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

"roar--!"

It flew into a rage, holding nothing back. Its dark red fur bristled, its muscles bulged to their limit, its single eye turned blood red, and it pounced again! This time, it was even faster, its forepaws leaving three afterimages, sealing off all of Lin Chen's escape routes!

There's no escaping it!

Lin Chen made a quick judgment.

But he didn't dodge.

Instead, facing the claw shadow on the far left, his body "leaned" forward like a ghost—just as he was about to be torn apart, he suddenly pushed off with his feet, and his whole body "slid" through the gap under the giant wolf's open armpit!

At the same time, he thrust his right-hand wolf claw dagger upwards!

puff!

The sharp claws pierced the giant wolf's soft belly, cutting a bloody gash more than a foot long!

"Awooo—!!"

The excruciating pain drove the giant wolf mad; it twisted its body violently and bit back with its gaping maw!

Lin Chen had anticipated this, and the moment his body landed, he forcibly twisted, using his left foot as a pivot, and his right foot drew a strange semicircle—the "Wolf Turns Back" move from the "Wolf Looks Back Step"!

He narrowly avoided being bitten, while simultaneously using his left hand, with its five fingers like hooks, to dig deep into the wound on the giant wolf's abdomen!

Devour!

This time, it's not about passively absorbing the dissipated life force, but actively plundering it!

The divine jade unleashed its full suction power, like a ravenous beast, frantically tearing at the giant wolf's immense demonic energy and lifespan!

[Lifespan of the Devouring King-Rank Demon Wolf: 40 years!]

[Current lifespan reserve: 63 years (15 years for humans, 48 ​​years for demon wolves)]

[WARNING: The lifespan of a demonic beast contains intense bestiality and resentment; consuming large quantities will severely erode one's sanity.]

A heat wave, ten times more intense than before, rushed into my body!

Lin Chen's vision instantly turned blood red, and the roars and killing intent filling his ears almost burst his skull. His blood vessels throbbed violently under his skin, and his muscles spasmed uncontrollably.

But he gritted his teeth, using his last shred of clarity to guide this force—

Repair the muscle tears caused by forcibly using the movement technique earlier!

Strengthen your bones to withstand more intense movements!

Break through the already shattered barrier of the dantian!

The giant wolf struggled frantically, its claws flailing wildly, digging deep furrows in the ground. But Lin Chen held the wound on its abdomen tightly shut, and the frantic loss of its life force made it grow weaker and weaker.

Finally, its massive body crashed to the ground, its single eye wide open, dying with its eyes wide open.

Lin Chen also relaxed his grip as if all his strength had been drained, knelt on one knee, and gasped for breath.

Sweat mixed with blood dripped from his forehead, creating small craters in the frozen ground.

Within his body, the heat generated from the 40 years of lifespan of a king-level demon was still raging, but it had begun to slowly subside, transforming into the basic energy that nourished his physical body.

The hidden injuries on my shoulders, arms, waist and abdomen are healing rapidly, and I feel a slight tingling or itching sensation in my bones. My five senses are becoming more acute.

He could even hear the heartbeats of Zhao Tiegu and Li Quezi in the distance, and smell the subtle scent of blood and fear in the air.

"Is it... over?"

Li the Cripple's trembling voice came through.

He and Zhao Tiegu helped each other as they approached, looking at the huge wolf carcass on the ground, then at Lin Chen, who was kneeling on the ground panting and covered in blood, their eyes like those of someone looking at some kind of monster that had crawled out of the abyss.

Zhao Tiegu squatted down, reached out to check the giant wolf's breath, and then touched the side of its neck.

He's completely dead.

He looked up at Lin Chen, his throat bobbed, but ultimately asked nothing. He simply patted Lin Chen's shoulder forcefully: "Can you stand up?"

Lin Chen nodded and slowly straightened up, supporting himself on his knees.

My legs are still trembling slightly, but my strength is returning quickly.

"We can't stay here any longer." Zhao Tiegu looked into the depths of the valley. "The stench of blood is too strong; it might attract other things. Let's go, take what we can, and head back to the pass immediately!"

The three acted swiftly.

Li the Cripple used his dagger to gouge out the giant wolf's single eye—proof that they had killed a king-level monster. Zhao Tiegu cut off several pieces of the best wolf leg meat and wrapped them in a rag.

Lin Chen walked to the wolf carcass and glanced at his wolf claw dagger, which was still stuck in the giant wolf's belly.

