Chapter Thirteen: The Bloody Struggle

Twenty miles northwest of Heavenly Gate Peak lay a small pool, beside which stood a stone stele inscribed with three bold characters: Dragon Cleansing Pool.

At this moment, Lin Feng and his two companions were standing in the thatched pavilion by the pool. Outside, autumn rain blurred the landscape, mist rolled over the vast waters, and the pool itself was shrouded in fog, lending it a touch of ethereal beauty.

Lin Feng had always been fascinated by tales and legends. He had visited the Dragon Cleansing Pool several times, but aside from the bold, carefree script on the stele, he found no stories attached to the place. Unable to quell his curiosity, he asked, "Senior Sister, what is the origin of this Dragon Cleansing Pool?"

Helian Rushue smiled gently. "It is said that thousands of years ago, our sect’s founder, Master Yuanmu, subdued a fierce evil flood dragon deep in the wilderness. He extracted its sinews to forge the Demon-Subduing Whip, cleansing them of impurities in this very pool. Thus, the pool earned its name."

"Wow! Master Yuanmu was so powerful he could even slay dragons?" Du Songsong's eyes gleamed with mischief, his earlier dejection forgotten in an instant.

"Indeed. Master Yuanmu was a leader among heroes, revered by all cultivators. A mere flood dragon was hardly worthy of mention," Helian Rushue's gaze was sharp as she looked through the curtain of rain to the stone stele.

Lin Feng was astonished. The Moon Howling Sky Wolf and the Blazing Flame Royal Python he had seen before were only fourth-tier beasts, and with Caiyi’s skills, even fleeing from them was barely possible. If they had encountered a flood dragon, they might not have survived at all. Yet Master Yuanmu had slain one with ease—his prowess truly defied the heavens.

"Senior Sister, how did Fallen Immortal Valley get its name?" Lin Feng asked again.

Helian Rushue paused, then sighed. "I've only heard that a celestial once descended upon Fallen Immortal Valley. Whether it’s true or not, no one knows. Only the inner sect disciples might know the real story."

The two impoverished young men nodded silently, lost in their own thoughts. For a moment, the only sound in the pavilion was the gentle patter of rain.

"Quick, there's shelter over there! Let’s take cover!" A familiar, urgent voice called from afar, startling the three.

It was none other than Nangong Ke, the Corpse Prince.

The atmosphere in the small pavilion instantly became tense, as if drawn taut by a blade.

Four figures were running through the rain, looking bedraggled and desperate. The mountain path was slick, and one woman kept stumbling, crying out in alarm.

As the four approached, they suddenly froze. All but Nangong Ke drew their weapons, wary and ready for conflict.

Lin Feng looked closely. Their clothes were stained with blood, breaths unsteady; they seemed to have just survived a fierce battle. The most seriously injured was the woman, her face waxen, her chest soaked in red, supported by Nangong Ke—his old flame Jiang Baifeng.

"What do you want? Trying to take advantage of us now?" a man in blue barked harshly.

"Ha! You bribed assassins to ambush us last night. Now karma comes swiftly—your lives are forfeit!" Enemies met, eyes blazed with hatred. Du Songsong brandished his blade, ready to charge, but Lin Feng caught him by the arm.

Nangong Ke gave a surprised “Oh?” His eyes glinted with intrigue. "Fellow disciples, you don’t think I, Nangong Ke, am responsible, do you? Such heinous acts would never be committed by a disciple of the Hundred Flowers Sect."

"Hmph! We all know the truth. For the sake of our shared sect, leave now!" Lin Feng leveled his spear, sneering, "Otherwise, don’t blame us for showing no mercy!"

The four exchanged glances. Nangong Ke made a quick decision, snorting coldly, "Let’s go."

The rain grew fiercer, and soon their figures vanished into the mist. The three in the pavilion breathed a sigh of relief. If a fight had broken out, Lin Feng and his friends might not have come out ahead, but Nangong Ke feared for Jiang Baifeng’s safety and refrained from provoking a conflict.

