Transmigrated with a Demon-Refining Pot: Hehehe, Refine in an instant

He closed his eyes, sensing the changes within his body. His battle qi hadn't transformed; its total amount had only increased slightly. But his body was different. He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking, his strength more than double what it had been before.

Laun looked at him, his eyes filled with shock, but he didn't ask anything.

In the distance, outside the cave entrance, the night was deep. The northern sky was faintly glowing red, in the direction of Iron Rock Fortress.

The group continued their journey early the next morning.

Half of the team was injured, especially Viktor's group.

The whole team moved like snails, having to stop and rest after only a short distance.

Ron stopped the men and called Victor to his side.

"Let's split up," Ron said.

Victor froze, his smile fading.

"Ron, what did you say?"

"Let's go our separate ways! I'm doing this for your own good!" Ron said, looking at him.

Victor panicked: "I can leave! My men can leave too! Brother Ron, give us a little more time."

"There's no time," Ron interrupted him.

"You know in your heart that it's very difficult to cross this area undetected at this speed."

Victor's lips trembled: "Brother Ron, don't leave me... I... I'll do anything for you, I'll do anything... Please..."

"I told you I was doing this for your own good!!" Ron said helplessly.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Victor knelt down abruptly and grabbed Ron's clothes, attempting to use moral blackmail:

"Brother Ron, I've given you so much information, you can't be ungrateful! If we go our separate ways, how will I survive?"

"Ding!"

Trigger keywords!

Secret Technique: Ingratitude! Activate!!!

A flash of sword light.

Victor's eyes widened, his hands clutching his neck, blood gushing from between his fingers. He struggled to say something, but collapsed to the ground in despair.

Ron sheathed his sword, a hint of annoyance on his face. Why did this daring hand react so suddenly?!

Looking down at his corpse, he sighed:

"I've told you it's for your own good, but you won't listen! Would your older brother ever harm you?"

Take care of Victor's remaining men as well.

At this point, all the lords Ron had met after arriving at Ironrock Castle had been wiped out.

Ron searched Victor's body but found nothing of value: some gold coins and a poisoned alchemical dagger, the purpose of which was unknown.

Ron curled his lip, "A penniless wretch."

Laun and Hart have also finished cleaning up the battlefield and returned.

The corpses were all put into the bracelet.

"Let's go." Ron mounted his horse.

Travel light.

With over a dozen fewer people on the team and all the wounded recovered, the pace was much faster.

Over the next two days, Ron took a long detour, choosing secluded paths to avoid the Ironrock Keep area.

During their encounters with small orc patrols, they avoided them if possible, and fought quickly if necessary. Ron personally tested the power of a level one life form.

In general, I am capable of surpassing my previous three levels of performance.

The orcs they encounter now, unless there are a lot of them running at the same time, are impossible to escape; they simply cannot outrun Ron.

He encountered a dozen or so patrolling gnolls again. He cleaved the leader in two with a single sword stroke, then cleaved the two next to him in half with the other hand. The rest were dealt with by his men.

Laun stared in disbelief: "Sir, your strength..."

Ron looked at the nick on the blade and shook his head: "I haven't gotten used to it yet."

"When you get to the rear, remember to forge me a spiked club; a sword is too light."

Finally, on the fifth day after the defeat.

Ron and his companions crossed a secluded valley, and ahead lay another fortified castle—Sandstone Castle.

Sandstone Fortress is located behind Iron Rock Fortress, separated by a straight-line distance of two territories.

People were coming and going at the city gate, but there was also a sense of chaos and disarray.

Ron did not go directly into the city; instead, he sent Hart to gather information.

After all, he didn't go to support Iron Rock Fortress, so he felt a little guilty.

Let's see how many lords have returned. If not, he can stay outside the city for a few days before going back.

Hart brought back some earth-shattering news.

Marquis Mammon has been defeated yet again.

Ironrock Fortress fell last night. The news came from the magic crystal ball.

Ron hesitated, wondering whether he should continue running backwards.

After all, the pioneering territory is nearly twenty layers thick, and we've only just gotten to that point. At most, we'll break through six or seven layers.

My Great Duchy of Brass is vast and rich in resources. What's wrong with taking a little land?

Ron wasn't worried that the war would reach his territory, which was far to the west of the frontier.

Moreover, the territory becomes more and more fertile as you go further in, and the orcs will not give up the fat meat in front of them to gnaw on bones that have no oil or fat.

Just as Ron hesitated...

Suddenly, a tremendous dragon roar echoed from the sky.

Everyone looked up.

A bronze dragon flew in from the south, its wingspan obscuring half the sky. Its limbs were powerful and its golden scales shimmered in the sunlight. It flew very low, the air currents from its wings causing the banners atop the city walls to flutter loudly. A person sat on the dragon's back, clad in golden armor, their face obscured.

The dragon swept across the sandstone fortress and flew north. Its enormous shadow fell to the ground, casting everyone into darkness.

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted into an even louder din.

"A dragon knight! It's a dragon knight!"

"The duchy's reinforcements have arrived!"

"Too late! Iron Rock Fortress has already fallen!"

Ron stood there, looking up as the dragon disappeared into the clouds.

Brass Dragon, Dragon Knight, Level 3 Life.

They've arrived! But they're too late.

Laun leaned forward and whispered, "Sir, what should we do?"

He gripped the hilt of his sword, took a deep breath, and led his men into the sandstone fortress.

"Let's go into the city and find a place to stay. It should be safe now."

Sandstone Fortress is not large, but thanks to the arrival of the dragon, the city is now much safer than before.

Ron identified himself, was assigned a post, received supplies, settled the wounded, and sent Laun and Hart to gather information.

In the evening, Lauen returned, his face grave.

"My lord, we've found out. Ironrock Fortress fell last night. The orcs charged like madmen, a section of the wall collapsed, and most of the defenders were killed or wounded. The rest are retreating towards Sandstone Fortress."

"Marquis Mammon was seriously wounded but was rescued by his high knights at great risk. He is now organizing a retreat."

He paused, then continued, "That dragon knight is the Marquis of Windsor Brass. The Grand Duke sent him ahead of time. The Duchy's reinforcements will arrive in three more days; they are troops transferred from the province closest to the frontier."

Ron nodded and understood.

The Marquis of Windsor is the younger brother of the current Grand Duke. He is a third-tier titled knight, but he is not a dragon knight; he only came to provide support by riding a dragon.

The Grand Duke's family takes the name of a bronze dragon, just as lower-ranking nobles take the name of their family spirit. Using a dragon as a surname further reflects the family's power.

Hart came in from outside and added, "Sir, Sandstone Fortress will definitely become a front-line battlefield next. Should we stay or leave?"

Ron frowned.

"The dragon knights have arrived. This isn't like Daniel, who can't command his lords. If he slips up now, he'll probably be made a scapegoat. Let's stay here and see how things go."

He went outside and looked at the northern sky. There were still lights there, but they weren't as bright as before.

The war is not over yet.

But at least he made it out alive.

At night, Ron sat alone in the tent, bottling the concentrate.

After traveling for the past two days, Ron didn't know how many corpses he had collected; he only remembered emptying the bracelet's storage space time and time again.

After sorting and packaging the prepared stock solutions according to different concentrations, Ron looked at the room full of bottles and jars and felt an overwhelming sense of security.

Close your eyes and feel the changes within your body.

The level one life form is still adapting to its power, and can feel the energy flowing in its blood with every breath. Its battle aura is also beginning to show signs of condensation; although it hasn't yet formed a vortex, it's much stronger than before.