The moon hung low over Willow Shade Village, its pale light casting eerie shadows through swaying trees. Every house had shutters drawn, incense burning in bowls, and terrified eyes peeking through slits in wood.
Li Qingyu and Lin Ziyan arrived at the village edge. The air was still, too still. The scent of fear was almost tangible.
An old man with missing teeth and trembling hands shuffled forward.
"Cultivators! You've come! That cursed beast— it drags off livestock, chews roofs, even left bite marks on our spirit herb field!" He lifted his pant leg, revealing an oddly perfect crescent-shaped bruise.
Li Qingyu nodded solemnly. "Fear not. You're safe now. We're professionals."
Ziyan muttered under her breath, "Last time you said that, the chicken coop caught fire."
"I was trying to upgrade it," Li Qingyu whispered back.
They walked deeper into the village, past shuttered homes and makeshift wards. From the far end, near an old orchard, a low growl vibrated through the earth.
> DING! Target Identified: Scarlet-Fanged Shadow Hound (Peak Qi Gathering Stage – Berserk State)
Threat Level: High
Weakness: Unstable Spirit Core
Li Qingyu's eyes narrowed. Peak Qi Gathering... That's equal to me. And it's berserk?
He glanced sideways. Ziyan was already drawing her blade.
"Stay sharp," he said quietly. "This one's not like the usual overgrown rodents."
Ziyan grinned. "Finally."
Rustle. Snap.
A flash of red shot from the trees.
The beast emerged — two meters tall, fur bristling like crimson steel threads, eyes glowing blood-red, fangs dripping black qi. A shadow aura rippled from its paws.
It lunged at them with a snarl that shook the leaves from trees.
Li Qingyu sidestepped with ghostly speed, leaving an afterimage as the beast's claws cracked the stone behind him.
He struck back — a precise palm strike infused with qi.
BAM!
The hound staggered, growled, then leapt again. Ziyan met it midair with a blade swing that clashed against its claws, sending sparks and ice shards scattering.
"I thought you said this thing ate chickens!" Ziyan yelled as she flipped back.
"It evolved! I blame the spiritual herbs!" Li Qingyu called out.
The beast roared and slammed the ground — a burst of crimson shockwave sent both cultivators sliding back.
Li Qingyu's eyes flashed. "Time to stop playing."
He activated the Ironwood Root Technique, feet digging into the earth, qi surging through his core like a tide.
He blurred forward — a thunderous palm strike exploded against the hound's chest, sending it flying through a tree.
> DING!
Weak Point Exposed: Spirit Core unstable – Target can be suppressed by synchronized dual-element strike
"Ziyan! Hit it while I lock it!"
Ziyan leapt, her sword spinning. Her Frost Vein Slash howled through the air. Li Qingyu dashed in at the same time, body glowing faintly gold with earth qi.
CRACK—
Their attacks struck in perfect unison — ice and earth met beast flesh, freezing its core and crushing its spine.
The Scarlet-Fanged Shadow Hound shuddered, eyes dimming. It slumped forward, collapsing with a thud.
Silence.
Then—
> DING!
Mission Complete!
Rewards: +100 Sect Reputation, Spirit Stones x20, Intermediate Beast Core x1
Map Marker Unlocked: [Anomaly Detected — South Orchard Shack]
Ziyan walked over, flicked blood off her blade.
"Well, that was more satisfying than making soup."
Li Qingyu crouched next to the corpse and pried the glowing beast core from its chest.
"Let's harvest the rest too. Pelt, claws, even the meat — they all sell for good coin. We're still dirt poor, remember?"
Ziyan raised an eyebrow. "You're getting good at this whole 'sect master hustler' thing."
He grinned, stuffing the beast core into his storage pouch. "That's called budget-based leadership."
He pointed beyond the orchard, where a crooked shack leaned against a tree.
"I have a feeling something's off over there. Let's check it out."
Ziyan stretched her arms. "As long as it doesn't involve poetry recitals, I'm in."