"Who could have wounded them so badly?" Lin Feng gazed into the distance, his expression grave.

Du Songsong chuckled. "Who cares? That’s instant karma! Truly satisfying!"

But Helian Rushue frowned, pacing thoughtfully.

---

"What’s wrong, Senior Sister?" Lin Feng sensed something amiss.

Helian Rushue halted, her tone serious. "Did you notice? Jiang Baifeng’s wounds don’t look like they were caused by weapons—her injuries are quite strange."

"Not by weapons?" Both young men were shocked.

"Exactly! The wounds are bleeding in three places. I suspect—"

Before she could finish, Lin Feng cried, "Demonic beasts!"

As if to confirm his words, a dreadful howl suddenly echoed from the distant mountains, piercing the veil of rain and mist with despair and terror.

The three turned pale. How could a high-level beast appear outside the wilds in broad daylight? Judging by the sound, it was no ordinary creature. Could it be the same beast Nangong Ke and his group had encountered?

Another howl, different from the first, rang out from afar. Lin Feng shuddered, his eyes filling with fear. He would never forget that voice—it belonged to the Moon Howling Sky Wolf.

Fourth-tier beasts could soar on the wind; only Foundation Establishment cultivators could contend with them. The Moon Howling Sky Wolf was a rare savage breed, its cruelty clouding its intelligence, unable to transcend its form but evolving through slaughter. Among its peers, it was unmatched in strength.

"Senior Sister, Xiao Lin, let’s run..." Du Songsong’s voice trembled with tears. Beasts were not like fellow disciples, with whom one could negotiate; if encountered, they would surely die.

Helian Rushue looked at Lin Feng. Both saw fear in each other’s eyes. The repeated howls chilled them to the bone, and stranger still, there were at least two such beasts—perhaps more.

"Let’s wait. If the beasts really come this way, we won’t be able to escape anyway," Lin Feng steadied himself, speaking calmly.

Helian Rushue nodded gently. Lin Feng was right. Judging by the ferocity, these were at least fourth-tier beasts; the three of them weren’t even enough for a snack.

Though her cultivation was at the late Qi Refining stage, the gap between her and a savage beast equal to a Foundation Establishment expert was insurmountable—she was no more than an ant before such power.

Terrified, the three waited in the pavilion for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. As the rain eased, the Dragon Cleansing Pool was shrouded in dreamlike mist, the mountains washed green and fresh. Yet the savage howls continued, growing even more intense, their discord jarring against the beautiful scenery.

"Boss, let’s go?" Du Songsong, seeing the rain let up, again suggested fleeing.

"Wait a bit longer..." Lin Feng’s eyes grew feverish. Such situations were not unfamiliar; they brought boundless danger, but also rare opportunity. If he guessed right, the beasts were engaged in a fierce battle. He had missed collecting the Blazing Flame Royal Python’s corpse last time, and wasted the venomous serpent’s skin in the Green Nether Cave. Regret gnawed at him—this time, he would risk everything for a chance at fortune.

Du Songsong’s face was pale, restless. Helian Rushue kept her composure, occasionally glancing at Lin Feng.

"Let’s go!" As the rain stopped and the mist cleared, Lin Feng waved his hand and stepped out of the pavilion.

Du Songsong breathed out in relief. The boss was finally willing to leave; another moment and his legs would have given out.

The three walked silently, picking their way along the stone path of the mountain road in the post-rain noon.

Before long, Du Songsong grew anxious. "Xiao Lin, where are you leading us?"

Lin Feng grinned, showing his white teeth. "I never said we were going back. Right now is our best chance to turn things around—don’t you want to make a huge profit?"

Du Songsong’s face turned even paler. He tugged at Helian Rushue’s sleeve, "Senior Sister, persuade Xiao Lin not to do anything foolish. Nangong Ke and his group are fleeing for their lives—if we go, we’ll just be beast fodder!"

But before he could finish, Lin Feng interrupted, "If there were no risk, everyone would get rich. The brave thrive, the timid starve. We’ll sneak over and investigate. If the situation favors us, we can take a chance. If the beast discovers us, you two run—I’ll draw it away."

