A Chance Encounter with a Wolf Pack-Who Dares Act Recklessly!

The vast expanse of snow blanketed heaven and earth, as if they had been carved from white jade.

The avian soul beast that had served as their mount had already left. The two humans and one bear trudged through the wind and snow, struggling to take even a single step in the Extreme North.

Bear Lord stood at the front, releasing a shield of Soul Power to envelop the two of them. Jiang Mian held Zhu Zhuqing's hand, continuously pouring Soul Power into her.

Zhu Zhuqing was only a Great Soul Master. Resisting the raging winds and blizzards of the Extreme North was truly difficult for her. Although Jiang Mian was also struggling to hold on, what man would ever admit he could not handle it?

"We really picked a bad time to come." Bear Lord stood like the Immovable Wisdom King. In his eyes, this little snowstorm was nothing more than a bit of frost and wind. "We actually ran into a blizzard."

"Not... not a problem." Jiang Mian's teeth chattered. The moment he opened his mouth, wind and snow rushed into his body through it. Zhu Zhuqing's face had turned slightly purple, making her look even more alluring.

"The Extreme North has been uninhabited year-round. The soul beasts here are generally quite old." Bear Lord waved his hand, sending several dark-gold blades soaring into the sky.

The heavy clouds were sliced apart, and long-lost sunlight spilled onto the earth. Snowflakes drifted gently down, no longer carrying their former savage force.

"If you could do that, why didn't you use it earlier?" Jiang Mian complained, kicking Bear Lord in the shin.

"I was afraid of alerting the soul beasts here." Bear Lord took one of them by each hand and steadily infused Soul Power into their bodies.

Zhu Zhuqing and Jiang Mian felt their blood begin to boil. The bone-piercing chill inside them was swept away. Bear Lord's vast Soul Power, like a bursting Yellow River dam, was far more useful than Jiang Mian's drizzle.

"I remember Snow Empress is also around 690,000 years old. She should be trying to find a way through her Heavenly Tribulation too." Jiang Mian looked at the empty snowfield before him. "Unless she has no other choice, I don't think she'll show herself."

"I can sense it. My Heavenly Tribulation will descend within the next few days." Bear Lord asked, "I brought you two little ones to the Extreme North so you could gain some experience as well. How do you want to proceed?"

"We'll play it by ear." Jiang Mian brushed back his hair. "The Extreme North is close to Zhuqing's Star Luo Empire. Although it's usually deserted, some caravans or hunters who kill soul beasts should pass through here."

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

"A minor recluse hides in the wilderness; a great recluse hides in the city." Jiang Mian smiled mysteriously. "If we want to train here, we really do need to conceal ourselves among them."

"I have no objection." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, approving Jiang Mian's idea. Bear Lord had even less objection, so long as it did not delay his tribulation.

"What?!" Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi looked at the critically wounded, dying Bone Douluo and the despairing Ning Rongrong beside Chen Xin. His entire body went limp as he collapsed into a chair. "Uncle Sword, we've provoked someone we can't afford to offend."

"This kid's fortune is really that outrageous?" Chen Xin sighed, unable to calm himself for a long time. "He was gone for only a few years, and even Old Bones is no longer his match?"

"We've left behind such an enemy. Our days won't be easy from now on." Ning Fengzhi rubbed his forehead, overcome by a headache.

Sword Douluo thought for a moment before comforting him. "At least Rongrong and Old Bones came back alive. That helper of Jiang Mian's may have only helped him this once. We can redirect the trouble elsewhere."

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

"Can we really do this?" After hearing him out, Ning Fengzhi asked hesitantly.

"We can try." Sword Douluo nodded and placed a hand on Ning Fengzhi's shoulder. "I'll be the villain. If anything happens, it won't lead back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Fine. Then let's try it." Ning Fengzhi slammed his cane against the floor and made up his mind.

What Chen Xin had meant by redirecting the trouble was using Spirit Hall's hand to eliminate Jiang Mian.

Among the powers of the world today, the Clear Sky Sect of the Upper Three Sects had secluded itself from the world. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan combined could not compare to Spirit Hall's deep foundations.

As for how to draw Spirit Hall's attention to Jiang Mian, Ning Fengzhi already had an idea...

"Achoo!"

Jiang Mian suddenly sneezed twice without warning. He did not think much of it and smiled as he approached the caravan ahead, which used soul beasts to carry its goods.

"Hello, friends. We are soul masters who came here to hunt soul beasts, but we lost our way in the snowstorm. May we travel with you?"

Jiang Mian clasped his hands and bowed to the caravan's leading merchant, asking politely.

"Soul masters?" The leading merchant pulled on his mount's reins and looked at Jiang Mian with confusion. "Just the three of you?"

"That's right." Jiang Mian nodded. The leading merchant examined the three of them one by one. When he saw Zhu Zhuqing, his expression suddenly changed, though he quickly concealed it.

"Fine. Our caravan happens to be short on guards. If you don't mind, come with us." The leading merchant nodded. "Where are you headed?"

"We've already absorbed our soul rings, so we don't have any plans for now. Which way is your caravan going?" Jiang Mian asked.

