Encountering a Wolf Pack, Who Dares to Act Rashly!

The vast snow stretched across heaven and earth, a blanket of pure white.

The bird-type soul beast that had served as their mount had already departed. The two humans and one bear trudged through the wind and snow, making barely any headway in the Extreme North.

Bear Lord took the lead, releasing a soul power barrier that enveloped them both. Jiang Mian held Zhu Zhuqing's hand, continuously channeling soul power into her.

Zhu Zhuqing was only a Great Soul Master; resisting the fierce winds and raging snow of the Extreme North was genuinely difficult. Though Jiang Mian was barely managing himself, a man could never admit defeat!

"We picked a bad time to come." Bear Lord stood like an Immovable Wisdom King, this minor blizzard nothing but a light frost in his eyes. "We've run straight into a snowstorm."

"J-just a small problem." Jiang Mian's teeth chattered. The moment he opened his mouth, the wind and snow poured down his throat. Zhu Zhuqing's face had taken on a purplish tinge, making her look even more alluring.

"The Extreme North is desolate year-round, and the soul beasts here are generally of high age." Bear Lord raised a hand and swept it through the air, sending several dark-golden blades soaring skyward.

The thick cloud layer was sliced clean open. Long-lost sunlight spilled across the land as snowflakes drifted gently down, no longer bearing the ferocity of moments before.

"You had this ability and didn't use it sooner." Jiang Mian kicked Bear Lord in the shin, complaining.

"I was afraid of alarming the soul beasts here." Bear Lord took one of each of their hands, pouring his soul power into them in an unending stream.

Zhu Zhuqing and Jiang Mian felt their blood surge hot through their bodies, the bone-piercing chill swept clean away. This vast, surging soul power, like a Yellow River bursting its banks, was far more effective than Jiang Mian's meager trickle.

"I recall Snow Empress is also at 690,000 years now. She must be figuring out how to survive the Heavenly Tribulation." Jiang Mian gazed at the empty snowfield before him and said, "Unless she's left with no choice, I don't think she'll show herself."

"I can sense it—my Heavenly Tribulation will descend within the next two days." Bear Lord asked, "Coming to the Extreme North this time is also meant to give you two youngsters some training. What do you plan to do?"

"We'll play it by ear." Jiang Mian smoothed back his hair and said, "The Extreme North is close to Zhuqing's Star Luo Empire. Though it's usually deserted, there should be some caravans or hunters passing through to hunt soul beasts."

"You want to blend into their group?" Zhu Zhuqing asked in surprise. "What use are they?"

"Small concealment hides in the wilds; great concealment hides in the crowd." Jiang Mian gave a mysterious smile and said, "If we want to train here, we really do need to hide among them."

"I have no objections." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, approving Jiang Mian's idea. Bear Lord had no objections either, as long as it didn't interfere with his tribulation.

"What!" Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin stared at Bone Douluo, who was severely wounded and near death, and Ning Rongrong, whose face was etched with despair. Ning Fengzhi's body went limp as he collapsed into his chair. "Uncle Sword, we've kicked an iron plate."

"This kid's fortune is this absurd?" Chen Xin let out a sigh, his emotions slow to settle. "It's only been a few years, and even Old Bones is no match for him?"

"Leaving such an enemy at large means hard days ahead for us." Ning Fengzhi rubbed his forehead, his head throbbing with pain.

Sword Douluo pondered for a moment, then offered reassurance. "At least Rongrong and Old Bones made it back alive. That helper of Jiang Mian's might only help him this once. We can redirect the trouble."

"What do you have in mind?" A glint of sharpness flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. He leaned close to Sword Douluo's mouth, his expression shifting unpredictably.

"Will that really work?" Ning Fengzhi asked hesitantly after hearing the plan.

"It's worth a try." Sword Douluo nodded, placing a hand on Ning Fengzhi's shoulder. "I'll be the one to play the villain. If anything goes wrong, it won't trace back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Very well, let's give it a try." Ning Fengzhi stabbed the ground hard with his cane, his resolve set.

