Fighting for Life! Trading Wounds for Wounds!

I'll bet!

He didn't want to leave in the first place.

Now, he had a reason to convince himself to stay and fight to the death!

"Awooo--!"

A Third-order Demon Wolf King, the most robust of the pack, let out a roar to the heavens, issuing the command to attack.

Dozens of demon wolves transformed into streaks of gray afterimages, lunging from all directions!

The scent of blood washed over him.

Long Xuanye's pupils reflected dozens of intersecting gray lines of death.

He didn't retreat.

He couldn't retreat.

If he didn't even dare to take this risk, if he didn't dare to fight desperately for this easily obtainable opportunity, for the desire to survive, then how could he talk about taking revenge on Long Xingyu?

Take a gamble, and there's a chance to soar!

Behind him, Saint Cai'er clutched the hem of her clothes tightly with her small hands. For the first time, her hollow gray eyes held such intense emotion.

She didn't understand what a proposal was.

But she understood this.

This young man, with his not-so-broad back, shielded her from the malice of the entire world rushing at her.

That slender figure, facing the surging beast horde, seemed so small, as if it could be swallowed by the tide at any moment.

Yet, in Saint Cai'er's mind, the smile the young man had flashed when he looked back at the last moment refused to fade.

He was smiling.

Why was he smiling?

Deep within the dense forest, the White-robed figure's expression froze.

"Madman!"

"Are you seeking death?"

The admiration in his eyes vanished, replaced by shock and pity.

The budding appreciation for talent was instantly doused with a basin of cold water.

Moved?

There was indeed a trace of that.

But compared to a soft-hearted Knight, he needed a Genius who understood how to make choices and could survive!

Foolish kindness was worthless!

The White-robed figure sighed heavily, his aura shifting slightly as he prepared to act.

In his eyes, this Young man was already a dead man.

In the next second, he would be torn to shreds.

Puchi--!

The sound of claws tearing flesh rang out clearly.

The Demon wolf that charged at the forefront crossed paths with Long Xuanye.

A bloodied gash, deep enough to see bone, opened on his arm, and blood gushed out.

Long Xuanye grunted, and with a backhand strike, precisely stabbed into the Demon wolf's eye socket!

One for one!

But he was facing more than one enemy!

The second, the third...

The pack of wolves instantly engulfed him!

Saint Cai'er leaned weakly against the tree trunk, watching with her own eyes as that figure fought valiantly amidst the encirclement.

His movements grew slower, and the wounds on his body increased.

The Fangs of another Demon wolf had already clamped onto his Calf, tearing with all their might!

"Ah--!"

A piercing scream erupted from Saint Cai'er's throat.

That sound was heart-wrenching, filled with endless despair.

She shouted desperately, using all the strength in her body.

"Save him! Please... save him!"

She didn't know who she was calling out to, it was just an instinct.

However, the four directions were silent. Apart from the wolf howls and the sound of flesh and blood tearing, there was no other response.

It was just that she couldn't speak now.

Her emotions, once again, could only turn into dry roars.

Why?

Why hasn't he appeared yet?

Tears streamed down Saint Cai'er's eyes.

She even opened her small mouth and bit down hard on her arm, trying to use the pain and blood to attract the attention of the possible Guardian!

No reaction.

Absolutely no reaction.

Hope was once again ruthlessly crushed.

And in the tree canopy shadow higher up, the white-robed figure watched it all indifferently.

He was from the Assassin's Sanctuary.

He had heard Saint Cai'er's cries clearly.

But he would not intervene.

This was a trial the Reincarnation Saintess had to undergo. The tempering of her will was far more important than comfortable protection.

As for that young man...

A hint of playfulness flashed in the assassin's eyes.

His talent was indeed good, and his combat intuition was even more astonishing.

It would be a pity if he died just like that.

Then, why not let him hold on a little longer.

Let Saintess Your Highness see more clearly.

See clearly the most real despair in this world.

And also let him see where the young man's limits lay.

Pfft--!

Blood mist suddenly exploded.

But that wasn't Long Xuanye's blood.

The three demon wolves, lunging with varied attacks, froze mid-air.

The next instant, a slender bloodline appeared simultaneously on their throats.

The bloodline rapidly widened, and scalding wolf blood gushed like a fountain!

The three corpses crashed heavily to the ground, falling silent.

On the treetop, the white-robed figure's pupils contracted sharply.

"This is..."

His gaze locked onto Long Xuanye's broken dagger.

In that split second, he had only seen an afterimage that, amidst the wolves' fangs and claws, had carved a perfect cross!

[Cross Slash]!

This was by no means a skill a rookie knight could master!

No, it had surpassed the scope of mere skill!

It was the killing instinct, honed through countless trials and integrated into the very marrow of one's bones, of the most basic knight combat technique!

Having struck successfully, Long Xuanye didn't pause for a moment.

His body twisted like a ghost, his left shoulder sinking forward.

[Shield Bash]!

Even without a shield in hand, this charge contained the essence of a knight charge!

"Awooo!"

A stout demon wolf was sent reeling, its attack faltering.

This momentary pause became the end of its life.

The broken dagger, from bottom to top, pierced its lower jaw with pinpoint accuracy, penetrating its brainstem!

A pull, a stab, a charge, a kill!

Fluid and seamless, without a single wasted movement.

With every swing of his blade, the wound on his arm tore open further, blood flowing profusely, soaking his clothes even deeper.

With every step he took, the bitten calf throbbed with piercing agony, yet his steps remained as steady as a rock.

His face was as pale as paper, but his eyes were terrifyingly calm.

There was no anger, no fear, not even killing intent.

There was only absolute reason and complete control of the battle.

The proficiency in countless techniques rewarded by the system made Long Xuanye terrifyingly strong at this moment!

Far surpassing any genius!

After all, techniques painstakingly cultivated were superficial. Without the support of strength, they were like water without a source, a tree without roots!

What the system rewarded, however, was incredibly solid, as if Long Xuanye had comprehended it through countless real battles!

If someone of equal strength were here, they would have likely died already!

Yet, he still stood tall!

In his eyes, these man-eating demon wolves were just moving data.

Every attack angle, every evasion distance, was easily dodged by his instincts.

[Charge], [Block], [Pure White Blade]...

One basic, even somewhat unremarkable skill from the Knight Temple after another, transformed into the most efficient killing machine in Long Xuanye's hands.

The wolf pack began to feel fear.