C7 Ninth Rank Demonic Beast

Ye Han was taken aback as he swiftly drew his steel sword and, with a flourish of spiritual control, aimed a direct strike at the Wolf King's massive pupils.

The eyeball, the size of a fist, promptly leapt from the Wolf King's socket.

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

The wounded Wolf King let out a series of earth-shattering roars!

For a moment, no one dared to advance a step!

Having discovered the Wolf King's vulnerability, Ye Han was ready to seize the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow!

But just as Ye Han was about to finish off the Wolf King, the wolf pack surged forward, fiercely clutching at Ye Han's pant legs.

A silver wolf, in particular, unleashed astonishing strength, hurling Ye Han a hundred meters away.

Before Ye Han could recover, the wolves encircled him once more.

Driven by a fierce loyalty to their leader, the wolves showed no fear this time. Each bared their massive, blood-stained teeth and lunged at Ye Han with eyes ablaze.

Meanwhile, the Wolf King's body began to emit streams of white light that billowed upwards.

"Not good, the Wolf King is trying to evolve into a Third Rank Demonic Beast right now!"

Ye Han's anxiety spiked as his swordplay quickened. If the defense of a Second Rank Wolf King was already formidable, how could he possibly breach that of a Third Rank?

In just moments, the wolf pack had dwindled to only seven.

These seven wolves presented Ye Han with an unprecedented challenge.

Having sustained heavy losses, the remaining wolves hesitated to advance, instead shifting their positions as before, preventing Ye Han from making a precise, lethal strike.

What's more, the seven wolves' speed increased, blurring into afterimages that eventually whipped up a whirlwind. They were, in fact, forming a strategic array!

Upon realizing this, Ye Han breathed a sigh of relief.

His past life's identity as a Talisman Formation Master had remained a secret.

Ye Han summoned the power of the Five Elements Heavenly Spiritual Body, minimizing his injuries, and closed his eyes to sense the intricacies of the formation.

After a short time, Ye Han's eyes snapped open, a glint of self-assuredness shining in their depths.

"I've found your vulnerability!"

Whoosh!

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Ye Han's feet tapped the ground, leaving a trail of afterimages. Gripping his sword tightly, he positioned himself in front of the seven demonic wolves. His eyes flickered as he unleashed a powerful strike with his sword amidst the billowing of his robe.

Boom!

Puff!

A volley of white beams, each carrying an immense force, struck one of the wolves with deadly precision, sending it flying.

The wolf perished instantly, without even a chance to utter a cry of pain.

With the fall of that wolf, the formation of the remaining six wolves was left with a significant breach.

Awoooo!

The sight of their fallen comrade incited the remaining wolves to howl skyward, a release of their collective rage. But their cries were cut short, silenced mid-howl.

With a tremor of his sword and a glint of icy light, Ye Han had pierced the skulls of all six wolves.

At that moment, the white light that had been circling the Wolf King converged and shot upwards—a clear sign of an imminent advancement.

"Go!"

Realizing he couldn't reach the Wolf King before its advancement, Ye Han flung his sword with all his might at the beast!

A warrior's sword is his soul; if it leaves his hand, it must achieve greatness!

"Puchi!"

The sound of metal cleaving flesh rang out. Ye Han's sword had penetrated the Wolf King's skull, causing the once unified white light to burst apart and vanish into the ether.

"Hu."

Ye Han exhaled deeply, having successfully thwarted the Wolf King's ascension. Yet, the creature's resilience was astounding; it remained standing, its surviving eye fixed on Ye Han with a piercing gaze.

"Ta!"

Wolves hold grudges; one must eradicate them root and stem!

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

As Ye Han prepared to deal the final blow to the Wolf King, a series of roars erupted, each more commanding than the last.

Turning towards the source, Ye Han's body tensed. The horizon was a sea of wolves charging forward, an endless tide of fury. But what truly struck fear into his heart was the sight of a colossal wolf behind the horde, bearing a striking resemblance to the Wolf King, howling its defiance to the heavens.

"Ninth Rank Demonic Beast?"

Ye Han swallowed hard, realizing that the immense pressure he felt could only come from the legendary Ninth Rank Demonic Beast.

