Heavenly Wolf Society and Outwitting a Powerful Foe

That flippant yet oppressive voice, like a cold mist rising from a swamp, made the hearts of the three who had just achieved victory sink.

They turned their heads in unison towards the direction of the sound.

In the shadows of the forest, seven or eight figures slowly emerged. The one leading them was about seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a luxurious black robe embroidered with a silver wolf totem. His face was handsome, but a faint, arrogant smile at the corner of his mouth marred the overall aesthetic.

He toyed with a white jade folding fan in his hand, his steps unhurried, as if he were strolling in his own backyard rather than undergoing trials in a dangerous mountain range.

Behind him followed seven uniformly dressed students, each exuding a fierce and sharp aura, their eyes like wolves, full of aggression.

What shocked Shi Lei and Su Yue the most was that none of the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from these people were below Body Refinement Third Level! Especially the black-robed youth leading them, his aura was as deep as the sea, far beyond what Li Mo could compare to before.

"Heavenly Wolf Society?" Su Yue's face turned pale upon seeing the silver wolf totem on their clothes. "It's Xiao Lang! What's he doing here?"

"Who is Xiao Lang? Is he famous?" Shi Lei asked in a low voice, shielding Su Yue behind him while warily watching the newcomers.

"More than famous!" Su Yue's voice held a hint of solemnity. "He's a monster who consistently ranks in the top five on the current assessment's point leaderboard! He's the eldest son of Marquis Wuwei of the royal city's Xiao Family, and his cultivation is said to have already reached Body Refinement Fifth Level Peak! The 'Heavenly Wolf Society' he formed is one of the most powerful groups in this assessment, specializing in hunting high-level demonic beasts and... robbing other top teams!"

Body Refinement Fifth Level Peak!

This number pressed down on Shi Lei and Su Yue's hearts like a mountain.

That was a whole minor realm higher than the Swamp Giant Crocodile! They, the three of them working together, had painstakingly managed to kill a peak Body Refinement Fourth Level demonic beast. Facing a true genius at Body Refinement Fifth Level, they had almost no chance of winning.

Lin Xiao's pupils also constricted slightly. He remained silent, but the system panel on his retina was rapidly refreshing with the opponent's data.

[System Notification: Scanning Target: Xiao Lang]
[Realm: Body Refinement Fifth Level Peak]
[Cultivation Technique: Heavenly Wolf Howling Moon Art (Minor Accomplishment)]
[Martial Skill: Wind Breaking Claw (Proficient), Phantom Wolf Step (Proficient)]
[Background: Eldest son of Marquis Wuwei of the royal city's Xiao Family]
[Overall Evaluation: Extremely Dangerous!]
[System Notification: Scanning Target: Heavenly Wolf Society Member x 7]
[Realm: Body Refinement Fourth Level x 2, Body Refinement Third Level x 5]
[Overall Evaluation: Dangerous!]

Data doesn't lie. This was a terrifying force capable of crushing the three of them in an instant.

"Heh heh, it seems Miss Su Yue knows me, so things will be much easier," Xiao Lang said, fanning himself. His gaze swept unscrupulously over Su Yue's beautiful face and exquisite figure, a hint of lewdness flashing in his eyes. "I've always been one to cherish a lady. Miss Su Yue, as long as you withdraw from this team and join my Heavenly Wolf Society now, I can guarantee no one will dare to touch a single hair on your head. As for the spoils from this giant crocodile, consider it a meeting gift for me, how about it?"

His words were filled with an unquestionable tone of bestowal.

"You wish!" Su Yue retorted sharply, her pretty face filled with anger.

"You don't know what's good for you." The smile on Xiao Lang's face faded, and his eyes turned cold. "Since that's the case, there's nothing more to discuss. I'll give you ten breaths of time to hand over the beast core and crocodile hide, then crush your token and get lost. Otherwise, I don't mind making you lie in bed for several months."

