The wolf pack

Crushing through the snow, Lu Heng followed his footprints back to the stone Shelter.

Outside, the wind and snow continued relentlessly, completely covering the entire mountain forest with pure white snow. Only the monotonous sounds of wind and falling snow filled the air. Pushing open the heavy animal-skin curtain shut out the biting cold wind, and the warmth that had just been there remained inside. It was peaceful and quiet, a completely different world from the desolate snowfield outside.

He took out the reward card he had won in today's trial. The moment his fingertips touched it, the card turned into a faint light and disappeared, and the model of the [Simple Firewood Stove] landed in his palm.

Lu Heng scanned the room, avoiding the central activity area, and found a safe spot in a dry open space against the wall to place the stove steadily on the ground.

The brand-new stove was neat and sturdy, made of thick and stable stone, with a built-in groove design to gather smoke and flames, a world apart from the mud stove he had previously haphazardly piled up.

He added dry Withered Branch, lit a fire, and the flames rose steadily without any scattered smoke. The heat was all contained within the stove, slowly spreading throughout the room. Lu Heng set up Iron Pot, heated the remaining meat and stored grain, and simply cooked a hot meal.

As the scalding hot food entered his stomach, the fatigue from days of fighting and grappling gradually faded, and his limbs and body felt warm and relaxed. Lu Heng lay back on the thick animal skin blanket and closed his eyes to rest.

Today was only the first day of the Seven-Day Extreme Cold Trial, and his opponent was merely a Black Iron Tier Mirror-Image Giant-Antlered Deer, which he barely managed to defeat after a long struggle. He knew very well that this was just the beginning.

The difficulty of the system's trials is never static. The ferocious beasts will only get stronger over the next six days, the extreme cold will increase day by day, and the crisis will only escalate. The days ahead will only become more and more unbearable.

After a short rest, feeling utterly bored, Lu Heng reached out and opened the Regional Chat Channel.

The moment the screen refreshed, a deluge of messages exploded across the screen, all of them survivors complaining and pleading for help about the Mirror-Image Giant-Antlered Deer today.

"Has anyone fought today's trial monster? That Mirror-Image Giant-Antlered Deer was too fierce! One charge almost took me out!"

"I almost didn't make it back! That deer was charging at an absurd speed; you couldn't possibly take it head-on. Luckily, I ran fast enough to create some distance, and it turned back on its own."

"I've personally tested the disengagement mechanism! As long as you run out of the designated combat area, the beast will automatically return to its original position and won't chase you!"

"What's the point of just running? You have to kill monsters every day to prevent freezing. If you keep hiding, you'll still freeze to death at minus seventy degrees Celsius in the end."

"I've got an idea! The snow's so deep now, let's dig a huge pit and hide underneath. When the giant beast falls in, it'll be seriously injured!"

"Wake up, bro! The permafrost is at minus ten degrees Celsius! It's as hard as iron. You can dig a hole by hand until dark and you won't even get half a meter out. That's just wishful thinking."

"That's still better than a head-on confrontation! If we really can't win, we can only resort to traps and opportunistic tactics."

"Let's try a different approach! Find some sturdy vines, twist them into ropes, and set up tripwires. The giant beast charges fast, and once it trips, it will lose its balance and expose its weakness. Isn't that easier than digging a pit?"

"Wow! You can do that? I was just being stupid and fighting head-on the whole time, getting beaten up for nothing!"

As messages scrolled past his eyes, Lu Heng felt a mix of emotions.

He recalled the battle today. From beginning to end, he had been honestly maneuvering and pulling, looking for weaknesses to fight one-on-one, testing his patience and reflexes, and slowly wearing down the Giant-Horned Deer. But the survivors in the channel were all thinking of opportunistic and underhanded ways to survive. Traps, tripwires, and disengagement mechanisms were all kinds of survival methods that came up one after another.

At that moment, he truly realized how naive he had been.

