Chapter 5 :Shadows of the Past

Chapter 5: Shadows of the Past

The cold night air carried a faint mist as Bai Yuan and Ling Xi pressed deeper into Black Sun Ridge. The battle with the bandits had left behind a lingering tension, but Bai Yuan walked with an easy stride, his hands clasped behind his head as though he hadn't just fought off multiple opponents with ease.

Ling Xi, on the other hand, remained vigilant. "These weren't just ordinary bandits," she murmured. "The leader's cultivation was at the Sixth Stage of the Harmonization Realm. That's not something you see every day in a random gang of robbers."

Bai Yuan nodded. "True. Either this ridge is more dangerous than I thought, or someone powerful is running things behind the scenes."

Just as he finished speaking, his Tactical Awareness activated once more.

[Lifeforms detected. Estimated threat level: High.]

Before he could react, the ground beneath them trembled. A deep, guttural growl echoed through the forest, sending chills down their spines. A pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness, followed by a massive beast covered in dark iron-like scales. Its Qi fluctuations suggested it was at the Eighth Stage of the Meridian Embodiment Realm.

"A Dark Iron Blood Wolf," Ling Xi breathed. "A beast of this level shouldn't be this close to the outer region."

Bai Yuan smirked. "Guess we're just lucky."

The beast lunged, its enormous claws ripping through the space where Bai Yuan had stood just a moment before. He twisted midair, landing gracefully on a tree branch, while Ling Xi rolled to the side, already forming a defensive stance.

[Analyzing Target… Weak Points Found. Suggested Combat Approach: High-Speed Piercing Attacks.]

Bai Yuan cracked his knuckles. "Alright, big guy. Let's dance."

He shot forward like a shadow, his fists glowing with compressed Qi. His strikes landed against the beast's armor-like hide, sending shockwaves through its massive body. The Dark Iron Blood Wolf howled in pain but retaliated with a vicious tail sweep.

Ling Xi used the distraction to move. With a flick of her wrist, multiple silver needles shot toward the beast's joints, embedding themselves into the gaps in its armor. The wolf staggered, its movements slowing.

"Now!" she shouted.

Bai Yuan didn't hesitate. He channeled all his Qi into a single devastating punch, aimed directly at the beast's skull. The air cracked as his fist connected, and a massive force reverberated through the forest. The wolf let out a final, pained growl before collapsing to the ground, motionless.

[Enemy Defeated. Qi Absorption Process Initiated.]

Bai Yuan felt a surge of vitality rush through him as his cultivation subtly refined itself. He exhaled, feeling stronger than before. Ling Xi wiped sweat from her brow and glanced at him with renewed curiosity.

"You keep proving you're no ordinary cultivator," she mused. "Where exactly did you come from?"

Bai Yuan simply grinned. "Let's just say I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Before Ling Xi could press further, they heard the distant sound of movement. A group of figures approached from the darkness, clad in robes embroidered with a crimson serpent insignia.

Ling Xi's expression darkened. "The Crimson Serpent Hall."

Bai Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Friends of yours?"

She clenched her fists. "Far from it. They're a notorious faction that controls a large part of this region's underworld. If they're here, it means trouble."

Bai Yuan's smirk widened. "Good. I was starting to get bored."

The figures closed in, their leader stepping forward with an arrogant sneer. "Hand over the wolf's corpse and we might let you live."

Bai Yuan cracked his neck, loosening his shoulders. "You can try and take it."

The air grew heavy with tension as both sides prepared for battle. The night was far from over.