Chapter 107: The Sudden Transformation of Lu Zhe

"Hah, hah, hah..."

Lu Zhe gasped for breath, his mouth hanging open. Droplets of saliva fell onto the scorching rock, sizzling into wisps of white steam that drifted upward and vanished into the air. His eyes were blood-red, burning with the intensity of a bloodthirsty demon, presenting a truly terrifying sight.

The man, who appeared to be in his thirties, frowned in confusion as he observed Lu Zhe. "What kind of trick is this?" he muttered to himself.

"Hah," Lu Zhe exhaled once more before throwing his head back and letting out a primal roar. He hunched his body, charging toward the man in a bizarre, unnatural posture.

The man was momentarily stunned by Lu Zhe’s rapid approach, but he quickly braced himself, preparing for a fierce confrontation with the crimson-clad youth.

"Roar!" Lu Zhe bellowed again as he lunged forward. The sound was deafening, a booming roar that shook the very foundation of the cave; even the stones on the ceiling rattled and fell from the vibrations.

In a flash, Lu Zhe was upon him. He swung his right arm with savage force, the strike accompanied by a searing gust of wind directed at the man’s left flank.

*Bang!*

A sharp collision echoed through the cave. The man in white blocked the blow with his left arm, but his heart skipped a beat. The force and pain radiating from the point of impact were far beyond his expectations. Logic dictated that after such a long battle with the Thunder Tiger, Lu Zhe should have been exhausted, his strength nearly depleted. Yet, the power behind this strike was undeniable. How could this be?

"Ah! Roar!" Finding his attack blocked, Lu Zhe let out another thunderous cry, then surged with fresh strength, slamming his right arm forward to send the man flying.

"What?" Stunned by the sudden surge of power, the man had no time to react before he was sent hurtling backward.

*Whoosh.*

The man flew through the air for a distance before executing a backflip, his feet skidding across the ground until he finally came to a halt. He raised his left arm to inspect it. Where the two had collided, his pristine, snow-white sleeve was now charred, and the faint, acrid smell of burnt fabric wafted from the scorched cloth.

"How is this possible?" the man muttered, disbelief etched across his face.

"Roar!"

Another massive, blood-curdling roar erupted from Lu Zhe. The man looked up, only to be frozen in place once more.

Lu Zhe stood motionless, his entire body glowing with that same blood-red hue. He remained hunched, head hanging low, appearing unchanged. But seconds after his roar ceased, his body began to shudder violently. A series of sickening *crack-crack-crack* sounds echoed as his joints shifted, and before the eyes of all present, a grotesque transformation began.

His formerly lean frame began to bulge as thick, solid muscles erupted across his body. Amidst the cacophony of cracking bones, his stature grew steadily. In less than a moment, he had grown an entire size larger.

Along with his body, his hair began to lengthen, flowing down until it reached his waist. His slender hands underwent a transformation as well; his palms widened, his fingers thickened, and wicked, razor-sharp claws sprouted from his fingertips.

The mutation came to an abrupt halt. Lu Zhe now stood significantly taller, his torso bare as his shirt had been shredded by his expanding muscles. His fiery red hair fell in disarray over his shoulders and down his back, and his lethal claws glinted in the dim light. Everything about him had changed, save for his face. Though his features remained the same, the blood-red light in his eyes had deepened into a vivid, crimson glow, as if they were dripping with fresh blood.

"Hah," Lu Zhe exhaled softly.

"ROAR!!!"

A deafening roar erupted from his throat, a sound so earth-shattering that even those observing felt a wave of dizziness wash over them. The sheer sonic force whipped up the dust around him, sending it swirling outward in a violent ring.

"A sonic shockwave?" the man whispered, staring in astonishment at the figure standing before him.

As the roar died away, Lu Zhe locked his blood-red gaze onto the man. With a burst of speed that tore through the air, he charged.

The man reacted instantly, stepping back with his right leg and adopting a defensive stance. Within an instant, Lu Zhe was within three feet of him. With a low growl, he threw a punch.

*Bang!*

The man caught the fist with his left hand, while his right hand—now glowing with an earthy yellow aura—formed a fist and struck upward, aiming directly for Lu Zhe’s abdomen.

*Thud.*

The blow landed squarely, but absolutely nothing happened.

"What?!" The man’s face went blank with shock. He had never anticipated such an outcome.

"Hah," Lu Zhe exhaled, then swung his right hand, slapping the man across the face with tremendous force.

*Thwack!*

The power behind the slap was immense. The man spun in the air before crashing headfirst into the cave wall, leaving a jagged crater in the stone.

"Ugh..."

The onlookers watched the dramatic scene, speechless.

"Damn you!"

Suddenly, a voice filled with rage erupted from the crater. The man leaped out, soaring a full ten feet into the air. High above, he raised his right hand, which now held a massive, cylindrical object that shimmered with the color of deep, earthy soil.

As he descended, he swung the colossal weight downward with a whistling shriek, aiming to crush Lu Zhe beneath it.

"Profound-tier advanced technique: Earth-Shattering Hammer!"

The man shouted, and the object slammed into Lu Zhe with bone-jarring impact.

*BOOM!*

A deep, heavy vibration rippled through the cave, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.

The man in white landed, his face smeared with blood from Lu Zhe’s slap, yet a triumphant smile played on his lips as he looked at the massive, pillar-like object pinning Lu Zhe to the ground. "Hmph, you’re still too green to challenge me. Even if this 'Earth-Shattering Hammer' doesn't kill you, it’ll leave you broken."

Just as he was about to gloat, a faint *crack* sound reached his ears. It was quiet, but in the silence of the cave, it was unmistakable.

The man froze, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at the pillar. A thin fracture appeared on the surface, quickly spreading across the entire length of the stone-like mass. Then, with a crisp *snap*, the massive column—too wide for two men to wrap their arms around—shattered into pieces before their very eyes.

"How is this possible?!" the man gasped in horror.

As the debris fell away, it revealed Lu Zhe standing within, his eyes burning with an unquenchable, crimson light.