After a few moments of pondering, Wang Lin headed toward the Immortal Fist Sect's Mission Hall. The place was a huge pavilion with carved stone walls adorned with images of legendary warriors brandishing their fists against massive beasts. In the center, a gigantic plaque floated, displaying various missions. Upon entering, Wang Lin was impressed by the organization and the number of disciples present. Groups formed as they reviewed the missions, discussing strategies. He walked over to one of the side tables where an older disciple was serving. "First time here?" the disciple asked, noticing Wang Lin's curious expression. "Yes. I'm here to accept my first mission." Wang Lin replied firmly. The disciple smiled slightly and pointed at the floating plaque. "Choose a mission according to your stage. There are missions recommended for the early levels of Qi Condensation. Go ahead, read carefully." Wang Lin walked over to the plaque and began to look through the options. The missions ranged from simple tasks like protecting caravans to more dangerous challenges like exterminating demonic beasts in the wilderness. His eyes landed on a mission that caught his attention:
MISSION: Exterminate demonic beasts threatening a nearby village.
REWARD: 10 Contribution Points and 3 Qi Condensation Pills.
Without hesitation, he accepted the mission. Upon registering his choice, the senior disciple called out to him again.
"Good luck, junior brother. Remember, these missions are tests not only of strength, but also of strategy and courage. Don't underestimate any demonic beast, even if it seems inferior."
With these words in mind, Wang Lin left the Mission Hall, determined to complete his first task as a true disciple of the Immortal Fist Sect.
________
As soon as Wang Lin left the Mission Hall, he headed toward the exit of the Immortal Fist Sect. The path was paved with smooth stones and lined with tall trees that swayed in the gentle breeze. The sky was clear, but Wang Lin's mind was full of thoughts. This was his first official mission since breaking through to Qi Condensation, and he knew he couldn't fail.
As he approached the sect's large gate, he noticed a small group gathered next to a caravan. There were four people, all armed and with alert expressions. Two men and two women carried swords and spears, evidently mercenaries hired to protect the caravan. The main carriage was made of wood reinforced with metal, and two sturdy horses were harnessed to it.
One of the men, tall and with a short beard, immediately noticed him. He seemed to be the leader of the group and stepped forward, speaking in a firm voice,
"Are you Wang Lin, the disciple sent to resolve the village's problem?"
Wang Lin nodded, trying to maintain a confident posture. "It's me. Are you here to take me there?" The man gave a faint smile, but it wasn't exactly friendly. "That's right. My name is Jian Long, and I'm leading this escort. Our mission is to ensure that you arrive safely at Shanqing Village. But once you get there, the work will be all yours." The other mercenaries watched him curiously, silently assessing him. Wang Lin could feel the weight of their gazes. He knew that, despite being at a higher stage than them, he was young and inexperienced in the eyes of the group. "Let's leave now. Get on the wagon," Jian Long said, pointing to the vehicle. Wang Lin climbed on without saying anything else, sitting quietly as the group began to move. As they rode, he pondered what he might find in the village. Demonic beasts were always unpredictable, and even though they were only a Qi Condensation level threat, they could be lethal if faced recklessly.
As the sound of the wagon wheels echoed on the road, Wang Lin watched the horizon. This would be the beginning of yet another challenge, but he was determined to show the sect and himself that he was worthy of carrying on the name of the Immortal Fists.
________
The wagon continued on, cutting through a dirt road surrounded by dense trees. The sound of the wheels squeaking on the dry ground mixed with the occasional chirping of birds hidden in the foliage. Wang Lin stood silently, watching the scenery pass by. The atmosphere was tense, but the fresh air of the forest provided a moment of calm.
As Jian Long led the group with steady steps, the other guards began to exchange low words, until one of them, a skinny man with scars on his face, looked at Wang Lin and broke the silence.
"So, kid, I heard you're from the Immortal Fists Sect," he said, his tone suspicious. "You seem too young for someone from Qi Condensation."
