C16 Battle of the Blood Wolves(1)

The Ironback Wolf is a low-tier Demonic Beast that could never advance beyond the second level. Its maximum potential was to reach the pinnacle of the first level, which is on par with a Human Cultivator at Body Tempering Level 9.

Lin Chen had specifically selected the Ironback Wolf as his sparring target for this reason. However, he was cautious not to provoke the Ironback Wolves openly, opting instead to target those that were isolated.

Over the past few days, he had slain a significant number of Ironback Wolves, easily in the dozens. Following each confrontation, he would swiftly withdraw from the area.

But Lin Chen hadn't anticipated that reinforcements would arrive so quickly after an attack, and not just a few Ironback Wolves, but an entire army of them!

Breakout!

In this dire situation, Lin Chen's mind was sharper than ever. He immediately identified a direction where the Ironback Wolves were less concentrated and charged through.

Awoo!

The battle was imminent. As Lin Chen made his move, a swarm of Ironback Wolves surged towards him.

"Hah!"

Blocked by the wolves, Lin Chen's speed only increased. He let out a thunderous shout and charged at the four Ironback Wolves ahead.

Without hesitation, he unleashed the Eight Linked Forces. The first Epic Point within him ignited, and he launched a punch.

Bang!

The skull of an Initial Level Ironback Wolf burst instantly, like a watermelon crushed under a sledgehammer, with crimson blood spraying in all directions.

Endowed with the Divine Martial Meridian, Lin Chen's strength far exceeded that of an average practitioner at Body Tempering Level 7. Now, amplified by the first Epic Point, his foundational strength had surged, making him a match for even those at the Peak of Body Tempering.

After dispatching his foe with a single punch, Lin Chen maintained his momentum. He continued his rapid advance, sidestepping an Ironback Wolf's lunge and ducking under the swipe of another's claws.

Then, the final Ironback Wolf came into view. As if he had anticipated it, Lin Chen roared and delivered a devastating punch.

"Two Linked Forces!"

This punch was significantly faster than the last, its formidable power striking the Ironback Wolf's waist in the blink of an eye. With a dull thud, the Ironback Wolf's body visibly crumpled like a fragile sheet of paper, broken in half by the immense force, hanging together by mere tendons and skin as the carcass was flung far away.

Yet another lethal blow! Despite the Ironback Wolf being at the high end of Level One, it was no match for Lin Chen's Two Linked Forces.

Chi!

Lin Chen grunted as a sharp pain lacerated his back, a keen claw slicing through his skin.

Whirling around with a ferocious roar, he clenched his fists, extended his arms, and with a powerful motion, brought his fists crashing together in the middle.

Crack!

The neck of another Ironback Wolf contorted, killing it instantly.

But it wasn't the Three Linked Forces; it remained the Two Linked Forces.

The so-called Eight Linked Forces didn't necessarily require eight punches. As long as the conditions were met without activating the next Epic Point, the current state could be sustained.

Using the Eight Linked Forces was incredibly draining on both Primordial Energy and physical strength. With the overwhelming number of enemies, Lin Chen was unsure when he would break free and naturally didn't want to squander his resources.

In the briefest of moments, Lin Chen had shattered the encirclement and slain three Ironback Wolves in just two breaths. Yet, he could still sense the ominous scent of blood trailing behind him.

With a powerful push from his legs, he burst out of the encirclement, the horde of Ironback Wolves on his heels like persistent shadows.

"Another damn massacre?"

Lin Chen ground his teeth in frustration.

The robust Primordial Energy within him roiled ceaselessly as he pushed his speed to the extreme.

The forest was a labyrinth of dense shrubs and underbrush, bristling with thorny patches that could easily tear the skin. Unblinking, Lin Chen charged through the thicket, emerging on the other side with his clothes in tatters and his body streaked with blood, resembling a wild man untouched by civilization.

In a life-or-death situation, Lin Chen wouldn't hesitate to leap into a thicket of thorns, let alone a fiery pit.

However, a bottomless cliff presented an entirely different challenge.

"No way out? Damn, can my luck really be this bad?"

Lin Chen's face paled as he quickly leaned back, slamming on the brakes with his feet and narrowly avoiding disaster.

Peering over the edge, he confirmed his fears: a bottomless cliff loomed before him, its depths shrouded in darkness, making one's head spin with vertigo.

He frantically scanned his surroundings, only to be met with the stark realization of despair.

There were no paths in sight; the cliff stretched out from the flat earth, leaving retreat as the sole option.

Awooo—

The forest rustled ominously as a pack of ferocious Ironback Wolves emerged, effectively sealing off any escape.

"Is this truly a dead end?" Lin Chen muttered through gritted teeth.

The rustling continued; more Ironback Wolves appeared, sensing their prey was trapped. They didn't rush to attack but instead closed in on Lin Chen methodically.

With the situation growing dire, Lin Chen knew he had no choice left.

"Since there's no retreat, I'll fight to the bitter end!"

He spun around, his eyes ablaze with a fiery determination, his blood boiling with the readiness for battle.

"You beasts, let's see whether you'll feast on my flesh or if I'll crush your skulls one by one!"

With a resolve steeled for death, Lin Chen's fear dissipated, replaced by a wild, almost feral, look of determination.

"Kill!"

With no time for words, Lin Chen let out a battle cry and charged. Facing the encroaching wolves was no different than waiting for them to attack; thus, Lin Chen chose to face them head-on like a true warrior!

The first Epic Point ignited with Primordial Energy.

Three Linked Force!

With a casual blow, he sent an Ironback Wolf flying, then instantly activated the second Epic Point. Twisting his body, he delivered a punch that snapped another wolf's neck, before igniting the third Epic Point!

His movements were fluid, seamlessly activating three Epic Points in rapid succession. The triple-layered power surged through his fists like a torrential flood. Empowered by the Divine Martial Bloodline and the Three Linked Force, Lin Chen's punch now carried the staggering force of 3,000 Jin!

The physical strength of a typical Human Cultivator at the Peak of Body Tempering would certainly not surpass 1,000 Jin.

"The real show is just beginning. Savor it, you beasts!"

Lin Chen bellowed, his fists whirling in a frenzied sweep that made the air thunder as if he were wielding two massive iron hammers, stirring up a fierce wind.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A Level 9 Ironback Wolf took a punch and was sent flying, unable to rise after crashing down; a mid-level Ironback Wolf burst into a cloud of blood, dead on impact. As for the Ironback Wolves at the Initial Level? Lin Chen paid them no mind.

Despite the wolf pack's intimidating numbers, only about seven or eight could engage Lin Chen in close quarters. The rest of the Ironback Wolves had to wait for their turn as their packmates were pummeled to death.

But the adage that two hands can't fend off four rang true. In the brief span of a tea time, Lin Chen's body was already riddled with ghastly wounds.