Just then, an idea flashed through Li Yan’s mind. Standing at the same place where the Earth-Rending Bear had fallen, he closed his eyes. His breathing slowed, and he activated his Spiritual Sense.

  A faint pulse of energy radiated outward from his body, spreading in all directions to a radius of thirty meters. Within that sphere, Li Yan could feel the subtle movements of the world—the rustling of leaves, the scurrying of small animals, and… something much larger.

  "There." His eyes snapped open, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Another beast had entered his range.

  Wasting no time, he dashed in the direction of the presence. After a short sprint, he stopped abruptly.

  Before him stood a Thunderclaw Panther, its sleek black body taut with power, its yellow eyes narrowed, and arcs of lightning flickered across its claws as it circled him with a low, threatening growl.

  "This one looks fast," Li Yan muttered, gripping his sword.

  Faster than the Earth-Rending Bear, yes—but Li Yan wasn’t fazed. He had learned from that fight and felt his confidence rising.

  With a sudden burst, the Thunderclaw Panther lunged, its body blurring as it slashed forward.

  Phantom Dash!

  Li Yan’s figure flickered away, leaving only a shadowy afterimage that the beast’s claws tore through. The afterimage shimmered, confusing the panther. It skidded, growling as it whipped its head around to find him.

  "Too slow."

  Li Yan dashed a few times to reach behind it and slashed downward. His blade cut into the panther’s back, drawing a roar of pain.

  The beast whirled, claws slashing wildly toward his face, but another Phantom Dash carried him out of reach. Another afterimage danced in the panther’s vision, baiting it into confusion.

  "Predictable," he muttered, eyes sharp. "This panther leaves an opening every time it attacks."

  Fueled by fury, the Thunderclaw Panther pounced again, movements frantic, trying to corner him.

  But Li Yan was faster. Darkness Qi surged through his legs, his body weaving like a shadow as he danced around the beast, striking with surgical precision.

  Finally, with a perfectly timed slash across its throat, the panther’s movements faltered. A strangled growl slipped from its maw before it collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.

  Li Yan lowered his blade, breathing evenly. Compared to his first battle, this fight felt almost effortless. Still, his breathing had quickened—control didn’t mean effortlessness.

  He stood over the corpse, waiting for the familiar glow of a beast core to appear—but nothing came.

  "No beast core this time, huh?" he muttered. He wasn’t surprised. The chance of a Tier-1 beast producing a core was barely ten percent. Getting one from his very first hunt had been luck enough.

  "It doesn’t matter," he said, flicking the blood from his sword before storing the panther’s body in his ring. "I’m just getting started."

  Once again, he spread his Spiritual Sense outward. The thirty-meter field unfolded around him, and within seconds, more flickers of life appeared at the edge of his perception.

  "There are more…" His lips curled into a grin.

  With a newfound target, Li Yan dashed deeper into the valley, his movements fluid and sharp. The Hunting Ground was alive with beasts, each one an opportunity to refine his combat instincts.

  By the time the sun began to shift overhead, he had already slain twelve beasts. Their corpses rested inside his storage ring, and one more beast core nestled safely within it.

  Li Yan touched the ring lightly, a quiet satisfaction stirring within him. Each kill, each core, each battle—it was proof that his strength was growing.

  The Hunting Grounds, filled with danger, had become his perfect whetstone.

  Li Yan’s Spiritual Sense spread outward once more. But this time—something unusual. Stronger Qi signatures pulsed in the distance, far beyond the strength of the Tier-1 beasts he had been hunting and other life signs.

  "Disciples…"

  He crouched behind a large boulder after arriving there, concealing his presence as his Spiritual Sense confirmed it. Three cultivators, all wearing the Shadow Haven Sect’s white robes, were locked in combat with a massive Ironhide Wolf.

  The beast was massive, its body shimmering with metallic fur that glinted under the sunlight like sheets of armor. Known for its brutal defense, the Ironhide Wolf was already at the peak of Tier-1.

  Yet, despite its strength, the three disciples pressed it hard, blades flashing with arcs of darkness Qi.

  Li Yan studied them closely.

  The leader—a tall youth with fiery red hair—charged fearlessly at the wolf, his sword wreathed in dark energy. His strikes were relentless, hammering the beast with sheer ferocity.

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  To his right side, a slender girl with black hair danced in and out of the wolf’s reach, agile as a shadow, her blade finding gaps in its defenses.

  On the other side, a lanky boy with black hair pressed the beast with steady precision, forcing it to divide its attention.

  "They’re more experienced than I am," Li Yan admitted silently.

  Their movements flowed like water, their teamwork seamless. They had likely trained together. They looked to be the same age, but as his Spiritual Sense probed deeper, he noticed something else: their cultivation levels were weaker than his own.

  The red-haired leader and the lanky boy were both at Qi Gathering Realm (Stage 6), while the girl was at Stage 5.

  The wolf snarled furiously, its claws slashing arcs of earth as it fought to hold ground. Sparks flew whenever a blade scraped across its iron hide.

  But Li Yan could sense its fatigue—the beast was slowing. The disciples’ relentless assault was draining it, little by little.

  "They’re skilled… but not invincible," he thought, eyes glinting.

  Li Yan considered intervening but dismissed the thought. They had control of the fight, and he had no reason to reveal himself. Instead, he watched, using the opportunity to study their teamwork and refine his own understanding.

  The battle raged for several more minutes, steel and Qi colliding in a flurry of motion.

