The Phantom Moon Demonic Wolves were formidable, ranking among the elite of demonic beasts. Capturing one as a beast pet would be ideal, but their immense strength presented a significant challenge in overcoming them.
After some deliberation, the group quickly formulated a plan.
"These demonic beasts are naturally ferocious and bloodthirsty; the sight of blood en't their excitement. If one of us lures them away, we're sure to enter their den smoothly," said the cultivator at the peak of the Qi Refining stage.
"Exactly. And the weaker the person, the better. These beasts enjoy tormenting smaller creatures," added the Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.
As soon as he finished speaking, both their gazes fell on Zhu Kai.
"But who would be the most suitable person?" one of them asked feigning consideration.
Zhu Kai rolled his eyes and calmly averted their stares.
"I think it should be you. You're the weakest, making you the perfect bait," the Qi Refining stage cultivator said, stepping in front of Zhu Kai. "Don't worry, we'll equip you with protective magical treasures. You'll be fine, and afterwards, we'll report your bravery to the academy and request commendation."
The promise was so transparently hollow that Zhu Kai, far from being foolish, refused to fall for it.
"I can't, I faint at the sight of blood."
"I heard you were part of a hunting team before. Do hunters faint at the sight of blood?"
"I always hunted with my eyes closed."
"Stop bluffing. It's you. Get ready! Don't worry, we won't let you suffer."
With that, the other cultivator grabbed Zhu Kai, ready to move.
But in the next second, he froze.
It wasn't that he didn't want to move, but that he couldn't.
Two hands were placed on his shoulders, and in an instant, his entire body felt devoid of strength.
"With so many people here, why must he be the one to go?" Lin Xiao Tian's eyes were icy.
In the past, the other party would have argued incessantly, as the life of an ordinary person was of little value.
But things were different now. With Lin Xiao Tian's hands on his shoulders, the force far surpassed the Qi Refining stage. The other party, no fool, immediately recognized the disparity in their strength.
"He's the weakest here, so who else if not him?"
"What significant difference is there between the third and fourth layers of Qi Refining?"
Seeing Lin Xiao Tian's unwavering resolve, the other party could only concede.
"Instructor Xu, you can't say that. He is the most suitable candidate," the Foundation Establishment stage instructor chimed in.
Lin Xiao Tian sneered, "And what if I disagree?"
"Instructor Xu, you need to understand that I am the captain of this team. You must obey me!"
"The academy's rules don't state that one must obey the captain," Lin Xiao Tian said calmly.
Witnessing Lin Xiao Tian openly defy him in front of everyone, the Foundation Establishment stage instructor lost his temper.
"Instructor Xu, don't be obstinate." With that, he took a few more steps forward, his aura intensifying.
Lin Xiao Tian smiled slightly, and a powerful aura erupted from him as well.
"Foundation Establishment?"
The other party blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting Lin Xiao Tian to have reached the Foundation Establishment stage. In reality, Lin Xiao Tian's strength far exceeded this.
"You only recently entered the Foundation Establishment stage, yet you dare to be so arrogant!"
"Arrogant? I've always been polite. When we reach the Dean's presence, you all must testify that I did nothing; he was the one who initiated the confrontation."
"You're lying! You were the one who refused to follow everyone's decision. Everyone saw it!"
"Regardless, I will speak the truth when we see the Dean."
The two sides argued incessantly, but the Foundation Establishment stage instructor never made a move.
On one hand, he was genuinely concerned about the Dean's potential reprisal.
More importantly, however, he was wary of Lin Xiao Tian's strength. If Lin Xiao Tian were still in the Qi Refining stage, he could have easily dealt with Lin Xiao Tian first and then faced the Dean, believing the Dean wouldn't oppose him over a dead person. Such incidents were not uncommon within the academy; almost everyone knew that once in the Black Forest, there was no need for talk if action could be taken.
But that was only if he had a guaranteed victory.
Although Lin Xiao Tian had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, he himself was only in the early Foundation Establishment stage. The difference in strength wasn't overwhelmingly vast, and coupled with Lin Xiao Tian's evident confidence, it made him hesitant.
"Haha, let's all calm down. I think we need to reconsider this matter. While Phantom Moon Demonic Wolves favor weaker prey, if the target is too weak, they might be caught too quickly and won't be able to buy us enough time," one of the instructors intervened to mediate.
Soon, a few others joined in the mediation. As there were two Foundation Establishment cultivators present, they couldn't easily take sides.
"I have no problem with reconsidering. The question is, what does Instructor Wang think?" Lin Xiao Tian looked at the Foundation Establishment stage instructor.
"Hmph! Since everyone has said so, then I will reconsider!"
The potential conflict quickly subsided, and a new plan soon emerged.
This time, in addition to Zhu Kai, several Qi Refining stage cultivators were dispatched to engage the Phantom Moon Demonic Wolves in a rotating battle. Lin Xiao Tian did not object. Relying on the academy's magical treasures, he believed Zhu Kai would be safe, and if necessary, he would intervene.
Preparation commenced swiftly. Zhu Kai was the first to act. As the scent of blood wafted through the air, roars echoed from the nearby wolf den.
The Phantom Moon Demonic Wolves, top-tier demonic beasts, possessed a ferocious bloodline. When enraged, they were nearly invincible against opponents of the same level.
However, this also proved to be their weakness; once in a frenzy, their intelligence plummeted.
Before Zhu Kai, several demonic wolves were already losing their minds.
Blood was the key that plunged them into a frenzy. For the sake of blood, they could forget everything, including their duty to protect their den.
Roar...
The wolf howls reverberated through the wilderness.
Zhu Kai did not hesitate and turned to flee.
He didn't need to worry about the demonic wolves catching up. Those monsters wouldn't let go of even the slightest trace of blood. If Zhu Kai were truly injured now, escape would be impossible. But this time, the plan was well-executed. The blood was specially treated, enclosed within a unique membrane, and could even be used for relay. Furthermore, the magical treasures for escape were deployed, ensuring that the demonic wolves could be held off for a while.
With the adult wolves gone, the den posed little threat. Lin Xiao Tian and Instructor Wang, along with four others, entered the cave.
Not long after entering, Instructor Wang let out an excited shout.
"Haha, indeed, there are demonic wolf cubs."
Everyone looked over and discovered three young demonic wolves.
Instructor Wang was quick, securing all three. The others could do nothing, as he had discovered them first and possessed the greatest strength.
Demonic beast dens often contained treasures. To prevent Instructor Wang from seizing any more, the group began to split up.
Lin Xiao Tian remained stationary, spreading his divine sense throughout the entire den.
He suddenly found it strange.
The strongest Phantom Moon Demonic Wolves here were only at the peak of the Qi Refining stage. Why could this den block his detection? He, after all, was in the Nascent Soul stage!
Yet, there clearly shouldn't be anything in this place that a cultivator of the Nascent Soul stage couldn't handle. This was why Lin Xiao Tian had accompanied them, and why he had revealed only Foundation Establishment stage strength earlier, to have a chance to enter the cave.
However, his divine sense remained unusable, as if an invisible force was clouding his senses.
"What could it be?" Lin Xiao Tian frowned.
Just then, a scream pierced the air.