Leaving the bustling activity of the Contribution Hall and the relative safety of the Outer Sect grounds behind, Lin Fan passed through the northern gate, the boundary between sect territory and the untamed wilderness that stretched outwards for countless miles. The air immediately felt different – wilder, carrying the scent of damp earth, decaying leaves, and the faint, distant musk of unknown beasts.
He consulted the task token, confirming the map coordinates for Sector Gamma of the Silent Woods. It lay several hours northwest by normal foot travel. Lin Fan, however, had no intention of traveling normally.
Taking a deep breath, he activated his enhanced Wind Step Technique. With a surge of his fifth layer Qi, significantly more efficient thanks to the Enhancement Token, he shot forward. His figure blurred, becoming a phantom gliding over the uneven terrain. Trees, rocks, and streams flew past in a dizzying rush. His speed was easily three or four times that of a regular Outer Sect disciple sprinting flat out, and thanks to the reduced Qi cost, he could maintain this pace for extended periods without significant drain. He felt a thrill course through him – this was true freedom of movement.
The landscape gradually changed. The relatively managed paths near the sect gave way to dense forest. Ancient trees with thick, gnarled roots towered overhead, their dense canopy blocking out much of the afternoon sun, casting the forest floor in perpetual twilight. True to its name, the Silent Woods possessed an eerie quietude. Birdsong was sparse, the usual rustling of small animals strangely absent. Only the whisper of the wind through the leaves and the sound of Lin Fan's own unnaturally fast passage broke the silence.
Following the coordinates etched onto the task token, Lin Fan delved deeper, reaching the designated Sector Gamma within an hour and a half – a journey that would have taken others half a day. This sector seemed even denser and darker than the outer edges. Here, the silence felt heavier, charged with unseen tension.
Now came the harder part: tracking the Shadowfang Wolf pack. Lin Fan slowed his pace, his enhanced senses scanning the surroundings. His fifth layer cultivation sharpened his sight even in the dim light, and his hearing could pick up the faintest snap of a twig or distant rustle. He began moving in a careful pattern, searching for signs.
It didn't take long. He found large, canine paw prints pressed into a patch of damp earth – significantly larger than those of common wolves. Nearby, a thick branch bore deep scratch marks, likely territorial markings. Further on, he discovered the gruesome remnants of a kill – the half-eaten carcass of a Horned Rabbit, its bones cracked and marrow sucked dry. The signs were fresh, no more than a few hours old.
He noted the size variance in the tracks – several sets indicated typical adult wolves, but one set was noticeably larger, deeper, radiating a faint pressure that spoke of significant strength. The Alpha.
Following the trail, Lin Fan moved with increased caution, utilizing his Silent Step Insoles which subtly dampened the sound of his footfalls, complementing his already swift and quiet Wind Step movements. The Flowing Shadow Sword remained sheathed, but his hand rested near the hilt, ready to draw it instantly.
He was deep within the wolves' territory now. The eerie silence was broken by a sudden, low growl echoing from the dense thicket to his left.
Almost simultaneously, three dark shapes exploded from the undergrowth.
Shadowfang Wolves. They were large, easily the size of ponies, covered in shaggy, dark grey fur that blended seamlessly with the gloom. Their eyes glowed with a faint, predatory red light, and unnaturally long fangs dripped saliva. They moved with incredible speed and coordination, fanning out to flank him instantly – classic pack hunting tactics. One lunged straight for his throat, while the other two circled, seeking openings. Lin Fan gauged their auras – two felt like solid fourth layer beasts, while the one leading the charge was clearly fifth layer, matching his own cultivation level.
Scouts, or maybe just part of the main pack, Lin Fan assessed calmly.
He didn't flinch. As the lead wolf leaped, jaws snapping, Lin Fan activated Wind Step, blurring backwards just out of reach. In the same fluid motion, his hand became a streaks of light as the Flowing Shadow Sword was unsheathed.
Schwing!
He met the fifth layer wolf's momentum with a precise upward slash, infusing the blade with his dense Qi. The sword cut cleanly through the wolf's foreleg, eliciting a pained yelp.
Before the injured wolf could react, Lin Fan spun, Wind Step carrying him towards one of the circling fourth layer wolves. This one tried to employ a signature Shadowfang tactic – its form flickered, momentarily becoming semi-transparent, like a shifting shadow, as it lunged.
But Lin Fan's senses were sharp. He tracked the subtle disturbance in the air and launched a Wind Blade from his free hand. The crescent of Qi slammed into the flickering shadow, forcing the wolf back into solidity with a surprised snarl as the energy disrupted its technique. Lin Fan didn't hesitate, his sword flashing again in a tight arc that severed the wolf's neck. It dropped silently to the forest floor.
One down.
The third wolf, seeing its packmates injured and killed so quickly, let out a threatening growl and spat a glob of corrosive black saliva – another Shadowfang ability. Lin Fan sidestepped easily with Wind Step, the black spittle sizzling as it hit the ground, melting leaves and soil.
He didn't give it another chance. Closing the distance in an instant, the Flowing Shadow Sword became a blur, executing three rapid strikes. The wolf barely had time to register the attack before collapsing, vital points pierced.
Two down.
Only the injured fifth layer wolf remained. It snarled, backing away cautiously, its severed foreleg bleeding profusely. It recognized Lin Fan was far more dangerous than the usual Outer Sect disciple prey.
Lin Fan advanced slowly, sword held ready. He needed information, or at least for this wolf to lead him towards the Alpha. But the wolf, driven by pain and primal fear, chose defiance. It gathered shadowy energy around its remaining claws and lunged one last time.
Lin Fan sighed inwardly. So be it. A final, precise Wind Blade struck the wolf mid-air, followed by a swift sword thrust to the heart. The beast shuddered and fell still.
Three wolves eliminated in less than a minute. Lin Fan felt barely exerted. His enhanced skills and superior Qi quality made dealing with opponents at his own level relatively straightforward. He quickly harvested the core from the fifth layer wolf – it might fetch a couple of Contribution Points back at the hall – before scanning the surroundings again.
The brief fight hadn't gone unnoticed. From deeper within the woods, further along the trail he'd been following, came an answering howl. This one was different – deeper, filled with chilling authority and rage. It carried a palpable pressure that made the air grow heavy.
Lin Fan's eyes narrowed. He recognized the direction the injured wolf had been retreating towards, the same direction the howl originated from.
The Alpha. It knew its scouts had been killed. It was likely summoning the rest of the pack, or perhaps preparing to confront the intruder itself.
He sheathed his sword and began moving towards the source of the howl, his Wind Step carrying him swiftly but silently through the deepening shadows. The forest grew even quieter now, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
He crested a small rise, peering through a tangle of ancient roots. Below him lay a small, natural clearing dominated by a rocky outcrop riddled with shallow caves – likely the pack's den. Perhaps a dozen more Shadowfang Wolves prowled the clearing nervously, their red eyes darting towards the forest edge.
And standing atop the largest rock, silhouetted against the dim light filtering through the canopy, was the Shadowfang Wolf Alpha.
It was immense, nearly twice the size of the fifth-layer wolf he'd just killed, its fur the color of midnight, rippling with barely contained power. Its eyes glowed like malevolent embers, fixed unerringly on the spot where Lin Fan was concealed. It let out another low, rumbling growl, a clear challenge. Its aura pulsed with power, firmly pressing against the threshold of the sixth layer of Qi Refinement.
The Alpha had found him. The hunt was about to truly begin.