Chapter 84: The Silver-ranked Lion-faced Vajra

Wu You watched as Garuru tore open the blood dragon’s skull, gnawing at something deep within its blood-crowned head. Out of the corner of his eye, he kept track of the group from the Liu clan nearby.

Several Ancient Tree Spirits climbed up from the corpses strewn across the ground. Two of them strode forward, their heavy steps thundering across the earth as they advanced toward the Liu clan members.

…

Liu Niansheng was the first to react. “Run!” she shouted, leading the way in a dash toward Le Ping City.

At her call, the other Liu clan guards snapped out of their daze as if waking from a dream, and together they fled at full speed toward the city, berating themselves inwardly for their foolishness. Were they deer, to stand gawking at such monsters locked in battle, then linger in a stupor? Fortunately, the two Ancient Tree Spirits seemed intent only on driving them away rather than attacking. After a few casual steps, they ceased their pursuit.

But none of the Liu clan dared stop. They had no intention—nor courage—to test the patience of these “monsters.” At the same time, Liu Niansheng dispatched two men along the main road their reinforcements would take, both to relay what had happened and to keep their allies from stumbling straight into the monsters’ midst.

As for why Liu Niansheng didn’t go herself, the truth was simple: if these monsters decided to give chase, the crowded city would offer more chances to escape, whereas running across open fields with a message would be much riskier. She was not one to place the interests of her clan above her own life. Although, for now, the sudden appearance of these monsters seemed to have “rid the people of harm,” who could guarantee that they would not become a new threat? If so, their numbers and ability to move on land could make them even more dangerous than the blood dragon.

…

Wu You neither knew nor cared about Liu Niansheng’s anxious calculations. After Garuru swallowed a chunk of mixed brain and flesh from the blood dragon’s skull, it lost interest in the rest of the corpse. Wu You himself had no taste for carrion, and had not yet entered Garuru’s observation mode.

Now that Garuru had consumed what it wanted, Wu You switched to observation mode to experience its sensations firsthand. First came a feeling somewhere between satisfaction and fullness, much like having enjoyed a fine feast to the perfect point of satiety. Then, a warm current surged from Garuru’s belly, spreading through its body, accompanied by subtle tingling.

When all reactions faded, Garuru’s system rating jumped directly to High Bronze (Critical).

Prompt: Critical Variant Beast, Lion-faced King Garuru, on the verge of shedding mortality, the absorption of natural energy for refinement is beginning.

Wu You’s heart stirred—so, it was possible to reach this transformation here. If Garuru could reach Silver rank in this place, could he upgrade his summoning authority to Silver as well? Even if only Garuru could be summoned, that would already be a boon.

Suddenly, the sky overhead darkened.

A rumble of thunder rolled above. Wu You looked up—thick, leaden clouds charged with lightning pressed low overhead, much as they had during Ao Guang’s tribulation. If I don’t run now, I’ll be the next target, he thought.

He recalled the five Ancient Tree Spirits and “vanished” into the air, reappearing moments later in his private residence.

“Master,” Wang Fugui greeted him respectfully, glancing enviously at the sky. But that was all; he knew well where his strengths lay.

Wu You grunted in acknowledgment and went to the inner chamber, switching back to observation mode to monitor Garuru’s transformation.

At the western city gate, the refugees and a few locals from Le Ping City noticed the lowering black clouds above, writhing with silver lightning. Except for a stubborn few intent on leaving the city, most scattered in search of shelter from the impending storm. Teahouses, inns, and shops along the streets quickly filled to bursting.

Before the rain, thunder struck. A flash of white split the sky, as if signaling its fellows, and bolt after bolt of lightning crashed down outside the city in the same direction. Meanwhile, the wind suddenly howled, sending dust and debris swirling through the city streets.

…

Several bamboo baskets, carelessly left out, spun like gyroscopes in single file, rolling past a teahouse near the east gate. Though busy with guests, this teahouse was not as crowded as those near the west gate. The doors were already barred by the staff, leaving only a few small windows open to the street.

Inside, people still sipped tea and nibbled pastries—most of them skeptics dismissing the rumors of a blood dragon in Le Ping City. A group, young and old, clustered around the windows, teacups in hand, watching the sky.

“Brothers, have you ever seen weather like this? Look at those thick clouds—wind and thunder, but not a drop of rain,” said one man by the window, sipping his tea.

“True enough,” someone replied. “I, Niu San, have lived a long time and never seen such a strange day.”

“Maybe the rain will come soon,” another suggested.

“But this lightning seems off—strike after strike…”

He had barely finished speaking when—CRACK!—a thunderbolt struck the roof of an inn not far away, silencing the room. Only after a while, when no further bolts landed nearby, did conversation resume.

“Do you think the heavens are hunting monsters?” the first man ventured, eager to revive the talk.

Suddenly—a thunderous lion’s roar, more daunting than the rolling thunder, echoed from beyond the city.

The sound of teacups shattering filled the air; many startled hands let them fall. It was not just the volume, but the timing—the roar following talk of monsters, unmistakably more than any ordinary beast—set everyone’s nerves on edge.

Liu Niansheng and her guards sat at a table deeper in the teahouse. They had heard all the talk and had even witnessed firsthand the “monsters” the others gossiped about. The lion’s roar left them equally tense, silently praying their reinforcements would meet the second wave of messengers on the road.

…

In observation mode, Garuru let out a wild, exultant roar as the fiercest lightning crashed down upon its body. Half a minute later, Wu You, back in his residence, heard the lion’s roar as well, knowing Garuru’s transformation was nearly complete. At the Bronze level, Garuru’s roar, while fierce, could never have reached the city so clearly.

The thunderclouds above began to dissipate. Garuru’s entire frame shimmered as if doused in molten metal—gleaming with the luster of both water and steel. Soon, this radiance faded, fur returning to its dark-gold sheen. Its size and coloring unchanged, but the aura it exuded was now unmistakably that of a true Silver-rank beast.

System prompt: Lion-faced King Garuru has successfully shed its mortal bonds.

Alchemical Creature: Lion-faced King
Name: Garuru
Gifts: Demonic Power, Diamond Transformation, Aura Suppression
Abilities: Beast Techniques, Beast King’s Roar, Visual Deceit, Combat Instinct
Base Rating: Silver Initiate (cultivation potential exhausted)
Additional Evaluation: This is a battle beast above the mundane, a true champion among monsters.

As the system assessment faded, Garuru vanished amid a swirl of black mystic light. Wu You’s hopes of immediate summoning were dashed—at the Silver rank, Garuru was automatically recalled to the beast enclosure.