136: Chapter 136 The Wind Rises

After witnessing the terrifying effects of Lumeng, Qin Ce had a sudden inspiration and began to actively guide Tianlu to challenge more difficult targets.

Groups of ferocious beasts.

Because with Lumeng's control effect,

even against a group of beasts, Tianlu could manage to face the attack of only one beast at a time.

Meanwhile, the efficiency of killing the beasts was greatly enhanced.

...

Soon, Qin Ce led Tianlu to find a nest of "Bone-Eating Beasts."

It was a pack of seven or eight beasts ranging from Black Iron Mid-grade to High-grade. On the edge of the wilderness, in an area where ferocious beasts weren't highly concentrated, they could be considered tyrants; the surrounding beasts didn't dare approach.

By now, Tianlu had already reached Black Iron Low-Grade, and its various abilities had seen a slight improvement.

Just like the Qingluan back then, it could fully handle Black Iron High-grade beasts.

Standing upwind, Tianlu observed the Bone-Eating Beasts with great combat intelligence.

"Miu."

It turned its head to glance at Qin Ce.

Qin Ce nodded. "Go."

Tianlu took a deep breath, and the nine-colored light on its antlers flared brilliantly.

Heavenly Chant!

Invisible sound waves spread out, and seven or eight points of light lit up in Qin Ce's perception.

Lumeng!

Seven or eight runes shot out simultaneously, landing precisely on every Bone-Eating Beast!

The beasts, which were sunning themselves, were suddenly frozen, their eyes filled with terror.

Streaming Light Arrow!

Tianlu opened its mouth, and a fiery light like an arrow shot toward one of the Bone-Eating Beasts in the center.

And when the Streaming Light Arrow struck the Bone-Eating Beast,

the originally highly concentrated fiery light actually exploded in the next moment, splashing onto the other surrounding Bone-Eating Beasts.

Puff, puff, puff!

The pack wailed in agony.

The splash damage was actually not low!

It was at least one-third of the primary damage.

Then, during those few seconds of control from Lumeng,

Tianlu killed one Mid-grade Bone-Eating Beast, while the surrounding circle of beasts were also successively heavily injured.

Afterward, the remaining Bone-Eating Beasts tried desperately to flee.

But the second stage of Lumeng's effect began to trigger. The places that were originally heavily injured exploded again, and their escape was directly interrupted.

They could only endure Tianlu's Streaming Light Arrows, one after another.

Soon, these seven or eight Bone-Eating Beasts were harvested one by one.

Qin Ce stood nearby, silently calculating the time.

From beginning to end, it took less than three minutes.

Eight Bone-Eating Beasts, totally wiped out.

Qin Ce took a deep breath.

This little thing is simply a bug.

He had originally thought Lumeng's control effect would allow Tianlu to kite beast packs and improve efficiency.

He hadn't expected that Streaming Light Arrow could change from a single-target attack into a splash AOE skill.

Tianlu's Lumeng can control multiple targets simultaneously, and Streaming Light Arrow has a splash effect.

Isn't this just born for group combat?

Qin Ce's expectations for Tianlu grew even greater.

...

Three days flew by in constant battle.

Tianlu's growth speed was much faster than Qin Ce had anticipated.

It was naturally able to find the most suitable prey for itself, and every battle felt like a tailor-made training session.

Especially after Qin Ce guided it to attack beast packs, its experience points soared, and its level climbed rapidly.

On the first day, it was Black Iron Low-Grade.

By the third day, it had risen to Black Iron Mid-grade, moving as if it were on a rocket.

During this process, Qin Ce also discovered more combat details about Tianlu.

The short-distance blink of Void Walk was a true spatial skill.

This wasn't like Qingluan's Wing Flash, which was a sudden acceleration creating an afterimage; it was actual spatial movement.

Once, a mid-grade bronze "Thunder-Pattern Leopard" suddenly lunged from the bushes, its speed startlingly fast as it pounced straight for Tianlu.

Before Qin Ce could react, Tianlu had already used Void Walk. It charged head-on at the Thunder-Pattern Leopard, seemingly passing through its body to flash ten meters behind it. It then backhanded a Lumeng, freezing the leopard for an instant, which allowed Qin Ce to finish it off with a Wind Blade.

