“Oh my… I didn’t expect even a mere demon wolf could fight so fiercely and end up in such a tragic state!”
On a nearby hill, Wu Ming, dressed in Taoist robes, watched the scene with indifference.
As the Sovereign, he held the view that Heaven and Earth are impartial towards all things and treat the myriad creatures like sacrificial straw dogs. How could he deliberately target or sabotage the Reincarnators?
The demon wolf’s mutation was naturally not his doing, but rather an automatic difficulty adjustment by the reincarnation task itself.
After all, with three teams of Reincarnators working together and being familiar with the plot, the previous version of the demon wolf would have posed no challenge at all. Therefore, adjustments were necessary, driven by the laws of cause and effect.
Moreover, although these three teams had joined forces, their unity was only on the surface while their hearts were not in sync. Faced with the demon wolf’s difficulty designed for a fully cooperative three-team effort, they naturally collapsed immediately.
“This is indeed a lesson. It seems that in the future, I shouldn’t allow Reincarnators to form such loose alliances. At the very least, greater investment in contract items is needed to impose restrictions. Otherwise, the more people there are, the more likely they are to be a liability. It seems elite squads and lone wolves have a better chance to shine…”
Wu Ming mused, noting down several key points.
At this moment, near the mountain god’s temple, blood and flesh flew everywhere, as several more Reincarnators fell victim to the wolf’s jaws. The remaining few were also barely holding on, with even Zhang Tianxiang bearing injuries.
“This person is the chosen one of this world, yet he has unfortunately encountered calamity!”
Wu Ming raised his head and gazed at the sky.
The sky, which had previously seemed hazy and misty, instantly cleared up, and scorching sunlight poured down, radiating intense heat.
The situation near the mountain god’s temple changed dramatically!
[Ding! The demon wolf’s soul is affected by the scorching sunlight, causing its supernatural abilities to weaken by half!]
[The demon wolf’s physical body is affected by the scorching sunlight, resulting in decreased speed and reduced physical defense!]
…
Several prompts appeared consecutively. Seeing the demon wolf’s body begin to rot under the sunlight, Ji Fu, San Gu, and the few remaining Reincarnators finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Take this opportunity!”
Ji Fu forced the demon wolf back with a slash of his blade and sprinted toward the mountain god’s temple: “Destroy the refining jar!”
Given how fierce this demon wolf was, it could be imagined that the rewards after its defeat would not be meager.
San Gu was even quicker.
With a whip crack, she lured the demon wolf’s soul toward where Zhang Tianxiang was and then used her lightness kung fu, drifting like a floating water lily, clearly having the same intention.
Unfortunately, they were both a step too late.
“Hello there!”
The young scholar stepped forward boldly, holding a black clay jar in his hand. Despite his disheveled appearance, he wore an apologetic yet haughty smile on his face: “Sorry, I got here first!”
Without waiting for further words, he immediately slammed the jar forcefully onto the ground!
Bang!
With a dull sound, the jar hit the ground and shattered into pieces instantly.
“Awooooo!”
Faintly, a howl of the demon wolf’s anguish could be heard. The tiles scattered, and the several pieces of preserved meat inside rapidly withered away, turning into a pool of black pus that quickly evaporated.
Puff!
At that moment, the demon wolf’s soul, which had been entangled with Zhang Tianxiang, froze, then exploded rapidly into countless specks of light that dissipated.
Being merely a soul, once its vessel was destroyed, it naturally disintegrated and was never to be reborn.
“Awooooo!”
The same fate befell the demon wolf’s physical body.
After losing its soul, the massive demon wolf immediately stood motionless. Under the sunlight, large amounts of white vapor rose from its body, transforming into smoke and acidic liquid.
At the same time, chunks of flesh fell from the demon wolf’s body, rapidly decaying, as if it were a wolf corpse that had been dead for countless years.
Plop!
A gentle breeze blew, and the demon wolf collapsed onto the ground, as if all its essence, spirit, flesh, and bones had been sucked away, leaving only a tattered hide!
[Ding! Main quest completed, earning a minor reward of one hundred points!]
At this moment, a message like this appeared before the eyes of all surviving Reincarnators.
[Quest completed. You may choose to return immediately or continue adventuring in this world. You will be forcibly returned after twelve hours!]
The next moment, another prompt appeared, causing the young scholar’s face to light up with joy as he clenched his fists: “Excellent! Just as I suspected!”
Ji Fu and San Gu wore grim expressions, knowing that this young man had contributed the most to killing the demon wolf and would naturally gain more benefits.
However, this restriction of being able to return at any time prevented them from taking action, and they could only glare at the young man resentfully.
“I’m not physically strong, so if I don’t quickly enhance myself, how can I survive in the future? I had no choice but to take a risk this time!”
Although he had offended the two, the young man bore an expression of complete fearlessness. Suddenly, he turned to Zhang Tianxiang and said, “Brother Zhang, although the demon wolf is dead, its lair remains uncleared, and there are still some good things on its body!”
“Good things?”
The people who had followed him had suffered heavy casualties, and Zhang Tianxiang was still in a daze. Seeing this young man still wearing a bright and innocent expression, he felt even more alert: “This person…”
“Hmm… I’m still quite merciful, giving them the final chance to loot the spoils and maximize their gains…”
Wu Ming silently watched the developments: “However, Ji Fu and San Gu are too timid. If they had attempted to attack that young man and discovered the restriction that Reincarnators in combat cannot immediately return to the Temple of the Main God, their expressions would surely have been quite entertaining…”
Of course, these were still the first batch of Reincarnators. How could they be so familiar with the various rules of the Temple of the Main God?
