Three days later, Li Rong stood inside the shop and examined the five guards assembled before him. After a brief assessment, he nodded in satisfaction.
Dugu Bo, a Level 94 all-rounder Douluo, possessed the strongest overall combat capability among them. Li Rong directly appointed him as captain.
Golden Crocodile, a Level 98 attack-type Douluo, ranked second in raw power and was designated vice-captain.
Gu Rong, a Level 95 agility–attack Douluo, would serve as the team's shield and forward scout.
As for Gui Mei and Yue Guan—both Level 95 attack-oriented Douluos—their sole purpose was clear: to unleash their spirit fusion skill together, acting as the team's ultimate crowd-control trump card.
Though Dugu Bo's spirit power level was technically the lowest, none of the others voiced any objection to his appointment. Moments earlier, Golden Crocodile—who had attempted to challenge for leadership—had been suppressed and knocked flat within a few exchanges. After witnessing that outcome, the remaining three naturally kept their opinions to themselves.
"Are you all ready?" Li Rong asked calmly.
Dugu Bo stepped forward and spoke on behalf of the group. "We are always ready to follow Boss Li's orders."
Behind him, Golden Crocodile rubbed his still-aching abdomen, his expression muddled and faintly dazed. Even now, he struggled to accept how drastically the world had shifted.
Before coming, Yue Guan had warned him—still shaken—that Dugu Bo's strength had reached an almost absurd level. Golden Crocodile hadn't taken it seriously. With spirit power already at Level 98, he would never have participated in something as mundane as guard duty if not for the young master's insistence.
Yet reality had struck mercilessly.
Dugu Bo had released his spirit casually, overwhelmed him in mere moves, and driven him into the ground with a single kick. Had Dugu Bo not deliberately held back, Golden Crocodile suspected his body would have shattered on the spot.
"You exchanged for a fourth-grade cultivation method and a matching secret manual… and infused both, didn't you?" Golden Crocodile asked in a low voice, unable to think of any other explanation.
He had witnessed Kiba's explosive growth after infusion with the Flame Manipulation Skill. Though impressive, it still fell within acceptable limits. Dugu Bo, however, had crossed into the realm of the incomprehensible.
"Green Snake Principle and Green Snake Strength," Dugu Bo replied frankly. "Total cost—2.07 million."
Despite the pain etched on his face, his tone brimmed with satisfaction.
The other four clenched their teeth in unison.
Dog!
The curse echoed silently in their minds—especially from Golden Crocodile and Yue Guan, whose injuries were still fresh.
"Let's depart," Li Rong said, turning away.
He exited the shop without sparing a glance for the surrounding onlookers. With a flick of his hand, a massive flying puppet appeared—a roc-shaped construct of steel and spirit arrays. Li Rong stepped onto its back effortlessly.
"Get on."
The puppet resembled a colossal metallic spirit beast. Iron feathers overlapped densely across its body, reflecting cold light under the sun. Its talons were forged from hardened alloy, curved like blades capable of rending stone and cleaving mountains. With a wingspan spanning dozens of meters, three thick iron pipes protruded from its tail, each as wide as a bowl and humming faintly with restrained power.
The five exchanged glances before taking flight and landing atop the construct. As soon as they stabilized themselves, Li Rong reminded them, "Channel spirit power into your feet. Increase your grip. This puppet is extremely fast."
He activated a defensive array—but only around himself.
None of them dared to be careless. This was an unfamiliar creation from the shop, and its sheer mass alone was intimidating. Quietly, all five circulated their spirit power.
A deep buzzing suddenly rang out.
One of the three tail pipes began to glow, sparks dancing along its rim. Before anyone could ask a question, the flying puppet shot skyward like a released arrow.
The acceleration was brutal—approaching the speed of sound.
Air slammed into them like sharpened blades. Aside from Dugu Bo, who barely managed to remain upright, the other four dropped into crouches instinctively, struggling to reduce wind resistance.
If not for the protective barrier Li Rong had activated, that initial burst alone would have been enough to fling them off the puppet's back.
Li Rong observed their pale expressions with mild amusement, though his face remained composed. "Consider this spirit power control training. Don't panic. Stand up gradually."
"You make it sound easy," the five complained almost simultaneously.
Even so, they followed his instructions. Progress, however, was painfully slow. Each time they straightened slightly, a bout of turbulence would force them back into a crouch. Over and over, it looked as though they were endlessly practicing squats midair.
Only Dugu Bo adapted quickly. Before long, he was walking freely across the puppet's back.
"Boss Li," he asked with curiosity, "what exactly is this thing? It flies absurdly fast—and this high?"
"A flying puppet," Li Rong replied. "A transport spirit tool. This one is sixth-grade. I've already limited its output. At full power, its maximum speed can approach the divine tier."
Dugu Bo fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "Do your shop's personnel really travel in this kind of luxury? Sixth-grade tools just for transportation? Then what do you use for deliveries—seventh-grade?"
Li Rong ignored the comment.
"Boss Li," Dugu Bo continued, "you still haven't told us our destination."
"Star Dou Great Forest."
Dugu Bo blinked. "There are customers there?"
Isn't that place filled with Spirit Beasts?
"Of course," Li Rong said. "Not only humans. Spirit Beasts are customers as well."
That answer genuinely shocked them. Even Gu Rong, who had remained silent the entire time, finally spoke. "Boss Li… Spirit Beasts can become customers of the shop?"
"Our customers are defined by two conditions," Li Rong explained. "Independent thought, and the ability to control one's own actions. Species is irrelevant. Humans, beasts, or otherwise—any who meet those conditions qualify."
The five exchanged glances.
Dugu Bo frowned slightly. "But on the Douluo Continent, Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts are mortal enemies."
"You're enemies because Spirit Masters rely on spirit rings and Spirit Bones to grow stronger," Li Rong said flatly. "Those who pursue godhood no longer value Spirit Bones. And if one day you no longer require spirit rings produced by Spirit Beasts, will that hostility still exist?"
Dugu Bo's eyes lit up instantly. "We can level up without spirit rings?"
Li Rong shot him an annoyed look. "Without Spirit Beast-produced spirit rings. Not without spirit rings entirely."
"There are other ways to obtain them?"
"Interested in an inquiry?" Li Rong replied. "I brought a deduction tool on this trip."
Dugu Bo immediately turned to the others. "Don't tell me you're not tempted. Let's split the cost."
Yue Guan scoffed. "You spent over two million and now you're nitpicking over this?"
"It's precisely because I nitpick that I can spend two million," Dugu Bo retorted shamelessly. "Enough talk. Are you in or not?"
"I'm not," Yue Guan replied. "And I don't believe you can resist asking."
"Chrysanthemum Pass, stop baiting me. I just won't ask."
"Don't you dare call me Chrysanthemum Pass!"
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