C13 Celestial Wolf Mercenary Group

"Though my injuries have healed, I've lost another day. There are just ten days left until the Family Great Competition starts—I need to double down on my cultivation," Ling Yunfan lamented, having just recovered with the aid of Hundred-year Blood Ginseng and an assortment of demonic beast materials.

Currently burdened with a sack brimming with demonic beast claws and similar items, Ling Yunfan found it impractical to move around freely. He was compelled to find a hidden spot to stash his belongings, and fortunately, a large clump of grass nearby provided the perfect cover.

After securing his materials, he took the Hundred-year Blood Ginseng and journeyed several miles away before halting to consume the herb and begin his cultivation practice.

Settling down, Ling Yunfan sat cross-legged and began channeling the Divine Devil Bloodline Power within him, in tandem with the God Devil Exterminating Spell. Without hesitation, he ingested the Hundred-year Blood Ginseng.

As the medicinal herb took effect, a surge of potent Cosmic Spiritual Energy flooded his system, threatening to ravage his internal organs. But thanks to the Divine Devil Bloodline and the God Devil Exterminating Spell, a unique force within Ling Yunfan's dantian swiftly absorbed the otherwise destructive energy.

The Cosmic Spiritual Energy, which might have been adversarial, seemed to be tamed instead, offering no resistance as it was assimilated into his body.

With time's passage, Ling Yunfan's skin, once an intense shade of red, began visibly returning to its natural state. Concurrently, the energy within his dantian swelled, indicating the imminent formation of a cyclone.

"Hah!" In a moment of intensity, Ling Yunfan's eyes snapped open, and he let out a forceful shout. The amassed energy around him scattered from the shockwave, and his aura leaped from Body Refining Level Seven straight to Level Nine, achieving two successive breakthroughs.

Upon reaching Body Refining Level Nine, any residual traces of injury vanished as his level advanced. Moreover, Ling Yunfan's strength soared to an impressive 5,000 pounds.

"Alright, that's enough training for now. Let's spend the rest of our time hunting to earn some funds, just in case we run low on silver later." Ling Yunfan, having stretched his body a bit, was brimming with excitement as he planned his next move.

Despite not knowing about the presence of demonic beasts in the area, Ling Yunfan casually picked a direction and set off.

...

"Captain, we're approaching the lair of those creatures. The demonic energy inside is intense; there could be Rank One Peak Demonic Beasts or even Rank Two Demonic Beasts."

"If there are Rank Two Demonic Beasts in there, we're as good as dead."

"Captain, your orders, please."

At that moment, a group of about thirty people stood outside a cave, with three middle-aged men at the Body Refining Level Seven at the forefront. They looked concerned as they addressed the masked man in the center.

The man in the black mask, clad in tiger hide and radiating the presence of Body Refining Level Nine, responded with a voice cold as ice, "Whether there are Rank One Peak Demonic Beasts or Rank Two Demonic Beasts inside, we need to check it out. We're all in need of silver, and this opportunity won't come again. We must seize it."

With his words hanging in the air, the group cautiously moved toward the pitch-black cave. The night was upon them, and only the moonlight offered any illumination, casting long shadows and leaving much to the imagination. This low visibility made the possibility of a demonic beast ambush all the more perilous, hence the need for vigilance.

Warriors at the Body Refining Stage couldn't mask their auras, making them easy targets for the keenly sensitive demonic beasts that prowled the night.

Aoao... Aoao...

Sure enough, as the group drew closer, a series of booming roars echoed from within the cave.

"Prepare for battle!"

The masked man, aware of the impending threat, swiftly alerted his followers.

At his command, every warrior tensed, weapons at the ready, prepared to strike at a moment's notice.

The noise grew louder and more intense. Suddenly, two enormous bears with brown fur, massive statures, nether blue eyes, and green claws burst out of the cave at full speed.

"A Rank One Peak Demonic Beast, the Azure Blue Explosive Essence Bear!"

"Good heavens, they're on par with a Body Refining Level Nine warrior!"

"We're in for some trouble now."

The emergence of the two Azure Blue Explosive Essence Bears sent everyone into a panic, except for the trio standing by the masked man.

Even the masked man himself couldn't hide his concern; a sheen of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, clearly troubled by the formidable beasts before him.

Puchi... Puchi...

"Wuuwaa... Wuuwaa..."

In their moment of indecision, the bears pounced, unleashing a vicious assault that swiftly ripped apart several individuals at Body Refining Level Six.

"Unacceptable! Face my Vortex Slash!" Enraged by the sudden loss of his comrades, the masked man brandished his middle-grade war sword, channeling the swirling winds into his blade.

Puchi, puchi, puchi.

His four slashes, brimming with razor-sharp wind, struck the Azure Blue Explosive Essence Bears with such force that one bear's arm was severed. Blood sprayed in all directions, yet the bears didn't cry out. Instead, they relentlessly continued their onslaught, seemingly unfazed by the recent attack.

Meanwhile, the masked man was panting heavily, his breaths betraying a hint of weakness.

"Curse it, I didn't think these brutes could evade an attack. I've only got one more shot with the Vortex Slash. If I don't finish them with this next strike, it's all over," he muttered, frustrated by the relentless ferocity of the still-attacking Azure Blue Explosive Essence Bears.

While he wavered, the three companions who had been at his side, despite their Body Refining Level Eight prowess, were no match for the bears.

"Do you need a hand, my friend?" As one person after another fell, Ling Yunfan sat perched on a tree, his lips curling into a faint smile as he called out to the masked man below.

"Brother, I'm Zhuo Ruili, leader of the Celestial Wolf Mercenary Group. I'm hoping you can lend a hand. Once everything's settled, I'll make sure you're well-compensated," said Ling Yunfan. The man behind the mask quickly gauged his opponent's cultivation level, noting the Body Refining Level Nine status. With a respectful bow and a tone of earnest appeal, he responded.

Ling Yunfan merely smiled in return and leapt from the tree, his feet firmly planting on the head of an Azure Blue Explosive Essence Bear with a thud.

Aoao... Aoao...

To the demonic beast, this act of defiance was a deep affront. The bear let out an enraged roar and swung its deadly claws, aiming to dispatch the Human Martial Cultivator daring to tread upon its crown.

Bang!

But as it struck, Ling Yunfan vanished from atop its head. In the next moment, a blazing fist, searing with intense heat, plunged into the bear's belly. The sheer force obliterated its vitals.

Plop.

In the blink of an eye, and before the onlookers could even grasp what had happened, the Azure Blue Explosive Essence Bear lay lifeless.

"Hiss... What a fearsome blow!" The man in the mask watched, eyes wide with astonishment, his heart thundering with awe at the display of power.

Plop.

And just as swiftly, another Azure Blue Explosive Essence Bear met the same fate, collapsing to the ground with eyes wide in terror.