100: In Blood Wolf Valley, its fangs were first revealed.

The night by the Starlight Lake was far from peaceful. Although most of the disciples were gathered here, they were clearly divided. Lin Fan, Clear Snow, and over ten others sat around a campfire on the east side; Lin Yun led seven or eight people to occupy the west side; the remaining twenty-odd disciples were scattered in the middle, maintaining a delicate distance.

The night breeze brushed across the lake's surface, bringing waves of coolness. In the sky, the stars were brighter and denser than in the outside world, appearing almost within reach. Thick Power of the Stars permeated the air, and many disciples had already begun to sit cross-legged and Cultivate, unwilling to waste this rare Opportunity.

Lin Fan did not Cultivate.

He closed his eyes and feigned sleep, but in reality, he projected his Divine Sense outward, covering a radius of thirty feet. His Sword Heart Illumination talent made him particularly sensitive to killing intent, and the cold gazes Lin Yun frequently cast from the other side meant he dared not relax even slightly.

“Brother Lin Fan, aren't you going to rest?” Clear Snow asked softly.

“You rest first, I'll keep watch,” Lin Fan opened his eyes. “Going to Blood Wolf Valley tomorrow won't be peaceful.”

Clear Snow nodded; she understood Lin Fan's concerns. Blood Wolf Valley was one of the dangerous areas marked on the map, inhabited by a large number of 'Star Blood Wolves'. This type of Yao Beast wasn't particularly strong individually, but they lived in packs of dozens or even hundreds, and they were fearless of death, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

More importantly, if Lin Feng had truly entered the Ancient Domain ahead of time, he would very likely set an ambush in such a landmark danger zone as Blood Wolf Valley.

“I'll stay with you.” Lin Hao walked over and sat down beside Clear Snow. “I can't sleep anyway.”

The three sat around the campfire, talking in low voices.

“Brother Lin Fan, are you really going to Blood Wolf Valley?” Lin Hao's expression was grave. “It's too dangerous there. The Star Blood Wolf packs alone are enough of a handful, and if Lin Feng also sets an ambush...”

“I must go,” Lin Fan said in a deep voice. “I need the ‘star marrow’ inside Blood Wolf Valley.”

“star marrow?” Lin Hao was startled. “That's a second-rank treasure! It's said that it can only form after a hundred years of precipitation in places where Star Power is extremely dense and where large numbers of Star Blood Wolves have died. Blood Wolf Valley is indeed the most likely place for it to appear, but...”

He lowered his voice: “If Lin Feng entered early, he probably took it long ago.”

“Not necessarily.” Lin Fan shook his head. “The conditions for star marrow to form are harsh, and once it matures, it emits special stellar fluctuations that are easily discovered. However, according to the map markings, the star marrow in Blood Wolf Valley shouldn't be fully mature yet; its fluctuations would be weak and hard to detect. Although Lin Feng entered early, the Ancient Domain is vast, and he might not have found it.”

“Even if he found it, he would wait for the star marrow to mature before taking it,” Clear Snow added. “The effects are best after it matures. Given Lin Feng's personality, he wouldn't harvest it early.”

Lin Fan nodded: “So we still have a chance.”

Just then, Lin Fan's expression suddenly turned stern, and he barked out a low warning: “Something is approaching!”

Almost simultaneously, a miserable scream rang out from the west side of the lakeshore!

“Ah!” Everyone was instantly startled awake, standing up one after another to be on guard.

On the western edge, a disciple lay on the ground, a huge wound torn open in his chest with blood gushing out. And the attacker was actually a giant wolf with a silver-white body and glowing red eyes!

“Star Shadow Wolf!” someone cried out in alarm.

The Star Shadow Wolf is a first-rank Peak Yao Beast in the Ancient Domain, equivalent to the Ninth Level of Body Tempering, but it is incredibly fast and excels at stealthy ambushes, making it much more troublesome than a Star-spotted Leopard.

This Star Shadow Wolf had clearly been attracted by the campfire and the voices of the people on the lakeshore.

“Vile beast!” Lin Yun roared, drawing his sword and lunging at the Star Shadow Wolf.

The several people behind him also struck out.

The Star Shadow Wolf's body blurred, actually turning into a silver shadow to evade Lin Yun's sword edge, pouncing toward another disciple instead!

