CHAPTER 578: CHAPTER 358 IT’S STILL EARLY FOR FASHION

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"It’s still too early to make any judgments," another said, with a bitter expression on his face. "This young man is merely a Duke. As for how his strength reaches King-level during transformation, I don’t know. But he is clearly far from Monarch-level."

Hearing the various conversations, all the members of the expert group began discussing whether this young man was their future hope or if his significance had been exaggerated.

"Alright, we all know he’s related to what Wan Qiao wants to talk about. I think this young man’s secrets go far beyond what we currently know." An elder sighed, concluding the discussion. Everyone who heard him speak ceased their debates and nodded silently. Soon, the group of experts fell completely quiet, curious about how this young man managed to ignite Wan Qiao’s aspirations.

After leaving the training field, Yan Xiaobao could feel hundreds of gazes fixed upon him as he leisurely strolled along the path. Some of these gazes were admiring, others confused, some were disapproving, and even a few were filled with hatred. Regardless of the emotions lingering behind those eyes, the white-haired young man never turned to look at them. Instead, he returned to his room, and once inside, he sat down and immediately began cultivating.

Yan Xiaobao possessed a complete set of weapons suited to his wolf form. He had a shockwave generated by his sweeping strikes, along with his immense physical strength. His claws and teeth were so powerful that they could easily seize an opponent’s neck or tear their body apart. He could let out a howl terrifying enough to intimidate anyone. His kicks solidified Fog Energy into blades that slashed everything in their path. Yan Xiaobao had yet to attempt many of his abilities, but unleashing his most ferocious attack had been something he wanted to try for quite some time.

The power of the attack had completely stunned Yan Xiaobao. If he hadn’t stopped himself, many guards would have been killed; the devastating strength of the attack was indeed astonishing.

However, stopping that attack caused Yan Xiaobao internal injuries. This, along with the fact that all his Fog Energy had completely vanished, was why Yan Xiaobao halted the duel before defeating the guards.

"You’ve done well," Lan Feng said inside the Dantian Cave. "We’re working to build alliances with many Lords; we can’t just go around slaughtering their men. Honestly, the fact that you chose restraint instead of jeopardizing the entire plan makes me extremely proud," continued the bird. As he spoke, Yan Xiaobao felt increasingly comforted.

The days that followed were spent by Yan Xiaobao in his room, focusing on refining energy and healing himself, so that by the time the last Lord arrived, he could move to the secret meeting chamber uninjured. If Yan Xiaobao weren’t in good condition, standing before numerous Holy Name Experts would undoubtedly crush him under the weight of their presence.

As Yan Xiaobao dedicated significant time to cultivating his talents, one leading figure after another passed through the gates, and soon, the castle was packed to the brim, filled beyond capacity.

When this happened, many guards were dispatched to the city walls, where they set up camps. Looking out his window, Yan Xiaobao could see one of these camps. The previously bustling training grounds filled to the edges were now empty, replaced with temporary arenas erected outside the walls. The entire army seemed to be arriving gradually. At least a million guards could be seen—at least a million King-level experts!

The castle at the heart of the city had grown eerily silent, following such extended bouts of commotion; it was a silence that Xu Yue adored but one which made Li Meilin distinctly uncomfortable.

"Why are there so many experts around here?" she asked, frowning while addressing her servant. This was the seventh servant she had posed the question to today. However, like all the others, this mouse-like woman instantly transformed into an actual mouse, vanishing the moment the question was raised. She left her uniform behind alongside the clothes she was wearing.

Witnessing this, Li Meilin was initially shocked by the sudden transformation. But soon, as she picked up the clothes and washed them before hurrying back to her room, a slight smile crept across her face.

Once she entered her room, still holding onto the items, she glanced around and smiled faintly, noticing that no one paid attention to her. As she stepped inside her chambers, her face bloomed into a smile so bright it could hardly conceal the happiness she felt within.

She quickly changed into the garb, pleased that the maid’s hat was large enough to cover her ears, and the outfit long enough to hide her tail. Running back and forth, no one would suspect whether she was human or beast. She stood before the mirror and smiled at her reflection.

"You think you can keep my secret, huh?" she spun around, speaking mockingly to her reflection as she adjusted to the outfit she wore. "I’m a Senior Observer. My job is to watch others, understand why they do what they do, and speak like them. With all these guards and Lords arriving, do you think I wouldn’t notice such a massive change?" She kept questioning her reflection as the smile on her face bordered on mania.

"I’ll see what kind of intel I can get from around here, and when I’ve gathered enough, I’ll be extremely sought after in the Siban Empire. The Emperor will reward me greatly for all the information I bring back." Smiling at herself in the mirror, Li Meilin turned and left the room, her face hidden by the garments she carried.