In front of the monster ranch.
Mu Gu immediately emerged to welcome Zhou Zhou.
Zhou Zhou looked around and realized that the two monster ranches were already filled with desert fog lizards and black-tailed fog scorpions.
"My lord."
"I nurtured a total of 500 desert fog lizards and 500 black-tailed fog scorpions in these two monster ranches through the night."
"Among them are 244 black iron-tier elementary grade desert fog lizards, 235 black iron-tier intermediate grade desert fog lizards, and 21 black iron-tier advance grade desert fog lizards!"
"There are also 186 black iron-tier elementary grade, 308 black iron-tier intermediate grade, and 6 black iron-tier advance grade black-tailed fog scorpions!"
Mu Gu realized that his lord had brought a bit more soldiers than the last time he came.
He was surprised and curious.
However, he believed that the lord had his own intentions, so he did not ask further.
Looking at Bai Yung, Lu Chong, and Qin We, Zhou Zhou said.
"Each of you would head into the monster ranch and battle against the fog monsters for at least 5 minutes."
"That means, you'll have to battle for at least 10 minutes for the 2 monster ranches."
"You will have to suppress your strength to the black iron-tier intermediate grade throughout the duration of this training."
"Your goal is to survive for at least 5 minutes in each monster ranch, which means you won't be killing any fog monsters. Understood?"
"Understood!"
The 3 close combat soldiers said in unison despite their fear.
As for Huang Sai and Sun Can, they were long range attackers.
They would have to put down the fog monster in order to survive for long, and that wasn't the essence of the training.
Hui Teng and Man Nao were handling their assignments, so they weren't present.
"Mu Gu would save you if you're unable to hold on. But you must take a hit or 2 before he does."
Zhou Zhou assured the soldiers of their survival.
The soldiers gave a sigh of relief after hearing that they would only receive at most 2 hits before they were rescued.
"My lord, I wish to inform you of an issue," standing beside Zhou Zhou, Huang Sai said to him.
Turning towards the long range soldier after he saw Bai Yung and Lu Chong walk into monster ranch (desert fog lizard) and monster ranch (black-tailed fog scorpion) respectively, Zhou Zhou asked.
"What is the issue?"
"I don't think I can upgrade my skills without doing away with my crossbow." Huang Sai said.
"Have you thought of any solution?" Zhou Zhou asked.
It would be great if Huang Sai has found a solution himself.
"My solution is to begin using a bow and an arrow. It would make me more versatile in my attack patterns." Huang Sai said.
He had already thought of everything.
A crossbow has only a single pattern of attack and could only target a single object at once.
The only chance of hitting more than 1 target is if they are directly in a queue and the force of the arrow shot from the crossbow was powerful enough to piece through the first target.
"There's no archer class that will instantly give you the skills of an archer. That means you'll have to train in order to have one."
Zhou Zhou said and Huang Sai nodded.
"Everyone is already training for stronger skills, I can't fall behind." Huang Sai said.
"Alright. Request for a bow from the blacksmith." Zhou Zhou was impressed by Huang Sai's mindset.
"Thank you, my lord!" Huang Sai bowed before heading back into the novice lord barrier.
Focusing once again on the battle between Bai Yung and the 500 desert fog lizards and Lu Chong and the 500 black-tailed fog scorpions, Zhou Zhou surprised at Bai Yung's improvements.
He has almost learnt the intermediate skills in just a day!
As for Lu Chong, his movements and spearmanship could be summarized as beautiful.
"He's really the creator of the intermediate skills!" Zhou Zhou muttered.
Time passed.
Bai Yung was ousted after 7 minutes in the monster ranch (desert fog lizard) and had to wait for an extra 8 minutes for Lu Chong to exit the monster ranch (black-tailed fog scorpion).
And in those 8 minutes, Qin We made his battle debut.
He lasted a bit more than 2 minutes before getting flung away by the tail of an advance grade black iron-tier desert fog lizard.
So, the remaining 6 minutes was used to watch the beautiful display of Lu Chong's spearmanship.
He's strong!
The thought formed in the mind of the soldiers as they watched.
'He must be the type of soldier the lord wants.'
