The Shadow Wolves were astonishingly fast. They rushed forward in silence, almost becoming blurred black shadows in the night. Their claws glinted with a chilling light, and they carried a thick stench of blood and killing intent.
"Watch out!" A Man cried softly. Her small hands quickly formed a peculiar gesture as she chanted under her breath. At her chanting, several vines around the cave entrance seemed to come alive. They grew and spread rapidly, lashing at the Shadow Wolves like nimble serpents.
The sudden change caught the two wolves in front off guard. The vines struck them hard, drawing cries of pain and bringing them to a momentary halt.
Xiao Yan seized the fleeting opportunity. Origin Qi and Heavenly Flames erupted from within him, and the Green Lotus Core Flame became several ribbons of fire that shot out like spirit serpents, wrapping precisely around the two Shadow Wolves.
"Awooo-!"
The ribbons of fire burst forth, enveloping the two Shadow Wolves. Piercing screams rang out, and in mere moments, the wolves were reduced to two charred lumps.
But there were simply too many Shadow Wolves. The dozen or so remaining wolves circled around the vines and continued charging fiercely at the cave entrance. They divided their tasks clearly: some pounced on Xiao Yan, while the others attacked A Man, evidently intending to deal with the seemingly weak girl first.
"Don't even think about it!" Xiao Yan shouted angrily. His figure flickered, and he stepped in front of A Man. He infused his Origin Qi with the Fallen Heart Flame and condensed it into a flaming shield before him.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Several Shadow Wolves slammed into the flaming shield. Burned by the flames, they howled in pain and retreated, but the ferocity in their eyes burned even hotter. They continued to prowl around the cave entrance, looking for a chance to attack.
"Xiao Yan, they're afraid of fire, but there are too many of them. We can't fight them head-on!" A Man said anxiously. Her small hands waved again, and more vines emerged from the ground, trying to block the Shadow Wolves' assault. But the wolves' claws were exceptionally sharp, and the vines were soon torn to shreds.
Xiao Yan frowned deeply. He could sense that although these Shadow Wolves ranged only from Peak Origin Master to Initial Origin King, they made up for it with their numbers and seamless coordination, like well-trained killers. With their familiarity with the terrain as well, driving them off completely would be no easy task.
"A Man, do you have any ideas?" Xiao Yan asked as he fended off the Shadow Wolves' attacks.
A Man bit her lip, a trace of determination flashing in her eyes. "I can try, but I need a little time. You have to hold them off for me!"
"All right!" Xiao Yan agreed without hesitation. Origin Qi erupted from his body without restraint, and the Heavenly Flames Eternal Ruler took shape once more. With terrifying force, he swept it toward the Shadow Wolves attacking most fiercely.
"Boom!"
The long flaming ruler collided with the Shadow Wolves, sending two of them flying. Fierce flames erupted over their bodies, and they fell to the ground, unable to rise.
But this did not frighten the other Shadow Wolves away. Instead, it fully awakened their ferocity. An exceptionally large Shadow Wolf with black fur let out a piercing cry; it was evidently the pack's leader. Under its command, the wolves changed tactics. Instead of charging together, they scattered and kept moving, using the cover of darkness and trees to launch sneak attacks.
For a time, the pressure on Xiao Yan increased greatly. Although his Heavenly Flames and extensive combat experience allowed him to hold them off for the moment, he had already gained several claw marks. They were not deep, but they sent waves of stinging pain through him.
"Xiao Yan, I'm almost ready!" A Man called out.
Xiao Yan's spirits lifted. He fought to drive back the Shadow Wolves in front of him and turned to look. A Man had her eyes closed and both hands held out level, chanting an ancient, obscure song. As she sang, the ground around them began to tremble slightly. Countless tender green shoots sprang up at a speed visible to the naked eye, spreading rapidly and winding around the Shadow Wolves.
At the same time, the leaves drifting down through the air seemed to come alive, becoming sharp blades that shot at the wolves.
This was... the power to control nature?
Xiao Yan was shocked. A Man's ability was far more extraordinary and powerful than he had imagined.
The Shadow Wolves clearly had not expected this. Tangled in the suddenly sprouting grass, their movements immediately slowed. Then the leaves struck them, drawing cries of pain.
