Free Web NovelChapter 124: Chapter 116: Reaping
The silent night slowly faded as the first rays of morning sunlight spilled from the horizon, illuminating the boundless prairie.
An ancient path, now visible, now hidden amidst the lush grass, stretched forward until it vanished from sight.
Three men and two women with tattered clothes and haggard faces stood back-to-back, gasping for breath as they held their swords and sabers, huddled within a small barrier of light.
These were the same people Shen Lang had met at the entrance to the prairie. Only, of the original eight, just five remained, and their situation appeared dire.
The woman in Silver Armor held a Glazed Lamp that radiated a seven-colored Divine Radiance. The barrier of light was being released from this very lamp.
Around them, dozens of Netherworld Wolf carcasses lay scattered about, many of them decapitated.
But to their despair, they were surrounded by dozens, even hundreds, of massive Netherworld Wolves, cutting off any hope of escape!
Every so often, a few Netherworld Wolves would lunge forward and slam into the barrier, only to be thrown back, their heads bloodied and broken.
But the Netherworld Wolves continued to charge the Protective Shield in waves, never pausing for a moment.
The gaping, bloody maws of the Netherworld Wolves were a heart-stopping, maddening sight.
Many other Netherworld Wolves were positioned further out, spitting out one Wind Blade after another to constantly strike the barrier from the Glazed Lamp, draining its Energy.
Each Wind Blade sent ripples across the barrier’s surface.
Although the Protective Shield had blocked the Netherworld Wolves’ attacks time and again, it was clearly weakening, and the face of the woman holding the Glazed Lamp grew even more frighteningly pale.
The Netherworld Wolf was a type of Demon Beast capable of Concealing its Form. Though only Third Level, they were vicious and cruel by nature, possessed high Spiritual Wisdom, and were now attacking in a highly organized and systematic manner.
No one knew how many more Netherworld Wolves were hiding out there, nor how much longer the Glazed Lamp could hold out.
After the Netherworld Wolves’ surprise attack and the ensuing battle, the few survivors were mentally and physically exhausted, with almost no Spiritual Power left in their bodies.
Though the barrier could temporarily hold off the pack, it could no longer keep out the encroaching terror.
Staring at the pairs of eyes filled with greed and bloodlust, Xu Lianyou’s face turned even paler. Her grip on the Glazed Lamp tightened.
The Third-Level Demon Beast, the Netherworld Wolf, possessed a Spiritual Wisdom far exceeding that of other Demon Beasts of the same level. They were cunning, brutal, had astonishing stamina, and preferred to live in packs, almost never hunting alone.
Most Martial Artists would rather face a single Fifth Level Demon Beast than a large pack of Third Level Netherworld Wolves.
Packs like this were actually rare on the Tala Prairie. To think that the group from the Twin Dragon Sect would encounter such a terrifying pack before even reaching the central region—and lose three of their skilled members to it! ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"These Netherworld Wolves are incredibly cunning. Who knows how long they’ve been following us. The Seven-Colored Glazed Lamp’s energy is almost depleted; it won’t last much longer. Everyone, we need to think of something, fast..."
Xu Lianyou’s cool, clear voice rang out, heavy with the oppressive fear of death.
"Second Miss, there are too many... There are just too many of these Netherworld Wolves! And I’m afraid there are even stronger ones hiding around us. This time, I’m afraid..." Xia Yu said, his face ashen and beaded with cold sweat.
"If those three idiots hadn’t gotten drunk on watch and been killed, we wouldn’t be in this mess..." another young man said bitterly.
Xu Lianyou sighed softly. "What’s the use of saying that now? The Seven-Colored Glazed Lamp can only last for about another hour at most. If we can’t think of a way out, I’m afraid our bones will be buried on the Tala Prairie forever."
An immense fear spread, sweeping through everyone’s hearts and driving them toward hysteria.
