The Four-Eyed Demon Fox Attacks!

"Kee-kee-kee-kee..."

A strange, inhuman, and chilling laughter rang out, making one's scalp tingle as a wave of cold seeped straight into the marrow along the spine.

The entire main road had been completely shrouded by the Four-Eyed Demon Fox's Hunting Domain; the world turned dim, and as far as the eye could see, there were only blurred shadows within a few meters.

In the darkness, four scarlet, bloodthirsty eyes slowly opened, filled with coldness and mockery, locking firmly onto the group.

Sensing the murderous aura permeating the air, Xue Mingqing frowned and instinctively shielded Ning Yurong behind him.

He asked in a low voice into his spiritual sea, "Teacher... do you truly have a way to handle this?"

Within the spiritual sea, Feng Qingyang glanced nonchalantly at the outside world and spat out two words with indifference: "Got it."

Hearing this, Xue Mingqing's tense shoulders relaxed by half.

An elder in the house is like a treasure; the ancients did not deceive me.

The sense of security this old man provided was truly reassuring.

He was steady, but the mercenaries beside him had faces ashen and ugly, as if they had swallowed flies.

"Tsk, what a dead weight..."

"Who's to say? Just picked them up and they cause such a huge disaster!"

Though they complained incessantly, the group of mercenaries remained tense, instinctively shielding Xue Mingqing and Ning Yurong in the very center of the formation.

Hearing this, Wang Chao frowned. Not giving them a chance to continue bickering, he barked, "Shut up, all of you! Brothers, activate Martial Souls!"

In an instant, Wang Chao's figure surged in size, and a layer of sharp, steel-needle-like ice-blue beast fur sprouted on the backs of his hands and arms.

Ice Wolf Martial Soul, possess!

Two yellow, two purple, and two black—six perfectly matched soul rings swirled with brilliant light as they slowly rose from beneath his feet!

Seeing this, the other mercenaries stopped talking and awakened their Martial Souls one after another.

Ice Thorn, Ice Rhino, Ice Bow... all were strictly Northern Ice-type Martial Souls.

Two yellow, two purple, and one black—five standard soul rings flashed, and the combat power of five Soul Kings was fully unleashed!

Yet, this scene, in the eyes of the Four-Eyed Demon Fox in the darkness, held not a shred of dread, but was instead filled with disdain.

Just one Soul Emperor and five Soul Kings.

It was impossible for them to stop it!

The Soul Emperor who tried to stop it yesterday had long been swallowed into its belly, not even a bone fragment left behind.

With a shrill screech, cold light flashed on the Four-Eyed Demon Fox's sharp claws, and its figure suddenly flickered!

Five intersecting, death-dealing cold rays slashed toward the group in an instant!

Fast to the extreme!

The five Soul King-level mercenaries couldn't even catch its shadow!

The weakest, Xue Mingqing and Ning Yurong, couldn't even catch the wind!

Only Wang Chao, a level 66 Soul Emperor, could barely make out a trace of the trajectory...

But... it was only a trace.

Once an expert makes a move, one knows if they are up to the task.

Based on this strike alone, Wang Chao judged: this Four-Eyed Demon Fox had a cultivation of at least thirty thousand years! Its strength was comparable to a peak Soul Emperor, or even an early-stage Soul Saint!

Realizing this, how could Wang Chao dare to hold back?

The first, second, and third soul rings at his feet suddenly exploded with light, firing off three consecutive amplification soul skills!

His aura surged more than twofold in an instant!

He stepped forward, and the pitch-black soul ring at his feet exploded with light!

"Sixth Soul Skill! Ice Wolf Destruction Kill!!!"

With a roar, he thrust his claws forward—

A phantom of an ice wolf, carrying monstrous ferocity, dragged a trail of ice-blue light as it viciously pounced toward the Four-Eyed Demon Fox!

However, facing this lethal blow, the Four-Eyed Demon Fox let out a mocking laugh.

Its figure flashed again, instantly turning into an afterimage that slid past the ice wolf phantom!

The ice wolf phantom froze in mid-air, while the Four-Eyed Demon Fox had already glided past it!

Only after several seconds had passed since the Four-Eyed Demon Fox had moved—

The ice wolf phantom let out a shrill, belated screech, turning into shards of ice crystals that dissipated into the wind...

