When the owners of those scarlet eyes finally showed themselves, Lu Chong recognized them as Exotic Beasts: Two-headed Dogs he had seen in textbooks and videos.
Judging by the six Two-headed Dogs' size and build, Lu Chong could also tell they were Level One, Eighth Stage Exotic Beasts.
He had to admit that the Eighth Stage Two-headed Dogs in the Wilderness were far more terrifying than Shadow Cats of the same level in the Hunting Ground.
It wasn't their strength, but their indescribably savage presence. They looked as if they might pounce on him and fight to the death at any moment.
That feeling was completely different from the Exotic Beasts raised in captivity in the Hunting Ground.
Lu Chong suddenly realized how important this special training was.
"See? These brutes all mutated from ordinary dogs."
Principal Fang glanced calmly at the restless Two-headed Dogs and continued, "That's why people aren't allowed to keep pets in human settlements these days."
"You haven't seen the Fierce Beasts that mutated from wild animals yet. They're much more savage than these things."
Noticing that Lu Chong seemed a little nervous, Principal Fang's tone grew more relaxed. "Of course, don't give them too much credit."
"As long as you're strong enough—more savage than these brutes—you can make them too afraid to even raise their heads."
As if to prove his point, Principal Fang, who had been keeping his aura in check, assumed the Tiger Stance.
Lu Chong immediately watched him closely. The over-eighty-year-old man's chest and abdomen rose and fell like waves, and an invisible force eventually traveled up to his throat.
Then Principal Fang opened his mouth wide and let out a roar that shook the wilderness.
It no longer sounded human, but more like a tiger's cry, filled with the majesty and domineering presence of the king of beasts.
Though Lu Chong had covered his ears in advance, his head still rang, and his arms and legs went weak.
He looked at the Two-headed Dogs surrounding them and saw that the Exotic Beasts, ferocious just moments ago, were now letting out pitiful, submissive whines before turning tail and fleeing.
How terrifying. Is this the true power of the Tiger Roar Skill? Lu Chong marveled.
By then, Principal Fang had finished the technique and stood with his hands behind his back. "That was only a tenth of the Tiger Roar Skill's power."
"If I'd gone all out just now, those little brutes wouldn't have run away. They'd have been scared to death on the spot."
Lu Chong stared blankly for a moment. He realized he had still underestimated this top-grade Martial Skill.
"Good. It's quiet around here now. No Exotic Beasts will dare come near tonight."
"Let's practice here."
Only after clearing the area with a roar did Principal Fang begin teaching Lu Chong the Tiger Roar Skill's method of cultivating the mind.
Just as Principal Fang had said, the Tiger Roar Skill's greatest strength wasn't offense, or even its sonic attack. It was the way it tempered one's own mental will.
Like the roar from earlier, the sonic attack was only the outward manifestation. What truly shook and tempered him was his own spirit.
With long-term practice, one's mental will would naturally become more focused and powerful.
That was the true essence of the Tiger Roar Skill.
With guidance from Principal Fang, a master who had reached perfection, Lu Chong quickly got into the swing of things. He practiced the Tiger Roar Skill much faster than he had once practiced the Golden Cicada Robe.
The Tiger Roar Skill received guidance from an expert. Training speed doubled. The Tiger Roar Skill sensed its master's diligence. Training progress surged, reaching Great Accomplishment.
By eleven that night, Lu Chong had already reached Great Accomplishment in the Tiger Roar Skill.
"That's enough for tonight. This old man needs to get some sleep, too."
Principal Fang felt his heart couldn't take any more and quickly called a halt. Without giving Lu Chong a chance to object, he took him back to the Fortress.
Good heavens! In a single night, Lu Chong had gone from first contact to entry-level, then from Small Accomplishment to Great Accomplishment. Was he even human?
Principal Fang suddenly understood why Old Wei valued this student so highly. He also understood how Lu Chong had managed to cultivate so many Martial Skills to perfection.
Even Lu Chong himself was surprised. He hadn't expected to make such smooth progress with the Tiger Roar Skill.
What surprised and delighted him even more was that once the Tiger Roar Skill reached Great Accomplishment, a notification rang out in his mind.
The Qi Absorbing Art sensed its master's invigorated spirit. Training speed quadrupled. The Golden Cicada Robe sensed its master's invigorated spirit. Training speed quadrupled.
This was an unexpected delight. Still dazed, Lu Chong returned to his tent without figuring out why the Qi Absorbing Art and Golden Cicada Robe had suddenly started training faster.
Wait. Could it be because of the Tiger Roar Skill?
Lu Chong suddenly realized that the only thing he had changed that night was practicing the Tiger Roar Skill.
His eyes lit up as he thought, More precisely, it must be the mind-tempering effect of the Tiger Roar Skill. It strengthened my mental will, which in turn boosted my cheat plugin across the board.
How should he put it?
Lu Chong felt as if he had upgraded the cheat program at its very core, increasing the automatic training speed of all his Martial Skills.
Well, would you look at that! Does this mean I can upgrade my cheat plugin through similar methods?
The thought filled Lu Chong with joy. This had solved his biggest worry of late.
If that was really the case, then even after his cultivation improved and his Martial Skills became stronger and more difficult to master, he wouldn't have to worry about his cheat plugin becoming useless.
"The Tiger Roar Skill means so much to me." Lu Chong was thrilled.
Just then, Lu Chong felt a warm current flow into his body, followed by a familiar pang of hunger.
"Huh?" Lu Chong hurriedly checked his status panel. "Did my cultivation just break through?"
Name: Lu Chong Level: Martial Apprentice Stage 9 (1%) Martial Skills: Nine-Shadow Step—Perfection ... Wind Splitting Leg—Perfection Golden Cicada Robe—Microscopic (58%) Tiger Roar Skill—Great Accomplishment (1%)
"This really is a double blessing. I've finally reached Martial Apprentice Stage 9."
Lu Chong was overjoyed. More importantly, he had just solved the problem of upgrading his cheat plugin.
Even after breaking through to Stage 9, his automatic training speed wouldn't fall behind.
And as he continued to cultivate the Tiger Roar Skill, his mental will would grow stronger, raising the training speed of everything else in turn and forming a virtuous cycle.
"That's incredible. Just this one benefit made the trip worthwhile."
Before you continue