The Sinking Mallow River's swamp stretched endlessly, like a gray-green ocean swallowing the horizon.
Mist coiled through the air in slow, ghost-like tendrils, wrapping around crooked trees and jagged reeds. The ground beneath was treacherous—half water, half mud—each step sinking slightly, as though the swamp itself was trying to drag them under.
The air was thick, humid, and suffocating.
And beneath it all… something moved.
—
The eleven-member hunting team of the Lu Clan advanced cautiously.
At the front stood Third Elder Lu Chanki, his expression calm but his eyes sharp as blades. Beside him prowled his Wind-Grazing Wolf, its fur rippling like flowing air, every step silent yet filled with killing intent.
Behind him were two veteran late-stage Qi Refining disciples, talismans already prepared in their hands.
Further back came the five mid-stage disciples—
—and among them, the three who had drawn the most attention before departure:
Lu Yanshi.
Lu Yanxi.
Lu Yanhai.
None of them spoke.
The joking and complaints from earlier had long since disappeared.
Here… there was no room for carelessness.
—
Lu Yanhai broke the silence first, his voice low.
"…I don't like this place."
"Good," Lu Yanxi replied quietly, her eyes scanning the mist. "That means you're paying attention."
Lu Yanshi said nothing. Her gaze moved constantly—water, trees, shadows—calculating, measuring.
Every ripple mattered.
Every sound could mean death.
—
The mission sounded simple when explained in the hall:
Hunt weaker crocodiles.
Gather spirit herbs.
Retrieve eggs.
But now that they stood within the swamp—
—it felt like a lie.
It happened without warning.
A violent explosion of water—
BOOM!
Mud and swamp water erupted into the air as a massive shadow burst forward.
"WATCH OUT!"
A colossal crocodile lunged from beneath the surface, its jaws snapping shut where a disciple had stood a heartbeat before.
The impact alone sent waves crashing outward.
Its body was enormous—scales dark as iron, each plate layered like armor. Its eyes glowed with a cold, vicious intelligence.
The air around it… trembled.
Lu Chanki's pupils shrank.
"…This aura…"
His voice dropped.
"This is not early-stage."
A heavy pressure spread across the battlefield.
Even weakened from laying eggs—
—the beast was still in the mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm.
—
The crocodile roared, its tail smashing into the swamp—
CRASH!
Water exploded like a tidal wave.
"FORM UP!" Chanki shouted
The Wind-Grazing Wolf moved first.
With a blur of motion, it leapt forward like a blade slicing through the air, intercepting the crocodile's charge.
CLANG!
Its claws struck the crocodile's scales—
—and sparks flew.
The impact alone shook the surrounding water.
Chanki did not hesitate.
A talisman ignited in his hand, golden light gathering instantly.
"Golden Swift Sword!"
A streak of radiant energy tore through the air, slicing toward the crocodile's neck.
—
The swamp descended into chaos.
The crocodile twisted violently, its massive jaws snapping shut with thunderous force. Each bite crushed mud, roots, and even chunks of wood like they were nothing.
Its tail whipped sideways—
BOOM!
A tree shattered instantly.
—
Chanki moved like a shadow across the swamp's surface, every step precise despite the unstable ground.
Water splashed, mud flew—
—but he never slowed.
The wolf circled the beast, striking from angles, its claws raking across scales, its fangs searching for weakness.
—
But the crocodile was relentless.
It surged forward again, ignoring pain, its jaws wide enough to swallow a man whole.
One mistake—
—and everything would end.
—
Sweat rolled down Chanki's face.
His breathing grew heavier.
His robes were torn, stained with mud and blood.
But his eyes remained steady.
—
"Now!"
With a sudden roar, he poured every remaining strand of qi into his talisman.
The golden sword flared brighter than before—
—and shot forward like lightning.
SHHHHK!
It pierced straight through the crocodile's chest.
—
For a moment—
everything froze.
—
Then the beast thrashed violently.
Water erupted into the air. Mud splashed like rain. Its tail smashed blindly, tearing apart everything around it.
—
Then—
BOOM.
Its massive body collapsed into the swamp.
Stillness returned.
—
But the battle…
was far from over.
—
"More coming!" one of the veterans shouted.
The swamp answered with movement.
Ripples spread.
Shadows surged.
Multiple crocodiles burst from the water at once.
