WHOOSH WHOOSH—
A blurry figure darted swiftly through the forest.
Chen Han stood perched atop a branch, scanning the forest for any movement.
He had already been in the Cloud Heaven Forest for a full seven days... Countless beasts had become whetstones for his training. And with his two Dantians operating in tandem, his power had been steadily rising. Now, he had reached the Peak of the Martial Disciple Third Layer.
In just a month and a half.
Chen Han's power had grown several times over.
It all stemmed from the meteor that had once crashed into his body. Chen Han was certain that his once-mediocre life was about to become much more exciting...
But Chen Han wasn't satisfied.
Especially not after meeting Chen Yiyao.
That girl, who was about his age, actually possessed the terrifying Cultivation of a Martial Disciple Ninth Layer.
'The Ancient Divine Technique gives me a Cultivation speed on par with the geniuses of the Inner Sect. The only difference now... is the gap in cultivation resources!'
Inner Sect, Outer Sect.
Though the difference was only a single word, the gap between them was as wide as heaven and earth.
From the moment they began their journey on the Martial Dao, those in the Inner Sect consumed the finest Spirit Grass and Spirit Medicine to aid their Cultivation. All of this, however, had to be purchased with vast amounts of silver taels.
Even before the Chen Family's decline, they couldn't have afforded to buy him such expensive Spirit Medicine.
Therefore, his only path was to hunt in the Cloud Heaven Forest.
However, Spirit Beasts were far more valuable than ordinary beasts.
Some Spirit Beasts even had a Spirit Core inside their heads, which contained a great deal of Heaven and Earth Essence Power. Absorbing it would be just as effective as, if not better than, taking Spirit Medicine.
Unfortunately, in all these days, Chen Han hadn't seen a single Spirit Beast.
AWOOO—
Just then, a heaven-shaking howl echoed from the southern part of the Cloud Heaven Forest.
The howl was so powerful that it made the entire mountain forest tremble. It made Chen Han's eardrums ache and his blood surge.
'What kind of Spirit Beast is that? Even its cry is so powerful!'
Chen Han was shocked.
His heart stirred, and he immediately gave chase in the direction of the roar.
「In the southern part of the Cloud Heaven Forest.」
A Cyan Wolf King was roaring. It was four to five meters long, nearly twice the size of an ordinary wolf. A powerful, baleful aura radiated from its body, shaking the mountain forest and kicking up a storm of Flying Sand and Rolling Stones. Countless creatures couldn't help but prostrate themselves and tremble in fear.
'This Wolf King is already at the level of a Spirit Beast, with power equivalent to a Martial Disciple Fifth Layer.'
Chen Han narrowed his eyes.
Spirit Beasts were not like humans.
When faced with death, they could often unleash several times their normal power. If this Cyan Wolf King launched a desperate counterattack, it could even kill a Martial Disciple Sixth Layer expert.
For a moment, Chen Han hesitated.
"Run!"
Hearing the voice, Chen Han quickly looked over.
Four or five youths, all around the Martial Disciple Third Layer, were in a panicked retreat.
They had clearly been targeted by the Cyan Wolf King.
"Everyone, spread out!"
The leader, a youth in black robes at the Martial Disciple Fifth Layer, looked to be about fifteen or sixteen and was wielding a Fine Steel Long Staff. Facing the Cyan Wolf King, he let out a loud shout. With a flick of his staff, he lifted a boulder weighing over two hundred jin and hurled it at the Wolf King.
BOOM!
The Cyan Wolf King swiped with its claws, smashing the boulder into dust.
'The power of a Spirit Beast is truly terrifying!'
That single strike from the Cyan Wolf King just now could have annihilated three or four of him in an instant.
"ROAR!"
After shattering the boulder, the Cyan Wolf King's momentum didn't slow in the slightest as it charged madly toward the black-robed youth.
"Zhao Fei, watch out—"
The youths cried out in alarm.
'Zhao Fei?'
Hearing their cries, Chen Han's heart skipped a beat.
Outside Qingcheng Mountain, in Luoyang City, there were three great clans.
The Chen, the Zhao, and the Wang!
Each clan was unimaginably vast and powerful.
'Could they be from the Zhao Family?' Chen Han wondered.
Still in shock, Chen Han glanced at their attire and immediately had his answer confirmed.
RUMBLE—
Wherever the Cyan Wolf King passed, it was unstoppable. Whether it was a hundred-year-old tree or a thousand-jin boulder, everything was pulverized in an instant beneath its sharp claws.
If anyone else had been there, they would have likely been killed instantly by the Wolf King.
But this youth named Zhao Fei was terrifyingly strong.
The Fine Steel Long Staff in his hands moved like an extension of his body... He had already woven an impenetrable wall of strikes in front of him, keeping the Wolf King from getting close. He even looked like he might counterattack at any moment...
'A true expert!'
Chen Han clicked his tongue in amazement.
The young man's combat experience was extremely rich; he clearly wasn't some delicate flower raised in a greenhouse.
Every time danger arose, he found a way to resolve it.
"Quick, save Zhao Fei—!"
But he was, after all, facing a Wolf King at the level of a Spirit Beast.
Gradually, his stamina began to fail.
The other members of the Zhao Family saw his predicament and hurriedly moved to support him. However, their attacks were ineffective. The Cyan Wolf King's defense was incredibly strong; if they couldn't land a fatal blow, their strikes were no different from a tickle.
"BOOM!"
But in a flash, the Cyan Wolf King launched a fierce counterattack, slamming a claw into Zhao Fei's chest.
