Chapter Five: The Golden Storm Wolf

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At noon, the blinding sunlight poured mercilessly from above, scorching the earth with its intensity.

Within the Beast Mountain Range, after nearly two hours of travel, the majority of the Ye clan disciples had already penetrated five li into the mountains. Along this journey, many of the disciples had clashed with spirit beasts. Fortunately, this was the outermost edge of the beast domain, where most of the creatures were only of the first rank—well within their ability to handle.

Ye Zihan, unsurprisingly, walked at the very end of the group. Along the way, he had come across a first-rank Scarlet Flame Lion, but cleverly took a detour to avoid combat. Ye Zihan knew well that while the creature’s attack was not formidable enough to threaten most of his peers, it would have been more than he could handle.

Every time he watched as the other disciples, whether alone or in groups, slew a beast and took its crystal core, Ye Zihan’s eyes could not conceal their envy. Yet envy was envy; the harsh truth was that he lacked the strength. If he could simply reach the stake ground safely and retrieve his token this time, he would be content. He harbored no extravagant hopes of placing among the top three.

After another two li at a measured pace, Ye Zihan arrived at the foot of a mountain ridge. The ridge was densely carpeted with all manner of medicinal herbs, many of which were rare in the human realm but grew here in wild abundance—this was the famed Myriad Medicine Ridge.

“Celestial Umbra Grass, and Wood Drizzle Mushroom!”

Gazing at the countless herbs at his feet, Ye Zihan was dazzled. Although his cultivation was hindered, he had pored over the clan’s medicinal compendium many times. Suffering frequent bullying from his kin, he had naturally learned some medicine to protect himself.

As he advanced, he gathered the rarer herbs, reaping a considerable harvest as he went.

So he proceeded, picking as he walked, and after about half a stick of incense, he found himself at the end of the ridge, his face showing surprise.

The terminus of the Myriad Medicine Ridge was a broad, open plain, its verdant grassland dotted with medicinal flowers and herbs, some exuding a strange and intoxicating fragrance that lingered in the air. At the far end of the plain loomed a precipitous cliff, soaring ten thousand feet. Peering into the abyss, one could not see the bottom—anyone who fell would be doomed.

Yet what startled Ye Zihan was not the terrain, but the sight of sixty or seventy Ye clan disciples gathered in the clearing!

Under normal circumstances, most disciples would have already reached eight li into the mountains by this time. Now, however, nearly all were assembled here, their faces grim, weapons drawn, poised as if facing a formidable foe. The tense atmosphere clearly indicated that something had occurred.

Ye Zihan crept closer, peering through the gaps in the crowd, and saw a golden spirit beast!

The beast stood as tall as a man, its entire body golden, resembling a fierce wolf. Its golden eyes fixed menacingly on the Ye clan disciples, growling softly, while its icy claws and fangs glinted with a chilling light.

“A... Golden Thunder Wolf?!”

Recognizing the beast, Ye Zihan could not help but cry out in alarm. A moment later, as if remembering something, his gaze darted behind the wolf—and indeed, beneath a rock, he found a golden herb!

The herb was about two feet tall, golden throughout, with a peculiar form: its stem grew in winding curves, from which sprouted diamond-shaped petals, each topped with a golden fruit. In the sunlight, the entire plant blazed with a dazzling golden brilliance.

“Wherever the Golden Thunder Wolf appears, there is sure to be a Golden Nectar Fruit—so the legend is true.” Recalling what he had read in the ancient records, Ye Zihan murmured to himself, his eyes filled with longing.

According to the clan’s texts, the Golden Thunder Wolf was a fifth-rank spirit beast, extremely fierce and violent by nature, born to guard the Golden Nectar Fruit.

Moreover, the Golden Nectar Fruit could only grow in places of bone-chilling cold—an environment favored by the Golden Thunder Wolf and similar beasts, for whom the icy air was doubly beneficial to their cultivation.

To have a fifth-rank Golden Thunder Wolf as its guardian, the Golden Nectar Fruit was naturally no ordinary herb. It was a fifth-rank treasure, exceedingly rare in the human realm. It grew a leaf every five years and bore fruit every ten; thus, for a single plant to reach maturity required at least sixty-five years!

After such prolonged nurturing, its value was, of course, immeasurable.

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Its fruit could directly augment the cultivation of any practitioner below the fourth rank, even elevating them by an entire realm! Furthermore, if the roots and leaves were properly refined, they could become a potent fifth-rank healing medicine.

