Some of the boys had already mustered their courage, glaring at Lin Feng in anger.
Lin Feng swept his gaze over the classmates around him, and that calm yet indifferent look made the young boys shiver all over, as if they were being watched by a Demon Beast.
Lin Feng ignored the threatening stares around him—these simple-minded kids had no idea that the goddess in their eyes was frighteningly realistic, realistic enough to be cruel.
This girl was not truly bad at heart, just born into an ordinary family, but her ambitions reached the sky—not someone the average person could control.
Reigning in his thoughts, though he was still puzzled about his rebirth, at such a crucial time, he couldn't afford to dwell on it any longer.
In his previous life, because of the issue with his talent, he hadn't fused with a Demon Spirit, couldn't get into the Nine Elite Colleges, and his journey had been extremely tough.
Although he had survived countless near deaths and finally reached the level of Eighth Grade Martial Artist, he had lost too much, and, with Demon Spirit Masters reigning above Martial Artists, the gap between the two was still enormous.
So, given this opportunity, he had to change his fate no matter what.
Though he had a deep-seated hatred for that young man in White Clothes, being reborn on Awakening Day made Lin Feng marvel—damn, that bastard really knew how to pick a day.
If he missed today, he would surely regret it for the rest of his life.
"Wait, that's not right!"
Just as Lin Feng was feeling grateful for his chance to change fate, his expression suddenly changed.
There was no doubt—that young man in white had the power to control time, and Lin Feng's return to today was entirely his handiwork.
But why did it happen to be today?
Not tomorrow?
Not the day after?
But rather the once-a-year Awakening Day?
Lin Feng couldn't help feeling uneasy and suspicious.
He refused to believe this was just a coincidence!
He didn't believe his luck had suddenly turned either. All his life, luck had never favored him—no resources, no talent. To reach Eighth Grade Martial Artist, he relied solely on hard work and madness.
There was definitely some unknown reason.
Was today's Awakening Day also important to that Demon Beast?
Was that why it had come back?
"Could it be nearby?"
At this thought, Lin Feng's gaze swept coldly around, his sharp eyes brimming with an icy, bone-chilling murderous intent.
All around were his classmates, and on the high platform stood Jiang City's big shots, but there was no sign of the young man in White Clothes.
Demon Beasts are different from humans—they live long lives, and the stronger they are, the longer they live. In just twenty-one years, that young man in White Clothes might look a little younger, but he shouldn't have changed much!
He searched for a long time and still found nothing.
"Brother Feng, what's wrong?"
Gao Hai's voice came through, hesitant and fearful, and Ya Ge was much the same. Clearly, Lin Feng's look had frightened them.
They had never seen Lin Feng show such a terrifying look—it was as if he might devour people alive. It was horrifying!
"It's nothing. I just had a bad dream, my head's still a bit fuzzy."
Lin Feng shook his head, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he had already regained his calm.
Since he couldn't find the young man in White Clothes, Lin Feng didn't dwell on it. There was something more important waiting for him.
Lin Feng looked up toward the high platform. In the afternoon, Guardian Jiang Chu glanced up at the sky. The scorching sun hung high—the sky was as blue as a lake, perfectly still, not even a wisp of cloud in sight.
"Let's begin."
With Jiang Chu's wave, the people waiting on the altar quickly opened the round bottles; fist-sized, colorful Demon Spirits poured out one by one. Looking closely, they appeared like tiny, shapeless Demon Beasts, their faces terrified, trying to escape, yet drawn by a mysterious force. They flew high up into the Blue Moon Divine Artifact.
"The Blue Moon Divine Artifact is starting to work—the show's about to begin."
The crowd instantly became excited, their chatter erupting.
"Bang."
With the boom of a giant explosion, three hundred thousand spectators shuddered, all at once turning to look at Jiang City's tallest building—Zhongyue Mansion.
In the center of Zhongyue Mansion, a massive Light Curtain was broadcasting a video.
Everyone stared fixedly at the scene. The once lively discussion suddenly quieted; the young people, previously sitting cross-legged to maintain their condition, all stood up in unison.
