The smell of blood had not faded.
Even after the wolves were killed, the air still carried the sharp scent of iron. Snow slowly fell from the dark sky, covering the corpses one layer at a time. The firelight flickered against the broken fences, casting long shadows that trembled like ghosts.
Lin You stood still in the middle of the camp.
His chest rose and fell heavily.
His hands were still shaking.
He had killed before.
But tonight felt different.
Tonight, people were watching him.
Tonight, they believed in him.
And that weight was heavier than any blade.
Behind him, the villagers slowly began to move. Some dragged the wolf corpses away. Some repaired the broken fence again. Others whispered while looking at him with new eyes.
Not doubt.
Not fear.
Something else.
Respect.
Lin You looked down at his hands. There was blood on his fingers. Some of it was warm.
He had broken through to Two-Star Energy Building earlier. He could feel it clearly now. His body was stronger. His breathing deeper. His senses sharper.
But it was not enough.
This world did not forgive weakness.
"Brother."
A soft voice came from behind.
Ling'er stood there, holding his sleeve. Her small face was pale, but her eyes were bright.
"You were amazing," she whispered.
Lin You forced a smile and patted her head. "Go back inside. It's cold."
She nodded but did not move immediately.
"Don't die," she said quietly.
The words hit him harder than the fight.
He watched her walk back toward their tent before turning his eyes toward the forest.
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
That night, Lin You did not sleep.
He sat outside his father's tent, listening to the sound of his father's weak breathing inside. Uncle Wei was treating him, but the injury was serious. A deep claw wound had damaged his chest meridians.
If his father could not recover, the camp would truly collapse.
Lin You closed his eyes.
"System."
A faint blue screen appeared.
[Host: Lin You]
[Realm: Energy Building, Two Stars]
[Sovereign Points: 0]
He frowned.
He had used all ten points from the pendant to reach Two Stars.
Gone.
Completely gone.
That was the rule.
Points were fuel.
Once burned, they turned into strength.
There was no regret.
Only progress.
"System, how do I gain more Sovereign Points?"
[Methods include: killing spirit beasts, consuming treasures, completing missions.]
Killing.
Treasures.
Missions.
He looked toward the dark forest again.
Beasts were everywhere beyond the camp.
Danger was everywhere.
But so was opportunity.
Before he could think further, a sudden sharp howl cut through the silence.
Long.
Deep.
Close.
Lin You's eyes snapped open.
This howl was different from earlier.
Stronger.
He stood up immediately.
The guards at the fence were already shouting.
"More wolves!"
"From the north side!"
Lin You ran.
Snow crunched under his boots as he rushed toward the broken section of the fence.
This time, there were more than three.
Seven wolves stepped out of the trees.
Their bodies were larger. Their eyes darker.
And at the back—
One even bigger wolf stood still.
Its fur was almost black.
Its body was nearly twice the size of the others.
Its eyes glowed with cold intelligence.
A wolf leader.
Lin You felt pressure just by looking at it.
The villagers panicked.
"They're too many!"
"We can't stop them!"
Lin You's heart pounded.
But he forced himself to breathe.
Calm.
If he showed fear, everyone would break.
He stepped forward.
"I'll hold the front!" he shouted. "Support me from behind!"
Some men hesitated.
But Lin Wei stepped beside him without a word.
The wolves attacked.
The first rushed forward with explosive speed.
Lin You did not draw his blade.
Instead—
He activated the Iron Fist Sutra.
Spiritual energy flowed from his dantian.
Through his chest.
Down his arms.
Into his fists.
His skin felt warm.
His muscles tightened.
The wolf leaped.
Lin You stepped forward instead of back.
He twisted his waist.
His right fist shot out like iron.
Bang!
His fist collided with the wolf's skull.
The impact vibrated through his arm.
But the wolf's head cracked.
Blood burst from its mouth.
Its body fell heavily into the snow.
A mechanical voice sounded in his mind.
[You have killed a Corpse-Fanged Wolf.]
[Reward: 5 Sovereign Points.]
A faint warmth entered his body.
His eyes flashed.
So killing beasts gives points.
Good.
The second wolf attacked from the side.
Lin You bent low, avoiding its claws. He drove his shoulder into its ribs, then followed with two heavy punches.
Crack.
Crack.
Bones broke.
Blood sprayed.
[Reward: 5 Sovereign Points.]
[Sovereign Points: 10]
Behind him, arrows flew from the villagers.
One wolf was injured but not dead.
It lunged toward Lin Wei.
