24: Ten fierce generals!

Night fell.

Li Qing lay on the bed, his breathing steady, while his fellow servants in the same dormitory had long since drifted into dreamland.

His consciousness entered his Clone.

Splash!

The cool river water enveloped him, and his massive four-meter-long body opened its eyes in the dark cave.

Li Qing opened his eyes.

He slowly walked out of his cave.

He wondered how the subordinates he had recruited were doing.

Just as he arrived at the cave hall, he found his five subordinates—Catfish Head, Crab Number Two, Little Black, Turtle Three, and Little Green—standing in line, waiting for orders.

In front of them lay five Vicious Beasts, covered in wounds and with withered auras.

Three at the Early Stage of the Second Rank, and two at the Peak of the First Rank!

Catfish Head sensed its master's return, leaned its massive head over, and transmitted a sense of seeking credit.

"Master, as you ordered, they have all been captured."

Good efficiency!

Li Qing praised inwardly.

In just half a night, they had gathered a lineup of ten.

The five new captives were clearly the troublemakers of this stretch of water.

Even though they were beaten half to death, a fierce light still flickered in their eyes, filled with resentment and brutality.

One of them was the most robust, covered in green scales with a single horn on its head. This strange fish struggled to get up, but was held down firmly by Crab Number Two's iron pincers.

Li Qing didn't waste words; his massive body slowly swam forward.

[Mystic Water Manipulation]!

Buzz.

The surrounding water currents instantly solidified into substance.

An invisible, overwhelming pressure crashed down on the five captives from all directions!

Pfft!

The one-horned strange fish had just propped up half its body when it was slammed back onto the riverbed by this water pressure, crashing into the silt, losing even the strength to struggle.

The other four Vicious Beasts were in even worse shape, their bodies letting out creaking sounds from the compression.

Fear replaced the brutality in their eyes.

What terrifying Water Control ability!

In this river, making an enemy of such a being was no different from seeking death.

How could they encounter such a Vicious Beast!

In this Great River, only a Vicious Beast of the Third Rank or higher could give them such pressure!

Li Qing's cold and domineering mental command rang out in their minds at the right moment.

[Domination]!

"Submit, or be crushed."

No extra words, only the purest and most direct choice.

The five Vicious Beasts did not hesitate; they lowered their heads one after another, transmitting the intent to submit.

In the face of absolute strength, dignity was worthless.

[Subdued Second Rank Early Stage Vicious Beast, One-Horned Green-Scaled Fish. Bestow a name?]

[Subdued Second Rank Early Stage Vicious Beast, Three-Eyed Electric Eel. Bestow a name?]

...A series of prompts rang out in Li Qing's mind.

It's done!

Li Qing casually gave them code names.

"One-Horn, Electric Eel, Fangs, Black Thorn, Sharp Claw."

[Naming successful!]

At this point.

All ten slots for the [Domination] talent were filled!

Li Qing looked at the Vicious Beast army before him, which was beginning to take shape, and a surge of pride in controlling the overall situation welled up in his chest.

One Black Armored Giant Catfish and one One-Horned Green-Scaled Fish, both at the Second Rank Middle Stage.

The other eight subordinates consisted of five at the Second Rank Early Stage and three at the First Rank Peak.

This force was enough to walk sideways in this stretch of the river!

"Very good."

Through the [Domination] talent, Li Qing issued new orders to all his subordinates.

"From today on, you will be divided into three teams."

"Catfish Head, One-Horn, you two are the strongest; you will be the first team."

"Responsible for guarding the Turtle Mansion while monitoring the surrounding waters. If any powerful aura approaches, report immediately."

"Crab Number Two, Turtle Three, Electric Eel, and Fangs, you four will be the second team—the hunting team!"

"The targets are First Rank Vicious Beasts. Remember, I want them alive. Bring them all back to the Turtle Mansion."

"Little Black, Little Green, Black Thorn, and Sharp Claw, you four will be the third team—the reconnaissance team!"

"Scout the terrain within a ten-mile radius. Look for any glowing water plants or strange Ores. Also!"

Li Qing's intent grew heavier.

"Within three days, pay close attention to human vessels on the river!"

"Especially those large fleets flying banners. Note their positions and movements. Observe from a distance; do not approach, and certainly do not attack!"

Autumn River Night Hunt!

He had to plan ahead and completely bring that area under his control.

He was just a commoner and had no access to good information.

But it didn't matter; he wasn't without the qualifications to claim the spiritual items obtained!

Secondly, he didn't trust a word out of Lu Yunfei's mouth.

If something really went wrong, his subordinates might come in handy.

"Do you all understand?"

"Understood!"

Ten uniform thoughts were fed back.

"Move out!"

With Li Qing's command, the hunting and reconnaissance teams immediately turned into several undercurrents, silently disappearing beyond the valley.

The Turtle Mansion's influence was already beginning to show!

Li Qing sat satisfied in the center of the valley, waiting quietly.

Before long, the hunting team brought back the first batch of prey.

Three First Rank Vicious Beasts that had been beaten half to death.

Li Qing wasn't polite; his turtle head extended, and his cold beak pecked down with precision.

Crunch!

As the flesh was devoured, surges of pure energy poured into his body.

[Devoured First Rank Early Stage Vicious Beast, Iron-Skinned Fish. evolution value +8]

[Devoured First Rank Middle Stage Vicious Beast, Spiked Snail. evolution value +15]

[Devoured First Rank Late Stage Vicious Beast, Three-Tailed Loach. evolution value +28]

A long-awaited warm current flowed through his limbs and bones.

Although this bit of evolution value was just a drop in the bucket for him now, he couldn't resist the sheer volume!

In the time that followed, the hunting team seemed to turn into a highly efficient assembly line.

Batch after batch of First Rank Vicious Beasts were continuously sent into the Turtle Mansion.

They became Li Qing's meal, turning into rows of cold evolution value data.

[evolution value +12]

[evolution value +20]

[evolution value +10]

...[evolution value: 351.4/5000]

His evolution value panel flickered wildly at an unprecedented speed.

Overnight, it surged by nearly three hundred points!

This feeling of reaping rewards without effort and seeing his strength soar was intoxicating.

As dawn broke, the reconnaissance team also sent back news.

Little Black had discovered a patch of white water grass growing under a cliff, emitting a faint glow.

Good stuff!

Li Qing immediately ordered Little Black to guard that area and not let any creature approach.

He would lead the team to collect the goods tonight.

It was another night of steady development.

He felt the power of the Six Elephants within him growing more solid and thick, and his heart was filled with excitement.

At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he could evolve again!

When that time came, who in the waters of this small Jiangling City could be his match?

His consciousness slowly withdrew, returning to his original body.

Li Qing opened his eyes; the sky outside the window was already tinged with blue.

Hou San's snoring was like thunder.

He sat up gently and clenched his fist.

This time, there was no explosive sound; his control over his strength had improved once more.

A slight warm current surged from deep within his body.

Although it was nowhere near as surging as last time, it truly nourished his bones, muscles, and flesh.

This was the bonus fed back to his main body after the Clone continuously devoured energy.

Small amounts added up; it was also not to be underestimated.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly in the dim light.

The Autumn River Night Hunt?

Lu Yunfei, I hope you don't try any tricks.

Otherwise, I'll let you see what a reverse hunter in the Great River looks like!