Vol. 1 - Ch. 109 - Cunning Villain

At that moment, the Green Wolf stood hesitantly beside the vibrant red flowers, its gaze flickering with indecision.

But when it caught sight of Chen Qingyu, who had pursued it into the cave, its hesitation vanished. Without delay, the Green Wolf devoured one of the larger flowers.

Chen Qingyu, though unfamiliar with these peculiar blooms, could sense their extraordinary nature. Instead of fleeing deeper into the wilderness, the Green Wolf had sought this cave specifically to consume these plants.

As expected, the flower’s effects became evident. The Green Wolf’s wounds began to mend, its vitality slowly returning.

When the beast attempted to consume a second flower, Chen Qingyu, already sensing something was amiss, struck swiftly.

The sudden attack forced the Green Wolf to abandon its meal and engage in combat. However, its injuries had yet to heal fully. The earlier blows from Chen Qingyu outside the cave still lingered, and the flower it had just swallowed had not yet taken full effect. In its current state, the Green Wolf was no match for Chen Qingyu.

In just two exchanges, the Green Wolf was sent sprawling across the cave once again.

At that moment, Chen Qingyu’s aura faltered. He dropped into a half-crouch, coughing up blood. His cultivation, previously stable at the mid-Innate Realm, plummeted to the early Innate Realm.

This abrupt decline caused a glint of cunning in the Green Wolf’s eyes. Instead of retreating, it lunged at Chen Qingyu, its instincts urging it to exploit his apparent vulnerability.

As a fierce beast, the Green Wolf’s intelligence was not to be underestimated. It recognized an opportunity when it presented itself.

Yet just as its fangs were poised to strike, the seemingly weakened Chen Qingyu stood tall once more, a faint smile curving his lips. There was no trace of frailty in his stance.

The next moment, Chen Qingyu’s gaze hardened, determination blazing in his eyes. He clenched his fists, and a humanoid shadow materialized in the darkness behind him.

Taizu Long Fist!

With both fists surging with power, Chen Qingyu’s attack engulfed the lunging Green Wolf, leaving it no avenue for escape.

“Cunning villain!”

This was the Green Wolf’s final thought before its life was extinguished by Chen Qingyu’s perfected Taizu Long Fist.

As the lifeless beast collapsed, Chen Qingyu let out a shallow breath, the fatigue he had suppressed finally surfacing.

His condition had been worsening; he knew he had been racing against time. If the Green Wolf had survived, it would have been his downfall.

But fortune favored him. The Green Wolf’s intelligence had sealed its fate—it had failed to recognize that Chen Qingyu still held one final trump card.

Despite his injuries, Chen Qingyu did not immediately leave. His gaze drifted toward the cluster of red flowers scattered across the cave floor. Though the Green Wolf had consumed one, many remained, albeit some were considerably smaller.

He considered his options but refrained from consuming the flowers. Unlike the Green Wolf, his clan’s Divine Tree rendered such risks unnecessary. Even with his grievous injuries, his Innate Realm strength afforded him resilience.

Besides, who could say whether these flowers were poisonous? The Green Wolf might have been able to withstand them, but he was not a beast.

Suddenly, a distant howl echoed through the forest, the sound sending a chill through the air.

Chen Qingyu frowned.

He had forgotten about the rest of the wolf pack.

However, without their leader, the pack no longer posed a threat.

Just as he prepared to confront them, the voices of his clan members reached his ears.

Moments later, the wolves, realizing their leader had fallen, retreated. They needed time to regroup and select a new leader to guide them to a different territory.

A wolf pack would not perish simply because it had lost its leader—much like a family enduring through loss.

“Qingyu, are you all right?”

His clan members arrived at the cave, following his trail. When they saw the lifeless Wolf King and a standing, albeit weary, Chen Qingyu, Chen Xingzhen’s face lit up with relief.

“Well done,” he praised. “Now let’s get you back to the clan for treatment.”

Within the Ancestral Hall, the Divine Tree swayed gently, its branches releasing countless particles of green light. These luminous fragments descended upon the injured clan members, bathing them in a healing glow.

Under the Divine Tree’s blessings, their lost internal organs were swiftly restored.

“Phew, we survived.”

One of the clan members exhaled deeply, his face etched with relief.

The last time they had used the Viscera Ascension Technique, they had been indifferent to its aftermath, confident in the Divine Tree’s power.

But today’s ordeal revealed the harrowing consequences of the technique. Without the Divine Tree’s timely intervention, the agony of losing their organs could have claimed their lives.

This experience deepened their reverence for the Divine Tree.

Without it, the clan’s survival was unthinkable.

Yet, despite the excruciating pain, the Viscera Ascension Technique’s immense power remained a vital tool in their arsenal. The explosive surge it provided was unmatched.

Moreover, those who utilized the technique found their path to the next realm slightly smoother, having tasted its profound strength firsthand.

“I’m not sure what this is,” one clan member murmured, holding up a red flower. “But I brought one back. Perhaps the elders can identify it.”

Outside the Ancestral Hall, Chen Xingzhen examined the flower carefully while listening to Chen Tianyu and the others’ speculation. Though he was older, his knowledge was not as vast as that of the previous generation.

Still, it was evident from Chen Qingyu’s account that these red flowers were extraordinary.

Perhaps it was these flowers that had drawn the Innate Realm Green Wolf to make its home in Chaotic Burial Mountain.

Chen Xingzhen had only brought back a single flower, leaving the rest undisturbed. The cave was close to their territory, and with the wolf pack dispersed, the Chaotic Burial Mountain no longer posed a significant threat.

“Ancestor, what is this?”

Above Chen Xingzhen, ancestral spirits encircled the red flower, their intangible forms brimming with curiosity.

Beside him, Chen Changming narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

“Clan Chief, what should we do with the body of the Innate Realm Green Wolf?”

Chen Xingzhen did not hesitate. “Sacrifice it to the Divine Tree. Select two more Blood Coagulation Realm Green Wolves for the same purpose.”

The expedition had yielded tremendous benefits. The fallen wolves would sustain the clan for some time, their flesh tempering the members’ bodies.

However, the pack’s presence had severely depleted the Chaotic Burial Mountain’s resources.

For the coming months, hunting activities would need to be curbed. Overexploitation risked driving even wild beasts to extinction.

“Understood.”

Above them, Ji Yang silently nodded.

This battle had injured only a dozen clan members, most of whom were Blood Coagulation Realm martial artists. Yet, the recovery effort had consumed a significant amount of Ji Yang’s life force.

Even with his abundant vitality, replenishing it through offerings to the Divine Tree was a welcome reprieve.

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