The wagon approached the village as the sky began to darken, heralding dusk. Wang Lin looked from a distance at the simple wooden houses and weathered stone wall surrounding the village. But something seemed different. The atmosphere was heavy, as if a shadow was hanging over the place. The caravan guards also felt the change. Their hands tightened on the hilts of their weapons, and the leader, a burly man with scars on his face, muttered to Wang Lin, "Something's not right. This feeling… do you feel it too?" Wang Lin nodded silently. Ever since he had entered the Qi Condensation stage, his perception had sharpened, and now he could smell the faint scent of blood in the air. When they passed the village gate, no guards were standing guard. The silence was unsettling, broken only by the creaking of the wagon wheels. As soon as they parked in the central square, a few people began to emerge, but their faces were drawn, their gazes filled with fear and distrust. Wang Lin got off the cart and approached an elderly man sitting on a bench, trembling slightly as he held a staff. Wang Lin bowed his head in respect and calmly asked, "What happened here, elder? Why is everyone so… tense?" The man looked up shakily, and Wang Lin noticed that he had dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept in days. "Young man… the forest is getting more and more dangerous. Demonic beasts have been attacking at night. They're different now, more ferocious, more intelligent…" Wang Lin narrowed his eyes. "More intelligent? What do you mean?" The elder swallowed hard before answering, "They're watching us. They don't attack right away, but they wait for the right moment. In the last week, three families have been attacked." We didn't even have time to collect the bodies…
The description sent a chill down Wang Lin's spine. The demonic beasts he had faced during the test didn't act like this. This meant the situation was more serious than he thought.
Another villager, a young woman with a child in her arms, hesitantly approached.
"You came from the Immortal Fists Sect, right?" she asked, her voice filled with hope and despair.
"Yes, I came on behalf of the sect."
She hugged the child to her chest.
"Then perhaps you can help us. Last full moon, we saw a huge shadow in the forest. Something… something big is leading these beasts."
Wang Lin frowned. A creature capable of leading demonic beasts? This could be a great opportunity to test his new abilities while protecting the village at the same time.
With determination in his eyes, he replied,
"I will investigate this matter." If there is something leading the beasts, I will confront it." The elder placed his hand on Wang Lin's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "Be careful, young man. Strength without wisdom can lead to death." Wang Lin acknowledged the warning with a slight nod and walked away to gather his thoughts. The sound of the wind whistling through the empty houses seemed to whisper the omen of an upcoming battle. Wang Lin decided to head to the elder's house. He sat with the elderly man, now focused on devising a strategy to deal with the demonic beasts. The elder, with his experienced eyes, recognized Wang Lin's growing strength, but he also knew that the young man was still far from being fully prepared for the challenges ahead. "Young Wang Lin," the elder began, his voice deep, "the demonic beasts are no simple matter. They don't just move on instinct; some of them act with terrifying intelligence. We need a more careful plan." Wang Lin nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. He knew that the beasts varied in strength, but he still had no idea how powerful they could be. "What do you suggest, elder?" Wang Lin asked, his voice firm.
The elder thought for a moment before answering. "First, we need to understand the behavior of the beasts. Some attack for territory, others are more calculating. We won't know exactly what we're facing until we see it up close."
Wang Lin knew he would face something even stronger than the beasts he had already hunted. He felt a sense of apprehension, but he knew he would need to be more careful than ever. "And what would be the next step?" Wang Lin asked.
The elder looked at the youth with an understanding smile, "The plan is simple: observe. You will need to approach the beasts without being seen, understand their patterns, and then, once you know how they act, we will attack with all our might. We cannot afford to make mistakes, Wang Lin."
Now with a clearer idea of what to do, Wang Lin knew his next move would be risky, but he was determined. He could not allow any more people in the village to suffer. The fear of the unknown and the strength of the beasts was great, but Wang Lin was ready to confront it.
With the plan in mind, Wang Lin got up from the table, bowed respectfully to the elder, and walked out of the house, feeling the cold morning wind caress his skin. He was determined to investigate the beasts, understand their patterns, and if possible, discover their power level. His mind was focused, and his breathing, calmer than ever, indicated that he was ready for the challenge. He headed toward the forest near the village, the most likely place for the beasts to hide. As he walked, the shadows of the trees seemed to swallow the path ahead, creating a dark and oppressive environment. The smell of damp earth and the humidity in the air were intense, and the stillness that surrounded him made each step become a loud and distinct sound. The forest was full of life, but also danger, and Wang Lin knew that his next action could define his survival. As he walked deeper into the forest, Wang Lin activated his Appraise ability, wanting to find out what was ahead of him. He focused his field of vision, looking for any sign of movement. System activated...
He waited, and after a brief moment, a message appeared in his mind:
Name: Demonic Beast (Dark Wolf)
Cultivation Level: 8th Stage of Body Refinement
Strength: High
Skills: Brute Strength, Increased Agility, Natural Camouflage
"A dark wolf," Wang Lin thought, noticing how difficult it was to detect its presence due to the beast's natural camouflage. "Level 8… That won't be a problem."
He continued to move forward, but his mind was alert. He knew that if the beast was an ordinary threat, it shouldn't pose much of a danger to him, but something in his intuition told him that there was something else ahead. He remained calm, his steps more careful now.
Walking for a while longer, Wang Lin stopped, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The tension in the air seemed thick, as if the forest itself was waiting for something. Suddenly, a quick movement to his left made him turn around, and he immediately realized what was happening: a beast was approaching.
