Shortly, he reached the Tier-1 teleportation portal. Without hesitation, Li Yan stepped into it, vanishing from the sect and reappearing in the Hunting Ground.
Without delay, he moved forward. The air here was sharp and cool, carrying faint traces of beastly Qi and the scent of wild herbs.
Passing by the leaderboard on the path to the hunting ground’s entrance, his eyes briefly scanned the rankings.
His name had slipped to sixth place—a drop of three positions in just around forty hours.
His gaze narrowed. "So they’re picking up the pace, too, huh? Good. It’ll make this hunt more interesting."
Without lingering, he entered the hunting ground, following a familiar route toward the Tier-1 deep zone, where magical beasts roamed in packs. Dangerous for most, but perfect for someone like him.
This time, he had a clear goal: to collect 100 beast cores before returning to the sect.
It would take endurance, precision, and strategy. But for Li Yan, this was more than a hunt. It was a test of his resolve—a step closer to strength, reputation, and the ambitions he intended to realize.
The journey was uneventful at first. As Li Yan ventured deeper into the valley, scattered beasts crossed his path. His sword flashed with practiced precision, and his dark Qi surged as he struck them down one after another.
Though the fights were brief, the rewards were limited—only two beast cores from over twenty kills.
Still, he pressed on, quickening his pace toward the deeper area of the Hunting Ground.
He was scanning the surroundings with his Spiritual Sense when a chilling roar tore through the Hunting Ground.
Instincts sharpened, he sprinted toward the sound without hesitation. Cresting a rocky ridge, his eyes fell upon a battle raging in a clearing below.
A pack of five Frost Wolves, their sleek bodies coated in glimmering ice, surrounded two sect disciples. The boys, clad in white robes, were clearly struggling.
The first, a stout youth with blue hair and eyes, swung his sword in desperation. Dark Qi flared along the blade, forming a crescent slash aimed at a wolf’s head. But the beast deflected it with its claw, frost crystals forming along the arc before shattering into harmless shards.
The second boy, lean with black hair and brown eyes, darted toward another wolf, his sword crackling with dark Qi. He managed to wound the beast’s leg, drawing blood and forcing it to limp, but the wolves’ numbers and coordination left no opening for rest.
Among them, a larger wolf stood out—the pack leader, its aura stronger and more oppressive than the rest. It barked sharply, commanding the others with chilling precision.
The boys fought valiantly, but fatigue was setting in fast. The blue-haired disciple’s arms trembled, and the other’s movements slowed with each dodge.
Li Yan’s eyes narrowed. He sensed the cultivation of both disciples; both at the Qi Gathering Realm (Stage-5).
Li Yan understood their situation. If he didn’t intervene, they would suffer serious injuries—perhaps worse.
He gripped his sword as he infused it with dark Qi, humming along the blade.
Without hesitation, he leapt down into the clearing, his voice ringing out. "Hold on! I’ll assist!"
Both boys turned toward the sound—eyes wide with shock. "Careful!" the blue-haired one shouted. "These wolves are stronger than they look!"
Li Yan didn’t answer. His figure blurred as he dashed forward, intercepting a wolf mid-pounce. His blade sliced through the air, a flash of dark energy striking the beast’s side and forcing it back with a snarl.
The other wolves growled, their attention now split between the boys and the newcomer. The pack leader barked sharply, commanding two of its kin to focus on Li Yan.
Li Yan smirked, stance steady. "Let’s see how you handle me."
The first wolf lunged, frost-coated claws aimed at his chest. Li Yan sidestepped in one fluid motion, countering with a precise slash that left a dark gash along its flank. The second came from behind, but he twisted sharply, deflecting its strike with a metallic clang.
"Focus on defending yourselves!" he said to the boys. "I’ll deal with these two first!"
The blue-haired boy nodded, pulling his exhausted companion back to regroup. They braced themselves defensively.
Li Yan’s dark Qi surged as he advanced, movements fluid and relentless. Within moments, the first wolf fell under a decisive blow, and the second retreated, limping.
The remaining three, including the pack leader, regrouped cautiously—icy blue eyes fixed on him.
