Taming the Windwhistle Wolf King

Led by the Windwhistle Wolf King, Jiang Mingyang and the others hurried toward the Flamebirds' territory.

Among the Windwhistle Wolf Tribe, four wolves more than three meters long lay on the ground, whimpering softly.

Nearby, several slightly smaller Windwhistle Wolves stood listlessly.

After losing their king, the Windwhistle Wolf Tribe had not descended into the sort of power struggle humans knew so well.

Windwhistle Wolves had always lived in packs.

For a tribe with such a strong sense of unity, a Windwhistle Wolf King over ten thousand years old was crucial.

In fact, the four Windwhistle Wolves, each around five thousand years old, would rather serve as commanders of the pack.

They did not want the tribe to lose its ten-thousand-year-old king just so one of them could become the new Windwhistle Wolf King.

The difference between a ten-thousand-year-old Windwhistle Wolf King and a five-thousand-year-old one was immense.

With a ten-thousand-year-old king, the pack could live comfortably throughout the Core Area of Sunset Forest.

Without one, the pack could only cling to survival there.

Now that they had lost their ten-thousand-year-old king, life for the Windwhistle Wolf Tribe would certainly be harder than it had been when they first encountered Jiang Mingyang.

After all, their king back then had been nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years old, just short of ten thousand.

The pack might even be driven into the inner reaches to rule there.

It might sound like a case of preferring to be the head of a chicken rather than the tail of a phoenix.

But that saying did not hold in Sunset Forest.

Once they lost their place in the Core Area, returning would mean facing the tribes that held it.

The resources in the inner reaches simply could not compare. The difference was not in quantity, but in quality.

If they were driven out of the Core Area, the tribe might seem to gain access to more resources.

In truth, few of those resources would be useful, and their effects would be poor. The tribe would need much longer to evolve.

Worse, moving to the inner reaches would mean fighting for territory all over again and suffering further losses.

That was why most Soul Beasts would rather be underlings in the Core Area than kings in the inner reaches.

Now, with the Windwhistle Wolf King gone, the tribe was about to lose much of its territory, and its members would suffer too.

Suddenly, a faint breeze swept past.

The four Windwhistle Wolves sprang to their feet and cried out in delight. "Howl! Howl... howl!"

In Sunset Forest, only a Windwhistle Wolf King that had reached ten thousand years could turn into a breeze.

Soul Beasts of other species would have had a hard time detecting it.

But members of the Windwhistle Wolf Tribe could sense that presence with ease.

The younger Windwhistle Wolves standing nearby were a little slower to react.

A moment later, they too sensed their king, and their spirits soared.

The Windwhistle Wolves crowded together and raised their voices as one. Ten thousand wolves howled in unison, their cries brimming with renewed vigor.

Soul Beasts from several neighboring tribes immediately went on guard.

Such a cry usually rang out only when a tribe's king was rallying its members.

Hearing his trusted followers' delighted cries, the Windwhistle Wolf King answered, "Howl, howl..."

Jiang Mingyang frowned. He had not understood everything the king had said.

Still, he had caught the gist of it.

The Windwhistle Wolf King had apparently said he had met these Soul Masters before. They had crossed paths years ago, so there was no danger.

He only needed to help them find a Soul Beast and planned to take them to the Flamebirds' territory.

At the same time, he had ordered the four Windwhistle Wolves to gather the pack. Once Jiang Mingyang and the others left, they were to attack while the Flamebirds were missing some of their strongest fighters and eliminate a formidable rival.

He had also told the tribe not to worry about his safety.

Jiang Mingyang narrowed his eyes. Well, well. No wonder he's the Windwhistle Wolf King. You can't fault his sense of responsibility, and his methods aren't bad either!

They passed through the Windwhistle Wolf Tribe's territory, and soon Jiang Mingyang and the others arrived on the Flamebirds' turf.

Seeing the Windwhistle Wolf King act so docile and obedient, Jiang Mingyang could not help marveling at him.

As soon as they entered the Flamebirds' territory, several of the more dimwitted birds spotted the intruders and prepared to charge recklessly at them.

The Flamebird King spotted the Windwhistle Wolf King and hurried to stop them.

But how could the Windwhistle Wolf King let him?

He lunged forward without hesitation, taking on four Flamebirds between four and six thousand years old at once.

The Flamebird King joined the attack, and with the Windwhistle Wolf King as the spark, a melee erupted.

As expected, everyone present believed that indiscriminate slaughter might drive Soul Beasts to extinction, so they held back.

The Flamebirds lost nearly twenty birds under a thousand years old and two between four and six thousand years old.

Ma Hongjun personally finished off one of the birds, which was over five thousand years old, to absorb its Soul Ring.

While Ma Hongjun absorbed the Soul Ring, Jiang Mingyang narrowed his eyes at the Windwhistle Wolf King. "Did you forget I can understand your language too?"

The Windwhistle Wolf King was startled. How could that be? I was speaking in our dialect!

Then he promptly lowered his head. "Howl..." (You human Soul Masters like mounts, don't you?

You are an esteemed person. If you spare my tribe, I am willing to become your mount.)

Jiang Mingyang smiled at him. "Howl." (Without you, their ten-thousand-year-old king, life will be much harder for your tribe, won't it?)

The Windwhistle Wolf King slowly shook his head. "Howl." (That's still better than being wiped out.)

Jiang Mingyang patted him. "Howl, howl, howl." (You're quite something.

If you truly wish to follow me, I can find a way to protect your tribe.

Remember that place full of poisonous mist you took me to before?

Its owner is something of a friend of mine. Your tribe can move in there.

I've already gathered most of the medicinal herbs, so its owner rarely goes there anymore.

I'll speak to the owner as well. Your tribe won't be threatened there.

Besides, humans have very short lives. Follow me, and when I die, I can let you return to them.)

The Windwhistle Wolf King lowered his head without hesitation, and Jiang Mingyang gently climbed onto his back.

Jiang Mingyang did not dislike the Windwhistle Wolf King for his cunning.

He also admired the king's willingness to sacrifice himself for his tribe!

Besides, a ten-thousand-year-old Windwhistle Wolf King could flee with remarkable speed. He would make an excellent mount.

As for protecting the king's tribe, Jiang Mingyang would not hesitate to help those on his side solve their problems.

After all, if you did not help someone settle their affairs, how could you expect them to put their heart into working for you?

Half an hour later,

Ma Hongjun finished absorbing the five-thousand-year-old Flamebird's Soul Ring.

The Soul Skill he gained was much like the Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike from the original story, except that it no longer suffered from the inability to lock onto an enemy.

That was probably because this Soul Beast was older and of higher quality.

Ma Hongjun was very pleased with the Soul Skill's effects.

In the end, he still named it Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike.

Deep within the Core Area of Sunset Forest,

a nearly hundred-meter-long dragon lay in a lake, its body a deep verdant green. Mist formed with every breath it took as clear water washed over it.

This was the Saint Grass Dragon Qian Renxue had spoken of.

Relaxing in the lake, the Saint Grass Dragon had no idea that a group with their eyes on him was traveling a great distance to reach him.

His appeal must have been quite something!