I become stronger by sacrificing my lifespan, becoming invincible in the world.

Li the Cripple, panting heavily, stared intently at Lin Chen: "What...what did you do?"

Lin Chen did not answer.

He was processing that violent energy.

The demon wolf's lifespan not only healed the scratches on his chest but also strengthened his muscles and bones. However, the bestial instincts were also surging through his mind, giving him an urge to tear and kill.

Don't ask.

Zhao Tiegu suddenly spoke up, stepping in front of Lin Chen and coldly looking at Li the Cripple: "In this world, who doesn't have some way to protect themselves? Asking too many questions won't do you any good."

Li the Cripple's expression shifted, but he finally gritted his teeth and didn't ask any more questions.

He walked to the bodies of the one-eyed old soldier and the lame young man, remained silent for a while, and then searched their bodies for dry rations and arrows, which he then distributed to Zhao Tiegu and Lin Chen.

"Let's go," Li the Cripple's voice was a little hoarse. "The mission is complete. There are indeed demon wolves active in Black Wind Pass, and the number... is at least five or more."

The three turned around, preparing to leave.

Just then—

From the depths of the fog came an even more powerful and ferocious wolf howl.

The ground trembled slightly.

A giant wolf, a full size larger than the previous demonic wolves, slowly emerged from the mist.

It was taller than an adult at the shoulder, with dark red fur, a single eye, and a hollow scar in the other eye socket. Its fangs were exposed, and its saliva dripped onto the ground, which actually corroded and produced hissing white smoke.

King-rank Demon Wolf!

Li the Cripple's face turned pale instantly.

Zhao Tiegu's hand holding the knife was trembling.

Lin Chen raised his head and looked at the giant wolf slowly approaching. The divine jade on his chest felt as if it were about to burn.

[Warning: High-threat target detected, estimated lifespan: over 100 years]

Recommendation: Escape

escape?

Lin Chen gripped the broken knife tightly in his hand.

He glanced at the dried-up corpse of the demon wolf on the ground, then looked at his palm.

Lifespan reserve: 23 years.

Is it enough to evolve into a martial art?

Soon, the giant wolf's single eye locked onto Lin Chen in the mist.

That was the oppressive aura of a king-level demon beast; the air seemed to freeze, and the stench of blood was so strong it was impossible to ignore.

Li the Cripple almost collapsed to the ground, his crotch soaked.

Zhao Tiegu's hand gripping the knife was bulging with veins, but his pupils were filled with despair.

escape?

Its speed is less than one-tenth of itss.

spell?

The five of them almost lost their entire force when they worked together, and now only three wounded soldiers remain.

Lin Chen's heart was pounding wildly in his chest, and the sound of blood rushing to his eardrums was deafening.

But the more desperate the situation, the clearer his mind became—the instincts honed through countless life-and-death battles in his past life were awakening.

The divine jade on his chest was burning hot, like a branding iron, conveying a clear message:

High-threat target detected

[Estimated target lifespan: 120-150 years]

[Warning: Host's current overall strength assessment - win rate below 5%]

[Recommendation: Escape immediately]

Can't escape.

Lin Chen understood this better than Shen Yu. The explosive speed of a King-rank demon wolf was enough to snap the necks of the three of them the instant they turned around.

The only way out... lies in the second ability of the Divine Jade.

Evolving martial arts!

What does he have?

His dantian was shattered, and he had no internal energy left. He could no longer use the ancient martial arts techniques from his previous life, and the royal martial arts of this life, the "Nine Dragons Technique," required a special bloodline and a complete dantian.

but……

He suddenly looked up at the dried corpse of the demon wolf on the ground, and then at the giant wolf that was approaching step by step.

beast!

The instinct to fight!

The muscle contraction trajectory, the angle of the claws, and the force exerted when the ordinary demon wolf pounced... these most primal combat memories are being imprinted into his consciousness along with the lifespan of the demon wolf he devoured!

not enough.

The most crucial element is still missing – how to integrate these fragmented combat instincts into an effective fighting technique applicable to humans?

A template is required.

"Guidance" is needed.

Lin Chen's gaze suddenly turned to Zhao Tiegu.

The footwork of this veteran who had survived for seven years in Ghost Cry Pass when he dodged the attack of the demon wolf was not the standard footwork of the army, but the most practical and energy-saving movement technique he had summarized after countless brushes with death!

