13: Desperate situation? No, this is my hunting ground!

Li Dong exchanged a few words with his younger sister, Li Qingyan.

He told his sister to prepare for the selection at the outpost with peace of mind.

He said he was fine and not to worry about him.

Afterward, Li Dong walked away by himself.

He left his residence.

He did not linger.

He went directly to the western suburbs of Mu Shi County, as stated in the mission scroll.

Zhao Zhen's intentions were very clear.

He wanted to harm Li Dong.

The so-called "Black Wind Ridge area patrol" was a trap.

This was arranged by Zhao Zhen.

The mission was extremely dangerous, rated as 'extremely perilous'.

However, the mission required Li Dong to go alone.

The mission also stated to depart immediately.

This gave Li Dong no time to prepare.

Zhao Zhen simply wanted to kill Li Dong.

Or, Zhao Zhen wanted Li Dong to be severely injured.

This way, Li Dong would not be able to participate in the Demon Suppression Baptism three days later.

Li Dong sneered inwardly.

"Zhao Zhen, you underestimate me too much."

Li Dong thought this.

"Alright, since you're delivering yourself to me, I'll use this opportunity."

Li Dong also wanted to use this opportunity.

"Black Wind Ridge? A Body Tempering Realm extreme mission?"

"Perfect, I can test my current strength."

"And, by the way, I can harvest experience points."

Li Dong did not walk fast.

However, his every step was steady.

He adjusted his breathing.

The Body Refining Fifth Level Peak Yuan Qi within his body slowly circulated.

He mentally rehearsed the method of the Ripping Sky Demon Suppression Seal again and again.

His perception also reached its strongest.

He was very vigilant, paying attention to every rustle of wind and grass around him.

The further he got from the county, the more desolate the surrounding environment became.

The official road disappeared.

It turned into a difficult path.

The roadside grass was waist-high.

In the distance were small hills and sparse woods.

A fishy smell began to permeate the air.

This smell was different from the Demon Suppression Division outpost.

The outpost had the smell of medicine and blood Qi.

The fishy smell here was more primal, more savage.

This was the smell of Yao Beasts.

Beast roars came from afar.

This place became even more eerie and terrifying.

This was not a good place.

Ordinary people would die here.

Even low-level Martial Artists of the Body Tempering Realm had to be careful here.

Li Dong continued forward.

He went deep into the patrol area mentioned in the mission.

The terrain here was more complex.

The vegetation was denser, obstructing his view.

The bloody smell in the air grew thicker.

Bloodstains and beast bones could be seen on the ground. Yao Beasts often fought here.

Li Dong rounded a dirt mound.

Suddenly, something happened! "Swish swish swish!" From the bushes, over a dozen black figures darted out.

Carrying the sound of wind, they charged towards Li Dong! They were Bloodthirsty Jackals!

These Yao Beasts were larger than ordinary wolves.

Their fur was gray.

Their eyes were red.

Their eyes held a cruel glint.

They bared their teeth, drooling.

The smell was foul.

The aura of each Bloodthirsty Jackal was between Body Refining Third Level and Fourth Level.

Over a dozen Yao Beasts attacking together were formidable.

If it were another Body Refining Fifth Level Martial Artist, encountering such an ambush would cause panic.

They might be pounced on and eaten by the jackals.

But Li Dong was very calm.

His gaze remained unchanged.

He seemed to have known this would happen all along.

Facing the charging jackals, Li Dong did not retreat; instead, he advanced.

His body swayed, dodging the first two jackals that rushed at him.

His movements were quick and fluid.

There were no superfluous actions.

Then, he joined his right fingers into a palm.

Yuan Qi surged within his body.

He used the 【Ripping Sky Hand】!

"Pfft!" A Body Refining Third Level Bloodthirsty Jackal had just jumped.

Li Dong struck its side abdomen with a palm.

This palm strike looked light and airy.

However, it contained immense power.

The jackal flew out without even a yelp.

Like a broken sack.

Its internal organs were likely shattered.

By the time it landed, it was already dead.

Li Dong succeeded with one strike.

He did not stop.

He changed his footwork.

He moved through the pack of wolves like a butterfly flitting among flowers.

Each of his dodges was perfectly timed.

Each of his strikes was precise and ruthless.

"Pfft!" "Bang!" Two more Bloodthirsty Jackals were struck.

One palm shattered a skull.

Another palm pierced a chest. Blood splattered.

Limbs broke.

In an instant, three Bloodthirsty Jackals died.

Li Dong's attacks were swift and highly efficient.

The remaining Bloodthirsty Jackals became even fiercer.

Because their companions died, and because Li Dong was strong.

They did not flinch; instead, they became more frenzied.

"Awoo!" The wolf cries were loud.

They stopped fighting individually.

They began to coordinate.

From different directions, with claws and teeth, they attacked Li Dong even more fiercely.

Suddenly, a fishy wind assaulted his face.

Shadows of claws were everywhere.

Li Dong, surrounded, was not afraid.

His perception had locked onto the movements of every jackal.

The enemy's attacks looked fierce.

However, in his eyes, there were many flaws.

His movement technique became even more agile.

He could always dodge attacks.

At the same time, his counterattacks became even more powerful.

The 【Ripping Sky Hand】 was effective.

However, against thick-skinned Yao Beasts, it took two or three palm strikes to kill them. Li Dong felt it was inefficient. His mind stirred. He began to use his new skill after Fusion — the Ripping Sky Demon Suppression Seal!

"Buzz!" A stronger power gathered in his palm.

A power that was originally invisible.

Now, it seemed to carry a layer of Qi.

