"I can't wear it; it doesn't match my aura."

"..."

Linlei walked beside them, a faint smile on his lips. He hadn't participated in the farce, but he enjoyed watching it.

Afternoon, Hou Shan.

The five gathered as usual to cultivate. Aikesi activated the Fallen Heart Flame, and milky-white flames enveloped the surroundings. The others each entered a meditative state.

Two hours later, cultivation ended.

"Third brother, I feel I'm about to break through," Leinuo said excitedly. "Level Four, soon!"

"Keep practicing well," Aikesi said.

Yelu leaned in: "I'm close too, probably another month or two."

Qiaozhi nodded: "Me too."

Aikesi looked at Linlei. Linlei said: "Mid-Level Five."

"I'm mid-level too," Aikesi said. "We're synchronized."

Linlei nodded.

On the way back to the dorm, Leinuo chattered nonstop about what he would do after breaking through. Yelu shot him down: "Break through first, then talk."

"I'll definitely break through!"

"You said that last month too."

"This time it's real!"

The group laughed and walked away.

One day at the end of March, Aikesi cultivated at Hou Shan as usual.

The Fallen Heart Flame pulsed slowly within his body; the Fire Spirit Bead glowed faintly, and the Five Spirit Wheel spun at full power. Fire Element surged wildly into his body, and the Magic in his Middle Dantian grew at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Suddenly, he felt a slight throbbing.

Two hours later, he opened his eyes.

"Late-Level Five."

The Magic within his body was nearly thirty percent denser than before.

One weekend in April, the five went to Fenlai Cheng to stroll.

The sunlight was bright, and people came and went on the street. Leinuo looked around, rushing over to inspect everything he saw. Yelu tugged him along to keep him from getting lost.

When they reached the middle section of Xiangxie Dadao, a crowd had gathered ahead.

"What's going on?" Leinuo stretched his neck.

"Let's go take a look," Qiaozhi said.

The group squeezed into the crowd and found a variety troupe performing. Fire-breathing, sword-swallowing, acrobatics—there were plenty of tricks. The onlookers occasionally let out gasps and applause.

"That fire-breathing one is interesting," Yelu said.

Leinuo's eyes lit up, and he squeezed to the very front. The fire-breathing performer had just finished, saw Leinuo, and casually pulled him into the circle.

"Come on, young brother, put on a show for everyone!"

Leinuo froze. "Me? I don't know how!"

"Just try it!" The performer laughed, handing him a torch. "Come on, take a deep breath and blow at the torch!"

Leinuo was forced into the situation. He took the torch, inhaled deeply, and blew with all his might—

A puff of green smoke billowed from his mouth, choking him into a fit of coughing.

The onlookers burst into laughter.

"What is this? Smoke-Spewing Technique?" someone shouted.

Leinuo's face turned red to the roots of his neck. He dropped the torch and ran back into the crowd. Aikesi and the others laughed until they couldn't stand straight.

"Leinuo, you're too talented!" Yelu patted his thigh.

"Shut up!" Leinuo flew into a rage out of shame.

Qiaozhi wiped away tears of laughter. "Smoke-Spewing Technique, hahaha, what a great title!"

"Qiaozhi!"

The group laughed together, and finally bought a few small trinkets by the roadside to share. Qiaozhi picked out several exquisite small ornaments and gave one to each person.

"What is this?" Leinuo looked at the wooden figurine in his hand.

"A talisman," Qiaozhi said. "I bought it in the Yulan Empire; they say it brings good luck."

Leinuo examined it back and forth for a while, then tucked it into his robe.

Yelu waved his hand. "Let's go eat; I'm treating!"

"You're treating? That's rare," Aikesi said.

"What do you mean rare? I've always been generous, okay!"

"The last time you treated was three months ago."

"That's because you guys wouldn't give me the chance!"

The group chatted and laughed as they walked into a restaurant by the roadside.

During the meal, the conversation turned to the future.

"What do you plan to do after graduation?" Yelu asked.

"Go home," Qiaozhi said. "My family needs me."

"I'm going home too," Leinuo said, uncharacteristically serious. "In the O'Brien Empire, my father has urged me several times already."

Yelu nodded. "My family's merchant guild has branches in various places; I can go anywhere. What about you, Third Brother?"

Aikesi thought for a moment. "I might go to the Yulan Empire."

"The Yulan Empire?" Qiaozhi looked at him. "The magical atmosphere there is indeed good, and resources are richer than in Fenlai. Have you decided?"

"Not completely yet, but it's almost certain."

Yelu patted his shoulder. "Alright, my family's guild has a branch there. I'll come find you later to mooch a meal."

"You're always welcome."

The group turned to look at Linlei.

Linlei fell silent for a moment. "I will stay in Fenlai Cheng."

Aikesi knew the reason—Linlei's father was still in Wushan Town, and his younger brother was studying in the O'Brien Empire; he had to stay behind. But there were more reasons Linlei didn't mention, and Aikesi didn't ask.

"That's good too," Qiaozhi said. "Fenlai Cheng is the Holy City; there are many opportunities there."

"Keep in touch," Yelu raised his cup. "No matter where we go, we are still brothers."

The five clinked their cups.

That night, back in the dormitory, Aikesi lay on his bed, recalling today's conversation.

The Yulan Empire. He indeed wanted to go there and take a look. As the oldest empire on the continent, the Yulan Empire's magical foundation was far deeper than Fenlai's. If he could develop there, it would surely help his future cultivation.

Besides, Qiaozhi was there too. Having an acquaintance around was better than being completely in the dark.

【Ding—Detected that this month's check-in opportunity has refreshed.】

【Check in now?】

Aikesi silently thought in his mind: Check in.

【Check-in successful.】

【Reward obtained: Aizesilasi·Bianxing Shu—Can temporarily transform small creatures no higher than one level above oneself into sheep for ten seconds. Limited to three uses per day.】

【Special Note: Ineffective against Saint Domain and above.】

Aikesi paused for a moment.

Transformation Spell?

This skill... is incredibly awesome. Although it is ineffective against Saint Domain and above, once I reach Level 8, I will be invincible below Saint Domain.