Chapter 135: Legion of Exotic Beasts 2

With a sudden commotion, the beasts let out low, panicked growls, having realized they were locked onto by a presence so terrifyingly powerful that it paralyzed them. The next second, an overwhelming murderous aura erupted like a nuclear blast, radiating violently in all directions. The beasts, previously kneeling in submission, fell into immediate disarray, letting out shrill and harrowing howls.

Le Kai had grown up in the wilderness, fighting mutated beasts since childhood. The murderous aura he had accumulated far surpassed that of hardened warriors like the Gun God. Now, amplified by his mental energy, it burst forth with such terrifying intensity that it eclipsed even Kong Gang’s power. After all, while Kong Gang possessed immense physical strength, his mental energy could not match Le Kai’s current level.

Le Kai did not intentionally suppress the beasts; his mental pressure was retracted as quickly as it was released. Yet, it had already instilled a bone-deep fear in them. No longer daring to underestimate him, they bowed down again, this time in genuine, heartfelt submission. Although these mutated beasts were fierce and cruel, they were also remarkably simple and direct. Having witnessed Le Kai’s strength, they offered their allegiance. To them, submitting to a stronger being was not a disgrace, but an honor—the very reason Kong Gang had willingly pledged his loyalty to Le Kai in the first place.

Le Kai laughed heartily, sending a mental wave of intent: "Go!"

This silent mental fluctuation reached the minds of the beasts as if it were their own language. Feeling as though they had been pardoned, they dispersed in every direction.

Kong Gang watched Le Kai with excitement, as if seeing him win the approval of the pack brought him more joy than any personal achievement. The moment he had witnessed Le Kai enter a berserker rage to save him, Kong Gang’s soul had been profoundly shaken; it was the reason for his rapid progress over the past two days. In his consciousness, he no longer saw Le Kai as a human, but as one of his own. This shift in perspective had brought them closer, transforming their bond from master and servant into that of loyal friends.

Kong Gang bounded across his territory, roaring and venting his excitement. Le Kai, letting go of all restraint, joined in the revelry. The pair—one large, one small—moved with perfect synergy. Casting aside all burdens, man and beast played like carefree children, their laughter and roars filling the wasteland. For Le Kai, such a moment of pure, stress-free, and carefree play was a first, and likely his last.

By evening, having had their fill of fun, Le Kai and Kong Gang returned to base, fully satisfied.

The others had finished their training and were speculating where their leader and Kong Gang had gone. Why did they feel a sudden chill down their spines? Rambo, a staunch believer in conspiracy theories, insisted that Le Kai and Kong Gang were definitely plotting something behind their backs, and that the coming days would be worse than hell. The group unanimously agreed; while they were grateful for all Le Kai had done, the thought of his methods left them instinctively terrified.

Li Yan was the only one who disagreed. Glaring at Rambo, she defended Le Kai, "Cousin Rambo, Le Kai is not as sinister as you say! He is so cute, pure, and kind; he is clearly a good person. I can see it in his eyes. You, on the other hand, have received so much from him and yet you slander him behind his back—that is truly the act of a petty person."

Rambo screamed internally: *It's over, it's over! The boss truly lives up to his reputation as a love expert, his methods are superb! This cute little cousin of mine has completely fallen for him.*

The Gun God and the others felt a wave of shame. They didn't disagree that Le Kai was a "good person," but "cute and pure"? Everyone couldn't help but twitch and shiver; surely, only Li Yan could think such a thing.

Hearing Li Yan’s words, Le Kai appeared behind them with a genuinely cute smile. His gaze was soft and devoid of any threat, making him look like a boy next door, even carrying a hint of shyness. It was the first time they had seen him like this; they were stunned, unable to reconcile this image with the terrifying little demon king they knew.

Li Yan chirped happily, "Le Kai, you're back! You didn't call me when you went out to play with Kong Gang today. I was bored to death at home. You must call me next time!"

Le Kai felt a pang of self-reproach. He had been so caught up in relaxing that he had forgotten they were all training fanatics. "There wasn't anything special, just taking a ride with Kong Gang and checking on the mutated beasts we brought back. The air outside is terrible, which is why I didn't take you, but I definitely will next time," he explained. He swept a gentle gaze over the group and asked, "I was only gone for a while; why are you all looking so surprised?"

"No, no! We just missed you, Boss, having not seen you for half a day."

