"From now on, patrol areas will be reduced as much as possible," Hall Elder Chen Shaojie said gravely, addressing the ten Clan Hall disciples gathered in the central housing area of the ore vein.
"Additionally, patrols should be conducted in pairs, providing mutual support."
Recent events had taken an unexpected turn. The number of demon beasts prowling the vicinity had multiplied several times over, significantly increasing the danger.
The Chen Clan Iron Guard, previously patrolling in teams, had now split each team into two smaller squads, forming a total of six squads. Three squads would patrol three different directions in rotation.
Each squad was led by a ninth-layer Qi Blood Realm expert, ensuring formidable strength and broader coverage. This arrangement allowed for quicker responses to distress signals and other emergencies.
After the meeting, Chen Zong and Chen Zhong returned to their quarters. After a brief rest, they fully armed themselves and left the courtyard to patrol the surrounding area.
If they encountered one or two Low-Grade Level One or mid-grade demon beasts, they could handle them directly. However, if faced with a larger group they couldn't manage, they were to deploy SOS flares. By stalling for time, they could ensure the Chen Clan Iron Guard would arrive to provide reinforcements.
After patrolling for a while, the pair encountered no demon beasts, but they did find plenty of signs of recent activity.
Over the past few weeks, they had hunted over thirty demon beasts together. They consumed the flesh and blood, while slowly ingesting bone glue made from the bones to enhance their cultivation base. Their physical strength had noticeably improved, with their muscles and bones becoming significantly more robust.
A standard arm strength of 1,000 kilograms represents the physical limit for martial artists. Breaking through this barrier requires extraordinary opportunities. However, this doesn't mean physical refinement stops there.
Consider wood, stone, and steel.
With the same force and speed, regular consumption of demon beast flesh and blood—especially bone glue made from their bones—can further strengthen one's physique. This process transforms wood into stone, and then stone into steel.
The stronger one's muscles and bones become, the more resilient they are. This naturally enhances both defensive capabilities and endurance.
Compared to when he first arrived at the ore vein, Chen Zong could feel his bones and muscles had strengthened by at least thirty percent. However, the bone glue made from Low-Grade Level One demon beasts was gradually losing its effectiveness in enhancing his physique.
After all, this method of brewing bone glue was the simplest and most primitive, with the lowest utilization rate.
As for other grades of medicinal herbs, they had found some, but at most they were Grade Two herbs, and only a few at that.
"Clan Brother, demon beasts!" Chen Zong's senses were sharper.
Chen Zhong immediately followed Chen Zong's gaze. After a dozen breaths, three figures emerged from the tall grass: three sturdy, gray-furred Red-Crested Wolves, each with a crimson crest on its forehead—Low-Grade Level One Demon Beasts.
The three Red-Crested Wolves locked their icy eyes on Chen Zong and Chen Zhong, charging forward in a line, their savage killing intent crashing over them like a wave.
"You're asking for death!" Chen Zhong roared, meeting the wolves head-on with a punch.
A sound like a tiger's roar echoed as Chen Zhong's fist coalesced into a phantom of a ferocious tiger's head. The phantom shot forward with the force of a tiger descending from the mountains—the first stage of the Tiger Vigor Fist Technique, Minor Mastery.
The punch collided instantly with the claw of one of the Red-Crested Wolves. The terrifying force shattered the wolf's claw like brittle wood, driving straight into its chest. With a sickening thud, the wolf was sent flying backward, blood gushing from its fangs.
The remaining two Red-Crested Wolves fearlessly lunged at Chen Zhong, only to be met by a dazzling sword flash that sliced through the air. Before they could even let out a whimper, the wolves collapsed, their necks nearly severed, held together by only a thin layer of skin—a deliberate move by Chen Zong.
This technique allowed him to instantly kill the wolves while minimizing blood splatter.
"Clan Brother, your sword seems even faster now," Chen Zhong remarked, genuinely surprised.
Chen Zong simply smiled.
Indeed, his sword had become faster and more fluid. This was the result of five days spent replacing the Fierce Tiger Art with the True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique.
The True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique was a cultivation technique perfectly suited for swordsmen. From the moment one began practicing it, it subtly enhanced their mastery of the sword. As one's cultivation level deepened, this mastery would gradually increase.
"Let's take these three Red-Crested Wolf corpses back first," Chen Zhong said, grabbing one wolf by its hind leg and heading toward the stronghold's courtyard. Chen Zong followed, carrying his sword in one hand and the third wolf in the other.
With three Red-Crested Wolves in hand, more than the two of them could eat, they took two of the carcasses to the ore vein's central area and handed them over to the clan members. This earned them an additional forty Contribution Points, split evenly between them—twenty each, a small reward but better than nothing.
As night fell, dark clouds blanketed the sky, obscuring even the bright moon.
Subduing Dragon Mountain was plunged into darkness, the only light emanating from the lamps in the ore vein's living quarters.
The night was deep and the mountain wind icy, its mournful howl like the wailing of ghosts, chilling the heart.
Despite the severely limited visibility, the Chen Clan Iron Guard maintained their patrols, though they narrowed their range and had three small teams crisscross each other's paths.
Silently as a shadow, a dark figure emerged from the dense undergrowth, landing with the grace of the wind. Its footsteps were light and swift, like a mountain cat, approaching the ore vein's living quarters without a sound.
