Chapter Eleven: Howl of the Heavens

Although this lone wolf’s cultivation was higher than Chen Yi’s, it was not by much. Relying on his perfected movement technique, Chen Yi could easily escape. Therefore, he decided to use the wolf to hone both his swordsmanship and his agility.

“Rainbow Across the Sky!”

With that, Chen Yi launched the Splitting Light Sword Technique, attacking the lone wolf. Six beams of sword light shot toward the wolf from all directions. But this wolf was no ordinary creature. Having once led a whole pack, it was a veteran of countless battles.

The wolf dodged the six sword beams with deft twists and turns, then sprang forward. Its forepaws, sharp as blades, slashed at Chen Yi’s throat. If those claws landed, even if he survived, he’d lose half his life.

Seeing his strike had missed and the wolf now coming for him, Chen Yi quickly executed the Nine Steps of the Golden Swallow to retreat, eyeing those deadly claws. With a light motion of his legs, he soared through the air like a swallow, gliding far back with little effort.

If one looked closely at where Chen Yi had stood, they’d notice that he had crossed a distance of seven adult strides in a single step. Such was the marvel of the Nine Steps of the Golden Swallow—it allowed one to float through the air like a bird, expending minimal strength.

For Chen Yi to retreat a single step and gain seven steps’ distance proved that his movement technique had made a dramatic breakthrough. In just a short period of training outside, he had gained so much; clearly, his decision to venture out was the right one.

Had he not left to temper himself, who knew how long it would have taken Chen Yi to break through to the perfected stage in his movement technique?

While Chen Yi’s mind lingered on these thoughts, the wolf’s claws slashed into the trunk of the great tree behind where he’d just stood. The hundred-year-old tree was nearly rent in two; had those claws struck Chen Yi, he’d have been split like the tree.

Seeing Chen Yi unharmed, the lone wolf growled low, crouched, and then leapt like a coiled spring, both claws flashing in quick succession, shrouding Chen Yi in a flurry of attacks.

“Sword Becomes Rainbow!”

“Rainbow Pierces the Sun!”

Wielding the Rainbow Sword, Chen Yi unleashed two powerful sword techniques, then once again used the Nine Steps of the Golden Swallow to evade the alternating claws.

For the next hour, man and wolf fought fiercely—each leaving marks on the other. Chen Yi’s wounds were light; the wolf’s, considerably heavier.

But his injuries were not suffered in vain. Chen Yi’s swordsmanship advanced to the point where a single stroke gave rise to eight beams of sword light—just shy of perfection. More importantly, his lifesaving movement technique, the Nine Steps of the Golden Swallow, reached perfection: a single step now covered nine, resembling the legendary Daoist art of “Heaven at Arm’s Length” from his previous life.

Such progress in both swordplay and movement was thanks to Chen Yi’s remarkable insight and the wolf’s unwavering, life-risking challenge.

With his skills greatly improved, Chen Yi could now easily kill the wolf. However, out of gratitude for the wolf’s part in tempering his sword arts, he resolved to spare it. He spoke to the wolf:

“I know you can understand me. For the sake of the training you’ve given me, you may go. I won’t kill you. But don’t think of ambushing me again—now, you’re no match for me.”

He walked up to the wolf, produced an exquisite porcelain bottle from his robe, poured out a pill, and said,

“This is a Rehmannia Pill. Take it; it will help heal your injuries. After all, it was for the sake of my sword training that you were wounded, and I can’t help but feel guilty.”

The lone wolf seemed to understand. It nodded, ate the pill from Chen Yi’s palm, and soon, its wounds visibly began to heal. Even its old scars from past battles faded away.

After tending to the wolf, Chen Yi found a clean spot, sat cross-legged, and took a Rehmannia Pill himself. He circulated the Five Elements Technique to heal his wounds. After ten cycles, the pill’s effects began to manifest, and all his injuries were healed.

Opening his eyes, Chen Yi found every wound gone. His skin had become even fairer than before—soft and delicate as a newborn’s. If any worldly women saw him now, they’d be green with envy.

At this time, Chen Yi noticed the lone wolf had not left. Instead, it was pacing around him, as if standing guard. This moved Chen Yi deeply.

When the wolf saw he was awake, it bounded over, lay before him, and stretched its forepaws toward him in a sign of submission. Having developed a measure of affection for the wolf during their fierce battle, Chen Yi grasped its paw and helped it up, accepting the creature as his companion.

He named the wolf Sky Howler. Though the name was the same as the legendary hound of Erlang, Yang Jian, from his past life’s myths, Sky Howler was delighted. It leapt about like a monkey, letting out a long howl that startled many a beast in the mountains.

Since Sky Howler's howl had alerted other demon beasts, Chen Yi decided to leave the area with him. But just as they were about to go, Sky Howler tugged at Chen Yi’s pant leg, pulling him toward the mountain ahead.

Following Sky Howler, Chen Yi entered a well-hidden natural cave in the mountain. Without Sky Howler’s guidance, he would never have found it.

Inside, he discovered many demon beast bones—clearly the remains of Sky Howler’s prey. In the center of the cave stood a stalactite, from which drops of water fell, each drop brimming with potent spiritual energy. Beneath the stalactite was a small pool, nearly full of milky white liquid.

Sky Howler had stumbled upon this cave after losing the contest for pack leader. Inside, it had discovered the spiritual liquid and planned to use it to heal after its wounds had closed.

But before it could recover, Chen Yi had entered its territory. Fearing Chen Yi would discover the cave’s secret, Sky Howler had decided to strike first—thus the earlier confrontation.

Thus, fortune smiled upon Chen Yi. With his cultivation bottlenecked, these spiritual waters were just the aid he needed to break through.

Chen Yi decided to use the spirit water to advance his cultivation. He called Sky Howler to stand guard for him. While the cave was unlikely to hide any real danger, caution was the way of survival in the cultivation world—a lesson Chen Yi would not forget.