Hurricane, Cut It Down for Me!

After speaking, Wang Chao and his group of mercenaries stood in battle formation, awaiting the Four-Eyed Demon Fox's next move.

Whether it meant battle or death, they were prepared!

Yet, the cold wind in the darkness swirled with lethal snowflakes, drifting down to land upon their shoulders.

Time ticked by second after second, but the Four-Eyed Demon Fox not only failed to attack them—

Instead—

The Hunting Domain that had shrouded them was actually beginning to recede bit by bit.

"...?"

After a few seconds of silence, just as Ma Han and the others were left scratching their heads, unable to fathom why the Four-Eyed Demon Fox hadn't launched an assault, Wang Chao—the strongest and quickest-witted among them—suddenly realized something was wrong!

"No, this is wrong! That demon fox went after the young master and the others!"

"Damn it, why didn't you say so sooner!"

With a sharp cry, Wang Chao bolted, sprinting at full speed in the direction Xue Mingqing and his companion had fled.

Ma Han and the others followed suit, trailing right behind him the very second he took off...

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Holding Ning Yurong by the wrist, Xue Mingqing had stopped using soul power to travel, switching to a normal run instead.

His level 13 soul power was limited, after all, and could not sustain such extravagant consumption; if he were to exhaust his soul power while still fleeing, it would hardly be a wise choice.

With his breathing slightly ragged, Xue Mingqing cast a worried glance behind him.

"What? Worried about those mercenaries?"

Seeming to sense Xue Mingqing's anxiety, Feng Qingyang's wicked voice echoed within his mental sea.

Xue Mingqing nodded slightly, admitting it.

"Yes... after all, it was I who insisted on saving her. If they truly have to pay the price for my choice, I..."

He trailed off, unable to continue.

Upon hearing this, Feng Qingyang let out a wicked laugh.

"Rest assured, they will be fine."

Xue Mingqing's brow furrowed instinctively.

"What makes you say that?"

"Heh, because this old man shifted the Four-Eyed one's hatred onto you."

"..."

"Damn it!!!"

After a moment of silence, the realization hit him, and Xue Mingqing let out an instinctive scream that made Ning Yurong's delicate body tremble in shock.

Her beautiful eyes filled with suspicion, Ning Yurong looked up at Xue Mingqing, her crimson pupils overflowing with bewilderment.

"Young Master Xue, are you... is something wrong...?"

Hearing Ning Yurong's question, Xue Mingqing did not answer. He closed his eyes, seemingly having made a decision.

He released Ning Yurong's wrist, and in his hand, his martial soul Snow Wind spun—

A three-foot Snow Sword, its blade wreathed in a gentle breeze, appeared alongside a magnificent, pale purple soul ring.

Seeing this, Ning Yurong's beautiful eyes widened, unable to believe what she was witnessing.

Xue Mingqing's first soul ring was purple—a thousand-year soul ring. Was this truly something a human could achieve?

Judging by his appearance, he was likely her peer, though the lingering traces of youth between his brows suggested he might even be younger than her nine years.

How could he be the first person in history to achieve such a feat?

Her crimson, almond-shaped eyes were wide as saucers, her heart filled with incomprehensible shock.

Yet, before her shock could subside, Xue Mingqing's voice, calm yet tinged with resolve, rang out.

"You go. I will cover the rear. From the moment I took you to escape, the demon fox's target became me. You must leave quickly."

Hearing this, Ning Yurong's body trembled, and even her voice, usually so detached and ethereal, carried a hint of a quiver.

"Are you... not afraid of death?"

Xue Mingqing shook his head with a faint smile.

"What is there to fear in death?"

"I, Xue Mingqing, would rather die in battle than live in cowardly flight."

The words were spoken lightly, yet they struck Ning Yurong's heart like a heavy hammer.

She looked at the young man standing before her, sword in hand, his frame thin yet standing as straight as a pine, and bit her lip.

The disaster was caused by me; how could I flee alone?