"Could it be?"

His gaze shifted subconsciously to the dying Wolf King, and a horrifying thought crossed his mind.

Could the Wolf King, whom he had been battling for half a day, actually be just a cub?

"Run!"

Feeling a chill run down his spine, Ye Han grabbed Jiang Xiaoxiao and bolted as if their lives depended on it.

He wondered whether his rebirth was a stroke of luck or misfortune, having encountered a Ninth Rank Demonic Beast so soon, something he had never even seen in his previous life on this continent.

Ye Han and Jiang Xiaoxiao sprinted until they found a concealed spot to hide just in time before the giant wolf could catch up. He then silently activated a secret technique, and in the next moment, both lay on the ground, eerily still as if life had left their bodies.

"I hope this Turtle Breathing Technique works."

Ye Han had acquired this stealth technique in exchange for pills in his past life. It was rumored to render one invisible even to the eyes of gods when fully mastered. However, his current cultivation was too low, and he was concerned whether it would be effective enough to deceive the Ninth Rank Demonic Beast before them with Jiang Xiaoxiao in tow.

Jiang Xiaoxiao, sensing the transformation within herself, glanced at Ye Han with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

She could understand his alchemy skills as the result of finding a pill scripture, but where did his martial prowess and the ability to conceal their presence come from?

Was it possible that obtaining a secret manual also came with a 'buy one, get two free' offer?

Naturally intelligent, Jiang Xiaoxiao had many questions, but she also knew that now was not the time to seek answers. She tucked her curiosity away for later.

With the giant wolf drawing closer, the subtle but growing pressure was undeniable. If Ye Han had previously only suspected the creature to be a Ninth Rank beast, he was now utterly convinced.

Such a terrifying presence could only belong to a Ninth Rank Demonic Beast!

Yet, the beast before them seemed to be in poor health, with cloudy eyes and lackluster fur, exuding an air of decay. It appeared that this beast didn't have much longer to live.

"Roar!"

Upon witnessing the Wolf King's pitiful state, the giant wolf let out a frenzied roar, sending an invisible sonic wave rippling through the air with its cry.

"Oh no!"

Ye Han's heart cried out, and in the next instant, he positioned himself protectively in front of Jiang Xiaoxiao.

"Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!"

A succession of sounds, like tearing fabric, filled the air. Ye Han's body was suddenly peppered with wounds, as bloodied holes sprouted across his flesh.

"Ye Han!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao's voice was urgent, but before she could finish, Ye Han placed his hand over her mouth and gently shook his head. Tasting the metallic tang of blood, Jiang Xiaoxiao bit back her tears and closed her mouth. Thanks to Ye Han's defense, she was unharmed.

Seemingly unaware that it had injured its own offspring, the giant wolf, after a bout of rage, led its pack away.

"Puff."

Realizing the giant wolf had truly departed, Ye Han could no longer muster the strength to hold back, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood speckled with fragments.

"Ye Han, how are you? Are you alright?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao was frantic. Those fragments were clearly from his liver!

Could Ye Han die? Could he survive? If he were to die, how would she go on?

Jiang Xiaoxiao had lost her parents at a young age and had grown up relying on Ye Han. She couldn't bear the thought of living without him.

"I'm okay, Xiaoxiao. Guard me, I need to heal."

Ye Han was severely weakened, managing to speak only in short bursts.

The giant wolf's roar wasn't its method of attack, nor was it specifically targeting them, but the might of a ninth-level demonic beast was not something he could withstand in his current state. He needed to heal immediately!

"Alright, alright, alright. Ye Han, I'll guard you. Heal quickly. I won't let anyone get the chance to harm you!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao responded quickly, and without further delay, Ye Han had her take out all the medicinal herbs he carried. He sat cross-legged atop the herbs, closed off his senses, and began to stimulate his acupoints to absorb the healing properties.

This was his best healing technique from his past life, one that wasn't picky about the type of medicine or energy. As long as there was sufficient medicinal strength externally, theoretically, it could heal any injury. The only drawback was that the healing process couldn't be interrupted, but this time, he had prepared plenty of medicinal herbs.