Primary Spirit Ascension Platform.
After absorbing the spiritual energy, Fang Lin didn't linger. He continued deeper into the forest.
The trees grew denser, their branches and leaves interlacing overhead. Sunlight filtered through them, scattering mottled spots of light across the ground.
The deeper he went into the forest, the more vibrant the life around him became.
The Soul Power fluctuations in the air grew increasingly intense, carrying the fresh, slightly bitter scent of plants that refreshed the spirit.
A thick layer of fallen leaves covered the ground. They rustled beneath his feet, their sound especially clear in the quiet forest.
Fang Lin's gaze swept warily across his surroundings, alert to the possible appearance of Soul Beasts.
He hadn't gone far when his attention was drawn to a patch of Blue Silver Grass nearby.
A snow-white Soft Bone Rabbit was leisurely nibbling on the Blue Silver Grass.
Its movements were light and graceful. Its long ears turned now and then, and it remained utterly unaware that danger was closing in.
"Is that... a Soft Bone Rabbit?"
A flicker of excitement crossed Fang Lin's eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "Heh heh heh!"
But just as he was about to strike—
A faint rustling suddenly came from the depths of the forest. It drew closer, rapid and dense, as if something were racing through the layer of fallen leaves.
The bushes shook violently. Dead leaves flew through the air as a snake about a meter long suddenly shot from the shadows.
It was a thousand-year-old Datura Snake.
Its body was covered in pink scales as delicate as flower petals. Its vertical pupils gleamed like rubies, cold and cunning.
Its flickering tongue made a faint hissing sound that raised the hairs on the back of one's neck.
The Datura Snake moved astonishingly fast, little more than a streak of pink.
It opened its jaws, revealing fangs that glinted with a cold, ghostly blue light, and swallowed the Soft Bone Rabbit whole before it could even react.
The entire thing—from its appearance to the kill—took no more than two breaths.
"Hiss—!"
After swallowing the Soft Bone Rabbit, the Datura Snake didn't leave.
It slowly turned its head and fixed its cold, vertical gaze on Fang Lin. Its scarlet tongue quivered in the air, and its fangs glinted once more with a ghostly blue light.
The next moment, the Datura Snake coiled its body and sprang forward, fast as an arrow loosed from a bow.
"You wretched beast, you're asking for death!"
Fang Lin's expression turned cold as he shouted.
"Power of Metal Spirit!"
Golden spears materialized one after another in midair. Their tips gleamed with a bone-chilling light, their edges sharp and deadly.
With a casual wave of his hand, countless spear-shaped shadows shot out like a torrential downpour, tearing through the air with shrill whistles.
"Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft."
The Datura Snake didn't even have time to hiss before more than a dozen golden spears pierced it at once, pinning its entire body firmly to the ground.
Pink scales shattered and flew everywhere. Scarlet blood trickled down the shafts and soaked into the yellowed leaves, filling the air with a thick, bloody stench.
The snake's body convulsed violently a couple of times. Its tail whipped about unconsciously, scattering the fallen leaves.
A moment later, the Datura Snake fell completely still, its entire body dissolving into specks of golden light.
Fang Lin slowly lowered his hand, and the golden radiance around him faded.
Just then, he abruptly froze.
Deep in the forest, a pair of scarlet eyes lit up.
One Demon Wolf after another emerged slowly from the shadows between the trees.
Their bodies were black and purple, sleek and powerfully built, their bearing cold and wicked.
Their ears were long, pointed, and erect, with pale pink inner surfaces. White, star-shaped markings adorned their faces, and their eyes were crimson, sharp and vicious.
Their coats were mostly deep black, streaked with dark purple patterns. The thick, coarse fur on their necks and chests looked like natural armor.
Their limbs were long and powerful. Their paws were white, and their claws a rose-red.
"A pack of Demon Wolves... Interesting!"
Fang Lin remained calm as information about the Soul Beasts before him surfaced in his mind.
These Soul Beasts were known for their savagery and teamwork.
A lone wolf wasn't much to fear, but when they appeared in packs, even high-level Soul Masters had to think twice.
The Demon Wolves silently spread out, surrounding Fang Lin from every direction.
They lowered their forelegs and growled deep in their throats, baring their sharp fangs. A suffocating killing intent filled the air.
Inside a room in the Spirit Pagoda.
Before a massive Soul Guidance screen, a Spirit Pagoda staff member frowned slightly.
He turned to Han Tianyi beside him. "Elder Han, Demon Wolves are appearing in large numbers. Should we remind the young master to come out?"
"No."
Han Tianyi shook his head. His tone was calm but left no room for argument, and his gaze never left the screen. "This won't be enough to stop him."
"Yes, sir."
The Spirit Pagoda staff member replied and turned his attention back to the screen.
In the forest, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
"Awooo—!"
A deep, commanding wolf howl rang through the forest.
A black-and-white Demon Wolf, a full size larger than the others, slowly emerged from the depths of the forest.
Its strides were calm and domineering. With every step it took, the Demon Wolves around it lowered their heads slightly in submission.
The Demon Wolf King's cultivation had already reached roughly the thousand-year level, and an oppressive aura that made the heart tremble radiated from its body.
Its crimson vertical pupils stared coldly at Fang Lin as a low growl rumbled deep in its throat.
It was a command for the pack to attack.
At the Wolf King's order, the Demon Wolf pack erupted into motion.
The wolves dug their powerful limbs into the ground, sending rotting leaves and broken stones flying.
They charged Fang Lin from every direction like mad beasts, fangs bared and murderous intent blazing.
Fang Lin stood his ground, his clothes whipping in the gusting wind that rushed toward him.
"Good. Come on, then."
A smile curled his lips, and battle intent flared in his eyes.
"Golden Dragon King, possess me!"
Fang Lin gave a low shout. Dark golden dragon scales instantly covered his body, and his eyes became cold, golden slits.
His arms transformed into Golden Dragon Claws. His fingers became razor-sharp claws, gleaming as if they could tear anything apart.
A terrifying, domineering dragon might swept through the forest in an instant.
First Soul Skill: "Golden Dragon Body!"
A deep purple Soul Ring appeared behind Fang Lin.
Golden light blazed around him. He looked like a golden god of war, his aura surging skyward.
The first Demon Wolf to reach him leaped into the air, its jaws gaping wide as it lunged for Fang Lin's throat.
Fang Lin's eyes flashed. He shifted slightly to one side and caught the wolf's head with a precise grip of his Golden Dragon Claw, then tightened his fingers.
"Crack—"
The sound of breaking bones rang out clearly.
The Demon Wolf didn't even have time to howl. Its head was crushed to pieces, and blood and bone fragments sprayed everywhere.
He casually flung the wolf's corpse aside. It slammed into a tree trunk, shaking down a shower of dead leaves.
The stench of blood burst through the air. Rather than driving the Demon Wolves away, it only roused their ferocity further.