Chapter 6: The Transmutation of Qi Force

“My goodness, there must be several hundred of them.”
Lu Shui exclaimed in astonishment, “How can there be so many wolves in this place! Is the local magistrate eating dirt or something?”
Mr. Wen also rose, pondering deeply, “The enemy is a demon who has mastered cultivation; evading the authorities would be child’s play. I fear a fierce battle awaits us.”
Lu Shui laughed heartily, “When it comes to fighting, our Flying Bear Army has never flinched! Boys! Are you afraid?”
The Flying Bear soldiers burst into laughter, their blood surging, each with a murderous gleam in their eyes, their aura rising like a tempest.
Although numbering only a few dozen, their collective presence rivaled that of the hundreds of giant wolves, their killing intent forming a solid wall of iron, not only matching but faintly overwhelming the wolves’ menace.
“Ha ha ha! What’s there to be afraid of!”
“My broadsword has been hungry for ages!”
“Enough talk! Let’s get to it!”
It was truly worthy of its reputation as the continent’s most famed army… Ji Huo nodded inwardly, already considering whether he should send a few cubs to mingle with these soldiers and learn from them, embracing the best of every school.
In the darkness, those ghostly green eyes flickered ceaselessly, yet did not advance, merely encircling the group.
“Why haven’t they attacked yet?” Lu Shui asked.
A strategist, and yet not thinking straight? Mr. Wen grumbled inwardly, speculating,
“They must be intimidated.”
“These cowardly bastards!”
Lu Shui cursed, casually tossing a torch onto a wolf carcass. With a crackle, the corpse was quickly engulfed in flames, billowing black smoke spiraling skyward.
“Awooo!”
Suddenly, a furious roar erupted from the darkness, and the ferocious giant wolves charged at the group, biting anything in their path!
“Ha! They’ve finally come!”
The Flying Bear soldier at the front laughed, raising his broadsword and cleaving downward, felling the lead giant wolf.
More wolves rushed in, but the soldier stood his ground, swinging his blade with astonishing force, leaving deep wounds on the giant wolves whenever he struck.
This scene played out across the battlefield. Though surrounded on all sides, each of the few dozen men held their own, repelling the wolves and keeping them at bay.
The Flying Bear Army formed a protective ring, within which Ji Huo and his companions stood, impervious to the wolves’ assault. Many wolves fell to the soldiers’ blades, unable to break through.
Though their fighting appeared chaotic, whenever a comrade was about to suffer a grievous blow, another soldier would step in to intercept the attack. After a prolonged skirmish, only a few bore minor wounds.
Lu Shui remained calm at the center, surveying the field with hands clasped behind his back, unfazed by the fray.
As the wolves multiplied, the Flying Bear Army began to struggle, their movements growing frantic, and the encirclement shrinking.
A dark-furred giant wolf lay hidden among the pack, its gaze fixed intently on one soldier.
When that soldier was beset by several wolves and left exposed, the giant wolf sprang forth, sinking its fangs into his right arm and dragging him to the ground with overwhelming strength.
Several wolves, as if anticipating this, quickly piled onto the fallen man, tearing at him with savage bites.
“Roar!”
At that moment, a wild aura burst forth from the soldier, a blood-red wave of energy blasting the wolves off him.
As he rose, the energy swirled around him, forming the silhouette of a ferocious blood-red bear.
The apparition wrapped around him like a protective cloak, making him appear all the more formidable.
With a furious shout, the soldier’s bear phantom let out a deafening roar, sending shockwaves that forced the wolves to retreat.
The soldier sheathed his broadsword and charged the wolves barehanded. With a sweeping strike, both he and his spectral bear lashed out, sending a giant wolf flying with a single blow!
He rampaged through the pack like a true bear among wolves, unstoppable.
No matter how many wolves tore at him, they could not pierce the bear’s phantom; instead, he battered them away with mighty swings.
Seeing this, the other soldiers followed suit. Half remained to defend the formation, while the rest unleashed their own blood-red energy, conjuring bear phantoms that plunged into the fray.
These Flying Bear soldiers, already towering and robust, now seemed like upright bears two or three meters tall, locked in brutal combat.
Suddenly, the battlefield was filled with dozens of giant bears hunting wolves, the tide of battle swiftly reversed!
Ji Huo watched in awe, finally understanding what the Flying Bear Army truly was.
Manifesting energy into form!
This was a feat only achieved by martial artists of the sixth rank or higher; could it be that every Flying Bear soldier was a sixth-rank master?
And these were merely the ordinary soldiers?
A sixth-rank master could easily become a leading figure in a small sect, yet here they were, just regular troops.
Moreover, Ji Huo could tell the martial arts technique they used was of high grade, for such fierce energy wouldn’t manifest otherwise.
It must have been created specifically for the Flying Bear Army by Ji Xiao Xiong, the grandmaster.
Such extravagance… He was glad he hadn’t accepted any contracts involving the Flying Bear Army in recent years, or he’d have been finished.
This outing was truly an eye-opener… Ji Huo glanced at Lu Shui, the army’s commander.
The situation was now stable, but to rout the wolves, the best strategy would be to capture their leader first.
What method would this strategist employ?
Would he summon heavenly thunder, or use some other mysterious art?
Lu Shui remained unhurried, watching the darkness, until the wolves were beaten back and a mournful howl echoed from the shadows!
Hearing this, the wolves ceased their assault and retreated into the night.
Lu Shui’s eyes lit up. He swiftly picked up a longbow, drew it into a full arc, and released an arrow that vanished in a flash. A piercing howl rang out from the darkness.
Ji Huo: ???
Mr. Wen: ???
Mr. Wen trembled with indignation, raising his voice, “Aren’t you a sorcerer? Where are your arcane arts?”
Lu Shui laughed, patting his bow,
“Mr. Wen, ever since I joined the Flying Bear Army, I’ve found that a good punch works far better than any spell!”
Mr. Wen’s beard quivered with rage, muttering about disgrace to the arcane arts.
Ji Huo blinked, deeply impressed.
With the wolves gone, the Flying Bear soldiers withdrew their blood-red energy, each lively and spirited, with only a few lightly wounded.
After the battle, they cheerfully gathered the wolf corpses, acting as if nothing had happened.