The Demonic Howl

The Heavenly System Sect, with its six mission groups dispatched, settled into a new rhythm.

The remaining forty disciples, mostly new recruits without innate Qi talent, were diligently working on construction, training, and sect defense under the watchful eyes of Jian and Fang.

Master Glimmer, the cheerful engineer, was practically radiating joy at the progress.

I spent my days overseeing the construction, occasionally making a stone float with my [Basic Elemental Affinity (Earth)] to impress the new recruits (and myself). and my [Minor Combat Prowess System] made me feel ready for any… well, any minor challenges.

My [Points: 4,000] were burning a hole in my dashboard.

I desperately wanted to buy a powerful [Martial Arts System (6th Layer)] for myself, but I was holding back.

What if a truly amazing [Group Support System] appeared in the shop? Or what if I needed points for an emergency?

The days passed in a peaceful, productive blur. The sect was growing, my disciples were thriving, and I was actually starting to feel like a proper Sect Master.

Then, the peace shattered.

A guttural howl, chilling and unnatural, ripped through the valley. It wasn't the familiar grunt of a Bristle-Boar, or the grinding roar of a Boulder-Beast.

This was a sound of pure, predatory malice, laced with an unsettling intelligence.

"What was that?!" I yelled, my [Minor Kinetic Shield] immediately flaring to full power.

Jian, who had been overseeing the construction of a new dormitory, immediately snapped to attention, his eyes wide. "Sect Master! That's… that's a Demonic Howl! A powerful one!"

Fang, who had been supervising a group of disciples practicing their basic Qi techniques, let out a furious grunt. 

Then, it appeared. Leaping over the newly built (and still incomplete) defense wall, a terrifying, monstrous wolf.

It was enormous, easily the size of a small horse, with fur as black as night and eyes that glowed with malevolent crimson light.

And it had three heads. Each head snarled, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs. Its aura was immense, radiating a chilling, oppressive power.

"A Three-Headed Shadow Wolf!" Jian gasped, his face pale. "A Seventh Layer Demonic Beast! How did it get past the outer defenses?!"

My heart plummeted. A Seventh Layer monster! That was stronger than most of my original disciples, stronger than Lyra, stronger than Urg

(who was Eighth Layer, but this was a Demonic Beast).

And my current Qi Layer was… Ninth. I was basically a glorified target practice dummy.

The forty disciples who remained at the sect were mostly non-cultivators, or very new Ninth Layers.

They were trying their best, some bravely trying to form weak Qi shields, others grabbing basic training weapons. But they were terrified. They were just normal humans, trying to become stronger. They needed time!

The Three-Headed Shadow Wolf landed with a soft thump that belied its immense size. Its three heads snarled, its crimson eyes sweeping over the terrified disciples. It was like a nightmare come to life.

"Sect Master Alex!" Fang roared, charging forward, his club raised. "Protect the disciples! I'll hold it off!"

Jian, despite his fear, immediately began directing the other disciples. "Form defensive lines! Prepare basic Qi blasts! Focus on distracting it!"

"No, Fang, wait!" I yelled. He was brave, but he'd be crushed. This wasn't a Boulder-Beast. This was a Seventh Layer Demonic Beast!

My mind raced. [Points: 4,000]. What could I buy? What could save us? I needed something powerful. Something now.

I opened the [SYSTEM SHOP]. My fingers (mentally) flew across the screen.

Scroll. Scroll. I needed a weapon. A powerful one. Something that could actually hurt a Seventh Layer Demonic Beast.

My eyes darted past [Minor Healing Potion] (useless if I'm dead), past [Strength Elixir] (not enough to fight this thing), past [Armor Coating Potion] (it'd just melt).

I went to [MARTIAL ARTS SYSTEMS].

I needed something that would give me immediate, devastating power. I needed something that would turn my awkward sword swings into lethal strikes.

I scrolled past [Martial Arts System (9th Layer)] and [Martial Arts System (8th Layer)]. I needed something higher. Something that could actually fight a Seventh Layer monster.

And there it was. Glowing with a fierce, almost predatory aura.