"Uncle Zhong, the Seven-Colored Glazed Lamp’s defensive power will weaken significantly if we move. I doubt it could stop the Netherworld Wolves’ attacks then. See if everyone still has the strength to fight. Can we force a breakout?" Xu Lianyou asked.
The oldest of the five, Uncle Zhong, frowned deeply. "If the pack doesn’t attack all at once, we might be able to hold them off. But I’m afraid that the moment they see us trying to break out, they’ll launch an all-out assault. Besides, we’re already some distance from the entrance. No matter how fast we are, we can’t get out of the Tala Prairie in just an hour."
"What the hell do we do? Dammit, I’ve only got a few Talismans left! It’s not nearly enough against so many Netherworld Wolves!" the same young man from before roared, on the verge of madness. The fear of death was already stripping him of his sanity.
"Heavens, how did we get so unlucky..." a pretty woman said, her voice trembling. She was the one who had called Shen Lang ’little brother’ and advised him to turn back.
A sharp glint flashed in Xu Lianyou’s eyes. She let out a soft cry. "Since we’re dead either way, we might as well take a risk..."
"Take a risk? This is as risky as it gets! What other risk could we possibly take..." Xia Yu said, swallowing hard.
"Lianyou, have you thought of something? Tell us, quickly! If there’s even a sliver of a chance to break through this encirclement, we have to try!"
Uncle Zhong’s voice boomed like a great bell.
Xu Lianyou’s expression was grim. "The Tala Prairie is full of Demon Beasts. Split-hoofed Bulls, Thunder Elephants, Harpies—many of them live in groups. If we lead the Netherworld Wolf Pack to one of their territories, it will definitely force them to fight each other. Once some of the Netherworld Wolves are tied up by the other Demon Beasts, we’ll have our chance! The risk, however, is that we won’t just be facing attacks from the Netherworld Wolf Pack, but from the other pack as well. One mistake, and we’ll be doomed beyond recovery..."
"We’re already doomed, Second Miss! Let’s do as you say! Let’s risk it all!" Xia Yu was the first to cry out.
Uncle Zhong glanced at the others and nodded. "It’s risky, but it also gives us a real chance. It’s better than waiting here to die. Let’s do it!"
Just then...
"AWOOOOOOO..."
Outside the protective barrier, the wolf pack began to howl wildly, their cries rising and falling one after another, laced with a sense of agitation.
’Looks like something’s about to happen!’
Uncle Zhong reacted instantly, turning to follow the gaze of the majority of the Netherworld Wolves into the distance.
"Did someone come, or is another Demon Beast approaching?" Xia Yu asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"I don’t know. My Divine Thought doesn’t detect any abnormalities, and there are no human voices nearby... As for Demon Beasts, there isn’t a single kind on the Tala Prairie that would willingly provoke a Netherworld Wolf pack. Even a Thunder Elephant, with its immense strength and mastery of Thunder Power, would likely give them a wide berth..."
Uncle Zhong spoke between gasps, but his words soon trailed off. He had spotted the source of the pack’s commotion.
A young man...
It was the same young man they had mocked at the entrance, standing on a distant slope with a Single Saber on his back, looking down at them.
"Luring the wolf pack to other Demon Beasts... a desperate, burn-the-boats plan. Commendable courage, but this pack won’t let you do it," Shen Lang said coolly from the high slope. Then, pointing a single hand at the pack below, he declared nonchalantly, "Come and fight me!"
"AWOO!"
One of the Netherworld Wolves howled, and a dozen more immediately charged toward Shen Lang, moving as fast as the wind!
"Damn, you guys actually listen..." Shen Lang said mockingly.
"Run! You’re no match for them!" Xu Lianyou cried out in alarm from within the barrier.
Shen Lang couldn’t help but glance at her. ’This woman is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. To still be worried about someone else’s safety at a time like this... that’s a rare sight,’ he thought.
CLANG!
Instead of retreating, Shen Lang advanced, drawing his Celestial Water Blade and charging toward the wolf pack.
SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!