"Let's fight them!" Shi Lei roared, his spiritual energy surging as he prepared to charge.

"Don't be rash!"

Lin Xiao, however, reached out and stopped him.

Shi Lei was stunned and looked at Lin Xiao in confusion. "Lin Xiao, are we really going to hand over what we worked so hard to get?"

Lin Xiao didn't answer him. Instead, he took a step forward and calmly met Xiao Lang's oppressive gaze, saying, "Senior Brother Xiao, you jest. This Swamp Giant Crocodile was killed by the three of us fighting for our lives. I'm sure Senior Brother can understand the effort involved. Since we all contributed, how about this: you can have this Second-Order Beast Core, but this crocodile hide must belong to us. Let's each take a step back and become friends, shall we?"

His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, as if he were conducting an equal transaction.

Hearing this, not only Shi Lei and Su Yue were stunned, but even Xiao Lang and the Heavenly Wolf Society members behind him were taken aback.

Then, they erupted into a burst of hearty laughter.

"Hahaha! Did I hear that right? This kid actually dares to negotiate with Brother Wolf?" "Is he scared silly? What right does a trash at Body Refinement Third Level have to be on equal footing with Brother Wolf?" "He's truly courting death!"

Xiao Lang also seemed to have heard something amusing. He put away his fan and pointed at Lin Xiao with the bone of the fan, saying mockingly, "Kid, you've got guts. The last person who dared to speak to me like that is already three feet tall on their grave. Are you sure you want to risk your legs for a mere crocodile hide?"

Lin Xiao's expression remained unchanged. He slowly shook his head, a hint of... pity in his eyes?

"No, I'm not doing it for the crocodile hide," he said, looking at Xiao Lang, word by word. "I'm saving your life."

As soon as he said this, the entire place fell silent.

Everyone looked at Lin Xiao as if he were a madman.

Even Su Yue and Shi Lei felt that Lin Xiao might have lost his mind from the stress.

"What did you say?" The smile on Xiao Lang's face completely vanished, replaced by a chilling killing intent. He felt his authority had been challenged like never before.

Lin Xiao ignored his almost tangible killing intent. He simply pointed at the still bleeding corpse of the giant crocodile on the ground, then pointed at the thick, unresolvable smell of blood lingering in the air around them.

"For the 'big guys' deep in the mountains, how delicious the flesh and blood of a Second-Order demonic beast is, I don't need to elaborate, do I?"

"If you and I fight here, no matter who wins or loses, it will inevitably delay us for quite some time. By then, the smell of blood will attract truly terrifying existences, such as... Second-Order High Grade or even Third-Order demonic beasts. Do you think we, with our numbers, can survive the wrath of such beings?"

"Or perhaps Senior Brother Xiao has absolute confidence in his own strength, believing he can handle Third-Order demonic beasts as well?"

Lin Xiao's voice, like a devil's whisper, clearly echoed in everyone's ears.

Xiao Lang and the Heavenly Wolf Society members behind him instantly changed their expressions.

They weren't fools. What Lin Xiao said was precisely the jungle law that they, as seasoned hunters, understood best!

The blood of a Second-Order Demonic Beast holds a fatal attraction for higher-tier demonic beasts! The only reason they dared to show up here was to quickly finish the fight and snatch the spoils before the bloody scent of the giant crocodile fully spread.

But if a massive battle truly erupted here as Lin Xiao said, delaying them... the consequences would be unimaginable!

"Are you threatening me?" Xiao Lang's eyes flickered with uncertainty as he stared intently at Lin Xiao. He wanted to see even the slightest hint of panic or bluffing on the other's face.

But he was disappointed.

Lin Xiao's gaze was as calm as a bottomless ancient well. That composure, that ease, was unlike anything a sixteen-year-old youth should possess.

