9: Chapter 9 Crisis! The Wolf Pack
"Professor Li, I feel like this forest is different from before. It seems like the plants here have been growing rapidly in such a short time..."
Deep in the mountains, the forest was not only rarely visited by people, but the surrounding trees were clearly much thicker and sturdier than those on the outskirts!
Professor Li reached out to stroke a rugged tree beside him, his eyes deep in thought. After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"Hmm... You're right. This forest has indeed experienced rapid growth in a short time. Look at the cracks in the ground at the base of the trees; these fissures are evidence of the trees' roots growing wildly and their trunks expanding."
"Ah?! You're right!" the student who raised the question exclaimed. "Then, Professor Li, what is the reason for this rapid growth in the forest?"
"It might not just be this forest growing rapidly; it's possible that forests in all the mountains across the world are surging in growth!"
Professor Li's sudden statement made everyone widen their eyes in disbelief!
Professor Li had expected their shocked reaction, as this news had not yet been made public to ordinary people; only government departments and experts in their academic field knew about it.
However, having come to this deep, remote forest, he knew this news would soon be known by everyone in the world.
"It's probably because of the spiritual energy contained in the air..."
"Still the reason of spiritual energy... It's truly incredible..."
"But why can't spiritual energy affect us humans? Animals in nature, and even plants, are now able to enjoy the blessings of spiritual energy!"
"Heh! That's because we humans haven't discovered the method for immortal cultivation yet. Once immortal cultivation becomes a reality, I, Wang Teng, will definitely be able to ascend to immortality and suppress all enemies in the world!"
"My son Wang Teng has the potential of a Great Emperor!"
"Zhang Xiaofei, you're asking for a beating!"
Professor Li looked at the students joking around and shook his head with a smile.
"Why spiritual energy cannot affect us humans is a question that has also been troubling the upper echelons of various countries. However, everyone, don't panic. These animals just have slightly more active and developed brains, and their bodies have changed a bit; for now, they won't pose a danger to us humans..."
Everyone felt slightly more at ease.
"That's good..."
"Woof, woof, woof!!!"
A burst of intense barking interrupted their progress!
Dahei, the husky, who had been following the group silently, suddenly rushed to the front of the team, arched its back, and barked fiercely at a patch of shrubbery directly ahead.
"What's wrong, Dahei?"
Li Minmin reached out her small hand to stroke Dahei, who was barking non-stop in place, feeling a bit confused.
Seeing Dahei with its fur standing on end, could there be danger?
Just as this thought crossed everyone's minds, a strange sound came from the shrubbery the next second!
"Rustle, rustle, rustle!"
"Everyone, be careful! There might be danger!" Professor Li called out in a deep voice from within the group.
As a series of crackling sounds rang out, everyone immediately retreated.
After the shrubbery that Dahei was barking at shook for a moment, a small animal emerged.
"Is this a puppy? Strange, how could there be a puppy in the mountains?"
"Wow! What a cute puppy..."
"Don't go over there! That's a wolf cub!"
Someone shouted, stopping the girl who wanted to go forward.
Everyone looked closely and saw the sharpness revealed in its grey fur, especially its eyes, which were full of wildness.
They were all students majoring in Environmental and Nature Conservation, so they instantly knew this was a wolf cub!
Everyone's hearts trembled involuntarily, their bodies grew cold, and a chill went straight to the top of their heads!
Because they all knew how terrifying it was to encounter a wolf cub in the wild!
The reason was simple... wolf cubs do not travel alone!
"Woof, woof, woof!!!"
Dahei barked fiercely again, its barking revealing panic. Its trembling muzzle bared its fangs as it issued a warning bark toward the shrubbery where the wolf cub had appeared!
But its body was trembling continuously, as if something terrifying was approaching!
"Awoo!"
Accompanied by a heart-wrenching and terrifying wolf howl, pairs of eerie green eyes appeared from the shrubbery, and grey, sleek wolves appeared before everyone's eyes.
Seeing the packs of grey wolves with their direct, bloodthirsty, and wild gazes, and drool dripping onto the ground, many people turned pale as a sheet, their faces drained of color, and some timid girls even sat directly on the ground.
"These are grey wolves! How could large wolves appear here?"
"I've never heard of wolves in the outskirts of Jianghai City!?"
But clearly, now was not the time to think about such things...
"Get up... don't panic, everyone slowly back away. Remember! You must not run away on your own!"
"If the wolf pack lunges later... we men will rush up to hold them back, while the women run back with all their might! Remember! Only ensure the safety of others if you can guarantee your own life..."
While slowly retreating, Professor Li whispered in a deep voice with a solemn expression.
Although there was some panic in the eyes of all the boys in the group, they still nodded.
They were students of the Environmental and Nature Conservation major and knew a lot about these grey wolf packs living in the wild; if they ran away quickly, not one of them would leave alive.
Only if the physically stronger boys delayed the wolf pack would the girls have a glimmer of hope of escaping alive...
Just as many of the boys' eyes were filled with panic and struggle, and the wolf pack was closing in step by step, what made people despair was...
More than twenty large grey wolves leaped out from the nearby shrubbery in succession!
This was a huge wolf pack!
Moreover, each of the grey wolves was over a meter long, baring their fangs, with gleaming tusks. A heaven-shaking murderous aura made everything around them solemn and silent; the forest was quiet, with only the rapid breathing of the group being particularly noticeable.
The wolf pack, which had been gradually creeping closer, suddenly changed its formation. Two side-by-side rows parted, and a majestic, over-a-meter-long wolf walked out from behind the pack!
The two rows of grey wolves bowed their heads and pressed them to the ground in awe toward the extra-large grey wolf.
This was the Wolf King, which usually hid behind the pack to command the fighting and hunting, but now it had actually appeared in front of them...
Then there was only one answer: the Wolf King viewed the group of prey in front of it as a non-threatening target!
Opposite them, Professor Li and his group looked at the Wolf King and the twenty-plus grey wolves, having long since lost all hope, their eyes unfocused and filled with fear...
They could not escape; today they would definitely die in the wolf pack's hunt.
The Wolf King stuck out its tongue and slowly licked its lips, as if selecting snacks before a meal. Its cunning wolf eyes, filled with wildness and cruelty, swept across the crowd...
It nodded with satisfaction; these prey were enough for their wolf pack to have a hearty meal.
"Awoo..."
Just as it opened its mouth to issue the order to attack, it froze, its expression showing a hint of bewilderment, for a black member of its own kind had appeared before it.
"Woof, woof, woof..."
But this barking... why was it so unique?