All eyes turned simultaneously to the three corpses. They exchanged a look, each holding their breath, straining to hear everything. The Red Wolf King’s ears shot straight up, its eyes turning the color of fresh blood. A strange hissing sound emerged from the monstrous snake, its wide mouth emitting a sibilant breath as its flickering tongue seemed to taste the air, searching for something. Yet, based on their demeanor, they appeared to have discovered nothing.

Soguo suddenly snorted in anger, leaping high to perch atop a massive treetop, searching frantically like a headless fly, utterly without direction. The other Totem Envoys followed suit without a word, their movements swift. They automatically divided the surrounding area into sectors around this central point, scrutinizing every corner. If even the Spirit Wolves couldn't track the opponent’s trace, it was entirely possible the foe was using some specialized method to mask their scent while hiding nearby. If that were the case, coordinating the efforts of multiple Totem Envoys stood an excellent chance of uncovering a clue. However, after a long search, everyone remained empty-handed.

When they eventually returned to their original spot, every face was grim, laced with an underlying tremor of fear. Yi Shibao muttered, uncertainty coloring his voice, “No one, still no one. Not even a trace.” This situation differed entirely from the last, which was why their hearts felt so unsettled. Although fifteen people had died consecutively last time, no one had truly been paying attention to their surroundings; they assumed an attack was impossible, so by the time they noticed, the attacker had already vanished. But this time, the assailant had executed the assassination right under their noses. These three had just died, and they had rushed over immediately, yet they still couldn’t find the slightest sign of the killer. Such an uncanny event was enough to strike terror into anyone.

Serpent Ru, his face dark, stared intently at the ground as if expecting to unearth something there. Soguo shook his head slightly. “Brother Serpent, the Red Wolf King was monitoring underground. If this person came from beneath the earth, the King would surely have noticed.” Serpent Ru finally looked up, his eyes glittering. He murmured to himself, “Coming without trace, leaving without a shadow—how did this person achieve it? Once captured, I will certainly force this secret out of him.” He paused. “This secret is one that only our Serpent Totem Clan deserves to hold.” The others kept their faces impassive, yet silently acknowledged that they couldn't even grasp the shadow of their enemy, let alone talk about capturing them. After tonight’s upheaval, no one retained absolute confidence in their ability to detain this phantom-like figure.

“This person… couldn’t it be…” Harlin’s gaze flickered toward the Red Wolf King, uncertainty creeping in. “Could it be that ghost the Red Wolf King spoke of?” A chill went through everyone; they instantly recalled the Red Wolf King’s pathetic state just a few days prior. If someone could frighten the Red Wolf King into such a wretched appearance, there was indeed a possibility it might be that entity. The Red Wolf King shuddered; the memory of that day still sent tremors through it. Its massive wolf head nervously scanned its surroundings for a moment, and as its gaze flickered, the ferocity in its eyes visibly waned. Soguo reached out and gently stroked the giant wolf’s head, slowly calming it down. The Red Wolf King let out a few low whines, and Soguo did the same. After a brief exchange between man and wolf, Soguo announced, “The Red Wolf King says it wasn't that person.” His voice was steady and strong. “That person’s martial arts are broad and overwhelming; every step leaves behind a distinct footprint. It absolutely cannot be him.” The others nodded slightly. They understood that the Red Wolf King’s intelligence surpassed that of most humans, so if it stated it wasn't him, it was highly likely true.

Soguo glanced around, then suddenly called out loudly, “Esteemed master from the Great Shen in the East, your furtive behavior—are you not afraid of disgracing the Shen? If you possess even a shred of backbone, step out and face me in single combat. I, Soguo, guarantee on the honor of the Wolf Totem Envoy that the others will absolutely not interfere.” His voice drifted far into the silent night, amplified by his true energy, clearly audible for several miles. After a long silence, the forest remained utterly soundless. Soguo let out a cold huff. “Masters from the Great Shen Empire—are you all such faint-hearted wretches?” Serpent Ru sighed deeply. “Brother Soguo, stop calling out. Since this person is an assassin, he naturally won’t step out for a one-on-one duel with you.” Soguo snapped back fiercely, “What do we do now?” Though he was a Great Envoy of the Totem Clan and had weathered many storms, this was the first time he had encountered such a troublesome enemy. Watching his clansmen die before his eyes, his composure could no longer hold steady.