"This will be quick," Li Yan muttered, tightening his grip on his sword.
The wolves snarled, frost glinting on their fangs. Their aggression met Li Yan’s calm determination. Steadying his breath, he gathered Qi into his blade, which began to emit a faint, ominous glow.
With a slight shift in stance, he activated Phantom Dash.
His body blurred, leaving a faint afterimage as he closed the distance to the pack leader in an instant. The great wolf barely twitched before Li Yan’s blade sliced cleanly through its neck. The body hit the ground with a dull thud, lifeless.
The other wolves froze—then tried to retreat.
Li Yan didn’t give them the chance. His movements flowed like water, his every strike deliberate, precise, and fatal. The last beasts fell within seconds, their icy frames shattering under the force of his Qi.
Silence reclaimed the clearing.
Only the soft rustle of leaves and the fading hum of dissipating Qi remained.
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Li Yan stood amidst the fallen wolves, his expression calm as he flicked the blood from his blade.
The two boys stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief. Their weapons hung loosely at their sides, trembling slightly as they stared at the young man who had just slaughtered the Frost Wolves like they were nothing.
"Did… did he just—" the stout boy stammered.
"Kill them all in one strike each?" the slim one finished, voice barely above a whisper.
They exchanged a bewildered glance. Despite his white robes marking him as a Qi Gathering Realm disciple, Li Yan’s strength was far beyond what they expected. Stranger still, neither of them could sense his cultivation—an unmistakable sign that his cultivation surpassed their own.
Their gazes followed him as Li Yan crouched to inspect the wolves’ bodies. Suddenly, a faint glow drew their attention. One of the beasts emitted a soft light, and moments later, a Beast Core emerged from its chest, hovering briefly in the air before settling on the ground.
The stout boy snapped from his daze first, bowing slightly. "Thank you, Senior Brother! We would’ve been in serious trouble without your help."
Li Yan straightened and sheathed his sword with calm efficiency. "It’s nothing," he said mildly. "I was just passing by and saw you were in danger."
His composed tone only deepened their astonishment. The slim boy swallowed hard before stepping forward. "Senior Brother, it must be effortless for you to fight even in this area of the Hunting Ground."
Li Yan cast them a sidelong glance. "Maybe for me," he replied evenly. "But for you two, coming here at your current cultivation is practically suicide. What were you thinking?"
The slim boy hesitated, gaze dropping. The stout one answered instead—his voice steady but laced with guilt. "You’re right, Senior Brother, but… we urgently need to earn Shadow Points."
Li Yan raised an eyebrow. "Urgently? What’s so important that you’d risk your lives?"
The stout boy exchanged a glance with his companion before replying. "We’re trying to buy higher-tier weapons before the White Rank Competition. With better gear, we’ll have a better chance of winning better rewards."
"Competition?" Li Yan’s interest stirred. "When is this happening?"
The boys blinked, exchanging surprised looks. The slim one asked hesitantly, "Senior Brother… How do you not know? It’s one of the sect’s biggest annual events!"
"I’m new to the sect," Li Yan replied calmly. "Just joined a few days ago. You can call me Li Yan."
Both boys froze. "New?" the slim one echoed in disbelief. "But—how are you already so strong? Every newcomer is at Qi Gathering Realm (Stage-1), not… whatever level you are."
Li Yan shrugged lightly. "Let’s just say I’m a rare case."
The stout boy’s eyes widened further, realization dawning on him. "Li Yan? Senior Brother—do you mean Li Yan Tian, the one at the top ten of the White Rank Leaderboard?!"
The slim boy’s jaw dropped.
Li Yan nodded casually. "Yes, that’s me. Now, tell me more about this competition."
The way they looked at him changed instantly.
The slim boy quickly composed himself, bowing respectfully. "Senior Brother Li, the competition starts in just four weeks."
The stout boy quickly retrieved a thin sheet of parchment from his ring, handing it over. "Here, Senior Brother Li. This has all the details, including the rewards."
Li Yan accepted it, noticing immediately that the words shimmered faintly with a golden outline.
