The world below seemed endless — rivers winding like silver serpents, forests thick with mist, and distant mountains piercing the sky. For a while, neither of them spoke. The flight was exhilarating yet tranquil; only the rush of wind and the occasional screech of a thunder eagle broke the silence.
Xue He finally leaned forward on his mount, calling out over the wind, "Brother Li! How far do you think Beast Mountain is now?"
"About another hour," Bai Long replied, his voice calm and unwavering. "You'll know when we're close. The spiritual pressure in the air thickens, and every sound feels sharper — that's when you've entered a beast domain."
"Sounds dangerous," Xue He muttered, gripping the reins a bit tighter.
"Dangerous?" Bai Long chuckled. "That's what makes it useful."
The rest of the journey passed quickly. As they neared Beast Mountain, the clouds grew darker and the air heavier with spiritual energy. The mountain range ahead was vast — jagged peaks rising like the backs of ancient beasts, cloaked in fog that seemed to breathe. Roars echoed from within, some distant, some frighteningly close.
The thunder eagles landed on a rocky plateau near the base. The moment their talons touched the ground, both cultivators felt the tension of the land. Every bush rustled like something alive was hiding within. Every gust carried the faint smell of blood.
"We'll leave the eagles here," Bai Long said as he slid off. "Their scent will only attract unwanted attention. Let's proceed on foot."
Xue He nodded, trying to steady his breathing. The forest ahead was dense, illuminated only by rays of sunlight piercing through the canopy. Spirit energy pulsed in the air — chaotic, untamed.
As they ventured deeper, Bai Long suddenly stopped. He crouched, running his fingers over a patch of dark soil. "Tracks. Fresh. Black-scaled wolves, five or six of them, maybe more."
"How can you tell?" Xue He whispered.
"Their claws leave deep grooves because of their weight. And this… " Bai Long held up a small black scale, shimmering faintly under the light. "Stage six confirmed."
The sound of growling came from the shadows ahead. Two glowing yellow eyes appeared between the trees, followed by several more. A pack of black-scaled wolves slowly emerged, their bodies large and sleek, their scales glinting like metal armour. Each step they took cracked branches beneath their paws.
"Stay calm," Bai Long said, his crimson hair flowing slightly as spiritual energy gathered around him. "I'll take the leader. The rest are yours. Remember — keep moving. Never let them surround you."
Xue He swallowed hard but nodded. "Got it."
The moment Bai Long took a step forward, the wolves attacked. The forest erupted in chaos — claws slashing, teeth flashing. Xue He drew his blade and parried the first strike, sparks flying as his sword met the creature's scales. His body trembled under the force, but he steadied himself, channelling his Scarlet Sun Blade technique. A fiery arc blazed from his sword, cutting across a wolf's shoulder.
From behind, another wolf lunged at Xue He, its claws gleaming like black daggers. The rush of air against his neck was the only warning he got. He ducked instinctively, rolling to the side just as the beast's claws tore through the spot he had been standing. Dust sprayed into the air, and before the wolf could recover, Xue He's blade blazed to life.
"Scarlet Sun Blade: Scarlet Slash!"
A crimson arc of light erupted from his sword, slicing through the wolf's flank. The creature howled, blood and flame mingling as a deep gash split open along its ribs. Xue He didn't hesitate — he dashed forward, twisting his body to build momentum, and brought his sword down in a clean, decisive strike that severed the wolf's neck.
The body hit the ground with a thud, its lifeless eyes still burning faintly red from the residual flames.
'Earth-grade techniques really are a miracle,' he thought, chest heaving as the metallic scent of blood filled the air.
But pride, as ever, was the first step toward peril. His heart was still racing when he suddenly felt it — the killing intent behind him. A low growl echoed from every direction. He froze, realizing with dawning horror that he had made the one mistake Bai Long had warned him about.
'Oh no… I let them surround me.'
Before he could reposition, the wolves charged as one — seven of them, fangs bared and eyes glowing with savage hunger. Xue He gritted his teeth and raised his sword, crimson aura blazing to life once again.
"Scarlet Sun Blade: Horizon's Descent!"
He spun in place, his sword sweeping in a wide horizontal arc. A brilliant line of red light exploded from the blade, cutting through the air like the setting sun splitting the horizon. Three wolves were cleaved cleanly in half before they even reached him, their bodies crashing to the ground with sizzling wounds that smoked from heat.
But there was no time to rest. Four more wolves lunged from behind, faster than he could turn. He could hear their claws scraping against the earth, feel their breath at his back.
Panic surged through him. Instinct took over. His hands moved before his mind could catch up.
"Scarlet Sun Blade: Radiant Sun!"