That disciple was only at the seventh level of Body Tempering; he was so terrified that his Soul Flew Away and Spirit Scattered, and he actually forgot to resist.

Just as he was about to die in the wolf's maw, a black sword light arrived first despite starting later, accurately piercing into the Star Shadow Wolf's neck!

“Awoo!” The Star Shadow Wolf let out a miserable howl, fell to the ground twitching, and soon lost all signs of life.

Lin Fan withdrew his sword, his expression calm.

For that sword strike just now, he had used the first style of the Unyielding Sword Art, 'Unyielding'—fast, accurate, and ruthless, a one-hit kill.

The disciple who had escaped death slumped to the ground, his face full of lingering fear. Only after a long while did he say in a trembling voice, “Thank you, Senior Brother Lin Fan...”

Lin Yun's face looked terrible. He had wanted to kill the Star Shadow Wolf himself to establish his prestige, but Lin Fan had beaten him to it. What annoyed him even more was that the strength shown by Lin Fan's sword strike was clearly stronger than it had been at the Listening to the Rain Pavilion.

“Ninth Level of Body Tempering...” Lin Yun gritted his teeth. How long had it been? Lin Fan had actually made another Breakthrough!

Lin Fan ignored Lin Yun and walked over to the injured disciple, taking out a bottle of healing Medicinal Pills and handing it over: “Stop the bleeding first.”

“Thank you.” The injured disciple was moved to tears of gratitude.

After this disturbance, the atmosphere by the lake became even more tense. No one dared to rest peacefully anymore; they took turns keeping watch, alert to the dangers that might be lurking in the darkness.

The night passed without further incident.

The next morning, before dawn, Lin Fan got up.

“Prepare to set out.” He gathered Clear Snow, Lin Hao, and the others, twelve in total. “Blood Wolf Valley is about eighty li from here; let's strive to arrive before noon.”

“Senior Brother Lin Fan, we want to go too.” The three Lin Shan brothers walked over. “Having received your help yesterday, we are willing to go with you.”

Lin Fan glanced at them and nodded: “Good.”

The team expanded to fifteen people.

Before leaving, Lin Fan looked at the other disciples: “Blood Wolf Valley is dangerous. If anyone is unwilling to take the risk, you can stay here or explore other areas on your own. But remember, do not act alone; stay in groups of at least three.”

Most of the disciples chose to stay behind. Blood Wolf Valley had a notorious reputation, and they didn't dare take the risk.

Only a few others joined Lin Fan's team after some hesitation. These people either had a grudge against Lin Feng's lineage or saw Lin Fan's potential and wanted to take a gamble.

Ultimately, the team reached eighteen people.

On Lin Yun's side, more than ten people had also gathered. They clearly had other plans and had no intention of traveling with Lin Fan.

The two groups of people went their separate ways, one heading east and the other west.

Leaving Starlight Lake, Lin Fan led the team at a rapid pace toward the southeast.

The terrain of the Ancient Domain was complex, with dense vegetation. Towering ancient trees blotted out the sun, and the roars of Yao Beasts occasionally echoed through the forest. Everyone was cautious, avoiding some clearly powerful auras.

After traveling about thirty li, a forest of jagged rocks appeared ahead.

The stones in the Rock Forest were a dark red color and jagged in shape, appearing like countless crouching monsters. A faint scent of blood permeated the air.

“Careful, there might be ‘Stone Golems’ here,” Lin Fan warned.

Stone Golems are a special type of monster in the Ancient Domain, formed from the combination of dense Earth Qi and Star Power. They resemble stone men, possess immense strength, and have extremely strong defenses. Although they move slowly, once you are entangled by them, they are incredibly troublesome.

Everyone held their breath and focused, slowly passing through the Rock Forest.

When they were halfway through, a sudden change occurred!

The dark red stones all around actually vibrated at the same time, their surfaces cracking open to transform into over twenty stone men, each two meters tall, surrounding Lin Fan and the others!

“There really are Stone Golems!” Lin Hao's expression changed.

The auras of these Stone Golems were not weak, equivalent to the eighth level of Body Tempering, but their strength lay in their numbers and strong defenses.

“Form a formation!” Lin Fan barked.

The eighteen people quickly stood back-to-back, forming a circular formation. Clear Snow, Lin Hao, and the other stronger ones were on the outer perimeter, while the weaker ones were on the inside.

