Ambush of the Exotic Races

A month of intensive training passed in the blink of an eye.

Fang Yan and the other three had all made qualitative leaps in their strength. Fang Yan's Profound Ice Force had stabilized at the second layer, and his Ice Thorn was honed to perfection. His Blood Essence had even reached 5.5, just one step away from the late stage of Martial Master. Chu Feng had successfully broken through to the mid-stage of Martial Master, while Lin Mengyao and Li Hao had both touched the threshold of the mid-stage.

The day they departed for Donghai City, the venue for the national competition, was bright and sunny.

The four of them took the school's special car, personally escorted by Su Wan. The atmosphere in the car was relaxed. Chu Feng was excitedly planning where they would go to play after the competition, while Li Hao was meditating with his eyes closed, refining his internal energy. Lin Mengyao looked at the rapidly passing scenery outside the window, occasionally exchanging cultivation insights with Fang Yan.

Su Wan sat in the passenger seat, but her eyes were constantly scanning their surroundings with vigilance. She felt a sense of unease, as if a pair of eyes were secretly watching them.

"Teacher Su, what's wrong?" Fang Yan noticed Su Wan's unusual behavior and asked.

Su Wan turned her head and forced a smile. "It's nothing, maybe I'm just too nervous. The national competition is approaching, you must all remain vigilant and not let your guard down."

Just then, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, the car emitting a piercing screech as it stopped by the roadside.

"What's going on?" Su Wan asked sternly.

The driver's face was pale, and he pointed forward. "Teacher Su, look!"

The group followed the driver's gaze and saw that the road ahead was blocked by a fallen tree. Even more unsettling, in the woods on both sides of the road, more than a dozen dark figures could be vaguely seen.

These figures were tall, with dark purple skin and sharp horns on their heads. Their eyes were fierce, and they exuded a strong scent of blood.

"Exotic Races!" Su Wan's face changed drastically. "It's the Dark Demon Race! What are they doing here?"

The Dark Demon Race were sworn enemies of humanity, living on the other side of the dimensional rift. They occasionally invaded the human world, burning, killing, and looting. Their strength was generally very high, and they were extremely cruel.

"This is bad, we've been ambushed!" Chu Feng gripped the long sword in his hand, his expression grave.

More than a dozen Dark Demon Race warriors emerged from the woods. Leading them was an exceptionally tall demon, with three eyes on his forehead and an aura that reached the terrifying early stage of Great Martial Master!

"Little human brats, surrender obediently!" the leading demon sneered, his voice hoarse and unpleasant. "We are under orders from our lord to capture you so-called geniuses and refine you into Blood Pills!"

"Dream on!" Su Wan stood up, blocking in front of the four. "If you want to hurt them, you'll have to get past me first!"

She circulated her internal energy, and a powerful aura erupted from her body. She was also an early-stage Great Martial Master!

"Oh? Another worthy opponent." A hint of surprise flashed in the leading demon's eyes, followed by a cruel smile. "However, you alone are not enough! Brothers, attack! Take them all down!"

At the leading demon's command, more than a dozen Dark Demon Race warriors immediately charged towards the group.

"You guys get back in the car and leave through the back!" Su Wan shouted, leading the charge. A long sword appeared in her hand, and with a flash of light, she thrust it at the foremost demon warrior.

"Teacher Su!" Fang Yan and the other three shouted in unison. How could they abandon Su Wan and flee?

"Don't worry about me, your safety is the most important thing!" Su Wan shouted as she fought. "The national competition still needs you!"

Fang Yan's eyes sharpened, knowing that this was not the time to hesitate. He said to Chu Feng, Lin Mengyao, and Li Hao, "We can't abandon Teacher Su! Chu Feng, you and Lin Mengyao take the left side, Li Hao, you take the right side, and I'll support Teacher Su in the middle!"

"Okay!" The three responded in unison.

The four immediately separated and charged towards the Dark Demon Race warriors.

Fang Yan held the Ink Ice Spear, circulated his Profound Ice True Qi, and thrust out. The Profound Ice True Qi transformed into an ice shard, instantly piercing the chest of a demon warrior. The demon warrior let out a scream, his body was instantly frozen, and then shattered into countless pieces.

Chu Feng's Blazing Sword Technique was astonishingly powerful. The flames on his long sword were like fire dragons, and each strike could severely wound a demon warrior.

