Chapter 37
“Let’s do this!”
Lin Jiang had a secret technique he intended to use against the late-stage ninth-grade beast.
He gathered his energy and blood, thrusting his spear forward with such speed that it tore through the air.
The slightly stronger焦环狼 (Jiao Huan Lang) was pierced through by his spear.
However...
“Awwoo!”
The ninth-grade early-stage beast showed no intention of avenging its companion; instead, it let out a howl.
“Not good, it’s calling for the wolf pack!”
Lin Jiang’s expression changed in an instant.
But having just unleashed his killing move, he felt drained and couldn’t react in time.
In the next moment, something strange happened.
“Awwoo... ooooh...”
The call for the wolf pack suddenly turned into a mournful wail.
A figure emerged from the stone forest, dragging the焦环狼 behind it.
“Are you the true disciple? Name... Lin Jiang?”
The voice, half-smiling yet oppressive, echoed in the air.
“Hmm?”
“Wang Hu?”
Lin Jiang recognized the newcomer.
It was a bit impolite to mention, but during the initiation ceremony, Wang Hu had tumbled down the stone steps like a rolling gourd, landing from the inner gate to the outer gate in one go.
This incident was well-known among the disciples; it was hard not to recognize him.
Now it seemed that Wang Hu’s true strength was not much different from his own.
“Thank you, Brother Wang.”
Lin Jiang let out a sigh of relief.
“Hehe, what you kill is yours, what I catch is mine. No objections, right?”
Wang Hu snapped the焦环狼’s neck with a single motion.
“Of course.”
Lin Jiang felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
Getting a ninth-grade mid-stage beast as his trophy was already quite good.
Thud, thud—
Just as Lin Jiang fired a signal arrow, a sudden sound of heavy drinking reached his ears.
He turned around, his brows furrowing even deeper than before.
Wang Hu had bitten into the焦环狼’s neck and was gulping down the foul-smelling wolf blood, a look of sheer enjoyment on his face.
Lin Jiang felt a wave of nausea wash over him.
“Two焦环狼.”
“One for Lin Jiang, one for Wang Hu.”
The nearest steward arrived, quickly inspecting the scene before hauling away the two wolf carcasses.
As the steward’s figure faded into the distance, Lin Jiang clasped his hands in farewell, intending to leave.
Wang Hu gave him an uncomfortable vibe, and after witnessing that scene, he really didn’t want to interact with him any longer.
Just as he took a couple of steps away...
“Who said you could leave?”
A rustling sound came from behind him.
Lin Jiang halted, turning back to find his pupils constricting in shock.
Wang Hu’s arms were swelling at an unnatural speed, rapidly sprouting colorful fur.
His gaze had almost lost all human emotion, replaced by a wild, bloodthirsty ferocity.
Had Wang Hu deliberately lured away the nearest steward?
“You!”
Whoosh—
Before Lin Jiang could utter a word, a gust of foul wind rushed toward him.
...
Meanwhile, not far away...
“What’s going on up ahead?”
Li Mo, bare-chested, was weaving through the stone forest.
Don’t get the wrong idea; young Li had no peculiar habits. He simply cherished the clothes his mother had sewn for him, and since they wouldn’t survive the upcoming fight, he had stored them in his system space.
Hearing the sounds of a fierce battle ahead, he quickened his pace.
Upon arrival, he saw two figures locked in combat.
Lin Jiang was clearly at a disadvantage, cornered and bleeding profusely.
At this rate, he might not be killed by his opponent but would bleed out first.
“What’s Lin Jiang fighting against?”
“No, that’s not a beast...”
Li Mo sensed something was off.
He activated his Tianming Shenyang (Destiny Divine Eye).
【Name: Lin Jiang】
【Age: 16】
【Root Bone: Mantis Leg, Green Snake Spine, Magpie Shoulder】
【Realm: Qi Blood Realm, Six Meridians.】
【Destiny: Blue-Black】
【Evaluation: This person has decent talent but is overly eager for quick success. If he realizes this in time, he might still rise to greater heights.】
【Recent Encounter: After a fierce battle, he has not yet recovered and encounters Wang Hu, who has been consumed by beastly instincts. Though he won’t die, he will be severely injured and unable to recover.】
“Is that Wang Hu?”
