Wolf Bandit Cave, Fallen One Appears

"Highly likely."

Ban Shu nodded, his tone grave. "Perhaps it is a martial soul we have never encountered before, controlling these Wolf Bandits and capturing living people to fuel their cultivation."

"If that is the case, we absolutely cannot stand by."

Yue Guan also realized the severity of the situation. If this were truly the case, letting them go today would inevitably lead to more victims in the future.

"Regardless, we must find evidence first."

Ban Shu exhaled softly and retracted his Painted Halberd into his body. The pill he had taken earlier had restored most of his soul power, enough to support his movements.

"My thought is that we should scout the Wolf Bandits' lair now. If someone is controlling them, there must be some traces left behind."

"That makes sense."

Yue Guan nodded, turned to whisper a few words to Li Yan, and then led a squad of men, preparing to investigate the Wolf Bandits' den.

Seeing this, Ban Shu hurriedly rose to follow.

"Xiao Ban, are you sure you're alright?"

Yue Guan asked with concern. "Whoever can control such a large pack of Wolf Bandits is certainly no ordinary person; don't push yourself."

"I'm fine, I'm still full of energy!" Ban Shu waved his hand with a smile and flexed his fist.

"This... very well."

Yue Guan knew he couldn't dissuade him, and it would be safer to keep Ban Shu by his side.

"And me, don't forget me!"

At this moment, Bibi Dong flew over and threw her arms around Ban Shu. "Xiao Ban, you actually dared to leave your sister behind and go alone? I won't forgive you for this!"

"Ouch, easy, take it easy!"

"Argh!"

"Why are you biting me! Ah!"

Watching the two of them bickering, the adults present couldn't help but smile knowingly, choosing not to disturb them.

Before long, the group arrived near the Wolf Bandits' lair. Peering through the light into the cave entrance, they witnessed a scene that made their blood run cold.

The cave was littered with countless corpses lying in disarray—men, women, the elderly, and children. Most looked like mummified husks, their eye sockets sunken and mouths slightly agape, clearly drained of their life essence until death.

"These beasts! They deserve to be hacked into ten thousand pieces to appease the spirits of these people!"

Bibi Dong, standing to the side, gritted her teeth and growled in a low, furious voice.

"Shh."

Ban Shu gestured for her to be quiet, though his own eyes flickered with rage. Having been born in a peaceful nation in his past life, he had never seen such a tragic and inhumane sight.

Although he had heard Qian Xunji speak of the madness of the Fallen Ones, it was nothing compared to the shock of seeing it with his own eyes.

Rest assured, I will personally execute the murderers who killed you all.

Ban Shu silently vowed in his heart. At that moment, an nameless power began to rise within him, slowly merging into his eyes.

"Listen to my command next."

Yue Guan made several hand signals. Because Ban Shu and Bibi Dong had specifically studied such skills, they could understand them perfectly.

"Bishop Li Yan, take your squad and surround this place. You must not let a single Fallen One escape. I will lead Xiao Ban and the others in a frontal assault to take them down as quickly as possible."

Li Yan nodded immediately, waving his hand to lead the squad in encircling the entire cave, ensuring not even a mosquito could fly out.

Yue Guan focused his mind, adjusting his state to prepare for battle. A moment later, he stepped toward the cave entrance, with Ban Shu and Bibi Dong following closely behind.

Both of them were primed and ready, waiting only to rid the world of this evil.

Inside the cave, a burly man with a thick, fleshy face was cursing his subordinates.

"A bunch of trash, idiots! If I hadn't realized the Wolf Bandit leader was dead, were you all going to keep hiding it from me?"

"Are you afraid that the Spirit Hall soul masters won't be able to find us?"

The man's chest heaved with rage. He reached out and grabbed a scrawny man kneeling on the ground, lifting him up like a chick. "Tell me, what exactly is going on!"

"Boss, this... this..."

The scrawny man stammered for a long time, unable to provide a coherent answer. He had been busy enjoying himself in the cave; how could he have paid attention to what the Wolf Bandits were doing?

At this moment, a short, stout man wearing an apron stepped forward with a fawning expression. "Boss, calm down, calm down. It's not good for your health to get so angry."

"That's right, Boss. We don't know why those beasts died either; they were perfectly fine before."

A woman dressed in revealing clothing swayed her hips and leaned against the burly man, acting coy. "Who could have known the Wolf Bandits would be wiped out in such a short time? There were hundreds of them; even if they were just pigs, it would take a long time to slaughter them all."

The burly man glanced at her, exhaled, and let out a cold snort. "I'll spare you this time, but if there is a next time, you will become my food!"

Hearing this, the group turned pale and hurriedly lowered their heads, falling silent.

The burly man glared at them. "Now, while those Spirit Hall people haven't realized something is wrong, get out of here, quickly!"

"Understood!"

The group nodded and hurriedly followed the burly man toward the cave entrance.

"What a pity, you won't be leaving."

At that moment, Yue Guan was already standing at the entrance, watching them coldly.

"Who is it?"

The burly man immediately looked at Yue Guan with a wary expression: "Who are you? I advise you not to meddle in other people's business."

Hearing this, Yue Guan let out a cold laugh: "As it happens, I love meddling in other people's business."

Seeing that Yue Guan had ill intentions, the burly man's expression gradually turned ferocious. A flash of blood-colored light flickered, and a blood-stained circular blade appeared in his hand.

"Since you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, I have no choice but to grant your wish!"

As he spoke, spirit rings gradually rose from the burly man's body: white, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black! He was actually a master at the Spirit Emperor level!

"No wonder you dared to kill so brazenly in this place; you do have some strength."

"Hmph!"

The burly man sneered: "It's too late to surrender now. None of you are getting away!"

"Surrender?"

Yue Guan acted as if he had heard a hilarious joke: "In my life, I, Yue Guan, have never feared anyone!"

"Heaven-Reaching Chrysanthemum!"

Since his opponent was weaker than him, Yue Guan unleashed his full power. His spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—were the perfect configuration.

"A Spirit Saint?"

The burly man's expression finally changed. He had not expected his opponent to possess such formidable strength. While shocked, he did not hesitate, sending the Blood Wheel flying directly from his hand toward Ban Shu and the other.

"Hmph!"

Yue Guan let out a cold snort and swung the Heaven-Reaching Chrysanthemum in his hand, knocking the Blood Wheel away. However, he did not expect the burly man to bolt out of the cave entrance and flee without even looking back.

"Do you think you can run?"

Yue Guan sneered. Li Yan was still outside, so he would deal with these small fries in the cave first.