"This isn't a threat, it's advice." Lin Xiao spread his hands. "Of course, if Senior Xiao insists on fighting, the three of us will see it through to the end. Our lives are cheap, and death is nothing. But if we can drag the eldest son of the 'Marquis Wuwei' of Wangcheng and so many elites from the Heavenly Wolf Society down to the underworld with us, the journey won't be lonely."

His words were spoken lightly, yet each one struck like a dagger!

The barefoot aren't afraid of those wearing shoes!

He used the most direct method to tell Xiao Lang: We dare to fight to the death, but do you? Do you prodigies dare?

A cold sweat broke out on Xiao Lang's forehead.

He was afraid.

He wasn't afraid of Lin Xiao's trio, but of the unknown, yet highly probable, immense risk Lin Xiao had mentioned!

He tightly gripped the folding fan in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force. He had never felt so stifled since his debut. He possessed overwhelming strength, yet he was cornered into a dilemma by a few words from the other party.

Fighting meant too much risk and too little gain. If he didn't fight and just left in disgrace, where would the reputation of the Heavenly Wolf Society, and his own reputation, go?

Just then, Lin Xiao spoke again, his tone softening as if offering him a way down.

"Senior Xiao, we're all here for assessment points. There's no need to fight to the death. How about we do as I suggested? The Beast Core is yours, and the crocodile skin belongs to us. You get a Beast Core worth 50 points, and we get the materials. Everyone's happy. Your Heavenly Wolf Society loses no face, and we preserve some of the fruits of our labor. What do you say?"

This proposal seemed incredibly "reasonable" in the current situation.

The few team members behind Xiao Lang subconsciously looked at him, their eyes already showing a desire to retreat.

Xiao Lang took a deep breath. He knew this fight wouldn't happen today. This young man named Lin Xiao had a mind and methods far beyond his years; he was simply a monstrous talent!

"Fine!" he gritted out the word through clenched teeth. "I'll give you face today! We'll take the Beast Core!"

With that, he gave a signal to someone behind him, who immediately stepped forward and took the Second-Order Beast Core from Lin Xiao.

After taking the Beast Core, Xiao Lang didn't linger. He gave Lin Xiao a deep look, his gaze like a hungry wolf sizing up its prey.

"Kid, your name is Lin Xiao, right? I've got you. Mountains don't turn, waters flow. After the assessment, we'll have a good 'get-together' in the academy."

After leaving this harsh threat, he waved his hand and quickly disappeared into the jungle with the Heavenly Wolf Society members.

Only after they were completely gone did Shi Lei's body go limp, and he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. His back was already soaked in cold sweat.

"My goodness... you scared me to death... I thought I was dead today..."

Su Yue's pretty face was also pale, her chest heaving violently. Her gaze towards Lin Xiao could no longer be described as shock; it was like looking at a monster.

Defeating a powerful enemy without shedding a drop of blood, using only his wit!

Facing Xiao Lang, who was at the Body Refinement Fifth Level Peak, and the entire Heavenly Wolf Society, he had resolved this potentially fatal crisis with just a few words and even secured the more valuable crocodile skin!

Such courage, such intelligence, such precise understanding of human nature...

"Lin Xiao, who... who exactly are you?" Su Yue couldn't help but ask.

Lin Xiao didn't answer. He simply walked to the corpse of the giant crocodile and calmly said, "Stop wasting time. We only have fifteen minutes. Skin it immediately and leave this place. My words earlier weren't entirely meant to scare them."

The two heard this and their hearts tightened. They dared not delay any further and immediately stepped forward to help.

With the three of them working together, a huge and intact crocodile skin was quickly peeled off.

After finishing, the trio didn't dare to linger and quickly left the blood-soaked swamp.

And less than half an hour after they left, a terrifying beast roar, powerful enough to shake the entire mountain range, echoed from the depths of the swamp. Immediately after, a terrifying demonic beast, several times larger than the Swamp Giant Crocodile and with an aura reaching Second-Order High Grade – the Blackwater Profound Snake – appeared by the muddy lake