Wilderness Crisis

Lin Feng concealed his aura, darting through the jagged rocks like a phantom, quickly approaching the area where intense fighting and wolf howls could be heard.

Crossing a stone beam, the scene before him made his pupils contract.

Below, on a relatively open patch of gravel, five figures were locked in a fierce battle with three Wind Shadow Wolves! These wolves were noticeably larger than Ironhide Jackals, with grayish-blue fur and movements as swift as the wind. Two examinees already lay on the ground, their conditions unknown, and the carcass of one Wind Shadow Wolf was also present.

The five were led by a burly male student wielding an alloy shield, who was holding off the pounces of two Wind Shadow Wolves. The shield was covered in deep claw marks, sparks flying with each impact. The other three held swords and blades, attacking from the flanks, but their weapons only left shallow white marks on the wolves' tough hides, failing to inflict fatal damage.

However, the most dangerous figure in the fray was a nimble girl wielding a short dagger. She was single-handedly engaging the third, exceptionally powerful Wind Shadow Wolf, distinguished by a streak of white fur on its forehead – the pack leader! This leader was incredibly fast, its claws whistling as they tore through the air, forcing the girl into perilous evasions. The sleeve of her left arm was already torn, revealing several bloody gashes, and her footwork was becoming slightly disordered.

"It's Zhou Min from Second High School!" Lin Feng recognized the agile girl as Zhou Min, the one previously mentioned for her "Phantom Steps." It seemed they had encountered a small pack of Wind Shadow Wolves.

"Captain! We can't hold on much longer!" the burly student with the shield roared, being repeatedly pushed back by a fierce charge from a Wind Shadow Wolf. His hands were splitting, blood streaming down.

"Sister Zhou Min, be careful!" another girl cried out in alarm.

The Wind Shadow Wolf leader's eyes flashed with cunning ferocity. It feigned a direct lunge at Zhou Min, but mid-air, it twisted unnaturally, its claws whistling with sharp force as it swept towards Zhou Min's exposed back, revealed by her dodge! If this claw connected, Zhou Min would be severely wounded, if not killed!

Zhou Min's face instantly turned pale. Her previous strength was spent, and she hadn't yet gathered new momentum. She had no time to dodge! A flicker of despair crossed her eyes.

At this critical moment!

"Riiip--!"

A figure, as fast as lightning tearing through the night sky, shot in from the side and rear! It was Lin Feng!

Without hesitation, he activated "Lightning Flash," his speed reaching its absolute limit. He arrived later but struck first, instantly cutting into the battle! The instant the Wind Shadow Wolf leader's claws were about to touch Zhou Min's back, his fist, crackling with a faint thunderous sound, met the ferocious wolf claw!

"Thunderclap Break!"

"Bang!!"

Fist and claw collided, erupting in a dull, drum-like roar! A powerful wave of energy spread out from the point of impact, kicking up gravel from the ground!

"Awooo!" The Wind Shadow Wolf leader let out a howl of pain and shock. Its claws, capable of tearing through steel, were struck by this punch, its bones feeling on the verge of shattering. Its massive body was forcefully shoved back several steps, its wolf eyes filled with disbelief.

Lin Feng used the momentum to retreat, dissipating the force. His arm tingled, and he inwardly marveled, "So much power! This wolf leader has definitely reached the first-order upper echelon!"

Zhou Min, having narrowly escaped death, whipped her head around. Seeing the tall, unfamiliar figure standing protectively in front of her, her beautiful eyes were filled with shock and lingering fear. The other students from Second High School were also stunned, never expecting someone to intervene at such a crucial moment, let alone with such formidable strength!

"Thank you!" Zhou Min quickly suppressed her churning Blood Essence, holding her short dagger horizontally in front of her chest, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Lin Feng. Her voice was cool but sincere.

"Let's deal with them first," Lin Feng said concisely, his gaze fixed on the wolf leader, who was now even more agitated after being struck.

The wolf leader shook its pained claw, its eerie green eyes locked onto Lin Feng. With a low growl, the other two Wind Shadow Wolves immediately abandoned their attack on the shield-bearing student. They formed a triangle with their leader, encircling Lin Feng and Zhou Min, their foul-smelling saliva dripping onto the ground.

The pressure intensified!

"I'll tie up the leader, you guys quickly finish the other two!" Lin Feng hissed to Zhou Min. Without waiting for a response, he shot forward again, proactively attacking the wolf leader! He knew they had to end this quickly; his "Thunderclap Break" consumed a lot of energy, and dragging it out would be disadvantageous.

"Lightning Flash" closed the distance, "Thunderclap Break" struck!

Having suffered before, the wolf leader dared not meet the attack head-on. Relying on its superior speed, it dodged, while its claws and fangs constantly sought openings in Lin Feng's defense. For a time, man and wolf fought with speed against speed, figures intertwining, fists and claws whistling, a dazzling spectacle.

On the other side, with the pressure greatly reduced, Zhou Min and the others were invigorated.

"Brothers, let's give it our all! Don't let our friends from Third High School look down on us!" the shield-bearing student roared, charging forward again. The other three students from Second High School also gritted their teeth and unleashed their full power, unleashing various martial skills to attack the two ordinary Wind Shadow Wolves.

