A trio of youths clad in the distinctive outer sect robes traversed the dense forest, their purpose evident as they searched intently for something or someone. Leading the group was a disciple whose sharp gaze exuded an air of stability, akin to a steadfast mountain. This formidable presence belonged to none other than Wei Fa, the fifth-ranked disciple in the outer sect.
Meanwhile, concealed amidst the foliage, a youth observed them with a hawk-like intensity. His piercing gaze penetrated through the shadows, his presence so elusive that he seemed like a ghost, gliding silently without a trace.
Who else could it be but Ning himself?
Since he wanted to participate in the outer sect competition, the obvious thing to do was collect information about his opponent. Among the several high-ranked disciples, Ning targeted Wei Fa, who ranked fifth in the sect.
So, to find out his martial art, weakness, and fighting style, Ning was following Wei Fa in his sect mission to collect as much info as possible.
In plain terms, Ning was stalking the dude to know his weakness, all while the unsuspecting Wei Fa remained blissfully unaware of his covert observer.
With his turtle breathing, Ning had the potential to do great as a stalker. Not that he plans to stalk others anytime soon...
Or did he?
Well in the end, Ning maintained a discreet distance while shadowing Wei Fa and his companions, relying on his Eyes of the Hawk ability to ensure he would never lose track of them. The group traversed the forest with a surprising lack of caution, suggesting either a great deal of confidence or the foreknowledge of their target's whereabouts.
Ning could discern that the two individuals accompanying Wei Fa had recently advanced to the third stage of cultivation. Their Qi signatures were still nascent and unrefined. In contrast, Wei Fa exuded unwavering stability, akin to a mountain—a testament to his experience as a veteran in the third stage.
Ning knew that their target was the red flame herb. It was not a special herb by any means and was mostly used in alchemy. With the amount of time, he had spent in the Black Snake forest, it may as well be his second home. So, he knew that to take the fruit they need to encroach on the territory of at least two spirit beasts.
Just as the thought of spirit beasts crossed his mind, a resounding howl pierced through the air, capturing the attention of Wei Fa and his companions. And soon, in front of their view, a red wolf appeared, it was a spirit beast equivalent to the third stage. With his acute hearing, Ning could hear the guys behind Wei Fa starting to say something.
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"Senior Brother Wei, that's a scarlet wolf. we need to be careful, its fur can expel fire." One of the guys cautioned with a touch of concern.
"Hmph! I do not require your reminder of such trivial matters," Wei Fa dismissed, displaying a disregard for his companion's feelings. Unfazed, he calmly approached the wolf, seemingly not aware of the pressure emanating from the beast. Although the group could have avoided confrontation and still had the opportunity to retreat, they still planned to fight the beast head-on.
After all, not everyone was like Ning, who sniped from a distance, most of the time his hunt didn't know who hit them before they perished.
Seeing Wei Fa walking alone in front of the beast, the Scarlet Wolf felt the challenge. It was worried about the three of them ganging up on him but was not threatened in one on one fight. The wolf aggressively jumped toward Wei Fa.
Wei Fa, poised and determined, channeled his Qi, assuming a stable horse stance with clenched fists, fully prepared for the wolf's attack. As the wolf lunged, Wei Fa unleashed a powerful punch, accompanied by a resounding "Hiya!"
The force behind the strike propelled the wolf backward, inflicting pain upon impact. However, the resilient spirit beast quickly rose to its feet, benefiting from its natural recovery abilities that surpassed those of humans. Without hesitation, it charged toward Wei Fa once more, its fur radiating a fiery glow, appearing as if it were engulfed in flames. Its speed was impressive.
The whole time, Ning was watching the show, with a notebook in hand.
Once again, Wei Fa assumed the horse stance, readying himself for the incoming attack. However, this time, he missed his punch, and the wolf managed to sink its teeth into his arm. Remarkably, Wei Fa remained composed, wildly swinging his arm to fend off the assault. With a forceful strike, the wolf was sent hurtling, crashing into a nearby tree. This time, it did not immediately rise to its feet.
Finally, Wei Fa seemed to have enough of playing with the wolf, as he finally hit a powerful punch in its head, killing it. Despite the fur seemingly catching fire, it caused only minor burn marks, while the bite left nothing more than small wounds on Wei Fa's arm.
With the scarlet wolf defeated, Wei Fa and his companions continued their mission, encountering a few more spirit beasts, all of which proved to be weaker than the previous encounter. This provided ample opportunity for Ning to gather valuable information.
"Wei Fa: Close combat style, characterized by slow yet powerful movements. Relies on opponents to initiate action. Emphasizes heavy defense and delivers potent attacks. Notably, no weapon usage. Potential weakness: High speed."
Ning meticulously recorded his analysis of Wei Fa's fighting style. Throughout their battles, Wei Fa exhibited minimal movement, allowing the beasts to take the initiative in attack. While his defensive capabilities proved formidable, the only instance in which he sustained an injury was when the scarlet wolf capitalized on its superior speed to bite his arm.
"Seems like I need to focus on improving my speed to overcome this opponent," Ning concluded, noting down the necessary adjustments in his training regimen. As quickly as he had arrived, Ning vanished from the scene, leaving no trace of his presence, as if he had never been there at all.