The camp did not celebrate.
They were too tired for celebration.
After the battle, the snow kept falling, slowly covering the wolf corpses that had not yet been burned. The air smelled of blood and smoke. The broken fence was repaired again, but everyone knew it would not last forever.
Strength.
They needed strength.
Lin You stood at the edge of the camp before dawn.
The sky was still dark blue, and the forest ahead looked like a black wall swallowing light.
He had not slept much.
The fight with the wolf leader replayed in his mind again and again.
If he had hesitated…
If he had delayed using the Sovereign Points…
He would be dead.
He opened the system panel silently.
[Host: Lin You]
[Realm: Energy Building, Three Stars]
[Sovereign Points: 50]
Fifty points.
Enough to upgrade again.
But something inside him resisted.
Last night's breakthrough during battle had been reckless. The energy explosion almost tore his meridians. His foundation was unstable.
If he continued upgrading without solidifying his realm, his cultivation might become hollow.
In this world, foundation mattered.
Power without foundation collapsed easily.
He took a slow breath and circulated the Iron Fist Sutra.
Spiritual energy moved steadily.
Better than yesterday.
But still thin.
He needed resources.
Treasures.
Spirit herbs.
Beast cores.
And those things were not inside the camp.
They were inside the forest.
Footsteps approached behind him.
"You're really going?"
It was Lin Wei.
His younger brother crossed his arms, eyes sharp.
"Yes," Lin You replied calmly.
"The wolves came from deeper inside. If we don't clear the area and find resources, they will return."
Lin Wei looked toward the forest. "It's dangerous."
Lin You smiled faintly. "That's the point."
Silence lingered between them.
There was something unsaid.
Ever since last night, Lin Wei's eyes had changed.
Not hostile.
But complicated.
"You've become stronger," Lin Wei finally said.
"I had to," Lin You answered simply.
Lin Wei looked down at his own hands.
"I'll come with you."
Lin You shook his head.
"No. The camp needs someone steady. If something happens while I'm gone, you lead."
Lin Wei's jaw tightened.
For a moment, it looked like he would argue.
But he didn't.
"Don't die," he said quietly.
Lin You nodded once.
Then he turned and stepped into the forest alone.
The moment he crossed the tree line, the temperature dropped.
The trees were tall and ancient, their branches heavy with snow. The ground was uneven, covered with ice and frozen roots. Every step required attention.
The forest was not silent.
It breathed.
Wind moved through the branches.
Snow fell from leaves.
Somewhere far away, something howled.
Lin You slowed his breathing and circulated the Iron Fist Sutra lightly to warm his body.
He was not here to fight recklessly.
He was here to hunt.
After walking for nearly half an hour, he found tracks in the snow.
Large.
Fresh.
Not wolves.
Something heavier.
He crouched and touched the print.
Still soft.
Close.
He followed carefully.
Soon, he saw it.
A Snowback Boar.
Its body was thick and muscular, covered with coarse white fur. Its tusks were curved and sharp. It was digging into the snow, searching for buried roots.
This beast was stronger than ordinary wolves.
At least Three-Star Energy Building.
Maybe Four-Star.
Lin You did not rush.
He observed.
The boar's breathing was heavy.
Its movement slower than a wolf's.
But its charge would be deadly.
He adjusted his stance and gathered spiritual energy slowly.
The Iron Fist Sutra circulated steadily.
When he was ready—
He stepped on a branch deliberately.
Crack.
The boar's head snapped up.
Its eyes locked onto him.
A low growl vibrated in its throat.
Then it charged.
The ground shook under its weight.
Lin You did not panic.
He waited.
Five meters.
Three meters.
At the last second, he sidestepped sharply.
The boar rushed past him, but it reacted fast and turned again.
Lin You punched its side.
Bang!
It felt like hitting a stone wall.
His arm trembled.
The boar barely staggered.
Too tough.
The boar roared and charged again.
This time faster.
Lin You rolled forward, barely avoiding the tusks.
Snow covered his face.
He stood up quickly.
If brute force did not work—
He needed precision.
The next charge came.
Lin You leaped onto a nearby tree trunk and pushed off, landing on the boar's back.
He wrapped one arm around its neck and began striking the same spot repeatedly with his other fist.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Crack.
The bone began to weaken.
The boar bucked violently, trying to throw him off.