Li Mo raised an eyebrow.
Consuming beast essence could turn someone into this monstrous state?
Moreover, Wang Hu was clearly going for a kill, yet the Destiny Divine Eye indicated Lin Jiang wouldn’t die...
Could it be the elders?
A realization dawned on Li Mo.
It must be the elders who had been quietly monitoring Wang Hu’s movements.
For some reason, they hadn’t intervened directly.
But they couldn’t just watch a true disciple die in vain, so they ultimately saved Lin Jiang.
“The elders are helping, but I could also invest in this situation.”
...
“Wang Hu, we have no grudges!”
“Infighting among fellow disciples is a grave sin! Stop now, and I’ll pretend nothing happened.”
Lin Jiang’s breath grew weaker.
He knew he had no chance of winning and could only hope to make Wang Hu hesitate.
“The焦环狼 has no grudge against you either.”
“Survival of the fittest; you’re weaker than me, so you become my prey. What’s wrong with that?”
Wang Hu licked the blood off his claws, his eyes gleaming with ferocity.
Lin Jiang clenched his teeth, realizing there was no chance for negotiation.
Today, it was either his death or Wang Hu’s!
The foul wind surged again.
He had no choice but to muster all his strength, preparing to unleash his killing move once more.
But having lost too much blood and with his energy depleted, this thrust was nowhere near as powerful as the last.
Halfway through, Wang Hu, grinning savagely, managed to grab the spear’s shaft with one hand.
Then, with his clawed hand, he slammed down.
Forget about a human head; even a piece of blue stone would be shattered to pieces under that blow.
Lin Jiang sighed inwardly.
Was this how his life was going to end?
Boom!
“Huh?”
Lin Jiang was astonished to find that his head hadn’t been smashed as he had expected.
Instead, it was Wang Hu who staggered back several steps, each step leaving deep impressions in the ground.
A lean youth, as agile as a leopard, had somehow appeared in front of him.
“Li, the true disciple?”
Lin Jiang was bewildered.
“Li Mo, you’re still so meddlesome!”
“Good, you showed up just in time; I was just worried about finding you!”
Wang Hu had completely lost his earlier composure. Upon seeing Li Mo, he resembled a wild beast gone mad.
Some people, just by their presence, could break his defenses.
“Don’t shout, just stand still.”
“Wait for the inner gate steward to arrive and see how the sect decides.”
Li Mo frowned slightly.
Having saved Lin Jiang, his investment was complete.
He didn’t care what the elders planned; he was too lazy to get involved further.
“You’re asking for death!”
Wang Hu interpreted Li Mo’s attitude as a sign of disrespect.
And so, he completely lost control.
Not just his arms, but his entire body began to swell, thick fur sprouting all over, and a tiger tail shot out, whipping back and forth like a steel whip.
He was no longer human.
He had transformed into a standing, striped tiger!
His crimson eyes seemed ready to devour Li Mo whole as he lunged forward!
“Li brother, be careful!”
Lin Jiang felt a chill run down his spine and shouted loudly.
He could sense that Wang Hu’s aura was even more terrifying now.
He was likely as fearsome as a peak ninth-grade beast!
He quickly took out a signal arrow to fire.
Seeing Li Mo standing his ground, he anxiously called out:
“Li brother, you need to run! Otherwise, neither of us will...”
Bang—
A dull thud echoed.
The massive tiger claw collided with Li Mo’s fist.
The contrast was staggering.
But the result nearly made Lin Jiang’s eyes pop out.
The furry tiger arm exploded in a mist of blood, as if it had no bones, shattering upon impact.
Li Mo remained unfazed.
He seized Wang Hu by the head and, with a swift motion, slammed him to the ground.
Boom—
The ground cracked.
“With such a long wind-up, I thought you were going to do something big.”
“Practicing evil techniques is still a technique; what’s the point of turning yourself into a monster?”
Li Mo said lightly.
Wang Hu’s eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.
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