“We wait,” Serpent Ru stated coldly. “This person only dares to ambush small squads without Totem Envoys, indicating he isn't confident in killing a Totem Envoy instantly. Given this, starting tomorrow, every watch post will have one Totem Envoy. If he doesn't come, so be it. If he does…” Soguo’s eyes brightened. “Exactly. If he doesn't come, fine. But if he appears, the moment there's a sound and he’s pinned down for an instant, he won't be escaping.” His voice brimmed with powerful confidence, as if the moment he laid eyes on the enemy, that person would be dead. All gazes swept over the Red Wolf King and the monstrous snake; everyone nodded in secret agreement. Two Great Envoys and two thousand-year mutated spirit beasts—when they joined forces, even if the enemy possessed three heads and six arms, they would surely meet their end right there. As for their own safety… Those who attained the rank of Totem Envoy were masters who had reached the Innate Realm. Even facing a peak expert like Yu Jinglei, they were confident they could hold out for three moves or so. That time would be sufficient for the others to rush in as reinforcements. After dealing with the bodies of their fallen comrades, they followed the agreed-upon plan, stationing one Totem Envoy at each watch point. Except for Soguo and Serpent Ru, who remained in the center with the bulk of the ordinary totem clansmen, the remaining ten Totem Envoys were dispersed among the other smaller squads. They heightened their vigilance to the utmost, awaiting the terrifying, mysterious assassin’s return.

In the distance, having landed silently, He Yiming let out a mocking sneer. He scoffed, “Single combat? More like a supposed fair duel with me against the man and the wolf combined.” Hundred and Eight had appeared beside him without warning. “Are you still planning to continue the assassinations?” “Of course,” He Yiming replied without hesitation. “With so many experts among them, if I don't take them down one by one, how can I possibly eliminate them all?” “You only have one chance to strike,” Hundred and Eight said slowly. “Facing a Totem Envoy, unless you use your absolute full-power strike, you won't achieve a fatal blow in one hit. However, based on my calculations, the possibility of you executing that strike is zero.” He Yiming paused, slightly perplexed. “How did you calculate that?” “Your ultimate strike, while powerful, requires a charging process. During this period, you cannot control the overflow of your inner energy; the chance of discovery is one hundred percent.” Hundred and Eight’s voice was utterly flat, as if recounting something that had no bearing on him. “Before you can unleash that blow, everyone will be alerted. If you are surrounded and lose your combat ability, even I might not be able to rescue you safely.” He Yiming nodded slightly. While Hundred and Eight was powerful, he was not invincible. If he were alone, leaving Soguo, Serpent Ru, and the others would be no issue. But adding a completely helpless burden, and needing to ensure that person’s safety, made the situation precarious. With a soft sigh, He Yiming lamented, “If only the Five Elements Strike didn’t drain all my true energy afterward.” “My analysis suggests your Five Elements Strike unleashes all the true energy within your body in an instant—it is a powerful finishing move. However, it causes extreme stimulation to your meridians, resulting in irreparable internal damage. In comparison, the temporary loss of true energy is negligible,” Hundred and Eight stated seriously. He Yiming blinked twice. He knew well that due to his special constitution, this peculiar attack method would not affect his meridians. Yet, this method could only be used in a one-on-one confrontation; using it when outnumbered would be courting death. “Give up,” Hundred and Eight looked up, meeting his gaze. “Although your ice-elemental techniques are potent, once used, they cause a drastic reaction in the elemental energy of heaven and earth. Even if you achieved a one-hit kill, you would lose the chance to disengage. If you are surrounded, you know the consequences.” He Yiming slowly nodded. A strange smile suddenly appeared on his face. “A few days ago, I would indeed have been helpless. But now…” He chuckled darkly. “Brother Hundred, since you can transform infinitely, can you conceal me so that I remain undiscovered?” Hundred and Eight seemed to pause for a moment. “Do you have a plan?” He Yiming’s gaze refocused on the direction of the totem clansmen. His eyes were sharp as knives. “One-hit kill. Perhaps I can achieve it in a different manner.”

