The Cloud Mist Forest stretched endlessly beneath a pale morning sky.
Layers of mist drifted between ancient trees like wandering spirits.
Occasional beast roars echoed from the depths of the forest while birds scattered from the canopy overhead.
Danger and opportunity coexisted here.
It was the reason Cloud Mist Market existed.
And it was also the greatest source of cultivation resources for both immortal cultivators and martial artists alike.
---
Currently, deep within the outer region of the forest—
A fierce battle was underway.
More than twenty wolf-type yao beasts had surrounded five figures from every direction.
Their grey fur shimmered with traces of spiritual energy.
Sharp fangs reflected cold light.
Their green eyes were filled with killing intent.
Most were equivalent to Qi Refining Mid Stage cultivators.
The weakest among them were comparable to the Fourth Layer.
The strongest approached the Sixth Layer.
And standing at the very front—
Was their leader.
A massive wolf over two zhang long.
Its fur possessed traces of earthen-yellow patterns.
Its body radiated the pressure of a Peak Sixth Layer yao beast.
Equivalent to the peak of Innate Inner Strength.
The Wolf King stared viciously at the group.
More specifically—
At Lin Xiaolu.
Because hanging from her waist was a beast pouch.
And inside that pouch—
Were two tiny wolf pups.
The pups were barely two weeks old.
Small.
Fluffy.
And completely unaware of the disaster they had caused.
Lin Sheng glanced at Lin Xiaolu.
Then at the wolf pack.
Then back at the beast pouch.
Finally, he sighed.
"So."
"You finally did it."
Lin Xiaolu blinked innocently.
Lin Sheng pointed toward the surrounding wolves.
"Did you really have to take their pups?"
The usually cold swordswoman lowered her head slightly.
"...They looked cute."
The group immediately became speechless.
Even Lou Han's mouth twitched.
Zhao Feng nearly laughed.
At that exact moment—
Yip!
Yip!
The wolf pups suddenly made several cheerful sounds from inside the pouch.
Silence.
The surrounding wolves froze.
Then—
The Wolf King's eyes turned blood red.
ROOOOOAR!!
A furious howl shook the forest.
The surrounding trees trembled.
The entire wolf pack erupted into action.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
More than twenty wolves charged simultaneously.
Their claws tore across the ground as they rushed forward.
Lin Sheng immediately shouted.
"Formation!"
The group moved instantly.
Months of cooperation had created excellent teamwork.
Lou Han moved to the left flank.
Lin Shou guarded the right.
Lin Xiaolu took the rear.
Zhao Feng positioned himself in support.
Meanwhile—
Lin Sheng stood at the front.
The first wolf arrived.
Whoosh!
Its body blurred through the mist.
Its claws aimed directly toward Lin Sheng's throat.
Bang!
A powerful fist erupted forward.
Innate True Qi surged violently.
The wolf's collarbone shattered instantly.
Crack!
The beast flew backward before crashing into a tree.
Dead.
At the same moment—
Lou Han attacked.
Whoosh!
His claw techniques tore through the air.
Dark True Qi condensed around his fingers.
Boom!
The attack landed directly against a wolf's ribs.
The explosive force erupted instantly.
Crack!
Bones shattered.
Blood sprayed through the air.
The wolf died before it could even scream.
On the opposite side—
Lin Shou unleashed his blade technique.
Whoosh!
His saber flashed like burning sunlight.
Scorching True Qi erupted from the blade.
Boom!
The explosive impact split another wolf apart.
The surrounding beasts immediately became chaotic.
Meanwhile—
Lin Xiaolu moved gracefully through the battlefield.
Whoosh!
Her sword danced like flowing water.
Cold Gui Water True Qi gathered around the blade.
Shing!
The sword pierced through a wolf's eye.
Puchi!
Blood erupted.
Before the corpse even hit the ground—
She had already appeared behind another target.
The battlefield instantly descended into chaos.
---
However—
The Wolf King did not move.
It simply watched.
Observing.
Calculating.
Its eyes seemed unusually intelligent.
Far more intelligent than ordinary yao beasts.
Lin Sheng noticed immediately.
"This thing isn't normal."
Then—
The Wolf King moved.
ROAR!!
Earth attribute spiritual energy erupted around its body.
The ground shook violently.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Countless earth spikes burst from beneath the forest floor.
Sharp stone spears shot upward in every direction.
"Watch out!"
Lin Sheng shouted immediately.
Whoosh!
The group scattered.
Earth spikes exploded from the ground where they had stood moments earlier.
Several nearby wolves were even accidentally impaled by their own leader's attack.
The battlefield instantly became more dangerous.
Yet—
The Wolf King's true target wasn't Lin Sheng.
It was Lou Han.
Whoosh!
Its body suddenly vanished.
The speed shocked everyone.
The next moment—
It appeared directly behind Lou Han.
Its claws flashed downward.
Puchi!
Blood sprayed.
Lou Han's expression changed.
Even with his instincts—
He barely reacted in time.
Boom!
His claw technique exploded outward.
The force created enough distance to escape the follow-up attack.
Still—
Three deep wounds appeared across his arm.
Blood immediately soaked his sleeve.
