Chapter 2724 - 2725: Victory and Preparation

The blood-red blade vortex scattered in all directions, centered around the meteorite creature. Xiao Ji hadn’t yet lifted its defense, so it wasn’t caught off guard by this sudden attack.

Feng Yuan knew Xiao Ji’s luck came from not having the timing to lift the defense technique, or rather, Xiao Ji was not adept at seizing the moment in battles to take action. This time, it was more of a happy accident.

If it were the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound, it would have surely seized the gap after the opponent’s first attack to strike back, but it would have been hit by the follow-up attacks due to its inability to deploy a defense technique.

The blood-red blade storm wasn’t over. Perhaps Xiao Ji was frightened by the opponent’s counterattack, for it didn’t immediately lift the defense technique at the storm’s conclusion, instinctively deploying Netherworld Protection.

Feng Yuan didn’t know why Xiao Ji would use Netherworld Protection, but the next second, he realized its coincidence.

The silver-white halo suddenly expanded, and the Netherworld’s power manifested, forcibly blocking the halo. The next moment, a terrifying scream echoed, and Veronia looked at Xiao Ji, whose wings were folded to protect itself, and said:

"Can it really have battle intuition?"

It’s no wonder why she thought so; Xiao Ji’s move was indeed astonishing, mainly due to the unexpected Netherworld Protection. This technique provides very limited defense effects, but it has a special feature—it gets an additional effect called State Conservation when used by Ghost Series Spirit Beasts.

That silver-white halo had no offensive capability yet was more insidious than an offensive ultimate move because it was called the Light of Equality. Its effect was straightforward and brutally simple, indiscriminately removing the defense effects and states of all targets within its range.

However, this state and change-removing move coincidentally was countered by Netherworld Protection. Otherwise, once the halo flashed through, Xiao Ji’s defense technique would surely be unsustainable.

As for the subsequent howling, it threw enemies into a fear state, preventing the use of techniques.

Though Veronia doubted if Xiao Ji really had battle intuition, just looking at this made her unsure.

"It shouldn’t have, maybe it’s just a coincidence?"

Feng Yuan scratched his chin, sounding uncertain since Xiao Ji hadn’t shown any battle intuition before.

After the howl, the meteorite creature began gathering energy on its body, but just then, Xiao Ji lifted its defense, its claws flashed with red light and made a sharp grab, transforming into red lightning across the sky, appearing afar from the meteorite creature.

"Hmm... could it be awakening battle intuition? Is there such a precedent?"

Watching the meteorite creature explode the moment it was struck firmly, Veronia looked at Feng Yuan with an odd expression, as the creature was evidently gathering energy for a Big Explosion.

Yet, the Heavy Impact Break was a rare technique that could target a Big Explosion. The technique focused an intense attack on the core defense point, destroying it if the attack power was strong enough.

But, when used against a charging target, it disrupts the charge proportional to its intensity, potentially triggering an explosion like the Big Explosion.

That’s why Xiao Ji used Flash Thunder Strike to escape after Heavy Impact Break; staying would have meant being swept away by the explosive aftermath.

Though Xiao Ji initially hit the meteorite creature once with the Crimson Claw, the ensuing Heavy Impact Break directly targeted its main body, its power was not small and triggered the Big Explosion. The technique inherently harmed the user when triggered by other techniques, consuming the full damage of the Big Explosion, and receiving another indiscriminate damage once the Big Explosion was activated.

Even though the entity was modeled based on Xiao Ji’s attribute, such exaggerated damage wiped it out entirely.

The meteorite creature emitted crackling sounds as its meteor shell peeled like a broken eggshell, revealing a black jade inside.

"Is that the Ascension Stone? It’s quite a sight."

Seeing the black treasure bead floating in air, Feng Yuan said with surprise. After observing in air for a moment, Xiao Ji flew down to grab the bead with its claw.

With the Ascension Stone in Xiao Ji’s grasp, the barrier vanished, and Feng Yuan stepped forward with a smile, saying:

"Congratulations, you’ve obtained the Ascension Stone. Do you intend to use it now or wait for it?"

This item is bound to the Beast Tamer upon challenge success, so Feng Yuan wasn’t worried about any issues from delaying its use. Xiao Ji glanced at Feng Yuan and then at the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound, holding the Ascension Stone and called out, prompting Veronia to snort lightly:

"Using the Ascension Stone together is really hard to comprehend."

For a second time, the bluestone path appeared. At this moment, the Ascension Stone had already merged into Xiao Ji’s body, despite being removable at any time, in Feng Yuan’s arms Xiao Ji didn’t want to do so yet.

Xiao Ji wanted to wait for the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound, and since it was its own Ascension Stone, it could feel that the growth wasn’t by 50 years but 120 years.

Xiao Ji wasn’t clear why this change happened, but saw nothing bad in it. Rather than discarding, having decided to use the Ascension Stone, the effect naturally should be as strong as possible.

Unlike Xiao Ji, the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound caused Feng Yuan a headache as it was challenging to capture the Ascension Stone with its own power, although he couldn’t be overly aggressive.

For instance, directly reinforcing the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound’s temporary power to Divine Beast Level; although safest, it wouldn’t fool the world’s autonomous rules.

A Spirit Beast lower than Elite Level suddenly unleashing Divine Beast Level strength—don’t underestimate the rules working in the background!

Yet, if the power is too weak, success seems unlikely, and this matter is causing Feng Yuan some difficulty.

"More people are gathering?"

Observing the endless queue, Feng Yuan felt concerned; he hadn’t anticipated such a crowd here.

He didn’t realize that previously, fewer people gathered due to official personnel rotation issues. Although rewards were issued, they knew battles hadn’t fully concluded at the front lines, without overlooking potential sneak attacks from other Empires.

Completely unprepared without precautions wasn’t possible, nor could City Defence Army participation in the challenge be halted, as United Army rewards excluded those in the rear.

The crowd now included rotating soldiers, with at least half a day available to attempt challenges compared to others with 3 full days.

Moreover, unbeknownst to anyone, challenge rules tailored difficulty reduction based on contribution for Order Maintainers.

The first batch of rotating personnel joining challenges made Feng Yuan perceive the daunting line length, considering numerous repeated challenges alongside a freshly joined rotation.

"Those are City Defence Army soldiers. Looks like they’ve organized well enough."

Veronia noticed the distinguishable outfits among the rear crowd and remarked, Feng Yuan smiled helplessly:

"I didn’t expect their swift action, but let’s queue while discussing tactics for battles."

Feng Yuan abandoned the idea of the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound training before challenging, the longer line suggested urgency, opting to try now.

Assuming proper handling by Fluffy Fire Wolfhound, it may succeed, right?

Amid uncertain thoughts, uncertainty plagued Feng Yuan; he wondered how much power to conceal in the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound.

While pondering, Feng Yuan guided the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound. Though said to guide, suggestions only reflected prior battles focusing on potential distractions, unaware of exact combating conditions.

He confirmed one thing: Fluffy Fire Wolfhound likely shouldn’t employ fire.

Initial group battles saw a meteorite creature opposed to Fluffy Fire Wolfhound present impressive fire extinguishing abilities, related to group battle power-ups with negligible differences in ability.

Despite Fluffy Fire Wolfhound’s single attribute, avoiding fire, it feared facing scenarios like Xiao Ji’s opponent, who executed rapid combos during close combat.

Feng Yuan hesitated whether to imbue Fluffy Fire Wolfhound with time-stoppage power—for invulnerability against counterattacks, although...