"Archers in position, spearmen on the outside, and swordsmen ready to assist at a moment's notice. Everyone, prepare!"
"Great axe wielders, fell the trees and create a defensive zone!"
...
Ye Feng's expression was grave as he issued commands, and though the beast-hunting team trembled with fear, they quickly composed themselves upon hearing his orders, each member springing into action.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Trees toppled like dominoes, forming a protective barrier in front of them. The village of Ye had faced wolf packs in the past, accumulating valuable experience over generations.
In this moment, Ye Feng could only do his utmost and await fate; he hoped the village chief and the others would arrive soon.
"Howl~~"
With a deafening wolf's howl, pairs of cold, emerald eyes pierced the hunting team of Ye Village with merciless intensity.
From the depths of the forest emerged the howling moon wolves, their fierce gazes locked onto the hunters, and they launched a brutal assault.
A bloody battle erupted!
...
"Uncle Feng!"
Ye Tian cried out in anguish, his face a mask of despair as Ye Ba supported him under one arm, racing toward Ye Village.
Beside them, Ye Meng admonished, "Be quiet! You must remember, your life no longer belongs solely to you; it is tied to Ye Village. You must grow stronger for the sake of our home!"
"Indeed, Ye Tian, do not betray the captain's hopes. You are the beacon of hope for Ye Village. Stay calm!" Ye Ba urged.
"For Ye Village!" Ye Tian's body quivered. Yes! The reason the captain and the beast-hunting team fought so fiercely to protect him was for the sake of their village.
"Tian'er, if you can become powerful enough to lead us out of this desolate land, we will no longer need to hunt and will be free from danger!" Ye Meng regarded him with deep sincerity.
Hearing this, Ye Tian finally regained his composure.
Indeed!
To survive, the villagers of Baiyun Town had to risk everything in the wilderness.
Everyone yearned to escape this remote and impoverished place!
"I must become strong—not just a martial artist, but surpass that!" Ye Tian declared fervently in his heart, filled with a longing for power.
If before, he had sought strength for glory, now he sought it for the future of Ye Village.
This was a profound transformation of spirit, one that could not be labeled as good or bad, but it significantly shortened the time required for Ye Tian to grow strong.
After two hours of desperate flight, the three of them finally reached Ye Village.
As they entered the gate, Ye Ba set Ye Tian down and bellowed, "Village Chief! We've encountered a wolf pack!"
His voice, amplified by his inner energy, resonated throughout the entire village.
Moments later, villagers rushed out in panic, and from a distance, several elderly figures hurried toward them, led by Village Chief Ye Shi and a few village elders.
"Encountered a wolf pack?"
"This could be disastrous; I wonder how many lives will be lost this time!"
"My husband!"
A dark cloud seemed to settle over Ye Village as many began to weep, especially the families of the hunting team.
Lin Mei also arrived and, upon seeing Ye Meng and Ye Tian, let out a sigh of relief, rushing over to check on Ye Tian, fearing for his safety.
Village Chief Ye Shi quickly approached and commanded, "All warriors above level six, follow me to assist!"
"Ye Ba, Ye Meng, you two keep me informed on the way!" Ye Shi instructed, before dashing outside the village.
Ye Meng hurried to catch up, neglecting to bid farewell to his family.
"Be careful!" Lin Mei called after them, her concern palpable. Yet, she knew that in times of crisis, everyone in Ye Village bore responsibility—a crucial reason for their strength.
Ye Tian watched his father depart, eager to follow, but was halted by Ye Ba.
"Ye Tian, remember your father's words; your life is no longer solely your own. Stay safe within Ye Village; this is the captain's charge to you." Ye Ba said sternly, tossing a bloodied heart into Ye Tian's hands before departing.
"Treasured beast heart!"
Ye Tian stared at the bloody heart in astonishment, his emotions stirred, tears welling in his eyes.
Was Ye Feng truly willing to entrust him with such a precious artifact?
"Uncle Feng!"
Ye Tian knelt, his vision blurred as tears streamed down his face.
Who said men do not cry?
"Tian'er, do not worry. With the village chief here, your father will be fine. Focus on your training; when you grow stronger, you will be able to help them," Lin Mei urged, mistakenly thinking her son was merely worried for Ye Meng's safety.
"Grow stronger!"
Ye Tian's eyes sparkled as he gazed at the heart of the magical beast in his hand. In an instant, he surged toward his home.
"Take it easy, Tian'er," Lin Mei called out as she watched him dash home, her concern tempered by the knowledge that she and other villagers were waiting at the entrance, ready to tend to the injured.
Everyone knew that encountering a pack of wolves would inevitably result in numerous casualties. They had prepared the necessary medical supplies and stretcher after stretcher...
At this moment, Ye Tian returned home, swiftly entering his room.
"Become stronger! Mother was right—if I grow stronger, I can help them." Ye Tian looked at the bloody heart in his hand, his eyes growing brighter with determination.
