As Lin Xiao furrowed his brows in deep thought, he suddenly noticed a cave nestled in the back of the forest. A faint black mist seeped intermittently from within the cavern, twisting and dispersing into the air.
Could it be that something was lurking inside—perhaps a particularly powerful YaoGuai hidden away in the depths of the cave?
"This forest has no signs of life, not even a single bird," Lin Xiao said.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai’s expressions grew more serious. It was an absurd situation. This was a large forest, teeming with trees. Usually, there should be birds, insects, and numerous other creatures.
Yet, there was nothing. The complete absence of life was unnatural.
"Did you sense anything else?" Zhang Nu asked, his brows knitted together. "A forest this lifeless… just how dangerous is this place?"
Lin Xiao shifted his gaze toward the cave in the distance, "The forest itself may be devoid of life, but I sensed something unusual—a cave in the mountains behind it."
He continued, "A faint black mist leaks from inside. I’m certain whatever is in there is responsible for the forest's desolation."
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.
"If that’s the case, we need to investigate the cave," Zhang Nu said decisively.
Without hesitation, the three of them set off toward the mountain. But before they even reached the cave entrance, the entity within had already sensed their presence. The moment the black mist detected them, rather than showing fear at the arrival of cultivators, it seemed… excited.
"Ha! I never thought those useless fools could still be useful," a sinister voice echoed from within the darkness. "They've delivered three cultivators to me as offerings."
The voice chuckled with eerie delight as if it were relishing the sight of an inevitable feast.
Meanwhile, as Zhang Nu and the others advanced toward the mountain, an unsettling feeling crept over them. They felt as if they were surrounded. Closing their eyes, they extended their spiritual senses, trying to pinpoint the source of their unease.
But before they could react, they found themselves completely encircled by a pack of wolves. As they opened their eyes, Zhang Nu, Liu Hai, and Lin Xiao instinctively gripped their weapons tighter.
These weren’t ordinary wolves. If they hesitated, the pack would rip them apart, yet if they fought recklessly, they might miss a greater threat lurking ahead.
Zhang Nu narrowed his eyes, making his decision.
"The wolves won’t let us pass. We’ll have to take them down," he said coldly. "And while we're at it, Lin Xiao. this is your chance to improve your skills."
Lin Xiao’s gaze sharpened.
"Lin Xiao, stay behind me and Liu Hai," Zhang Nu instructed. "We’ll weaken them first. Once we’ve handled most of them, you finish the job."
Lin Xiao knew Zhang Nu was doing this for his sake, allowing him to grow stronger. He wasn’t about to waste this chance.
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai fought at the front, cutting down the wolves with precise, powerful strikes. But instead of taking the final blow themselves, they left it to Lin Xiao—allowing him to absorb the experience and hone his abilities.
As Lin Xiao landed strike after strike, something stirred within him. For the first time in his life, someone was looking out for him. He wasn’t just a bystander anymore. And for once… he wasn’t alone.
By the time they finished off the wolves, the three of them were bloodied and breathless. But the battle wasn’t over yet. The pack leader still remained.
Unlike its brethren, the wolf leader had never intended to kill Zhang Nu’s group, it had only sought to warn them. But Zhang Nu and the others had already slain so many of its kin. Now, it could no longer afford mercy. The wolf glared at them with burning rage before suddenly retreating into the forest.
Zhang Nu watched as it fled, sensing that it had something to say—but their actions had driven it away. Not that it mattered. Whatever information it had, it was unlikely to be useful to them now.
Instead, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai turned their attention to Lin Xiao.
"Lin Xiao, how do you feel?" Zhang Nu asked. "Do you feel your strength increasing?"
Lin Xiao nodded, his gaze filled with a complicated mix of emotions. For the first time, someone had genuinely helped him grow. And in return, he swore he would repay them tenfold.