Chapter 340 Heading to South Street! The Little Lark's Transformation?!

"A cave?"

Lei Qing's brows furrowed.

His voice carried unconcealed confusion.

Xiao Chen's gaze fell on the town mayor's face.

Catching the fleeting wariness beneath that resolute expression.

Liu Qingshuang remained cold and aloof.

She only lowered her eyelashes, saying nothing.

Zhao Zhao leaned against the wall, his fingertips lightly stroking the warm jade pendant at his waist.

Jiang Yun did not speak.

He just listened quietly.

Fierce Tiger Li took over the conversation.

His voice was low and hoarse from blood loss and exhaustion.

Like a blunt knife.

"Sacred Student, fellow Prodigies... this matter began a week ago."

He paused, his rough palm unconsciously stroking the Iron Spine Azure Wolf in his arms as its breathing gradually stabilized.

"A week ago, about twenty miles southeast of the town, at the Abandoned Mineral Vein on the edge of the Bone Burial Area."

"A very strong elemental energy suddenly erupted there."

He knitted his brows.

Seeming to struggle for the right words.

"It wasn't the aura of an ordinary Vicious Beast's Breakthrough."

"It was too thick. So thick that even from twenty miles away, the town's Perception Formation was trembling."

Xiao Jianshan nodded slightly beside him.

He didn't interrupt.

Fierce Tiger Li continued.

"I took three squads, twelve people in total, and followed the aura."

At this point, his Adam's apple bobbed.

"And then... we discovered that cave."

His voice dropped lower.

So low it was as if he feared disturbing something.

"The closer we got to the cave, the clearer, more massive, and denser that aura became."

"But that aura wasn't any attribute we've ever seen before."

"Fire wasn't fire, ice wasn't ice, thunder wasn't thunder..."

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

"As soon as we got close, I felt my life force draining away."

"Even though we did nothing, our breathing grew heavy and our strength dissipated..."

"Even the old wolf in my Beast Taming Space was instinctively resisting getting closer."

He said.

He looked down at his heavily injured old partner beside him.

The Iron Spine Azure Wolf still had its eyes closed.

Its breathing was much steadier than before.

"I knew then that it wasn't something we could touch."

"But since we were already there, we had to investigate the source of the aura to see what happened and what was inside."

He took a deep breath.

"Then, one squad and I entered the cave, but inside, it was a whole different world."

The space inside was enormous.

So large that our Illumination Treasures couldn't reach the boundaries.

And inside..."

He paused for a long breath.

"Inside, there were many Gold Rank Vicious Beasts."

Sleeping."

Xiao Chen spoke up at the right moment.

His voice was calm but carried his usual sharpness.

"Many? How many?"

Fierce Tiger Li shook his head.

"I didn't count them all."

"At least... over twenty."

Twenty.

Gold Rank.

Sleeping.

Why were so many Gold Rank Vicious Beasts sleeping inside a single cave?

There must be some secret within this cave... Xiao Chen didn't ask further.

Fierce Tiger Li continued.

"However, unexpectedly, we woke them up."

"It wasn't intentional, but in a place like that, even our breathing was trembling; we couldn't hide our presence at all."

"The first to wake were three Gold Rank Eight Ironclad Earth Dragons."

"Then came five Gold Rank Seventh Order Rock-Armored Rhinos."

"And then..."

He paused.

"The entire cave lit up."

"It was full of the eyes of Vicious Beasts."

He didn't describe the escape process.

Everyone completed the picture in their minds.

A twelve-man squad.

Facing at least twenty furious, rampaging Gold Rank Vicious Beasts awakened from sleep.

To be able to return alive.

Was already a stroke of great luck.

"They chased us... about ten miles."

Fierce Tiger Li said.

"When we were almost at the edge of town, they suddenly stopped."

"They didn't continue the chase."

"They just roared a few times toward the town across that wasteland."

"And then... they went back."

Captain Wang added in a low voice from the side.

"I know a bit about this too. After that night, the whole town was on high alert, and no one slept."

"Nothing happened the next day, so we thought..."

His voice was rasping.

"We thought those beasts were just startled and didn't really intend to come."