In short, every part of the Golden Nectar Fruit was a priceless treasure, one that would inspire countless cultivators to fight to the death for it in the human world.

“Roar!” As Ye Zihan stood there in a daze, the Golden Thunder Wolf let out a low, rumbling growl. The disciples tightened their grip on their weapons, ready to strike at any moment.

“Do not panic!” called a voice from the front of the crowd, and Ye Xuan appeared like a shadow. “This is only a juvenile Golden Thunder Wolf, its strength no more than early third rank. Work together, use every technique you have learned from the clan—such a beast is not enough to halt the sons of Ye! Attack!”

Emboldened, the disciples unleashed their full strength, all manner of techniques flashing as they assaulted the young Golden Thunder Wolf.

“Roar!”

Under the onslaught, the wolf bristled, leaping and swiping with its sharp claws in a fierce counterattack. Though only a cub, it was still a fifth-rank beast, and its offense was savage. Very soon, several disciples at the front were struck, bloodied and forced to retreat.

But numbers prevailed. Surrounded and beset on all sides, the Golden Thunder Wolf could not avoid injury itself, and wounds began to mar its golden hide.

The battle dragged on for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. After more than a dozen Ye disciples were wounded, the wolf’s strength at last began to flag. Its movements slowed, its injuries mounting.

Seeing this, the disciples redoubled their efforts, unleashing their most powerful moves.

With two final, desperate howls, the Golden Thunder Wolf collapsed.

“We did it! We killed it!”

Ecstatic, the disciples cheered. Most of them were only mid-second rank, but together they had brought down a third-rank beast—a feat to be proud of.

Suddenly, a flash of golden light streaked before their eyes!

Before anyone could react, several disciples at the front fell lifeless to the ground, struck down before they could even scream.

The rest stared in horror, and as the dust settled, they saw a massive golden beast—another Golden Thunder Wolf, but fully grown!

“Everyone fall back!” Ye Xuan shouted, startled by the sudden turn of events. When he realized it was an adult Golden Thunder Wolf, his expression turned grave as he leapt to the front of the group, eyes locked on the new threat. An adult Golden Thunder Wolf was a fifth-rank beast and, with a bit of talent, could even reach the sixth rank. Even Ye Xuan dared not claim certain victory against such power.

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The adult Golden Thunder Wolf cradled its injured cub, its low growls tinged with concern as it gently groomed its offspring’s fur. After a long moment, it set the cub down and turned, its icy gaze sweeping over the assembled humans, overflowing with murderous rage.

“Despicable humans! You dare injure my child—none of you shall leave here alive!”

A fifth-rank spirit beast possessed intelligence equal to humans, and this one even spoke aloud.

“Quenched Flame Blade—manifest!” Facing such a formidable foe, Ye Xuan dared not be careless. He summoned his famed weapon with a flick of his palm.

“All disciples, retreat thirty zhang! Do not join the fight!” Even after drawing his weapon, Ye Xuan was uneasy. He barked the order, and only after seeing everyone retreat did he relax slightly, focusing on the Golden Thunder Wolf and watching its every move.

Man and beast faced off in silence for a moment before the wolf sprang into action, charging at Ye Xuan with startling speed.

As the beast’s image swelled in his pupils, Ye Xuan did not panic. He sidestepped swiftly to the left, narrowly evading the snapping jaws, and with a turn of his wrist, brought his blade slashing down.

But the wolf reacted just as quickly; missing its mark, it launched itself aside, then pounced again, its claws slashing straight for Ye Xuan!

“Hmph!” Ye Xuan did not dodge. With a cold snort, he raised the Quenched Flame Blade high and met the beast head-on.

Clang!

Claws met blade with a metallic clash.

The first exchange ended inconclusively. The Golden Thunder Wolf flipped away, retreating several zhang, its eyes fixed on Ye Xuan.

Both sides were testing each other, but Ye Xuan frowned. Blocking the wolf’s claw, he felt his hand go numb—a sign that his opponent’s power might even surpass the fifth rank. If it had already reached the sixth, the situation would be dire indeed.

“All elders, join me! We must slay it as quickly as possible!”

Faced with this threat, Ye Xuan dared not risk single combat. If the beast truly was sixth-rank, he alone could not defeat it. Better to join forces with the other elders—if anything happened to the disciples, he could not answer to the clan.

With a rush of wind, nine Ye clan elders leapt forward, encircling the Golden Thunder Wolf.

One had reached the mid-Five Elements rank, the others were at mid-Four Symbols. Their weapons glittered in the sunlight, the tension in the air palpable.

The great battle was about to begin!