Mo Xuan immediately retreated a few steps and watched carefully. "Never corner a wounded beast."
Another lesson from the bestiaries. A dying Spirit Beast was often more dangerous than a healthy one. Sure enough... The Blood Wolf slowly climbed back to its feet, though blood dripped steadily from its wounds.
Its breathing had become heavy and uneven. Yet its eyes had changed. Only pure killing intent remained. It lowered its head, and scarlet Spiritual Energy erupted from every pore of its body. The aura surrounding it nearly doubled.
Mo Xuan immediately felt the change in its aura. Blood continued flowing from the injured beast, while its aura fluctuated dangerously.
The Blood Wolf did not retreat. Instead... It threw back its head and released a deafening howl.
Awooooooooo—!
The sound echoed across the entire mountain forest, sending flocks of birds soaring into the sky. The very trees seemed to tremble beneath the terrifying roar. All reason had vanished from the wounded beast's crimson eyes. The scarlet Spiritual Energy surrounding its body erupted violently, forming a crimson mist that wrapped around its entire frame.
The Blood Wolf had entered a frenzy.
Mo Xuan instinctively tightened his grip on the iron sword. He had read about this state before. When severely injured, certain Spirit Beasts abandoned all sense of self-preservation, burning their vitality in exchange for explosive strength.
The Blood Wolf lowered its body. The ground beneath its claws cracked.
Before Mo Xuan could react—
BOOM!
The beast disappeared. Its speed far exceeded anything it had displayed earlier. Mo Xuan's pupils contracted. The Blood Wolf appeared directly before him. Its claws descended like crimson lightning. Mo Xuan crossed his sword instinctively.
CLANG!
The impact exploded through his arms. The iron sword vibrated violently. His entire body was blasted backwards like a broken kite. He crashed through a young pine tree before rolling across the rocky ground. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His arms trembled uncontrollably. "So strong…" Mo Xuan thought. He had underestimated the beast's final struggle.
The Blood Wolf gave him no opportunity to recover. With another furious howl, it charged once more. Mo Xuan immediately forced himself to his feet.
Retreat.
That was his only option now. He darted between the trees, using the dense forest to limit the wolf's movements. Branches snapped behind him. Ancient trunks shattered as the frenzied beast smashed directly through every obstacle in its path.
Its only instinct now was to kill. The chase continued deeper into the Spirit Beast Forest.
Mo Xuan no longer had the luxury of choosing his direction. Every turn he made was dictated by survival. He leapt over fallen logs. Slid beneath hanging roots. Scaled enormous boulders before launching himself down the opposite side.
Yet the Blood Wolf remained relentlessly behind him.
The ground gradually became unfamiliar. The ancient trees grew taller. The mountain path disappeared completely. Even the Spiritual Energy in the surroundings became denser than before.
"This isn't the outer forest..." Mo Xuan realised. "I've crossed into the inner region."
Ordinarily, he would never dare enter such a dangerous place. But today... He had no choice.
Suddenly— The ground beneath his feet gave way. A section of moss-covered earth collapsed without warning. Mo Xuan's eyes widened. "A trap?"
He instinctively twisted his body. Instead of falling straight down, he caught a protruding tree root along the cliff's edge. The Blood Wolf lunged after him. Unable to stop its momentum, the beast crashed into the weakened ground.
The earth shattered completely. A section of the hillside collapsed with a deafening roar. Massive rocks tumbled into the darkness below. Mo Xuan lost his grip. Both man and beast plunged into the hidden chasm together.
The world became a blur of darkness and falling stone. Mo Xuan could no longer distinguish sky from earth as he tumbled deeper into the collapsing chasm. Jagged rocks struck his shoulders and back, forcing the air from his lungs. Above him, the Blood Wolf was falling as well.
Unlike before, the beast had completely lost control. Its frenzied state had robbed it of all reason. It clawed wildly at empty air, desperately searching for something—anything—to stop its descent.
The fall seemed endless. Fragments of rock rained around him. Mo Xuan twisted repeatedly in mid-air, desperately searching for somewhere to land.
Then—
Splash!
