Ambush

After saying that, Luo Ze immediately regretted it.

Anyone with even a little common sense knew that although it was summer, the city he lived in was a coastal city. The sea breeze at night was incredibly cool and refreshing; it simply wouldn't be unbearably hot.

In other words, what Luo Ze had just said was nothing but a flimsy excuse.

Luo Ze's face was red not because of the heat, but because...

"Yo, isn't it dangerous for two kids to be heading home this late at night? How about Uncle gives you a ride?" Several hoodlum-looking youths slowly emerged from the shadows.

"Thank you for your kindness, uncles, but our home is just up ahead." Luo Ze watched the youths warily and instinctively took a few steps back.

Coming out of a corner in the dead of night, and in a group no less—they clearly weren't good people.

What was more, Soul Power fluctuations emanated from them. They were very likely the human traffickers Grandfather had told him about!

"Why be so polite with Uncle? Come on over!"

The youths drew closer and closer. They intended to force the two into a corner without surveillance cameras, use Soul Power to knock them unconscious, and take them away.

"Big Brother, we really struck gold this time. Both of these little goods are top quality. If we sell them to another continent, we'll make a fortune!" The yellow-haired youth behind him could no longer suppress the Greed in his eyes and licked his lips.

The four men closed in, gradually forming an encirclement around the two of them.

Luo Ze was not nervous. Instead, he studied the four men as though assessing them, sensing the fluctuations of their Soul Power.

Of the four, two were Soul Masters. One had slightly more Soul Power than him, while the other had the same amount.

"Luo Ze, leave me behind. They're too strong—we're no match for them!" Na'er sensed that Luo Ze had some ability. If he abandoned her, he would definitely be able to escape.

As she said this, Na'er's body was already trembling. She was terrified, yet she still looked at Luo Ze resolutely, unwilling to let him suffer any harm because of her.

"Don't be afraid. They're not my opponents." Luo Ze instinctively held Na'er a little tighter and comforted her softly.

Na'er raised her head in confusion, but when she saw Luo Ze's confident expression, the unease in her heart miraculously calmed.

After reassuring Na'er, Luo Ze's gentle gaze instantly turned cold. He looked at the men with extreme hostility, while a pair of crimson-red eyes slowly opened behind him.

"Yo, couldn't tell you were a Soul Master, kid. What, are you planning to take on four people by yourself like in the dramas?"

The leader sneered at Luo Ze as if he were looking at a clown. Then he released his Giant Bear Martial Soul, accompanied by two soul rings, one white and one yellow.

Seeing this, the other three put away their attacking stances and leaned casually against the nearby utility pole.

"Boss is making his move. Those two little brats are in for a beating!"

"Go easy, Boss. Those little faces are worth a lot of money!"

The market these days placed great value on looks. Pretty children usually sold for twice the price.

No wonder he was so confident. He was a two-ring Soul Grandmaster—considered above average in strength even in Aolai City.

"Scared now, huh? Walk over here obediently, and you might avoid a beating!"

The youth leader slowly approached them. His Giant Bear Martial Soul was exceptionally tough among Beast Martial Souls.

Among Soul Masters of the same rank, he was practically half-invincible. Unless he faced a Three Rings Soul Master with an absolute level advantage, taking him down instantly was simply impossible!

"Oh? You think I'd be afraid?"

Luo Ze's gaze sharpened. His originally brown eyes instantly turned crimson red, while the faint figure behind him gradually revealed its true form.

Roar—

Red Pupil behind Luo Ze let out a low roar. The instant it appeared, an unprecedented suppressive force descended upon the youth leader. It made his heart tremble and caused his Giant Bear Martial Soul to lower its head in terror.

The feeling was like that of a well-behaved child before his parents, not daring to make even the slightest sound.

"Who... who exactly are you?!"

The youth stared at Luo Ze in terror. The overwhelming suppression from a higher being left him utterly unable to move.

"Boss, we'll help you!"

The three had intended to step forward, but a crimson-red ring of light flashed before Luo Ze. Immediately afterward, an unbearable force of suppression descended upon them as well.

It felt like Sun Wukong trapped beneath Buddha Tathagata's Five Finger Mountain. Trying to break free was nothing more than wishful thinking.

But Luo Ze was not finished. Merely suppressing them was far from enough.

Grandfather had told him never to underestimate any enemy before him. Even if they were weaker than him, he had to finish them off promptly and never give them a chance to catch their breath!

What Luo Ze needed to do now was take advantage of his absolute superiority and deal with them.

His first target was naturally their Boss.

At that moment, due to the superior suppression of Luo Ze's Martial Soul, he had become a statue incapable of moving, staring at Luo Ze in terror.

"I—I'll..."

The youth still wanted to spit out a threat to intimidate Luo Ze, but the next second, a powerful fist slammed into his chest. The tremendous impact sent him crashing into the wall behind him. His head struck the wall, and he immediately passed out.

"Next, it's your turn."

Luo Ze set Na'er down behind him and looked kindly at the three men behind him, who were too suppressed to move.

"Y-You! Don't come any closer!"

"Please spare us! We failed to recognize greatness when we saw it—we were wrong! We'll never dare do it again!"

The three huddled together in fear, trembling as they begged Luo Ze for mercy.

"If I let you go, then who will spare the children you kidnapped?!" Luo Ze's eyes flickered, and his voice trembled slightly, as if he were desperately suppressing something.

This was the first time Luo Ze had used the ability granted by his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring—

But at the same time, it inflicted unprecedented damage upon Luo Ze's body. With his current physical condition, he simply could not withstand the backlash brought by the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.

At that moment, Luo Ze's heart felt as though it were being carved by a thousand blades. The intense pain made it impossible for him to focus on dealing with the remaining three.

But just then, a familiar figure rushed over and stopped in front of Luo Ze.

"Little Luo Ze, I finally found you! Hurry, let me see if you're hurt." Wang Mu used Soul Power to examine Luo Ze's body. Only after confirming that he was unharmed did he finally relax.

"Uncle Wang, you came just in time! Not only did they bully me, they even tried to abduct and sell me!"

The moment he saw Wang Mu, Luo Ze seemed to have found a lifeline, and he instantly became aggrieved.

He reported everything that had happened to him just now to Wang Mu in full detail.

Ever since Luo Ze had arrived in Aolai City, aside from Elder Long, Wang Mu was the one closest to him. Over the past month or so, Wang Mu had long treated him like his own child.

Now that he had been wronged, his elder naturally had to get justice for him!

"Oh? Someone actually dared to bully you without knowing their place? Then there's no need for them to remain in Aolai City."

The moment those words were spoken, the three of them instantly felt immensely wronged.

From beginning to end, they had not even laid a hand on him. Who exactly was bullying whom?!

Judging from the current situation, it was obvious that arguing would be useless.

In the end, the three were beaten severely, then taken away by Aolai City's security force and thrown into prison.

"Uncle Wang really is amazing!" Luo Ze stood to the side and gave Wang Mu a huge thumbs-up.

Thud!

His heart pounded violently, and an intense pain surged from his chest, as though countless sharp blades were stabbing into Luo Ze's heart.

His face turned pale as he clutched his chest tightly with both hands, trying to ease the pain. However, the pain did not lessen. Instead, Luo Ze's consciousness grew increasingly hazy.

Before he completely lost consciousness, Luo Ze only saw a silver-white figure sprawled in his arms in unbearable agony...