Azure Cloud Wolf Pack

Ye Jingyong was also startled by the two men's shouts, but quickly realized he had taken things for granted.

With an embarrassed grin, he stepped back.

Ye Jingcheng and Ye Jingyu exchanged a glance at the same time, then both turned to look at Ye Jingyong.

"Second Brother, although the family's experience tells us the chances of encountering a high-grade demon beast are low, it's better to be cautious!" Ye Jingyu said.

"Jingli, have your Azure-Scaled Snake scout things out first this time!" Ye Jingyu looked toward Ye Jingli.

Though the Flying Cloud Leopard was faster and better suited to scouting ahead, it was far stronger than the Azure-Scaled Snake. Whether rushing to provide aid or falling back to reinforce them, it was the safer choice.

Ye Jingli had no objections. His and Ye Jingcheng's cultivation were the lowest in the group to begin with. If he did not make a move now, his share of the benefits later would only be smaller.

Covered from head to tail in azure scales, the Azure-Scaled Snake soon began slowly slithering into the valley.

It raised its snake head high, ready to strike with its fangs at any moment.

Its thick scales crushed out a winding trail through the mouth of the valley.

The two Flying Cloud Leopards took up positions to the left and right, blocking the valley entrance. Their eyes glimmered with a ghostly light, their ferocity surging—as though only upon returning to this demon valley deep in the mountains had they found their true selves again.

Even the Jade Ring Rat had its fur standing on end, squeaking incessantly.

All four of them drew their magic artifacts.

Ye Jingcheng wielded an azure magic sword; Ye Jingyu had a rare wind banner; Ye Jingyong's artifacts were even more unusual—a broad heavy sword and a magic seal.

Ye Jingli's artifacts were a blade and a silver ring. All things considered, Ye Jingcheng's magic artifacts were the poorest of the group.

However, Ye Jingcheng had prepared a full eight spirit talismans. After exchanging for two previously, he had exchanged for another two Windstride Talismans during his final exchange.

He had attack, defense, and escape all covered.

He held the Azure Flow Sword in one hand and pinched a Golden Sword Talisman in the other, his body lowered into a bow stance.

Just then, wolf howls abruptly rang out one after another. Within the range of their divine senses, a great number of Azure Cloud Wolves came charging from deep inside the valley.

Their entire bodies were azure, making them difficult to distinguish amid the shrubs. Yet as they ran, faint azure spiritual light flickered around them.

They were far faster than ordinary wolves!

"Not good—it's an Azure Cloud Wolf pack!" Ye Jingyu's expression changed drastically.

Though an individual Azure Cloud Wolf was at most a first-rank mid-grade demon beast, equivalent to a human cultivator at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refinement, their vicious and ruthless nature, considerable speed, and pack-dwelling habits made them extremely troublesome even for late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.

What was more, among the four of them, only Ye Jingyu was in the late stage of Qi Refinement. Ye Jingcheng and Ye Jingli had only come to assist with the extermination.

The Azure-Scaled Snake, seeing it was about to be caught, could only halt and roar at the Azure Cloud Wolves, lashing out with its massive tail!

Yet despite the scales covering its body, it was sent flying several meters away by a single swipe from the leading Azure Cloud Wolf!

It rolled over several times across the ground!

Its scales were torn open, revealing several bloody gashes.

Ye Jingyong could not help shrinking his neck. Luckily, he had not entered earlier—otherwise, he would have been the one sent flying now.

"Everyone, give it everything you have! Use your spirit talismans first and kill the lead wolf!" Ye Jingyu had not expected to encounter a wolf pack either. With one hand activating the formation, he barked out the order.

It was already too late to run. Their only option was to make use of this narrow valley entrance and the formation!

Ye Jingyu made his arrangements in an orderly fashion.

Along with a flash of azure light, a massive spiritual barrier suddenly appeared before them!

The barrier sealed off the narrow pass.

Then Ye Jingyu flicked the wind banner in his hand, unleashing a wild gale that blasted toward the Azure Cloud Wolf demons!

The Azure Cloud Wolves' speed immediately faltered. The Azure-Scaled Snake rolled over and entered the range of the spiritual barrier, still trying to flee toward Ye Jingli!

Ye Jingyu sent out another gust of wind, cutting off the Azure-Scaled Snake's retreat!

"Have the Azure-Scaled Snake guard beside the spiritual barrier! This is only a first-rank mid-grade spirit formation—it won't hold for long!" Ye Jingyu shouted coldly.