"Pfft—"
Zhao Fei cried out miserably as he spat a mouthful of blood, was sent flying backward, and crashed hard onto the ground.
'Kill it!'
Seeing the Cyan Wolf King give chase, Chen Han shot forward as well.
This Wolf King was a Spirit Beast.
'The reason it's so powerful is entirely due to the Spirit Core in its head. If I can successfully hunt it and take that Spirit Core, it'll be worth more than hunting a hundred ordinary beasts.'
With that thought, Chen Han's heart stirred, and he shot forward.
WHOOSH— WHOOSH—
He instantly executed the Vast Sea Step. His Qinggong, which he had mastered to the level of Great Success, left a trail of afterimages in his wake.
He himself was like an arrow released from its bow, speeding toward the Cyan Wolf King.
Just as Chen Han arrived, the few disciples of the Zhao Family had gathered together. Although they had strength in numbers, they were still in a precarious situation under the Cyan Wolf King's assault, in danger of being wiped out at any moment.
"Overlord Saber Technique!"
A sharp glint flashed in Chen Han's eyes as he brandished the Ruo Shui Golden Saber like a clap of thunder. It let out a piercing whistle as it viciously chopped down on the Cyan Wolf King's massive claw.
BOOM!
Saber Qi raged, directly crushing the rock beneath the Cyan Wolf King's feet.
SCHLICK—
The Ruo Shui Golden Saber was no ordinary item; it was a Weapon once used by a Twelfth Layer Martial Disciple. With a single strike, it sliced straight through the Cyan Wolf King's right claw.
ROAR!
The Cyan Wolf King roared furiously, glaring at the enemy before it.
But it saw nothing.
Having succeeded in his first strike, Chen Han was already using the Vast Sea Step to move rapidly. In an instant, he had shifted to the Cyan Wolf King's side. The Ruo Shui Golden Saber, carrying a supreme momentum, slashed toward the Cyan Wolf King's belly.
Bronze head, iron tail, tofu waist!
The Cyan Wolf King's greatest weakness was its waist.
Chen Han knew how formidable this Wolf King was.
Therefore, he had to kill this Spirit Beast in a single, decisive blow. If he failed, he would retreat immediately. If he got entangled with the Cyan Wolf King, he would likely be killed in an instant.
"Run!"
The Zhao Family disciples were both shocked and overjoyed to see Chen Han appear.
It was unclear who, but one of them shouted out, quickly hoisted the heavily injured Zhao Fei onto their back, and began to flee.
Clearly, they intended to let Chen Han hold off the Cyan Wolf King so they could use the opportunity to escape!
ROAR—
The Cyan Wolf King was utterly enraged.
It leaped back and swiped at Chen Han. But because its right paw was injured, its speed had slowed considerably, and it couldn't track Chen Han's movements. Thus, its would-be fatal blow was easily dodged.
ROAR!
Just as the Zhao Family disciples were about to exit the Cloud Heaven Forest, the Cyan Wolf King suddenly let out another ferocious roar.
This roar was incredibly shrill and fierce. In an instant, it echoed for ten li in every direction, a howling sound that struck fear into the hearts of all who heard it.
The hearts of the Zhao Family disciples clenched, and they quickly turned to look back.
They saw that the Cyan Wolf King's right eye had been pierced by the Golden Saber and was now dripping with blood...
No matter how strong a Spirit Beast's defense was, its eyes were always its most vulnerable spot.
With that one strike, Chen Han had heavily wounded the Cyan Wolf King!
"What? He actually managed to wound the Wolf King?"
The members of the Zhao Family were all stunned.
In their eyes, Chen Han's power was about the same as their own...
"Let's go!" Zhao Sheng stepped forward. "This Wolf King is our prey! How can we let this kid steal it?"
If it were an uninjured Spirit Beast, he would never have dared to say such a thing.
He only spoke up now because he saw the Wolf King was severely wounded.
The others were also persuaded.
After all, every one of them knew exactly how much a Spirit Beast was worth.
Immediately, they turned back on their heels and charged toward the Wolf King.
The Wolf King had taken a grievous blow from Chen Han and was already intent on retreating. It let out a panicked cry and immediately fled toward the depths of the forest.
"Trying to run?"
Chen Han's gaze tightened, and he was just about to use the Vast Sea Step to give chase.
WHOOSH WHOOSH—
Almost instantly, the Zhao Family members who had been leaving suddenly brushed past him, rushing toward the Wolf King. In the blink of an eye, they were in front of it.
"Kill!"
The leader, Zhao Sheng, roared fiercely.
The others also raised their weapons and charged at the Wolf King.
The Wolf King was in a state of blind rage.
Encountering these little insects, it was naturally incensed. It swiped out with a claw, instantly tearing one of the Zhao Family disciples to shreds.
Zhao Sheng and the others were horrified.
They hadn't expected the Wolf King to possess such terrifying destructive power even when heavily injured.
For a moment, they were unable to cope.
Just as the Cyan Wolf King was about to go on another rampage, Chen Han suddenly shot forward.
"Overlord Saber Technique!"
Gathering all his strength, Chen Han shouted.
The Ruo Shui Golden Saber in his hand plunged into the Wolf King's skull without any resistance.
Grk...
The Cyan Wolf King whimpered as its massive body crashed heavily to the ground, sending up a huge cloud of dust.
Looking at the Wolf King's corpse, Chen Han's heart filled with joy.
'As long as I can get the Wolf King's Spirit Core, I'll have the confidence to break through to the Martial Disciple Fourth Layer Realm...'