Vol. 1 Chapter 23 – The Mutant Blood Wolf

【Ding! Your level has increased to Level 4. HP +10, MP +10, and you have gained 5 free attribute points.】

Finally, the long-awaited sound of levelling up rang in Ye Tian Xie’s ears. As usual, he allocated all his attribute points into Strength, then crouched down to collect the corpses of the wolves. The previously eerie wolf territory was now eerily silent, with no trace of any wolves in sight. Ye Tian Xie finally began to move forward, venturing deeper into the Wolf Valley.

After passing through a narrow entrance, a new world unfolded before him. It was even more sinister here, the chilling air enough to make anyone’s spine tingle. The wolves ahead were no longer the violent Dire Wolves but even more savage… Blood Wolves!

Blood Wolf:

Level: 7

HP: 250

Description: Bloodthirsty wolves, agile and vicious, equipped with sharp fangs and claws as deadly weapons. They will attack any living creature that approaches.

Skills: None.

Their HP was only 50 points higher than the Dire Wolves, but their speed and aggro range far surpassed them. As soon as Ye Tian Xie stepped into their territory, three gusts of blood-scented wind came at him from different directions. He dodged two attacks, allowing the third wolf’s claw to strike his body.

-35!

Wearing only his beginner’s gear and without any points invested in Constitution, Ye Tian Xie’s defence was pitifully low. With just 11 points of defence and 210 HP, if he got surrounded by a few Blood Wolves, it wouldn’t take long for him to be chewed back to the novice village. However, Ye Tian Xie didn’t retreat. His previously wandering gaze sharpened with excitement. His body moved fluidly among the pack of wolves, every second spent predicting, sensing, and judging the movements of the surrounding Blood Wolves. Destiny’s Moment sliced through the air in a smooth, dark arc…

An hour later, the once-mighty Blood Wolf pack had disappeared without a trace. Ye Tian Xie stood holding Destiny’s Moment, looking frustrated as he waited for the wolves to respawn. While other players still didn’t dare to set foot in the outer parts of Wolf Valley for levelling, Ye Tian Xie had already single-handedly cleared the entire level 7 Blood Wolf territory.

【Ding…Your hunger level has exceeded 90. Please consume food in a timely manner.】

In town, the hunger level increases by 1 point every 5 minutes, but in combat or while in the wild, it increases by 1 point every 3 minutes. Ye Tian Xie swallowed his last steamed bun, just managing to reduce his hunger level to 70. It was clear that he would need to return to the village soon to stock up on food.

Just as he turned around to leave, a flash of blood-red light appeared not far from his right side. A massive Blood Wolf, nearly twice the size of a normal one, emerged in the glow, lifting its head and letting out a long, echoing howl.

Ye Tian Xie stopped in his tracks. Without a moment’s hesitation, he swiftly sidestepped and slashed at its neck with Destiny’s Moment…

Mutant Blood Wolf:

Level: 7, Three-star Elite

HP: 2000

Description: A mutated Blood Wolf, possessing a larger and more agile body, and stronger attack power than ordinary Blood Wolves.

Skill: Blood Wolf Devour—Has a 5% chance to convert a portion of the damage dealt into its own health.

-102, -99, -101…

The Mutant Blood Wolf’s defence wasn’t much higher than the Giant Dire Wolves’. After three consecutive strikes from Ye Tian Xie, the beast finally finished its dramatic entrance. Its blood-red eyes locked onto Ye Tian Xie, and with a deafening roar, a massive wolf claw, as large as Ye Tian Xie’s head, swiped toward him. Even in the dim Wolf Valley, the sharp, cold gleam on the claw’s tips was still visible.

Swoosh!

The gust of wind from the claw attack nearly brushed against his face, causing a faint sting on Ye Tian Xie’s skin. His eyes narrowed sharply. Instead of retreating, he advanced. Seizing the brief opening as the wolf retracted its claw, he dashed forward and slashed at its neck again. At the same time, he ducked low, using his momentum to slip underneath the wolf’s body. As the Mutant Blood Wolf turned to face him, he struck its leg with another vicious blow… Five consecutive strikes later, Destiny’s Moment, with its superior attack power, had already drained a quarter of the elite level 7 boss’s health bar.

The Mutant Blood Wolf, after being repeatedly attacked, suddenly lost track of its target. With a furious roar, it turned its massive body, but as it did so, Ye Tian Xie deftly moved again, slipping behind the towering beast. Taking advantage of the opening, he delivered another quick slash to its leg, eliciting a blood-curdling howl from the wolf.

The Mutant Blood Wolf’s body was enormous, over four metres long and nearly three metres tall. But now, that towering figure, meant to inspire fear, had become a shield that Ye Tian Xie used to hide his position. Every time the wolf turned, Ye Tian Xie seemed to have calculated the timing perfectly, ducking either beneath its body, around its left side, or to its right, always positioning himself behind it. With each movement, he effortlessly struck at the wolf, while the Mutant Blood Wolf’s every turn only found it swiping at thin air or glimpsing a fading afterimage.

In battle, relying solely on personal strength is not always enough. There are many factors that can simplify combat, such as the advantage of time and terrain, or in this case, Ye Tian Xie’s swift movements, using the Mutant Blood Wolf’s massive body as a shield to obscure his position. Ye Tian Xie always had an innate, terrifying ability to quickly assess his surroundings and find what would give him the greatest advantage.

Slash! Slash! Slash! 

-100, -99, -103, -208, -99…

His white silhouette flickered as the massive Blood Wolf roared and spun around in frustration. The damage numbers, occasionally tinged with yellow, floated up at a consistent pace, with no pause. After a few more seconds, the now-dizzy Mutant Blood Wolf let out a final howl before collapsing to the ground, ending its short-lived existence as a mini-boss.

Ye Tian Xie watched its slow fall with a calm expression, showing no excitement or triumph. The surrounding Blood Wolves had already been cleared out, giving him an unchallenged battle. If there had been any interference from other wolves, he certainly wouldn’t have won this easily. But to single-handedly take down a level 7 three-star elite? If he couldn’t even handle this Mutant Blood Wolf, how could he be worthy of the title 『Unbeatable Evil Emperor』?

He picked up the equipment from the ground, tossing it into his bag without even looking. Given his current classless status, no matter how good the attributes were, it wasn’t something he could equip, so out of sight, out of mind. A few shiny silver coins quickly followed into his inventory as well. Kneeling down, he habitually used his beginner’s collection skill on the wolf’s corpse.

【Ding…You have collected the Eye of the Mutant Dire Wolf.】

【Ding… You have collected the Amethyst Necklace.】

“Oh?” Ye Tian Xie raised his eyebrows in surprise as he examined the necklace in his hand, its faint purple glow catching his eye. He hadn’t expected this at all. In almost every virtual game, accessories like necklaces, rings, and earrings were the rarest equipment drops, often coming with unique and special attributes. Because of their rarity, even an iron-grade necklace could be more valuable than a bronze-grade piece of armour.

Oddly enough, this necklace hadn’t dropped from the Mutant Blood Wolf but had instead been collected from its corpse. Had this mutant wolf grown a necklace somehow?

Amethyst Necklace:

A necklace accidentally obtained by the Mutant Blood Wolf, made from pure amethyst. Its origin is unknown, but perhaps the village chief in the novice village might have some information about it.

“Is this… a quest item?”