At that moment, the other four also attacked with all their might!

Ye Jingcheng had already unleashed a Golden Sword Talisman, along with his Azure Flow Sword.

The Golden Sword Talisman erupted with dazzling golden light, while the Azure Flow Sword hid behind the gigantic sword of golden radiance.

Several Azure Cloud Wolves leapt aside, evading the Golden Sword Talisman, only to be struck by the Azure Flow Sword.

One Azure Cloud Wolf that had failed to dodge in time was instantly disemboweled!

Ye Jingyong did not move his heavy sword. Instead, he sent a small seal crashing forward!

In the blink of an eye, the small seal transformed into a colossal boulder and came thundering down.

But the Azure Cloud Wolves were simply too fast. It smashed into an empty patch of ground with a tremendous boom.

"Second Brother, keep it up like that! You only need to stop the Azure Cloud Wolves from concentrating their attacks on a single point!" Ye Jingyu shouted.

Ye Jingyong nodded as well. His magic artifact was immensely powerful by nature, but lacked accuracy. Paired with the formation now, it could be of great use.

At that moment, Ye Jingli also unleashed his flying blade artifact and a silver ring.

Silver Ring was just about to catch up to an Azure Cloud Wolf when another Azure Cloud Wolf beside it unleashed a wind blade, knocking Silver Ring flying.

The flying dagger artifact also struck empty air.

After one round of attacks, it was instead Ye Jingcheng, the one with the weakest cultivation, who had achieved something.

Clearly, after losing the first Azure Cloud Wolf, the rest had become vigilant. Coupled with their wind blades, this made the four of them even warier.

The four spirit beasts charged again beside the spiritual barrier!

Even Ye Jingcheng's Jade Ring Rat let out a shrill cry, opening its mouth wide to bare sharp teeth as it bit at the Azure Cloud Wolves attacking the barrier formation.

The gap between the spirit beasts was revealed in an instant. The two Flying Cloud Leopards clamped down hard on an Azure Cloud Wolf's neck, forcibly dragging it into the barrier formation.

Then Ye Jingcheng's flying sword and Ye Jingli's flying dagger swiftly killed two more wolves.

The Jade Ring Rat, meanwhile, was nearly swept away with a single claw strike. The Azure-Scaled Snake suffered even worse—it had nearly half its body torn off. Combined with its original injuries, it was already barely clinging to life.

Ye Jingli's eyes instantly reddened. Though he had not had the spirit beast for long, it had still cost him three hundred contribution points.

The jade ring in his hand moved even faster.

Ye Jingcheng began throwing spirit talismans again.

Aside from Ye Jingcheng, Ye Jingyu also took out spirit talismans at this moment. His talismans were scarlet red, covered in countless specks of fire.

They were also brimming with spiritual energy, far superior to Ye Jingcheng's talismans.

And he threw out two at once!

"They're first-tier high-grade Fire Rain Talismans!" Seeing this, Ye Jingcheng knew Ye Jingyu had revealed his trump card!

As the two Fire Rain Talismans activated, fire poured down from above the Azure Cloud Wolf demons in an instant, like a blazing inferno.

Several Azure Cloud Wolves howled miserably. Even with their speed, they found it exceedingly difficult to evade.

Before the fire rain striking the ground could even go out, Ye Jingyu fiercely swept his wind banner. The fire borrowed the wind's momentum, growing ever more savage!

In an instant, nearly all the Azure Cloud Wolves were engulfed.

The flames crackled and popped as frenzied screams rang out.

Yet three mid-first-tier Azure Cloud Wolves did not flee. Instead, they rammed straight toward the spiritual barrier.

With that collision, the spirit formation could no longer hold, scattering into green spiritual light.

The flames were extinguished by the impact as well.

Most crucially, Ye Jingli had somehow gone to pick up the Azure-Scaled Snake.

The three Azure Cloud Wolves charged over without losing momentum!

They were far too close. Under the wolves' terrifying pressure, both Silver Ring and the flying dagger artifact missed their marks.

Ye Jingyu had already suffered backlash when the formation broke. At this moment, he could only throw out a first-tier high-grade Heavenly Sword Talisman, killing one of the Azure Cloud Wolves. Ye Jingyong's heavy sword strike was too late.

If he threw out that small seal artifact, he might even injure Ye Jingli along with them.

A trace of anguish appeared in both their eyes...