"Boss, you are the beacon of light in my life, guiding my path. Being away from you for so long made me feel lost, but now that you're back, I feel much better."

The group scrambled to mask their astonishment with sycophantic laughter. Le Kai felt a chill crawl up his skin—it was nauseating. Seeing them so "happy," Le Kai decided to heighten their spirits. "Actually, I went to check the strength of those mutated beasts because they will be your opponents for a while. Most of them are at the Heart-Mind Unity realm, and only a very few are at the Martial Artist level, matching your own, so don't worry about too large a gap."

The group's laughing expressions froze into masks of extreme shock. Rambo shrieked, "See! I told you the boss wasn't that simple! You’ve seen how terrifying those beasts are; they’re even more dangerous than humans at the same level!" He looked at Le Kai with a miserable expression. "Boss, it’s too cruel to make me fight mutated beasts after only a few days of training! Can't we wait until my level is higher, or at least until I've had a breakthrough?"

Mutated beasts were not only terrifying in appearance and murderous in intent, but they were also born with a wild, bloodthirsty aura. Even human warriors of the same level would instinctively feel intimidated. The weakest of these beasts were on par with Rambo. How could he possibly withstand such an aura? The thought of fighting such savage creatures made his legs go weak.

Le Kai smiled with innocent, angelic kindness. "Of course, I didn't say you had to fight them right now. Let’s wait ten days. Once everyone’s meridians are expanded and stabilized, it will be time to test your results. Don't worry, I’ll have Kong Gang keep them in check. There will be danger, but not enough to cost you your lives. However, the last-place finisher might have a hard time—they will have to live alone in the pack for three days. Survival will depend entirely on luck."

Le Kai spoke nonchalantly, but the group felt their scalps tingle. Having Kong Gang restrain the beasts? Boss, those were savage, flesh-eating, bloodthirsty monsters! They salivated at the sight of any living thing! Kong Gang only listened to you—what could he possibly control? And the loser having to spend three days alone with the pack? By the Blood Wolf Emperor, even three minutes would be a torment!

Recalling how they had been chased by the pack upon their return, even the Gun God shuddered, the corners of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

Le Kai asked in surprise, "What are you trembling for? It's just a hundred or so beasts. You're so scared by a few opponents at your own level that you can't challenge them? How will you ever challenge stronger masters? Besides, you have ten days—use this time to improve yourselves, and then taking down a few beasts will be as easy as pie."

Listening to Le Kai make it sound so simple, the group groaned in unison. *One wasn't enough, now it's over a hundred? My god, is the Boss trying to torture us to death?*

*What can you do in ten days?*

Seemingly reading their minds, Le Kai said softly, "Look at the changes you've undergone in the past three days; you should know what to expect in ten. Whether you change or improve depends entirely on you."

The group was shaken, then thoughtful. Finally, they looked up, their eyes filled with determination. If they could be reborn and transformed in just three days, ten days was enough to make even greater progress. Who would have believed they could reach this point when they first started?

*Believe in yourself; your potential is infinite!*

Seeing their eager gazes, Le Kai laughed, "It may seem impossible, but as long as we stay firm in our belief, miracles can happen. Besides, you have me to help you. Don't worry, it'll be easy."

No one with a functioning brain believed Le Kai’s version of "easy" anymore, so they collectively gave him a look of disdain. "Skinny" remarked with admiration, "I, Skinny, have always considered myself matchless in strategy and ruthlessness, but compared to you, Boss, I am far behind. You are truly my idol; I must learn from you."

Le Kai teased, "Are you flattering me or insulting me? Since you're so enthusiastic, we'll start with your meridians tonight."

Skinny wailed at first, but upon realizing the benefit, he became ecstatic. Being among the first to have his meridians expanded meant a greater advantage—he would have more time to consolidate his progress and comprehend the heart method.

That night, Le Kai worked with practiced ease. With Skinny’s cooperation, he finished in half the time it took last time. Even Le Kai was surprised by the speed. The reasons were threefold: first, he was more familiar with the process; second, Skinny had been working on his own meridians for two days, making Le Kai's job easier; and third, most importantly, Le Kai’s own mental energy had increased significantly.

After finishing with Skinny, Le Kai sat on the "Flame Stone" to practice the "Phantom God Art." He was shocked to find that his mental energy had grown even more. This discovery was unexpected; such growth was clearly abnormal. No matter how miraculous the "Flame Stone" was, it shouldn't have been capable of this.