CHRONICLE OF THE VEILED ASCENSION
Chapter 5: Wolves and Predators
The outer forest of Azure Cloud Sect stretched for hundreds of miles, a wilderness where spirit beasts roamed and disciples tested themselves against nature's cruelty.Chen Ye stood at the forest's edge with Liu Feng's team, six other disciples whose names and fates he was rapidly cataloging. In his previous life, he'd never joined this particular hunt. Now, surrounded by strangers with hidden agendas, he felt the familiar weight of calculation settling over his thoughts."Everyone, gather around," Liu Feng called out, projecting the casual confidence of a natural leader. "Let me introduce our newest member. This is Chen Ye — you might have heard about his performance at yesterday's assessment."Several team members gave Chen Ye appraising looks. Some curious, some dismissive, one openly hostile."That's the kid who embarrassed Wang Ming?" A muscular disciple with a scarred face spoke up. "Heard it was luck. Wang Ming underestimated him.""Then Wang Ming is a fool," Chen Ye replied calmly. "Underestimating opponents gets you killed."The scarred disciple's eyes narrowed, but Liu Feng laughed, diffusing the tension. "Well said! That's exactly the attitude we need. Let me do introductions. The skeptic here is Zhao Kun, our vanguard fighter. Next to him is Lin Mei, our scout and archer."Lin Mei was a slender girl with sharp eyes who nodded curtly at Chen Ye. She looked competent, which made her potentially dangerous."The twins are Feng Bo and Feng Shan — they specialize in coordinated attacks. And finally, this is Zhang Wei, our formation specialist."Chen Ye memorized each face, each cultivation level, each potential threat. Zhao Kun was Late Awakening Stage with combat experience. Lin Mei was Mid Awakening but had the focused gaze of someone who'd killed before. The twins were Early to Mid Awakening, likely relying on teamwork to punch above their weight. Zhang Wei was Peak Awakening with a nervous disposition — competent but not confident."Our target today is a Spirit Wolf pack that's been spotted in the eastern sector," Liu Feng continued. "Pack size: approximately five to seven wolves. Each wolf is equivalent to Mid Awakening Stage in strength, but they fight intelligently in groups. We'll need coordination and discipline."Seven wolves, Chen Ye thought. Against seven disciples. Fair odds, if everyone performs competently.But Chen Ye wasn't interested in fair fights. He was interested in opportunities."One more thing," Liu Feng added. "We split contribution points equally among survivors. Anyone who wants a larger share needs to contribute proportionally. Understood?"Survivors, Chen Ye noted. Not participants. Liu Feng chose his words carefully, setting expectations that not everyone might return."Let's move out," Liu Feng commanded.The forest was dense with spiritual energy, making the air feel thick and alive.Chen Ye moved through the undergrowth silently, his senses heightened. Every rustle, every distant howl, every shift in wind direction registered in his awareness. This was familiar territory — not this specific forest, but the experience of hunting in hostile wilderness.In his previous life, he'd spent years on sect missions in places far more dangerous than this. He'd learned to read forests like scholars read books, understanding their rhythms and dangers."Contact," Lin Mei whispered from her scouting position. "Three wolves, forty meters northeast. They're feeding on something."Liu Feng signaled for the team to spread out into their practiced formation. Zhao Kun took point, the twins flanked, Zhang Wei positioned himself to deploy defensive formations, and Lin Mei nocked an arrow. Liu Feng and Chen Ye held the center.A sound tactical formation, Chen Ye acknowledged. Liu Feng has done this before.They approached carefully. Through gaps in the foliage, Chen Ye spotted the wolves — massive creatures with silver-grey fur and eyes that glowed with spiritual awareness. They were tearing into the carcass of a deer, growling contentedly."On my mark," Liu Feng whispered. "Zhao Kun charges first, draws attention. Twins follow for the kill. Lin Mei provides covering fire. Zhang Wei, maintain defensive