Chapter 5 — Hello There
Before either of them could react, a man suddenly leapt forward, his longsword slashing down toward Xuan Zhenxi!
Xuan Zhenxi responded calmly. He raised both palms, spiritual energy surging as he struck forward.
"Catching a blade with bare hands?"
"You really think that little of me?"
The attacker sprang down from the tree, pouring golden metal-attribute qi into his iron sword. The power of a Qi Condensation Fifth Level strike forced Xuan Zhenxi to retreat despite his defense.
Only then did Xuan Zhenxi clearly see the man's face.
"Xuan Wufei?!"
The third senior brother—already at Qi Condensation Fourth Level.
Xuan Wufei is one of the most outstanding disciples of this generation, Xuan Zhenxi thought rapidly. He didn't need to do this. He had a real chance of entering the top five. Why now…?
Before he could finish the thought, Xuan Wufei's relentless attacks pressed in.
"No more nonsense. Fight!"
Sword after sword stabbed forward. Waves of metal-attribute qi surged violently, but Xuan Zhenxi relied on agile footwork and his massive greatsword, blocking each strike with precision.
"Brother, I'll help you!" Yefan shouted.
"No need!" Xuan Zhenxi replied. "Go confirm the identity of the one who fired the arrow!"
Yefan hesitated only briefly. He knew that rushing in recklessly would only drag Xuan Zhenxi down. He immediately turned toward the shadowed figure nearby.
"Blazing Fist!"
Seizing an opening, Xuan Zhenxi unleashed a fire-infused punch, smashing it squarely into Xuan Wufei's left shoulder.
The impact sent Xuan Wufei flying like a broken kite.
"How is this possible?!"
"He broke through again?!"
"Qi Condensation Sixth Level?!"
Blood sprayed from Xuan Wufei's mouth as darkness overtook his vision.
The clash ended—temporarily—with Xuan Zhenxi's victory.
"Xuan Wang…" Yefan glanced at the identity token and chuckled softly. "I'll take this pouch as compensation."
Since they were fellow disciples, Yefan had no intention of killing him. He took the cloth pouch at Xuan Wang's waist and regrouped with Xuan Zhenxi.
Rumble—!
"Help! Yefan—save me!"
Yefan snapped his head up, narrowing his eyes.
A blue-robed youth, legs plastered with speed talismans, was sprinting toward them in panic. Behind him—
A massive pack of demonic beasts.
"That's… Chu Tianxi?!"
"And behind him—dozens of Wind Wolves?!"
Yefan's scalp tingled. His heart sank.
"Help me! Yefan—help!"
The desperate cries echoed as Chu Tianxi fled with dozens of Wind Wolves in pursuit.
Yefan froze for only a heartbeat before reacting. He pulled two speed talismans from his waist and bolted.
"When disaster strikes, retreat is the best option!"
"Zhenxi, run!"
Against so many Wind Wolves, even the two of them together might not survive—let alone risk their lives for someone they were never on good terms with.
Yefan threw two speed talismans toward Xuan Zhenxi.
He wasn't reckless. When it was time to run, he ran.
Xuan Zhenxi immediately sensed the danger. Ignoring the unconscious Xuan Wufei, he caught the talismans and sprinted alongside Yefan.
They tore through the forest. Thorns tore at their clothes, mud threatened to swallow them whole.
Behind them, the howls of Wind Wolves echoed wildly.
"Damn it! Why are Wind Wolves active now?!"
Wind Wolves were pack beasts that usually hunted in winter, when many larger demonic beasts hibernated. This made it the perfect season for them.
But this situation was completely abnormal.
The effects of the speed talismans began to fade.
Rain poured down heavily, slowing them further.
"Looks like… this is as far as the talismans go."
After half an hour of pursuit, Yefan suddenly skidded to a stop. The Wind Wolves were less than three meters behind him.
He drew his small wooden sword, slapped two defensive talismans onto his body, and charged forward like a released arrow.
Xuan Zhenxi could have escaped alone—but he would never abandon his brother. He drew his greatsword and joined the fight.
"Perfect," Chu Tianxi rejoiced secretly, pretending gratitude before drawing twin blades and turning back toward the wolves.
Metal-attribute qi wrapped around Yefan's wooden sword. Though the qi was thin due to his poor spiritual root, it still carried the domineering sharpness unique to metal energy.
Wind Wolves were Mid–Tier First Rank demonic beasts.
Low-tier ones had white fur—but these were blue-furred. Every single one possessed strength equivalent to Qi Condensation Third Level, and their numbers were overwhelming.
"Elder Xuan Qi, should we intervene?" someone asked from above the forest.
"Not yet," Xuan Qi replied, his gaze fixed on Yefan. "Let's observe a bit longer."
Yefan slashed continuously. His Body-Forging Art granted him immense strength, allowing him to face three Wind Wolves at once without falling behind.
Wolf heads fell one after another, but numbers overwhelmed quality. His defensive talismans shattered under the relentless assault.
Xuan Zhenxi fared no better. Though powerful, he was temporarily unable to break free and support Yefan.
Yefan suddenly hurled the iron pot from his back into the wolf pack, using it as a springboard to leap away, hoping Chu Tianxi would draw their attention.
"…He ran?!"
Chu Tianxi had already fled—faster than anyone else.
"You bastard!"
Yefan roared. Enraged, he hurled an arrow he had taken earlier straight at Chu Tianxi.
Bang!
Chu Tianxi blocked it with a defensive artifact, barely slowing his escape.
"I had no choice!" Chu Tianxi shouted. "When disaster comes, everyone fends for themselves!"
Rain poured down, blurring vision across the forest.
Xuan Zhenxi's greatsword danced with unstoppable momentum, cutting down five Wind Wolves in quick succession.
"There are still more?!"
His scalp tingled. He cleaved a massive tree in half, slowing the pursuit, then turned and sprinted away.
Yefan ran desperately—until a pair of deep green eyes suddenly emerged from the shadows.
A claw struck.
Blood sprayed.
Yefan stabbed upward, piercing the wolf's skull and killing it instantly.
Before he could relax, the wolf's jaws opened wide—like a cannon charging power.
"Not good… a Second Rank beast!"
A Gale Wolf.
A compressed wind sphere tore through the rain, slicing apart droplets and leaves as it flew straight toward Yefan.
BOOM!
The stone-wood shield shattered instantly. Though it absorbed most of the force, the remaining impact still slammed into Yefan.
"Pu—!"
Yefan was blasted backward, crashing dozens of meters away.
A beast comparable to Qi Condensation Fifth Level…
If not for my Body-Forging Art and the shield, I'd already be unconscious.
He wiped the blood from his lips and forced himself upright.
Then his eyes lit up.
A cave.
"Zhenxi—over here!"
Yefan staggered toward it, preparing to circulate his qi and recover—
Then froze.
Pink powder was scattered everywhere around the cave entrance.
Wolf-attracting incense.
A chilling killing intent flooded the air.
"It's too late."
A sinister laugh echoed from within.
"Hehehe… hello there, Yefan."
A silver sword slashed out from the darkness, carving a horrifying wound across Yefan's chest.
A long, horse-like face emerged.
"Chu Tianyu!"
(To be continued…)