The stench of blood gradually faded, and the mountain forest returned to deathly silence.
Corpses and blood covered the ground, dyeing the earth deep red in the depths of the Canglan Mountains. The thick smell of blood lingered in the air for a long time.
Lin Chen stood in the middle of the pile of corpses, his body still stained with fresh blood. Yet his face remained calm, as if the brutal slaughter just now was no more significant than brushing off a speck of dust.
He looked down at the scarlet demon core in his palm. A warm surge of energy pulsed gently against his fingertips.
[Blood‑Shadow Demon Wolf Demon Core]: The core of a Spirit Sea Realm demonic beast, containing pure and violent blood‑fiend energy. It can be used for cultivation, alchemy, or tempering the physical body.
This was his greatest reward for slaying the Blood‑Shadow Demon Wolf.
A Spirit Sea Realm demon core was an invaluable treasure for someone at the Early True Martial Stage like him. For ordinary warriors, obtaining one could drastically boost their cultivation. However, the violent blood‑fiend energy within was difficult to control; the slightest misstep could lead to a backlash and self‑destruction.
But Lin Chen was different.
Having survived the destruction of Canglan, his will had been forged into unyielding steel. With resolve far beyond ordinary men, he could suppress the fiendish aura within the demon core.
"Perfect. I can use this to stabilize my realm… and even break through my bottleneck."
Lin Chen muttered, storing the demon core in his arms. He then scanned the corpses of the Blackwind disciples and began searching carefully.
These disciples were all elites of their academy, carrying spirit herbs, spirit stones, and cultivation resources. The leading Late True Martial Stage disciple, in particular, had three mid‑grade spirit stones, an incomplete movement technique manual, and a bottle of body‑refining healing pills in his storage pouch.
A bountiful harvest.
Lin Chen collected all the spoils without hesitation. The heavy stench of blood here would attract other demonic beasts. This was no place to linger.
He turned to leave for the deeper mountains, but suddenly froze.
His gaze fell on a small pit not far away, clawed open by the demon wolf.
Beneath the dirt, a faint cyan glow flickered dimly in the forest, starkly out of place amid the blood and death.
A flicker of surprise crossed Lin Chen's eyes. He walked over slowly.
Brushing away the dirt and rocks, a half‑foot‑tall cyan grass came into view.
Its leaves were crystal clear, wrapped in strands of pure spiritual energy. Even growing in this filthy, blood‑soaked ground, it exuded a crisp vitality, sharply contrasting with its surroundings.
"This is… Green Spirit Grass?"
Lin Chen's pupils contracted as he recognized the herb.
Green Spirit Grass, a third‑rank spiritual herb, contained pure heaven‑and‑earth energy. It was the main ingredient for pills that break through bottlenecks in the True Martial Realm, extremely rare—even a treasure in Canglan Martial Academy.
He never expected to find such a spiritual herb beneath the demon wolf's lair.
It seemed the wolf had guarded the grass unknowingly by occupying this spot… and now it had become his gain.
Lin Chen carefully dug up the Green Spirit Grass with its roots intact, wrapped it in clean cloth, and stored it in his pouch.
With the spiritual herb and demon core in hand, this desperate journey, though perilous, had yielded far more than he could have hoped.
He took a deep breath, calming his emotions, and looked toward the deeper Canglan Mountains.
The hunt from Blackwind Academy and Heavenly Fate Sect was not over. His cultivation was still weak. The road ahead remained full of thorns.
Yet at this moment, Lin Chen felt no fear—only growing, unshakable resolve.
Only in despair could one be reborn like a phoenix.
His blood debt was repaid. His opportunity was seized.
From this day onward, he would walk through thorns and grow stronger step by step. One day, he would make all his enemies pay a far more terrible price.
Without further delay, Lin Chen's figure blurred like a ghost, vanishing into the dense forest, resolutely advancing into the unknown.