barriers. Chen Ye, you're with me — we handle any wolves that break formation. Ready?"Nods all around."Now!"Zhao Kun burst from the treeline with a roar, his sword trailing spiritual energy. The wolves reacted instantly, abandoning their meal to face the threat. Two charged Zhao Kun while the third circled, looking for an opening.Lin Mei's arrow took that third wolf in the shoulder. It yelped and stumbled, giving the twins time to close in. Their coordinated attacks were impressive — one high, one low, forcing the wounded wolf to choose which threat to face. It chose wrong. Feng Bo's blade opened its throat while Feng Shan crippled its hind leg.First blood to the team.But Chen Ye barely watched. His eyes were scanning the forest, his Chronicle-enhanced senses searching for something else entirely. The mission was secondary. His real goal lay elsewhere.[Veil Fragment Detection: Active]
[Scanning radius: 100 meters]
[Result: Weak signature detected. Direction: East, 73 meters. Confidence: 64%]Chen Ye's heart rate increased fractionally. A fragment. Here. The Chronicle's detection ability was passive but not always accurate at long range. Sixty-four percent confidence meant probable, not certain. But if there was a fragment nearby...That changes everything."Chen Ye! Left flank!" Liu Feng's shout snapped his attention back.A wolf had broken from the main fight, circling to attack from the side. It was fast, far faster than the wounded one the twins had killed. Chen Ye's body moved on instinct, his sword rising to meet the charge.The wolf leaped, jaws aimed for his throat. Chen Ye sidestepped and slashed in a single fluid motion. His blade caught the wolf's foreleg, cutting deep. The beast crashed past him, blood spraying.Before it could recover, Chen Ye was on it. His sword found the spine, and the wolf went still."Nice work!" Liu Feng called out.The main fight concluded moments later. Zhao Kun and the formation specialists had handled the remaining wolves competently. Total casualties: zero. Total wolf kills: five."That was easier than expected," Zhao Kun said, wiping blood from his blade. "Only five wolves? Intelligence said seven.""The other two might be elsewhere," Lin Mei suggested, scanning the forest nervously. "We should collect the beast cores and withdraw.""Agreed," Liu Feng said. "Chen Ye, help Zhao Kun extract the cores. Everyone else, maintain perimeter watch."Chen Ye knelt beside the wolf he'd killed, his hands working mechanically to extract the beast core — a small crystalline organ that accumulated spiritual energy. His mind, however, was focused elsewhere.The fragment signature was 73 meters east. If he wanted to investigate, he needed separation from the group. But creating that separation without suspicion required careful planning."Liu Feng," Chen Ye said as he pocketed the beast core. "I need to relieve myself. That way." He gestured vaguely eastward.Liu Feng barely glanced up. "Don't go far. Five minutes."Perfect.Chen Ye moved through the forest with purpose, counting his steps.Seventy meters. Seventy-three meters. His Chronicle's detection grew stronger as he approached the signature source.[Veil Fragment Detection: Strengthening]
[Distance: 15 meters. Confidence: 89%]He found it in a small clearing — a formation of ancient stones arranged in a circle, half-buried by centuries of growth. At the center, barely visible beneath moss and vines, something glowed with faint spiritual light.Chen Ye cleared the debris quickly. His hands trembled as he lifted the object — a small jade pendant, no larger than his thumb, carved with intricate patterns that seemed to shift when viewed directly.[Veil Fragment Detected: Minor Class]
[Effect: +15% Spiritual Energy Absorption Rate]
[Compatibility: 100%]
[Recommendation: Immediate absorption to strengthen Foundation before breakthrough]Chen Ye's breath caught. This was exactly what he needed. A minor fragment wouldn't make him overpowered, but it would give him an edge. Most importantly, it would strengthen his foundation before the crucial breakthrough to Foundation Stage.He pressed the pendant to his chest. Immediately, warmth spread through his meridians as the fragment began to integrate with his Veil Core. The process was automatic, guided by the Chronicle's knowledge. Within seconds, the jade dissolved into pure spiritual essence, flowing into his cultivation base.[Integration Complete]
