"These lightning wolves are cunning, choosing to attack in such weather. The noise from the strong wind and the sounds from the pine forest will mask their movements to a great degree," Fang Yuan sighed inwardly, then ran towards the village with his greatest speed.
After running for hundreds of meters, he bumped into a five person Gu Master group.
"Hey, you are Gu Yue Fang Yuan!" A young Gu Master in the group raised his eyebrows when he saw Fang Yuan and greeted him in an odd way.
This Gu Master was Gu Yue Peng, Fang Yuan's classmate. During the academy period, he had suffered from Fang Yuan's bullying and extortion.
Fang Yuan indifferently glanced at him before brushing past him without pausing, not giving him a chance to speak again.
"Bastard!" Gu Yue Peng was stunned, then a stifled feeling rose up in his heart and his speed slowed down.
He didn't get the chance to ridicule Fang Yuan.
"Little Peng. Don't slow down. We need to hunt at least fifty lightning wolves today to preserve our rank in the battle merit board!" The group leader spoke.
Gu Yue Peng immediately restrained his furious expression and quickly followed the group members.
"My group is ranked seventy-five in the battle merit board. That Fang Yuan is ranked at beyond two hundred. This difference is like that of heaven and earth! I am also quite fortunate to have such a caring senior as the group leader. From the start of the wolf tide till now, I have exchanged part of the battle merits to get a Gu worm. My future is bright, how could Fang Yuan compare to me?"
Gu Yue Peng calmed down a lot when he thought of this, even feeling blessed at that.
"In this world, what can one accomplish by fighting alone? Many hands make light work, unity is the greater power. It is still the clansmen that are reliable! Borrowing the clan's strength, we newbies can safely grow up. That Fang Yuan is an idiot, he really thinks he is a hero. He resolved the problem of the Rank Five River Swallowing Toad only by luck and he is putting on airs. Although he has become a group leader, he hasn't recruited any group members, serves him right to be ranked last! Haha. Anyway, with his eccentric personality, how will he recruit any group members?"
Gu Yue Peng's movement became more relaxed.
Strangely, all along the way, they hadn't run into any wolf packs.
Gu Yue Peng raised his head to look at the sky, it was afternoon but the sky was already dusky as if it was evening.
The wind blew, and the dark clouds densely covered the sky and moved rapidly, brewing thunder and rainstorm.
However, Gu Yue Peng was not afraid, a mocking smile appearing on his mouth as he thought, "Hahaha, so Fang Yuan was hurriedly rushing back because he was worried of this rainstorm? What a coward, what is there to be afraid of a rainstorm?"
Right at this time, the group leader's face suddenly paled, he opened his mouth and sucked in a deep breath.
"Sir group leader, what happened?" Other four members naturally noticed this.
In this Gu Master group, the group leader was in charge of scouting. Although he was also a Rank two Gu Master, his scouting Gu worm didn't have as great a radius as Fang Yuan's Earth Communication Ear Grass.
His face was deathly white right now and he had no wish to give detailed explanation.
"Run, quick!" He shouted with terror and amidst other group members' astonished gazes, he turned around and ran.
"Follow the group leader!!" Other group members were not foolish, they quickly reacted and broke into a run.
Hoooowllll——!
Wolf howls came from behind them continuously. From these noises, they knew there was more than a thousand lightning wolves!
Everyone in the group was pale, they breathed heavily and used all their strength to run.
"Wait for me!" Gu Yue Peng sprinted with all he had but was still the last; he lost his composure and started screaming for help.
He felt the breathing sounds of the lightning wolves behind his back.
But what made him despair was the group leader who normally showed great consideration to him, didn't even turn his head back. The teammates who used to pat their chests and speak of brotherhood and sentiments ignored his shouts.
Hoooowl
Gu Yue Peng suddenly heard a wolf's howl echo right beside him.
In the next instant, an immense force struck his back, slamming him to the ground.
The impact left him dazed and disoriented.
He instinctively twisted around to fight back.
Boom!
A bolt of lightning tore through the darkness, illuminating a massive bold lightning wolf.
It was twice the size of a normal lightning wolf, its fur bristling with tension.
With its jaws open wide, silver-white fangs gleamed menacingly.
Gu Yue Peng's pupils shrank to pinpoints as one terrifying thought echoed through his mind—"Hundred beast king!"
The wolf nest housed an enormous pack.
Not only were there three thunder crown wolves of the myriad beast king level, but there were also bold lightning wolves at the hundred beast king level, and even frenzy lightning wolves that reached the thousand beast king class.
The very next moment, the bold lightning wolf lunged forward.
A sickening crack echoed as its jaws crushed Gu Yue Peng's skull.
Blood and brain matter burst outward.
The wolf lowered its head, lapping up the warm blood from the severed neck before gnawing at the fatty flesh.
Countless lightning wolves surged behind it, flooding the area.
A constant rumble accompanied their advance.
And then, as if to mark the moment, heavy rain began to fall.
The true wolf tide had begun!
The rain poured heavily from above, and snake-like lightning danced in the sky randomly. This sustained for the entire night.
Fang Yuan lay on his bed, hearing the shouting of Gu Masters outside his house and the sound of their footsteps in the rain.
"The rain is pouring outside, and they still have to fight the large amount of lightning wolves in this poor vision, this is truly torture," Fang Yuan snorted in his heart.
He did not sleep in the rented apartment, but instead he was at the inn.
If Fang Yuan was at the rented house, he would definitely be forced to participate.
"The clan higher-ups have definitely underestimated this wolf tide's severity, the correct method would be to hide in the village and defend to the end. Unfortunately, they are blinded by past experiences…" Fang Yuan cultivated on his bed while thinking about this.
Outside the window, rain splashed down in sheets, signaling the arrival of a fierce storm. Thunder rumbled without pause, constantly echoing in his ears.
On the streets, Gu Masters rushed about, their footsteps quick and angry shouts never ceasing.
Soon, the wolves' howls reached the village. This night was fated to be sleepless.
Whether it was the Gu Masters risking their lives in battle, the mortals trembling in hiding, or even Fang Yuan—after drifting off to sleep, all were awakened by midnight.
He didn't rise, but instead opened his eyes in the darkness, remaining still in bed. The noises beyond the window poured into his ears.
He could vividly picture the desperate life-and-death struggles, the stormy chaos outside the village.
Gu Masters and wolf packs played out a dramatic and intense performance.
Each participant fully expressed what it meant to be alive.
Life was like a stage, and this was a grand show.
But Fang Yuan had no desire to take part.
Instead, an indescribable sense of loneliness welled up inside him.
A solitude with clear boundaries.
It wasn't because he was a transmigrator, a reincarnator, or someone carrying a hidden secret. Rather, it was because everyone is born alone.
Humans are like solitary islands drifting through the ocean of fate. When people meet, it's like those islands colliding. And during those collisions, reactions occur. Sometimes, the islands cling together, forming connections called "interests," "family," "friendship," "love," or even "hatred." But eventually, they drift apart once more, heading toward their own ends.
That is the essence of life.
People fear loneliness, craving the company of the crowd. They fill their time so they never have to face solitude. Because confronting loneliness means facing pain and suffering. But those who can withstand that suffering gain talent and resolve.
Thus, the saying goes: great achievers are always alone.
"This feeling of loneliness—each time I taste it, it only deepens my determination to follow the demonic path," Fang Yuan's eyes gleamed.