Chapter 12: Stellar Demon Wolf

Lucian Lawes knew that, matching the Nine Levels of Dragon Pulse, Demon Beasts were divided into Nine Grades. Those five Earth Demon Hounds were all Yellow Tier Rank Four. In other words, each one of them was probably stronger than him. As for the Moon-Eating Demon Wolf… Aurora had said it was a terrifying existence that completely surpassed even the Nine Grades. Lucian Lawes watched coldly as the five Earth Demon Hounds yelped and milled about, celebrating the Spiritual Herb that had blundered into their territory. *Five Earth Demon Hounds. Their realms are all higher than mine.* His jaw tightened. *But I have the Stellar Battle Body. If I strike from the shadows and snatch it, I might still have a chance.* *Even if I succeed, they'll chase me to the ends of the earth. Once things get loud, I'll end up nothing but bones in the Desolate Beast Domain.* *But if I don't gamble everything… what right do I have to stand at the family assembly and face them?* *Fine. Better to die than live like a coward.* His eyes hardened as he started to rise- The Sword Aurora darted in front of him as if to block his path. Aurora lowered her voice to a fierce whisper. "Idiot. Are you trying to get yourself killed? There are Spiritual Herbs everywhere. If you throw your life away, you'll have nothing left." She sounded genuinely frantic. Lucian Lawes paused, caught off guard by the weight of concern in her voice. Thinking back, there really had not been many people who treated him with that kind of sincerity. They had known each other for such a short time, yet Aurora still managed to stir something in his chest. "Aurora, you're a good person," he said softly. "Don't worry. I won't do anything reckless. I still have to protect you." "Tch. I've been a good person since I was little," she muttered. For all the sharpness in the words, her voice carried a shy, flustered edge, like she had never been praised like that before. The Earth Demon Hounds were too close. Lucian Lawes did not dare say more. Just as one of them was about to clamp its jaws around the Mountain Demon Ginseng and carry it off, Aurora suddenly whispered, "Another Demon Beast is coming…" Lucian Lawes froze. The five Earth Demon Hounds reacted first. Their fur bristled as if struck by lightning. Murderous light flared in their eyes as they snarled toward the mouth of the valley. Then a tall silhouette stepped out of the darkness. A brilliant gleam swept across the valley. Lucian Lawes narrowed his eyes. Under the faint starlight, the Demon Beast revealed itself in full. It was a wolf-shaped creature, smaller than the Moon-Eating Demon Wolf, but built like a blade, all lean power and lethal grace. Its long fur was a shining silver-white, and it shimmered with flowing starlight. Lucian Lawes even felt the stars overhead being drawn into that fur, sinking into its body like breath. "This is… a Yellow Tier Rank Five Stellar Demon Wolf," Aurora murmured into his ear. "It cultivates by absorbing Stellar Power. Its body is terrifyingly strong…" Yellow Tier Rank Five. Lucian Lawes's scalp prickled. This was even harder to deal with. He did not even dare breathe too loudly. The Stellar Demon Wolf strode into the valley and released a low growl at the five Earth Demon Hounds. The challenge was unmistakable. In the next heartbeat, it lunged. Lucian Lawes and Aurora held their tongues and watched. Just as he expected, the Stellar Demon Wolf was a master of Body Tempering. With every swipe and pounce, stone cracked and shattered. The Earth Demon Hounds were not weak either. They surged forward in a pack, snarling and howling, fangs bared, vicious enough to make one's blood run cold. "Their claw techniques…" Lucian Lawes's eyes flickered. "They actually have the feel of a Martial Battle Technique. The way they strike and withdraw… it's not weaker than an Elementary Battle Technique. And that Stellar Demon Wolf is even worse…" The fight ended quickly. The Stellar Demon Wolf's strength crushed them completely. The Earth Demon Hounds fought like demons, but under those sharp claws and dagger teeth, they fell one after another, dead or mangled beyond saving. In less than a quarter of an hour, all five lay sprawled on the ground. The Stellar Demon Wolf lowered its head and sniffed the trembling Mountain Demon Ginseng. A thrilled rumble rose