The Stone Golems took heavy steps, slowly closing in.

“Attack their joints!” Lin Fan saw the Stone Golems' weakness. “Stone Golems move slowly; their joints are their weak points!”

With that, he was the first to strike.

The unyielding sword turned into a streak of black light, stabbing toward the knee joint of the foremost Stone Golem.

“Clang!” Sword and stone collided, sparks flying in all directions. Several cracks opened at the Stone Golem's knee, and its movements instantly stalled.

Seeing this, the others followed suit, specifically targeting the Stone Golems' joints.

For a time, Sword Qi crisscrossed and blade light flashed.

Although the Stone Golems had strong defenses, they were indeed slow. Under everyone's targeted attacks, several soon had their knees shattered and fell to the ground, unable to rise.

However, there were too many Stone Golems, and they knew no pain, continuing to press forward one after another.

“This can't go on!” Lin Hao panted as he shattered a Stone Golem's arm with a sword strike. “There are too many of them!”

Lin Fan's gaze turned cold.

He leaped into the air, circulating his Star Dragon Indestructible Force, and slashed his sword toward the largest dark red boulder in the center of the Rock Forest!

To capture the rebels, first capture their leader!

He had noticed long ago that the 'vitality' of all the Stone Golems originated from that boulder. That should be the core of the Stone Golems.

“Star Dragon Indestructible Sword!” A three-colored Sword Qi of gold, red, and silver erupted, tearing through the air and slashing heavily onto the giant rock!

“Boom!” The giant rock crumbled!

With the core destroyed, the movements of all the Stone Golems stiffened, cracks spread across their bodies, and they finally collapsed with a crash, turning back into a pile of rubble.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“Senior Brother Lin Fan, your sword technique...” Lin Shan was full of shock. The power of that sword strike had already far exceeded the scope of the Body Tempering realm!

“Let's leave here first.” Lin Fan withdrew his sword. “The commotion just now might attract other things.”

The group didn't dare to linger and quickly passed through the Rock Forest.

The rest of the journey was relatively smooth, only encountering a few scattered Yao Beasts, which were easily dealt with.

Before noon, the group finally arrived at the entrance of Blood Wolf Valley.

It was a canyon flanked by two mountains. The mouth of the valley was about ten feet wide, extending inward into an abyss. A pale red mist permeated the valley, and the faint sound of wolf howls could be heard.

“Blood Wolf Valley...” Clear Snow's expression was grave. “The concentration of Star Power here is at least three times higher than outside.”

Lin Fan felt the Power of the Stars in the air and was secretly delighted. This kind of environment was of great benefit to Cultivating the Circulating Heaven Star Formula and was indeed an excellent place for nurturing star marrow.

“Rest for a moment to recover your strength,” Lin Fan ordered.

Everyone sat on the ground, taking Medicinal Pills to adjust their state.

Lin Fan walked to the mouth of the valley and observed carefully.

In the soil at the valley's entrance were some messy footprints; judging by the marks, they should have been left recently. And by more than one person.

“Lin Feng has indeed been here.” Lin Fan's eyes were cold.

He followed the footprints and found that they didn't go deep into the valley but instead lingered near the entrance for a while before turning toward the left hillside.

“Are they lying in ambush there?” Lin Fan guessed in his heart.

Without showing any emotion, he returned to the team.

Half an hour later, everyone's condition had recovered.

“Enter the valley.” Lin Fan was the first to step into Blood Wolf Valley.

The light inside the valley was dim, and the pale red mist affected their vision. The mountain walls on both sides were steep and filled with jagged rocks. Many white bones were scattered on the ground, some human and some from Yao Beasts.

The further they went in, the clearer the wolf howls became.

After walking about one li, the path ahead suddenly opened up.

A huge valley basin appeared before their eyes. In the center of the basin was a pool of crimson blood, with a large number of Star Blood Wolf corpses scattered around it. And directly above the blood pool, a fist-sized crystal emitting soft starlight was suspended.

star marrow! And it was already mature! But what made Lin Fan's pupils contract was the person standing beneath the star marrow.

White robes, hands behind his back, facing away from the group.

It was Lin Feng!

“You've finally come.” Lin Feng slowly turned around, a cold smile hanging on his face. “I have been here, waiting for a long time.”