Seeing this, Wang Chao's gaze sank, and he turned back to roar, "Quick! Young Master! Run!"

"Brothers, hold the line!"

"Damn it! What rotten luck! Fifth Soul Skill! Ice Guard!"

"Fifth Soul Skill! Frenzy Ice Thorn!"

"Fifth soul skill...!"

Soul rings ignited, soul skills roared, and one trump card after another was unleashed simultaneously!

Yet, facing the full-force eruption of the mercenaries, the Four-Eyed Demon Fox showed not a shred of fear!

The moment it was about to collide with Wang Chao, its body spun abruptly, and it actually vanished into the darkness!

"Kee-kee-kee-kee!"

A sharp, shrill cackle echoed from every direction.

The Four-Eyed Demon Fox, hidden in the shadows, did not immediately pounce on the mercenaries.

It seemed... it wanted to play a little longer this time, or perhaps.

It wanted to exhaust the mercenaries' soul power!

Seeing this, Xue Mingqing gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and grabbed Ning Yurong's hand to run!

The Four-Eyed Demon Fox's target was Ning Yurong; as long as he took her and fled, these mercenaries might still have a glimmer of hope...

As for himself?

Feng Qingyang was still inside him, and his teacher would never just stand by and watch him die!

Having weighed the pros and cons, Xue Mingqing grabbed Ning Yurong's delicate hand in an instant and bolted forward with a single stride!

Suddenly grabbed by the wrist and dragged away, Ning Yurong faltered, her body stumbling instinctively before she could even react!

After running a few steps and regaining her senses, Ning Yurong flipped her wrist—

A magnificent Seven-Story Glazed Pagoda appeared beneath her feet, accompanied by a single yellow soul ring!

As the soul ring pulsed, six streaks of yellow light shot out from the Seven-Story Glazed Pagoda and merged into the bodies of Wang Chao and his five companions!

As the light entered them, the defense of the six men increased by 15% in unison!

Having provided all the help she could, Ning Yurong bit her lip.

She said nothing, cast one last look at the backs of the mercenaries, then turned her head and followed Xue Mingqing's pace to escape!

Seeing this, Xue Mingqing's grip on Ning Yurong's wrist tightened slightly.

No one wanted the person they saved to be a viper; Xue Mingqing was no exception. He did not want to be, nor would he be, that farmer.

Ning Yurong's gratitude only made Xue Mingqing more determined to ensure her survival.

Clutching her wrist tightly, 13th-level soul power surged and swirled around Xue Mingqing's legs.

It was actually reinforcing and amplifying his leg strength!

With every step he took, it was as if he were stepping on springs, covering ten meters in a single bound!

In just a few strides, the figures of Xue Mingqing and Ning Yurong gradually vanished into the depths of the path.

Seeing this, Wang Chao, who had stayed behind to cover their retreat, felt a weight lift from his heart.

As long as the young master could escape, that was enough!

Now that the six of them remained to hold the line, there was actually a chance that Xue Mingqing, escaping with Ning Yurong, might get away!

Back to back, the six mercenaries formed a circle, watching their surroundings with nervous, tragic expressions, alert for any sudden attack from the Four-Eyed Demon Fox.

With a grim face, Ma Han leaned against Wang Chao and scanned the area.

"Damn you, Wang Chao! We finally got a job from you, and you're leading us straight to our deaths!"

Hearing this, Wang Chao's expression turned bitter.

He and these brothers had grown up together in Blizzard City, thick as thieves.

In their youth, they had often traveled far and wide to take on missions together.

It was only later, after meeting the Blizzard City Lord, Xue Ningxian, that Wang Chao became her confidant and left their small group.

But even after leaving, Wang Chao had always kept his brothers in his heart.

Just a few days ago, when he heard that Xue Ningxian was looking for a group of mercenaries to escort the young master to Shrek, Wang Chao had recommended them.

He had originally intended to land them a big score.

But who would have thought...

Thinking of their current predicament, Wang Chao could only shake his head with a wry smile.

"I'm sorry, brothers. If we survive this round, I'll treat you all to drinks, alright...!?"

"Heh... one round won't be enough. We're drinking up a month of your wages!"

"Hahahaha! And why not!"