Everyone stood straight, eyes steadfast, faces solemn, left hand pressed over their hearts in respect.
On the Light Curtain, brutal scenes played out in frames.
Figures dressed in military green darted through dense forest, wielding weapons—guns, Battle Sabers, or long swords. They were hunting Demon Beasts, collecting Demon Spirits.
Among them, a middle-aged man gripped a huge cleaver in both hands. His body spun as his eyes shone with a death-defying ferocity.
Around him, three Iron-Scaled Wolves, not very big but covered all over in brown scales, circled and roared, finally pouncing savagely upon him.
"Iron-Scaled Wolves."
Although Iron-Scaled Wolves are only First Grade Demon Beasts, the lowest rank, they are pack animals—dangerously cunning and masterful at attacking in groups.
Even an average Martial Artist faces great danger dealing with them.
"Ah…"
In the midst of screams, the middle-aged man's left arm was bitten by an Iron-Scaled Wolf. As flesh tore and bone showed, the agony didn't make him falter; he let out a furious roar, eyes red as blood, ignoring the Iron-Scaled Wolf hanging from his left arm, swinging both hands to hack down another one rushing at him. As the Iron-Scaled Wolf died, a pale yellow Light Shadow rose from its head—a Demon Spirit of the Iron-Scaled Wolf.
The Demon Spirit tried to flee the moment it appeared, but was quickly captured and stuffed into a transparent bottle. That person then turned to rescue the middle-aged man.
By then, the middle-aged man's left arm was utterly shredded, blood gushing from the severed limb. His right leg was also bitten by another Iron-Scaled Wolf. The fight grew ever more brutal—mangled limbs and agonized screams revealed on the Light Curtain with no censorship.
This was no movie—it was a live broadcast, brutally real.
Even the playful, mischievous children could feel the gravity of the moment. Some shivered all over, some openly cried, shutting their eyes tight, unable to keep watching.
And this was just one scene from the Light Curtain. It played for nearly half an hour. There was no commentary, no music, yet everyone felt the true brutality.
More importantly, the students on-site realized—the Demon Spirits they would Refinement today were purchased by the lives of countless soldiers.
"Everything for humanity!"
Up on the high platform, the middle-aged man—Jiang City's Guardian—spoke softly.
His voice wasn't loud, as if it might be blown away by the wind, yet it rang unmistakably clear in everyone's ears.
"For humanity!"
Suddenly, the whole crowd erupted in a frenzied roar.
The shout spread instantly across the city. Everyone—at work, at school, or watching on TV—stood upright and pressed their left hand over their heart, shouting.
Even Lin Feng was no exception.
Those words, 'for humanity', were too vast, but soldiers sacrificing for their nation were worthy of respect.
Because, no matter the era, soldiers are always the ones on the frontline.
The hunt for Demon Spirits pressed on, undeterred by injury or death. The army advanced in an arc from the heart of the forest outward, forcing Demon Beasts out toward the forest's edge, and ultimately, their destination—Jiang City.
As the Demon Beasts surged like waves, everyone present grew tense—the real hunt was only just beginning.
Not long after, the previously clear sky suddenly grew dark.
"Awoooo...."
"Rooooarr...…."
The ear-splitting howls echoed through Jiang City.
"The Demon Spirits are attacking the city!"
With a shriek of alarm, it was as though the world's end had come to everyone's eyes.
Monstrous birds of all colors, covered in feathers or scales, beat their wings and flew at Jiang City in swarms. There were so many that they blocked out the sun, covering the entire sky.
At the same time, the ground shook violently—even at a distance, Lin Feng could feel it clearly. The glass in high-rises rattled, some panes shattering and falling, but with everyone gathered at the plaza, no one got hurt.
Right now, every face was red with excitement, as the screen showed a teeming, sky-darkening horde of Demon Beasts surging at Jiang City.
Driven by the soldiers' hunt, these Demon Beasts had finally been forced outside Jiang City.
What came next was the blood-boiling, most thrilling battle of all.