C6 Red Maple Stronghold

Thunderous sounds echoed through the forest for hours on end as Zhang Hao was left bloodied by the relentless attacks of the blood-furred wolf.

Despite Zhang Hao's dire appearance, the wolf fared no better, with several of its bones shattered.

The injured blood-furred wolf, limping and not far off, let out furious roars in Zhang Hao's direction.

Kneeling on the ground, Zhang Hao wiped the blood from his face, his teeth clenched in a fierce glare ahead.

The wolf, enraged and astonished to see Zhang Hao struggle to his feet, could not believe what it was witnessing.

Zhang Hao exhibited no signs of energy, appearing as nothing more than an ordinary human, yet his strength was formidable—his punches and bodily defense were monstrous.

The wolf had been confident in its ability to overpower a Blessed human in the late period, believing its fangs and claws could easily rend flesh and crush bone.

But this young man, despite being clawed and bitten over a dozen times, had sustained only minor injuries.

Even when struck in vital areas, Zhang Hao, though grievously wounded, managed to rise again.

The blood-furred wolf, now severely injured with bones broken by Zhang Hao's fists, felt a dangerous presence looming over it.

Its demonic beast instincts warned it of the youth's perilous nature, sensing that continuing the fight could lead to its demise.

Though this was its domain, the wolf's fear grew, and the urge to flee took hold.

When Zhang Hao stood and charged with a thunderous roar, the wolf, teeth clenched, turned tail and fled.

Today, the blood-furred wolf was forced to concede, facing a youth it could not kill. Any further combat, it feared, might end in its own death.

Zhang Hao was not about to let the wolf escape, and he took off in pursuit.

The wolf had assumed that showing submission would be enough to end the confrontation, especially given the youth's severe injuries. Surely, it thought, he wouldn't continue the chase.

Unexpectedly, the blood-furred wolf was taken by surprise when the youth pursued it without a moment's hesitation.

The wolf's mind was in turmoil. Who had it crossed today that it was being hunted so relentlessly?

Initially, the blood-furred wolf had no intention of engaging in battle with Zhang Hao, but it hadn't anticipated that the noise of their skirmish would attract other demonic beasts.

In a desperate move, the blood-furred wolf halted abruptly and let out a ferocious roar in the direction of the oncoming creatures.

The other Foundation Stage demonic beasts, upon hearing the late-stage blood-furred wolf's roar, braced themselves to charge at Zhang Hao.

But before they could advance, Zhang Hao charged head-on.

With a series of thunderous booms, the blocking demonic beasts were sent flying in every direction by his powerful fists.

The blood-furred wolf, still reeling from its roar, was caught off guard as Zhang Hao closed in.

With a thudding rumble, it was floored by a single punch.

The downed blood-furred wolf wasted no time in scrambling to its feet and fleeing, not daring to linger and bluster any longer, sensing that the youth would not rest until it was dead.

The other Foundation Stage demonic beasts, having just picked themselves up, were ready to resume their assault on Zhang Hao.

But upon witnessing the blood-furred wolf's hasty retreat, they were struck by terror, howling fearfully as they scattered in all directions.

In this territory, where the blood-furred wolf was the strongest, its own panic-stricken flight set off a wave of fear among the other beasts.

The blood-furred wolf's escape was astonishingly swift, not daring to glance back as it bolted forward in a frenzy.

Zhang Hao's face twisted into a grimace of rage, his fury unbridled as the gap between them grew.

Deep in the forest lay the Red Maple Stronghold, ruled by Yu Hu. Local bandits and even the prominent families of Conriston City steered clear of provoking him.

Yu Hu, a Blessed Middle Period practitioner, was recognized as one of the foremost powerhouses in the Conriston region.

In Conriston City, the strongest among the many prominent families only reached about the Middle Period of cultivation. Yu Hu's reputation for brutality was well-known, deterring any family from rashly crossing him.

At the Red Maple Stronghold's entrance, two guards in the late Foundation Stage stood at their posts, idly grumbling to pass the time.

"Isn't it just our luck, brother? While everyone else is feasting and drinking, we're stuck here on guard duty," lamented one guard.

His companion on the opposite side responded with a sullen tone, "The chief is overly cautious. There's no need for guards at Red Maple Stronghold. The mere mention of its name sends others running scared. Who would dare cause trouble?"

"Whether it's the nearby strongholds or anyone from Conriston, no one would think of challenging the chief," the first guard agreed, nodding.

"People are one thing, but even demonic beasts steer clear of Red Maple Stronghold. Wait, what's happening..."

His words trailed off as both guards froze, disbelieving the commotion unfolding before them. A series of crashes echoed as numerous trees toppled over in the distance.

Suddenly, a massive creature leaped from the forest and barreled towards the stronghold. The guards gasped in shock at the sight.

"How can this be? A blood-furred wolf!"

"Sound the alarm! Red Maple Stronghold is under attack!"

No sooner had the guard bellowed the warning than a thunderous crash resounded. The stronghold's gates shattered under the might of the blood-furred wolf.

Driven to desperation by relentless pursuit, the blood-furred wolf cared not for obstacles, charging headlong through anything in its path. All it sought was to flee the forest and the relentless pursuit of the formidable young hunter.

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