The sun had begun its journey towards the zenith when Wei Shen shot out from his hiding place behind the large rock like an arrow. There was no trace of hesitation in his movement, only a cold, lethal focus. His right ivory dagger, infused with third-level "Blood Qi," aimed directly at the neck of a "Gray Wolf" that had strayed slightly from its companion.
The wolf, a spiritual beast at the second level of Qi Condensation, possessed keen senses. The moment Wei Shen moved, the wolf turned its dark gray head, its yellow eyes gleaming with savage cunning and imminent danger.
The wolf let out a low, deep roar—not one of surprise, but of challenge and warning. In the same instant, it leaped backward with startling agility, dodging Wei Shen's fatal thrust aimed at its throat.
"Fast… and unexpectedly agile for a beast of this size," Wei Shen thought as he quickly regained his balance, his ivory dagger slicing through the air. He had only managed to nick a few hairs from the wolf's thick fur
The wolf gave him no further chance.
It lunged at him like lightning, its mouth open revealing sharp yellow fangs, its powerful front claws tearing at the earth as it charged. Wei Shen noticed a faint aura of dark gray "Qi," like flying ash, surrounding the wolf's claws, indicating they carried additional spiritual power.
Wei Shen narrowly dodged the first attack, using all the agility and strength he had gained from reaching the third level. He felt the heat of the wolf's foul breath wash over his face and the force of its claws passing a mere inch from his chest.
"This wolf… is not just physical strength; it possesses clear control over its own Qi," Wei Shen realized, retreating two steps.
There was no time for lengthy analysis. The second wolf, which had been observing from a distance, began to move slowly, attempting to encircle Wei Shen.
"Two… this will make things more complicated," Wei Shen thought, his mind racing to calculate the available options. "I must finish the first one quickly, or separate them."
He decided to focus on the first wolf he had already engaged, which seemed more aggressive and enraged after the failed attack.
The first wolf lunged again, and this time, a cloud of dense black ash spewed from its open mouth, heading straight for Wei Shen's face.
"A special ability!" Wei Shen dodged the cloud with difficulty, feeling a slight burning in his eyes and nose from the acrid dust. "It uses ash for camouflage and to hinder the opponent. I must not let it control my field of vision."
Wei Shen exploited the moment the wolf was releasing the ash cloud and dashed towards it from a low angle, aiming his ivory dagger at its front paws. It was a swift, harsh blow, driven by the "Blood Qi" that was now concentrated in his arm like a cold, powerful current.
He heard a muffled impact, then a sharp cry of pain from the wolf. He had hit his target. It wasn't a deep wound, as the wolf's hide was thick and tough, but it was enough to momentarily hinder the wolf's forward movement.
"A potential weak point… joints and less protected parts," Wei Shen registered in his mind.
But the second wolf wasn't waiting. It shot out like a shadow and attacked Wei Shen from his left flank.
Wei Shen had anticipated this attack. He twisted his body quickly, using the short spear tipped with a steel claw, which he carried in his left hand, to parry the wolf's assault. The wolf's steel-like claws clashed with the tiger's claw mounted on the spear, sending out small sparks, and a sharp, metallic scraping sound filled the air.
Wei Shen managed to block the attack, but the force of the impact pushed him back several steps, and he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder as he struggled to maintain his grip on the spear.
"Immense strength!" he thought, seeing the second wolf prepare for another attack. "These two work in harmony. I must separate them, or face the danger of being surrounded."
Wei Shen began to move in a circular pattern, trying to keep both wolves in his field of vision and avoiding any attempt by them to encircle him. It was a battle taxing on nerves and body. Every attack from the wolves was swift and powerful, and every evasion required him to use his "Blood Qi" carefully and precisely, so as not to deplete his energy quickly.
He noticed that the venomous "Blood Qi" he cultivated had a slight effect on the wolves. When his dagger, imbued with this Qi, wounded one of them, the wound seemed to heal more slowly, and the wolf would recoil for a moment as if feeling something uncomfortable seeping into its body.
It wasn't an instantly fatal poison, but it added another layer of pressure on his opponents.
"This new edge in the Qi… is effective," Wei Shen thought coldly. "I must exploit it."
He decided to focus his attacks on the first wolf, which he had previously injured in the leg and which now seemed slightly slower in its movements. If he could eliminate one quickly, his chances of dealing with the other would increase significantly.
He waited for the opportune moment. When the injured wolf lunged at him again, limping slightly, Wei Shen didn't retreat. Instead, he advanced to meet it, and at the last moment, he ducked low, narrowly evading its fangs that almost closed on his neck.
Simultaneously, he thrust his right ivory dagger with all his might into the wolf's exposed belly.
The dagger pierced the thick hide and sank deep. The wolf let out a horrific cry of pain that made Wei Shen's own body tremble, then it collapsed onto its side, dark blood gushing profusely from the fatal wound.
Wei Shen gave it no chance to recover. He withdrew his dagger, then stabbed it again, directly into its heart, ending its life instantly.
The second wolf, which had been preparing to attack from behind, stopped abruptly when it saw its companion fall.
It looked at Wei Shen, its yellow eyes gleaming with anger, caution, and perhaps fear. It let out a mournful, angry roar, then, instead of attacking, it slowly retreated a step, then another.
"It's hesitating," Wei Shen observed, catching his breath, his hand gripping his bloodstained dagger. "It has seen a strength surpassing its estimations."
Wei Shen was not in a condition to pursue the second wolf at that moment. He was exhausted, his old wound had slightly reopened, and he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder from parrying the wolf's attack. Moreover, the fight with the first wolf had drained a significant portion of his "Blood Qi."
He contented himself with watching the second wolf slowly retreat, then turn and disappear among the trees, letting out one last mournful roar before the silence of the forest swallowed it.
Wei Shen stood for several minutes, breathing deeply, regaining his composure. It had been a fierce battle.
He looked at the carcass of the first wolf lying before him. It was larger and more powerful than any previous prey. Its blood and spiritual core… would be excellent fuel for the "Blood-Devouring Stone," and perhaps… enough to push him to the threshold of the fourth level.
"Two would have been better," he thought coldly as he wiped the blood from his dagger. "But one of this kind… is much better than nothing. And the other… I will return for it later."
He immediately began the process of gathering the spoils. He knew the scent of blood would soon attract more predators. Time was precious.