What Chen Xin had meant by redirecting the trouble was to use Martial Soul Hall's hand to eliminate Jiang Mian.

Among the current powers of the world, the Clear Sky Sect of the Upper Three Sects had withdrawn from the world. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan combined couldn't match Martial Soul Hall's deep foundations.

As for how to steer Martial Soul Hall toward Jiang Mian, Ning Fengzhi already had an idea...

"Ah-choo!"

Jiang Mian sneezed twice without warning. He didn't think much of it, smiling as he approached the merchant caravan transporting goods on soul beasts ahead.

"Greetings, friends. We're soul masters here to hunt soul beasts, but we lost our way in the snowstorm. Would it be possible to travel with you?"

Jiang Mian clasped his hands and gave a polite bow to the caravan's leading manager, asking courteously.

"Soul masters?" The leading manager reined in his mount, eyeing Jiang Mian with suspicion. "Just the three of you?"

"That's right." Jiang Mian nodded. The leading manager scrutinized each of them in turn. When his gaze landed on Zhu Zhuqing, his expression shifted briefly before he quickly masked it.

"Alright. Our caravan is short on escorts. If you don't mind, you can travel with us." The leading manager nodded. "Where are you headed?"

"We've already absorbed our soul rings and have no plans for now. Which way is your caravan going?" Jiang Mian asked.

"We're heading to the Star Luo Empire." The leading manager pointed due west with his horsewhip. "We just loaded our goods and ran into you—must be fate."

"The Star Luo Empire?" Jiang Mian glanced instinctively at Zhu Zhuqing. Seeing no reaction from her, he agreed readily.

After all, the three of them had nothing pressing to do. Blending into a caravan like this was ideal—caravans were among the best sources of news in the world.

"You noticed that powerful being who scattered the blizzard earlier, right?" The manager pointed at the sky, speaking seriously. "We need to steer clear. If we run into that entity, none of us are making it out alive."

Jiang Mian scratched his head and gave an awkward laugh.

"Someone, bring our three friends some cold-weather gear and two King Camels." The manager called out loudly, making sure Jiang Mian and his companions were fully equipped.

"I still need to lead the caravan, so I won't chat. Just speak up if you need anything." The manager gave a hearty laugh, then rode his camel to the front of the line.

"King Camels—I've heard they can go ten days and ten nights without food or water." Zhu Zhuqing marveled. "This caravan has nearly thirty of them. What kind of merchant house can afford such an expense?"

"How much does one camel cost?" Jiang Mian asked curiously.

"One King Camel costs ten thousand Gold Soul Coins."

"Good heavens." Jiang Mian's eyes went wide. This wasn't a caravan—it was walking gold!

After the manager's orders, two young men quickly brought over cold-weather clothes and led the camels to Jiang Mian. Though they were burly and rough-looking, their eyes were remarkably clear.

"Thank you, brothers." Jiang Mian clasped his hands in thanks, then unceremoniously draped the cold-weather gear over himself and Zhu Zhuqing. After they mounted a camel together, Jiang Mian took the coat originally meant for Bear Lord and draped it over Zhu Zhuqing's front to keep her warmer.

"So I'm just dead weight, huh?" Bear Lord laughed in exasperation. "Jiang Mian, you forget your friends the moment you see a pretty face!"

"You don't need it anyway." Jiang Mian curled his lip and laughed. "Bear Lord, don't tell me you're jealous."

"Get lost." Bear Lord swung himself onto the King Camel and hurried toward the other side of the caravan. He had zero interest in dealing with Jiang Mian, a man who abandoned his friends for a woman.

"Zhuqing, still cold?"

Zhu Zhuqing's icy back pressed against Jiang Mian's chest. The distance between them was nearly nonexistent. A faint blush crept across her face as she quietly burrowed deeper into his arms.

