Xiao Lianfeng’s reasoning was clear, and the others acknowledged his point.
With their plan set, Yue Xueyan raised her hand, sending a faint ripple through the air.
A soft mist of translucent petals spread around them, shimmering faintly under the light. Xiao Lianfeng’s brows furrowed slightly.
The petals swirled in a slow, mesmerizing dance, as if a gentle breeze had carried them along. But he wasn’t fooled by their beauty.
Beneath their elegance, Xiao Lianfeng could sense their true purpose – distorting vision and suppressing presence.
He sent a mental transmission to Lin Yijun. ‘Brother Yijun, this is… Veil of Falling Petals, right?’
Lin Yijun, who had been watching the petals drift nodded. ‘Yeah, it is. Pretty, isn’t it?’
‘That’s not the point.’ Xiao Lianfeng replied bluntly.
‘I know, I know.’
‘It’s a high-saint rank concealment technique from the Snow Petal Sect. A real hassle to deal with if you’re on the receiving end.’
Xiao Lianfeng wasn’t surprised that Lin Yijun knew. Unlike him, who immersed himself in tireless practice, Lin Yijun wasn’t as obsessed with combat.
But when it came to knowledge of techniques, formations, and cultivation methods, Lin Yijun was rarely wrong.
Lin Yijun stretched. ‘Still, using this before a hunt? Cold-faced Senior Yue sure is meticulous.’
Xiao Lianfeng ignored him, his attention already shifting back to the surroundings. As the petals settled, he instinctively suppressed his spiritual qi, making himself as unnoticeable as possible. The others did the same.
Yue Xueyan, still silent, took the lead, her flying sword soaring forward. The three followed closely behind, their figures blending into the mist of petals.
The hunt had begun.
As they descended toward their targets, all four remained on high alert. They had already detected the demonic beasts ahead, but the beasts likely sensed them as well.
Demonic beasts were cunning by nature. They might appear relaxed, but it could be nothing more than a well-laid trap.
The group advanced cautiously, minimizing any sound.
Suddenly, Hua Feixue’s voice echoed in their minds. ‘Netherbone Wolves!’
Ahead of them, the demonic beasts came into view.
The largest among them was a towering figure of bone-white fur, nearly the size of a war elephant. Its jagged spine jutted out like a row of uneven spears, and every breath it exhaled carried a corrosive mist.
Surrounding it were four smaller wolves, each the size of a horse, their ash-gray fur blending into the shadows.
Their fangs dripped with a thick, black saliva, sizzling as it hit the ground, leaving small, eroded marks wherever it landed.
‘That Lesser Grand is going to be trouble.’ Lin Yijun muttered.
Xiao Lianfeng’s grip on his bulky sword tightened. ‘The Peak Elites and Greater Elites are no pushovers either. Don’t get careless.’
The Netherbone Wolves hadn’t noticed them yet, or if they had, they were pretending not to.
Their ears twitched now and then, eyes half-lidded as if uninterested, but none of the four lowered their guard. These were sly demonic beasts, known for laying ambushes and baiting overconfident prey.
Yue Xueyan sent a single thought to the group. ‘Move into position. We strike first.’
With silent understanding, they dispersed, inching closer to their marks.
Yue Xueyan’s sword glowed with a chilling light as she raised it. A cold aura expnded, making the surroundings feel like the heart of winter.
“Thousand Sword Dance.”
In an instant, swords of ice and light materialized around her. They hovered for a breath, then shot forward like a storm, aiming to pierce through the Netherbone Wolves before they could react.
The Lesser Grand Netherbone Wolf let out a deep, rumbling growl. Its fur bristled, and a thick mist erupted from its body. The mist formed a barrier, absorbing the impact of Yue Xueyan’s attack.
The storm of swords clashed against the mist, some cutting through but losing momentum before they could land a fatal hit.
Lin Yijun clicked his tongue. ‘It’s using a qi mist to block attacks. That thing’s not going to be easy to kill.’
Xiao Lianfeng didn’t wait. He had no patience for defensive games. His bulky sword let out a deep hum as he swung it forward, his strength causing the air to crack.
“Titan’s Wrath!”
His sword smashed into the ground, unleashing a shockwave that tore through the earth, carving a direct path toward the wolves.
The four smaller Netherbone Wolves reacted instantly. Their bodies flickered as they used Nether Step, leaving behind afterimages that burst into black bone dust.
The dust spread through the air, turning the battlefield into a murky haze.
Hua Feixue covered her nose. “Ugh, this is annoying!”
The Netherbone Wolves didn’t just dodge – they retaliated. Their mouth opened, and a high-pitched howls filled the air. Bone spikes erupted from their backs, shooting toward the group.
Hua Feixue’s hands glowed with cold light as she clapped them together. “Winter Lotus!”
A lotus of ice bloomed around them, its petals overlapping to form a sturdy barrier. The bone shards struck the lotus, embedding into its frozen layers.
For a moment, it held strong – but then, a sharp crack echoed through the air.
The lotus shattered.
Splinters of ice flew in all directions as the bone shards broke through, forcing the group to react.
Yue Xueyan stepped forward, a thin layer of frost spreading from her feet. With a flick of her wrist, she deflected the remaining bone shards before they could reach anyone.
Lin Yijun didn’t hesitate. His sword shone with a faint blue glow as he dashed forward, his movements as fluid as water.
“Whispering Tidal Slash!”
His sword cut through the mist. He targeted one of the Peak Elite Netherbone Wolves. The wolf dodged, but Lin Yijun’s attack curved unnaturally, following its movement like a relentless tide.
The blade slashed across its side, drawing a deep wound.
The injured wolf snarled, but before it could counter, Hua Feixue appeared beside it. Her palms glowed with white light as she launched a barrage of strikes.
“Petal Snow Palm!”
Each hit landed with force, her palms leaving behind frost where they struck. The wolf howled as its body stiffened from the cold.
Xiao Lianfeng focused on the two Greater Elite Wolves. His sword descended like a falling mountain, heavy and unstoppable.
