From the shadows, it emerged, a monster on four legs, walking forward with silent menace.
"What…? A Mountain Wolf?"
Langtian's face twisted in horror.
No.
This was not a normal Mountain Wolf.
He had hunted hundreds of those during his early years of training in the mountain forests. Normal Mountain Wolves were already dangerous: fast, clever, and aggressive. They weighed at least 70 to 80 kilograms, often hunted in packs, and knew how to outmaneuver their prey.
But this one… stood alone.
And it was massive.
Easily three times the size of a normal wolf, its hulking body loomed as tall as a full-grown horse. Its limbs were thick like tree trunks, each paw cracking the stone with every step.
Its body was grotesquely mutated. Muscle cords writhed beneath its oily black fur, twitching unnaturally. Jagged bone-like spikes jutted from its shoulders, spine, and elbows. Some were broken, others dripping with a foul, black sludge.
Its head was twisted, more like a demon than a wolf. A pair of glowing red eyes locked onto Langtian, burning with raw hatred. Black mist hissed between its bared fangs as it snarled, the sound echoing through the air like a death bell.
Langtian's instincts screamed at him.
'Run. Get away. You're going to die!'
His heart slammed against his ribs, breath catching in his throat.
This was no normal beast.
This was a demonic beast!
In this world, when demonic energy seeped into the land, it poisoned everything it touched. It blackened the soil, turned rivers bitter, and twisted the sky until even the clouds looked sick. Plants grew gnarled and wrong. Birds forgot how to sing. And beasts…
Beasts turned into monsters.
Demonic beasts were the result of animals corrupted by that energy, mutated into something far more deadly. They lost all reason, consumed by madness, bloodlust, and unnatural hunger.
This wolf… was one of them.
A walking nightmare born of darkness.
And now, it was staring directly at him.
It had likely reached the level of a Rank 3 Demonic Beast. And according to the teachings of demon beast hunters:
Rank 1 Demonic Beasts were those just beginning to feel the touch of corruption. Their bodies were only slightly altered. They were larger than normal, with heightened aggression and sharper senses. A little bit more dangerous, but still recognizable as what they once were.
Meanwhile, Rank 2 beasts showed more obvious signs of demonic influence. A dark mist, either black or blood-red, would seep from their bodies like smoke from a smoldering fire. Their presence alone would poison the land everywhere they go, spreading the corruption further due to its demonic energy. Trees would wither, water would stagnate, and even the wind felt heavy. Any place they stayed too long became a dead zone.
Then came Rank 3, where true horror began.
At this stage, beasts began to mutate grotesquely. Bone spikes jutted from their flesh. Eyes split or multiplied. Some sprouted venomous tails or twisted extra limbs. Their minds lost all reason, consumed by pure killing intent and hunger. They no longer resembled animals, but monsters.
Beyond that were the Rank 4, 5, and 6 demonic beasts. They were rarely seen, and for good reason. These creatures were no longer mere beasts… but nightmares made flesh. Some were massive enough to flatten buildings with a single step. Others breathed venomous fog or scorching death. Their mere aura could drive weaker cultivators insane.
Some of the stronger ones could even speak, developing intelligence and the ability to mimic or understand human language.
There were entire sects had been wiped out by a single Rank 6 beast, there were countless cities crushed under the power of a Rank 8 beast.
There were tales of entire sects wiped out by a single Rank 6 beast… and cities reduced to rubble under the wrath of a Rank 8.
Langtian had read the stories. He had imagined them in his dreams, but never, not once… had he come face to face with one.
But now, one stood before him.
A Rank 3 Demonic Beast, possibly even stronger.
And it had come at the worst possible time.
Because right now, he was broken.
Every breath sent pain lancing through his chest. His bones ached, his muscles trembled from blood loss, and his entire body felt like it was on the verge of collapse. His spiritual core was gone. His meridians were dry. The amount of spiritual energy left inside him was only enough to enhance one or two more moves.
And yet, the monstrous wolf circled him still.
Its massive paws moved like whispers across the cracked stone floor. Its claws tapped with a slow and sharp rhythm like knives being unsheathed. Saliva foamed at its jaws, thick and foul like a rabid animal, dripping onto the ground with wet splashes.
Its eyes, glowing red, burned like hell fire. The beast wanted to eat him, body and soul.
A deep growl built in the wolf's throat, low and rising like distant thunder. The very air around them grew heavier, pulsing with killing intent.
Langtian's breath turned shallow. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but there was nowhere left to go. With shaking fingers, he drew his sword. The blade felt heavier than ever.
Still, Langtian raised it.
Though his body was failing, though death loomed only heartbeats away, his eyes… they were still burned with defiance.
'No. I will not die here. I refuse to!'
He clenched his teeth, tightened his grip. If death was coming for him, then he would meet it head-on! He had to fight!
The wolf snarled, then pounced!
Its massive frame launched through the air like a black thunderbolt.
Claws the size of butcher knives slashed toward Langtian's throat!!!
SLASH!
Langtian barely rolled to the side in time. Pain tore through his ribs as he hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from his lungs.
Behind him, the beast's claws slammed into the stone, leaving deep, jagged grooves where he had just stood. Shards of rock flew like shrapnel.
Gritting his teeth, Langtian twisted his body and struck.
CLANG!
His blade smashed against the wolf's flank. Sparks flew. The beast howled and staggered back, a crimson gash opening along its side.
But it wasn't deep enough.
"Damn it!" Langtian hissed, stumbling to one knee. "Its skin is so fucking thick!"
The cut was shallow, barely drawing blood. The creature's muscles rippled beneath its fur like steel cables, its hide tougher than armor.
And now, it was pissed.
The beast roared, fangs bared, and lunged again.