[Martial Sword Art System (8th Layer)] - Cost: 3,900 Points (Grants complete mastery of an advanced, powerful sword art. Enhances sword speed, precision, and allows for devastating Qi-infused strikes. Can severely wound an 8th Layer cultivator. Requires a sword.)

"Nice!!" I exclaimed aloud, a surge of desperate hope. An 8th Layer Martial Sword Art! That was exactly what I needed! It cost 3,900 points, leaving me with only 100. But it was worth it! This was our only chance.

"Give me a sword, student!" I yelled, my voice ringing with a new authority. I didn't care which student, just a sword!

A terrified young disciple, seeing my desperate plea, fumbled at his belt and pulled out a standard training sword – a simple iron blade, heavy and unadorned. He tossed it to me.

I caught it instinctively. The moment my fingers closed around the hilt, a blinding flash of golden light erupted from me. It wasn't just a system allocation; it was a complete download.

The [Martial Sword Art System (8th Layer)] surged into my mind, my body, my very being.

I felt it. The knowledge. The muscle memory. The perfect stances, the precise footwork, the devastating strikes.

It wasn't just a book I had to study; it was instinct. My [Minor Combat Prowess System] and my Ninth Layer Qi, though weak, seemed to immediately integrate with this new, overwhelming power.

It was like going from driving a tricycle to piloting a fighter jet.

I stood there, the simple iron sword suddenly feeling like an extension of my arm. My white robe billowed around me. I took a stance, one that was both elegant and utterly lethal, a pose that radiated a chilling, undeniable power.

My Qi, though small, flowed through the sword, making the iron blade hum with a faint, golden light.

The Three-Headed Shadow Wolf, which had been about to pounce on Fang, paused. Its three heads tilted, its crimson eyes narrowing, sensing the sudden, drastic shift in my aura. It recognized the danger.

"Come here, my wolfie!" I roared, a wild, confident grin splitting my face. The fear was gone, replaced by a surge of pure, unadulterated battle lust. "Hahahaha! Let's see what you got, you overgrown, multi-headed dog!"

The Three-Headed Shadow Wolf snarled, its three heads baring fangs. It lunged, a blur of black fur and crimson eyes, its claws extended. This was it. Me, a Ninth Layer cultivator with a system-enhanced sword art, against a Seventh Layer Demonic Beast.

I moved. Not with the clumsy dodges of before, but with a fluidity and speed. My sword became a silver blur, dancing through the air, parrying the wolf's claws, deflecting its snapping jaws.

The [Martial Sword Art System (8th Layer)] was incredible. Every movement was precise, every strike aimed at a vital point.

Clang!

My iron sword met the wolf's razor-sharp claw, and a shower of sparks erupted.

My [Minor Kinetic Shield] absorbed the impact, but my arm still vibrated. This thing was tough.

The wolf retaliated, its three heads snapping at me from different angles.

I spun, my sword a whirlwind of motion, deflecting one head, then another. My Qi, though limited, flowed into the blade, making each parry resonate with a surprising force.

"You're fast, little human!" one of the wolf's heads snarled, its voice a low, guttural growl that echoed in my mind. "But you cannot escape all three of us!"

"Oh, I can try, Fido!" I retorted, my grin widening. "And I'm not just fast! I'm systematic!"

I lunged forward, my sword aimed at the wolf's central head. It snarled, trying to bite, but I was faster. My blade sliced through the air, a golden arc of light.

Shhing!

The sword connected. Not with the wolf's head, but with its shoulder. A deep gash appeared, and black, corrupted blood oozed from the wound. The wolf roared in pain, a sound of genuine agony.

"You wounded it!" Fang bellowed, his eyes wide with shock.

Jian, seeing my effectiveness, immediately began directing the other disciples. "Focus your Qi blasts on its legs! Try to slow it down!"

The Three-Headed Shadow Wolf, enraged by the wound, unleashed a wave of dark, corrupted Qi, attempting to overwhelm me. But my sword danced, deflecting the dark energy, weaving through its attacks.

This was a real fight. A thrilling, terrifying, utterly insane fight. My points were almost gone, but the adrenaline was pumping.