With a dull thud, the demon wolf let out a mournful cry, its body twisting as it retreated, howling in pain. It was scorched black, its fur shed, leaving it covered in bloody wounds, a truly pathetic sight.
"Hmm, this wolf's strength is equivalent to a Martial Master third realm. That should be enough," Zhou Yan murmured to himself.
"Since you wanted to eat me, then I'll eat you instead."
Immediately, Zhou Yan's gaze turned icy. He lunged forward like a ferocious beast, grabbed the giant wolf by the neck, and tore at it with all his might.
Ah!
Sharp, piercing screams erupted from the demon wolf's throat, a wail so desolate it made one's scalp tingle.
Soon, the demon wolf fell completely silent, bitten to death alive by Zhou Yan, who devoured its flesh and essence.
Rumble~
Suddenly, a thick aura of blood fiend energy permeated from the giant wolf's corpse, transforming into a cloud of blood-red mist, churning and surging like a tide or a waterfall.
Zhou Yan's heart rejoiced. He quickly opened his mouth, swallowing this cloud of blood energy.
Blood fiend energy was a great tonic for any martial artist.
Especially since Zhou Yan's cultivation technique was special, making his absorption of blood fiend energy extremely efficient.
Before long, the blood fiend energy dissipated, and Zhou Yan's cultivation advanced further, reaching the ninth level of Martial Apprentice!
"Haha..."
Zhou Yan threw his head back and laughed, feeling an immense sense of exhilaration. "I never expected that cultivating here for one day is equivalent to two or three days outside."
"No wonder those martial artists were willing to fight desperately for it."
Under normal circumstances, reaching the Martial Master realm from the ninth level of Martial Apprentice would require a year of arduous cultivation.
But here, it could be achieved in just a few days, and even faster.
"However..."
After calming down slightly, Zhou Yan frowned again, a look of doubt on his face. "Why is this relic space beyond my control?"
According to his memory, this place should have been sealed off, prohibiting Martial Apprentices from entering.
But now, it seemed this relic had no seal whatsoever.
Zhou Yan observed carefully, confirming there were no issues, before stepping out of the tomb.
Crack!
As soon as he exited, a shadow fell upon him, engulfing him.
"What in the world!"
Zhou Yan grunted and struck out with his palm, his energy erupting with formidable power.
Bang!
Instantly, a grotesque wolf head slammed against the hard wall, splattering blood, its skull shattering.
"This..." Zhou Yan was startled and then relieved as he looked closer.
It turned out to be a gray rat, fluffy and plump, hopping towards him. Its small eyes darted around, warily watching Zhou Yan.
The rat had glossy black fur and a perky tail, exhibiting a look of disdain. It let out a few squeaks before darting into a hole and disappearing.
"Uh... this rat is quite clever."
Zhou Yan chuckled in amusement, then continued deeper into the forest, searching for prey.
Not long after, Zhou Yan stopped, sensing something peculiar.
The forest here was teeming with life, with lush trees, abundant flowers and grasses, and the chirping of various birds. It was a beautiful landscape, like a paradise.
However, Zhou Yan noticed that the nearby plants were somewhat withered, yellowed, and even rotting, emitting a foul odor.
"What's going on..."
Zhou Yan frowned, scanning his surroundings, a vague suspicion dawning on him.
"Could it be that I've stumbled into some forbidden zone..." Zhou Yan muttered to himself.
Forbidden zones were secret realms left behind by ancient sects and powers, intended for their disciples' training. They were far more dangerous than the outside world, filled with poisonous insects, fierce beasts, and various rare treasures.
Legend had it that each forbidden zone was guarded by an unparalleled enemy of immense power.
"Never mind, I'll deal with it later."
"Let's just get out of here first..."
His thoughts racing, Zhou Yan looked up at the sky. The sun hung high, blazing fiercely, and it was already nearing noon.
"Today is the last day of the Hunting Assembly. There's only half a day left until the preliminary selection begins," Zhou Yan mused.
The Hunting Assembly was a grand event in Qingyun County City, gathering numerous Martial Apprentices and Martial Masters for an exchange and sparring competition.
Before this, Zhou Yan had heard that some well-known young prodigies had already arrived at the hunting grounds, preparing for the preliminary selection.
After all, the champion of the Hunting Assembly received generous rewards, and only by securing a ranking could one exchange for cultivation resources.
These young prodigies were the heavenly talents from the various prominent families in Qingyun County. They possessed extraordinary status, backed by their family's power and immense wealth, making them the epitome of the rich.
"Not only that, but these young prodigies are the future pillars of Qingyun County City."
"As long as one wins first place in the preliminary selection, they are certain to be taken in by a prominent family and receive preferential training."
"If one can befriend these young prodigies, their future prospects will be limitless."
Zhou Yan's eyes darted around, his mind buzzing with thoughts, as he stealthily made his way towards the hunting grounds.
However, along the way, Zhou Yan encountered many fierce beasts, but he dealt with them all with ease.
"Huh? There are even spirit herbs here?"
En route, Zhou Yan reaped substantial rewards, discovering numerous spirit herbs, many of which were centuries old and highly valuable, filling him with ecstatic joy.
"Hmm? How can there be a fifth-tier spirit herb here?"
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's gaze sharpened as he noticed a vibrant, dew-kissed red lotus.
"It truly is a case of finding something without even looking. It's come right to me," Zhou Yan exclaimed excitedly and immediately rushed forward to pick it.
Fifth-tier spirit herbs were rare and precious. On the market, they would fetch at least five thousand taels of silver, enough to purchase a bottle of Body Tempering Pills.
"Wait, this spirit herb looks so familiar..."
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's heart trembled. His expression changed, and his gaze fixed on the red lotus, a look of shock appearing on his face.
"Isn't this Scarlet Flame Grass?!"
Zhou Yan's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
Scarlet Flame Grass was a fifth-grade spirit herb, highly beneficial for forging the body, with a mild attribute.
However, due to its scarcity, it was usually refined by martial artists into Body Tempering Pills to enhance their physique.
In Zhou Yan's memory, his grandfather, Zhou Heng, had once told him about Body Tempering Pills.
According to legend, Body Tempering Pills were refined by martial artists using fire element energy. They contained pure fire primal energy. After consumption, they could enhance a martial artist's fire attribute constitution, stimulating their martial talent and thus allowing them to become an alchemist.
This point was detailed in the "Body Tempering Manual" and could not be overlooked.
However, the recipe for Body Tempering Pills had been lost for many years.
"Body Tempering Pills are extremely difficult to refine. One must possess immense strength; otherwise, it's impossible to concoct them!"
Zhou Yan pondered for a moment, shook his head, and tossed the Scarlet Flame Grass back onto the ground, not intending to refine it.
Although Zhou Yan's current strength was formidable, enough to crush everyone his age except his father, and even his second uncle, Zhou Hongyuan, admitted his inferiority, Zhou Yan clearly understood that there was still a gap.
"I am still too weak at the moment. I must seize this time to improve my strength."