Chapter 8: Nether Wolf
Lin Feng’s words left Jingyun and the other two stunned. They looked at him in surprise, then watched as he stepped forward, a very calm and composed step.
“Lin Feng, now is not the time to show off,” Jingyun said urgently. Although she had never seen Lin Feng fight, his reputation as a waste was well known. Even if he had been training hard recently, at best he would be on par with them in cultivation. To think he could contend with an eighth-level violent ape—how was that possible?
But it seemed too late. The violent ape, enraged that this human dared to provoke it, stomped its thick legs against the ground, making the earth tremble. Its massive body charged straight at Lin Feng like a mountain of flesh, shaking the ground with every step.
What made Jingyun’s heart leap to her throat was that Lin Feng acted as if he had no idea of the eighth-level beast’s power. He charged forward without hesitation and struck out boldly.
Jingyun felt as if she were about to see Lin Feng trampled into a pulp. She closed her eyes in terror.
“Boom!” A violent surge of power swept through the air. Even with her eyes closed, Jingyun could clearly feel the space tremble. Then she heard the ape’s piercing roar.
Opening her eyes, she saw the ape lying on its back three meters away, while Lin Feng had retreated to her side. His eyes were sharp and focused, seemingly unharmed.
“How is this possible?” Jingyun couldn’t believe what she saw. Lin Feng had clashed with the ape and come out without a scratch? She glanced at Qing Yi and Han Man, both of whom had their eyes wide open. They had personally witnessed Lin Feng punch the ape backward, and the shock was overwhelming.
This was an eighth-level beast. Without at least eight thousand jin of force, one couldn’t even budge it.
Behind them, Jing Feng was also stunned. This waste had actually driven back the ape?
“Eighth-level beasts really are thick-skinned and tough,” Lin Feng muttered to himself. His cultivation was now firmly at the seventh layer of the Qi Martial Realm. With the Ninefold Wave technique, each punch carried over eight thousand five hundred jin of force. Moreover, the essence of the Ninefold Wave lay in stacking waves—each wave stronger than the last. So when the Ninefold Wave struck the ape, the actual force was close to nine thousand jin. Yet the ape got back up, roaring madly.
Lin Feng stepped forward to the roaring ape and unleashed another Ninefold Wave. The ape, naturally violent and massive, couldn’t dodge and had to take the hit head-on.
“I’ll use you as a punching bag,” Lin Feng said, not pausing. He threw punches with his left hand as well, sending waves of power surging through the air, unstoppable.
Jingyun and the other two stood there dumbfounded. The ape? Right now, Lin Feng was more ferocious than the ape. His fists flew continuously, the Ninefold Wave following every move, causing the space within hundreds of meters to ripple with violent, dazzling white waves.
“To execute the Ninefold Wave so smoothly and perfectly—I doubt even inner disciples could do this,” Qing Yi said, his mind struggling to keep up. Lin Feng, a waste?
“The fist wind doesn’t fade, the waves don’t stop. I’ve heard that the highest essence of the Ninefold Wave is just like this. Lin Feng’s talent in martial techniques is astonishing,” Jingyun said thoughtfully.
“Monster,” Han Man said, wiping his face in an unrefined manner, looking frustrated.
“Hum, hum…” The trembling of space subsided into calm. Lin Feng turned back to the three and said, “Come and collect the beast core. I’m tired.”
“Oh.” Han Man only then noticed that the ape had stopped moving entirely. He clicked his tongue, went over, and with great effort extracted everything valuable from the beast. The thing’s hide was so thick that even in death, it was hard to cut through. He couldn’t help but wonder how that freak Lin Feng had managed to beat it to death.
“Haha, Lin Feng, with a monster like you around, as long as we don’t run into a ninth-level beast, we can walk around without fear,” Han Man said, packing the bag and slinging it over his shoulder with a hearty laugh.
Lin Feng smiled slightly and said, “Let’s keep moving. Maybe we’ll run into more eighth-level beasts.”
“You were just lucky to meet a dumb beast that only knew how to take hits,” a sharp voice came from behind. Jing Feng walked past the four of them, heading straight ahead.
“Jing Feng, you…” Jingyun and the others looked angry. That guy really knew how to pour cold water.
The group continued forward. Jing Feng, who wanted to show off by walking in front, encountered no beasts for a while, which left him frustrated.
“Something doesn’t feel right,” Lin Feng said quietly. Compared to other places, this forest seemed too quiet.
“Yeah, something’s off,” Qing Yi said, slowing down. Soon, they saw Jing Feng, who was ahead, starting to back up.
Everyone looked and saw a wolf appear in front of Jing Feng—a ghost-faced wolf with a terrifying, twisted visage.