Fierce Tiger Li shook his head.

He didn't continue.

Xiao Jianshan took over.

His voice was very calm.

As if he were speaking of something that happened a long time ago.

"However... on the third night, South Street suffered its first wave of attacks."

"One Amethyst, nine Peak Gold Rank 9, and no fewer than twenty mid-to-high Gold Rank beasts."

We defended for two days and one night.

South Street... fell.

He looked at Jiang Yun.

Sacred Student.

"What happened after is probably just as you see now... you know the rest."

Jiang Yun finished listening.

He didn't speak immediately.

His gaze passed over the town mayor.

Over the collapsed ruins.

Past the shadowy remnants of walls in the twilight.

Falling toward the south of the town.

Toward that misty wasteland.

That aura.

That aura that felt familiar, yet he couldn't recall where he had sensed it before.

At this moment.

Across the entire town, across twenty miles of wasteland.

It still lingered faintly at the edge of his perception.

Like an invisible thread.

Gently pulling him.

Jiang Yun looked in that direction.

He didn't say what he was thinking.

The others also looked there in unison.

In Lei Qing's eyes was an eager curiosity.

Xiao Chen's gaze was calm but scrutinizing.

Liu Qingshuang remained cold, but her eyelashes lowered a bit more.

And Zhao Zhao.

His brow.

Twitched very slightly and quickly.

A peculiar energy aura.

Getting close caused one's life force to drain.

Even the tamed beasts were instinctively resisting.

It could cause the Perception Formation to tremble from twenty miles away.

A group of sleeping Vicious Beasts.

This was clearly no ordinary Vicious Beast nest.

He had seen similar records.

When certain top-tier spiritual items first appeared in the world.

They would indiscriminately devour all surrounding life Origin.

That wasn't an attack.

It was just the spiritual item's instinctive... breathing.

Something that could be sensed from twenty miles away.

Was at least of the Diamond Rank or higher.

Perhaps even higher.

Zhao Zhao's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

He didn't speak.

He didn't even let his expression change.

He just kept his eyes lowered.

The frequency of his fingertips stroking the jade pendant.

Quickened by half a beat.

Jiang Yun spoke.

His voice was steady.

Without any unnecessary fluctuations.

"Since you truly know the source."

"We will head there to investigate later."

He paused.

"For now, first clear all the Vicious Beasts from South Street."

"Expel all the Vicious Beasts that have invaded the town."

"Then assemble the squad and head to that cave for investigation."

Xiao Jianshan nodded heavily.

He didn't question the rationality of this decision.

Nor did he ask how Jiang Yun planned to deal with a place even he didn't dare to enter deeply.

He just looked at Jiang Yun.

His gaze held scrutiny and deliberation.

But more than that... it was a complex emotion he couldn't even express.

This youth.

From the moment he appeared until now.

Hadn't asked once how dangerous that cave was.

Hadn't asked how many Amethyst Vicious Beasts there were.

Hadn't asked what the odds of winning were.

He just finished listening.

Then made a decision.

Then assigned tasks.

He was steadier than anyone his age should be.

Calm as if... as if he had experienced countless situations far more dangerous than this.

Xiao Jianshan had lived for forty-three years.

He had seen the arrogance of noble family scions.

He had seen the sharp spirit of commoner Prodigies.

And he had seen those Geniuses who truly stood at the top of the pyramid.

Those kinds of people didn't need to show off their brilliance.

They didn't need to constantly prove themselves.

They just stood there.

And made everyone believe.

That by following him, they could win.

Xiao Jianshan looked at Jiang Yun now.

And was suddenly certain beyond doubt.

This sixteen years old youth was exactly that kind of person.

And his strength.

Which could make Lei Qing, Liu Qingshuang, and Xiao Chen—the top three of the earth ranking—willingly accept him as their leader.

Must certainly.

Be the most terrifying one in this team.

"We shall do as the Sacred Student says."

Xiao Jianshan didn't hesitate for a second.

"I will take you all to South Street."

Captain Wang grew anxious.

"Town Mayor! You're too heavily injured, and your tamed beast is exhausted. Let me lead..."

"No need."

Xiao Jianshan raised his hand, cutting him off directly.