[Foundation Quality: Excellent → Superior]
[Breakthrough Success Rate: 89% → 94%]Chen Ye smiled coldly. Ninety-four percent. Those were odds he liked.A twig snapped behind him.Chen Ye spun, hand on his sword, to find Lin Mei standing at the clearing's edge. Her bow was lowered, but her expression was sharp and analytical."Interesting place to relieve yourself," she said quietly.How much did she see?Chen Ye's mind raced through scenarios. Deny everything? Threaten her? Offer to share? Each option had risks and consequences."I heard something," Chen Ye replied calmly. "Thought it might be the other two wolves."Lin Mei's eyes flicked to the disturbed earth where the fragment had been, then back to Chen Ye. "And did you find them?""No. Just old ruins."A long silence stretched between them. Lin Mei was evaluating him, deciding whether to push the issue. Chen Ye kept his expression neutral, hand casually near his sword."We should return," Lin Mei finally said. "Liu Feng will wonder where we are.""After you," Chen Ye replied, not willing to turn his back on her.They walked back in tense silence. Chen Ye's analytical mind worked rapidly. Lin Mei suspected something, but she hadn't seen the actual absorption. She had no proof, only suspicion. As long as he gave her no reason to turn that suspicion into accusation, the situation remained manageable.But he would need to watch her carefully.The team was preparing to move when they returned."Found anything interesting?" Liu Feng asked casually."Just trees," Chen Ye replied."Same here," Lin Mei added, but her tone was carefully neutral.If Liu Feng noticed the tension, he didn't comment. "Alright, we've got five beast cores. Not bad for an hour's work. Should we search for the other two wolves or head back?""Push deeper," Zhao Kun suggested. "The contribution points for seven wolves are significantly higher than five."Several team members nodded in agreement. Only Zhang Wei looked nervous."Seven wolves mean more risk," Chen Ye pointed out. "We've been fortunate so far. Wolves learn from pack encounters. The remaining two will be more cautious.""Since when are you afraid of risk?" Zhao Kun challenged.Chen Ye met his gaze levelly. "There's a difference between risk and stupidity. I take calculated risks, not reckless ones.""I say we continue," Liu Feng decided, playing the tiebreaker. "But carefully. Chen Ye makes a valid point — the remaining wolves will be alert. We advance with full defensive formation."They moved deeper into the forest, tension rising with each step. The spiritual energy grew denser here, the trees older and more twisted. This was approaching the forest's inner region, where more dangerous beasts made their territory.[Veil Fragment Detection: Weak signature detected. Direction: North, 94 meters. Confidence: 41%]Another fragment? Or just background spiritual energy? The low confidence made it uncertain, but Chen Ye filed the information away. If an opportunity arose..."Stop," Lin Mei hissed suddenly. "Something's wrong."Everyone froze. The forest had gone silent — no birds, no insects, nothing. It was the silence of prey hiding from a predator."Ambush," Chen Ye realized instantly. "We're being hunted."As if summoned by his words, shapes emerged from the shadows. Not two wolves. Seven. The five they'd killed had been scouts or stragglers. The main pack had been waiting, watching, learning their tactics.And now the pack was attacking with coordinated intelligence."Formation!" Liu Feng shouted, but it was too late.The wolves struck from multiple directions simultaneously. One leaped for Zhang Wei, interrupting his formation deployment. Another targeted Lin Mei, recognizing her as the ranged threat. The remaining five focused on separating the melee fighters.It was chaos.Zhao Kun managed to intercept one wolf, but the force of impact drove him backward. The twins fought back-to-back, barely holding off two wolves working in perfect coordination. Liu Feng engaged the alpha — a massive wolf with scars marking its grey fur.Chen Ye faced