Wang Lin, not wanting to appear arrogant, calmly replied, "I've only just started on my path, but I've learned enough to deal with whatever comes my way." The woman beside him, with her hair tied up in a bun and a long spear on her back, smiled sarcastically. "Humble, huh? I hope you have more than just pretty words. The area around Shanqing is no joke. We've already lost a merchant and two guards to the beasts recently." Jian Long, who was in the lead, gave the two of them a stern look. "Stop provoking him. He's not here to prove anything to you. The sect sent him, and that's enough." Despite their defense, Wang Lin could see that the skeptical gazes were still hovering over him. He decided not to say anything else, but the conversation between the guards continued. "Do you know what's happening in Shanqing?" the scarred man asked. "They say that an entire pack of demonic beasts has been roaming the area, but no one knows for sure where they came from."
"Also," the woman added, "these aren't just any ordinary beasts. Some of them display strange behavior, almost as if they are led by something more intelligent."
Wang Lin listened carefully. Packs of demonic beasts were nothing new, but demonic beasts with organized behavior could indicate the presence of a higher-level beast leading them. That would complicate things.
After a few hours of traveling, the group stopped near a small stream. Jian Long approached Wang Lin as he drank some water.
"Kid, I'll be honest with you," he said, crossing his arms. "The Immortal Fist Sect may have sent you, but don't fool yourself. These beasts aren't just a test of strength. They are a real threat, both to you and to us."
"I understand," Wang Lin replied, his tone serious. "I'm ready to deal with them. This mission isn't just a test, it's an opportunity to grow."
Jian Long nodded, a flash of respect crossing his face. "Good. Let's hope your words are true."
After a brief pause, the group resumed their journey. As they approached Shanqing Village, the path became narrower and the surroundings darker, with dense trees blocking much of the sunlight. The natural silence of the forest was replaced by an oppressive feeling, as if something was watching. The guards exchanged uneased glances, their hands tightening on their weapons. Wang Lin, still sitting in the wagon, closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. He didn't know what awaited him in Shanqing, but he was determined to face any challenge that arose. As the wagon swayed slightly as it passed over uneven terrain, Wang Lin lost himself in thought. The silence around him and the muffled conversations of the guards made his curiosity grow. He knew that he had changed a lot since entering the Immortal Fist Sect, especially after breaking through to the Qi Condensation stage. But just how strong was he now? Deciding to clear this up, Wang Lin muttered to himself, "Status."
Immediately, the system responded with a translucent glow that only he could see. The interface was familiar, but this time, the numbers and descriptions seemed more impressive than before:
---
**Name:** Wang Lin
Age: 16
Cultivation Level: Early Qi Condensation Stage
Progress: 70%
Cultivation Technique: Primordial Body and Qi (Level B)
Skills:
- Primordial Strength (Passive, Level B): Naturally amplifies physical strength.
- Survival Instinct (Level A): Triples stats in life-or-death situations, but at a high cost of vitality.
- Crushing Fists (Level C): Martial technique that focuses on quick and destructive strikes.
- Advanced Appraisal (Level D): Allows one to appraise individuals up to two levels higher than their current stage.
---
Wang Lin was surprised. "My strength has really increased a lot. No wonder I was able to resist Han Yifeng so much. With these attributes, I'm already much stronger than I was in Body Refinement."
However, what caught his attention was the progress of his cultivation technique, which was already at 70%. This meant that he was closer to breaking through to the mid stage of Qi Condensation.
"If I continue like this, I can reach new horizons soon," Wang Lin thought, feeling a surge of excitement.
But at the same time, he remembered that numbers and skills didn't guarantee everything. The fight against Han Yifeng had shown that strategy and experience were just as important as raw power.
"For now, I need to stay focused," he whispered to himself, closing the interface and returning to his gaze on the road ahead.
---
The forest was filled with a growing tension. The icy wind cut through the trees like sharp blades, and the silence felt oppressive, as if nature itself was watching his every move. Wang Lin felt like he was no longer alone, and the presence of the pack leader seemed to be getting closer, a sense of death lingering in the air.
Then suddenly, he felt it. The ground shook slightly, and an icy aura surrounded him. He looked up, and there he was—the pack leader, towering, with eyes that shone with savage intensity. The beast was a shadowy shadow among the trees, and for a moment, Wang Lin wondered if he was facing a nightmare.
Appraise...
The system immediately activated the ability, bringing information into Wang Lin's mind.
