Starting with SSS-rank talent, I contracted the Forbidden Ferocity.

The black fog area was quieter than Shen Ye had imagined.

It's not that there's no sound.

Instead, all the sounds seemed to be swallowed up by something.

The wind sounded muffled.

My steps felt heavy.

Even the distant roars of ferocious beasts echoed with a suppressed tone.

The signal on the watch has started flashing.

[Warning: Area anomaly.]

The location signal is unstable.

[Immediate evacuation is recommended.]

Shen Ye glanced at it and immediately turned off the notification.

Since the system task requires us to explore the source of the anomaly, there must be something hidden here.

The hellfire crows flew very low.

Its wings skimmed almost touching the black stone pillar, and its dark red eyes constantly scanned its surroundings.

Through the contract, Shen Ye could sense the emotions it conveyed.

alert.

disgust.

There was still a sliver of... longing.

Something was drawing it in from the black fog.

Shen Ye slowed his pace, his right hand still gripping the short knife.

The deeper you go, the more obvious the tracks become on the ground.

Wolf claw marks.

Drag marks.

Dried bloodstains.

There were also several ferocious beast carcasses that had been gnawed down to their skeletons.

These ferocious beasts were not killed by ordinary hunting.

Their bones were covered with black cracks, as if some kind of power had burst out from within them.

"The source of the mutation."

Shen Ye squatted down and touched the bone with his fingertips.

The system panel appears.

[Residual contamination detected.]

[Attributes: Shadow, Corruption, Frenzy.]

[Source: Core Fragment of an Unknown Realm.]

Fragments of the Secret Realm Core?

Shen Ye's eyes flickered slightly.

The secret realm did not exist out of thin air.

Every secret realm has a core.

If the core is stable, the secret realm will be stable.

The core mutation will cause the ferocious beasts, spiritual materials, and terrain in the secret realm to become distorted.

The Blackrock Secret Realm is only a low-level secret realm, yet a wolf king approaching the second tier has appeared there, which most likely means there is a problem with the core.

Just then, the Netherfire Raven issued a warning.

300 meters to the left front.

someone.

Shen Ye's figure flashed and disappeared into the shadow of the stone pillar.

Before long, low voices came from the fog.

"Young Master Zhao, is that kid really coming?"

"meeting."

Zhao Mingxuan's voice rang out.

"I understand someone like Shen Ye."

"He just awakened his SSS-level talent and defeated me; he's at his most arrogant right now."

"If I let out even the slightest clue, he will definitely come after me."

The other person hesitated.

"But we haven't heard from Manager Zhao's side yet. Could something have happened to him?"

Zhao Mingxuan sneered.

"Five late-stage Tier 1 cultivators and one peak Tier 1 cultivator, killing a newly awakened Beastmaster—what could possibly happen?"

"Even if his crow is a bit strange, it can't stop a real encirclement and slaughter."

Shen Ye stood in the shadows, his eyes showing no emotion.

He counted them.

There were six other people with Zhao Mingxuan.

They were all students.

But what they had in their hands didn't look like the equipment students bring to sparring matches.

Spirit-Breaking Crossbow.

Animal-binding net.

Exploding flame beads.

These items are for hunting in secret realms.

The so-called "exchange of skills" has long since crossed the line.

Someone whispered, "Young Master Zhao, if Shen Ye really dies here, won't the association find out about us?"

Zhao Mingxuan's tone was sinister.

"Signal is unstable in the foggy area."

"There are also mutated black stone wolf packs here."

"What does his death in the jaws of a ferocious beast have to do with us?"

"Once I get the highest score and get into Wuhan University in the provincial capital ahead of schedule, the Zhao family will naturally take care of things for me."

After he finished speaking, he took out a small bottle.

The bottle was opened, and a pungent, bloody smell immediately filled the air.

The surrounding black mist seemed to be stirred up.

A system notification appeared before Shen Ye's eyes.

[Beast-luring blood essence.]

[Effect: Attracts berserk beasts.]

[Danger Level: High]

Zhao Mingxuan poured the blood essence onto the ground.

"We'll retreat once the wolf pack arrives."

"If Shen Ye is not dead, let the wolves kill him."

"If he's already dead, it'll also help erase all traces."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ye finally moved.

He emerged from behind the black stone pillar.

"That's a good idea."

The moment the sound rang out, Zhao Mingxuan and the other six turned around simultaneously.

Zhao Mingxuan's pupils contracted.

"Shen Ye!"

Shen Ye approached step by step.

"Unfortunately, you can't leave now."

Zhao Mingxuan's face turned pale at first, then he suddenly grinned maliciously.

"You actually dared to come."

"Great, excellent!"

He raised his hand and waved.

"Let's do it!"

Two beast-binding nets instantly sprang out, covering the Netherfire Crow.

The other three simultaneously raised their spirit-piercing crossbows, the bolts aimed directly at Shen Ye's chest.

They cooperated very quickly.

It was obvious that they had rehearsed it beforehand.

But the Darkfire Raven is faster.

"Shadow Strike".

A dark shadow flashed by.

Before the two beast-binding nets could even fall, the Netherfire Raven had already vanished from its spot.

The next instant, it appeared behind a student.

Dark flames ignited along the man's arm.

"what!"

The Spirit-Breaking Crossbow was released from my hand.

The first crossbow bolt missed its mark and embedded itself in the black stone pillar.

Shen Ye simultaneously turned to the side, dodging the other two arrows.

An arrow grazed his shoulder, tearing his combat uniform.

