C17 Battle of the Blood Wolves(2)

Crack!

Two hefty iron fists were launched simultaneously, instantly crushing the bones and sinews of two Ironback Wolves, their lifeless bodies flung from the battlefield.

Swoosh!

A chilling sensation spread across his back as he was viciously clawed once more. Lin Chen winced in pain, turning in shock and fury to smash one wolf's head to pieces. Then, a sharp pain shot through his calf. Glancing down, he saw an Ironback Wolf clamped onto him, refusing to let go. Lin Chen bellowed in rage and hammered it to death.

"Kill!"

Lin Chen, incensed by the "Wolf Ocean Tactic," decided to disregard his own safety and focus on the peak Rank One Demonic Beasts. He no longer cared about the attacks he was receiving; to do otherwise would only hinder him.

Consequently, the dozen or so peak Rank One Ironback Wolves were in dire straits. Lin Chen pursued them relentlessly, delivering heavy punches that would severely injure even the sturdiest of bodies.

"Kill!"

"Three! Three! Three!"

Lin Chen's eyes blazed with a murderous rage. He ignored the multitude of wolves attacking him, fixated on his targets, and would not cease until he hammered them to death.

Charging fearlessly, Lin Chen was like a demon possessed, wading through the blood-soaked wolf pack, leaving a trail of carnage.

One after another, the peak Rank One Ironback Wolves fell to Lin Chen's iron fists. In just a few minutes, he had slain eight!

"Lin Chen, the Three Linked Force is depleting your Primordial Energy at an alarming rate!" Chen Wuji cautioned him.

Given the substantial boost from the Three Linked Force, the energy consumption was expectedly high. Despite Lin Chen's Primordial Energy being significantly more robust than that of an ordinary seventh stage Body Tempering practitioner, after sustaining the Three Linked Force for half an hour, he was nearly drained.

"Hmph! Even if I'm to die, I'll take a few of them with me," Lin Chen spat out a mouthful of bloody spit, his blood-streaked face twisted in a fierce grimace.

He let out a roar and plunged back into the fray.

"Don't surrender just yet; there's still a sliver of hope for you!" Lin Chen's gaze sharpened. As he crushed another Ironback Wolf that had latched onto his rear, he inquired, "What do you mean by that?"

Even in death, the Ironback Wolf refused to release its grip, its jaws clamped firmly onto Lin Chen's left buttock. Lin Chen, unfazed, allowed it to drag behind him, using it as makeshift cover.

Chen Wuji explained, "Ironback Wolves are social Demonic Beasts. Each pack is led by a Wolf King who commands the troops and orchestrates the battle. If you can identify and kill the Wolf King, you might stand a chance at survival."

"What sets the Wolf King apart from the others?"

"I've been searching myself. Had I found it, I would have already informed you. The Wolf King is undoubtedly stronger than the rest, not to mention more intelligent, cunning, and vicious."

Chen Wuji sighed heavily, "With so many wolves, I've scrutinized most of them and still haven't pinpointed it. But I'm certain it's concealed within the pack, stealthily giving orders."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen couldn't help but smile.

"What's the challenge? Just reverse-engineer the problem. The Wolf King, prioritizing its safety, will surely protect itself. Being the strongest, it's likely concealing its true power right now. The most ferocious usually, it must appear the most harmless at the moment. And if it's leading the pack, it will have distinct mannerisms compared to the others."

Chen Wuji's eyes sparkled with realization; Lin Chen's rapid strategizing was something he hadn't considered.

Lin Chen's eyes turned razor-sharp as he engaged in fierce combat, his movements grand and expansive, yet his gaze was eagle-like, scanning his surroundings.

Not this one; it's too small...

Nor this one; its aura of bloodlust is overwhelming...

Hmm?

Suddenly, Lin Chen's eyes narrowed, focusing on an Ironback Wolf at the fringe of the battlefield.

This particular Ironback Wolf was filthy, its strength merely at the Initial Level, and its menacing growl blended in with the rest of the pack, making it inconspicuous.

Could it be this one? Lin Chen wasn't certain, but something about this wolf seemed off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Damn it! Why the hesitation? There's only one way to find out!"

Lin Chen let out a furious roar, swinging his fists and blasting through the Ironback Wolves. His goal wasn't to kill but to clear the path as quickly as possible. Carving a bloody trail, he strode determinedly toward the "suspicious wolf."

Awoo—

Suddenly, Lin Chen heard the wolf cry out, and in response, the pack went into a frenzy, launching themselves at him with reckless abandon. If they were merely berserk before, now they were utterly maddened, devoid of any strategy as they lunged straight for him, intent on stopping Lin Chen in his tracks.

"Damn it! It was you all along!"

Lin Chen swore, his eyes blazing with fury as the instigator of his wounds finally revealed itself.

"Get out of my way! Kill!"

Lin Chen bellowed, unleashing the Three Linked Force without restraint. His fists left a trail of agonized howls in their wake.

Awoo—

The Wolf King truly lived up to its name, with a sense of smell so keen that it instantly knew it had been exposed. Abandoning all pretense, it let out a thunderous howl to the heavens, its aura shifting dramatically as it surged to the peak of the first level.

Even more potent than the aura of other first-level peak Demonic Beasts Lin Chen had previously defeated, its bloodline talent seemed to grant it dominance over its peers, securing its place as the king of the Ironback Wolf pack.

It began to command the wolves to converge around it, creating a barrier to Lin Chen, while it stealthily retreated.

Lin Chen instantly felt the pressure mount, his lungs nearly bursting with rage as Ironback Wolves piled on him, inflicting significant damage. He lost count of the bites he received and the amount of flesh torn from him.

"You vile creature, think you can escape? If I don't finish you today, my name will be inscribed upside down on my tombstone!"

Lin Chen was seething with rage.

"Die!"

"Three! Three! Three!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"All of you, die!"

Lin Chen, his hair wild and his body soaked in blood, stood amidst the fallen wolves. Each step forward was marked by the dying wails of his adversaries.

"Oh no, Lin Chen, you've depleted your Primordial Energy!"

Chen Wuji exclaimed in shock.

Lin Chen's valor was entirely due to the amplifying effect of the Three Linked Force. Without the supply of Primordial Energy, his strength would plummet by ninety percent, and in no time at all, he'd be ripped to shreds by the wolf pack.

In a sudden move, Lin Chen pulled a Supreme Spirit Pill from his pocket and popped it into his mouth without a second thought.

He crushed it between his teeth, his face contorted with determination, "Hell no! I refuse to have my name inscribed upside down on my tombstone."

Boom!

A fearsome surge of spiritual energy burst forth, flooding his meridians.

The sensation was familiar—the same taste, the same pain!

Chen Wuji stood there, stunned. "Have you lost your mind? You're wreaking havoc on your meridians before they've even fully healed?"

"Ah!"

A roar, more beast than man, pierced the heavens as the pack of Ironback Wolves was blasted apart, the beasts sent tumbling through the air by the force of the blast.

A blood-soaked figure emerged, radiating an aura of extreme ferocity.