Wang Lin walked cautiously through the forest, his footsteps muffled by the dense vegetation that seemed to whisper in the wind. The sun barely penetrated the treetops, creating a dark and oppressive environment. Every shadow seemed to hide a predator lurking in wait. He breathed deeply, staying alert, his eyes scanning every detail around him.
"I won't last long here alone," he thought, recalling the battle from the previous night. The fatigue still weighed on his muscles, but he knew he needed to find allies to increase his chances of survival.
After a few hours of walking, he heard voices in the distance. Instinctively, he ducked, hiding behind bushes. The sight of three young men, apparently from the same group, brought him a mix of relief and caution. They were standing around a small stream, discussing in low voices as they filled their water bottles.
Wang Lin studied them for a few moments. One of them, a robust young man with a mace strapped to his back, seemed to be the leader. The other two looked nervous, casting quick glances around.
"They don't seem to be that strong… maybe they're on par with me," he pondered. "But they might be useful if we form a group."
Deciding to take a chance, Wang Lin slowly stood up and revealed himself. As he stepped out of the shadows, the three immediately tensed up, drawing their weapons.
"Hey, calm down! I'm not a threat," Wang Lin said, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm also participating in the test, and I thought working together would be safer."
The leader narrowed his eyes, looking Wang Lin up and down. "And why should we trust you? What's your cultivation level?"
"I'm at the 7th level of Body Refinement," Wang Lin replied without hesitation, making his voice firm to show confidence.
One of the smaller youths muttered, "He's strong… maybe stronger than us."
The leader frowned, pondering. Finally, he shrugged. "Very well. But know this: if you try to do anything against us, I will crush you before you even blink."
Wang Lin smiled, showing no fear. "Don't worry. I just want to survive like you guys."
The group began to walk together, each one remaining alert. Despite the initial tension, Wang Lin soon realized that he had no useful information.
Deciding not to rely on appearance alone, he activated his appraisal ability. His eyes shone slightly as information appeared in his mind.
Luo Feng:
Cultivation Level: Body Refinement - Level 8
Lei Shan:
Cultivation Level: Body Refinement - Level 6
Skill: Advanced Tracking (Rank C)
Mu Xia:
Cultivation Level: Body Refinement - Level 5
Skill: Basic Thread Manipulation (Rank D)
Remarks: Nervous and indecisive.
Wang Lin suppressed a smug smile. Luo Feng was the only one who truly posed a threat. "So the boss is the strongest. Typical." Lei Shan and Mu Xia, while useful in specific roles, were not formidable opponents. This gave him an advantage if things got complicated.
"But for now, I'll play along." He needed this group to get closer to the aforementioned central area, where the real battle would likely begin. "Luo Feng," Wang Lin called out, feigning casualness. "Do you think other groups might be near us? This forest looks like a battlefield waiting to happen." Luo Feng looked over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing. "Indeed. Many must have already formed alliances. Others are hunting alone, relying on their strength. But only the smartest will survive." "The smart and the cruel," Wang Lin thought, but didn't say anything. Meanwhile, he kept his guard up. Now that he knew exactly who he was dealing with, he could act at the right time. After all, in a test like this, allies were temporary—and survival was eternal. The forest was dense, shrouded in a heavy silence, with only the sound of their hurried footsteps breaking the stillness. Wang Lin's group, now accompanied by Luo Feng, cautiously advanced, alert to every movement in the shadows. Wang Lin's mind was focused on the mission, but something in the air made him feel like the tension was about to explode. He could feel the presence of the wolves, but he still couldn't see them. His senses were sharp, but there was something missing that made him uneasy.
It was then that, with a guttural roar, the ambush began.
The wolves appeared from the shadows with supernatural speed, cutting through the air toward the group. Wang Lin immediately positioned himself, prepared to attack with his brute strength, but beside him, Luo Feng didn't hesitate and charged forward, his hands moving with precision, delivering swift and violent strikes. He didn't seem afraid, his combat experience obvious in every fluid movement. However, the number of wolves seemed endless, and the battle soon became more intense.
