Chapter 14: The God Invocation Art — Summon the Divine Might of Lord Zhangyue!
Thousand Wolf Mountain.
Located roughly nine li north of Four Seas Village.
But amid these densely packed peaks, nine li of mountain trail was no short distance at all.
And yet, at this moment—
Li Youming led the way, with Li Deyang, Li Xiuwu, and eight others following close behind — ten Warriors in total.
Deputy Village Chief Chen Mazi, meanwhile, had stayed behind with the remaining four Warriors to guard Four Seas Village.
Further back, at a greater distance still.
A handful of young men crept stealthily behind the trees, eyes wide as they watched.
These young men were villagers from Zhang Family Village and Liao Family Village, their hearts hammering with anxiety.
Had their village chiefs not ordered them here, they would have fled long ago.
Where were they, exactly?
This was Thousand Wolf Mountain!
Who would dare come near this place on any ordinary day?
The demon wolves lived up on that mountain — this was the forbidden ground of all four villages!
"Follow us into the mountain and kill every last wolf pup," Li Youming instructed.
"Yes, sir."
Li Deyang and the others acknowledged the order with solemn expressions.
Each of them gripped a freshly honed machete, their muscles bulging beneath their sleeves, eyes sharp and blazing with vitality.
They were completely different from how they had been before.
After all, they were now Warriors of the Body Tempering Realm — their blood and qi had undergone a Blood Transformation!
And they had mastered the Fierce Wind Blade Art. Of course they were different.
With a sharp blade in hand, the killing intent rose naturally!
"Into the mountain."
Li Youming swept his hand forward and strode into Thousand Wolf Mountain with a grave expression.
Li Deyang and the other nine followed, fanning out slightly.
"They've all gone in!"
"Look at Li Xiuwu — he's like a completely different person compared to before!"
"And Li Youming — is that really Old Man Li Youming? He looks like he's in his thirties!"
The young men from Zhang Family Village and Liao Family Village exchanged astonished glances.
Could it be—
The Land God of Li Family Village — no, Four Seas Village — had truly manifested?
Was the rumor true, that Old Man Li Youming had received a divine blessing and been restored to youth?
That Li Xiuwu and the others had also received blessings and become Warriors?
No matter how wildly a rumor spreads, it is still just a rumor.
But now they were seeing it with their own eyes — the people of Four Seas Village had undergone a tremendous transformation!
They couldn't help but go from half-believing to nearly convinced.
"Let's wait and see."
"If they truly manage to slay the demon wolf, then the Land God of Four Seas Village manifesting is absolutely real."
Zhang Qi'an said in a low, steady voice.
He was the most outstanding young man in Zhang Family Village, already on the verge of his first Blood Transformation.
In another year or two, he would complete one Blood Transformation and advance into the Body Tempering Realm, becoming a Warrior.
"Let's move further back to wait."
The young man from the Liao family said.
The group nodded and immediately retreated to a safe distance.
* * *
Thousand Wolf Mountain was thick with trees — towering ancient trunks and low-lying shrubs packed together everywhere.
A heavy blanket of snow and ice covered everything, gleaming white in all directions.
The eleven men breathed out puffs of white vapor as they climbed higher up the mountain.
Awooo—!
A wolf's howl suddenly rang out from nearby. A wild wolf with glowing green eyes emerged from the undergrowth, fixing its gaze on Li Youming's group, saliva dripping from the corners of its mouth.
Behind it, one wolf after another stepped forward — each standing a full head taller than an ordinary wolf, radiating savage ferocity.
"Kill them all."
Li Youming's expression didn't change as he gave the order.
"Kill!"
Li Deyang let out a cold shout and charged forward first.
He was a Warrior at the peak of the first sub-rank.
The village's only broadsword was in his hands. He closed the distance in two swift strides and brought the blade down on a wolf!
Fast as lightning!
This was the Fierce Wind Blade Art!
The power of blood and qi flowed along the blade, flickering with a faint crimson light. The air itself was torn apart, and before the wolf could even react, its head had already been severed!
Wolf blood splattered everywhere!
Awooo—!
The remaining wolves let out furious howls and lunged at the group!
"Kill—!"
Li Xiuwu roared, his eyes blazing with killing intent. He unleashed the Fierce Wind Blade Art, dodged a wolf's pounce, and brought his blade down in one fluid motion!
Thud—!
