The creature within the black fog slowly revealed its true form—a wolf-shaped spirit beast far larger than the common Nether Wolf, fangs bared in a menacing grin.
"It's actually the Nether Alpha!" The master's voice trembled uncontrollably.
The Nether Alpha's jet-black body was shrouded in swirling dark mist, obscuring its features. Approximately four meters in length, its massive frame exuded dominance. Dark green eyes gleamed with eerie intelligence, while its tail hung behind it, black fog coiling around the appendage.
The Nether Alpha was a rare mutation among Nether Wolves—possessing speed, strength, and commanding abilities ordinary pack members lacked. A natural king among wolves, it also wielded an innate ability: the Demon Wolf's Roar!
"Xiaogang, though this beast's cultivation hasn't exceeded a thousand years, its combat strength rivals millennium-level spirit beasts. Take the children and flee—I'll cover your retreat!" Dean Ma Nuo's voice dropped to a fierce whisper. The four spirit rings on his body blazed brilliantly as he raised his Rock Shield martial spirit and charged toward the Nether Wolf pack.
A gleam flashed through the master's eyes. Without hesitation, he seized Tang San and Cheng Xiao's hands and bolted in the direction they'd come.
"Xiao San, your teacher will impart an important truth now: The more rings you have, the more courage you possess—more skills, more power. The fewer rings, the less courage—just run. This principle remains valid even at Titled Douluo realm!" The master didn't forget to educate Tang San while fleeing.
"Yes, teacher. I understand." Tang San replied earnestly.
Cheng Xiao, being dragged along by the master, felt utterly bewildered. What is this? Isn't it common sense for children to flee what they can't defeat? Does running away need to be formally taught? How ridiculous.
The master's escape velocity proved impressive, with his martial spirit Luo Sanpao matching their pace—following close behind, large eyes filled with terror. For the creature, nothing mattered more than survival.
Meanwhile, Ma Nuo—fighting the wolf pack alone—had already fallen into disadvantage. Though a four-ring Spirit Elder, his spirit ring configuration wasn't optimal. Moreover, he wasn't an assault-type spirit master but a defense specialist. Facing the Nether Wolf pack's relentless attrition attacks, his spirit power rapidly depleted. Finally, the Nether Alpha—which had refrained from attacking until the decisive moment—struck with devastating force, sending him flying.
He crashed heavily against a large tree. Ma Nuo's blood churned violently within as he spat bright red. Helplessly, he watched the Nether Alpha slowly approach.
However, just when Ma Nuo anticipated his demise, the Nether Alpha—having inflicted grievous injury—didn't even glance at him. After releasing a thunderous howl, it bounded alone in the direction the master's group had fled.
The remaining Nether Wolves, seeing their leader depart, immediately distanced themselves from Ma Nuo. After all, their cultivation barely exceeded a century—confronting a spirit master would be courting death!
"I actually... survived?" As if unable to believe his fortune, Ma Nuo stood dazed. He'd prepared himself for death, never expecting the Nether Alpha to abandon him and pursue the master's group instead.
Though his resistance hadn't lasted long, at the master's escape speed, they should have covered considerable distance by now, right?
Within the Spirit Hunting Forest, two large and two small figures wove through the tree shadows at breakneck speed. Many spirit beasts stirred with predatory interest upon detecting humans—but before they could act, the aura of a wolf-shaped beast shrouded in black mist froze them in place, instinct suppressing all movement.
"Teacher, the Nether Alpha is gaining on us!" Tang San, following the master, glanced at the dark shadow behind and shouted.
"Luo Sanpao, stop it!" The master made a split-second decision, commanding his martial spirit.
Two spirit rings rose beneath the master's feet. Luo Sanpao, who'd been trailing the trio, halted immediately. His body began swelling, as though preparing to unleash a devastating technique.
However, the Nether Alpha pursuing them completely ignored the small creature. With a casual swipe of its razor-sharp claws, the inflated Luo Sanpao flew into nearby bushes like a deflating balloon—fate unknown.
As martial spirit and host shared one being, when Luo Sanpao suffered injury, the fleeing master felt sudden pain lance through his abdomen. His legs nearly buckled—but with the Nether Alpha still in pursuit, he could only grit his teeth and continue running. Otherwise, none of them would survive this day.
"Teacher, are you alright?" Noticing the master's abnormality, Tang San asked urgently.
"I'm fine, Xiao San. Keep running." The master's expression turned grim, abdominal pain spreading through his limbs. "Once we exit the Spirit Hunting Forest, we'll be safe."
The moment the master's words fell, Tang San's eyes sharpened. The corner of his gaze drifted toward Cheng Xiao, also running beside them. Cheng Xiao, don't blame me for being ruthless. Since we're all facing death anyway, better to sacrifice you. Once teacher and I reach safety, I'll definitely avenge you. Then you can rest peacefully in the afterlife.
Decision made, Tang San quietly raised his left hand and fired a sleeve arrow toward Cheng Xiao's thigh.
Pft!
Cold light pierced the air, shooting straight for Cheng Xiao's leg. However, blessed by shadow power, Cheng Xiao sensed the crisis instantly—releasing the master's hand, he forced his momentum to halt with a sharp pause, evading the concealed projectile.
"Impossible!" Tang San's shock was palpable. He hadn't expected Cheng Xiao to dodge his Silent Sleeve Arrow. But it doesn't matter—my goal's achieved. As long as Cheng Xiao delays the Nether Alpha momentarily, teacher and I will have sufficient time to escape the forest and call for reinforcements.
"Xiao San, we can't worry about him. Stopping now would be suicide." Without caring why Cheng Xiao had halted, the master whispered to Tang San.
Watching the rapidly fleeing master-disciple pair, Cheng Xiao's eyes flashed with cold light. No wonder they say: better to be Xiao Yan's brother than Tang San's companion. Fortunate that shadow power nourishes my body—my physical capabilities and reflexes dramatically improved. Otherwise, that arrow would be embedded in my thigh right now.
"Hah..." Drawing a deep breath, as Cheng Xiao turned around, the Nether Alpha also stopped. Facing the massive spirit beast shrouded in black mist, Cheng Xiao's eyes turned glacial as he released his martial spirit.
Suddenly, the entire world seemed draped in shadow.
With the Shadow Monarch's release, dark purple radiance ignited in the depths of Cheng Xiao's eyes. An incomparable aura of death erupted forth.
Feeling this terrifying death presence, the Nether Alpha immediately recoiled. When the group first entered the forest, it had sensed an aura capable of triggering its evolution—though weak, it had also awakened primal fear deep within its soul.
Originally a mutation and evolution of the common Nether Wolf, it understood the principle of high risk, high reward. Though afraid, success would elevate it to an even more powerful existence!
But now, only regret filled its heart—because it sensed genuine death emanating from the spirit master before it, something never encountered in its lifetime. The human seemed to be the sovereign who commanded death itself—the Death Monarch!
The moment Cheng Xiao released his spirit, vast amounts of information flooded his mind.