  The red-haired leader feinted low, then slashed across the wolf’s leg, forcing it to stumble. Seizing the opening, the lanky boy cut across its back while the girl darted in like lightning, her blade carving a thin line along its ribs.

  Realizing it was cornered, the Ironhide Wolf released a guttural howl. Its metallic fur bristled, gleaming in the sun as it launched into a desperate counterattack.

  Claws swiped with deadly force, scattering dust and stone, but the disciples pressed in, giving it no chance to recover.

  With one final strike, the red-haired youth drove his sword deep into the wolf’s flank. The beast let out a strangled growl, its armored body shuddering before collapsing in a thunderous crash. Dust and blood hung in the air as silence finally settled over the battlefield.

  The disciples stood over their fallen opponent, panting from exertion.

  "Good work," the red-haired leader said at last, swiping sweat from his brow. His tone carried both fatigue and satisfaction.

  The slender girl knelt by the corpse, eyes fixed eagerly on the spot above it. "Do you think it has one?" she asked breathlessly. The anticipation in her voice betrayed her hopes.

  "Maybe," the lanky boy replied between gulps of air. His tone was flat, almost resigned. "But with Tier-1 beasts, it’s always a gamble."

  The three of them waited in tense silence, watching the wolf’s body. Moments passed. No glow appeared.

  The girl’s shoulders sagged as she let out a frustrated sigh. She pushed herself to her feet, brushing dirt from her robes. "Nothing. Seems our luck’s run dry."

  From his hiding spot, Li Yan couldn’t help but chuckle softly. He understood their disappointment all too well. Beast cores were rare in Tier-1 beasts—he had only managed to obtain two out of the twelve he had slain so far.

  "They were experienced—but their cultivation is still low," he thought as he studied the group. Their techniques were polished, their teamwork impressive, but their cultivation levels held them back.

  Deciding the time had come to step out, Li Yan rose from behind the boulder. His movements were quiet but deliberate, his calm confidence clear in the way he carried himself.

  The three disciples stiffened instantly, hands moving toward their weapons. Their exhaustion vanished in an instant, replaced by wariness as their sharp gazes locked onto him.

  Noting their tense postures, Li Yan lifted his hand in a non-threatening gesture. His voice was even, steady. "Relax. I mean no harm."

  The red-haired youth, clearly the leader, didn’t lower his guard. His hand hovered over his sword hilt, eyes narrowing as he studied Li Yan. "Who are you? You don’t look familiar."

  Li Yan smiled lightly, masking his sharper instincts with an easy expression. "Just a fellow disciple out here for some training."

  The lanky boy frowned, suspicion plain in his eyes. "Strange. I’ve been here for six months, and I’ve never seen you once." His tone carried a bite of distrust.

  Li Yan kept his composure, gesturing toward his plain white sect robes. "That’s because I only joined the sect yesterday."

  "Name’s Li Yan Tian. This is my first time training here."

  "First time?" The slender girl tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her dark eyes. Though her stance stayed guarded, some of the tension in her posture eased. "You sound pretty confident for a newcomer."

  Li Yan chuckled lightly, brushing her remark aside. "I adapt quickly."

  He had no intention of revealing more—especially his true cultivation. There was no need. None of them could sense his strength anyway.

  His gaze flicked to the Ironhide Wolf lying lifeless nearby, its metallic fur still gleaming faintly in the dappled sunlight. "By the way, nice fight with that beast," he said, giving them a small nod of acknowledgement.

  The disciples exchanged quick glances, uncertain how to respond. The girl broke the silence first. "How long were you here? We didn’t sense you at all."

  "A while," Li Yan replied casually with a shrug. "I was observing. You had things under control. So, I didn’t see a reason to interfere."

  The lanky boy muttered, just loud enough to hear, "How generous of you."

  Before Li Yan could respond, the red-haired leader shot his companion a sharp look and nudged him with an elbow.

  Li Yan let it slide. Wariness was natural in this kind of place—trust was earned slowly, and strength was always a question mark.

  After a pause, the red-haired youth’s posture shifted subtly. His caution didn’t vanish, but it softened. Li Yan noted it immediately. The boy had likely realized the truth: if he couldn’t sense Li Yan’s cultivation, it meant Li Yan was stronger than him.

  "We’re beginners ourselves," the youth said at last, his tone more measured. "Joined six months ago."

  "I’m Huo Ren. These two are Mei Ling and Zhou Tian."

  Li Yan turned their names over in his mind. From their teamwork against the Ironhide Wolf, he had already guessed their experience was limited. But their coordination was strong, and that could cover for individual weaknesses.

  "Any luck with beast cores?" Li Yan asked casually, though he already knew the answer.

  Mei Ling shook her head, frustration flashing across her face. "No luck today. We’ve been hunting since dawn, but you know how it is with Tier-1 beasts—the odds are terribly low."

  "Yeah, I’ve noticed," Li Yan said, recalling his own hunt.

  A breeze drifted through the trees, carrying away the iron tang of blood. For a few moments, silence stretched between them.

  It wasn’t awkward, but the tension lingered—both sides still measuring one another, weighing trust against caution.

  Finally, Huo Ren spoke again. "If you’re new, you should be careful. Tier-1 beasts aren’t too bad one-on-one if your cultivation is at late stages of the Qi Gathering Realm, but further in… you’ll run into packs. That’s when things get dangerous."

  Li Yan inclined his head, accepting the advice without arrogance. "I’ll keep that in mind," he said evenly.

  His voice carried courtesy, but also confidence—he had no intention of showing weakness.