He deflected the other arrow with his dagger.

Sparks flew everywhere.

Zhao Mingxuan's expression changed drastically.

"You're not at the early stage of Tier 1?"

Shen Ye did not answer.

With a stomp of his foot, his blood and qi surged, making him much faster than he had been three days ago.

Before a student wielding a Blazing Pearl could even throw it, Shen Ye struck him on the throat with the back of his blade, causing him to kneel down on the spot.

Shen Ye snatched the Blazing Pearl and threw it behind Zhao Mingxuan.

boom!

A burst of fire erupted.

Two students were thrown into the air by the blast wave.

Zhao Mingxuan roared:

"Crimson Flame Wolf!"

The Crimson Wolf pounced out of the black mist.

The flames on its body were even stronger than before, clearly indicating that the Zhao family had been feeding it a lot of resources these past few days.

But when it saw the Netherfire Raven, it instinctively hesitated for a moment.

That one moment determined the outcome.

"Soul burning."

A ghostly light shone in the eyes of the Netherfire Raven.

The crimson flames on the Crimson Flame Wolf instantly went berserk.

It growled in pain, its lunging movements becoming distorted.

Shen Ye stepped close and kicked it in the jaw.

The Crimson Wolf's massive body collapsed to the ground.

The Darkfire Raven swooped down, its sharp claws pressing down on its head.

Dark flames slowly ignited.

Zhao Mingxuan's face turned deathly pale.

"stop!"

Shen Ye didn't look at him.

"burn."

The ghostly flames fell.

The Crimson Flame Wolf let out a miserable howl, struggled a few times, and soon fell silent.

[Slayed a Tier 1 Mid-Stage Crimson Flame Wolf.]

[Gained Evolution Points: 80.]

[Extract Talent Fragment: Fire Affinity Fragment 1.]

Zhao Mingxuan seemed to have all his strength drained away.

The death of a contracted beast will have a backlash on the beast tamer's spirit.

He knelt down, clutching his head, blood seeping from his seven orifices.

"No……"

"My Crimson Wolf..."

Shen Ye walked up to him.

"You should have expected this outcome when you sent people to kill me."

Zhao Mingxuan looked up, his eyes filled with resentment and malice.

"Shen Ye, you can't kill me."

"I am a direct descendant of the Zhao family."

"My dad is the second master of the Zhao family!"

"If you kill me, the Zhao family will not let you get away with it!"

Shen Ye squatted down and searched his pocket for another communication jade token.

Several lines of information still remain on the jade tablet.

One of them clearly emerged.

[Lead Shen Ye into the black fog area, and Zhao Sen will handle the rest.]

The evidence is completely conclusive.

Zhao Mingxuan's expression changed drastically.

He reached out to grab it, but Shen Ye stepped on his wrist.

Click.

Bone fractured.

Zhao Mingxuan screamed in agony.

Shen Ye said calmly, "Don't worry, your Zhao family will find out soon."

"Know what?"

"I know you died a worthy death."

Zhao Mingxuan trembled.

"Shen Ye! How dare you!"

Shen Ye's eyes were icy cold.

"I gave you a chance."

"From school to the secret realm, you've been courting death time and time again."

"Since you want to kill me, don't blame me for sending you on your way."

Zhao Mingxuan finally got scared.

He struggled to back away, his voice trembling.

"Don't kill me! I can give you money, resources, and spirit beast eggs!"

"I promise I won't bother you again!"

Shen Ye remained unmoved.

Some enemies beg for mercy only because a knife is held to their throat.

If we let him go, the next group won't just be five Tier 1s, but Tier 2s, Tier 3s, or even stronger.

Shen Ye raised his short sword.

Just then, a low wolf howl suddenly came from the depths of the black fog.

Awoo!

The entire black fog zone trembled.

The blood essence of the beast-luring creatures on the ground has spread completely.

Pairs of scarlet eyes lit up in the black mist.

The mutated black stone wolf pack has arrived.

Zhao Mingxuan, as if grasping at a lifeline, burst into wild laughter.

"Hahaha! Shen Ye, you're not leaving either!"

"With so many mutated black stone wolves, you can't kill me!"

"We're all going to die here!"

Shen Ye looked up and around.

At least thirty Black Stone Wolves.

Half of them are in the middle stage of the first order.

There are also a few late-game Tier 1 units.

Deep inside, a black stone wolf nearly three meters in size slowly emerged.

Its fur resembled black rock spikes, and a twisted crack appeared on its forehead, from which black mist continuously poured out.

[Mutant Black Stone Wolf King]

[Level: Peak of Tier 1, Half-step into Tier 2]

[Status: Pollution Frenzy]

[Weaknesses: Soul, Fire, Core Crack]

Zhao Mingxuan was still smiling.

"Shen Ye, kill me!"

"Aren't you arrogant?"

"If you kill me, you'll be torn to pieces by the wolves!"

Shen Ye glanced at him.

You're overthinking it.

The short knife fell.

Zhao Mingxuan's laughter stopped abruptly.

His eyes widened, and his body slowly fell to the ground.

Shen Ye sheathed his sword and turned to look at the wolf pack.

"I'll kill you."

"And kill them."

"There is no conflict."

The Netherfire Raven landed on his shoulder, its wings spread, and dark flames burned between its feathers.

Black mist surged.

The wolves growled.

Shen Ye gripped the short knife tightly, his eyes showing no fear.

Only a murderous intent that is calm to the extreme.

"Come."