All Beneath Transformation Force Are Ants

After returning to his residence, Lu Fan bolted the doors and windows, then sat down at the table.

He placed the three bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills and the Cracked Mask side by side on the table, poured out a pill, and tipped his head back to swallow it.

The familiar searing heat exploded in his abdomen. Under the hundredfold amplification, the medicinal power turned into rolling lava, roaring through his meridians.

The Tortoise Breath Formula and the Evergreen Formula circulated in alternation. His growing blood and qi were repeatedly compressed and condensed, merging strand by strand into the Force Core deep within his dantian.

At that moment, all the outward-surging blood and qi seemed to receive some kind of summons, rushing back like a hundred rivers returning to the sea and pouring into the Force Core.

No one knew how long passed before an exceedingly faint sound suddenly came from deep within his dantian.

Something had cracked.

The Force Core floating in his sea of qi jolted violently, then rapidly expanded outward at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The next instant, the shackles exploded apart. A scorching, solid force poured from the Force Core, washing through his entire body along his meridians. Fine tingling and swelling aches came from deep within his bones—not pain, but the muffled sounds of his periosteum being repeatedly tempered by force and thickening layer by layer.

The muscles all over his body trembled faintly beyond his control. Beneath his skin, countless tiny streams surged, and the stubborn obstruction at the junctures between his muscles and bones was blasted open by the torrential force.

He no longer needed to deliberately activate his force; it naturally circulated through his entire body.

Enveloped in force, his body became incomparably light. Every inch of muscle and skin grew denser and firmer, and his force completely fused with his body.

Lu Fan opened his eyes and spread his palm. Without any deliberate activation, vast force swept out from the Force Core within his sea of qi and coiled around his hand.

The sky outside gradually brightened. The early morning sunlight spilled into the room, illuminating the smile at the corner of Lu Fan's lips.

Late Dark Force.

With this strength, even if something unexpected happened at the Qin Household's banquet tonight, no one would be able to threaten him.

In the direction of the Qin Estate, the lights had not gone out all night.

The servants hurried busily through the halls, making the final preparations. The entire estate was filled with festivity.

Tonight's banquet had been arranged to celebrate their eldest miss, Qin Yaxin, entering Bright Force. All the prominent figures in Chi City would be attending, so there could not be the slightest negligence.

Thunder Martial Hall, rear courtyard.

A figure practiced his fists in the courtyard.

His fist wind howled like a gale sweeping through the land. Every punch sent fierce force blasting outward, crushing the stone benches and old tree bonsai in the courtyard into scattered fragments.

When he drew back his fists, not a single thing in the courtyard remained intact.

Li Xiao stood amid the wreckage filling the courtyard and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

"This is the external release of Transformation Force."

"Truly terrifying."

"No wonder they say that all beneath Transformation Force are ants."

Before a Dark Force martial artist could even get close, they would be shredded by his released force.

That was why a Transformation Force martial artist could be honored with the title of grandmaster.

Li Xiao clenched his fists, feeling the vast power within him that far surpassed Dark Force. The smile on his face would not fade.

Although he did not know how the Feng Household had obtained such precious pills.

It no longer mattered. With this Transformation Force strength, he would be a grandmaster whom every major faction sought to recruit wherever he went.

The Feng Household was no longer qualified to keep him as a dog.

Once he dealt with Blackstone Martial Hall, his next target would be...

Feng Household compound, inner room.

"Is that so? Li Xiao has already entered Transformation Force."

A middle-aged man seated at the table lightly sipped his tea, a smile appearing on his face. "Then he will never escape his fate of being a dog of my Feng Household."

"When it comes to methods, Father is still the most formidable."

Feng Jiaqi gently applauded, praising him sincerely.

"Jiaqi, you still have much to learn. But with Li Xiao as our dog, you have all the time in the world to grow slowly."

"Of course, you must not underestimate Li Xiao either. After all, the strength of a Transformation Force grandmaster cannot be taken lightly."

Feng Wanqian looked at his son, his eyes full of affection.

"Yes. Thank you for the reminder, Father."

"Enough. Go with Li Xiao tonight. I will not show myself."

Feng Wanqian coughed and waved his hand.

Feng Jiaqi rose and left.

Only after the sound of his footsteps had faded into the distance did a trace of gravity slowly emerge on Feng Wanqian's weathered face.

The Feng Household had endured for a hundred years. It absolutely could not decline in his generation.

For that, even cooperating with that man of unknown origins would be worth any price.

Night fell.

Carriages and horses flowed endlessly before the Qin Estate. Dignitaries, prominent officials, Dark Force experts, and famous merchants—all the notable figures of Chi City had come. For a time, the place blazed with lights and buzzed with excitement.

Meanwhile, Qin Yaxin, the guest of honor at the banquet, sat in a small room behind the main hall.

There was not much joy on her face. In name, this banquet was meant to celebrate her, but in truth, it was meant to announce the alliance between the Qin Household and Blackstone Martial Hall to the various powers of Chi City.

She knew very well that tonight would likely not be peaceful.

Qin Yaxin turned to glance at Zhang Zhi, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation behind her.

Even at such a critical moment, her friend remained calm as still water, her eyes slightly closed as she cultivated in silence.

"Little Sister Zhi, aren't you nervous?" Qin Yaxin could not help asking. "Quite a few Dark Force experts will be here tonight. People from Thunder Martial Hall might come too."

"Mm, I know." Zhang Zhi nodded faintly, without the slightest ripple on her face.

For a moment, Qin Yaxin did not know what to say.

This... did she really know?

As though she had heard Qin Yaxin's inner thoughts, Zhang Zhi raised her head. A rare trace of gravity appeared on her cold, beautiful face.

"Being nervous is useless now."

She paused, then added in an even tone, "Besides, I am about to break through."

Qin Yaxin froze, then widened her eyes. "You mean... you're about to enter Late Bright Force? That's too—"

Before she could finish, Zhang Zhi interrupted her.

"That level of strength is still not enough."

Zhang Zhi lowered her eyes. A flash of unwillingness and regret passed through her beautiful gaze. "I am too weak."

That night, she had been able to do nothing.

Let alone buy time, she had not even been able to withstand Gu De's casual palm strike.

She had once taken pride in her own talent, but now she finally understood that no matter how high one's talent was, without strength, one could only be slaughtered by others.

Qin Yaxin stepped forward and gently took her hand. "It's all right, Little Sister Zhi. With our two households joining forces, even the Feng Household and Thunder Martial Hall will not dare attack us so easily again."

"Mm." Zhang Zhi nodded, though a trace of worry still lingered in the depths of her eyes.

At that moment, a servant called out from outside, "Miss, the time has come. Master asks you to come out."

"All right." Qin Yaxin answered, took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and strode toward the door.

Seeing this, Zhang Zhi silently followed.

By the time the two arrived at the courtyard, the outside was already packed with people.

And among that crowd, one aura, heavy and still as a mountain, made those around it afraid to approach.

That man was Zhang Zhi's father, Zhang Yao.