Instinct took over. Ling Feng ducked, the wolf's claws tearing through his sleeve. *Think, Alex!* In games, low-level enemies had patterns. He sidestepped another lunge, scanning the beast.
**[Starving Shadow Wolf (Level 5)]**
**[Health: 100/100]**
**[Weakness: Stamina depletion. Current Hunger: Critical.]**
"Stall it," he muttered. The wolf circled, ribs protruding beneath its matted fur. Ling Feng backed toward a cluster of boulders, luring the creature into a narrow crevice. As the wolf charged, he rolled aside, and its momentum jammed it between the rocks.
**[Temporary Immobilization: 60 seconds.]**
"Now!" Ling Feng seized a jagged stone and slammed it into the wolf's skull. Once. Twice.
**[Critical Hit!]**
**[Starving Shadow Wolf Health: 12/100]**
The beast howled, thrashing free. Ling Feng bolted, legs burning. A notification flashed:
**[Sub-Quest: Craft 'Improvised Trap.']**
**[Materials Needed: Vines (0/3), Sharpened Sticks (0/2).]**
He skidded to a halt near a thorny thicket, tearing vines from the trees. His fingers bled as he wove them into a crude net, stakes propped beneath. The wolf pounced—and snarled as the trap snapped shut.
**[Quest Complete!]**
**[+50 Soul Points.]**
**[Crafting Skill Unlocked: Beginner (Level 1).]**
Ling Feng finished the wolf with a stone to the throat.
**[Level Up!]**
**[Qi Condensation Stage 1: 7%.]**
**[New Skill: 'Beast Slayer' (Passive: +5% damage to spirit beasts).]**
Panting, he collapsed against a tree. The system's screens buzzed with notifications, but his mind raced. *This is just the start. If I grind like a game—exploit quests, optimize stats—I can climb faster than any of these arrogant cultivators.*
But as he limped back to the sect, a new message appeared:
**[Alert: Host's Actions Have Altered Sect Fate.]**
**[New Rival: Disciple Zhang Wei (Level 8) Now Hostile.]**
Ling Feng smirked. *Bring it on.*