Jiang Mian smiled softly and gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind. The King Camel needed no guidance to find its own path, giving him ample opportunity.

How could Zhu Zhuqing refuse? She silently took his hand, her eyes brimming with tenderness.

"Careful, soul beast attack ahead!"

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The sudden alarm bell shattered their tender moment. Jiang Mian glared irritably ahead and spotted hundreds of soul beast wolves swarming at the foot of a nearby mountain.

"Snow Wolf Pack." Bear Lord was the first to reach Jiang Mian's side to protect him. "These soul beasts always hunt in packs, led by an Alpha Wolf."

"That must be the Alpha Wolf." Jiang Mian fixed his gaze on the massive wolf surrounded by the pack. Its snow-white fur nearly blended into the landscape, save for a pair of blood-red eyes that were especially chilling.

"Need me to step in?" Bear Lord couldn't be bothered with such insignificant ants. None of them even had a hundred thousand years of cultivation—how could they deserve his attention?

"Not yet. Let's see how it plays out." Jiang Mian shook his head. "Let's gauge the caravan's strength."

No sooner had he spoken than the Snow Wolf Pack surged forward like a swarm of hornets, a dark tide rushing toward the caravan. Several defense-type soul masters around the caravan acted in unison, erecting an ironclad defensive formation around it.

"Three Soul Kings, two Soul Emperors." Jiang Mian scanned the area, assessing the caravan's strength. "The leader is a seventieth-level Soul Saint."

"No wonder the caravan master is so composed." Jiang Mian couldn't help but marvel. "With strength like that, they could found a soul master academy."

The snow wolves howled and gnawed relentlessly at the defensive formation, but to no avail. The entire formation was as solid as a fortress, completely unfazed by the attacks of wolves whose highest cultivation was only a few thousand years.

"Are we just letting them attack?" Zhu Zhuqing keenly noticed the man beside the caravan master at the front, who was itching to make a move.

"Looks like that man is the ace in the hole." Jiang Mian narrowed his eyes. It wasn't that he didn't want to help the caravan, but the way the caravan master had looked at Zhu Zhuqing earlier was off.

Jiang Mian was meticulous by nature—the slightest disturbance caught his attention, and he hadn't trusted the caravan master from the start.

The reason he'd agreed to travel with them was twofold: first, to train incognito, and second, because Bear Lord was by his side. Could this caravan possibly harbor a 99th-level Limit Douluo?

After all, there were only three 99th-level Limit Douluos on the entire continent!

Boom!

The man who had been building up his power finally struck. His soul ring configuration—two yellow, two purple, three black—flaunted his strength as a bat phantom materialized behind him.

In an instant, the dozen or so snow wolves nearest the caravan were drained into desiccated husks, their flesh and blood gone, leaving only wolf pelts and bones scattered on the ground.

"Brutal methods." Jiang Mian frowned slightly, quietly observing Bear Lord's expression, afraid the bear might fly into a rage over humans slaughtering soul beasts.

Bear Lord's face remained impassive, his thoughts unreadable.

Seeing the situation turn dire, the distant Alpha Wolf suddenly let out a long howl. The surrounding wolves joined in, their aura surging.

"The Alpha Wolf is boosting the pack's strength," Bear Lord said flatly. "Didn't expect it to have that trick."

"Still not making a move itself?" Jiang Mian asked in surprise.

"No rush. The king always holds back for the finale." Bear Lord chuckled and glanced at the caravan master. "You don't really think a caravan master who's spent years traversing the Extreme North is an easy mark, do you?"

"He's been hiding his cultivation!"

The wolves' temporary buff took effect, and the once-impregnable defensive formation finally began to waver. The Soul Saint maintaining the formation had blood trickling from the corner of his mouth—clearly at his limit.

Jiang Mian looked up and saw that the wolves attacking the formation were no longer just thousand-year snow wolves. Three were over ten thousand years old, and one had even reached the thirty-thousand-year level.