The Wolf King growled triumphantly.
Clearly—
It understood battle tactics.
Lin Sheng narrowed his eyes.
"A mutant."
Normal yao beasts rarely possessed such intelligence.
Mutants, however, were different.
They possessed stronger bloodlines.
Higher intelligence.
More powerful techniques.
And most importantly—
Their corpses were worth significantly more.
Zhao Feng's eyes immediately lit up.
The moment he realized the truth.
His merchant instincts activated.
"That corpse is worth a fortune."
---
Lou Han quickly retreated.
Without hesitation, he swallowed several healing pills.
The medicinal power immediately spread through his body.
Visible to the naked eye—
The wounds began closing rapidly.
The bleeding soon stopped.
Meanwhile—
The Wolf King continued commanding the remaining wolves.
The battlefield remained dangerous.
Several wolves attempted to surround Lin Xiaolu.
Others targeted Zhao Feng.
The beast clearly understood group tactics.
Its intelligence continued surprising everyone.
Zhao Feng suddenly smiled.
"Let's kill it."
Lin Sheng nodded.
The two immediately moved.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Both figures rushed forward simultaneously.
The Wolf King reacted instantly.
Its gaze locked onto Zhao Feng.
Perhaps sensing his weaker physical body—
The beast decided he was the easier target.
Its mouth opened.
Spiritual energy gathered rapidly.
Whoosh!
A massive rock arrow formed before launching forward.
The attack tore through the air.
Its power was equivalent to a peak Qi Refining Sixth Layer strike.
Zhao Feng remained calm.
Instead—
He revealed his weapon.
A sword.
The moment it appeared—
Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
The weapon radiated powerful fluctuations.
A High Grade Rank-One Magical Artifact.
Not something ordinary cultivators could casually own.
Such treasures were normally used by Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators.
Or elite disciples.
Or wealthy alchemists and talisman masters.
Lin Sheng immediately grew more curious.
Just who exactly was Zhao Feng?
---
At that moment—
Zhao Feng produced a talisman.
Slap!
The talisman attached itself to the sword.
Immediately—
The artifact began glowing brightly.
Martial artists couldn't use Innate True Qi to activate magical artifacts.
However—
Special activation talismans allowed temporary use even without spiritual qi.
This was Zhao Feng's preparation.
The talisman ignited.
Whoosh!
The sword erupted with brilliant light.
Then—
Zhao Feng swung.
Shing!
A sword arc shot forward.
The attack was incredibly fast.
The Wolf King attempted to dodge.
But the sword arc adjusted mid-flight.
Following the target.
The beast's eyes widened.
Puchi!
The sword arc pierced directly through its side.
Blood erupted.
ROOOOAR!!
The Wolf King screamed.
Its body staggered violently.
The surrounding wolves immediately panicked.
---
Lin Sheng's eyes flashed.
An opening.
Whoosh!
Eight Step Cicada erupted.
His figure disappeared.
The next instant—
He appeared beside the Wolf King.
The beast attempted to react.
Too late.
Boom!
Vajra Momentum exploded.
The surrounding air trembled.
The suppressive aura of a predatory beast descended upon the battlefield.
The Wolf King's movements slowed instinctively.
Then—
Lin Sheng attacked.
His fist condensed with terrifying True Qi.
A faint Vajra phantom appeared behind him.
The momentum gathered.
Compressed.
Focused.
Then exploded.
BOOM!!
The fist struck directly into the Wolf King's skull.
Crack!
The sound of shattering bone echoed clearly.
The beast's eyes instantly lost focus.
Blood erupted from its nose, mouth, and ears.
Its brain had been completely destroyed.
The gigantic corpse collapsed heavily onto the ground.
Boom!
Dust rose into the air.
Silence followed.
The Wolf King—
Dead.
---
The remaining wolves immediately panicked.
Without their leader—
Their formation collapsed.
The battle quickly became a slaughter.
Whoosh!
Shing!
Boom!
Puchi!
One wolf after another fell.
Within minutes—
The battlefield quieted completely.
More than twenty corpses littered the forest floor.
The air carried the smell of blood.
Zhao Feng immediately began collecting materials.
The Wolf King's corpse alone was worth a substantial amount.
The others weren't far behind.
Even the blood possessed value.
---
While everyone packed away the corpses—
A voice suddenly echoed from nearby.
"Oh?"
"Looks like we found some familiar faces."
The group's expressions immediately changed.
They turned toward the source.
Several figures emerged from the mist.
At the front—
Walked Lin Zheng.
One of the alliance leaders.
Behind him stood five martial artists.
All of them radiated the aura of Innate Inner Strength experts.
Their expressions were unfriendly.
Their eyes swept across the battlefield.
Then toward the Wolf King's corpse.
Greed flashed briefly within several gazes.
Lin Zheng smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
"What a coincidence."
His eyes stopped on Lin Sheng.
Then slowly moved toward Zhao Feng.
Finally—
Toward the storage bags containing the newly harvested corpses.
His smile widened.
"Looks like you've had a very profitable hunt."
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
The forest fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Both groups stared at each other across the blood-soaked battlefield.
And everyone present knew—
This encounter was definitely not a coincidence.