It was also the young man’s luck. In many cases, luck often proves more important than many other things.
…
The demon wolf was dead, but its lair was not hard to find.
Soon, everyone arrived at a cave that emitted a stench.
Without hesitation, the young man entered, while Ji Fu and others frowned, covering their noses with their sleeves, then joined Zhang Tianxiang and went in together.
“Big Brother Zhang, look!”
The cave wasn’t deep, and all around were the white bones of other animals and humans, which were nauseating to see. The young man pointed at where the demon wolf had lain, his face beaming with a bright smile.
After several near-death experiences and a big adventure, he could still maintain such an innocent smile, which was somewhat eerie to see.
The young man seemed completely unaware, pointing at some gold and silver treasures nearby: “These were left by past travelers and are now ownerless. They should be worth at least several hundred taels!”
“Alas… the harm caused by the demon wolf has reached such a level!”
Looking at the gold and jade items carelessly discarded and stained with a lot of blood, Zhang Tianxiang couldn’t help but shake his head in sigh.
“Since they are ownerless, Brother Zhang, you should take them!”
Ji Fu and San Gu were not from humble backgrounds, and upon suddenly seeing these items, they didn’t feel much. They still wanted to mend their relationship.
“These ill-gotten gains should still be handed over to the authorities to compensate the orphans…”
Zhang Tianxiang slowly shook his head.
These people’s origins were unknown, and during the previous battle against the demon wolf, they had revealed too many clues, which had already aroused his suspicions. At this point, he definitely didn’t want to get involved with them.
San Gu and Ji Fu exchanged glances, both feeling bitter smiles forming. They knew that their previously amicable relationship with Zhang Tianxiang had now certainly plummeted to freezing levels.
“Big Brother Zhang can do without other things, but he cannot do without this!”
The young scholar smiled and pulled out a piece of emerald green bamboo from a pile of dry grass.
This bamboo was hollow inside, as thick as a finger, with nine nodes on its exterior, and its shape was quite ancient and unique.
“This is the nine-jointed bamboo. The ancients said that bamboo embodies the virtues of a gentleman, and the nine-jointed bamboo is the best among bamboos, making it an excellent material for making brushes…”
The young man spoke eloquently, then pointed at the indentation where the demon wolf often lay.
There, scattered were numerous wolf hairs, pure white in color, emitting faint glimmers of light, clearly quite extraordinary.
“These wolf hairs are spiritual objects, perfectly complementing the nine-jointed bamboo. As long as one can find a slightly skilled craftsman, one can make a nine-jointed wolf-hair brush!”
“A nine-jointed wolf-hair brush?”
A contemplative expression appeared on Zhang Tianxiang’s face: “Could it be the so-called top of the Four Treasures of the Study, capable of enhancing one’s literary talent and bringing good fortune in scholarly pursuits?”
“Although it may not match the authentic ones made for the royal family, it should be quite close!”
The young scholar smiled lightly.
Zhang Tianxiang hesitated for a moment, then finally accepted the two items, bowing to the young man: “In that case… I shall humbly accept them!”
San Gu and Ji Fu watched this scene with wide eyes, both filled with resentment in their hearts.
Especially Ji Fu, who glared fiercely at Zhu Si.
Zhu Si shrank his neck, appearing quite innocent.
After all, he was just a beggar. Even if he begged outside the teahouse every day, how much storytelling could he possibly hear? And how could he remember it all?
Unlike them, this young man seemed to have a photographic memory. He hadn’t even forgotten these details, which immediately boosted his popularity.
“Literary fortune? Literary fortune! That’s right. I was wondering why Zhang Tianxiang would rise to prominence after this. It turns out the key lies here!”
San Gu watched Zhang Tianxiang, her eyes flashing with sharp insight.
Although Zhang Tianxiang possessed the aura of a dragon, it was hidden and not revealed. Even in this world, any fortune teller could only see him as an ordinary person.
Ji Fu had been able to see the aura of the dragon directly because he was a Reincarnator, naturally not restricted by the world, without the trouble of being blinded by a single leaf and missing the entire mountain. And since he already had a preconceived notion, knowing the person was the protagonist, he naturally could see through the fog.
However, other native fortune tellers, even genuine ones, might only find Zhang Tianxiang extraordinary but couldn’t see his true origins.
Since the dragon’s aura was hidden, until it truly erupted, Zhang Tianxiang would still live in poverty.
But his opportunity for fortune was here!
First, killing the demon wolf not only spread his reputation but also brought substantial gains.
Not to mention the gains here, but even the girl who sold herself and the families of the other victims—wouldn’t they want to express their gratitude?
With such material wealth, combined with the enhancement from the wolf-hair brush, next year during the scholar examination, this person would surely achieve great success!
Once he passes as a scholar, he will be half in the system, and the dragon’s aura will have a place to exert itself, gradually propelling Zhang Tianxiang to rise steadily in rank.
“Pity… our strength is insufficient. A single demon wolf could bring us to this state, not to mention the many obstacles yet to come, and the treacherous winds and clouds in the imperial capital…”
San Gu and Ji Fu exchanged glances, involuntarily developing great reverence for the Temple of the Main God.
In their view, this Western Journey world was almost as powerful as the main world. As for the Temple of the Main God, capable of transforming heaven and earth with a mere wave of its hand, how terrifying must it be?
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