"We're heading to the Star Luo Empire." The leading merchant pointed due west with his whip. "We had just transported our goods when we ran into you. It must be fate."

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

After all, the three of them had nothing pressing to do. They might as well blend into a caravan like this. When it came to industries with access to information, caravans were definitely near the top.

"You noticed earlier that some powerful being dispersed the blizzard, right?" The merchant pointed at the sky and spoke seriously. "We need to avoid it. If we run into that being, none of us will make it out alive."

Jiang Mian scratched his head and gave an awkward smile.

"Someone, bring these three friends some cold-weather clothing, and lead over two King Camels." The merchant called out loudly, making sure Jiang Mian and the others had all the supplies they needed.

"I need to lead the caravan, so I won't chat with you any longer. If you need anything, just ask." The merchant laughed heartily and rode his camel toward the front of the caravan.

"King Camels... I heard these soul beasts can go ten days and nights without food or water." Zhu Zhuqing said in amazement. "This caravan has nearly thirty King Camels. How large must the merchant company be to afford such expenses?"

"How much does one of these camels cost?" Jiang Mian asked curiously.

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

"Good heavens." Jiang Mian's eyes widened. This was no caravan—it was walking gold!

After the merchant gave the order, two young men quickly brought cold-weather clothing and camels to Jiang Mian. They were broad and sturdy, but their eyes were remarkably clear.

"Thank you, brothers." After clasping his hands in thanks, Jiang Mian unceremoniously draped the cold-weather clothing over himself and Zhu Zhuqing. Once the two of them mounted one camel together, Jiang Mian used the cold-weather garment originally prepared for Bear Lord to cover Zhu Zhuqing from the front, keeping her warmer.

"So I'm completely unnecessary, huh?" Bear Lord said with an angry laugh. "Jiang Mian, you forget your friends the moment you see a pretty face!"

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

"Get lost." Bear Lord flipped onto a King Camel and hurried toward the other side of the caravan. He had no desire to deal with this friend-abandoning bastard.

"Zhuqing, are you still cold?"

Zhu Zhuqing's icy back rested against Jiang Mian's chest. There was almost no distance between them now. Her face flushed slightly as she quietly nestled deeper into Jiang Mian's embrace.

Jiang Mian smiled faintly and gently wrapped his arms around Zhu Zhuqing's slender waist from behind. The King Camel could find its own path without being guided, giving Jiang Mian plenty of opportunity.

How could Zhu Zhuqing refuse? She silently held Jiang Mian's hand, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"Careful! Soul beasts are attacking ahead!"

If you enjoy this book, please add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

The sudden alarm interrupted the tender pair. Jiang Mian looked ahead with annoyance and saw hundreds of wolf-like soul beasts suddenly appear near the foot of a mountain in the distance.

"A Snow Wolf Pack." Bear Lord immediately came to Jiang Mian's side to protect him. "These soul beasts usually appear in groups and hunt under the leadership of an Alpha Wolf."

"That one must be the Alpha Wolf." Jiang Mian looked at the giant wolf surrounded by the pack. Its snowy-white fur nearly blended into nature itself, while only its blood-red eyes appeared especially terrifying.

"Do we need to act?" Bear Lord had no interest whatsoever in such insignificant ants. They did not even have a hundred thousand years of cultivation—did they deserve a second glance from him?

"Not yet. Let's watch and see." Jiang Mian shook his head. "This is a good chance to see what the caravan is capable of."

The moment he finished speaking, the Snow Wolf Pack surged toward the caravan like a swarm of returning bees. Several defense-type soul masters around the caravan acted together, erecting an ironclad defensive formation around it.

"Three Soul Kings and two Soul Emperors." Jiang Mian looked around, assessing the caravan's strength. "The leader is a level-seventy Soul Saint."

"No wonder the merchant was so calm." Jiang Mian could not help sighing. "With this kind of strength, they could start a soul master academy."

The Snow Wolves howled and continuously bit at the defensive formation, but it had no effect. The entire formation was as unshakable as a fortress, completely unafraid of attacks from Snow Wolves only a few thousand years old.

"Are they just going to let them attack?" Zhu Zhuqing sharply noticed that the man beside the merchant at the front of the caravan was itching to make a move.

"Looks like that man is their trump card." Jiang Mian narrowed his eyes. It was not that he did not want to help the caravan, but the merchant's expression had been strange when he looked at Zhu Zhuqing earlier.

Jiang Mian was an extremely meticulous person. Even the slightest movement in the wind could catch his attention, much less when he had never trusted that merchant from the start.

The reason he had agreed to travel with the merchant was, first, to train while keeping a low profile, and second, because Bear Lord was by Jiang Mian's side. Could a caravan possibly have a level-ninety-nine Limit Douluo?

There were only three level-ninety-nine Limit Douluo on the entire continent right now!

Boom!

The man who had been gathering strength for so long finally made his move. Two yellow, two purple, and three black soul rings displayed his strength, while the phantom of a bat emerged behind him.

In an instant, more than ten Snow Wolves near the caravan were sucked dry into mummified corpses. Their flesh and blood vanished, leaving only wolf pelts and skeletal frames scattered across the ground.