from its throat. Above, the starlight seemed to churn. Only then did it turn and leave, satisfied. "It took the Mountain Demon Ginseng," Aurora whispered urgently. "Hurry. We have to follow it and see what it does." Lucian Lawes shot her a glance. This timid little thing was actually asking to chase it? Still, he trusted Aurora's background, and he trusted her instincts. Before he moved, he sprinted to the fallen Earth Demon Hounds and dug out their Demon Cores one by one. "These can be traded for plenty of good stuff," he said. "You greedy jerk," Aurora hissed. "Go, go, go. But it can't notice you. If it does, you'll die." For once, she was even more anxious than he was. The Stellar Demon Wolf did not leave at a blistering pace. After Lucian Lawes pocketed the Demon Cores, he quickly caught up, though he only dared trail it from a distance. "Aurora," he whispered, "why are you in such a rush? The Mountain Demon Ginseng is already gone. We're getting nothing." "It took it, yes," Aurora said, her voice tight with nerves, "but Demon Beasts usually treat Spiritual Herbs like regular food. They don't refine them. Eating them like that is a waste. That Stellar Demon Wolf is probably the king around here. I bet it has a stash of Spiritual Herbs in its cave. Demon Beasts love hoarding anything edible. The more they hide away, the happier they get. If we follow it and find its lair, we won't come up empty." She rattled on, and Lucian Lawes finally understood. *If she's right,* he thought, *this won't be a wasted trip.* In less than half an hour, the Stellar Demon Wolf stopped before a cave and slipped inside with swift, practiced ease. Lucian Lawes crouched behind a massive boulder outside, watching. "Aurora, what do we do?" he asked. "Wait," she whispered. "I've got a plan." She was being mysterious again. Lucian Lawes could not be bothered with it. He kept his focus on the cave. Not long after, the Stellar Demon Wolf emerged. It held its head high and scanned the surroundings. Lucian Lawes immediately reined in his aura and even his breathing, staying perfectly still. His heartbeat hammered louder than any footstep. After prowling around the entrance for a while, the Stellar Demon Wolf let out a long howl, dropped to all fours, and vanished into the night in the blink of an eye. Aurora sounded delighted. "Just like I said. Bad guy, hurry and get inside its cave. There's definitely good stuff in there." She did not need to tell him that. The wolf had only gone in briefly. If it had actually consumed the Mountain Demon Ginseng, it could not have come back out so quickly. Lucian Lawes shot into the cave. It was dark and deep, and a thick wolf stench hit him in the face. "Definitely the Stellar Demon Wolf's den…" Soon the space ahead brightened. He burst into a half-dome chamber, the true heart of the lair. There was the sour reek of beast filth, but it was drowned beneath the rich fragrance of Spiritual Herbs that filled the entire cave. "Mountain Demon Ginseng," Aurora breathed. "There are two of them… Lucian Lawes, your luck is insane. No time to waste. Take them!" The moment she finished speaking, Lucian Lawes moved. He snatched up both stalks and tucked them into his chest. As soon as he did, a chill crawled up his spine. Aurora's voice went small. "Ah… I forgot. Mountain Demon Ginseng likes to run, so that thing used a method to restrain them. If you take them, it'll probably know." Lucian Lawes's face flushed red in an instant. "To hell with you," he snarled. "Why didn't you say that earlier? You're going to get me killed!" There was no time left. He had already taken them. He bolted for the exit like his life depended on it. Aurora, realizing she had screwed up, did not dare say a single word. She followed behind him, silent and miserable. From somewhere not far outside the cave, an enraged wolf howl tore through the night. Lucian Lawes's heart sank into ice. He burst out of the cave mouth. "That way!" Aurora pointed. He sprinted in the direction she indicated. Behind him, he could hear heavy breathing closing in, closer and closer. "If I die this time," he shouted over his shoulder, "I'm dragging you out of this damn sword and giving you a proper beating first!" "W-Wah…" Aurora's voice wobbled, on the verge of tears. "I really didn't do it on purpose. I just… I just forgot for a second… w-wah…"