Tap. Tap. Tap.
The steady, deliberate sound of paws pressing into the dirt echoed from the center of the wolf pack. Hearing the approaching footsteps, the beasts forming the front line immediately ceased their snarling. This remaining group consisted almost entirely of mature, mid-tier and peak Stage 1 monsters, yet they instantly dropped their tails and parted ways, clearing a wide path for the entity coming from behind.
Dai Yuan backed up until his spine pressed firmly against the rugged, massive bark of the giant Fullmoon Grape tree. He gripped his iron rod with both hands, his knuckles turning white as he watched the treeline.
From the shadows of the oak trees, a monstrous silhouette stepped into the dimming dusk light.
The newcomer was a titan compared to the others. Standing at a terrifying three meters high, it was more than twice the size of an average Moon Dancing Wolf. Its build was incredibly dense and muscular, its broad shoulders supporting a massive head lined with thick, silver-tinted fangs that protruded from its jaws like daggers. Its fur was unlike the milky-white coats of its subordinates; it was a deep, glossy platinum that seemed to absorb the fading sunlight, and a distinct, stark white crescent moon symbol was burned directly into the center of its broad forehead.
The heavy pressure radiating from its body alone instantly overwhelmed the combined aura of the entire pack. This was the Pack Leader—a Peak Tier 1 Wild Beast.
For a wild beast, reaching the absolute peak of Tier 1 was a monumental milestone. It signified the true beginning of its journey toward spiritual ascension and served as its official entry into the world of genuine cultivation. An entity at this stage had refined its skeletal structure through countless cycles of natural qi absorption. Its bones no longer possessed the dull texture of iron or silver; they had achieved the density and hardness of Golden Bones. Its physical frame was far superior to any ordinary substance of the same level, granting it terrifying resilience and near-unbreakable durability.
Every time the massive leader took a step, its heavy paws left deep, crushed prints into the hard forest bed. It marched to the front of the formation, its amber eyes locking onto Dai Yuan with a cold, calculating malice. The remaining twenty wolves slunk behind it, instantly discarding their chaotic, frantic behavior. They lined up in tight, disciplined rows, forming a silent, organized legion of predators directly behind their king.
Dai Yuan felt a cold sweat break out across his chest. The sheer, concentrated pressure of the combined legion, anchored by the massive golden-boned leader, made the air feel as thick as mud. His muscles tensed automatically, the internal shamanic rune within his chest throbbing with a hot, warning heat.
AWOOOOO!!!
After a long, suffocating silence, the Pack Leader threw its massive head back and unleashed a thunderous, ear-splitting howl. The sheer sonic force of the roar hit the clearing like a physical wave, causing Dai Yuan to flinch, his shoulders locking tight against the hard trunk of the grape tree behind him.
The howl was not just a display of dominance; it was a direct tactical command.
The moment the roar subsided, the behavior of the remaining twenty wolves shifted entirely. They no longer rushed forward in a frantic, uncoordinated horde. Instead, they split with practiced precision into three distinct groups, completely utilizing the open space of the clearing.
Seven of the faster, leaner mid-tier wolves fanned out to the left flank, their paws moving silently over the grass as they cut off any potential escape route toward the forest paths. Another seven of the larger, peak Stage 1 beasts claimed the right flank, lowering their stances and preparing to launch high-impact, heavy tackles. The remaining six wolves took up positions directly alongside the massive Pack Leader, forming a heavy vanguard that blocked the center entirely.
They moved with the synchronized precision of an elite human army unit. They didn't growl, they didn't snap early, and they didn't overextend. They simply advanced in a tight, constricting semi-circle, stepping forward in perfect unison every time the Pack Leader took a step.
Dai Yuan's mind raced as he evaluated the battlefield. The tactical shift was devastating. In the forest, their lack of coordination had allowed him to use the narrow terrain to isolate them and shatter their skulls one by one. But here, in the wide open space beneath the cliff, their organized formation gave him no blind spots to exploit. If he swung blindly at the left flank, the right flank would instantly lung for his throat while the center vanguard crushed his torso.
