Seeing that the expected chaos wasn't happening on the platform, everyone's eyes narrowed with caution.

  On the path having only two people, a man with braids muttered to himself, something calculating flickering in his eyes.

  "They all seemed to be together."

  The lady in Red, opposite him replied.

  "Let's have each other's back, we can't trust those from the other side"

  The man didn't spare her a glance. "I know that." He replied curtly.

  "So?" She asked.

  "You think I'll trust you too?" He gave her a fleeting glance before continuing. "women that wears Red are the most venomous, hmph "

  He snorted and ran faster, overtaking her.

  The lady's face turned cold, glaring at his back in spite. "Bastard!, I'll kill you first." She muttered.

  -----

  I can't fight in my state.

  He thought as the Velkharra Space tab flickered open.

  2 Slave pet available:

  Alpha, Cradle Cry.

  Two tiny image popped up. The Wolf and the black baby.

  Alpha.

  Realm: Spirit beast

  Stage: Peak Stage

  Status: Peak condition

  Remark: Growing.

  Cradle Cry.

  Realm: Spirit beast.

  Stage: Mid stage

  Status: Peak condition

  Remark: Integrating.

  What's the remark about?

  He asked the system.

  Ding!

  Alpha has integrated with Velkharra, Cradle Cry is in integration phase.

  You didn't tell me that too, why the fuck do you keep things from me?, I can't count how many times your dumb ass almost got me killed.

  He berated angrily in his mind.

  Silence.

  Yeah, go silent, I know you've always been a bitch!

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  He almost cursed out, but kept it in, the least he'd want to do is lose control.

  He looked at the two beast's image for a beat.

  That black bitch is just a Spirit beast, akin to an essence core realm, but it's soul's ability is an overkill.

  Alpha is at Peak Stage, good.

  Both will do.

  He thought.

  The inevitable finally began.

  Phrrooooom! Phrrooooom! Phrrooooom!

  The Red film hummed continuously as people entered from all around, surrounding him in seconds.

  Tension crackled menacingly in the air, Killing Intent pressing down on him from all sides.

  The system didn't stop dinging.

  Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

  The girl and the unholy cultivators also stood up.

  The only empty space was the one used by Seer earlier.

  Jin Yu didn't open his eyes, his sight was focused on his rising influence points.

  Influence points: 360,000.....380,000......390,000

  The air became heavier, hostility rippled unceasingly, tension thick enough to taste lingered in the air.

  But the one in the middle of the storm still didn't open his eyes.

  That alone caused the silence to stretch impossibly far.

  A faint unease rippled in everyone's heart, screaming caution.

  But the promise of reward was enough to overshadow any lingering fear or hesitation in their heart.

  For a moment, they communicated with their eyes.

  Until, one lost patience her patience.

  And that set off a chain of reaction.

  BOOM!.

  Their instant burst of movement created a Sonic wave in the air.

  Weapons glinted maliciously, various types of Qi rippled violently in the air, all aimed at one man, each strike deadly, aimed to miam, meant to destroy.

  But they were a step too late.

  Before they could even get close.

  GROOOOOWL!

  A deep, guttural sound thundered on the platform.

  Every sprint, every strike, came to a halt.

  Everyone's eyes widened.

  A massive Wolf appeared before them.

  Its towering form looming over them dominantly.

  It was lean, but packed with tight, sinewy muscle. Each step landed with a subtle thud, like a silent drum announcing its presence.

  Its movement was graceful, almost feline in its predatory elegance.

  It looked calm, yet brimmed with coiled violence. A single twitch, and it would pounce.

  Its cold, piercing, emerald green eyes locked onto them with unsettling intensity.

  They all took a step back, gazing up at it in fear.

  But It wasn't the unmistakable clarity in it's eyes that scared them, No.

  The beast was just a Spirit beast and any of them could take it out with enough effort.

  But the Aura emanating from it was something that struck fear at the depth of their heart.

  A Red miasma was billowing from it's body eminently, and it's the source of that dreadful aura.

  An aura of Desolation, Purgatory and Anguish.

  If it had a scent, it would be called madness, despair and rage.

  Jin Yu's eyes flickered open, wide with surprise.

  That....

  His mind buffered.

  ...Where have I seen that before?

  He racked his brain but nothing came up.

  I have definitely seen that before, but where?

  He thought as he closed his eyes back.

  The Red miasma seemed to be affecting him more than others.

  A crimson hue took over his eyes the moment he saw it.

  -----

  In a Red blee room, a man in black stood in front of a Red film displaying the platform, he stared intently at it, eyes widen in shock.

  His lips were trembling uncontrollably as his eyes were fixed on the Wolf, or accurately, the Red miasma.

  That!....

  "Impossible, impossible" He muttered in disbelief, shaking his head repeatedly. His form dimmed slightly from his unstable aura.

  "That's just a phony, yes, an imitation" he reassured himself even though he barely believed it.

  Then He looked at Jin Yu, still sitting crossed leg, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

  He can't leave here alive.

  He thought to himself.

  -----

  On the platform, Alpha shook its head side to side, its thick mane lashing like whips through the air.

  Then, it crouched slightly, shoulders coiled, muscles tense, claws digging into the rock beneath.

  All eyes locked onto it. Every cultivator shifted into stance, tension crackling in the air.

  BOOM!

  Alpha lunged.

  A Red blur streaked forward, feral and explosive, grace wrapped in raw, deadly power.

  A cultivator threw himself sideways, barely avoiding the savage swipe

  BAM!

  The ground where he’d stood shuddered with a deep, sonorous crack as Alpha’s claws tore through stone.

  Without a word, the cultivators moved in perfect formation, Splitting into two groups.

  The young girl, a green robed lady and the woman of the two unholy cultivators encircled the wolf, while the others surrounded Jin Yu.

  Alpha made to turn back toward Jin Yu, but he stopped it with a mental command.

  The beast didn’t hesitate.

  With a thunderous snarl, it launched itself at the nearest person.

  No one faltered, they countered it head-on.

  The other group didn’t hesitate either, they closed in on Jin Yu from all sides.

  A bald cultivator swept an halberd at his neck.

  The Red robed lady thrust a flaming spear toward his chest.

  Blades coated in poisonous light flew out from the unholy cultivator, aimed for Jin Yu's joints: elbows, knees, and ankles, looking to maim or cripple.

  An old man in tattered black launched chains of thunder at his spine, each one crackling with volatile energy.

  Two green robed ladies formed a jagged wind blade and hurled it at his eyes.

  The man with braids leapt overhead, blade reversed for a downward strike.

  And behind them all, a young man, robed in blue, stood still, a talisman glowing in his palm.

  Everyone struck.

  Each strike precise.

  Each intent fatal.

  But Jin Yu was still sitting.

  His eyes still closed.