Both sides were incredibly fast. The instant they met, three Netherworld Wolf heads flew into the air, spraying blood everywhere!
"Such a fast blade! Such incredible power!" Uncle Zhong muttered to himself.
Everyone inside the barrier stared, completely stunned...
The black-robed young man in front of them began to slow his pace, walking toward the five of them as he fought the wolf pack...
No, to be precise, this couldn’t be called a fight. It was a slaughter!
The one-sided slaughter of a Netherworld Wolf pack by a single young man!
When he first charged, he was as fast as lightning. But now, he strolled forward leisurely, as if taking a walk in a garden. His long saber danced through the air, tracing arcs of blinding, cold light and scattering blooming flowers of blood.
The long saber in his hand was like the Scythe of Death, its movements lightning-fast and its power so immense it left one speechless.
Moreover, his strikes were incomparably precise and vicious. No matter which direction the surrounding Netherworld Wolves pounced from, he would instantly and accurately slice across their throats.
One after another, the heads of Netherworld Wolves were sent flying.
The Wind Blades spat by the surrounding wolves were either easily dodged or shattered by his long saber. It was as if he had eyes in the back of his head; every single one of the Netherworld Wolf Pack’s attacks missed its mark.
He seemed completely effortless. One by one, the Netherworld Wolves died under his blade, never even getting the chance to use their sharp fangs and powerful limbs.
"There’s no Spiritual Power leaking from his body, the glow on his saber is contained, and there’s no visible Saber Qi... He’s killing these Netherworld Wolves relying entirely on his physical strength! This... what kind of being is he?!" Uncle Zhong suddenly muttered to himself.
The other four inside the barrier were dumbfounded. They were all Martial Artists from the Cyan Wood Level faction, the Twin Dragon Sect. Their Cultivation was not low—most were around the Qi Martial Realm Sixth Heaven—and they had a wealth of combat experience. Yet never had they imagined... that such a simple and direct killing technique could exist in this world, one that used no Spiritual Power at all, relying purely on physical strength!
It was as if the young man didn’t see the hundred-plus Netherworld Wolves as a threat at all. He was simply honing his own Martial Technique.
He walked slowly, but his saber strikes were as fast as lightning, and he could even predict the movements of every Netherworld Wolf around him;
His strength was extraordinary; with a single swing of his blade, the head of a Third Level Demon Beast, a Netherworld Wolf, would fly into the air...
This young man, whom the people from the Twin Dragon Sect had mocked and claimed wouldn’t survive two hours in the Tala Prairie, had completely overturned their understanding of the world.
Having already fought a great battle against the Netherworld Wolf Pack, they knew better than anyone just how ferocious and powerful these Demon Beasts were.
The five of them had high Cultivation, powerful Spiritual Artifacts, and even high-grade Talismans to aid them, yet they had still been forced into a steady retreat, ultimately unable to even escape.
And yet, this young man had appeared, charging into the wolf pack as if it were empty space, reaping the lives of the Netherworld Wolves as easily as slicing melons and chopping vegetables!
The shock was simply beyond words!
"AWOOO!"
An enraged howl erupted from the rear of the pack. The wolves had recognized the immense threat. The anthropomorphic expressions on their faces no longer treated the newcomer as prey; instead, there was ferocity, fury... and an incredible, undeniable fear.
With the exception of a few who remained to guard the five from the Twin Dragon Sect, the rest of the Netherworld Wolves immediately, and with perfect coordination, lunged at Shen Lang from all directions and at every angle.
In an instant, the air was filled with Wind Blades, making it impossible to move a single step.
The piercing sound of air being torn apart made the people inside the barrier instinctively cover their ears.
The stench of blood swept across the battlefield!
These Netherworld Wolves, each the size of a small calf, emanated a faint, ghostly blue light, their glittering green eyes shining with a cold, cruel radiance.
The immense pressure of dozens of Netherworld Wolves charging at once was enough to make anyone break down and go mad...
The five people inside the barrier felt their hearts leap into their throats!