At the top, glowing in bold golden words: White Rank Competition
Below that, the rewards were neatly listed:
- Ranks 51 and below: 1,000 Shadow Points and one Tier-3 Mid-Level Qi Gathering Pill
- Ranks 11–50: 1,500 Shadow Points, one Tier-3 Mid-Level Qi Gathering Pill, and one Tier-2 High-Level weapon
- Ranks 4–10: 2,500 Shadow Points, one Tier-3 Mid-Level Qi Gathering Pill, one Tier-3 Mid-Level weapon, and one Mortal Tier Low-Level Combat Technique
- 2nd & 3rd Place: 3,500 Shadow Points, one Tier-3 Mid-Level Qi Gathering Pill, two Tier-3 High-Level weapons, and one Mortal Tier Mid-Level Combat Technique
- 1st Place: 5,000 Shadow Points, two Tier-3 Mid-Level Qi Gathering Pills, two Tier-4 High-Level weapons, and a chance to enter the Ancient Techniques Hall to learn higher-level techniques
His gaze lingered on the final line.
A chance to enter the Ancient Techniques Hall.
That alone was worth the entire competition.
At the bottom, a timer ticked down—27 days remaining.
Li Yan nodded in approval and handed the parchment back. "The rewards are impressive. Still, I suggest you stick to the outer zones for now. It’s safer—and you’ll avoid dying before the competition even starts."
The boys exchanged glances, then nodded in understanding and respect.
Li Yan’s sharp gaze softened slightly. "By the way, what are your names?" he asked, tone calm yet authoritative.
The stout boy stepped forward first, face flushed with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "My name is Bai Shan, Senior Brother Li."
The slim one followed, bowing slightly. "I am Lin Feng, Senior Brother Li."
Li Yan acknowledged both with a small nod of approval.
Lin Feng hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his voice filled with a mix of hope and determination. "Senior Brother Li, if you don’t mind… may we join you in your hunt? We could learn a lot from someone as skilled as you."
Li Yan shook his head, his voice firm yet calm. "Sorry, but I hunt alone."
The boys exchanged glances but didn’t protest. They had already seen the gap between their strength and his—it was clear they would only slow him down.
Seeing their understanding, Li Yan fell silent for a moment. Though he preferred solitude, their sincerity stirred a faint sense of responsibility within him.
He had accepted his fate tied to the Shadow Haven Sect, and helping fellow disciples, even in small ways, didn’t seem like a bad thing.
Without another word, he waved his hand. A flash of light flared from his storage ring, and over twenty beast corpses materialized on the forest floor—bloodthirsty foxes, iron-scale boars, shadow panthers, and more.
Bai Shan and Lin Feng froze, eyes wide, jaws slack.
Li Yan pointed toward the pile of corpses, including the wolves they had just fought and the Frost Wolf beast core still glowing faintly beside them. "It’s getting late," he said evenly.
"Take these with you, along with that wolf core. That should be enough to earn a good amount of Shadow Points. Hunt in the outer area for now—it’s safer. Don’t return to the inner region until you can defend yourselves."
Bai Shan and Lin Feng stood silent, disbelief written all over their faces. Acts of generosity like this were rare—especially with something as valuable as beast cores.
Bai Shan was the first to recover, bowing deeply. "Thank you, Senior Brother Li! We won’t forget this kindness."
Lin Feng followed suit, his tone firm and sincere. "We’ll use these resources wisely, Senior Brother Li. Next time, when we return to this area, we’ll be strong enough to stand on our own."
Li Yan’s lips curved into a faint smirk. "Good. Be careful. Now go—I’ve got my own hunt to continue."
The boys quickly stored the corpses and the core into their rings, gratitude shining in their eyes. After one last respectful bow, they retreated toward the outer forest, their steps lighter and more determined than before.
As their silhouettes vanished between the trees, Li Yan turned his gaze toward the dense, shadowed depths ahead. The faint roars of beasts and rustling leaves echoed through the hunting ground—reminders that danger and opportunity were never far apart.
"Ancient Techniques Hall…" he murmured, fingers brushing against his sword hilt. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "That sounds worth checking out."
With that, he stepped forward, his figure blurred, as he looked for the next targets.