---

Helian Rushue listened quietly to Lin Feng’s words, her beautiful eyes flashing with admiration. She nodded, "Exactly. Judging by the sounds, at least two beasts are fighting. If we play the fisherman, we might reap great rewards."

With both agreeing, Du Songsong could only groan and resign himself, then covered his mouth tightly, sneaking along at the rear, eyes darting everywhere, ready to flee at any moment.

As they circled the Dragon Cleansing Pool, the terrifying roars grew clearer, shaking the mountains and sending leaves flying.

The three moved with utmost caution, stopping every few steps, more careful than thieves. After crossing two nameless slopes, the roars grew more wild, the sound of splintering trees echoed, and the earth quaked. Even without seeing them, they could imagine the size of the beasts.

The trio’s expressions varied: Du Songsong was pale as paper, his legs wobbling; Helian Rushue’s fair face glistened with sweat, her hand gripping her sword until her fingers whitened; Lin Feng, however, was visibly excited, tense but mostly thrilled by the gamble.

The calmest of all was the Golden-winged Sparrow nesting in Du Songsong’s unruly hair—dreaming through autumn, its eyes never once opening.

Pushing aside a cluster of wild tea bushes, Lin Feng was stunned by the bloody scene before him.

On the unnamed cliff, fear and darkness had prevented him from seeing the Moon Howling Sky Wolf’s face and form clearly. Now, seeing it, Lin Feng doubted whether his memory had failed him.

Down the slope, hundreds of meters away, trees were toppled, flowers crushed, the earth churned up. Two giant beasts fought in the most primal way—biting and clawing for their lives. The Moon Howling Sky Wolf, over six meters tall, its blue mane trailing to its tail, tore chunks of flesh from its opponent with every swipe, tossing them into the air and painting a rain of blood.

Its nemesis was even larger—a wind-earth bear, its brown fur glossy and stained with blood. Despite its bulk, it moved with surprising agility, each swipe of its massive paws sending sharp winds whistling through the air, flashing like blades.

Fourth-tier demonic beast, Wind Earth Bear!

Among beast materials, aside from pelts and marrow, the most valuable were the unique treasures of rare breeds. The Moon Howling Sky Wolf was famed for its claws, the Wind Earth Bear for its gall bladder—both prized for alchemy and forging.

The two ferocious beasts fought with earth-shaking fury, neither yielding. Lin Feng and his companions watched, hearts pounding and sweat soaking their clothes.

Blood and flesh flew, screams echoed, and the rain-soaked ground was stained a brilliant red.

The Moon Howling Sky Wolf was exceptionally fierce. Even after being knocked down by the bear’s paw, it sprang back to bite, summoning bolts of lightning to strike its foe. After several rounds, it gained the upper hand, leaving the Wind Earth Bear battered and bleeding.

"Strange… How is the Moon Howling Sky Wolf so powerful?" Lin Feng wondered aloud. Suddenly, the giant wolf turned its head and looked straight at their hiding place.

The three gasped, blood nearly freezing in their veins.

That moment seemed to stretch for an eternity. When the beast turned away, Du Songsong’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed into the grass.

Lin Feng had no time to help him. A sudden realization struck—he almost cried out, "Wait, this isn’t the same beast!"

A few days prior, the Moon Howling Sky Wolf that fought the Blazing Flame Royal Python had lost an eye, but this one was perfectly intact. It was definitely a different wolf. Had demonic beasts become so common these days?

As Lin Feng puzzled over this, a heart-wrenching scream sounded. He looked again—the Moon Howling Sky Wolf’s left claw plunged into the bear’s mouth, piercing its throat and emerging from its back. Blood sprayed several meters high.

Utterly gruesome.

The dying Wind Earth Bear, in its final agony, suddenly clamped its jaws shut, biting off the wolf’s claw with a crunch. The forest echoed with a thunderous, desperate howl. Du Songsong, just revived, fainted again.