Its strength was terrifying.
Lin You nearly lost balance.
He tightened his grip and roared, forcing spiritual energy into one final concentrated strike.
Iron Fist Sutra — Focused Burst.
Boom!
His fist sank into the weakened skull.
Blood burst outward.
The boar collapsed forward heavily, sliding through the snow before becoming still.
Lin You rolled away, breathing hard.
His arms were numb.
But he was alive.
A notification appeared.
[You have killed a Snowback Boar.]
[Reward: 15 Sovereign Points.]
[Sovereign Points: 65]
He exhaled slowly.
Better than wolves.
He approached the corpse and noticed something glowing faintly inside the boar's head.
A beast core.
Small.
Cloudy.
But real.
He took it out carefully.
The moment he held it—
The system reacted.
[Detected: Low-Grade Beast Core.]
[Can be converted into 20 Sovereign Points.]
[Or absorbed directly for cultivation stability.]
Lin You hesitated.
Points meant faster upgrades.
But stability mattered more.
He chose absorption.
The core dissolved into warm energy that entered his dantian gently.
Unlike forced upgrades, this energy was smooth.
It strengthened his foundation instead of breaking it.
He nodded slightly.
This was the right path.
Suddenly—
A cold presence touched his back.
He turned slowly.
A tall shadow stood between the trees.
Not a beast.
A human.
A young man wearing dark fur clothing, holding a long spear.
Behind him were two others.
Strangers.
Their eyes were sharp.
Evaluating.
"You're not from our camp," the spear wielder said calmly.
Lin You's body tensed slightly.
"No."
"This is Black Ridge territory," the man continued. "Everything hunted here belongs to us."
Lin You looked at the boar corpse.
Then back at them.
"And if I refuse?"
The man smiled faintly.
"Then we take it from your corpse."
The atmosphere froze.
Three against one.
Lin You's Sovereign Points: 65.
He could upgrade again.
But human opponents were different from beasts.
More cunning.
More dangerous.
The spear moved slightly.
Threatening.
Lin You's mind raced.
This forest was not just filled with beasts.
It was filled with people.
And people—
Were far more terrifying.
He slowly clenched his fists.
Snow fell quietly between them.
The next second—
The spear pierced through the falling snow like lightning.
Lin You did not step back.
He tilted his body slightly to the side. The spear tip brushed past his ribs, tearing his clothes but missing flesh by a breath.
Fast.
Very fast.
This man was not weak.
Lin You stepped in instead of retreating.
His fist shot toward the spear wielder's chest.
The man reacted quickly, pulling the spear back and sweeping it horizontally.
Lin You ducked.
The wooden shaft cut through the air above his head.
Behind the spear wielder, the other two men split apart.
One drew a short blade.
The other circled behind.
They were coordinated.
Not reckless.
These were hunters.
Lin You's breathing slowed.
He activated the Iron Fist Sutra.
Spiritual energy flowed steadily.
Not explosive like during breakthrough.
Controlled.
The spear stabbed again.
This time aiming for his throat.
Lin You slapped the shaft aside with his forearm and stepped closer.
Too close for a spear.
His fist slammed toward the man's ribs.
Bang.
The impact landed, but the man twisted his body at the last second.
The damage was reduced.
He was at least Three-Star Energy Building.
Maybe close to Four-Star.
The man's eyes changed slightly.
"You're stronger than I thought."
Lin You did not answer.
The blade user attacked from the right.
A cold flash of steel cut toward his waist.
Lin You jumped backward.
Too many angles.
Three opponents meant pressure from every side.
The third man rushed in from behind, trying to grab him.
Lin You turned sharply and drove his elbow into the man's jaw.
Crack.
The man stumbled back with a cry of pain.
But he was not down.
The spear came again.
This time lower.
A thrust aimed at his thigh.
Lin You leaped sideways, but the spear tip still cut into his leg.
Warm blood flowed.
Pain spread instantly.
He gritted his teeth.
Human fights were different from beasts.
They aimed to cripple.
To weaken.
To kill slowly.
The spear wielder stepped back slightly, reassessing.
"You're alone," he said calmly. "Why fight? Leave the corpse and go."
Lin You glanced at the Snowback Boar behind him.
That corpse meant meat.
Meant survival for the camp.
Meant strength.
He couldn't give it up.
