At the word "Kill," the Hunting Group's knights followed Ban Shu and charged into the Wolf Bandit horde.
"Everyone, we can't let them outdo us! Let's go!"
Two knight squad leaders summoned their Martial Souls: one a greatsword as tall as a man, the other a metal shield. Their Soul Power was around level twenty.
Like Ban Shu, they charged at the very front, holding back the Wolf Bandits' onslaught.
The Wolf Bandits were thrown into confusion by the sudden battle. Some even turned to flee on instinct, while others tried to fight, only to be sent flying by a single strike from Ban Shu.
Just then, a wolf's howl rang out. The disorganized Wolf Bandit horde immediately fell into formation and charged at Ban Shu and the others.
But behind them, a shout of battle cries suddenly erupted from where the villagers were being held. Yue Guan and the others had made their move.
"Everyone, hold the line! Give Bishop Yue Guan more time to rescue them!"
Ban Shu roared at the others.
"Yes!"
The knights formed up and cut down the Wolf Bandits charging at them one by one, while Ban Shu turned into a living meat grinder and plunged into the horde.
"First Soul Skill, Thunder Demon!"
Endless-looking bolts of lightning burst from Ban Shu. Any Wolf Bandit that came near him was instantly blasted away, its fur scorched black.
"You beasts aren't fit to be my opponents!"
With a furious shout, Ban Shu held the Painted Halberd horizontally and swung it like a paddle, batting away every Wolf Bandit that leaped at him.
"Explode!"
At Ban Shu's words, the Wolf Bandits he had sent flying screamed and whimpered. Lightning then spilled from the places where they had been struck, before they exploded with a thunderous boom.
Wolf Bandit blood painted the road red, and chunks of the ones blown apart even stuck to their companions.
Yet this horde of Wolf Bandits showed not the slightest fear. Instead, their eyes gradually turned bloodshot, saliva dripping from their mouths as they grew even more frenzied.
"Roar!"
It wasn't just that Wolf Bandit roaring. The others howled in unison and lunged at Ban Shu, looking as if they meant to tear him to pieces.
"Just what I wanted!"
Ban Shu was nothing like he was during his usual practice. Influenced by his fury and the underlying instincts of Divine Steed Ban, he had grown somewhat crazed.
"Second Soul Skill, God-Demon Body!"
"From this moment on, I alone rule the battlefield!"
Ban Shu swung the Painted Halberd and charged at the Wolf Bandits, laughing loudly. "You lowly insects think you can kill me? You're asking for death!"
"Good lad!"
Watching Ban Shu fight from the sidelines, Li Yan nodded in satisfaction. Just as expected of a student he had trained—Ban Shu had become a warrior who could stand on his own.
"Indeed. This lad's nothing like his usual giggling self right now."
Li Yan watched Ban Shu laugh as he slaughtered Wolf Bandits, and couldn't help feeling worried. He feared Ban Shu might lose control and ruin his cultivation.
"I'll check on him after the battle. I can't let such a promising talent go to ruin."
Li Yan made up his mind. He had to guide Ban Shu properly and keep him from falling into depravity.
While Ban Shu led the second and third squads in a sweeping slaughter, the first and second squads, personally led by Yue Guan, had also begun their operation.
The instant Yue Guan shouted "Kill," he had already taken aim at the Wolf Bandits holding the villagers captive and launched a fierce attack.
"Sixth Soul Skill: A Garden of Golden Chrysanthemums, Among Them a Frost-Colored Cluster!"
Yue Guan went all out from the start, intent on rescuing the civilians as quickly as possible.
Countless chrysanthemum petals slowly detached from their flowers, turning into innumerable tiny golden threads that shot forth like arrows loosed from a bow.
Golden streaks flashed. Countless Wolf Bandits were pierced through the head and fell to the ground, dead with their eyes wide open.
"Move!"
A squad leader waved his hand and rushed forward to rescue the civilians, leading the charge.
"Hurry, hurry!"
Yue Guan urged them on while using the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in his hand to kill each Wolf Bandit that rushed in to stop them.
Unfortunately, there were too many captured villagers, while the squad numbered only a few dozen. The rescue was still moving too slowly.
"First Soul Skill, Death Pierce!"
Just then, Bibi Dong arrived with the fifth squad. The Death Spider Emperor sprayed countless poisonous needles from its mouth, and the Wolf Bandits died the moment the needles touched them.
"What are you doing here?"
Yue Guan was a little surprised.
"Elder Yue Guan, Ban Shu and the others have drawn most of the Wolf Bandits away by holding the front line. The few that slip through can be handled by just a handful of us, so I brought most of the fifth squad over."
As she answered, Bibi Dong joined Yue Guan in holding back the Wolf Bandits.
"I see. But it's good you're here! Hurry and rescue the villagers! We'll hold them off!"
"Yes!"
The others acknowledged the order and quickened their rescue efforts.
On the front line, Ban Shu had gone on a rampage. Countless Wolf Bandit corpses lay sprawled in every direction at his feet.
Not only that, not a single one of the bodies was intact. They had all been torn to pieces, their deaths horrific.
Ban Shu stood where he was as the Wolf Bandits prowled around him, but not one dared approach.
The Wolf Bandits might not fear death, but Ban Shu was simply too strong, as if he were invincible. Even they had been cowed by his demonic aura.
"Exhilarating!"
Ban Shu rolled his neck, rested his arm on the Painted Halberd, and glanced sideways at the Wolf Bandits. "What's wrong? Have you beasts finally learned to be afraid? Where's all that bravado from before?"
"You monsters only know how to bully civilians. Why have you gone quiet now that you've run into us, huh? Come on! A bunch of good-for-nothings!"
"Roar!!!"
Whether or not they understood Ban Shu's words, a wolf's howl rang out. A tall Wolf Bandit slowly approached him.
This Wolf Bandit was different from the rest. It was much larger: ordinary Wolf Bandits stood around two meters tall, but this one was already two and a half.
Its fur was also streaked with a little blue, setting it apart from the other Wolf Bandits as though it belonged to a different rank.
This Wolf Bandit was clearly much more intelligent than the other monsters. It raised a claw and pointed at Ban Shu.
"Interesting. Are you the Wolf Bandits' leader? Is that your way of challenging me to a one-on-one fight?"
Ban Shu gripped the Painted Halberd and lifted it, then beckoned lightly at the Gale Wolf Bandit. "Come on. I'll fight you to the end."
He had spent a fair amount of Soul Power killing those beasts, but it didn't matter. Ban Shu's fighting spirit was at its peak, and he believed in himself.
"Roar!"
The Wolf Bandit leader gave a low growl to its subordinates. Before long, the Wolf Bandits cleared an open space.
"Interesting. Who knew mere beasts could be this intelligent?!"
Ban Shu sneered and strode toward the open space.
"Xiao Ban!"
Li Yan hurriedly reached out to stop him. "Don't go over yet. It could be a trap!"
"It's fine, Uncle Li."
Ban Shu rested his Martial Soul on his shoulder, his voice utterly unconcerned. "Today, let's make them dance!"
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