The fourth night… Inside the camp tents, the atmosphere was solemn. The locations of the ten watch posts were unchanged from the previous day, and the two Great Masters and the two thousand-year mutated spirit beasts in the center of the tents were equally focused. Everyone firmly believed that if the mysterious assassin didn't show tonight, tonight would be his execution date. Tonight’s starry sky was still sparsely dotted, and beneath the towering, canopy-blocking trees of the jungle, the darkness was profound. However, the numerous Totem Envoys paid this little mind. Especially those from the Wolf Totem, whose eyes shone with a faint, greenish luminescence in the deep night. This was a unique transformation for the Wolf Totem Clan upon reaching the Envoy level; even in the darkest night, it was as clear as day to them. He Yiming’s body drifted out of a shadowy corner, his ears twitching slightly with the sound of the wind. In the blackness of the night, with the gentle breeze stirring, he needed no eyes to monitor everything ahead. He could clearly hear the strong, rhythmic heartbeats of all the Totem Envoys stationed at the ten evenly spaced watch points. In the center, subtly encircled by them, the auras of the two Great Envoys shone as brightly as daylight. Following the subtle currents of the breeze, He Yiming slowly approached one of the watch posts. He moved like an elf in the night, making no sound at all. He hid behind a massive tree, carefully utilizing the wind and the blind spots in the others’ vision to draw nearer and nearer. The Totem Envoy at this post was Yi Shibao. He was the first Totem Envoy to arrive at Hengshan and the true culprit behind ordering the Spirit Wolves to devour the six disciples of Hengshan. If there was anyone among the Totem Envoys He Yiming most deeply hated, besides Serpent Ru, it was this man. Since he had to take a risk, choosing this man to strike first was natural. He Yiming closed his eyes, yet the every move of the three figures not far away was perfectly rendered in his mind, without the slightest error. By completely merging with the wind, He Yiming could even discern the next action of these three people from the sound of the wind itself. It was a magical sensation, and since closing his eyes, his predictions had never been wrong. A gust of wind blew, and He Yiming’s body flashed past the tree trunk, moving closer to the direction the wind flowed. Simultaneously, the vision of all three members of Yi Shibao’s party was focused elsewhere. He Yiming exploited the intersecting blind spots in their gazes to close the distance step by calculated step. When he was only a few steps away, He Yiming flipped his wrist, channeling a surge of powerful true energy into his Forked Sword. Unlike other magical artifacts, the more true energy infused into the Forked Sword, the calmer it became, almost seeming to dissolve into nothingness. Another gust of wind blew, and He Yiming moved again. This time, he did not continue to conceal his presence. Instead, he followed the wind, instantly arriving beside them. Yi Shibao’s expression shifted slightly. He was not some ordinary Post-Natal master; now that He Yiming was this close, he finally sensed something amiss. A strange light flashed in his eyes, and without hesitation, he thrust a hand backward. In his grasp was something dark, yet it produced a sharp, tearing sound as it cut through the air. He Yiming’s eyes were sharp; he instantly spotted a bizarre weapon worn on the man’s hand. It was a claw, seemingly crafted in imitation of a wolf’s paw, the tips of the claws glowing with a sinister blue light—clearly imbued with some virulent poison. However, He Yiming subtly shifted his left wrist, avoiding the grasp of the claw from a peculiar angle, as if his limb were boneless. He then flicked his finger and tapped the man’s arm. The force of this touch was definitely not significant; for an Innate expert, it could hardly inflict any damage. But at that precise moment, extreme horror flooded Yi Shibao’s eyes, as if he had suddenly encountered the most terrifying thing in the world. His body instantly stiffened, all motion freezing as if a pause button had been hit. His mind churned with terrifying realization. This stiffening sensation, though he had never experienced it personally, was something he had heard described countless times—he could not be mistaken. This was a special ability, the unique power of the monstrous snake beside Serpent Ru. Anyone bitten by that snake would instantly fall into a paralyzed state. Forget a Totem Envoy like him; even the Great Totem Envoys would fall into this dreadful rigor if ambushed by Serpent Ru. Yet, this ability, even across the entire Totem Clan, seemed unique to the monstrous snake accompanying Serpent Ru. At this moment, a truly terrifying thought crossed his mind. Could the one trying to kill us not be an assassin from Great Shen, but Serpent Ru himself…? But in the very next instant, he saw it clearly—a familiar face flashed before his eyes. On that face were a pair of icy eyes that sent a chill through him. As his gaze met those eyes, he immediately understood the opponent’s terrifying, unshakeable resolve. Then, his throat burned, and massive true energy flooded his body. His consciousness blurred, but those eyes, filled with hatred, seemed imprinted upon his very soul, persisting even as his awareness faded away…

With a mere flick of his finger, He Yiming had managed to inject that strange true energy into the opponent’s body. His focus was absolute, his eyes wide open, missing none of Yi Shibao’s reaction. This was, after all, his first time employing this ability. Who knew if the sneak attack would succeed as intended? If this power failed to achieve the desired effect, his only option would be a swift retreat, praying he wouldn't be entangled by Yi Shibao fighting recklessly. If he truly encountered an Innate expert willing to throw his life away, even He Yiming couldn't guarantee a smooth escape in an instant. However, the effect of this strange true energy clearly exceeded his expectations. As it entered him, Yi Shibao’s body immediately seized up, unable to move even his eyeballs. He Yiming’s movements were lightning-fast. One sweep of his sword not only pierced Yi Shibao’s throat but also claimed the lives of the other two totem clansmen. Afterward, he didn't hesitate to turn and flee, abandoning the pretense of aerial flight. He relied on the ground, kicking off slightly, moving away as if he suddenly possessed wings. Aerial flight was merely utilizing the special function of his Wind Shoes to completely suppress his true energy and aura. In terms of sheer speed, however, it was far inferior to the maximum velocity achieved by running on the ground. Just as He Yiming departed, Soguo and the Red Wolf King arrived at the scene. They didn’t even spare a glance for Yi Shibao and the others, instead speeding off in pursuit at their fastest pace…