"Stay together!" Wang Lin shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos, but as he looked at the battlefield, he saw something that made him stop. Mu Xia was being surrounded by two smaller wolves. She struggled, trying to keep her distance, but her lack of experience quickly became clear. A faster wolf pounced on her and, in a vicious move, dug its claws into her neck, brutally snatching the life out of her. Wang Lin paused for a moment, his eyes fixed on Mu Xia's fallen body. He felt the chill of death seep into his bones for the first time, and for a moment, everything around him went black. Luo Feng's scream calling his attention brought him back to reality, but the sight of Mu Xia's death continued to burn into his mind. No matter how hard he tried to push his thoughts away, the image of the young girl falling to the ground, lifeless, wouldn't leave his mind. "Focus, Wang Lin!" Luo Feng shouted, stopping a level 6 wolf with a direct strike, but his eyes were fixed on Mu Xia. He already knew what had happened, but his gaze didn't waver. He had to fight, lest he die here. The battle continued, but now Wang Lin was more aggressive than ever. He threw powerful punches, using all his strength to knock back the wolves in front of him, but Mu Xia's death still affected him. The fight was harder than he had imagined. The leader of the pack, the silver wolf, was there, watching as if he were a spectator of an inevitable death, not the hunter.
As the pack became more aggressive, a wave of violent attacks erupted, surprising the group. Luo Feng was on the front line, but it was then that a level 5 wolf, in ambush, jumped at him. The wolf dug its claws into his leg, causing Luo Feng to fall to the ground. He tried to get up, but he was dazed, pain wracking his body.
"Stay alert!" Wang Lin shouted, and with a primal growl, he charged forward, delivering a devastating punch to the wolf that was charging at Luo Feng. The blow shattered the beast's jaw, killing it instantly, but the cost was high: Luo Feng was injured and his condition was getting worse by the minute. Meanwhile, the other wolves began to retreat, realizing that the pack was stronger than they had imagined, but the leader of the pack, with his silver fur, charged toward Wang Lin. The battle between the two was fierce. The wolf attacked with razor-sharp claws, while Wang Lin, his face now marked with exhaustion and fury, retaliated with brutal punches, breaking trees and scattering the shards across the field. But the wolf was agile and relentless. In a moment, it managed to strike Wang Lin, clawing his chest and leaving a deep cut. Wang Lin retreated, his vision blurred with pain, but he couldn't stop. He looked at Mu Xia's body, his memories of that death still burning in his mind.
With a burst of energy and rage, Wang Lin managed to land a final blow on the wolf leader, crushing its skull with a brutal punch. The silver wolf fell, its body limp on the ground, and the other wolves, seeing their leader's death, quickly retreated, disappearing into the darkness.
But the damage was done. Luo Feng was injured and Mu Xia was dead. Wang Lin, breathing heavily, looked at the young woman's body. The feeling of loss enveloped him bitterly, but at the same time, a rising flame of fury took hold of him. This was no time for weak feelings. He had to keep going, to become stronger.
The system announced, as if nothing had happened, the completion of the mission.
MISSION COMPLETED: 20 BEASTS KILLED
REWARD: BREAKTHROUGH TO LEVEL 8 OF BODY REFINEMENT
Wang Lin felt the energy flowing through his body, stronger and denser than before. With each breath, his body expanded and adapted to the new strength. He was stronger, more agile, more resilient. Level 8 of Body Refinement was within his reach now, and the feeling of power was palpable. But deep in his heart, the emptiness left by Mu Xia's death still burned. He looked up at the sky, where the clouds were slowly dissipating. There was no more time for regrets. There was more to do, more to strive for. He would not allow himself to succumb to fear or pain. His journey was just beginning. "Get up, Luo Feng," Wang Lin muttered to himself, staring at his injured friend. "We won't stop here." Luo Feng, still struggling to move, looked at Wang Lin with a tired but determined expression. He knew that despite all the pain, there was something much darker ahead. And Wang Lin, even though he still struggled with his own anger and pain, was the type of person he wanted to be with. And so, despite the loss, Wang Lin's journey only intensified. The sound of battle, the memory of death, the feeling of life and death being thrown against each other in a chaotic dance, all of it continued. He couldn't afford to stop. He was now closer to his goal, closer to power, and every step he took took him further than a day had gone.
Level 8 of Body Refinement wasn't just a reward; it was a sign. Wang Lin's power was beginning to expand, and there were no longer any limits in sight.