Lin Mengyao's Flowing Water Sword Technique was agile and graceful. She weaved through the battlefield like a butterfly, and wherever her sword passed, demon warriors were wounded.

Li Hao's speed was extremely fast. He used Gale Step to its extreme, like a phantom. His Thunderclap Sword Technique was even more fierce, each sword strike carrying sparks of electricity, catching the demon warriors off guard.

However, the Dark Demon Race warriors were too numerous, and their strength was not weak. The weakest among them had the strength of an early-stage Martial Master. Although the four resisted with all their might, they soon fell into a predicament.

Su Wan was also having a difficult time. Although she was an early-stage Great Martial Master, the leading demon was equally powerful, and several late-stage Martial Master demon warriors were assisting him. She gradually fell into a disadvantage, and several wounds had already appeared on her body.

"Pfft!"

A demon warrior seized an opening from Chu Feng and clawed at his shoulder, instantly dyeing his clothes red with blood.

"Chu Feng!" Fang Yan shouted, wanting to go to his aid, but he was entangled by two demon warriors and could not break free.

"I'm fine!" Chu Feng gritted his teeth, enduring the searing pain, and slashed down his sword, felling the demon warrior who had ambushed him.

At this moment, the leading demon seized an opportunity and struck Su Wan's back with a palm.

"Ah!"

Su Wan let out a scream, spat out a mouthful of blood, and her body slumped softly to the ground.

"Teacher Su!"

The four's eyes were wide with rage and anxiety.

"Hahaha, with your leader gone, you little brats can just wait to be captured!" the leading demon roared with laughter. "Attack, capture them all alive!"

More than a dozen Dark Demon Race warriors charged at the four again, their attacks even more ferocious.

Fang Yan looked at the fallen Su Wan, then at his injured teammates beside him, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. He took a deep breath, pouring all the internal energy in his body into the Ink Ice Spear. At the same time, his Blood Essence began to burn wildly.

"Ice Dragon Roar - Profound Ice Version!"

"Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger - Profound Ice!"

Fang Yan simultaneously unleashed his two strongest moves. A massive ice dragon phantom roared out, and at the same time, countless ice-blue finger energies shot towards the demon warriors.

"This is bad!" The leading demon's face changed drastically. He hadn't expected Fang Yan to unleash such a powerful force.

The ice dragon phantom and the ice-blue finger energies struck the demon warriors simultaneously. More than a dozen demon warriors were instantly frozen and then shattered. Although the leading demon managed to dodge the attack in time, he was still forced back by the residual shockwave, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"How is this possible? A human at the middle stage of Martial Master, possessing such strength!" the demon leader exclaimed, staring at Fang Yan in disbelief.

Fang Yan's body swayed, almost causing him to fall. That last strike had nearly depleted all his internal energy and Blood Essence, leaving his face as pale as paper.

"Let's go!" Fang Yan shouted to Chu Feng, Lin Mengyao, and Li Hao.

The three immediately helped the injured Su Wan up and ran towards the back of the car.

The demon leader watched the four flee, his eyes filled with unwillingness. However, he too was injured, and the power Fang Yan had unleashed instilled a sense of caution, preventing him from rashly pursuing them.

"Damn it! You're lucky this time!" the demon leader said fiercely. "Let's go!"

The remaining demon warriors dared not linger and disappeared into the woods with their leader.

Fang Yan and the other three helped Su Wan into the back seat of the car. The driver, already terrified out of his wits, saw them get in and immediately sped away in the opposite direction.

Inside the car, the atmosphere was heavy. Su Wan lay in Fang Yan's arms, her breathing weak and her face pale. Chu Feng, Lin Mengyao, and Li Hao were also injured to varying degrees, their bodies stained with blood.

"Teacher Su, how are you?" Fang Yan asked anxiously, taking out a healing pill and feeding it to Su Wan.

After taking the pill, Su Wan's condition stabilized slightly. She opened her eyes, looked at the four of them, and said weakly, "I'm sorry, I failed to protect you... The National Competition, I'm afraid..."

"Teacher Su, don't talk, just rest," Fang Yan interrupted. "We will definitely go to the National Competition, and we will also get revenge for what happened today!"

Chu Feng, Lin Mengyao, and Li Hao nodded as well, their eyes filled with determination.

The car sped along, heading towards Kyoto. Fang Yan looked out the window, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes.

Dark Demon Race, we will settle this score sooner or later!