A wolf's head flew through the air!
The other villagers surged forward with unstoppable momentum. Though it was their first real battle—
The understanding of the Fierce Wind Blade Art granted to them by the Divine Blessing Talisman was absolutely genuine!
Each of them fought as though they had practiced the Fierce Wind Blade Art for many years. In mere moments, all fifteen wild wolves lay dead.
Steaming wolf blood sprayed across the snow, blooming like crimson plum blossoms across the white ground.
"Keep moving."
Li Youming said calmly.
He led the ten men further up the mountain.
Along the way, pack after pack of wild wolves attacked, but all were cut down.
They even encountered wolf pack leaders comparable to mid and upper first sub-rank Warriors, but Li Deyang dispatched them swiftly without much effort.
In less than two hours.
In the distance, the group spotted a massive cave.
"The demon wolf's den — we're here."
"All of you, fall back."
Li Youming said in a low, firm voice.
Li Deyang and the others nodded and immediately retreated dozens of meters, taking cover behind the large trees.
"Temple Priest of Four Seas Village, bearing the Divine Decree of the Ordained Earth God Lord Zhangyue, has come to slay the demon wolf!"
Li Youming drew a deep breath and bellowed with all his might.
The sound rolled outward like a wave, sending snow and wind swirling across the ground!
The reverberating shout even carried beyond Thousand Wolf Mountain, echoing through the peaks—
[Temple Priest of Four Seas Village, bearing the Divine Decree of the Ordained Earth God Lord Zhangyue, has come to slay the demon wolf—!]
[…bearing the Divine Decree of the Ordained Earth God Lord Zhangyue, has come to slay the demon wolf—!]
[…has come to slay the demon wolf—!]
[…the demon wolf—!]
Down the mountain, the villagers of Zhang Family Village and Liao Family Village heard the thunderous echo and were struck with shock.
That was Old Man Li Youming's voice?
Coming down from Thousand Wolf Mountain?
The once frail and decrepit Li Youming had become this powerful?
He must have truly received the Land God's blessing!
Boom—!
A thunderous rumble erupted from the demon wolf's den, and the earth trembled faintly.
The snow piled near the cave's entrance shook loose and fell.
Snowflakes cascaded from the trees all around.
"An Ordained Earth God?"
A deep, icy voice drifted out from the den:
"There are no true gods in this world!"
"If there were, I'd love to taste what a god is made of!"
"I'll eat you first, then go smash your Land God Shrine and devour your entire family!"
The next moment—
A colossal wolf, standing over six meters tall, stalked out of the demon wolf's den.
Its eyes were a cold, blood-red crimson, its fur black as ink, and dark demonic energy swirled around its entire body.
It looked down at Li Youming with contempt in its gaze.
This pathetic creature dared come looking for trouble with it?
It opened its jaws and lunged toward Li Youming!
At the same time, demonic energy surged from its body, forming a massive spectral wolf claw, intending to seize Li Youming first before swallowing him whole!
Behind the trees.
Seeing the enormous demon wolf right before them.
Li Deyang, Li Xiuwu, and the others were gripped with terror, sweat pouring down their foreheads and backs.
This was the fearsome demon wolf whose dreadful reputation had long haunted these mountains!
Just the sight of it.
Made them feel as though a mountain had been placed on their backs — the pressure was crushing, and their faces had gone pale.
"Vile creature! How dare you show disrespect to an Ordained God?"
"I respectfully invoke the God Invocation Art — may the divine might of Lord Zhangyue descend!"
Even standing face to face with such a massive and terrifying demon wolf, Li Youming's expression did not waver. He spoke with devout reverence.
Without a moment's hesitation, he immediately activated the God Invocation Art!
The demon wolf's power far exceeded his own limits.
By his own strength alone, he was completely outmatched.
Only by summoning Lord Zhangyue's divine might could the demon wolf be slain!
Boom—!
As his words fell, a dazzling torrent of golden radiance suddenly burst forth from the Land God Shrine in Four Seas Village.
It streaked across Zhang Family Village and Liao Family Village like a world-shaking rainbow, plunging down into Thousand Wolf Mountain and descending upon Li Youming!
Within the golden radiance, divine might surged like a tide!
A terrifying pressure rolled outward in waves.
In that instant—
The colossal demon wolf was completely frozen in place. Its expression turned to one of horror, and boundless terror welled up within its heart!