In this dog-eat -Survival World of survival, there is no such thing as a fair fight; only those who survive are the winners. A straightforward, head-on approach may seem safe, but it is actually the most foolish. Those who are cunning and know how to exploit their environment are more likely to survive in dire situations.

I've truly learned something new.

Turning off the channel, Lu Heng put aside his distracting thoughts.

No matter how many shortcuts or tricks you have, nothing beats your own ability. Speculation can only be used in emergencies; hard skills are the foundation for survival.

He stood up and practiced the Flowing Water Blade Art repeatedly in the cramped room, slashing, thrusting, parrying, and cutting. The movements were monotonous but solid, and he honed his skills again and again. He practiced until his arms ached, then calmed his mind and regulated his breathing to solidify his physical foundation.

He spent the entire night cultivating and resting, wasting not a single moment.

The night passed peacefully and without incident.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Lu Heng woke up on time, feeling relaxed and full of energy.

He skillfully donned layers of animal hide armor, the inner layer of soft leather for warmth and the outer layer of leather for protection. He also put on non-slip gloves and a triangular animal hide turban, leaving only his eyes exposed. He loaded the best arrows, gripped his Hunting Blade and Hand Crossbow, and fully armed, pushed open the door and stepped out.

The scene outside seemed frozen in time.

The wind and snow continued, the temperature remained the same, and the entire snowfield was eerily silent. The only change was that last night, many withered Withered Branch and slender trees, unable to withstand the weight of the accumulated snow, broke and fell, scattered across the vast expanse of white snow, adding to the desolate and bleak atmosphere.

A blue light flashed on the Wristband, and the familiar red coordinates reappeared, marking today's trial battlefield.

Lu Heng didn't hesitate any longer. He stepped into the snow, the crunching sound under his feet a monotonous, repetitive sound, as he walked forward accompanied by the sound of the wind.

A dozen minutes later, he arrived at the forest clearing that had been located at the coordinates.

As soon as he stepped into the area, the snow and fog dissipated, and his vision suddenly became clear. Lu Heng's steps abruptly stopped.

In the center of the open space, six ferocious beasts lay silently coiled.

Five medium-sized gray wolves were scattered around, their limbs taut, ears erect, and dark pupils locked on the approaching figure. Their fur was covered in a thin layer of snow, exuding a chilling ferocity. In the very center of the Wolf Pack stood a giant wolf, far larger than its companions. Its body was robust and powerful, and its aura was fierce and domineering. It was the core of the pack.

A pack of ferocious beasts.

Lu Heng's heart sank instantly. Without the slightest hesitation, only one thought remained in his mind—the old method, climb the tree first!

Surrounded by wolves, there is no chance of victory on flat ground; only by occupying high ground can one seize the initiative.

He sprinted sideways, running quickly towards a thick, tall tree at the edge of the clearing. The trunk was straight and sturdy, the branches were stable, and the height was sufficient, making it the only cover and high point at the moment. He quickly pushed off the tree trunk with his feet, alternating between his hands and feet, and in an instant, Lu Heng climbed to the fork of the branch several meters high and squatted down steadily.

The Wolf Pack beneath their feet instantly became agitated.

The six Alpha Wolf marched in unison, quickly surrounding the tree trunk, their deep, hoarse roars echoing from their throats.

After regaining his footing, Lu Heng immediately activated the identification screen on his Wristband, and the information about the ferocious beast appeared clearly before his eyes.

[Trial Beast: Mirror Grayfang Wolf]

[Level: Common Ferocious Beast]

[Description: The mirror image of wolves, a product of the extreme cold trial, is a pack predator. They are cunning and ferocious by nature, with fangs as sharp as blades and an astonishing bite force. They excel at encircling prey, taking turns to wear them down, and working in perfect harmony. They are the most common and dangerous pack beasts in the forest.]

[Trial Beast: Mirror Grayfang Wolf King]

[Rank: Black Iron Tier]

[Description: Leader of the Gray-Fang Wolf Pack, possessing a powerful physique, incredible speed, and intelligence far exceeding that of ordinary wild beasts. Extremely vigilant, he excels at orchestrating Wolf Pack tactics, anticipating prey's movements, and avoids reckless actions. His intimidation factor doubles when fighting within the pack.]