By consuming this heart, he could elevate his status from a Level Six Warrior to a Level Seven Warrior. With the mastery of the Thunderclap Palm, he would be akin to a Level Eight Warrior.
In all of Ye Family Village, there were only five Level Eight Warriors: three from the hunting team and two retired elders.
"With the power equivalent to a Level Eight Warrior, I can assist Uncle Feng and the others!" Without hesitation, Ye Tian quickly swallowed the magical beast's heart.
Beside him, the small white tiger gazed at its young master with astonishment, bewildered that he would consume something so gruesome.
Boom!
Upon swallowing the heart, Ye Tian felt a surge of flame ignite within him, burning like lava and coursing rapidly through his body.
This molten energy surged along the six main meridians he had already opened, crashing toward the seventh.
"I must succeed!" Ye Tian fervently urged himself.
The tumultuous lava complied with his wishes, breaking through the seventh main meridian with a single strike, subsequently widening and expanding it.
Thus, Ye Tian ascended to Level Seven Warrior.
However, he soon discovered that a portion of the lava remained, and it surged toward the eighth main meridian.
Yet, due to its limited volume, the eighth meridian was only half-opened, with the other half remaining unbroken.
Disappointed, Ye Tian shook off the feeling and immediately opened his eyes, sensing the profound energy within him, unable to contain a triumphant roar.
"I'm at the late stage of Level Seven! The heart of the magical beast has elevated me by an entire rank. Could it be due to my yellow martial soul, allowing me to absorb more?"
Ye Tian was momentarily astonished, but there was no time to ponder further; he dashed out of the room.
He had already wasted too much time—every moment counted, as it could mean saving another life.
Instead of leaving through the village's main gate, Ye Tian scaled the wall to escape Ye Family Village, fearing Lin Mei would prevent him from going.
Navigating through the familiar mountains and forests, Ye Tian ran with fervor. After reaching Level Seven, his speed rivaled that of Ye Ba, allowing him to arrive at the scene of the incident in just over an hour.
Upon arrival, he was struck by the sight of thousands of howling wolves surrounding the village chief and others, engaged in fierce combat, blood flowing like rivers.
With the village chief's assistance, the hunting team of Ye Family Village felt a sense of relief. However, the sheer number of wolves posed an overwhelming challenge. Even the village chief, a peak Level Ten Warrior, found himself in a dire predicament. To protect the injured members of the hunting team, he had no choice but to face the wolves head-on, enduring brutal attacks.
"So many howling wolves! At this rate, even if the village chief doesn't fall, many will be lost," Ye Tian thought as he observed the seemingly endless pack, initially taken aback. He did not rush in recklessly, recognizing it as a death wish.
Instead, he carefully analyzed the wolves, seeking a strategy.
"Uncle Feng mentioned that the one I killed wasn't a howling wolf but a Golden Howling Wolf." Ye Tian pondered, aware that ordinary howling wolves were Level Five beasts, while Golden Howling Wolves were Level Seven beasts—their king, capable of commanding the pack, and more formidable than some Level Ten beasts.
"Of course, if they're here for revenge, a wolf king must be orchestrating this attack from the shadows. If I can slay the wolf king, the pack will scatter!"
With a spark of determination in his eyes, Ye Tian realized the critical weakness of the pack: without a commander, they would be disorganized, fighting among themselves, no longer a unified threat.
The warriors of Ye Family Village understood this too, but they were currently surrounded, unable to hunt the wolf king.
The wolf king was cunning, lurking in the shadows, making it challenging to pinpoint its location.
Moreover, the sheer size of the pack made it unrealistic to identify the wolf king among thousands of howling wolves, as the two appeared nearly identical.
The only difference was that the wolf king was twice the size of a typical howling wolf and sported a tuft of golden fur beneath its neck.
The Golden Howling Wolf Ye Tian had slain was merely a cub, small in size and only a Level Five warrior, leading to Ye Feng's mistaken assumption that it was an ordinary howling wolf.
Otherwise, had they known it was a Golden Howling Wolf, Ye Feng and the others would not have dared to kill it.
Thus, locating the wolf king proved to be a daunting task.
Cautiously, Ye Tian climbed to the treetop, raising his gaze toward the distant pack. His keen mind recognized the wisdom of gaining a higher vantage point.
With his newfound strength as a Level Seven Warrior, his vision sharpened, and he scanned the wolves continuously.
Suddenly, his eyes fixed on a towering howling wolf—one that was twice the size of an ordinary howling wolf.
This massive creature occasionally growled, and Ye Tian keenly noticed the golden tuft of fur beneath its neck.
"That's it!" With fiery determination, Ye Tian launched himself toward the wolf king, undaunted despite the surrounding pack.
"Ye Tian?"
"Ye Tian, come back! Don't go!"
"Ye Tian!"
The moment Ye Tian appeared, astonishment rippled through the warriors of Ye Family Village, followed by an urgent wave of concern.
The village chief, Ye Shi, along with Ye Feng, Ye Ba, and Ye Meng, all called out in alarm.