—
On the disciples battlefield
Lu Yanshi stepped forward.
"Leave this side to me."
Her voice was calm—but firm.
Behind her, her tiger lowered its body, golden eyes glowing like molten metal.
—
Two crocodiles lunged simultaneously.
One from the front—
One from behind.
—
Yanshi moved.
Golden qi condensed in her hand, forming a radiant spear.
She thrust forward without hesitation.
THRUST!
The spear struck the front crocodile—
—but its scales resisted, the impact ringing like metal.
—
Behind her—
her tiger roared.
A beam of golden energy shot from its mouth, slamming into the second crocodile.
The swamp trembled.
—
The battle tightened instantly.
The crocodiles were faster than expected.
Stronger.
More vicious.
—
A tail swept toward her—
WHOOOSH!
Yanshi dropped low, rolling across the mud as the attack passed just above her.
The force alone shattered the ground behind her.
—
She came up instantly—
Spun—
And struck again.
—
The tiger leapt, claws slashing, fangs clashing against hardened scales.
Golden energy sparked with every impact.
—
There was no rhythm.
No breathing room.
Only survival.
—
Yanxi and Yanhai Under Pressure
Not far away—
Lu Yanxi and Lu Yanhai carried out their true objective.
"Cover me," Yanxi said calmly.
Her hands glowed with soft green light.
Vines burst from the swamp, twisting and binding around smaller crocodiles, slowing them, redirecting their movement.
She wasn't trying to kill—
She was controlling the battlefield.
—
Yanhai stood nearby, shadows swirling around him.
His two-headed python moved like a living wall.
One head struck—
The other defended.
Its massive body coiled and uncoiled, knocking crocodiles off balance, forcing them back.
—
"I've got the eggs," Yanhai muttered.
Then—
A shadow lunged toward him.
Too fast.
—
"Watch out!" Yanxi shouted.
—
The crocodile's jaws snapped toward him—
—but black water-like qi surged outward.
BOOM!
The force repelled the beast just enough.
Enough to survive.
—
Yanhai exhaled sharply.
"…That was too close."
"Focus," Yanxi replied. "We're not done."
—
Turning Point
Back on the frontline—
Yanshi faltered.
A crocodile's tail struck her tiger—
CRASH!
The beast was thrown aside, crashing into the mud.
—
At the same time—
Jaws snapped toward her.
—
Yanshi dropped, barely avoiding the bite.
The teeth scraped against her spear—
CRACK!
The tip shattered.
—
For a split second—
death was right in front of her.
—
Her eyes sharpened.
No fear.
Only clarity.
—
"Now!"
Her voice rang out.
"Spear strike—beam follow!"
—
Golden light erupted.
A new spear formed in her hand, brighter, sharper.
She drove it forward with everything she had.
—
At the same moment—
her tiger rose, roaring.
A beam of golden energy exploded from its mouth.
—
The attacks landed together.
One crocodile staggered—
The other was thrown backward into a tree.
—
"Finish it!"
—
The tiger leapt onto one beast, claws sinking deep.
Yanshi lunged forward—
Driving the spear straight through the other.
—
Both crocodiles collapsed.
—
Yanshi stood there, breathing heavily.
Mud. Blood. Sweat.
Her hands trembled slightly.
—
But she was still standing.
—
Aftermath
Slowly—
the swamp fell silent.
—
The water settled.
The mist returned.
—
No one had died.
But no one remained untouched.
—
Wounds covered the disciples—cuts, bruises, torn robes.
Some could barely stand.
—
Yanshi leaned on her spear, her tiger crouched beside her, breathing heavily.
Yanxi carefully inspected the herbs and eggs, ensuring none were damaged.
Yanhai stood guard, eyes scanning the swamp, refusing to relax.
—
Even Lu Chanki exhaled deeply, wiping sweat from his brow.
His Wind-Grazing Wolf lay beside him, still alert despite its exhaustion.
—
Lessons Carved in Blood
No one spoke for a long time.
They didn't need to.
—
The truth was clear.
The elders had known.
This was never a simple mission.
—
It was a trial.
—
A lesson in:
Unpredictability.
Coordination.
Survival.
—
Lu Yanshi had faced death head-on—and endured.
Lu Yanxi had controlled chaos without losing focus.
Lu Yanhai had protected the mission under constant threat.
—
They had all changed.