He was trapped against the tree, facing twenty advanced, bloodthirsty beasts and a golden-boned king that could likely match him in raw strength alone.
"So you guys learned how to play chess," Dai Yuan muttered, a grim, humorless smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He rolled his sore shoulders, loosening his grip on the iron rod for a split second before slamming the blunt end of the weapon into the ground, letting the heavy vibration clear the numbness from his palms.
He didn't have a flashy movement technique to bypass the line, and his raw physical power was being countered by sheer tactical numbers. His newly forged Silver Bones hummed under his skin, the refined energy from his recent breakthrough circulating rapidly through his pathways, preparing his body for the impending impact.
The Pack Leader took one final step forward, stopping exactly ten meters away from Dai Yuan. It lowered its massive chest, its platinum fur bristling as it bared its fangs. The surrounding twenty wolves instantly mirrored its stance, their muscles bunching tightly under their white pelts.
AWOOOOO!!!
The Pack Leader suddenly released a thunderous howl that shook the entire clearing. Dai Yaun flinched and pressed his back harder against the tree bark.
Immediately after the howl, the wolves began moving with clear purpose. No longer attacking chaotically, they split into small groups of three to four under the Pack Leader's command. Their movements became coordinated and disciplined.
Two groups of four wolves dashed to Dai Yaun's left and right, attempting to flank him. Another group of five charged straight ahead in a triangular formation, aiming to break his defense. The remaining wolves held back, ready to support or exploit any opening.
"These guys suddenly became much smarter," Dai Yaun muttered through gritted teeth.
He swung his heavy rod in a wide arc to keep the flanking wolves at bay. The weapon whistled through the air, but the wolves dodged with precise timing, only retreating a few steps before circling again. Their coordination made it much harder for him to land clean hits.
Bang! Bang!
Dai Yaun managed to smash two wolves that got too close, sending them flying. However, before he could celebrate, two more wolves lunged from his blind spot. One clamped its jaws onto his left arm, while the other slashed at his thigh.
"Argh!" Dai Yaun roared in pain. He forcefully shook his arm, throwing the biting wolf away, but more blood flowed from the new wounds.
The Pack Leader watched from the back without moving. It only let out short, sharp howls from time to time, directing the flow of the battle. Every command made the wolves adjust their formation instantly — some would feint an attack to create openings for others.
Dai Yaun realized he was now fighting against a real pack, not just a group of wild animals. Their teamwork was on another level.
He took a deep breath and channeled strength into his rod using the Thunderous Channeling Rod technique. The weapon glowed slightly as power gathered.
BOOOM!
A powerful strike smashed into the ground, creating a small crater and killing two wolves that couldn't dodge in time. The force of the blow pushed back several others, giving him a short moment of breathing room.
But the Pack Leader howled again. The remaining wolves immediately changed tactics. Three wolves jumped high into the air while four others attacked low, aiming for his legs. The combination made it extremely difficult to defend both angles at once.
Dai Yaun swung his rod upward to block the aerial attack, but two low wolves managed to bite into his calf. He endured the pain and stomped down hard, crushing one of them. Still, the continuous attacks were starting to wear him down.
His body was covered in fresh cuts and bite marks. Blood dripped onto the ground, further exciting the wolves. Even with his Silver Bone realm cultivation and the passive enhancement from the Shamanic Rune, facing twenty coordinated Rank 1 beasts plus their Peak stage leader was pushing him to his limit.
"I can't keep fighting like this…" Dai Yaun thought. "If I don't find a way to break their formation, they'll slowly wear me down."
The Pack Leader seemed to sense his fatigue. It took a few heavy steps forward, its glowing eyes locked onto Dai Yaun. The pressure increased even more.
The remaining wolves — now around sixteen after several deaths — tightened their encirclement. They moved in perfect sync, never leaving any clear path for Dai Yaun to escape or counterattack effectively.
Dai Yaun tightened his grip on the rod until his knuckles turned white. His breathing was heavy, but his eyes still burned with fighting spirit. He refused to go down easily.
The Pack Leader howled once more. The wolves responded instantly, launching their most coordinated assault yet.