The moment Lu Heng saw the data, he was completely certain of the situation.

Five ordinary Grayfang Wolf served as support, while a Black Iron Tier Grayfang Wolf King were the main force.

Yesterday, even taking on a single Giant-Horned Deer required a great deal of stamina and patience; today, it was a full six pack beasts fighting together. With this configuration, there was no possibility of a one-on-one fight on flat ground. Once they landed, they would be instantly surrounded and torn apart by the Wolf Pack.

Fortunately, I reacted quickly enough and managed to secure a high vantage point immediately.

The Wolf Pack under the tree had already begun their attack.

One by one, the Grayfang Wolf stood upright, their front paws scratching at the rough bark of the trees. The sharp tips of their claws grazed the trunks, leaving deep and shallow scratches, the harsh scraping sound particularly jarring in the silent forest. At the same time, their sharp fangs gnawed at the trunks, and wood chips fell with the crunch of snow.

Although the trunk is thick and sturdy and will not be broken in a short time, the continuous gnawing and shaking cause the whole tree to tremble slightly.

Lu Heng dared not delay, immediately raising his hand to Hand Crossbow, his eyes fixed on the Grayfang Wolf King under the tree.

To catch the thief, first catch the king.

Once the leader is killed first, the remaining ordinary Wolf Pack will be leaderless, their formation will collapse, and the threat will be halved.

He held his breath, his body as steady as a rock, looking down at the Wolf King with precision, his fingertips slowly gathering power, waiting for the best moment to fire.

The Grayfang Wolf King under the tree was exceptionally agile, showing none of the dullness of ordinary wild beasts.

It kept its head raised the whole time, its dark pupils fixed on Lu Heng in the tree, watching his every move with a cold and wary gaze, as if it had already anticipated his intentions.

The time is ripe.

Lu Heng released his grip, and the arrow shot out, hurtling straight for the Wolf King's head with incredible speed.

But just as the arrow was released, the Grayfang Wolf King suddenly shifted to the side, his movements incredibly swift and precise, dodging the fatal blow.

The arrow, having missed its target, grazed the Wolf King's fur and embedded itself in the snow behind him.

Lu Heng was slightly startled. This Wolf King's reaction speed far surpassed that of yesterday's Giant-Horned Deer, and its intelligence and mobility were on a completely different level.

Without the slightest hesitation, he quickly adjusted his aim, abandoning the Wolf King and instantly locking onto an ordinary Grayfang Wolf that was frantically scratching at a tree and howling.

Another soft sound.

The arrow fell straight down, striking the Grayfang Wolf precisely in the head, piercing its vital organs.

Alpha Wolf could even let out a howl, its body stiffened abruptly, and tiny white lights emanated from its entire body. In an instant, it transformed into a stream of data and vanished onto the snow.

With a single, decisive strike, a wolf was instantly killed.

This thoroughly enraged the Wolf Pack under the tree, especially the Grayfang Wolf King in the center.

Its previously steady body suddenly tensed, and a long, sharp wolf howl emanated from its throat, carrying a strong sense of command.

The remaining four ordinary Grayfang Wolf moved at the sound, no longer scattering to pry at the tree, but gathering together and piling up, with the front wolf stepping on the back of the wolf behind, layer upon layer, actually building a wolf ladder next to the tree trunk.

The Wolf King stood at the back of the formation, his gaze icy, directing the Wolf Pack pack to climb higher and higher, rapidly approaching Lu Heng in the tree.

The wind howled across the snow, and the shadows of the trees swayed slightly.

Lu Heng crouched on the high ground, looking down at the strange and fierce wolf ladder formation below, his mind completely calmed down.

His worst fears came true.

This pack of mirror Wolf Pack not only has a numerical advantage, but also understands coordinated tactics and how to attack in a stacked manner.

A battle far more dangerous than yesterday has officially begun.