"Take your team and rotate the guards across North Street."

"The elderly, weak, women, and children in the basement probably won't sleep well tonight. Go stay with them."

"Tell them the good news..."

He paused.

"Tell them that several Prodigies from Sky Dome Academy have arrived."

"Ash Town is held."

Captain Wang opened his mouth.

He looked at the town mayor's pale, bloodless face, and the hideous wound stretching from his left shoulder to his back, still seeping blood.

He wanted to say that you'll die on the way.

He wanted to say it would be enough for him to lead the team alone.

But when he saw Xiao Jianshan's eyes, calm to the point of stubbornness.

He said nothing.

"Yes... Town Mayor!"

He took a step back.

"Take care, Town Mayor."

With that, he left.

Xiao Jianshan turned around.

"Sacred Student, everyone, please follow me."

He set off.

His steps were still steady.

He didn't look back.

Seeing this.

Jiang Yun couldn't help but marvel at the town mayor's powerful sense of responsibility.

If this town mayor were on Blue Star.

He would definitely be an extremely qualified cadre.

Then.

Lei Qing followed with large strides.

Liu Qingshuang followed silently.

Xiao Chen walked with a composed pace.

Zhao Zhao walked at the very end of the group.

While Jiang Yun walked at the very front.

Fox Immortal followed beside him with a very low presence.

Jiang Yun's pace wasn't fast.

Yet every step landed right at the center of everyone's focus.

Zhao Zhao lowered his eyes.

That half-smile on the corner of his mouth appeared once again.

South Street wasn't long.

From the entrance of North Street to the town entrance ruins at the southernmost end, it was only a few minutes' walk.

However, right now.

This short street.

Had become a nest occupied by Vicious Beasts.

Before even stepping into the South Street area.

Jiang Yun's Divine Sense had already spread out.

His Brick Stone Rank Divine Sense was like an invisible tide, sweeping over collapsed eaves, overturned stalls, and still-smoking charred window frames.

Inch by inch.

It covered the entire South Street.

Three Amethysts.

Twelve Gold Rank Eight and Nine.

And no fewer than twenty mid-tier Gold Rank beasts scattered throughout the ruins.

One Amethyst Tier 3 was entrenched at the old site of the grain shop at the end of the street, its aura steady and heavy.

Two Purple Crystal Second Stage.

One fire and one wind, prowling between the middle section and the street entrance.

They had clearly sensed the aftershocks of the battle from the town center.

And they also sensed the... disappearance of their kind's aura.

Their moods were anxious.

Yet they were unwilling to give up this already occupied territory.

Jiang Yun quickly ran through this information in his mind.

Three Amethysts; Lei Qing, Liu Qingshuang, and Xiao Chen were enough to handle them, not to mention having Zhao Zhao, an Amethyst Rank free fighter.

These Vicious Beasts were nothing to fear for now.

Just as he was about to speak and assign tasks.

Suddenly.

His brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

It wasn't from the outside world.

It was from his Beast Taming Space.

Jiang Yun's pace didn't stop.

He didn't even slow down by half a step.

He just sent a thread of his Divine Sense.

Into his Beast Taming Space.

Inside the Beast Taming Space.

Pale green heavenly light fell softly.

Little Fire was coiled on the crimson molten lava platform. The earth core molten dragon crystal had been refined from the size of a fist to the size of a walnut, and the remaining Origin had turned into wisps of gold-red fire lines, which it slowly swallowed into its belly.

The scales all over its body became increasingly bright, a mix of gold and red, and its aura was steadily rising.

It had actually reached Gold Rank Seventh Order!!!

And on the other side.

Beside that Lightning-Struck Wood, which was flowing with blue-purple light.

Jiang Yun saw it.

The wind thunder wood core that originally hovered above the wood core.

Was gone.

In its place was a giant egg-like cocoon wrapped in thunder.

Little Skylark was inside the giant cocoon.

Thunderclaps burst forth one after another.

It seemed that some earth-shaking change was occurring.

Jiang Yun sensed through the contract with Little Skylark.

This was Jiang Yun's discovery!

Little Skylark was actually slowly undergoing another transformation?!!