The Polymorph Spell

March 15, 9996, Yulan Calendar.

The morning sun spilled through the window into the dormitory. Akes opened his eyes just in time to see Reynolds sneaking back from Yale's bedside, clutching a pink bundle in his hand.

"What are you doing?" Akes lowered his voice.

Reynolds pressed a finger to his lips in a "shush" gesture, then shoved the pink bundle into his own bedcovers.

Akes didn't ask again; he rolled over and closed his eyes.

Half an hour later, Yale's scream echoed throughout the entire dormitory.

"Who did this!!!"

Akes sat up and saw Yale standing by his bed, holding a pink robe—or to be precise, his newly purchased blue robe, now dyed a glaring shade of pink.

Reynolds was huddled under his covers, his shoulders shaking.

"Reynolds!!!" Yale lunged forward. "Get out here!"

"It wasn't me!" Reynolds shouted, muffled by the blankets.

"If it wasn't you, then who?"

"Maybe it was Third Brother?"

Akes leaned against the headboard. "Why would I dye your clothes?"

"Maybe... maybe you're jealous of my looks?"

Akes chuckled. "Do I need to be jealous of you?"

George poked his head in from the next room. "What's all the noise so early in the morning?"

"Look!" Yale held up the pink robe. "Look at the good deed Reynolds did!"

George took one look, his expression subtle. "It looks quite nice, it suits you."

"Suits my ass!"

Yale dropped the robe and pounced on Reynolds' bed. The two tangled together, rolling from the bed onto the floor. Reynolds dodged while laughing, and Yale chased while cursing.

Akes and George leaned against the doorframe to watch the show.

"Wanna bet?" George asked.

"I'll bet on Yale," Akes said.

"Then I'll bet on Reynolds, ten silver coins."

"Deal."

Half an hour later, the two lay on the floor, panting, with neither having won. Yale had a scratch on his face, and Reynolds' clothes were torn.

"Draw," George announced. "The bet is off."

"Why is it off?" Yale sat up. "I clearly had the upper hand!"

"Where did that mark on your face come from?"

Yale touched his face, wincing in pain.

Reynolds climbed up with a grin, only to be kicked back down by Yale.

After a morning of chaos, the five of them finally got ready and headed to class. Yale ended up wearing the pink robe after all, drawing plenty of stares on the road.

"It really does look quite good," Akes said.

Yale rolled his eyes at him. "If it looks so good, you wear it."

"I can't; it doesn't match my temperament."

"..."

Linley walked alongside them, a faint smile on his lips. He hadn't participated in the farce, but he had enjoyed watching it.

In the afternoon, at the back mountain.

The five of them gathered as usual to cultivate. Akes channeled the Fallen Heart Flame, and milky-white flames enveloped the area. The others entered their respective states of meditation.

An hour later, the training session ended.

"Third Brother, I feel like I'm about to break through," Reynolds said excitedly. "Level Four, it's almost here!"

"Keep practicing hard," Akes said.

Yale leaned in. "I'm close too, probably another month or two."

George nodded. "Me too."

Akes looked at Linley. Linley said, "Mid-stage Level Five."

"I'm at the mid-stage too," Akes said. "We're in sync."

Linley nodded.

On the way back to the dormitory, Reynolds chattered the whole way, talking about what he would do once he broke through. Yale shot him down, "Break through first, then talk."

"I'll definitely break through!"

"You said that last month, too."

"This month is for real!"

The group walked away, laughing.

On a day in late March, Akes was practicing in the back hills as usual.

The Fallen Heart Flame pulsed slowly within his body, the Fire Spirit Bead glowed faintly, and the Five Spirit Wheel operated at full capacity. Fire elements from the surroundings surged madly into his body, and the magic power in his middle dantian grew at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Suddenly, he felt a slight tremor.

An hour later, he opened his eyes.

"Late stage of the fifth rank."

The magic power within his body was nearly thirty percent more substantial than before.

On a weekend in April, the five of them went to Fenlai City to stroll around.

The sun was bright, and the streets were bustling with people. Reynolds looked left and right, wanting to check out everything he saw. Yale tugged at him to keep him from getting lost.

When they reached the middle of Champs-Elysees Avenue, a crowd had gathered ahead.

"What's going on?" Reynolds stretched his neck.