A dark wolf, larger than he imagined, jumped out from behind a tree with astonishing speed, its eyes shining with a ferocity that Wang Lin had never seen before.
"So this is how they hunt," Wang Lin muttered, his adrenaline rising rapidly. The beast was closing in at speed, its sharp claws glinting in the light filtering through the trees.
With a quick movement, Wang Lin activated his Primordial Force and charged forward to position himself. He didn't hesitate for a second, knowing that he was facing a beast on the same level as the previous challenges, and his experience made him more confident.
The beast charged furiously, but Wang Lin was already prepared. He threw a powerful punch straight at the wolf's jaw, feeling the impact reverberate all the way to the bones in his hand. The beast was thrown back, but it didn't fall, just quickly jumped to recover, its aggression still very much present.
"Interesting," Wang Lin thought, watching the beast recover, "It's not just brute force, it's more than that. I need to be faster."
With a quick turn, the wolf lunged forward again, but Wang Lin had already anticipated its moves. He used his superior agility, dodging and striking a heavy punch at the beast's flank. The pressure from the blow caused the wolf to howl in pain, but it backed away again, this time more cautious.
Wang Lin knew that although he was dealing with a stronger beast, he had the advantage of experience and strength. He was beginning to understand the nature of demonic beasts: their combat tactics and their resilience. He could no longer underestimate them.
He prepared for the final blow, knowing that the fight was already decided. With one last swift move, Wang Lin delivered a devastating series of punches that crushed the wolf's ribs, causing it to fall heavily to the ground. The dark wolf writhed for a moment before it stopped moving, defeated. Wang Lin watched the fallen beast for a moment, the feeling of victory mixed with the weight of the fight. He had won, but he knew that this was only a small part of what was to come. "Now, I need to know more," Wang Lin muttered, feeling like his journey was just beginning. He knew that the strongest beasts were still out there, waiting for the right moment to attack. Wang Lin watched the fallen beast for a moment, its heavy breathing still echoing in his ears. He crouched down next to the dark wolf and cautiously ran his hand over its body, trying to understand more about its structure and how it had been defeated. The creature's skin was tough, as if it was coated in a protective layer, but upon touching the part that had been struck, Wang Lin realized that the wolf was seriously injured. The direct hit to its ribs had been decisive, and he knew that the strength of his fist could not be underestimated, even when compared to a level 6 demonic beast.
The battle wasn't difficult, but the heat of the fight still made his heart beat faster. "If this is a level 8 wolf, what about the other beasts? What about the leader?" Wang Lin thought as he looked around, suspicious that the forest could still hide far more dangerous threats. He sat down on the damp earth for a moment to catch his breath. The silence of the forest seemed heavier now, as if everything was waiting for something. The feeling that he was being watched didn't go away, and it was at this moment that he heard a noise to his left. It was faint, but unmistakable. Wang Lin quickly stood up and activated his Appraisal ability again, focusing on the sounds around him. System activated...
He waited patiently, and once again, a message appeared in his mind:
Name: Demonic Beast (Shadow Panther)
Cultivation Level: 9th Stage of Body Refinement
Strength: High
Skills: Incredible Speed, Advanced Camouflage, Sneak Attack
"A level 5 shadow panther," Wang Lin thought, his fighting instinct immediately awakening. "It's still below me, but with those camouflage and speed abilities… this fight might be more difficult."
He braced himself for what was to come next, but he knew he had already learned something crucial: these beasts didn't rely solely on brute strength. Their camouflage and agility abilities were what made them dangerous. He would have to be smarter, not just stronger.
With a quick movement, the panther suddenly appeared before him, its figure nearly invisible against the shadows of the trees. Wang Lin only had time to take a step to the side, avoiding the surprise attack. The panther seemed to have materialized out of thin air, but he was prepared for its agility.
Wang Lin quickly used his Primal Force, concentrating his energy to increase the speed and strength of his movements. He threw a punch straight at the point where the panther was moving, but it disappeared into the shadows again before his strike could hit it.
"She's harder to catch… I need to find a way to anticipate her movements."
The panther attacked again, once again moving like a shadow. Wang Lin sensed the terrain around him, creating a field of perception with his sharp senses. He was no longer just fighting the beast, but connecting with the forest, trying to understand its movements.
With a quick strike, he finally hit the panther, striking its flank hard. The impact was strong, but the panther was still fast. It retreated far away, its agile body already preparing to attack again.
"This is getting interesting," Wang Lin thought. He was beginning to understand the beast's weaknesses. It had speed, but it couldn't withstand well-placed strikes. Wang Lin knew that his endurance and physical strength were superior, but he would still need more time to get used to the beasts' fighting style. The battle continued for a few more minutes. The panther made quick and stealthy attacks, but Wang Lin was finally able to anticipate its next attack and deliver a fatal blow. With a well-aimed strike to its head, he knocked the beast down, which immediately dissolved into a cloud of shadows, disappearing from existence. He looked around, feeling the weight of the fight on his body, but a sense of accomplishment washed over him. "Two beasts defeated," Wang Lin thought. "But this was just the beginning." Silence once again reigned in the forest, but now Wang Lin was much more alert. He knew that there were still beasts much stronger than the ones he had faced. His goal was clear: he needed to find out more about them, find their leaders, and face the greatest challenge of his life.
He stood up, determined, and began walking deeper into the forest, already feeling that his journey was just beginning.