Chapter 1159, Impotent Fury

Translator: Silavin

 

Yan Hua and Sha Lan had not yet recovered from their shock before Su Bai was already back at it, pressing on against the wolf pack.

 

Only about ten wolves remained now, and every last one of them hurled itself forward as though its life meant nothing.

 

Su Bai’s movements were clean and exact. Not a single opening for the wolves to exploit.

 

One forceful chop, an elbow strike, a whip kick. Each motion was decisive. Each wolf dropped.

 

“Come out.” Su Bai straightened and looked toward the shadows not far ahead.

 

“Shaman, what is it?” Yan Hua asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

 

“Every wolf pack has a king. And the king is never the first to attack. Look at the ones lying down. Do any of them look like a wolf king to you?” Su Bai swept his gaze around the area.

 

He counted roughly. About twenty-odd wolves were sprawled across the ground.

 

More than he had expected. Which meant a few of them had been genuinely capable, clever enough to conceal their presence.

 

“The Shaman is incredible. You took down the entire pack in such a short time.” Sha Lan’s blue eyes had gone wide.

 

She and Yan Hua could barely believe what they had just witnessed. Was this the Shaman they thought they knew?

 

The Shaman in their minds was warm and gentle. They had always known he was powerful, of course.

 

But knowing and seeing were different things. Tonight, with the Shaman Taming the Giant Shell Land Tortoise and now this, that difference became impossible to ignore.

 

They understood now, with a clarity that sat heavy in the chest, that their own Strength was not even a tenth of his. All those times they had thought about protecting Su Bai. What a joke that seemed to be now.

 

The Shaman of the Flame Dragon Tribe needed no protection from anyone. Everyone else would do well just to look after themselves.

 

“With enough practice, the two of you can get there as well. I believe you will surpass me before long.” Su Bai said it with genuine warmth.

 

It was the only kind of encouragement he could offer. As for actually being surpassed, that was rather unlikely.

 

Su Bai’s Physique increased every single day. Add in the Ferocious Beast Crystal and his various Skills, and his Strength had become something extraordinary. He could take on a small Tribe single-handedly without any fear. No matter how hard a Totem Warrior trained, the ceiling was Late-Stage Totem Warrior. Reaching what Su Bai had now would take years at minimum. Possibly many more.

 

“How could we ever surpass the Shaman? Those movements, so clean and precise. We would need years just to come close.” Yan Hua let out a slow breath.

 

She had told herself her Strength was improving, and that had felt like something to be proud of.

 

But now, watching Su Bai, she realised she had been flattering herself. There was still so much ground to cover. Mid-Stage Totem Warrior. So what? She had to keep going.

 

“It is even harder for me. I have not even caught up to Ah’Hua yet.” Sha Lan spread her hands helplessly.

 

Though they were talking, neither of them let their attention drift from the surroundings.

 

The wolf king had not shown itself yet, and that alone was reason enough to stay alert.

 

*Awoooo…*

 

A low, rumbling howl rose from the dark. Every insect and creature nearby scattered at once.

 

The howl was enormous. There was no question about who had made it.

 

“There it is. Both of you, step back a little. I do not want to catch you in the crossfire.” Su Bai held out a hand.

 

“Shaman, please be careful.” Yan Hua could tell from the sound alone that this was no ordinary beast.

 

“We should move back. Standing here, we would only get in the Shaman’s way.” Sha Lan was already moving toward the far side of the Giant Shell Land Tortoise.

 

This had taught her something she would not forget. The Shaman did not need protecting. The only thing she and Yan Hua needed to worry about was not becoming a burden.

 

“You are right.” Yan Hua followed her.

 

*Whoosh.*

 

A streak of white burst from the undergrowth and launched itself directly at Su Bai.

 

Su Bai’s eyes narrowed. He read the movement and slipped aside in the same breath, escaping the claw by the narrowest margin.

 

*Screech scratch…*

 

The wolf king had burst out of the bushes and swiped at Su Bai in one fluid motion, but it had missed. The claw struck the shell of the Giant Shell Land Tortoise instead, and the momentum dragged it across the surface with a sound that set the teeth on edge.

 

*Huff huff huff…*

 

The wolf king rumbled steadily, crouched low. It was more than twice the size of any wolf in the pack. Its bearing was fiercer, its teeth large enough that a single bite could reduce a person to nothing.

 

“A proper wolf king, as expected. From today, you run with me.” Su Bai allowed himself a slight smile.

 

He did not want to waste his Taming on the ordinary wolves. He had been holding out for the wolf king all along.

 

The reason was simple. Wolf packs followed one leader. They listened to no one else. So if Su Bai tamed the wolf king, the rest would follow it straight to the Flame Dragon Tribe without a single spell needed.

 

*Grrrrr*

 

The wolf king snarled, saliva dripping from its jaws. Its body sank lower, coiling for another lunge.

 

“Fire.” Su Bai snapped his fingers. The torches surrounding the Giant Shell Land Tortoise blazed up at once, their flames surging toward his outstretched hand and gathering into a great fireball.

 

He had no interest in dragging this out. Flame Manipulation it was.

 

The wolf king flinched. Every wild creature feared fire. Ferocious Beasts were no different.

 

But it did not retreat. It drove off its hind legs and lunged again, then stopped short.

 

Because Su Bai had shaped the flames into a whip, swinging it lazily from side to side.

 

The wolf king dared not come closer. It reset its stance and bared its teeth.

 

“There we go.” Su Bai flicked his wrist. The fire whip cracked out and landed in front of the wolf king, then expanded into a ring of fire that encircled it completely.

 

The wolf king was fast, but speed meant nothing if its range was cut. Without controlling it, the beast could too easily escape or turn the fight around, and taking an injury right now was not a price worth paying.

 

The flames climbed higher. The wolf king was sealed inside a wall of fire, and it would not dare leap through.

 

[Iron Arm. Taming.] Su Bai raised both hands and activated them simultaneously.

 

He needed to be certain. One bite to the arm and that was the arm done.

 

*Grrrrr*

 

The wolf king snarled and raged inside the ring of fire. Impotent fury. There was nothing it could do.

 

*Crack.*

 

Su Bai’s fist came down hard, catching the wolf king square on the neck. It collapsed and did not rise.

 

He had controlled his strength so the wolf king was not going to die that easily.