Chapter Sixty-One: Sweeping Through the Darkness

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Southern region of the Amano Forest.

Howls echoed in the open clearing nestled between the mountains and the forest. A woman with a delicate, refined face leaned against the rocky mountainside, her gaze calm and unwavering as she watched the scene before her. In front of her, a pack of wolves with eyes glowing an eerie green closed in, their intent unmistakable as they surrounded her—cold and ruthless in their ferocity.

Perhaps emboldened by her solitary appearance, the wolves pressed ever closer.

“It’s only the fourth trial—how could so many Gale Wolves have gathered here?” the woman murmured, wiping sweat from her brow, her confusion evident.

She had only just set foot in this area when the wolves had descended upon her without warning. She’d hoped to end the skirmish quickly and escape, but the more she fought, the more wolves appeared, until now she found herself forced into a corner with nowhere left to run.

She drew a deep breath, determination flashing in her eyes. “There’s only one way left.”

With resolve, she made her move. Swiftly and gracefully, she withdrew a brush from the holder at her waist. The moment the white brush was in her hand, the scant remnants of elemental energy in the air flocked to it, gathering like stardust at its tip.

In that instant, her fair, slender hand burst into radiant golden light.

As the gleam flared, a careful observer might have noticed a dark figure lurking in the shadows.

“Heavenly Dryad Butterfly Dance!”

With a soft whisper, her hand danced through the air like a masterful artist, painting with abandon.

At once, golden butterflies composed of elemental energy swirled into existence, dazzling and innumerable, surging forth like a tide. Each butterfly glimmered like a spinning blade, slashing through the wolves as they drew near.

The air filled with the pained whimpers of wolves; wherever the golden butterflies swept, wolf bodies collapsed in heaps.

Though her own cultivation was only at the first stage of the Spiritual Void Realm, with the power of this earth-grade technique, ordinary Foundation Stage Gale Wolves were no match for her. The surrounding pack, witnessing the carnage, recoiled and began to retreat with fearful howls.

Suddenly, her eyes widened in alarm.

Just as she believed the wolves might withdraw, a towering wolf, several meters tall, emerged from the ranks, its icy green eyes shining as it strode forward. Its aura was immense and its steps measured; as it appeared, the other wolves bowed their heads in submission.

At the same moment, a faint disturbance stirred in the grass nearby.

The great wolf lifted its head and let out a thunderous howl. The sound reverberated through the air, shaking the entire forest to its roots.

Caught off guard by the force of the wolf’s aura, the woman’s knees buckled and she collapsed to the ground.

Peak Spiritual Void Realm!

A Gale Wolf at the very pinnacle of the Spiritual Void Realm!

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The oppressive force of its presence left her breathless. Even at her best, she would have chosen to avoid such a foe at all costs—yet here it was, at the worst possible time. She had no choice but to activate the teleportation function on her sect token. Though it would cost her three thousand spirit stones, there was no alternative.

A sinister laugh split the air just as the monstrous wolf lunged at her. Suddenly, a massive black claw struck from the shadows, hurtling toward the wolf. The beast, formidable in its own right, gathered green elemental energy at its paw and met the attack head-on.

The woman wasted no time, leaping onto a nearby tree for safety. As she wondered who had come to her aid, a cloaked figure in black strode toward her.

“Thank you, senior brother, for your assistance!” she called, hopping down and bowing in gratitude to the newcomer.

“Oh?” The figure regarded her with mild surprise.

“Since I’ve helped you, how do you plan to repay me?” He smiled, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Though displeased by his words, she replied with forced politeness, “My name is Shu Meng. Do you want spirit stones or cultivation techniques?”

He shook his finger and his head, clearly dissatisfied.

“Then... please, just say what you want.” Shu Meng’s clear eyes flickered with bewilderment. This person wanted neither spirit stones nor techniques—she couldn’t fathom his intentions or identity.

“I want you. Your body, your everything,” the cloaked man said coldly. “Oh, and let me introduce myself. I’m Suo Yangcan. I’m sure you’ve heard my name.”

“You—?” Shu Meng’s expression hardened, her relief quickly replaced by alarm. She bit her lip, leaving a neat row of teeth marks as she struggled to compose herself. Finally, she spat, “Shameless scoundrel! Who needs your help? You collude with the Black Demon Clan—how do you dare show your face in the Celestial Derivation Sect?”

Anger flared in her heart. Never would she have imagined her rescuer was a traitor, a lackey of the Black Demon Clan. The very thought sickened her—she’d almost been grateful to her enemy.

He chuckled. “Surprised to see me here? You know the saying—the most dangerous place is often the safest.”

She glared. “Don’t you know sect tokens have a teleportation function?”

“That’s none of your concern. Your life is in my hands now. Hurry up and send him a distress signal,” Suo Yangcan snarled.

He lunged, his clawed hand reaching for her slender, pale neck.

“What? How can this be—?”

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Just as Shu Meng tried to activate her token’s teleportation, she found it useless.

“Nothing is impossible. If you don’t do as I say, your corpse will be left to rot in the wild,” Suo Yangcan threatened, tightening his grip on her delicate neck.

Coughing, her body trembling under the suffocating pressure, Shu Meng stared at him in terror. Crushed by despair, she had no choice but to send a distress signal to the young man using her token.

It wasn’t cowardice—she simply couldn’t bear the thought of what might happen otherwise.

...

A thousand meters above the ground.

Tian Ming had boarded the guidance craft, and after a minute’s flight—

“Friendly reminder: Thank you for flying with us. You have arrived at your destination. Two rides remain. Wishing you a smooth journey!” came the sweet, automated voice.

Bound tightly by two black straps, Tian Ming finally let out a sigh of relief.

“At last,” he muttered, his eyes lighting up.

He was exhausted by the ordeal. If he were allowed to rate the service, he would have given it the lowest possible score. What kind of customer care was this? The craft was fast, yes, but left him feeling utterly trapped—like a soulless machine. Without freedom, how was this different from being kidnapped? The only difference, he supposed, was that one was voluntary and the other was not.

“Damn!” Just as he tried to step out of the craft—only to find it had vanished—the next instant he was left suspended in midair, exposed to the sky.

Suddenly, gravity seized him with a vengeance. Only then did Tian Ming understand the meaning of the AI’s final words.

He was now thousands of meters above the ground!

A familiar, stomach-churning sensation surged through him. His body spun and tumbled like a deep-fried dough stick thrown into boiling oil, flipping and whirling as the sky and land traded places before his eyes.

The wind howled past his ears, thunderous sonic booms roaring around him.

Below, the endless sweep of mountains came sharply into focus.