Sudden Change on the Return Journey, Blood Wolves Devour Men

Successfully scavenging two Advanced Beast Soldier monsters, the moods of Lin Mo and Wang Keke were like riding a rollercoaster, soaring from previous depression to the peak of ecstasy.

The two (and the tiger) hid in a relatively safe corner of the ruins, with Wang Keke counting the spoils like they were treasures—a pair of thick Lion Mastiff ears, a pair of small cauliflower python ear scales, and that colorful, cold, and hard severed python tail.

As for Lin Mo, he lay to the side, fully digesting the Lion Mastiff flesh he had just devoured.

The energy of an Advanced Beast Soldier was truly extraordinary; that scorching torrent surged and roared within his body, far more violent than when he had devoured the Iron-Wire Snake and the Jump Rabbit.

He could clearly feel his muscle fibers constantly tearing and restructuring, becoming tougher and more powerful; his bone density was increasing, emitting a faint hum; even the bones of the wings on his back were itching, as if they were growing in sync.

The [Combat Devour Talent] operated crazily, attempting to parse the core talent of the Lion Mastiff from that massive surge of energy.

I do not know how much time passed, but it felt as if a bottleneck within his body had been shattered!

Hum—!

A faint white halo once again appeared on the surface of Lin Mo's body, and his size expanded by a visible margin within that glow! His shoulder height was already approaching the prototype of an adult tiger, and his body length was nearly three meters (including the tail). His white fur became denser and glossier, and his muscle lines were filled with an explosive sense of power.

The "King" marking on his forehead was deep and majestic, his amber tiger eyes flashed with brilliance as they opened and closed, and an aura far more formidable than before permeated the air!

He had officially stepped into the Mid-stage Beast Soldier realm!

"Mimi! You broke through again?!" Wang Keke felt the change in his aura and called out in surprise.

Lin Mo let out a low growl, stood up, and stretched his larger, more powerful body. Feeling the surging power and sharper senses within him, he felt a surge of heroism in his heart. Although [Combat Devour] still failed to inherit the [Giant Strength] talent this time, the improvement in strength alone was worth the price of admission!

He tried to activate [Power Burst], and the muscles in his hind legs instantly bulged!

Whoosh!

His figure darted out like a phantom, his speed more than thirty percent faster than before! His sharp claws swiped out, the sound of them breaking the air even sharper and more piercing!

"Great! Now our chances in the competition are even better!" Wang Keke clapped her hands in excitement.

At this moment, the setting sun had begun to tilt westward, dyeing the horizon a deep orange-red. The assembly time stipulated by the trial was almost here.

"We should head back, Mimi." Wang Keke checked her tactical watch and began to pack her things.

Lin Mo nodded. Having broken through, he was full of confidence and felt that the journey back would surely be smooth.

The human and the tiger followed the path they had come, carefully retreating toward the assembly point on the outskirts of the small town. Because of his increased strength, Lin Mo's perception range was larger, allowing him to avoid potentially dangerous areas in advance, and their pace was quite fast.

However, just as they passed through an area that had once been an industrial zone, filled with huge factories and rusted pipes, a faint sound mixed with crying, pleas for help, and angry curses drifted over on the wind.

Lin Mo immediately stopped, his ears turning vigilantly. Wang Keke heard it too, her small face tightening: "It sounds like... human voices? Are they calling for help?"

The direction of the sound was slightly off from their route back to the assembly point.

"Should we go take a look?" Wang Keke hesitated, asking Lin Mo through their mental link. Encountering strangers in the wilderness, especially in a situation that sounded wrong, was very dangerous.

Lin Mo pondered for a moment. According to his philosophy of staying low-key, it was better to avoid trouble. But in those cries for help, there seemed to be some familiar voices belonging to young people...

His nostrils flared as he carefully distinguished the scents in the wind. Aside from the heavy smell of blood and the unfamiliar stench of sweat, he seemed to... smell a hint of a certain incense unique to the descendants of the Wang Family Manor? (Possibly the insect-repellent spice issued by the family.)

Damn it, don't tell me those little rookies from the Wang Family are in trouble? Lin Mo cursed inwardly. Although he didn't have much affection for those guys, Wang Keke clearly cared.

He let out a low growl, signaling Wang Keke to follow, and then carefully crept toward the source of the sound.

They used the shadows of huge abandoned pipes and factory buildings to approach silently. The closer they got, the clearer the sounds became.

"Help! Let me go! Do you know who we are? The Hu Family won't let you off!" A young female voice with a sobbing tone sounded like... Hu Lili?

"Pah! To hell with the Hu Family! In this wilderness, I am the king!" A rough, ferocious voice roared, accompanied by the dull thuds of fists hitting flesh and pained groans.

"Wang Xiao! Are you okay?! You bastards! If you have the guts, let us go and fight one-on-one!" This was Wang Xiao's familiar and annoying voice, only now it was filled with anger and... weakness?

Lin Mo and Wang Keke exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock and gravity in the other's eyes. Wang Xiao and Hu Lili were really in trouble!

They finally reached the edge of a relatively open factory clearing, hiding behind a pile of rusted metal scrap, and quietly poked their heads out.

The scene before them made Wang Keke cover her mouth instantly, her pupils shrinking, her body trembling slightly from fear and anger. Even Lin Mo felt a chill in his heart, his amber tiger eyes filled with icy killing intent!

In the clearing, Hu Lili was hung upside down by a rough rope from a rusted overhead crane, her face pale, tears and snot streaming down, struggling in vain. Her Phantom White Fox battle pet was also tied up tightly, hanging beside her, emitting weak whimpers.

On the other side, Wang Xiao was surrounded by four or five burly men wearing uniform combat suits stained with dark red marks, being punched and kicked! He was bruised and swollen, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, and his expensive combat suit was torn. His Iron-Claw Wolf battle pet lay to the side, covered in blood, its life status unknown.

But this was not the most heart-wrenching part.

In the center of the clearing, several modified armored off-road vehicles covered in impact marks were parked. Beside the vehicles were three huge iron cages welded from thick steel bars! Inside the cages were several other young descendants of the Wang and Li families! They were all injured, their eyes filled with terror and despair, like lambs waiting for the slaughter.

And what truly made Wang Keke almost scream, and made Lin Mo's entire body erupt with murderous aura, was the scene in the corner of the clearing!

There, three blood-soaked human heads were piled up! Their faces were twisted, eyes wide open in death! The heads had been deliberately stacked into a small pyramid shape (Jingguan)!

Beside the pyramid of heads were more human limbs that had been hacked into countless pieces and discarded randomly! Fragments of shattered armor mixed with congealed dark red blood, soaking the earth!

The air was filled with a nauseating, heavy stench of blood and the aura of death.

Those burly men in dark red combat suits each had a fierce aura, cruel eyes, and carried a thick, murderous intent. On the armbands of their combat suits, a ferocious wolf head was clearly embroidered, blood dripping from its jaws, with the words "Blood Wolf" beside it!

The Blood Wolf Mercenary Group!

This was a notorious mercenary organization in the wilderness, known for their cruelty and greed! They had actually infiltrated this strictly controlled trial zone, and were... hunting the descendants of the great families!

Wang Keke felt cold all over. She finally understood why her father and instructors kept emphasizing that the dangers of the wilderness did not only come from monsters! These mercenaries were even more terrifying than monsters!

Lin Mo's gaze was fixed on the one-eyed brute who was beating Wang Xiao—who appeared to be the leader—and then swept over the pyramid of three heads and the scattered limbs everywhere.

For the first time, such cold and pure killing intent surged within his heart.

This was no longer a trial.

This was... a life-or-death struggle for survival!