"Now!" A Man's eyes snapped open, and a green light flashed in them.
With a low shout from her, the grass wrapped around the Shadow Wolves abruptly tightened and hardened, binding them fast like sturdy ropes. At the same time, several thick tree roots emerged from the ground and smashed into the bound wolves with tremendous force.
"Awooo-!"
Screams rang out one after another. The bound Shadow Wolves could not resist at all; the roots instantly smashed their bones and tore their sinews, leaving them lifeless.
Only the black Shadow Wolf leader remained. It reacted extremely quickly, tearing the grass apart with its sharp claws the moment it wrapped around it, and tried to seize the chance to escape.
"Where do you think you're going?" How could Xiao Yan let it go? His figure flashed like lightning as he instantly gave chase, bringing the Heavenly Flames Eternal Ruler crashing down on its head with a fierce gust.
Fear flashed in the Shadow Wolf leader's eyes. It tried to dodge, but several vines controlled by A Man wrapped around its hind legs, slowing it for an instant.
"Bang!"
The long flaming ruler struck its skull hard, splattering its brains. Its enormous body crashed to the ground.
The battle was finally over.
Xiao Yan let out a long breath and sank to the ground as though all strength had left him, gasping for air. A Man was pale as well; her exertion in controlling everything just now had clearly taken a great toll on her.
"Are you all right?" A Man walked over to Xiao Yan and looked at the claw marks on him, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes.
"I'm fine. Just minor injuries." Xiao Yan smiled and circulated his Origin Qi to stop the bleeding.
A Man took a few unusual leaves from inside her clothes, chewed them up, and carefully applied them to Xiao Yan's wounds. The leaves felt cool against his skin, and the pain immediately eased considerably.
"This is blood-staunching grass. It's very useful," A Man said.
"Thank you," Xiao Yan said gratefully.
After the two rested for a while, A Man went to find some wild fruit and fresh water nearby. They ate a simple meal, then nestled beside the fire and fell into a deep sleep. After the fierce battle, both were utterly exhausted.
Xiao Yan did not fall asleep immediately. Leaning against the cave wall, he looked at the sleeping A Man, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. It was truly surprising that this seemingly innocent girl possessed such a powerful ability to control nature. Moreover, the "granny" she spoke of was probably no ordinary person either.
He had a vague feeling that the Mist Forest might not be as simple as it appeared.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, the two continued on their way.
After what had happened the previous day, Xiao Yan trusted A Man more, and A Man also seemed to have let down her guard around him. She grew more talkative along the way, telling him about all sorts of strange and unusual things in the forest.
"Xiao Yan, the Whispering Swamp is just ahead. It's very dangerous, so we need to be careful," A Man said, pointing to a mist-shrouded swamp ahead.
Xiao Yan looked where she pointed. A thick layer of gray mist hung over the swamp, and strange whispers came faintly from within it, making his skin crawl. Black plants shaped like human hands also grew in the swamp, giving off an eerie presence.
"What are those whispers?" Xiao Yan asked.
"They come from the Soul-Bewitching Grass in the swamp. Anyone who hears them will have hallucinations and walk deeper into the swamp, step by step, never to come out again," A Man explained. "And there are Bone-Devouring Insects in the swamp too. They're very, very small, but they can easily bite through Origin Qi armor and burrow into a person's body..."
At the mention of Bone-Devouring Insects, A Man's little face turned somewhat pale. She was clearly very wary of them.
"Then how do we get across?" Xiao Yan asked.
"Follow me. Close your eyes, don't listen to those voices, and don't touch anything," A Man said seriously. "I'll hold your hand and lead you across."
Xiao Yan nodded, closed his eyes as instructed, and held out his hand.
A Man's small hand grasped his. It was very soft and slightly cool.
"Follow me," A Man's voice sounded beside his ear.
Xiao Yan followed A Man's footsteps, proceeding carefully. The ground underfoot grew damp and soft, making squelching sounds from time to time. The whispers around them grew clearer and clearer. As though endowed with magic, the voices kept tempting him to open his eyes and look at his surroundings.
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and circulated his Origin Qi to guard his mind. He let the whispers circle around his ears, never once opening his eyes.