two wolves alone.Good, he thought coldly. This is more interesting.The first wolf feinted left then attacked right. Predictable. Chen Ye's sword opened a line across its snout, making it retreat with a yelp. The second wolf tried to capitalize on his extended guard, lunging low for his legs.Chen Ye jumped, using the wolf's back as a springboard, and came down with his sword point-first into its spine. The beast collapsed, paralyzed.The first wolf, enraged by its wounded pride and dead packmate, charged recklessly. Chen Ye sidestepped and took its head off with a single precise cut.Two down. Experience trumps instinct every time.But the rest of the team wasn't faring as well. Zhang Wei was down, bleeding from a savage bite to his shoulder. The twins had killed one wolf but were being overwhelmed by the second. Lin Mei had broken her bow and was fighting with a knife, barely keeping a wolf at bay.Liu Feng was dueling the alpha, and remarkably, holding his own. His swordsmanship was genuinely impressive, far beyond typical outer disciple level.He's been hiding his full strength, Chen Ye realized. Interesting.Chen Ye moved to assist the twins, his blade taking the attacking wolf in the flank. It turned on him, giving Feng Bo time to deliver a killing blow to its neck."Thanks!" Feng Shan gasped.Chen Ye didn't respond. He was already moving toward Lin Mei. His sword caught her opponent mid-lunge, the blade piercing its heart. The wolf collapsed, and Lin Mei stumbled backward, her knife-hand trembling."I had it under control," she said breathlessly."Of course," Chen Ye replied without emotion.That left only the alpha. Liu Feng and Zhao Kun were both engaging it now, but the massive wolf was powerful and experienced. It had the strength of a Peak Awakening Stage cultivator and the intelligence to use terrain to its advantage.Chen Ye circled, looking for an opening. The alpha's eyes tracked him even while fending off two opponents. It knew he was the real threat.Smart beast, Chen Ye thought. But not smart enough."Chronicle, simulate optimal strike trajectory."[Simulation running...]
[Optimal window: 2.3 seconds from now. Alpha will overextend on counterattack against Liu Feng. Exposure: Left rear quarter. Strike zone: Spine junction.]Chen Ye watched the fight unfold exactly as predicted. Liu Feng pressed forward with an aggressive combination. The alpha dodged and prepared its counter—Chen Ye moved.His blade struck true, severing the spine at the perfect angle. The alpha's hind legs collapsed. Zhao Kun's follow-up strike took its head.Silence fell over the bloody clearing. Seven wolves dead. One team member seriously wounded, but no fatalities."That was..." Liu Feng panted, "more challenging than expected.""Intelligence was wrong," Chen Ye said flatly. "The pack was twelve wolves, not seven. We killed five earlier and seven now.""How do you know?" Zhao Kun demanded."Count the tracks. This wasn't an ambush of opportunity. They deliberately let us kill the weak ones first, then attacked when we thought we were safe." Chen Ye cleaned his blade methodically. "We were outplayed by animals."Liu Feng's expression shifted from relief to concern. "If a beast pack is that organized...""Then something is making them smarter," Chen Ye finished. "Or someone."The implications hung in the air. Intelligent beast coordination was unusual. It suggested either a powerful alpha beast directing them, or worse — human interference."We need to report this to the sect," Lin Mei said."After we get Zhang Wei treatment," Liu Feng decided. "And collect the cores. Twelve wolves is worth significant contribution points."As the team began extracting beast cores from the corpses, Chen Ye's mind was elsewhere. The fragment had integrated successfully. His foundation was now superior quality. And he'd demonstrated sufficient combat ability to justify his assessment performance without revealing his full capabilities.Everything is proceeding according to plan, he thought. Now I just need time and space for the breakthrough.But time and space were luxuries in short supply. And as Chen Ye glanced at Lin Mei, who was watching him with barely concealed suspicion, he knew his complications were just beginning.