187: Chapter 187: The Hunt

Wilderness Lands

The gray-yellow wasteland stretched all the way to the horizon, the air thick with the scent of blood and desolation.

In the distance, several massive figures could be seen wandering; those were the Yao Beasts of the wilderness.

Captain Zhao took the lead, riding his Black-Scaled Tiger through the portal.

Behind him, the members of the Monster Hunting Team filed out in an orderly fashion, their steps steady without a hint of panic.

The Loose Cultivators also began to move.

Some flew on swords, some rode Spirit Beasts, and others used movement techniques, each displaying their own Divine Abilities.

Li Changsheng and Su Qinghan followed in the crowd at an unhurried pace.

The crowd surged out of the gate bit by bit, and at the very back of these people...

Xiao Ran took out a gray cloak from his storage ring and draped it over himself, then took out a mask and put it on his face.

“Since I'm already here!”

He blended in with the last batch of Loose Cultivators and passed through the portal.

The moment his foot stepped onto the Wilderness Lands, a desolate aura rushed toward him.

The air was filled with the smell of blood, rot, and a faint, lingering Demonic Qi.

Behind him, the portal slowly closed.

The golden Sword Intent on the Sword Qi Great Wall stabilized once more, the runes stopped flowing, and everything returned to how it was before.

The Monster Hunting Team was already waiting ahead.

Captain Zhao sat atop his Black-Scaled Tiger, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

“Is everyone here?”

Someone counted the numbers and replied, “A total of three hundred and forty-seven people.”

Captain Zhao nodded. “Move out.”

The massive group set off toward the depths of the wilderness.

Xiao Ran walked at the very back of the group, inconspicuous in his gray robe and mask.

His gaze occasionally swept over Su Qinghan ahead; she walked beside Li Changsheng with a calm expression, as if the desolation of this wilderness was nothing more than ordinary scenery to her.

Xiao Ran tactfully did not disturb them.

The group continued forward.

On the distant wasteland, several massive figures began moving toward them.

They were several gray wolves, several dozen feet long, their bodies covered in coarse gray fur and their blood-red eyes radiating an aura of madness.

Nascent Soul Early Stage.

Captain Zhao raised his hand, and the group stopped.

“Warm up,”

he said indifferently.

As soon as he spoke, several Loose Cultivators in the crowd were eager to try.

A burly man at the Nascent Soul middle stage was the first to charge out, wielding a giant axe and cleaving it toward the lead gray wolf.

The gray wolf couldn't dodge in time and was struck in the head, dying on the spot.

The other gray wolves were enraged and pounced frantically at the burly man.

Instead of retreating, the man advanced, swinging his giant axe and taking them down one by one, killing all the gray wolves in a matter of moments.

A cheer went up from the crowd.

The burly man grinned, collected the monster cores and pelts, and walked back triumphantly.

Captain Zhao remained expressionless. “Keep moving.”

The group continued deeper.

Along the way, the Loose Cultivators scrambled to kill any scattered low-level Yao Beasts they encountered.

Xiao Ran did not make a move; his target was higher-level Yao Beasts.

After walking for about an hour, a series of low hills appeared on the wasteland ahead.

Between the hills, several massive nests were faintly visible.

Captain Zhao raised his hand again, and the group stopped.

“Ahead is the territory of the Wind Wolves.”

“Wind Wolves are pack-dwelling Yao Beasts, and the Alpha is at least at the Soul Transformation Stage. Those who want to make money can go now.”

He turned to look at the crowd.

Several Soul Transformation Stage Loose Cultivators in the crowd exchanged glances and charged out simultaneously.

Li Changsheng looked at Su Qinghan. “Are we going?”

Su Qinghan nodded.

The two of them also charged out.

Xiao Ran watched their backs and quietly followed along.

However, he didn't attack; he just hung around the edges.

But Su Qinghan was different.

She took the lead, her Mystic Yin Returning Essence Body aura released without reservation.

The longsword in her hand unsheathed, its Sword Qi like frost as she delivered a strike.

A Wind Wolf at the Late Nascent Soul Stage was instantly frozen into an ice sculpture and shattered loudly.

Li Changsheng stayed by her side, his Innate Dao Embryo resonating with the world as clear Qi transformed into countless strands of Sword Qi, strangling the pouncing Wind Wolves one by one.

The two coordinated perfectly, forcing the Wind Wolf pack to retreat step by step.

Xiao Ran watched Su Qinghan's sharp sword style and marveled inwardly.

This woman had become even stronger than when she was at the Ancient Battlefield.

Moreover, the way she killed the Yao Beasts looked as if she were venting something.

Every strike carried a ferocity, as if she weren't just killing Yao Beasts, but cutting through something else.

As the slaughter continued...

After a short while, the Alpha Wolf appeared.

It was a massive Wind Wolf fifty feet long, covered in silver-gray fur.

Not only that, but this fellow's eyes were golden, radiating the terrifying aura of the Late Soul Transformation Stage.

It stood on a hill overlooking everyone and let out a low roar.

The faces of several Soul Transformation Stage Loose Cultivators changed, and they instinctively backed away.

Su Qinghan, however, did not retreat.

She looked up at the Wind Wolf, a cold light flashing in her eyes.

“Junior Brother Li, help me pin it down.”

Li Changsheng nodded, and clear Qi transformed into countless strands of Sword Qi that shot toward the Wind Wolf from all directions.

The Wind Wolf roared and spat out several wind blades to shatter the Sword Qi.

But Li Changsheng's Sword Qi was continuous, and for a moment, the Wind Wolf could not break free.

Su Qinghan moved.

Her figure turned into a streak of white light, charging straight for the Wind Wolf.

Her sword unsheathed, the sword momentum like a rainbow, as she stabbed toward the Wind Wolf's throat.

Sensing the threat, the Wind Wolf abandoned Li Changsheng and turned to pounce on Su Qinghan.

Its speed was incredibly fast, appearing before Su Qinghan almost as if teleporting, opening its bloody maw to bite at her head.

Su Qinghan didn't dodge.

She simply held her sword horizontally in front of her, and the cold Qi of the Mystic Yin Returning Essence Body erupted instantly.

The cold Qi formed an ice wall, blocking the Wind Wolf.

The Wind Wolf crashed into the ice wall, shattering it, but its momentum was also halted for a split second.

That split second was enough.

Su Qinghan's sword pierced the Wind Wolf's throat.

The Wind Wolf let out a shrill howl, struggled a few times, and collapsed to the ground.

Su Qinghan pulled out her sword and walked back.

Her face was expressionless, but the cold light in her eyes gradually dissipated.

Li Changsheng went to meet her. “Are you all right?”

Su Qinghan shook her head. “I'm fine.”

Watching this scene from afar, a complex emotion suddenly welled up in Xiao Ran's heart.

This woman was much stronger than he had imagined.

Not just in cultivation, but in Heart-Nature as well.

The Wind Wolf's head was cut off, and its monster core was removed.

Several Soul Transformation Stage Loose Cultivators watched longingly, but no one dared to ask for it.

Because it was Su Qinghan who had killed the Wind Wolf.

Su Qinghan glanced at the monster core and casually tossed it to Li Changsheng. “You take it.”

Li Changsheng didn't stand on ceremony either and put it into his storage ring.

The group continued forward.

Xiao Ran followed behind, looking at Su Qinghan's back, and a thought suddenly occurred to him.

Perhaps he could find an opportunity to chat with her.

If this woman happens to be in a good mood, maybe a little 'wilderness battle' wouldn't be out of the question.