Due to the sudden quake of the cave, Shen Yue's uncle failed to notice the subtle shifts in their surroundings.
A sudden, bone-chilling howl echoed through the forest.
Shen Yue and his uncle froze in place. That howl wasn't from a normal beast—it was the cry of the Raging Wind Wolf, one of the forest's most dangerous predators. According to the books Shen Yue had studied, these wolves were extremely rare. Finding one was a miracle. Surviving after encountering one? Nearly impossible. Even seasoned cultivators would hesitate to face them.
Shen Yue's hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword.
But something felt off. Raging Wind Wolves always moved in packs, he remembered from his reading. Yet in front of them stood only three wolves. One in the center even looked young.
Suddenly, Shen Yue's Hyper Sense triggered. His ears twitched slightly as he picked up a subtle sound behind him. He turned to find his uncle on his knees, trembling.
Shen Yue's eyes widened. The man who once stood tall on the battlefield... is trembling?
But oddly, the wolves weren't attacking.
"Uncle!" Shen Yue called. "Snap out of it!"
His uncle didn't respond. After a long pause, he muttered, "They're just watching... why aren't they attacking?"
Shen Yue took a calming breath. "There are only three... and none of them have made a move yet."
His uncle's also seemed to regain some courage and stood up beside Shen Yue. Seeing this, Shen Yue straightened his back. Both of them were at Blood Qi 9th grade. If they remained calm, they might just make it out alive.
They took a cautious step forward. To their surprise, the wolves stepped back slightly.
"They're hesitating," Shen Yue whispered.
Taking the opportunity, they continued moving slowly until they reached the forest's edge.
But once again, Shen Yue's Hyper Sense tingled. Something was off. He tried to shake it off.
"Let's split," his uncle suddenly said. "You hide deeper in the forest. I'll draw them away!"
Shen Yue frowned. "Wait—"
But before he could finish, his uncle took off running at full speed.
And still... the wolves didn't chase him.
Instead, their crimson eyes stayed locked on Shen Yue. A deep, terrifying hunger burned in them.
Then—without warning—they charged.
Shen Yue stepped back as the wolves lunged, surrounding him with practiced precision.
His Hyper Sense roared to life. He turned on his heel and dashed into the woods, weaving through trees and rocks. The wolves gave chase, howling furiously.
He leapt behind a massive rock partially covered in fallen debris, holding his breath.
They paused—but moments later, they found him again.
He repeated the process, changing hiding spots, suppressing his presence. Still, they tracked him down.
Something's wrong. My concealment should've worked. Why are they still finding me?
Shen Yue clenched his teeth. No more running.
He gripped his sword tightly and turned to face the wolves. They were stronger—possibly at the 1st Realm of Muscle Strengthening. His chances were slim.
But thanks to his calisthenics training, his agility was unmatched. His body was refined close to the 7th Blood Qi Realm, and now at the 9th grade, he was confident.
One wolf lunged.
Shen Yue sidestepped, kicked it mid-air, and spun backward toward a tree. He launched himself forward and drove his sword through the first wolf's neck.
It fell instantly.
The remaining two snarled, eyes filled with fury.
They attacked simultaneously.
Shen Yue rolled aside, grabbed a thick vine, and ensnared one wolf mid-charge. With a clean swing, he beheaded it.
The last young wolf howled and rushed him. Shen Yue barely dodged and slashed, grazing its side.
It stumbled, then leapt again.
This time, Shen Yue drove his sword straight into its chest. The beast thrashed, but finally collapsed.
Shen Yue exhaled heavily. Blood ran down his arms, but it wasn't his.
He froze. How did they track me... even with concealment?
A foul scent caught his nose.
No... it can't be.
He sniffed his sleeve.
"I knew it... Beast-Attracting Powder," he muttered.
This was no accident. The powder was expensive. Only someone with resources—or a dark purpose—would use it.
My uncle...
He recalled the odd behavior earlier, the trembling, the quick suggestion to split up.
He set me up...
Shen Yue's eyes narrowed. "When I see him again, he owes me answers."
But first, he had to get rid of the scent or more beasts would come.
He activated his Hyper Sense and detected the sound of nearby rainfall.
Dragging the three wolf bodies with him, he made his way toward it.
Once near the water, he scanned the surroundings. No beasts.
He stripped off his clothes and jumped in, scrubbing every inch of himself clean.
After dressing, he returned to the wolves and muttered, "System, extract."
A mechanical chime echoed in his mind:
> [System Extraction Complete]
High-level Raging Wind Royal Wolf Bloodline (Rare) – 13%
Skill Acquired: Raging Wind Wolf Steps
Beast Qi Acquired: 2nd Rank
The familiar system interface opened in his mind:
---
[System Interface]
Name: Shen Yue
Age: 14
Physique: High-Level Iron-Copper Molting Physique
Bloodlines:
• Mid-Level Flame Scorpion Bloodline
• High-Level Raging Wind Royal Wolf Bloodline (Rare) – 13%
Cultivation:
• Blood Qi Realm – 9th Grade (89%)
• Beast Qi – 2nd Rank
Skills:
• Literacy and Knowledge (Great Success) – 9%
• Calisthenics (Small Success) – 2%
• Hyper Sense (Beginner) – 33%
• Raging Wind Wolf Steps – 0%
Spiritual Roots:
• Low-Level Fire Spiritual Root (Mixed) – 0%
• Mid-Grade Ice Spiritual Root (Rare) – 0%
Talents:
• Mid-Level Sword Talent – 17%
• Low-Level Spear Talent – 9%
• Low-Level Archery Talent – 0%
• Mid-Level Comprehension – 0%
Unique Traits:
• Clones: 0 (Locked)
Stats:
• Strength: 27
• Dexterity: 17
• Wisdom: 3.5
• Spirit: 1.9
---
His eyes widened. "My stats nearly doubled…!"
The Raging Wind Wolf Bloodline must have been inherited from the young wolf. His gaze lingered on the Beast Qi—normally destructive to humans. Yet the system had integrated it safely.
He mentally selected the new skill.
> Raging Wind Wolf Steps:
Increases speed by 100%.
Legend says the strongest wolves could fly across the land like wind itself.
Shen Yue's jaw dropped. "Insane..."
But his stomach growled.
Smiling slightly, he returned to the cave, set the young wolf's meat over the fire, and roasted it.
The flavor was wild and potent—strength itself.
Once he finished eating, he extinguished the fire and lay down to rest.
But at midnight, his eyes snapped open.
Someone's coming.