"Let's go take a look," George said.

The group squeezed into the crowd and discovered a troupe performing acrobatics. Fire-breathing, sword-swallowing, and various stunts—there was plenty to see. The watching citizens let out gasps and applause from time to time.

"That fire-breathing one is interesting," Yale said.

Reynolds's eyes lit up, and he squeezed to the very front. The performer had just finished his act; seeing Reynolds, he reached out and pulled him into the circle.

"Come on, little brother, show everyone what you can do!"

Reynolds was stunned: "Me? I don't know how!"

"Just give it a try!" The performer laughed and handed him a torch. "Come on, take a deep breath and blow at the torch!"

Forced into the spotlight, Reynolds took the torch, drew a deep breath, and blew hard—

A puff of blue smoke emerged from his mouth, making him cough violently.

The surrounding citizens burst into uproarious laughter.

"What is this? The Smoke-Spitting Technique?" someone shouted.

Reynolds's face turned red to the roots of his hair; he dropped the torch and ran back into the crowd. Akes and the others were laughing so hard they couldn't stand straight.

"Reynolds, you're so talented!" Yale slapped his thigh.

"Shut up!" Reynolds said, embarrassed and angry.

George wiped away tears of laughter: "The Smoke-Spitting Technique, hahaha, that's a great title!"

"George!"

The group laughed together, eventually buying a few trinkets at the roadside to share. George picked out a few delicate ornaments and gave one to each person.

"What's this?" Reynolds looked at the small wooden figure in his hand.

"An amulet," George said. "Bought it in the Yulan Empire; they say it brings good luck."

Reynolds turned it over to look at it for a while before tucking it into his pocket.

Yale waved a hand grandly: "Let's go, let's eat! My treat!"

"Your treat? That's rare," Akes said.

"What do you mean rare? I've always been generous, haven't I!"

"The last time you treated us was three months ago."

"That's because you guys never give me the chance!"

Chatting and laughing, the group walked into a restaurant by the side of the road.

During the meal, the conversation turned to the future.

"What do you plan to do after graduation?" Yale asked.

"Go home," George said. "My family needs me."

"I'm going home too," Reynolds said, uncharacteristically serious. "My dad has urged me several times to return to the O'Brien Empire."

Yale nodded: "My family's chamber of commerce has branches everywhere, so I can go anywhere. What about you, Third Brother?"

Akes thought for a moment: "I might go to the Yulan Empire."

"The Yulan Empire?" George looked at him. "The magical atmosphere there is indeed good, and the resources are richer than in Fenlai. Have you decided?"

"Not completely, but it's almost certain."

Yale patted him on the shoulder: "Alright, my family's chamber of commerce has a branch there. I'll come find you for a free meal later."

"You're welcome anytime."

The group looked toward Linley.

Linley remained silent for a moment: "I am staying in Fenlai City."

Akes knew the reason—Linley's father was still in Wushan Town, and his younger brother was studying in the O'Brien Empire; he had to stay. But there were deeper reasons that Linley didn't mention, and he didn't ask.

"That works too," George said. "Fenlai City is the Holy Capital, and there are plenty of opportunities."

"Let's keep in touch," Yale said, raising his glass. "No matter where we go, we are still brothers."

The five of them clinked their glasses together.

Returning to the dormitory at night, Akes lay on his bed, reflecting on today's conversation.

The Yulan Empire. He truly wanted to go there and see it for himself. As the oldest empire on the continent, the magical heritage of the Yulan Empire was far deeper than that of Fenlai. If he could develop his path there, it would certainly be a great help to his future cultivation.

Furthermore, George was going there as well. Having an acquaintance around was better than going in completely blind.

[Ding—Detected that this month's check-in opportunity has refreshed.]

[Do you wish to check in?]

Akes silently recited in his heart: Check in.

[Check-in successful.]

[Obtained reward: Azeroth Polymorph—Can temporarily turn a small creature no more than one rank higher than the user into a sheep for ten seconds. Limited to three uses per day.]

[Special Note: Ineffective against Saint-level and above.]

Akes was stunned for a moment.

Polymorph?

This skill... it was incredibly overpowered. Although it was ineffective against Saint-level and above, once he reached the eighth rank, he would be invincible against anyone below the Saint-level.