Pull it out and wipe the blood off the fur.

The dark golden claw tips gleamed with a cold, chilling light in the dim daylight.

He tucked the dagger into his waistband, then bent down and pried off the longest toe claw from the giant wolf's other front paw—also half a foot long, dark gold in color, and slightly curved like a hook.

Double daggers.

As he turned around, Lin Chen took one last look at the dead king-level demon wolf.

If there is no divine jade.

If it weren't for the 23 years of lifespan that gave rise to "Wolf's Gaze Step".

He is now just like One-Eyed Zhang and Lame Liu, a skeleton in this valley.

strength.

It's still too weak.

I must become stronger as soon as possible.

"Walk!"

Zhao Tiegu urged.

The three turned around and quickly retreated along the path they had come from, heading towards Ghost Cry Pass.

Behind them, thick fog once again enveloped the valley.

The wolf carcass was gradually swallowed by the mist, leaving only a pool of dark red blood that slowly seeped into the frozen soil.

The return journey was even more silent than the way there.

Li the Cripple walked at the front, clutching the wolf's eye wrapped in rags tightly in his arms, his steps hurried as if a ghost were chasing him.

She would occasionally glance back at Lin Chen, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude, fear, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Zhao Tiegu and Lin Chen followed behind, neither of them saying a word.

Zhao Tiegu hastily bandaged the wound on his arm with a rag; it had been cut by rubble while he was dodging the giant wolf. He glanced at Lin Chen every now and then, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Lin Chen kept his head down, seemingly concentrating on sensing something.

In fact, he was indeed doing his best to deal with the changes in his body.

The lifespan of a king-level demon wolf, which is 40 years, is far more ferocious than that of an ordinary demon beast.

A scorching and ferocious energy surged through his limbs and bones, causing his muscles to spasm slightly. Images of bloody tearing and frenzied howls flashed through his mind from time to time.

This is the backlash of bestiality.

The warning from the divine jade was not unfounded.

He had to devote most of his attention to guiding and refining this power, stripping away its violent tendencies and leaving only pure life energy to nourish himself.

This process is slow and painful.

But Lin Chen could clearly feel that his physical body was getting stronger.

The shoulder ligaments that were strained during the fight are healing rapidly, the numb arm that was shaken off has regained sensation, and even the five senses have become more acute.

The sound of the wind rustling through the withered grass, the subtle movements in the distant mountain valleys, and even Li the Cripple's slightly disordered breathing and heartbeat could all be heard clearly.

This is the benefit of the longevity of demonic beasts.

It is more "replenishing" than human lifespan, and its strengthening effect is more direct.

The price is... that one must always be wary of that bestial instinct that wants to tear everything apart.

"We're almost at the checkpoint."

Zhao Tiegu's voice broke the silence, deliberately lowered: "Kid, when you see Wang Scarface later... have Li the Cripple hand over that wolf eye."

Lin Chen snapped out of his inner vision and looked up at him.

"Military merit certificate, whoever submits it, the credit goes to them." Zhao Tiegu smiled wryly and pointed at Li the Cripple.

"The eyes of a King-rank demon wolf are worth at least ten taels of silver, and it also earns a 'minor merit.' Li the Cripple's mother is seriously ill and is waiting for money to buy medicine. Giving him this merit could save her life."

He paused, looking at Lin Chen with a complicated expression.

"As for you... it's best to keep what happened today to yourself. That Scarface Wang is ruthless and heartless. If he knew you could kill a King-level demon wolf single-handedly, he would either force you to hand over all the spoils, or... assign you the most suicidal missions from now on."

Lin Chen understood.

The wood is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it.

He is still young and inexperienced; it's not time for him to show his true colors yet.

"I understand." Lin Chen nodded, his voice calm.

Zhao Tiegu breathed a sigh of relief, then added, "But don't be too taken advantage of. That wolf's eye is valuable, but those wolf claws you have... are the real treasure."

His gaze fell on Lin Chen's waist.

Two dark gold wolf claw daggers, one facing forward and the other backward, were clipped to his belt, gleaming with a cold, hard light in the dim daylight.

"The claws of a King-rank demon wolf are born to be divine weapons."

Zhao Tiegu licked his chapped lips.

"With a little sharpening, it can pierce armor and bone like tearing paper. A hundred times better than those rusty, broken knives in the armory. Keep it, but don't let anyone see it."