He straightened slowly.
"Come take it."
The blade user cursed and rushed forward again.
Lin You suddenly moved first.
He sprinted toward the weakest one—the man he elbowed earlier.
If he reduced numbers, pressure would ease.
The spear wielder realized his intention immediately.
"Stop him!"
The blade slashed toward Lin You's back.
He ignored it.
He accelerated.
The injured man panicked and tried to block with his arms.
Too slow.
Lin You gathered spiritual energy into his right fist.
Iron Fist Sutra — Condensed Strike.
Boom!
His fist smashed into the man's chest.
A heavy crack echoed.
Ribs shattered.
The man's body flew backward into a tree trunk and slid down, blood pouring from his mouth.
He did not move again.
Silence froze for half a second.
Then—
The spear came like a storm.
The man was angry now.
His movements became faster, more aggressive.
Lin You raised his arms to block.
The spear struck his forearm.
Pain shot up to his shoulder.
His bones felt like they were vibrating.
This man was strong.
Stronger than the wolves.
The blade user joined again.
Now two against one.
The spear thrust low.
The blade slashed high.
Lin You retreated step by step, searching for an opening.
His leg injury slowed him.
His breathing grew heavier.
He could feel his spiritual energy draining.
His system panel flashed faintly in his mind.
[Sovereign Points: 65]
If he upgraded now—
He could reach Four-Star.
But again—
Breakthrough during battle was risky.
The spear suddenly feinted.
Instead of thrusting, it swept his legs.
Lin You jumped, but the blade user was already there.
The blade cut across his shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
He landed heavily in the snow.
The spear tip pressed against his throat.
"Last chance," the spear wielder said coldly.
"Drop everything."
Snowflakes landed on Lin You's face.
Cold.
Sharp.
His heart pounded.
He saw Ling'er's face in his mind.
He saw his father lying weak inside the tent.
He saw the broken camp.
Weakness had nearly destroyed them once.
He would not kneel again.
"System," he said silently.
"Allocate 50 Sovereign Points to cultivation."
Instantly—
[Sovereign Points: 50 allocated.]
His body exploded with energy.
Spiritual power surged violently through his meridians.
The spear tip trembled as his aura rose.
The two men's eyes widened.
Breakthrough.
Right in front of them.
Lin You roared.
The energy stabilized.
[Realm: Energy Building, Four Stars.]
[Sovereign Points: 15]
The spear wielder tried to stab immediately.
Too late.
Lin You grabbed the spear shaft with one hand.
This time—
His strength crushed it.
Crack.
The wooden shaft split.
The spear wielder's eyes filled with shock.
Lin You stepped forward and drove his fist into the man's abdomen.
Boom.
Air burst from the man's lungs.
He bent forward in pain.
Lin You followed with a rising punch.
Crack.
Jaw shattered.
The man's body spun and collapsed into the snow.
The blade user panicked and slashed wildly.
Lin You caught his wrist mid-swing.
His grip was like iron.
The man struggled.
Too weak.
Lin You punched once.
Directly into his chest.
The body dropped instantly.
Silence returned to the forest.
Only heavy breathing remained.
Lin You stood there, blood covering his clothes, snow slowly falling around him.
His arms trembled.
His wounds burned.
But he was alive.
He looked at the system panel.
[Realm: Energy Building, Four Stars]
[Sovereign Points: 15]
He did not feel joy.
He felt tired.
Human blood stained the snow differently than beast blood.
It felt heavier.
More complicated.
He looked at the three corpses.
This was the real world.
Not just beasts.
Not just survival.
Clans.
Territories.
Conflict.
If he grew stronger—
He would meet more enemies like this.
Maybe stronger.
Maybe crueler.
He exhaled slowly and walked back to the Snowback Boar.
He lifted it onto his shoulder with effort.
Four-Star strength made it easier.
Before leaving, he searched the bodies.
He found small pouches.
Inside—
Low-grade herbs.
And one small jade token carved with the words:
Black Ridge Camp.
Lin You's eyes narrowed.
So it wasn't random.
This was another camp.
Which meant—
Future conflict was certain.
He tucked the token into his clothes.
Then he began walking back toward his camp through the falling snow.
Behind him, three bodies slowly disappeared under white silence.
Ahead of him—
War was coming.
And this time—
He would not wait for it to reach his door.