Great Wilderness Demon Lord

When Xiao Yunlan led Tieshan into the training ground, it was during the morning drill.

The drill ground was paved with bluestone, and was spacious and flat, capable of accommodating hundreds of people for drills.

At this moment, the field is roughly divided into two groups: one group consists of about two hundred private soldiers dressed in uniform brown outfits and in relatively neat formations, practicing basic sword and shield coordination and spear formations, their shouts carrying the unique rhythm of military ranks.

The other group consisted of dozens of guards dressed in various styles and exuding a more refined aura. They practiced swordsmanship and fist techniques individually or sparred in groups of two or three. Their movements were noticeably more agile and varied, and their power was subtly akin to wind and thunder, clearly indicating that they followed the path of Jianghu martial arts.

The air was filled with the smells of sweat, dust, leather, and iron, and the sunlight clearly illuminated the rising heat and swirling dust.

Instructor Chen, in charge of daily discipline at the drill ground, strode forward. He was a veteran in his forties, with a deep scar running diagonally from his brow bone to his cheek, and his gaze as sharp as an eagle's. Upon seeing Xiao Yunlan, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he still clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, his movements crisp and decisive: "Second Young Master."

"Instructor Chen," Xiao Yunlan returned the greeting, "I'd like to practice my marksmanship."

Upon hearing this, Instructor Chen's surprise deepened. Young masters from aristocratic families often practiced swordsmanship, emphasizing elegance and refinement. The spear, however, was a weapon of life-or-death combat in battle, powerful and direct; few nobles were willing to dedicate themselves to mastering such "rough work." But he didn't ask further, only nodding: "Please wait a moment, young master."

He turned and took a long ash wood spear from the weapon rack. The spear was seven feet long, with a straight shaft and a blunt iron cap; it was a standard training spear and quite heavy.

Xiao Yunlan took the spear. It was quite heavy in his hand. He had no martial arts experience in his previous life, and the original owner of this body seemed to have only learned some rudimentary fist and foot techniques. His grip on the spear was awkward and clumsy. He retreated to the open space in the center of the arena, trying to recall the few stances he had seen, and awkwardly thrust out his first spear.

His movements were erratic and his strength scattered. Some private soldiers and guards who were resting nearby cast their gazes over, and hushed whispers drifted over: "illegitimate child," "altar," "demon"... the words were jarring.

Xiao Yunlan ignored him, focusing only on adjusting his breathing, repeating the thrusts again and again by feeling, trying to find the right strength and balance.

During the third round of practice, a sudden change occurred.

Within his dantian, the crimson aura suddenly leaped violently without warning!

It wasn't the indoctrination of memories or the transmission of skills, but rather a burning, violent, and pure "fighting instinct" that suddenly awakened like a dormant ancient beast, transforming into a surging torrent that instantly swept over his limbs and bones!

The scene before my eyes instantly distorted and faded—the sun-drenched training ground transformed into an ancient battlefield stained with blood, and the deafening shouts and clanging of metal seemed to explode in my ears.

That fleeting glimpse of the armored figure wielding a spear—every subtle muscle twitch, shift in weight, adjustment of steps, and trajectory of the spearhead—transformed into incredibly clear "physical impulses," directly imprinted on his nerve and muscle memory!

At this moment, Xiao Yunlan's body seemed to be briefly taken over by another, more ancient and fierce will.

The five fingers gripping the gun automatically tightened at the optimal position, the feet planted firmly on the ground like cast iron, and the waist and spine naturally arched, storing power. Then—

"laugh!"

A spear thrust out!

Fast! Ruthless! Steady!

This was a stark contrast to the previous clumsy and awkward thrusts! The spear tip pierced the air with a short, sharp sound, pointing straight ahead with a ruthless efficiency focused solely on killing the enemy, discarding all redundancy.

Sweep! Thrust! Slam!

His moves flowed smoothly and effortlessly, as if his body had practiced them countless times. The wooden spear seemed to come alive in his hands, each swing carrying the fierce aura of battlefield bloodshed, the wind whistling through it, faintly carrying the sound of thunder and lightning.

There are no fixed routines or fancy moves; each strike is simple and direct, yet subtly targets the most vulnerable joints, acupoints, and vital points of the human body.

This is not "learning," but rather the "awakening" and "possession" of an ancient war spirit. The imprint of the valiant and unparalleled demon Huo Piaoyao is forcibly infusing this still unfamiliar body with his battle-hardened skills through an invisible connection.

On the sidelines, those gazes, filled with mockery or curiosity, gradually froze.

Instructor Chen slowly lowered his arms, which had been crossed, his eyes sharp as knives. Some experienced private soldiers and seasoned guards also composed themselves, their expressions becoming solemn.

This marksmanship is wild! The style is extremely strange, completely unlike any known school, but the ruthlessness, precision, and instinctive grasp of the situation, all imbued with blood and fire, are undeniable. It even made some veterans who had been on the battlefield feel a slight tightening in their skin.

"Second Young Master... what superb spear skills on the battlefield!" Instructor Chen couldn't help but exclaim, his voice filled with suppressed amazement. "May I ask which master you studied under?"

Xiao Yunlan finished his stance, slightly out of breath, the "pleasure" emanating from the Courageous Demon within him rippling like warm water. "I have no master, I just practiced haphazardly," he said truthfully, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. "Is there anyone willing to step in and offer some pointers?"

The private soldiers exchanged glances, some hesitant. Sparring with this young master of such distinguished status would be troublesome if they won, and shameful if they lost.

However, some of the guards had ulterior motives.

A man of about thirty years old, with a wiry build and slightly bulging temples, stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Second Young Master, my name is Zhou Meng, and I am a guard in the manor. I have practiced martial arts for a few years and would like to spar with you as a friendly exchange."

He was using an unsharpened, thick-backed short sword, and he adopted a common starting stance in the martial arts world. His aura was steady, and his eyes were sharp, clearly indicating that he had rich practical experience.

"Please." Xiao Yunlan saluted, gun in hand.

Zhou Meng let out a low shout and lunged forward. His movements were agile and varied. His short sword drew a tricky arc, aiming straight for Xiao Yunlan's wrist. This was a close-range attack that was a common tactic in the martial arts world, using skill to overcome strength.

Just as the opponent lunged forward, the valiant demon issued a clear warning—the instinctive intuition of a seasoned warrior. Relying on this intuition, Xiao Yunlan abruptly turned to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade. His wooden spear swept across, striking the opponent's wrist holding the knife with a sharp "crack."

Zhou Meng groaned in pain, nearly dropping his dagger, and staggered backward. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, then he lunged forward again, grabbing at Xiao Yunlan's neck with his bare hands, his fingers flying fiercely.

The Demon of Courage surged with fighting spirit, urging Xiao Yunlan to meet the attack. However, in the lightning-fast exchange of blows between the two, the Demon of Slaughter's will suddenly intensified!

His vision seemed to be filtered through a faint red tint, making the faintly pulsating blood vessels on the side of his hand's neck incredibly clear in his "eyes." A cold voice seemed to echo in his ears: "Pierce through here, the fastest and easiest way..."

Driven by instinct, the wooden spear in his hand thrust straight at that fatal vital point like a poisonous dragon!

At the critical moment, Xiao Yunlan gritted his teeth and twisted his wrist forcefully.

"Snap!"