The figure seemed to have observed the Iron Guard's patrol patterns for some time, timing its movements to avoid them. After slipping past the guards, it reached the living quarters undetected, circled the area, and retreated along its original path.
"Who's there?" A thunderous shout shattered the silence, startling everyone awake.
The sound of wind being cut through followed as the Chen Clan Iron Guard and others swarmed into view.
Bathed in the sudden light, the retreating figure had nowhere to hide.
"Who are you?"
"Why have you come to the Chen Clan's ore vein?"
"What is your purpose?"
As the Iron Guard barked questions, they moved in coordinated formation to encircle the figure.
"Heh heh heh..." The laughter, like the hoot of a night owl, sent chills down their spines. The black shadow flickered, its speed surging as it tore through the air, darting swiftly to one side.
"Stay where you are!" an Iron Guard roared, drawing his long saber in a flash of cold steel that sliced through the night, striking with merciless intent.
To these guards, anyone who dared infiltrate their territory, regardless of their identity, was an enemy to be slain without hesitation.
Yet the shadow twisted with unnatural agility, its body as supple as a snake, nearly brushing past the saber's edge. The blade paused, then swiveled horizontally, aiming to cleave the shadow in two. Other Iron Guards joined the fray, their sabers flashing, fists pounding, and legs kicking, all converging in a lethal assault.
The shadow writhed with uncanny flexibility, evading the saber's strike. Its hands lashed out in rapid succession, emitting a hissing sound like venomous snakes emerging from their dens. The strikes collided, using the force of impact to propel the shadow through the gaps in the encirclement.
"You came here, now you won't leave." An elder, who had been observing intently, snorted coldly as he saw the shadow slip through the Iron Guard's encirclement and attempt to flee. With a sudden leap, he soared into the air like an eagle circling its prey before plunging down with lightning speed.
Each elder of the Chen Clan was a formidable martial artist, far surpassing the Qi Blood Realm. Their speed was astonishing, and even the black shadow, despite exerting its full strength, found it impossible to escape.
A gentle palm strike carried the force of a raging tsunami, sealing off all avenues of escape. There was no way to evade it.
The palm struck the black shadow directly. The figure twisted desperately, its muscles and bones trembling as it strained to resist the elder's strike, attempting to deflect the force.
With a resounding thud, the black shadow was hurled forward like a rag doll. The absolute disparity in power left it utterly defenseless.
The figure flew over ten meters before crashing to the ground. The elder took a single step forward, closing the distance.
Suddenly, the fallen shadow sprang back to its feet. Far from being killed, it was attempting to flee once more. As it fled, its right hand flicked backward, scattering a vivid green powder that glowed eerily in the night.
"Poison powder!" The elder's expression shifted dramatically. He immediately waved his hand, the palm wind sweeping away most of the powder. Yet a faint trace still drifted toward him. The moment he caught a whiff, his face paled again. He sensed the poison's extreme potency—even his cultivation base might not withstand it. This brief hesitation allowed the black shadow to seize the opportunity and rapidly distance itself.
They bypassed the poison powder area and gave chase, but ultimately failed to catch up. After the black shadow vanished into the undergrowth, it seemed to disappear into thin air.
"Search the perimeter," the elder commanded.
The black shadow's true identity remained a mystery. It had infiltrated the area stealthily, circled the perimeter, and was attempting to slip away unnoticed. Had it not been for the elder's profound cultivation base and keen awareness, they might never have detected the intrusion.
The Iron Guards quickly searched the area but found nothing. They were baffled by the black shadow's motives.
"This person... despite being only at the Qi Blood Realm, they managed to withstand my palm strike..." The elder frowned, sensing something deeply unsettling. A sudden premonition washed over him, as if some ill omen was about to unfold.
Yet he couldn't pinpoint the exact nature of the impending calamity.
After all, they still hadn't determined the black shadow's true purpose.
A thorough search of the surroundings revealed no signs of damage or tampering.
"Increase security," the elder ordered.
"Yes, sir!" the Iron Guards responded in unison.
"Check on the ten Clan Hall disciples and have them report here immediately," the elder added.
Iron Guards immediately sprang into action, each heading in one of five directions to notify the Clan Hall disciples.
The shadows tonight were unsettling. Whether something ominous would occur remained uncertain, but bringing ten Clan Hall disciples here would undoubtedly enhance their safety.
"Shaojie, at dawn, lead ten Clan Hall disciples away from here and back to the city," the elder instructed Chen Shaojie Hall Elder.
"Understood," Chen Shaojie replied, sensing the gravity of the situation.
The Clan Hall disciples represented the future strength of the clan, and losing even one would be a grave loss.
It was late at night, with a dark, windy sky—hardly an ideal time to depart. Though the ore vein didn't penetrate deep into Subduing Dragon Mountain, it wasn't entirely outside its borders either. Recent surges in demon beast activity made them vulnerable to attack.
At night, demon beasts often possessed greater mobility than martial artists. This imbalance further disadvantaged the martial artists.
"I hope tonight passes without incident," Chen Shaojie thought, his anxiety growing.
Before long, all ten Clan Hall disciples were roused, fully armed, and escorted by the Iron Guard from the Stronghold to the central camp for assembly, still utterly bewildered.