After an unknown length of time, the ground beneath his feet gradually became firm, and the whispers around them disappeared.
"You can open your eyes now," A Man said.
Xiao Yan opened his eyes and found that they had left the Whispering Swamp and arrived before a dense bamboo grove. The bamboo stood dozens of zhang tall, emerald green from top to bottom and giving off a fresh scent.
"Phew..." Xiao Yan let out a long breath. The temptation of those whispers just now had been harder to bear than facing the Shadow Wolves.
"Good thing you didn't open your eyes." A Man sighed in relief. "A lot of exotic beasts have died in the swamp because they couldn't restrain their curiosity."
Xiao Yan nodded, gaining a little more understanding of the dangers of the Mist Forest.
After resting for a while, the two entered the bamboo grove.
The grove was quiet, save for the rustling of wind through the bamboo leaves. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, forming dappled patches of light. The surroundings were exceptionally peaceful and secluded.
"The Emerald Heart Bamboo here is special. Its core can be used to refine Heart-Clearing Pills, which calm the mind and stabilize the soul. If you'd had an Emerald Heart Bamboo core just now, you wouldn't have felt so uncomfortable," A Man said, pointing at the bamboo around them.
Xiao Yan examined the Emerald Heart Bamboo closely and noticed a faint green glow flowing around its joints. It did indeed contain a trace of tranquil Origin Qi.
Just as the two were about to emerge from the grove, a violent fluctuation of energy suddenly came from ahead, accompanied by an angry roar.
Xiao Yan and A Man exchanged a glance, each seeing surprise in the other's eyes.
"Shall we take a look?" Xiao Yan asked.
A Man hesitated, then nodded. "Be careful."
The two cautiously approached the source of the energy fluctuation, hid behind a thick stalk of Emerald Heart Bamboo, and peered out.
In the clearing ahead, an enormous azure bear was locked in fierce combat with a middle-aged man in a black robe.
The giant azure bear stood nearly ten meters tall, its body covered in thick fur. Each swing of its paws carried the force to shatter mountains and split rocks. It was an Azure-Striped Bear of the Mist Forest, and its strength had reached Advanced Origin King.
The black-clad man's presence was just as formidable; he had actually reached Peak Origin King. He held a long black staff tipped with a skull that gave off a cold, sinister presence. He swung the staff repeatedly, sending ribbons of black energy shooting at the Azure-Striped Bear, carrying the power of corrosion and curses.
Although the Azure-Striped Bear was immensely strong, the black energy had corroded its fur until it was scorched black. Its movements gradually slowed, and it let out roar after roar of pain and anger.
"It's a black-robed man!" A Man's voice held a trace of fear. "They're bad people. They often come into the forest to capture exotic beasts, and they destroy the trees too! Granny told me before to stay away from them!"
Xiao Yan's gaze turned cold. Judging by the black-clad man's presence and the energy he used, he was certainly no decent person. Moreover, from what A Man said, there seemed to be other black-robed people as well.
"Let's go quickly, before they spot us." A Man tugged at Xiao Yan's sleeve, wanting to leave.
Xiao Yan nodded and was about to turn around when he saw a vicious gleam flash in the black-clad man's eyes. The man abruptly pointed his staff at the Azure-Striped Bear, sending a dense pillar of black light shooting out. He was clearly going for the kill.
Despair flashed in the Azure-Striped Bear's eyes, but it still roared and used its body to block the pillar of black light.
Just then, something unexpected happened!
A figure shot out from the side like lightning and stood in front of the Azure-Striped Bear. At some point, an ancient-looking longsword had appeared in his hand. Its sword light was fierce as it slashed at the pillar of black light in an instant!
"Slash!"
The sword light collided with the pillar of black light, instantly cutting it apart. It dissolved into countless specks of black light and scattered.
The black-clad man's expression changed. He looked at the figure who had suddenly appeared, surprise flashing in his eyes. "Who?!"
Xiao Yan and A Man were stunned as well. The figure was a handsome young man dressed in white, with an otherworldly bearing and a jade pendant hanging from his waist. It was Li Xuantong, whom Xiao Yan had met once in Northern Region City!
Why was he here?!
Xiao Yan's heart was filled with shock and confusion.