Name: Demonic Wolf (Pack Leader)
Cultivation Level: 3rd Stage of Qi Condensation
Strength: Immense
Abilities: Mental Command, Superior Agility, Accelerated Regeneration, Energized Claws, Aura of Death
The wolf didn't move. It just watched, its presence oppressive like a black tide, almost as if it was dominating the forest around it. Wang Lin felt like this was a battle from which there was no turning back. This was no ordinary enemy. This was the beast that ruled over all others, and he would need everything he had at his disposal to prevail.
The beast growled softly, and a demonic smile formed on Wang Lin's face. "This will be the final test," he thought.
Without warning, the wolf charged forward. Its claws cut through the air with a ripping sound, faster than Wang Lin could have imagined. He barely had time to react. His senses were sharp, but the beast's speed was astonishing. The wolf was like a dark blur, and the impact of the blow tore through the ground as Wang Lin barely managed to dodge it.
Primordial Force… Wang Lin's ability instantly activated. His muscles expanded, energy coursed through his body like fire, and he twisted to the side, managing to avoid the deadly blow. But the wolf's claws grazed his skin, and a searing pain caused him to break out in a cold sweat. He forced his body to move, his reflexes on high alert.
The fight had only just begun, but the beast's weight on him was already enormous. Wang Lin knew he couldn't underestimate this battle. He used his *Primordial Force* to step forward, launching a direct strike with his fists at the wolf.
But the leader of the pack was too agile. He dodged, his energized claws illuminating the forest with a sharp glow, and he struck with the force of a storm. Wang Lin barely had time to block, his fists colliding with the wolf's claws in a burst of energy. He felt the impact reverberate in his bones, but he didn't give in. His body, now amplified by the Primordial Force, resisted.
But something else was happening. The wolf, with a terrifying mental strength, tried to invade his mind. Wang Lin felt as if the forest around him began to distort, the icy air weighing down on him as if it were suffocating his will. The beast's Mind Command was trying to bend him, to control his mind.
Survival Instinct! Wang Lin's ability skyrocketed, and he felt his perception soar to the limit. His body began to glow with a dull light as his attributes tripled. He felt his vitality decrease as the cost of this ability began to take its toll, but his mental resistance grew stronger. The wolf's mental attack no longer met with resistance.
"I won't fall!" Wang Lin growled to himself, the hatred and pain turning into an insatiable rage. He charged forward with a primal roar, his fists now tearing through the air with terrifying speed. Using his Slashing Fists technique, he unleashed a brutal series of blows. His fists cut through the wind with destructive power, each blow causing the earth to tremble.
The fight dragged on like a relentless storm. The pack leader, with his accelerated regeneration, quickly got back up after each attack, but Wang Lin didn't give in. His slashing fists found gaps in the wolf's body, opening deep wounds, but the beast didn't stop. He could feel the toll of the fight piling up, his energy dwindling with each moment. Each strike consumed more vitality, and the darkness of exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him. The wolf howled, its aura of death spreading, an energy field that enveloped everything around it. The smell of blood and death spread, as if nature itself was being corroded by the leader's presence. Wang Lin felt the pressure from everything around him, but he didn't hesitate. He used his Slashing Fists once more, each strike stronger, faster, until finally, with one last punch, he struck the wolf's head with all his strength. The impact was brutal. The wolf was thrown backwards, its body writhing in pain as its regeneration tried, unsuccessfully, to repair the damage. The fatal wound had been inflicted. Finally, with one last desperate roar, the pack leader fell. His energy slowly dissipated, and the darkness around him began to fade. Wang Lin remained standing, panting and covered in blood. His breathing was heavy, and his body felt exhausted, but victory was his. He looked at the body of the demonic wolf, the leader beast that had commanded this entire dark pack, now fallen and lifeless. But the job wasn't done yet. Wang Lin knew that there were more demonic beasts in the forest. He looked up at the darkened sky, feeling the aura of death and blood in the air. He charged forward, determined to clear this forest of all the dark beasts. They had taken over the territory and were a constant threat to the village. There would be no rest for him as long as creatures like them remained. The battle wasn't over. Wang Lin would follow, not only to protect the village, but also to ensure that the evil that inhabited these lands was eradicated. He would cleanse this forest with blood, and nothing would stop him from fulfilling his mission.