Even a Soul Douluo, let alone a Soul Saint, would lose a layer of skin under the assault of so many wolves.

Bear Lord remained calm, even slowly closing his eyes like a meditating monk, his aura completely withdrawn.

No one knew what he was planning. A few snow wolves had gathered around Jiang Mian and Zhu Zhuqing, but instead of attacking the formation, they cowered with their tails between their legs, staring at Bear Lord in terror.

The distant Alpha Wolf could no longer hold back.

It shot forward like a bolt of lightning and slammed a claw into the defensive barrier.

The barrier cracked like glass, shattering under the Alpha Wolf's blow. The snow wolves bared their bloody maws and began tearing into the humans mercilessly.

"Go help them." Jiang Mian couldn't bear to watch. He ordered, "Bear Lord, protect Zhuqing."

Bear Lord remained in meditation, and the few snow wolves gathered around him dared not move, some even lying prostrate on the ground in submission.

A fifty-thousand-year beast, one of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts—how could they dare to challenge or shake him?

Jiang Mian kicked away a snow wolf that was mauling a merchant, saving the man, but another scream rang out in the distance. A poor merchant was grabbed by five snow wolves, each pulling a limb, and torn to pieces alive.

Jiang Mian struck with a Sky Rend Claw, driving the wolves back, but left his back completely exposed.

A snow wolf seized the opportunity and lunged at him.

"First soul skill: Hell Stab!"

Zhu Zhuqing came to his rescue just in time, moving like a ghost. She kicked the wolf square in the eye, sending it flying.

Zhu Zhuqing and Jiang Mian understood each other without a word. They stood back-to-back, warily eyeing the vicious wolves surrounding them.

Bear Lord remained unmoved. The whole point of coming to the Extreme North was to train the two of them. If he stepped in, what kind of training would that be? It'd be a one-shot kill.

After the Alpha Wolf destroyed the defensive formation, it had already joined battle with the Soul Saint who possessed the Bat Martial Soul and the shopkeeper.

The two men and the wolf fought fiercely, sending snowflakes flying in all directions.

Jiang Mian released Hellfire, forming a circle around himself and Zhu Zhuqing. The snow wolves, inherently suppressed by this ferocious flame, dared not approach for the time being.

Finally, a snow wolf of evidently high age broke through the Hellfire and lunged at Zhu Zhuqing.

Jiang Mian grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's hand and used the momentum to swing her around. Zhu Zhuqing kicked the snow wolf mid-air, sending it flying into the Hellfire to be incinerated.

Jiang Mian caught Zhu Zhuqing in his arms, steadying her.

"Bear Lord, make your move." Jiang Mian shouted loudly, truly unwilling to see any more casualties.

The Bear Lord slowly opened his eyes. In an instant, the very air around them seemed to freeze, and everyone felt an overwhelming, unmatched pressure.

The Alpha Wolf, who had been fighting the Bat Martial Soul Saint and the shopkeeper, was already close to sixty thousand years of cultivation, yet it did not hesitate for a moment. It unleashed an unprecedented killing force, sending both men flying, then turned and fled with its pack without looking back.

"W-what kind of terrifying existence is this?!" The shopkeeper and the Bat Soul Saint exchanged bewildered glances. Just how unfathomable were these three people they had let in?

Could they be helpers sent by that person, specifically here to sabotage our plans?

The shopkeeper couldn't help but recall Zhu Zhuqing's delicate yet icy face. He simply couldn't figure out when he had been exposed...

But before he could think it through, the distant mountain peak suddenly began to shift, and a voice resounding through the heavens reached everyone's ears.

Low-level soul masters who heard this voice immediately had blood streaming from their seven orifices. The Bear Lord sat cross-legged in midair, releasing his Soul Power to protect Jiang Mian and the others.

"What soul beast dares to cause trouble here?!"