Genius and Madness Are Separated by a Fine Line, First Meeting with Dugu Yan

It was a special Wolf Bandit over two and a half meters tall, covered in azure fur, with muscles bulging like steel.

Using the wind's power to conceal its presence and body, it only suddenly revealed itself when it launched its attack.

"Whoosh~"

It leaped fiercely, an azure whirlwind gathering around its Sharp Claws as it slashed viciously at Zhu Zhuqing's Back Heart with the force to tear through the air!

"Swish!"

The fierce wind pressed against her back, brimming with killing intent.

Yet Zhu Zhuqing's expression did not change, and she remained completely still.

It was as though she had not noticed at all.

Just as the Sharp Claws were only two meters from her back—

"Swish, swish, swish—!"

Eight sharp Purple Black Spider Spears suddenly shot out from beneath the clothes on her back!

Every Spider Spear was wrapped in Hell Power, their tips gleaming with sharp Purple Black Cold Light.

Hell Pierce!

At that instant, the Eight Spider Lances became eight unstoppable spears of Judgment, completely sealing off every avenue of escape for the azure Wolf Bandit.

The scene made it seem as though the azure Wolf Bandit had sought its own death, voluntarily throwing itself at the Eight Spider Lances.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft—!"

Amid a series of Dull Sounds, the Eight Spider Lances pierced the azure Wolf Bandit's body from eight directions at once.

That robust body, as hard as steel, offered no resistance whatsoever to the Eight Spider Lances' Hell Pierce.

"Drip, drip, drip..."

Cold Light flashed, and blood sprayed everywhere.

When the attack ended, the enormous azure Wolf Bandit leader had already been skewered in midair by the Eight Spider Lances.

"Urgh..."

The azure Wolf Bandit's eyes bulged with rage. Pain and the desire to kill had driven it into a frenzy.

It waved its powerless arms, attempting to drag Zhu Zhuqing down with it.

However...

"Devour."

As Zhu Zhuqing's emotionless voice Sounded, the Eight Spider Lances instantly blossomed with purple radiance and began madly devouring the azure Wolf Bandit.

A great amount of energy flowed from the Wolf Bandit's body through the Eight Spider Lances and into Zhu Zhuqing, becoming nourishment for her growth.

The light in the azure Wolf Bandit's eyes also dissipated at a visible speed.

"Swish!"

The instant that light faded, the Eight Spider Lances suddenly spread apart.

A large amount of shriveled skin and scraps of flesh fell weakly to the ground.

"Buzz~"

A purple soul faintly tinged with Red Light floated out and was sent by the Slaughter Skull into Slaughter Space, where it was given a far from welcoming home.

The battle was completely over.

Zhu Zhuqing slowly turned around and glanced at the Wolf Bandit's mangled remains on the ground, her gaze indifferent.

With Bai Lu's spiritual perception, she had known of that invisible Wolf Bandit from the very beginning.

The reason she had not moved was that she had been waiting for it to deliver itself to her, so she could strike it a fatal blow.

Though the Wolf Bandit had been instantly slain by Zhu Zhuqing, its strength had actually been no weaker than that of an ordinary Soul Ancestor.

"Not bad luck. This azure Wolf Bandit was not very strong yet."

Bai Lu's voice Sounded at just the right moment. "If it had been allowed to fully mature, its strength could have even surpassed that of an ordinary Ten-Thousand Year Soul Beast.

"Ah~"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded and said nothing more.

But when her gaze fell upon the ruined village, she could not help but sigh.

She had ultimately arrived a step too late.

"Return, all of you."

Zhu Zhuqing retracted the Eight Spider Lances into her ribs.

After she released the White Tiger Slaughter Array, the blood-red ripples disappeared, but the ground remained a sea of scarlet.

Looking inward at Slaughter Space, dozens of Wolf Bandits stood quietly within, becoming part of the large family.

It had to be said that perhaps because the slaughter attribute was compatible with Slaughter Space,

this group of Wolf Bandits had actually become the legion with the highest quality and overall strength within Slaughter Space.

"What irony."

A trace of mocking amusement appeared at the Corner of the Mouth of Zhu Zhuqing.

The crazier and more devoted to slaughter a creature was, the higher its quality and strength became after being drawn in by the Slaughter Skull.

Meanwhile, the more ordinary a creature was, even if it had a higher cultivation age, its quality was far lower than imagined!

"Either become mediocre or become mad."

"Geniuses and madmen are always separated by only a fine line. Whether human or Soul Beast, it is the same."

Bai Lu sighed. "Let's go. We're heading to Heaven Dou City."

"Alright."

Zhu Zhuqing coldly swept her gaze over the bloody battlefield and turned to leave.

Just then—

"Hurry! Everyone, prepare for battle!"

A loud shout came from the other side of the village.

"Mm?"

Zhu Zhuqing halted and calmly turned her head toward the sound.

Eight figures were rapidly approaching from nearby.

At their head was a man of around thirty, with resolute features and a steady aura. He was most likely an expert at the Soul King or Soul Emperor level.

Behind him followed five men and two women. They wore matching uniforms and were all young people around sixteen to eighteen years old.

Judging from this lineup, they were most likely students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"What... what exactly happened here?!"

Everyone froze as they looked at the scene, which resembled an Asura Field.

They had been conducting wilderness training and had rushed over immediately after receiving news of the Wolf Bandits.

They had not expected... that they were still too late...

Zhu Zhuqing silently assessed them, her gaze settling on the only two women among them—

One had Blue Hair cascading over her shoulders, her face veiled in black gauze, with empty eyes that revealed loneliness.

The other was tall and slender, with Purple Hair and Jade Green eyes, her graceful figure alluring and ghostly.

"That is..."

As if sensing something, Dugu Yan looked up and happened to see that figure glancing back beneath the setting sun.

Four Eyes Met, and Zhu Zhuqing seemed to see the surprise in Dugu Yan's eyes.

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze, however, remained calm throughout.

She glanced at Dugu Yan, then swept her gaze across the others one by one.

She did not linger or offer any explanation.

Zhu Zhuqing turned, and her figure flashed away, vanishing like Gui Mei into the afterglow of the setting sun.

"Wait!"

Qin Ming wanted to catch up and ask about the situation, but Zhu Zhuqing was too fast. Within a few breaths, she had vanished without a trace.

Yu Tianheng, who was usually steady and composed, asked:

"Teacher, how about you pursue her alone..."

"There's no need."

Qin Ming shook his head. "Although we don't know the exact circumstances, she may have played a part in destroying this Wolf Bandit pack. There is no need to pursue the matter further."

He crouched down and examined the Wolf Bandit corpses and the traces on the ground, his brow immediately furrowing.

"Claw Marks, bite marks, impact marks..."

"No, that's not right! What is all this?!"

"Could another Soul Beast pack have fought with the Wolf Bandits?"

Dugu Yan's Jade Green eyes Looked at the direction where Zhu Zhuqing had disappeared as she said softly:

"That Girl... she looked young, but I feel she was no weaker than us."

"Whoever she is, she is not something we need to consider right now."

Qin Ming took a deep breath. "First, search the village to see whether there are any survivors. Then... return to the academy or Heaven Dou City as soon as possible and report this matter."

Everyone nodded and began to act separately.

Dugu Yan remained where she was, replaying that scene over and over in her mind—

At the moment the mysterious Young Girl looked back, those deep eyes had been cold and tranquil, as though nothing in the world could stir her interest.

"You... who exactly are you?"

Dugu Yan murmured to herself.