My pride does not allow me to live in ignominy.

With a flick of her wrist, the Seven-Story Glazed Pagoda appeared in Ning Yurong's fair hand, and a yellow spirit ring lit up beneath her feet.

"Seven Treasures Famous, first, Defense!"

With a low cry, a yellow orb merged into Xue Mingqing's body, increasing his defense by 15%.

She stepped forward and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Xue Mingqing.

Sensing Ning Yurong's actions, Xue Mingqing raised an eyebrow.

"Not afraid of death?"

Ning Yurong's delicate body trembled, yet she maintained that ethereal and indifferent expression on her face.

"I would rather die in battle than flee in shame."

She answered him using the very words Xue Mingqing had once spoken.

Hearing this, Xue Mingqing was stunned, and upon realizing her intent, he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

He held Ning Yurong in higher regard.

If he had initially admired Ning Yurong for her beauty, he now admired her for her integrity.

After all, he knew his own situation best.

He wasn't afraid because he knew Feng Qingyang would provide a safety net, but Ning Yurong did not know that.

This meant she was standing by his side purely out of courage.

With a light laugh, Xue Mingqing gripped his sword tightly and raised his eyes toward the darkness surging along the main road.

That was the Four-Eyed Demon Fox's Hunting Domain...

His gaze hardened, and the smile on Xue Mingqing's face vanished.

"Then, come!"

With a low roar, the spirit power within Xue Mingqing surged wildly into his limbs, and the Snow Sword in his hand was stained with a layer of deep, impenetrable cyan-green!

A sword rises with the wind, the gale howls through the nine heavens!

The first form of the Hurricane Sword Art: Wild Storm Sword Slash!

In an instant!

Xue Mingqing's slender figure erupted with hurricane-like speed, and his sword, accompanied by thousands of shrill whistles, shot toward the Four-Eyed Demon Fox hidden within the darkness!

The moment the hurricane tore through the darkness, the Four-Eyed Demon Fox's four eyes suddenly narrowed.

It never expected that this little brat would not only fail to flee but would actually dare to launch an attack!

Feeling a sense of deep humiliation, the Four-Eyed Demon Fox let out a sharp shriek.

Channeling its thirty thousand years of cultivation, it swept its fluffy fox tail—each hair harder than a steel needle—toward Xue Mingqing!

It vowed to instantly kill this arrogant little brat right here!

Seeing this, Xue Mingqing's gaze turned fierce, and the first purple spirit ring beneath him suddenly lit up!

First Spirit Skill: Myriad Changes Absolute, Sword Form, increasing attack power by 90%!

Feeling the Snow Sword in his hand grow even sharper, Xue Mingqing channeled all his spirit power into it—

In an instant, the cyan-green light on the blade surged, as he gambled all his spirit power on this single strike!

"Wild Storm Sword Slash! Just..."

"Slash it!!!"

Outside, watching Xue Mingqing dash into the dark Hunting Domain with a single strike, Ning Yurong couldn't even stop him; his speed was too fast.

Biting her lip, Ning Yurong's crimson eyes were filled with worry and fear.

Time ticked by second by second; although Xue Mingqing had been in that darkness for less than half a minute—

To Ning Yurong waiting outside, those thirty seconds felt as agonizing as years.

Clenching her small fists, Ning Yurong looked at the shimmering Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda in her hand, feeling a sense of loathing toward it for the first time...

If only I were a powerful battle spirit master like my father... I don't want to...

Before Ning Yurong could finish her thought, a muffled sound reached her ears—

Stunned for a moment, Ning Yurong looked up and saw!

The darkness surged once more, and a figure was sent flying out from within!

Focusing her eyes, Ning Yurong looked anxiously at the figure.

It was—Xue Mingqing!

At this moment, Xue Mingqing was in a wretched state!

Clutching a deep, bone-visible wound on his chest, his face was as pale as paper, and his Snow Sword was broken, leaving only half a blade. Where was the high-spirited demeanor he had before?

There was nothing left but misery!