The North Wind Wolf King, the ruler of the North Wind Mane Wolves, was ten times stronger than an average North Wind Mane Wolf. Classified as a Second-Grade High-Level Beast, it was no surprise these hunters were so terrified.
Not just Zhuo Feng, but fear and anxiety were clearly written on all the other hunters' faces as well.
"There's no need to panic over a mere North Wind Wolf King," Ling Chen said calmly.
"Ridiculous!" Zhuo Feng sneered at Ling Chen, his expression that of one ignorant and fearless. "The North Wind Wolf King is the overlord of the pack. Even the top expert in our village would likely be no match for it, yet you dare to belittle such a creature. You truly don't value your own life!"
"Enough talk! Prepare for battle! We need to find a way to break out, or we'll all die here!" a hunter who appeared older than the others shouted sternly.
Zhuo Feng cast a contemptuous glance at Ling Chen. He was growing increasingly intolerant of this braggart who liked to make grand, empty statements.
Just as Zhuo Feng finished speaking, a deafening roar burst from the massive Wolf King amidst the encircling pack. The piercing sound, combined with the other howls, made their eardrums throb and their vision spin.
Except for Ling Chen, who remained unaffected, all the others went pale and broke into a cold sweat.
This beast's pressure is quite potent.
Some powerful Exotic Beasts could release spiritual pressure of a certain intensity, capable of causing mental oppression and intimidation.
The North Wind Wolf King's howl was clearly the signal to charge. As soon as it subsided, the crimson glow in the eyes of the North Wind Mane Wolves intensified. They immediately surged forward, shaking the ground as they charged toward the camp like a dark tempest in the night.
Their momentum was truly terrifying.
"Damn it, fight for your lives!"
Facing the wolf pack's assault, the hunters' eyes flashed with ferocity. At this point, there was no retreat; only by risking everything in a desperate struggle could they hope to survive.
They first fired arrows at the oncoming wolves, but in the dark and windy conditions, most missed their mark. The wolf pack soon reached them, forcing them into close combat.
A cacophony of impacts erupted, yet the hunters displayed remarkable coordination. The short blades in their hands were incredibly sharp, viciously hacking into the pouncing North Wind Mane Wolves until they dripped with blood.
These hunters were elites from their prairie tribe; otherwise, they wouldn't possess the skills to hunt out here.
Crimson blood splattered, instantly staining the ground. The stench of gore and the wolves' howls spread across the plains.
However, their defense couldn't hold indefinitely. SLASH! A wolf's powerful claws struck another hunter, who was knocked aside, suffering a flesh wound and leaving a gap in their formation. The North Wind Wolf King, its crimson eyes glinting with cruel cunning, saw the opening and lunged forward like lightning.
Panic swept across the hunters' faces. Against the sheer force of the North Wind Wolf King's charge, no amount of coordination could save them from certain death.
"That bastard! It's because of him we ran into the North Wind Wolf King, and now he just stands there, not lifting a finger!" Zhuo Feng looked back at the motionless Ling Chen, his expression darkening.
"Forget it. He doesn't look like he'll be any help. We're probably all going to die here today," the middle-aged man called Uncle Zaji sighed, his face deathly pale.
The North Wind Wolf King charged, its savage gaze locked onto the smallest of them—Tana—as it struck out with its sharp claws.
Seeing Tana frozen in the North Wind Wolf King's path, the others yelled frantically.
Tana quickly tried to retreat, but her speed was no match for the North Wind Wolf King's. After retreating only four or five steps, she felt the beast closing in. With no other choice, she raised her dagger to meet the attack, but the sheer force of the impact sent her Long Sword flying from her grasp. She stumbled backward and collapsed, her face pale as she stared at the giant wolf head rapidly filling her vision.
At this sight, the others felt their eyes would burst from their sockets. Some tried to intervene, but it was too late.
Just as their helpless cries faded, they saw a figure shoot forward like a bolt of lightning.
With a light tap of his foot, Ling Chen appeared before Tana.
"Is this guy seeking death?" Zhuo Feng, surprised by this unexpected aid, exclaimed in a deep voice.
"Sir, get out of the way!" alarmed, Tana cried out from behind him, assuming Ling Chen intended to sacrifice himself to save her.
However, before she could finish, Ling Chen's Cloud-hidden Sword was unsheathed. In that instant, everyone felt an aura, seemingly even stronger than the North Wind Wolf King's, emanate from his deceptively slender frame, like a slumbering dragon stirring to wake.
The shouts died in their throats. Everyone froze. Tana stared in disbelief at the figure before her. In that instant, the once-slender silhouette seemed capable of defying heaven and earth!
Zhuo Feng's eyes bulged. He couldn't believe this seemingly unremarkable young man concealed such terrifying power!
The powerful aura exploded outwards, and the air itself seemed to freeze for a moment. Yet, the North Wind Wolf King's devastating charge didn't slow in the slightest, its crimson eyes blazing with savagery and cruelty.
Facing the North Wind Wolf King's pounce, Ling Chen thrust his Cloud-hidden Sword forward. It shot out like a brilliant rainbow, straight into the beast's gaping maw.
The sword pierced straight through the North Wind Wolf King's head, its tip emerging from the back of the beast's neck.
Ling Chen had already leaped into the air, effortlessly evading the Wolf King's claws. Mid-flight, he caught the hilt of the Cloud-hidden Sword as it passed through and landed steadily on the ground.
Blood trickled down the blade and dripped onto the ground. The next moment—
The North Wind Wolf King's massive body crashed to the ground, life rapidly draining from its wide eyes.
The North Wind Wolf King, slain in a single strike.
All eyes, filled with profound shock, were fixed on the young man standing with his sword. Ling Chen had effortlessly resolved their deadly predicament. The North Wind Wolf King, a dominant beast of the Northwind Prairie, had been slain by his single strike.
Their previous impression of Ling Chen was completely shattered. He was nothing like the person they had imagined.
With their King dead, the remaining North Wind Mane Wolves fell into utter disarray and hastily retreated. Within moments, not a single wolf remained.