Lin You reacted instantly.
He grabbed the wolf's tail mid-motion and pulled it off balance. He stepped forward and smashed his fist into its temple.
The skull shattered.
Blood and brain matter stained the snow.
[Reward: 5 Sovereign Points.]
[Sovereign Points: 15]
His breathing grew heavy.
His arms hurt.
Even with cultivation, fighting multiple beasts drained energy quickly.
Four wolves remained.
And the black wolf leader still watched.
It had not moved.
It was waiting.
Two wolves attacked together.
Lin You circulated the Iron Fist Sutra faster.
He could feel spiritual energy thinning.
He needed to end this quickly.
He ducked under one wolf and struck upward into its throat.
A dull crack.
The wolf choked on blood and collapsed.
The second wolf bit into his shoulder.
Pain exploded in his nerves.
Lin You gritted his teeth and punched downward into its skull again and again until it stopped moving.
Blood covered his clothes.
[Reward: 10 Sovereign Points.]
[Sovereign Points: 25]
Only one normal wolf remained.
Lin You rushed forward before it could retreat.
One clean punch ended it.
[Reward: 5 Sovereign Points.]
[Sovereign Points: 30]
Silence fell for a moment.
Then—
The black wolf stepped forward.
Its claws dug into the snow.
Its breath came out like white smoke.
Its aura was different.
Stronger.
Heavier.
Lin You felt real danger for the first time tonight.
He swallowed.
If he retreated now, morale would break.
He stepped forward.
The wolf leader moved.
It was faster than the others.
Its body became a blur.
Before Lin You could fully react—
Claws slashed across his chest.
His clothes tore.
Blood flowed.
He stumbled back.
The pain was sharp.
The wolf did not stop.
It attacked again.
Lin You barely raised his arm in time to block.
The force pushed him back three steps.
This beast was at least Three-Star Energy Building.
Maybe Four-Star.
Stronger than him.
The villagers screamed.
Lin You's mind raced.
He had 30 Sovereign Points.
If he used them now—
He could break through again.
But upgrading during battle was dangerous.
If the energy backlash happened at the wrong time—
He would die.
The wolf lunged again.
Lin You rolled sideways.
Snow stuck to his wounds.
He stood up, breathing hard.
No more hesitation.
"System. Add all Sovereign Points to cultivation."
Instantly—
[Sovereign Points: 30 allocated.]
His body trembled violently.
Energy exploded inside his dantian.
Meridians expanded.
Muscles tightened.
Pain flooded every nerve.
He roared.
The wolf attacked during his breakthrough.
Its claws came down.
Lin You forced himself to move.
He barely avoided a fatal strike.
The energy stabilized.
[Realm: Energy Building, Three Stars.]
[Sovereign Points: 0]
The points were gone.
But his strength rose.
His vision became clearer.
His body lighter.
The wolf attacked again.
This time—
Lin You did not retreat.
He stepped forward.
Iron Fist Sutra circulated at full power.
Spiritual energy gathered like a storm in his fist.
The wolf leaped.
Lin You punched.
Boom!
Fist met claw.
Shockwaves spread.
Snow exploded outward.
The wolf staggered.
Lin You did not give it time.
Second punch.
Third punch.
Each strike carried more force than before.
Crack!
The wolf's foreleg broke.
It howled in pain.
Lin You jumped forward and delivered a final punch directly into its skull.
Iron Fist Sutra—Full Release.
The skull shattered.
Blood splashed across his face.
The massive body fell.
Silence.
Then—
[You have killed a Corpse-Fanged Wolf Leader.]
[Reward: 20 Sovereign Points.]
[Bonus Mission Complete: Defend the Camp.]
[Reward: 30 Sovereign Points.]
[Sovereign Points: 50]
Lin You stood over the corpse, breathing heavily.
His body was covered in wounds.
His clothes were torn.
But his eyes—
Were calm.
The villagers stared at him like he was something else now.
Not just the chief's son.
But a cultivator.
A protector.
Ling'er ran forward and hugged him despite the blood.
Lin Wei looked at him with complicated eyes.
Pride.
Shock.
A little jealousy.
Lin You looked toward the dark forest.
The snow continued to fall.
This was only the beginning.
He opened the system panel again.
[Sovereign Points: 50]
He did not use them.
Not yet.
Strength was important.
But so was control.
He had learned something tonight.
Power earned through blood felt different.
He slowly clenched his fist.
In this ancient dangerous world—
He would carve a path with his own hands.
And anyone who stood in his way—
Would fall.