Jingyun covered her mouth with both hands, as if she had seen something horrifying. Her body trembled slightly.
“Nether Wolf, a ninth-level beast. Among ordinary beasts, it’s the most cruel. It likes to eat people bite by bite, without killing them first,” Qing Yi’s voice also trembled a little. For outer disciples like them entering Black Wind Ridge, the Nether Wolf was the last thing they wanted to encounter. Not only was it cruel, but it was also incredibly fast, making escape impossible.
“Waste, let’s join forces. You use the Ninefold Wave to attack, and I’ll find a chance to kill it,” Jing Feng said, stepping back quickly, his expression serious. This was clearly directed at Lin Feng.
Waste? You want me to block the attack while you find a chance to run away?
Lin Feng sneered, “You can watch your own companions fall into danger. Do you think I’d trust you?”
“You have no choice, or we all die,” Jing Feng continued retreating, his voice angry.
“I don’t think so. You haven’t even made a move yet, have you? Trying to freeload? I’m not willing to support a waste for nothing,” Lin Feng mocked, throwing Jing Feng’s words back at him.
With that, Lin Feng signaled the three beside him and began stepping back diagonally.
Jingyun and the others also retreated. Facing a Nether Wolf, going forward would only mean death. Besides, Jing Feng’s earlier actions had chilled their hearts, so they naturally wouldn’t help.
“Fine,” Jing Feng said, a sinister look flashing in his eyes. Suddenly, a sharp aura burst forth. A brilliant sword phantom appeared behind Jing Feng, shooting straight into the sky.
“Sword Martial Soul.”
Lin Feng was somewhat surprised. No wonder the guy was so arrogant. Among all martial souls, the sword soul was definitely one of the strongest. Those with a sword martial soul could become sword cultivators. Sword users excelled at offense—one sword could break ten thousand techniques.
Because of the power of sword cultivators, many without a sword soul still practiced swordsmanship, hoping to become sword cultivators. Qing Yi, for example, had a wind soul, excelling in speed, and his sword techniques were light and agile.
The long sword was drawn, and a cold gleam shot out, dazzling the eyes.
The Nether Wolf let out a low growl, then suddenly lunged forward. Its sharp claws reflected a cold, eerie light.
The sword was like a rainbow, clashing with the cold claws with a sound of metal striking metal.
“Such sharp claws,” Lin Feng muttered from the side. Ninth-level beasts were indeed extraordinary. Their claws could clash with a sword, and the Nether Wolf’s strength sent Jing Feng flying back ten meters, leaving a long trench in the ground. It was clear how much force Jing Feng’s feet had absorbed.
As soon as its claws touched the ground, the Nether Wolf sprang up again, lightning fast, not giving Jing Feng a moment to breathe.
Jing Feng’s sword danced, forming an impenetrable barrier, like layers of cobwebs before him. But then he found the Nether Wolf had vanished from in front of him.
Above!
Jing Feng felt a chill run down his spine. Without hesitation, he raised his sword and threw it, while his body dodged rapidly.
“Bastard,” Jingyun cursed under her breath. Jing Feng was no match for the Nether Wolf. He had even thrown away his sword, and the direction he was fleeing was exactly where they were retreating.
“If I die, none of you will have it easy,” Jing Feng said, his face twisted with malice as he charged madly toward the four.
“Get lost!” The Ninefold Wave surged violently, slamming into him.
“You…” Jing Feng was forced back by the fierce waves, then let out a scream. The Nether Wolf’s claws struck him directly in the back, blood splattering, and his body fell to the ground.
“Looking for death,” Lin Feng said coldly. He wouldn’t provoke others, but if someone provoked him, he would repay them in kind.
“Awooo!” The Nether Wolf let out a mournful howl, like a ghost crying. Its claws pressed down on Jing Feng’s fallen body, not in a hurry to kill him. Its cold gaze fixed on Lin Feng and the other three, sending chills down their spines.
“What do we do? The Nether Wolf wounds but doesn’t kill. It wants to torment us cruelly,” Qing Yi said, even more afraid after seeing that Jing Feng was no match for it.
“What is the Nether Wolf’s weakness?” Lin Feng suddenly asked.
Qing Yi looked at him in surprise.
“The Nether Wolf is extremely fast and has strong attacks, but its defense is slightly weaker. Its throat is the most vulnerable spot, but it uses its claws to protect it well. To attack its neck, you’d have to deal with its claws first,” Qing Yi said, sweat beading on his forehead. Lin Feng’s Ninefold Wave was broad and forceful, not light and agile. Avoiding the Nether Wolf’s claws to hit its weak point seemed nearly impossible.