And then there's Li the Cripple's shift in center of gravity when he blocks...

Even the fragmented concepts of "force redirection" and "force borrowing" from ancient martial arts techniques in my past life memories...

"Old Zhao! Boss Li!" Lin Chen's voice was hoarse, but unusually resolute. "Hold it off for me—for three breaths!"

Zhao Tiegu turned his head sharply: "Are you crazy?!"

"Trust me!" Lin Chen's eyes were bloodshot. "Three breaths, or we'll all die!"

Zhao Tiegu stared intently at him, seeing a near-mad calm in those eyes. He gritted his teeth and slapped Li the Cripple on the back of the head: "Get up! Let's fight!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Tiegu had already lunged at a protruding rock to the side. His short knife slashed fiercely across the rock, sparks flying!

The giant wolf's single eye was instantly drawn to the light, and it turned its head slightly.

It's now!

Lin Chen closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking entirely into the divine jade in his chest.

[Mobilize all current lifespan reserves – 23 years!]

[Based on the fighting instincts of demonic beasts, with human combat skills as its framework, and survival and evasion as its core—Evolutionary Movement Technique!]

The moment the command was given, the divine jade trembled violently!

It felt like a volcano erupting in his chest, the scorching air blasting through his limbs and bones. The pain was excruciating! Worse than being cut by a knife, more intense than being burned by fire! Lin Chen's teeth clenched so tightly that they cracked, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

But he persevered, focusing all his thoughts on "evolution".

In his mind, countless fragments began to collide and recombine wildly—

The explosive trajectory of the wolf's hind legs pushing off the ground during its pounce was broken down into a model of human leg muscle exertion...

The twisting angle of Zhao Tiegu's waist and hips when he rolls to the side to dodge has been optimized into a more energy-efficient and faster arc...

The footwork of Li the Cripple using his parry and then retreating was refined to pinpoint the exact moment of weight transfer...

Even fragments of memories from his past life, from the long-lost ancient martial art "Dragon Steps," including phrases about "following like a shadow" and "unpredictable movement," were forcibly incorporated...

Time seemed to stretch out at this moment thanks to the divine jade's immense power.

While the outside world changed in an instant, Lin Chen's consciousness seemed to have gone through several hours of deduction, trial and error, and optimization.

finally--

All the fragments coalesced into a simple, eerie footwork, entirely designed for "survival".

It has no name.

But it resembles a wolf crouching before pouncing, a wolf twisting its body in battle, and a shadow contorting in the light.

[Evolution successful!]

[Obtained a fragment of the Yellow-Rank Low-Grade Movement Technique, "Wolf Gaze Step"]

【Characteristics: Slightly increases burst speed and evasion ability; movement trajectory is slightly deceptive】

[This can be further improved and optimized by absorbing more lifespan essence from demonic beasts or by acquiring more advanced movement techniques.]

Become!

Lin Chen suddenly opened his eyes!

The third breath just ended.

The giant wolf had completely lost patience and abandoned its playful intentions. Its massive body, like a blood-red lightning bolt, lunged straight at Zhao Tiegu, who was closest to it! Its gaping maw opened, and a stench swept through the air!

Zhao Tiegu's pupils shrank sharply; it was too late!

Just then—

Lin Chen moved.

His steps "slid" out in a completely illogical way—not taking a step, but more like the ground was pushing him forward. His center of gravity was extremely low, almost touching the frozen ground, yet in an instant he shifted three feet to the side, blocking Zhao Tiegu's path!

He gripped the wolf claw dagger in his right hand with a reverse grip, and with his left hand in a palm shape, he neither blocked nor parried the giant wolf's sharp claws as they slammed down. Instead, he deflected them diagonally!

The Wolf Look-Back Step combined with force-dissipating techniques!

The giant wolf's paw was deflected half a foot, slamming hard onto the ground, sending shards of stone flying. Lin Chen used this immense force to fly backward as if boneless, stumbling three times upon landing to dissipate all the impact into the ground.

Unharmed!

For the first time, surprise and doubt appeared in the giant wolf's single eye.

How did this human, who was just a moment ago so frail, suddenly...

It's like you've become a completely different person?