This Qi could suppress evil spirits.

"Die!" Li Dong's eyes turned cold.

He saw a jackal pouncing from behind.

It was a Body Refining Fourth Level one.

He unleashed a Ripping Sky Demon Suppression Seal with a backhand strike!

"Pfft!"

The palm print struck the jackal's head fiercely.

This time, the effect of the attack was completely different.

The jackal's head exploded instantly, like a rotten watermelon.

Red and white splattered everywhere.

Its large body fell to the ground, twitched a few times, and then became still.

The power had indeed increased significantly!

Especially against Yao Beasts, the suppression effect of the 【Demon Suppression Seal】 was particularly good!

Li Dong felt a momentary joy.

With the Ripping Sky Demon Suppression Seal, he could kill Yao Beasts even faster.

Next, it became a one-sided slaughter.

Li Dong no longer dodged; he charged more actively towards the jackals.

His speed was very fast, rushing back and forth within the wolf pack.

Every palm strike he delivered resulted in the death of a jackal.

The palm prints imbued with the power of Demon Suppression were fatal to Yao Beasts.

Touch and die!

The jackals simply could not withstand a single blow from him.

Soon, another five or six jackals fell before him.

【Killed Bloodthirsty Jackal (Body Refining Third Level), gained experience +50!】

【Killed Bloodthirsty Jackal (Body Refining Fourth Level), gained experience +80!】

【Killed Bloodthirsty Jackal (Body Refining Third Level), gained experience +50!】

...A series of System prompts sounded in Li Dong's mind.

Experience points were accumulating rapidly.

He originally had 180 experience points remaining, plus 300 points from defeating Wang Wei, minus 300 points used to repair 【Demon Killing Palm】 and fuse skills, leaving 180 points.

Now, as he continuously killed these Bloodthirsty Jackals, his experience points increased rapidly.

180 + 50 + 80 + 50 + 80 + 50 + 80 = 570!

Unbeknownst to him, his experience had already exceeded 500 points, enough to upgrade to Body Refining Sixth Level!

However, he was still fighting, so Li Dong did not upgrade.

He wanted to resolve all the dangers in this vicinity first.

Just then, a louder roar came from behind the wolf pack, sounding very angry and majestic.

"Awoo—!"

A larger jackal slowly emerged, twice the size of the other jackals, with darker fur and fiercer eyes.

Its aura was strong; it was a Body Refining Fifth Level!

This was the jackal leader!

As soon as the leader appeared, the somewhat chaotic wolf pack immediately quieted down.

Its red eyes stared at Li Dong, filled with hatred.

Clearly, Li Dong had killed many wolves just now, completely enraging it.

Under the leader's command, the remaining few jackals mustered their courage again and charged towards Li Dong with the leader.

The jackal leader's speed was incredibly fast, inconsistent with its large size!

It exerted a sudden force, rushing in front of Li Dong like a gray lightning bolt!

Its claws were sharp, gleaming with a cold light, carrying a fishy wind, and swiping towards Li Dong's throat!

This attack was both fast and ruthless, with a tricky angle, clearly a killing move often used by the leader, intending to kill Li Dong in one blow!

Facing the attack of the Body Refining Fifth Level Yao Beast leader, Li Dong's eyes lit up.

He had been on guard all along!

Just as the claws were about to touch him, Li Dong's body drifted back lightly like willow catkins.

A seemingly simple sidestep, yet it skillfully dodged this fatal blow.

The claws almost grazed his neck, and the wind they stirred even ruffled his hair.

At the same time, Li Dong's already prepared counterattack arrived!

As he sidestepped, he pushed his right hand forward, fully unleashing the Ripping Sky Demon Suppression Seal!

The power in his palm was stronger than before, and the Qi that suppressed evil spirits was also denser.

"Bang—!"

A dull thud, like striking leather!

Li Dong's palm struck the jackal leader's head fiercely!

How hard was the skull of a Body Refining Fifth Level Yao Beast?

But under the power of the Ripping Sky Demon Suppression Seal, it was as brittle as tofu!

"Crack!"

The sound of bones shattering was very clear.

The powerful force combined with the power of Demon Suppression instantly smashed the jackal leader's head!

Red and white splattered everywhere.

Its massive body rushed forward two steps, then fell to the ground, motionless.

【Killed Bloodthirsty Jackal Leader (Body Refining Fifth Level), gained experience +150!】

【Killed Bloodthirsty Jackal (Body Refining Fourth Level), gained experience +80!】

【Killed Bloodthirsty Jackal (Body Refining Third Level), gained experience +50!】

System prompts sounded again.

With the leader instantly killed, the remaining jackals completely collapsed.

They let out wails, no longer caring about attacking, and fled with their tails between their legs, disappearing into the bushes in an instant, like stray dogs.

Li Dong did not pursue the fleeing minions.

He stood in place, looking around.

Over a dozen jackal corpses lay scattered on the ground, a chaotic mess, and the air was thick with the smell of blood, a gruesome sight.

But in his eyes, a glint of excitement shone.

Desperate situation?

Zhao Zhen thought sending him here meant he was doomed to die?

Ridiculous!

Li Dong felt the experience points continuously pouring into his body, and a surge of heroic spirit rose in his heart.

"Yao Beast siege? Desperate situation? No, this is not a desperate situation!"

A cold sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth, his gaze as sharp as a knife.

"This is my hunting ground!"

"Experience, skills, they are all mine!"

Zhao Zhen's conspiracy, on the contrary, became a great opportunity for him to rapidly increase his strength!

He looked up towards the deeper parts of Black Wind Ridge, full of Battle Intent.