Chapter 322: The Shadowed Seven
In the Bloodhorn Region, at the Wood Spirit Crystal mine, Lin Langtian was taken aback by the sheer size of the deposit. Back in the Great Flame Dynasty, he had overseen mines for his clan, but compared to this, those had been minuscule. Following Qin Lang's lead, the group ventured deeper into the heart of the mining area, where the surroundings grew denser with lush greenery, the ground covered in an intense shade of green that seemed almost unnatural.
The further they went, the heavier Lin Langtian felt, a gnawing sense of unease rising within him. Ahead, Qin Lang landed on an outcropping and gestured for the others to follow, each of them casting their gaze forward.
Ahead of them was a vast emerald forest, densely packed with towering trees whose vibrant green leaves rustled with the wind, creating the impression of a boundless sea of foliage. Lin Langtian narrowed his gaze, sweeping his senses through the forest. To his surprise, he detected over fifty powerful presences within, each radiating an aura as intense as that of a Seven Yuan Nirvana Realm expert.
"Is Wood Division's problem just these beasts?" Zhang Hao quipped to Qin Lang, smiling. If they were dealing with mere creatures, the task seemed simpler; as chief disciples of Yuan Gate, their strength approached that of a Nine Yuan Nirvana Realm.
Lin Langtian glanced at Qin Lang, scrutinizing him. He wondered if this entire operation was an elaborate setup by Qin Lang or his superior, Mu Ku.
Qin Lang noticed Lin Langtian's look and replied with a calm smile, "These are Gale Wolves, a species native to the Bloodhorn Region. They're particularly troublesome creatures, always moving in packs, and each is ferociously powerful. There must be at least forty of them in that forest. Even if we manage to drive them away, we'll likely suffer heavy losses among our disciples."
"Forty Gale Wolves?" Zhang Hao frowned, shaken by the numbers. Even with their level of strength, a pack of that size would be quite a challenge.
"Have the wolves always roamed this area, Qin Lang? Why would so many show up all of a sudden?" Zhang Hao's voice carried an edge of suspicion.
"I can't say for certain," Qin Lang replied, shrugging. "It's possible someone has taken an interest in this area. There are those in the Bloodhorn Region skilled in manipulating beasts, so this could be a test."
"Oh, someone's daring enough to mess with Yuan Gate, then?" Lin Langtian said, his gaze locked on Qin Lang.
The entire setup felt almost too convenient to him. If this were indeed orchestrated by Mu Ku, it was a grand display just to deal with him. If Mu Ku had truly engineered this, it would mean he was intent on ridding Yuan Gate of Lin Langtian, regardless of the lengths needed to do so.
Qin Lang chuckled, his eyes flashing. "Yuan Gate's name may carry weight in the Eastern Xuan Region, but here in Bloodhorn, it doesn't mean as much. After all, this place is full of fugitives from other continents, and if things get dangerous, I hope you'll take good care of yourself, Lin Langtian. I wouldn't want to return with a dead chief disciple; I'm certain Elder Yan from Fire Division would have my head."
Lin Langtian's brow furrowed at the thinly veiled threat in Qin Lang's words. Here in Bloodhorn, amidst this dangerous chaos, Qin Lang could likely act against him without openly defying Fire Division. If Lin Langtian were to die "by accident," it would be perfectly explainable in a place as infamous as Bloodhorn.
But Lin Langtian wasn't easily intimidated. With the resources and skills he had honed, he was more than prepared to counter any scheme Qin Lang might throw at him.
As Lin Langtian considered this, a wave of tension rippled through the group. They could feel the stirring energy from the green forest, a ripple of strange energy patterns beginning to form.
"It's the Gale Wolves—they're moving. Let's go and see what's happening," Qin Lang said, taking the lead as he dashed toward the forest, followed closely by the others.
Suspended in mid-air, Qin Lang raised his hand and unleashed a surge of Yuan Power, which shot like a cannonball into the depths of the forest.
A thunderous roar erupted from within, followed by the sounds of movement and snapping branches. Dozens of blue-grey shadows shot out of the trees, ferocious auras radiating as the wolves glared at Qin Lang, blood-red eyes glinting with fury.
The Gale Wolves were large creatures, their thick blue-grey fur giving them an almost stone-like appearance, with swirling energy coiling from their bodies in gusts of wind. Qin Lang, unfazed, smirked and began to form hand seals, each movement drawing faintly green energy from the surroundings, eventually coalescing into the shape of several massive wooden spears.
"Attack!" he commanded, his voice echoing with killing intent as the air around them seemed to sharpen.
Lin Langtian observed the scene intently. The wooden spears floating behind Qin Lang radiated immense power, each capable of injuring a Seven Yuan Nirvana expert. Watching as dozens of the deadly spears began their assault, Lin Langtian understood that this level of attack was the true might of a Spirit General.
The spears tore through the air, raining down upon the wolves with devastating accuracy. The Gale Wolves could not evade the barrage and fell with pained howls, their blood staining the earth beneath them.
Even as Qin Lang wiped out the wolves, Lin Langtian's wariness didn't waver. He sensed something amiss, a subtle but unmistakable presence in the shadows. Turning his gaze behind him, he locked eyes with seven dark figures suspended in the air, cloaked in black, their faces obscured.
"The Shadowed Seven!" one of the Wood Division disciples gasped, his expression twisting with shock.
(End of Chapter)
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