"What a cruel method." Jiang Mian frowned slightly and secretly observed Bear Lord's expression, afraid that Bear Lord would rage at the humans' slaughter of soul beasts.

Bear Lord's expression remained unchanged, making his thoughts impossible to read.

Seeing that the situation had turned unfavorable, the distant Alpha Wolf suddenly raised its head and howled. The surrounding pack howled along with it, their auras surging dramatically.

"The Alpha Wolf has strengthened the pack." Bear Lord said blandly. "I didn't expect it to have such a method."

"The Alpha Wolf still isn't moving?" Jiang Mian asked in surprise.

"No rush. Kings generally make their entrance last." Bear Lord chuckled as he looked at the merchant. "You didn't really think a merchant who roams the Extreme North year-round would be harmless, did you?"

"He's been hiding his cultivation!"

The pack received a brief boost, and the once-unshakable defensive formation finally began to tremble. Blood seeped from the lips of the Soul Saint maintaining the formation. He was clearly nearing his limit.

After all, Jiang Mian could see that the ones attacking the formation were no longer merely Snow Wolves a few thousand years old. There were also three Snow Wolves over ten thousand years old, one of which had even reached the thirty-thousand-year level.

Forget a Soul Saint—even a Soul Douluo would lose a layer of skin under the bites of so many wolves.

Bear Lord remained calm. He even slowly closed his eyes, sitting like an old monk in meditation as he reined in his aura.

No one knew what he intended to do. Several Snow Wolves had gathered around Jiang Mian and Zhu Zhuqing, but instead of attacking the defensive formation, they tucked their tails between their legs and stared at Bear Lord in terror.

The distant Alpha Wolf finally could not remain seated.

Its body shot forward like a rainbow, and it struck the defensive barrier with one claw.

The barrier made the sound of shattering glass. The entire formation was smashed apart with one slap from the Alpha Wolf, and the Snow Wolves opened their bloody maws and began mercilessly tearing into the humans.

"Go save them first." Unable to bear it, Jiang Mian ordered, "Bear Lord, protect Zhuqing."

Bear Lord still had his eyes closed in calm repose. The several Snow Wolves gathered around him did not dare make a reckless move. Some had even flattened themselves against the ground, bowing in submission.

Five hundred thousand years of cultivation, one of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts—how could you possibly challenge or shake him?

Jiang Mian kicked away a Snow Wolf that was tearing into a merchant and saved him, but another scream came from the distance. A pitiful merchant was seized by the limbs by five Snow Wolves and torn alive into pieces.

Jiang Mian used a Sky Rend Claw to drive those Snow Wolves back, but in doing so, he left his back completely exposed.

A Snow Wolf seized the opportunity and lunged at Jiang Mian.

First Soul Skill, Hell Stab!

Fortunately, Zhu Zhuqing rushed in to save him. She moved like a ghost and kicked the Snow Wolf directly in the eye, sending it flying.

Zhu Zhuqing and Jiang Mian understood each other without words. They stood back-to-back, vigilantly watching the vicious Snow Wolves around them.

Bear Lord remained unmoved. The purpose of coming to the Extreme North was to train the two of them. If he acted himself, could it still be called training? Wouldn't it just be an instant kill?

After breaking the defensive formation, the Alpha Wolf had already begun fighting the Soul Saint with the Bat Martial Soul and the merchant.

The two humans and one wolf fought fiercely, sending snow flying everywhere.

Jiang Mian released Hellfire, forming a circle around himself and Zhu Zhuqing. The Snow Wolves were already restrained by the fierce flames, and for the moment, they did not dare approach.

Finally, a Snow Wolf that appeared to have considerable cultivation broke through the Hellfire and lunged fiercely at Zhu Zhuqing.

Jiang Mian grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's hand and used the momentum to swing her around. Zhu Zhuqing kicked the Snow Wolf away midair, sending it straight into the Hellfire to burn.

Jiang Mian caught Zhu Zhuqing in his arms, helping her steady herself.

"Bear Lord, act!" Jiang Mian called out loudly. He truly did not want any more needless casualties.

Bear Lord slowly opened his eyes. In that instant, the air around them seemed to freeze, and everyone felt that invincible pressure.

Even though the Alpha Wolf fighting the Bat Soul Saint and the merchant was nearly sixty thousand years old, it did not hesitate in the slightest. It erupted with unprecedented killing power, blasted the two men away, then led the pack out of the area without looking back.

"Wh-what terrifying existence is that?" The merchant and the Bat Soul Saint looked at each other. Just how unfathomable were these three people they had invited into their caravan?

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

The merchant could not help recalling Zhu Zhuqing's delicate, cold face. He truly could not understand when he had been exposed...

Before he could figure it out, however, the distant mountaintop suddenly began to move. At the same time, a voice that resounded through the heavens reached everyone's ears.

The moment low-level soul masters heard the voice, blood burst from all seven of their orifices. Bear Lord sat cross-legged in the air, releasing Soul Power to protect Jiang Mian and Zhu Zhuqing.

"What soul beast dares act recklessly here?"