As the shadow approached closer, Mira's ears twitched slightly. Her reflexes were sharp, and she pivoted in an instant to face the attacker, her claws slicing forward in a blur.

“Slyvia, Cotton Spore!” Wei Yun’s voice cut through the tension.

His heart sank as he fumbled with the pocket of his jacket. Slyvia’s petite figure darted out, a vibrant surge of green energy radiating from her tiny form and enveloping Mira in an instant.

In a flash, Mira’s body was covered in dense, white cotton spores, as if layers of soft armor had wrapped around her. Her physical defenses surged.

At that exact moment, the enemy’s claws struck, their force dulled as the cotton spores absorbed much of the impact.

Boom!

A muffled thud echoed through the air. Mira grunted, feeling her right paw go numb as a tremendous force pushed her back. She staggered two steps but managed to regain her footing.

It was only then that Wei Yun finally saw their opponent clearly. Another Wind Wolf had appeared—but this one was far larger than any he’d seen before. The beast measured a full three meters in length and stood nearly two meters tall, its powerful frame towering over Mira.

“This… This is a Second-tier Wind Wolf!” Wei Yun’s pupils contracted sharply. His heart raced, and his expression turned grim.

This Wind Wolf was in a different league. Its size and aura alone marked it as a genuine Second-tier beast, far surpassing the lower-tier wolves they’d encountered before.

Although Mira was exceptionally talented, her training was still too short for her to stand a chance against a Second-tier Wind Wolf.

Wei Yun’s stomach twisted with dread. If his guess was correct, this massive wolf was likely the leader of the Wind Wolf pack. And if it was here, others were surely nearby. If the pack regrouped, the consequences would be catastrophic.

His fears were confirmed when four First-tier Wind Wolves broke free and joined their leader, encircling Wei Yun and his companions.

But strangely, they didn’t attack right away. Instead, they seemed to be waiting for something.

The Cave Mole in Wei Yun’s pocket, trembling uncontrollably, leapt into his arms, squeaking in panic.

“This is strange!” Wei Yun frowned deeply, unease clawing at his mind. Wind Wolves were notorious for their aggressive nature. With such a clear advantage, they should have already pounced. Yet here they were, holding back, their movements deliberate and calculated.

Clap, clap, clap—

The eerie sound of slow, deliberate clapping came from behind him. Startled, Wei Yun spun around to see a figure emerging from the bushes, his gaze fixed intently on Slyvia, perched on Wei Yun’s shoulder.

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The newcomer was a young man, no older than twenty, his coarse features and burly frame exuding menace. He wore silver-white robes embroidered with intricate cloud patterns, his deep, unreadable eyes radiating danger.

Wei Yun tensed as the man approached the Second-tier Wind Wolf. Without hesitation, the stranger raised his right hand and placed it on the wolf’s head.

To Wei Yun’s shock, the Second-tier Wind Wolf didn’t resist. Instead, it lowered its head, pressing into the man’s palm with an almost human-like expression of comfort.

The realization struck Wei Yun like a thunderbolt: the Second-tier Wind Wolf was the man’s spirit beast!

“Lin family attire!” Wei Yun hissed under his breath. His mind raced as he connected the dots. “Why is someone from the Lin family here? And his companion is a Second-tier Wind Wolf… Could the recent Wind Wolf problem be their doing?”

The Lin family was one of the three great powers of Luo City, alongside the Wei family and the City Lord’s Mansion. While the City Lord’s Mansion maintained neutrality, the Wei and Lin families had been locked in a bitter rivalry for years, fighting over resources and influence.

Wei Yun’s thoughts turned to a past conflict, a battle over a miniature soul crystal mine in Green Cloud Mountain. Though the Wei family had secured the mine by allying with the City Lord’s Mansion, they had paid a steep price, leaving the Lin family severely weakened.

Now, seeing the Lin family’s presence here, Wei Yun had little doubt the recent troubles with the Wind Wolves were tied to them.

The man, Lin Zheng, clasped his hands behind his back, exuding an air of arrogant confidence. His tone was slow and measured as he spoke. “Well, well. I didn’t expect you to have a rare Nature Sprite. No wonder Healing Springs have been appearing on the market lately. That must be your doing, right? Kid, how about we strike a deal? Sever your bond with the Nature Sprite, and I’ll spare your life. Sound fair?”

Wei Yun’s blood ran cold. Severing the bond with a spirit beast wasn’t unheard of it could be done unilaterally with a blood pact, but the price was steep, both physically and emotionally.

Slyvia trembled on Wei Yun’s shoulder, clutching her clothes with her tiny hands as if pleading with him not to agree.

“Do you really think I’d agree to that?” Wei Yun’s voice was dry, but he forced himself to stay calm. Inside, his mind raced, desperately searching for a way to escape.

“I think you will.” Lin Zheng’s lips curled into a cold smile as he reached into his robe and fastened a bronze badge to his chest.

Wei Yun’s heart sank further. The badge depicted a black night sky with two faintly glimmering stars, a mark of a second-tier beast tamer.

To achieve this rank, one had to refine 36 starlights with their mental power and own at least two Second-tier beast companions. That meant Lin Zheng had at least one more Second-tier beast, possibly more.

Lin Zheng raised his hand, and a blood-red glow shimmered in the air, forming a six-pointed star.

Roar!

A bone-chilling roar split the air. A blast of foul-smelling wind swept through the clearing, shaking the trees violently.

The summoning ritual ended, revealing a massive figure beside Lin Zheng: the Titanfang Bear.

Towering over three meters tall when upright and weighing several tons, the bear’s thick, dirt-brown fur was matted with mud. Its enormous paws looked as if they could crush a man with ease, and its snarling mouth revealed fangs sharper than daggers.

Unlike Wind Wolves, the Titanfang Bear was of a high servant class beast species, a devastating opponent.

“Run!” Wei Yun didn’t hesitate. As Lin Zheng finished summoning the bear, Wei Yun knew there was no chance of winning. Surrounded by two Second-tier spirit beast and four First-tier Wind Wolves, survival was impossible if he stayed.

Without a second thought, he leapt onto Mira’s back. “Go!” he urged, his voice sharp with urgency.

Mira didn’t need to be told twice. She sprang into action, her powerful legs propelling them away from the deadly trap closing in around them.