However, the only thing that left Qin Ce with regret was that regarding the transformation into the Minghuo form, he had tried many methods, but none had succeeded.

The Minghuo form remained a mystery.

...

During these three days,

Tianlu's size had also grown from the size of a small dog to that of a small calf.

The purple-gold scales shimmered in the sunlight, its antlers had sprouted a new pair of tines, and the bell-shaped scales on its chest had grown a size larger. With every breath, a faint silver-gray light flowed through it.

Qin Ce estimated that once it broke through to Bronze Rank, he could use it as a mount for travel.

"The books were right. With a mid-grade bronze first Pet Beast like Qingluan as a foundation, the growth of subsequent contracted Pet Beasts is much faster," Qin Ce muttered to himself.

Hearing this from the side, Qingluan lifted its head proudly and let out a clear, long cry.

Tianlu immediately sidled up, rubbing its head against Qingluan's talons and making a fawning "miu" sound.

Qingluan looked down at it and gently patted its head with a wing, looking every bit like a "big sister" protecting her subordinate.

Looking at these two playful rascals, one big and one small, Qin Ce couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Just then, the squad badge on Qin Ce's wrist vibrated.

A message arrived from Mike.

"Xiao Ce! The notice for the Military Commendation Ceremony is here! Tomorrow morning, an Iron-winged Peng will come to pick us up! Return to the base immediately to rest and reorganize."

Qin Ce retracted his gaze and looked into the distance.

Tomorrow, he would be returning to Fengling City.

...

Early the next morning, as the sky was just beginning to brighten, a low cry echoed over the base.

The sound grew closer and louder until finally, a massive shadow enveloped the entire base.

Qin Ce walked out of the safe house and looked up, his pupils shrinking slightly.

A giant bird with a wingspan of nearly a hundred meters was slowly circling above the base. Its size was so enormous that it covered half the sky. Its entire body of grayish-brown feathers glinted with a metallic luster in the morning light, and every flap of its wings sent a wild wind sweeping down.

"The Federation's exclusive transport Pet Beast, the Iron-winged Peng." Mike walked to his side, looking up at the giant bird. "Gold Rank. It's used specifically for transporting important personnel and supplies. They're usually quite stingy about using it."

He turned to look at Qin Ce, his eyes full of smiles: "Kid, this was sent specifically to pick you up."

Qin Ce took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.

Sent specifically to pick him up.

A Gold Rank transport Pet Beast, sent specifically to pick up a Bronze Rank young man like him.

This was the treatment of a "hero."

Su Wan and Qin Jian also walked out.

Qin Jian was hugging her plush bear, her small head tilted back as she stared at the sky-obscuring giant bird, her mouth hanging wide open for a long time.

"Brother... is that here to pick you up?" Her voice was full of disbelief.

Qin Ce patted her head: "Yeah."

"Wow..." Qin Jian's eyes shone like stars.

Su Wan didn't speak; she just silently helped Qin Ce straighten his collar and patted away invisible dust from his shoulder.

Her movements were slow and very careful, as if she were performing an extremely important task.

"Mom," Qin Ce held her hand, "I'll be back soon."

Su Wan nodded, her eyes reddening slightly, but she didn't cry.

She only said softly, "Go on. Be safe."

Qin Ce gave her a hard hug, then turned and walked toward the giant bird.

Mike followed beside him and patted his shoulder: "Let's go, I'll see you off."

The two boarded the cabin on the back of the Iron-winged Peng.

It was an enclosed space that could hold over a hundred people, with a simple but comfortable interior.

The seats were made of beast hide, soft and warm.

Qin Jian waved from below: "Brother! Come back early!"

Su Wan stood behind her, not speaking, just quietly watching him.

Qin Ce leaned against the cabin door and waved to them: "Go back! The wind is picking up!"

The Iron-winged Peng flapped its wings and slowly took to the sky.

The figures on the ground grew smaller and smaller, the base grew smaller, and Yuntai Town grew smaller.

Qin Ce looked out the window and was silent for a moment.

Then, he turned his head and looked forward.

Fengling City.

Next, the wind is going to rise!

...