Zhou Min's "Phantom Steps" unfurled, her movements like a ghost. Her short dagger targeted the Wind Shadow Wolves' weak points, such as their eyes and throats. Soon, cooperating with her teammates, she killed one Wind Shadow Wolf.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng's battle with the wolf leader had reached a stalemate. The wolf leader was too fast, and its fur too tough. His "Thunderclap Break" struggled to land a critical hit, while his own Blood Essence was being rapidly depleted.

"This won't do!" Lin Feng's mind raced, his Spiritual Power highly concentrated, tracking the trajectory of the wolf leader's every pounce and evasion.

[Analysis Function, Activate! Target: Wind Shadow Wolf Leader's Movement Patterns and Weak Points!]

An invisible wave emanated from Lin Feng. Under his powerful Spiritual Power perception, the trembling of the wolf leader's muscles, the flow of its aura, even the cunning glint in its wolf eyes, all became clear.

"A slight pause when the left forelimb lands... the neck muscles tighten briefly after a pounce... It's trying to feint!"

Just as the wolf leader once again feigned a lunge at Lin Feng's front, but was actually gathering power in its hind legs, preparing to execute that strange twisting pounce—

Lin Feng moved!

Instead of retreating or blocking as before, he made a move that surprised everyone—he took a sudden step forward, leaning his body extremely low, almost sliding like a sliding tackle along the ground! At the same time, his right fist was poised, Blood Essence stacking at an unprecedented speed, faint arcs of electricity even appearing on the surface of his fist!

"Now!"

As the wolf leader twisted in mid-air, its claws sweeping towards where Lin Feng was expected to dodge, its soft underbelly was completely exposed below—

Lin Feng's fist, charged with the power of thunder, erupted from below like a true thunderbolt!

"Thunderclap Break: Rising Dragon!"

"Pfft!"

This punch landed squarely in the Wind Shadow Wolf's relatively vulnerable abdomen! The violent thunderous energy instantly penetrated, destroying its internal organs!

"Aargh—!" The wolf leader let out an extremely piercing, abruptly cut-off howl. Its massive body was sent flying upwards by the punch, spitting out blood mixed with internal organ fragments. It crashed heavily to the ground, twitched twice, and then lay still.

Concurrently, Zhou Min and the others had also worked together to kill the last Wind Shadow Wolf.

The battle was over.

The gravel ground was a mess, filled with the heavy scent of blood.

The students from Second High School collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, all injured. Their gazes towards Lin Feng were filled with gratitude and awe. They knew very well that if this mysterious young man from Third High School hadn't suddenly appeared, they might have all perished here today.

Zhou Min walked up to Lin Feng, looking at his slightly panting figure, sweat on his brow but still standing tall. She solemnly clasped her hands in a salute, "Second High School, Zhou Min. Thank you for saving our lives, may I ask your name?"

"Third High, Lin Feng." Lin Feng nodded, calming his surging Blood Essence. The continuous high-intensity use of "Lightning Flash" and "Thunderclap Break," especially the final attack that involved analysis and an explosive burst, had severely drained him.

"Lin Feng..." Zhou Min silently noted down the name, her beautiful eyes sparkling. She had noticed Lin Feng's performance during the Strength Test before, but witnessing his combat firsthand now, she truly felt his strength and terrifying power. That final punch clearly contained a trace of true lightning intent!

"These points..." Zhou Min looked at the wolf corpses on the ground, hesitant. According to the rules, whoever killed it got the points, but since Lin Feng had saved them, they felt awkward about fighting for them.

"The wolf leader is mine. The other two, along with the previous ones, are yours." Lin Feng decisively cut off the wolf leader's left ear, gaining 50 points. He wasn't a saint; he wouldn't politely refuse what was rightfully his, but he wouldn't be greedy either.

Hearing this, Zhou Min and the others breathed a sigh of relief, and their impression of Lin Feng improved further. He had strength, knew his limits, and wasn't greedy.

"Brother Lin, your great kindness needs no thanks. We heard that deep within this Simulated Wilderness Zone, there's a 'Wolf's Den,' a gathering place for Wind Shadow Wolves. There might be stronger Yao Beasts or even rare medicinal materials there, but it's extremely dangerous. Our strength isn't enough, so we won't go join the excitement. This information is a small token of our gratitude." Zhou Min lowered her voice, sharing crucial intel with Lin Feng.

Lin Feng's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded. "Thank you."

He didn't linger any longer. After nodding to Zhou Min and the others, his figure flashed, and he disappeared back into the rocks, stealthily heading in the direction of the "Wolf's Den" that Zhou Min had indicated.

Watching Lin Feng's disappearing back, the boy with the shield clicked his tongue. "When did Third High produce such a powerhouse? He feels even crazier than Zhao Feng from First High!"

Zhou Min's gaze was distant as she said softly, "A hidden dragon emerging from its lair, the winds and clouds are about to rise. This Martial Arts Examination will be interesting."

She had a faint premonition that this young man named Lin Feng might stir up the entire Jiangnan City.