Instead of striking solid stone, he crashed into icy water. The impact knocked the air from his lungs. He sank several metres before instinctively kicking toward the surface. When his head finally emerged, he gasped for breath.
"Cough...!"
"Cough..."
Every muscle in his body screamed in protest. The battle with the Blood Wolf had already pushed him to his limit. The fall had exhausted what little strength remained. The underground chamber was almost completely dark.
Only faint blue crystals embedded high in the cavern walls illuminated the vast space with an ethereal glow. The air carried an ancient stillness.
Then came another sound. A sickening one.
CRACK!
Followed by a deafening roar that echoed throughout the cavern. Mo Xuan immediately turned. His eyes widened. The Blood Wolf had not been as fortunate. Instead of falling into the underground pool, its body had crashed directly onto a forest of enormous crystal formations that rose from the cavern floor like giant spears.
One crystal had pierced completely through its abdomen. Another had driven through its chest. Scarlet blood poured down the translucent crystal, staining it crimson. The beast hung there helplessly.
Its limbs twitched violently. Its crimson eyes slowly opened. The murderous intent within them had not faded.
Mo Xuan leaned heavily against the rocky bank. His breathing came in ragged gasps. His iron sword had been thrown somewhere during the fall. His arms trembled from exhaustion.
Every instinct told him to rest. But the Blood Wolf was still breathing. A wounded Spirit Beast was still a Spirit Beast. If he hesitated and allowed it even a single opportunity... He would be the one lying dead.
Mo Xuan slowly forced himself to his feet. Each step sent waves of pain through his battered body. His soaked robes clung heavily to his skin. Blood dripped steadily from the cuts covering his arms and forehead.
Still... He continued walking.
The Blood Wolf struggled desperately. Its claws scraped against the crystal. Its jaws snapped wildly. But every movement only drove the razor-sharp crystal deeper into its body. Fresh blood spilt onto the cavern floor. The beast let out one final, furious growl.
Its crimson eyes locked onto Mo Xuan. Even now... It wanted to kill him.
Mo Xuan stopped before it. For a long moment... Neither moved.
The young cultivator and the dying Spirit Beast simply stared at one another.
Then Mo Xuan spoke quietly. "Let me put you out of your misery."
The Blood Wolf answered with another weak growl.
Mo Xuan slowly picked up a jagged shard of crystal that had broken free during the collapse. It was nearly as long as his forearm. Its edge was razor sharp. He tightened his grip. With the last of his strength— He drove the crystal forward.
Thrust!
The shard pierced directly through the Blood Wolf's throat. The beast convulsed violently. Its claws scratched once against the crystal beneath it. Then...
They fell still. The crimson light within its eyes gradually faded. Silence returned to the cavern.
Mo Xuan stood there for several breaths, ensuring there was no trace of life remaining. Only then did he allow himself to exhale. His knees finally gave way, and he collapsed onto the cold stone floor.
He had survived through patience, judgment, and a little fortune. His first battle had nearly become his last.
As the Blood Wolf's life finally ebbed away, a deep rumbling echoed throughout the cavern.
Rumble…
Mo Xuan stirred weakly and looked up. The entrance through which they had fallen was beginning to move. Massive slabs of ancient stone slid into place with thunderous force, sealing the opening completely. Dust poured from the ceiling.
Within moments, the last sliver of daylight vanished. The cavern fell into complete silence. Only the faint blue glow of countless crystals illuminated the immense underground chamber.
Exhaustion overwhelmed him once more. His consciousness faded.
Several hours later, he woke with a start. He looked around wildly before finally noticing the Blood Wolf's corpse. Only then did he relax.
He remembered the fall and the sealed cavern. He was trapped underground.
Only then did he notice it. Beyond the crystal forest where the Blood Wolf had died, a narrow stone passage stretched deeper into the mountain. Ancient carvings lined its walls. The air flowing from within carried an indescribably ancient aura.
Mo Xuan's eyes narrowed. "This doesn't look like a natural cave..."
He turned back once, looking at the Blood Wolf's lifeless body. If not for that desperate chase... If not for the collapsing ground... Neither of them would ever have discovered this place. Taking a slow breath, Mo Xuan steadied himself.
There was only one path left. Forward. Into the depths of the ancient cave.