The forest smelled of iron and death. Broken wolf corpses littered the clearing, black blood soaking into the soil.
Long Chen wiped his blade clean with a torn wolf pelt, then slid it back into its sheath. His eyes glimmered faintly golden, as if the battle had only whetted the hunger in his veins.
Zhang Mu sat slumped against a tree, trembling. His face was pale, yet his eyes burned with awe. "You… killed the Alpha alone…"
Zhang Wei stood beside her brother, silent. Her blade was stained crimson, her breaths sharp and controlled. But her gaze never left Long Chen's back. That golden phantom, the devouring flames—those were not the powers of an ordinary disciple.
By dusk, the trio reached Silverleaf. Smoke rose from chimneys, children ran barefoot in the dirt streets. But fear lingered in every villager's eyes.
When the hunters at the gate saw the ironback core glowing in Long Chen's hand, relief swept over them.
"The wolves… truly slain?"
"The Alpha too?"
Long Chen tossed the core at their feet. "The threat is gone. Your village is safe."
Cheers erupted. Villagers poured into the square, bowing deeply. An elder, his hair white as frost, stepped forward. Tears welled in his eyes as he clasped Long Chen's hands.
"Hero! Our people are in your debt. We thought no sect would ever care for common folk like us…"
Long Chen's expression remained calm, yet a faint warmth stirred in his chest. He had not come for gratitude—but neither did he despise it.
Zhang Mu grinned sheepishly, puffing his chest. "We helped too!"
The elder chuckled kindly, handing Zhang Mu and Zhang Wei small pouches of dried herbs. When he turned back to Long Chen, however, he pressed something heavier into his palm—a fragment of jade etched with strange patterns.
"This… was left behind by travelers years ago. No one here understands it. But perhaps it will aid you."
The System chimed faintly:
[ Item Acquired ]
Mysterious Jade Fragment (Origin Dao Resonance: ???)
Effect: Unknown.
Long Chen's brows rose slightly. The fragment pulsed with faint energy, unlike anything in the lower realm. He tucked it away.
Back at Azure Cloud Mountain, Long Chen stepped into the Mission Hall once more. The steward barely looked up as he pressed the wolf core into the glowing jade tablet.
The tablet flared, words appearing:
[ Mission Complete ]
Ironback Wolves Subjugation: Success.
Reward Granted: +15 Contribution Points.
Additional Bonus: Ironback Core refined → +3 Contribution Points.
The steward's lazy expression froze. His eyes widened, snapping toward Long Chen.
"You… you slew the Alpha?"
The hall stirred. Disciples crowded closer, whispers rising like storm winds.
"Impossible. The Alpha was late Foundation Establishment."
"He returned alive… and stronger?"
"Is this Long Chen even human?"
The steward reluctantly handed him a small jade slip. "These are your earned points. You may now access sect resources—basic manuals, pills, and weapons. Don't squander them."
Long Chen accepted the slip without a word. The crowd's eyes burned with equal parts awe and fear.
As he left the hall, hostile gazes pressed upon him. The arrogant youth from before—face twisted with jealousy—watched from the crowd.
"He survived… and even gained contribution points. If this continues, he'll rise above us all…"
His cronies hissed softly, "Senior Brother, should we strike now?"
The youth's lips curved into a cruel smile. "Not yet. Let him grow. The taller the tree, the harder it falls. We'll break him when the Elders are watching."
Later that night, Long Chen sat in meditation, the jade slip of contribution points glowing beside him. His cultivation surged from the wolf essence still swirling in his veins.
The System pulsed again:
[ Status Update ]
Realm: Foundation Establishment (Mid)
Bloodline Purity: 23%
New Trait: Beast Qi Assimilation unlocked.
Effect: Devour beast cores directly to enhance cultivation.
Golden flames flickered in his dantian. The phantom dragon coiled tighter, hungrier.
Long Chen's lips curved faintly. This is only the beginning. If beasts and pills are not enough… then even cultivators will become prey.
Far above the sect, in the Elder Hall, a pair of old eyes watched the Mission Hall through a glowing crystal.
"This boy… in one night, from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment. In one week, slaying an Alpha beast. His body resonates with… something ancient."
Another elder frowned. "It is dangerous to nurture monsters."
The first elder smiled faintly. "Or perhaps, it is dangerous not to."