"Interesting, but that still won't save you."
A trace of surprise flashed through the White Fox's eyes, but it quickly returned to its disdainful expression.
It waved both claws, and black baleful energy surged toward the barrier like a tide, trying to break through it.
The barrier trembled violently under the White Fox's attacks, its light flickering erratically.
Lin Yu maintained the talisman's power with all his might, beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his forehead.
He knew that once the talisman's power was exhausted, they would all lose their lives.
Meanwhile, amid the ruins, Zhou Ruixue and the others were also struggling to get back on their feet.
Although they were all seriously injured, they endured the pain and prepared to make their final stand against the White Fox.
"Everyone, don't give up! We can definitely hold out until reinforcements arrive!"
Zhou Ruixue shouted loudly, encouraging her companions.
The Fox Demon continued bombarding the barrier with its attacks.
Fortunately, its strength had been knocked down, leaving it with only peak Evil-level power—in other words, the power of the Blood Condensation Realm.
After attacking for quite some time, the barrier remained completely unmoved.
The Fox Demon was beside itself with rage.
Suddenly, it turned its head toward the collapsed civilian houses.
A wicked smile appeared at the corner of its mouth.
It dashed into the ruins and quickly carried out a baby.
The baby was bawling loudly.
"Do you really think hiding inside your tortoise shell will keep you safe?!"
"Are you going to save this child or not?"
When Zhou Ruixue and the others saw the baby in the Fox Demon's hands, their faces instantly turned horribly grim.
Lin Yu's eyes were red as he glared furiously at the Fox Demon.
"You despicable beast, let that child go!"
Lin Yu roared. The talisman in his hand flickered with light, and the spiritual energy barrier trembled faintly in response to his emotional fluctuation.
"Hmph, you want me to let the child go? Then obediently come out of the barrier and await death. Otherwise..."
As the Fox Demon spoke, it extended a sharp claw and lightly rested it against the baby's tender neck.
With the slightest exertion, it could take the child's life.
Zhou Ruixue was frantic with worry. She knew full well how vicious the Fox Demon's intentions were.
The moment they stepped outside the barrier, they would surely be walking into a dead end.
But how could she bear to watch helplessly as an innocent baby faced death in the Fox Demon's hands?
"Lin Yu, you can't go out! This is the Fox Demon's scheme!"
Zhou Ruixue spoke while forcing down the pain in her heart.
Lin Yu gritted his teeth, struggling inwardly.
He knew Zhou Ruixue was right, but the baby's cries were like blades stabbing into his heart.
"Well?! Are you coming out or not?"
"Hm?!"
As the Fox Demon spoke, it pressed down with its fingertip, slicing through the baby's skin and drawing bright-red blood.
The Fox Demon extended the tip of its tongue and licked it.
An intoxicated expression appeared on its face.
"Ah, as expected of a newborn. Blood this fresh is truly delicious!"
Lin Yu's eyes nearly split with rage.
In the end, he put away the talisman, and the barrier immediately vanished.
"Fox Demon, put the child down!"
"Hehehe... As expected, human emotions are just like this."
The Fox Demon narrowed its eyes slightly. Combined with its fox's head, the sight was all the more bizarre.
"Lin Yu, don't! Open the barrier quickly! I don't want to die!"
"A baby isn't worth throwing our lives away to save."
At that moment, Li Yao rushed over, grabbed Lin Yu by the hand, and shouted hysterically.
Lin Yu angrily shook off Li Yao's hand.
"Li Yao, what kind of thing is that to say? That's an innocent life!"
Zhou Ruixue also stepped forward and looked solemnly at Li Yao.
"Li Yao, as reserve warriors of the Demon Suppressing Division, protecting the common people is our duty. How can we stand by and watch someone die?"
Li Yao still wanted to say something, but the furious looks from the other companions forced the words back down his throat.
At that moment, the Fox Demon looked at everyone, its eyes filled with mockery.
"Since you've all come out, then you can all die!"
The Fox Demon's expression hardened.
It opened its jaws wide and prepared to swallow the baby in one bite.
"Don't!"
Lin Yu shouted and charged toward the Fox Demon at full speed.
The next moment, a figure was even faster than him.
As a flash of saber light streaked past, everyone stopped in their tracks.
Accompanied by a shrill scream,
the Fox Demon's two claws fell straight to the ground.
A figure was holding the baby and soothing it.
"There, there. Don't cry, good baby."
"Qin Bo?!"
Zhou Ruixue cried out in delight.
Qin Bo smiled as he soothed the baby, then held it in his arms.
In his other hand, he gripped a butcher's knife.
He had already been fighting his way through the strange creatures along the road when he suddenly sensed an enormous force.
That was why he had hurried over, arriving just in time to see Lin Yu withdraw the energy barrier.
Although he did not agree with what Lin Yu had done, their spirit was worthy of praise.
Thus, at the critical moment, he saved the baby.
At that moment, both of the Fox Demon's claws had been severed at the wrists. Black blood gushed out as it grimaced in pain, its eyes filled with venom as it glared at Qin Bo.
"You... You dared to hurt me! I'll kill you!"
The Fox Demon roared. Baleful energy rapidly gathered, and its severed claws regenerated. Several black baleful blades shot toward Qin Bo.
Qin Bo remained calm. His butcher's knife moved swiftly, blocking the baleful blades one after another.
"With you in your current state, you still think you can hurt me?"
Qin Bo let out a cold laugh. His figure flashed, and he charged toward the Fox Demon like a specter.
When the Fox Demon saw this, its heart jolted. It tried to retreat and dodge, only to discover that Qin Bo was too fast. There was no time.
Qin Bo raised the butcher's knife high. A saber ray containing powerful qi and blood slashed toward the Fox Demon.
The Fox Demon poured all its strength into condensing a massive claw mark and grabbed at Qin Bo.
"Boom!"
The butcher's knife surged forward without pause, cleaving straight through the fox claw.
The Fox Demon's desperate strike was effortlessly neutralized by Qin Bo. Extreme fear and unwillingness appeared in its eyes.
Before the Fox Demon could make another move, Qin Bo followed through and closed in.
Qi and blood flooded into the butcher's knife. With lightning speed, he brought down another vicious slash.
This strike contained Qin Bo's immense strength and directly severed one of the Fox Demon's hind legs.
The Fox Demon let out a miserable howl, collapsing to the ground as its aura rapidly weakened.
But just as everyone thought the battle was about to end, light suddenly flashed around the Fox Demon, and it transformed into a wisp of black smoke and vanished.
"It got away!"
Lin Yu said regretfully.
Qin Bo furrowed his brows, handed the baby to him, and turned to chase in the direction the Fox Demon had fled.
"Heitan!"
As he ran, Qin Bo called out once.
In the darkness, a glossy-black shadow swiftly leaped onto Qin Bo's shoulder.
The two of them chased after it together.
Qin Bo had already discovered Heitan's abilities: extraordinary speed and keen perception, allowing it to track all kinds of auras.
At that moment, Heitan stood on Qin Bo's shoulder, its nose twitching faintly as it locked onto the direction in which the Fox Demon had fled.
Following Heitan's guidance, Qin Bo sped through the tangled streets and lanes of Yunzhou City.
As he raced past, the buildings along the way left behind only blurred afterimages.
Before you continue