C21 Mountain Range of Devilish Beast Shadow Devil Wolf!

The Mountain Range of Devilish Beasts is notoriously treacherous throughout the Floating Cloud Empire. Even the branch near Lingyun City, while only a fraction of the range, teems with perilous Vicious Beasts.

These beasts are categorized similarly to warriors: First-grade Vicious Beasts are on par with Martial Disciples, second-grade align with Martial Masters, third-grade with Grand Martial Masters, and fourth-grade beasts match the prowess of Innate Grandmasters. Vicious Beasts of the fifth grade and above are exclusive to the heart of the Mountain Range of Devilish Beasts; the strongest encountered in the branch near Lingyun City are merely fourth-grade.

Luo Chen selected this particular branch for his training due to its labyrinthine terrain, which made it nearly impossible for anyone to track him once he delved deep enough. The inherent risks aside, it offered him the perfect cover to hone his skills without revealing his full capabilities.

Upon leaving Lingyun City and ensuring he wasn't being shadowed, Luo Chen hastened his steps and soon found himself within the Mountain Range of Devilish Beasts. The outer reaches of the range were dotted with first-grade Vicious Beasts, prompting Luo Chen to proceed with caution, his hand resting on his sword hilt, ready for combat.

Throughout his journey, Luo Chen encountered no Vicious Beasts beyond his handle. Even the occasional second-grade beasts seemed to sense his formidable presence, opting to steer clear of him. Concerned that any skirmish might draw the attention of other martial artists lurking on the fringes of the range, Luo Chen decided against engaging these creatures for practice.

Venturing deeper into the mountains, he dispatched several first-grade Vicious Beasts with ease, accumulating 800 points of spiritual energy. Suddenly, Luo Chen halted, his ears perking up at a distant clamor.

"There's a battle nearby!"

Having advanced to a Second Stage Martial Master and bolstered by his Genuine Qi, Luo Chen could now discern the sounds of conflict from a mile away and pinpoint their origin.

After a brief contemplation, Luo Chen pushed his Crane Shadow Fascination Tracing technique to its limits and stealthily made his way toward the source of the noise.

Ahead lay a dense forest where shadows of people flitted among the trees, punctuated by the occasional roar of a beast.

Luo Chen gathered his genuine qi and leapt onto a nearby tree. Concealed by the foliage, he became virtually invisible.

From his elevated vantage point, he surveyed the scene below with ease.

An expansive clearing, strewn with gravel, lay within the woods. Several armed warriors encircled a wolf-shaped Vicious Beast with glossy black fur. Their matching gear suggested they were part of the same mercenary squad.

The cornered beast crouched low, its eyes gleaming with ferocity, emitting deep growls intermittently.

"A second-grade Vicious Beast, the Shadow Devil Wolf!"

The creature's name sprang to Luo Chen's mind, igniting a spark of excitement in his eyes.

The Shadow Devil Wolf was notorious among Vicious Beasts for its formidable combat prowess, often able to challenge martial artists a full realm above its own.

Moreover, every part of the Shadow Devil Wolf was valuable, especially the black crystal formed in its heart, an essential component for crafting a Low Grade Universe Ring.

Indeed, each Shadow Devil Wolf was akin to a mobile treasury!

Luo Chen's attention fixed on the Shadow Devil Wolf, and he noticed its limp, one hind leg injured. A massive gash marred its back, the perpetrator and the story behind it a mystery, the wound still raw and unhealed.

It seemed the mercenaries had managed to encircle the Shadow Devil Wolf due to its grave injuries. Otherwise, they would stand no chance against such a formidable beast.