Bai Yung's eyes sparkled as his desire to quickly learn the intermediate skills swelled in his heart.
Qin We's desire to upgrade his skills also soared at the display of Lu Chong's spearmanship.
'I wonder how terrifying a divine tier soldier would be?'
Zhou Zhou couldn't help but imagine after seeing the strength displayed by an intermediate grade skill.
Exiting the monster ranch (black-tailed fog scorpion) after a total of 15 minutes, Lu Chong got ready to enter that of the desert fog lizards.
"You weren't hit, you could've continued," Bai Yung said to Lu Chong.
Zhou Zhou made a guess in his mind.
'The scorpions can no longer pressure him to train his skills.'
"I need more pressure in order to force my skills to get better. The black-tailed fog scorpions can no longer do that," Lu Chong explained to Bai Yung.
"I'm really far," Bai Yung shook his head after hearing Lu Chong's reason.
Advancing into the monster ranch (black-tailed fog scorpion), he rub the blood eye potion on his eyelids.
'But I will definitely catch up to you, Lu Chong!'
The spearman was quite determined as he prepared to give his best against the sneaky scorpions.
Despite receiving a couple of hits and stings, Bai Yung refused to back down in his quest to learn the intermediate spear skills.
Only after the poison in his system forced him down did he let Mu Gu stop the furious charge of the fog scorpions.
Impressed by the determination of his teacher, Zhou Zhou quickly used the antidote potion, a life potion and an energy potion on him.
Recovering after 57 seconds, Bai Yung bowed towards Zhou Zhou.
"Thank you, my lord!"
"Keep up your determination. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!" Zhou Zhou said.
Already inside, Qin We repeated the outcome of Bai Yung battle.
But he didn't allow himself to drop to the ground.
Compared to him, Bai Yung already had a path to walk on.
He didn't.
It's either he create his path or wait for Hui Teng or Man Nao to create a path for the sword shield soldiers.
"Have an insight discussion with Hui Teng and Man Nao whenever you all free. It will help in your quest to upgrade your skills."
Zhou Zhou said to Qin We as he administered the potions to him.
"I will, my lord!" Qin We bowed in thanks.
Using lesser time than before, Lu Chong walked out of the monster ranch (desert fog lizard) after 9 minutes.
"Here," Zhou Zhou handed an energy potion to his strongest soldier.
"Thank you, my lord!" Lu Chong bowed as he received the energy potion.
Turning towards the adult sized lava dragon, Zhou Zhou said.
"Leave a bit of flesh on them."
"Roar."
Nezario roared before flying into the midst of the 500 desert fog monsters.
Still in a furious state, the fog monsters were about to rush after Nezario when a young but domineering dragon roar sounded.
Dragon Might instantly erupted.
All of the desert fog lizards immediately stood on the spot in fear, unable to move.
'It's almost identical with the mental manipulation skill.'
Seeing the effect of Nezario's dragon might, Zhou Zhou thought.
Finishing off with the desert fog lizards, Nezario went ahead to deal with the black-tailed fog scorpions.
Breaking through to the Green bronze-tier advance grade, the young dragon continued absorbing promotion energy until he was just short of a few dozen to obtain the grade of the strongest warrior in the territory.
Pulling the remains of the desert fog lizards and the black-tailed fog scorpions into his spatial ring, Zhou Zhou began heading to the gate of summoning with Nezario.
"Qin We, come along!"
He said as he looked at the black iron-tier advance grade soldier.
"Yes, my lord!" Qin We said excitedly as he followed after the human and the dragon.
Coming in front of the huge white portal, Zhou Zhou threw the 256 sword shield soldier recruitment books and the 314 poison crossbowmen recruitment books inside.
Placing each summoned soldier under his control, he waited for 10 minutes before the entire 570 summoned soldiers step out of the gate of summoning.
"Complete your advancement," looking at his pet dragon, he said to him.
Tearing through 8 summoned soldiers with his claws, Nezario stopped his attack as he raised his head and roared.
His voice was like the roar of a heavenly dragon, resounding through the world!
Zhou Zhou seemed to have sensed something and immediately smiled.
..