A burst of scarlet energy erupted from his body, forming a dome of flame and sword aura that expanded outward like a miniature sun. The wolves were caught mid-leap, their bodies shredded by the wave of heat and spiritual pressure. When the light faded, nothing but smouldering ash and the stench of scorched fur remained.
Xue He stood there for a moment, chest heaving, the ground around him scorched and blackened. His sword trembled slightly in his hand — from exhaustion, but also from exhilaration. The bottleneck that had plagued him for days had finally shattered. He could feel it clearly now, the surge of understanding, the rhythm of the blade that flowed through him like a heartbeat.
'The Novice Stage… I actually broke through!'
A smile tugged at his lips despite the sweat on his brow. He turned toward where Bai Long had been fighting — only to see him standing calmly beside a decapitated wolf, not a single hair out of place.
For a moment, Xue He just stared. Then he couldn't help but laugh weakly. "Of course he's done already…"
A few moments earlier, Bai Long had been facing his own battle — and his own test.
'There's no point using my true cultivation,' he thought as he parried a wolf's claw with the flat of his sword. 'If I fight at Spirit Severing level, I'll learn nothing. I need pressure. Real danger.'
His eyes narrowed. With a thought, he began suppressing his cultivation, forcing his aura down until it matched the first stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Instantly, the wolf's movements seemed sharper, faster — its killing intent heavier. The air vibrated with its growl.
Bai Long grinned slightly. "There we go."
He tossed his sword aside and reached down, picking up a slender stick from the ground — its bark cracked and uneven. The wolf's eyes flared with confusion for a split second before its body blurred, vanishing from sight.
Bai Long's senses screamed. He turned just in time to parry with his makeshift weapon. The stick met claws reinforced by spirit energy, and though it didn't break, the impact sent a jolt through his arm. He skidded back several feet.
'As expected. Even with suppression, its speed and strength are considerable. Perfect for my current goal.'
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, focusing. The flame within him stirred — the embryonic power of the Formless Flame Sword Art, still incomplete, still wild. He raised the stick again and whispered the words under his breath.
"Formless Flame Sword — Flame's Path."
A thin ribbon of orange fire coiled around the stick, flickering uncertainly before shooting forward in a serpentine line. It slashed across the wolf's shoulder, leaving only a shallow wound.
Before Bai Long could follow up, the beast vanished again — blurring behind him in a crack of displaced air. He turned, but too late. The wolf's paw slammed into his back, sending him flying several meters before he crashed into a tree.
Pain rippled through him, but he only smiled. "Good… that's the kind of force I need."
He stood, brushing dust from his robe, and raised the stick again. The wolf pounced, jaws wide, ready to crush his throat.
Bai Long didn't move. His expression was calm — almost serene.
The flame within him surged, wild and pure, bursting outward like the awakening of a dormant star.
"Formless Flame Sword: Flame's Path!"
This time, the fire didn't flicker. It roared. A brilliant orange flame ignited around him, dancing in patterns like living runes. The energy curved, twisted — found its path — and in a flash, the flame streaked through the wolf's neck. The creature's body froze mid-air, a clean line of fire cutting through both it and several trees behind it.
The world went still. The only sound was the soft crackle of burning leaves. Then the wolf's head dropped to the ground with a dull thump.
Bai Long straightened slowly, exhaling. His aura flared briefly before stabilizing, stronger and sharper than before.
'Initial Mastery,' he thought with satisfaction, watching the flames fade into embers. 'The first step of Formless Flame… complete.'
By the time Xue He approached, Bai Long had already extinguished the fire and retrieved his sword.
"You finished?" Xue He asked, voice still shaky from adrenaline.
Bai Long nodded. "Yes. And you?"
"I… think I broke through," he said, unable to keep the grin from his face.
Bai Long's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. Then this trip was worth it."
As the two stood amidst the burnt forest and slain wolves, Bai Long looked at the destruction around them — the broken trees, the scorched earth, and the faint lingering glow of residual energy.
"Remember this feeling, Xue He," he said quietly. "The moment you step into battle and come out stronger — that's the essence of cultivation."
Xue He nodded solemnly, his earlier excitement fading into calm understanding.
"Now," Bai Long added, looking up at the reddening sky, "let's clean up and head back. The sect will want proof of our kills… and I think the next few days will be far from quiet."
As the two walked back toward their thunder eagles, the forest behind them was silent — or almost silent.
Deep in the shadows, unseen by either of them, a pair of crimson eyes flickered to life. Something had watched their battle from start to finish… and it was far stronger than a stage six beast.
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Hello everyone, this chapter was a bit longer than usual cause I felt that I couldn't just stop the chapter mid fight or give unsatisfactory fights, so I decided it would be best if made longer.
Hope you enjoyed.