Watching the blood-red earthen spikes split the ground and surge toward them, Wang Chao's lips curled in amusement.
"Scatter!"
At his command, the five men led by Wang Chao immediately fanned out. None of them was foolish enough to take the Demon Bear's attack head-on.
As for the team's only defensive Soul King, Ice Rhino, he stayed in front of Xue Mingqing and Zhang Lexuan.
First, he needed to be ready to block any attacks that might come their way.
Second, he had to keep an eye on Xue Mingqing, so he wouldn't charge in with another sword move when they weren't looking!
Ice Rhino's cautious thoughts as a mercenary were naturally unknown to Xue Mingqing. By then, the Snow Sword in his hand had already vanished. He stood quietly with his arms folded, watching this "bear hunt" unfold.
And what of the Demon Bear, besieged by the group?
Looking at Wang Chao charging at the front, the six Soul Rings flashing beneath his feet, the Demon Bear could easily tell that Wang Chao was the team's strategic core!
If he captured the leader and took him down, the rest would surely become a flock of headless flies!
Then, how hard could it be to pick them off one by one?!
Once he understood this, a cruel glint flashed through the Demon Bear's eyes.
Since you're coming for me, then stay here!
Raising a bear paw as broad as a millstone, the Demon Bear's third Soul Ring abruptly lit up!
"Third Soul Skill, Demon Bear Palm!"
With a low growl, blood-red light suddenly blazed across the Demon Bear's paw. He was about to slap Wang Chao to death!
Wang Chao, however, paid no heed, charging straight at the Demon Bear as if he hadn't even noticed.
Seeing Wang Chao act like a thick-headed fool, the Demon Bear furrowed his brow.
His instincts told him something was wrong, but he couldn't bear to give up the chance to kill Wang Chao.
"Die!"
His ferocious face exposed, the Demon Bear roared. The deadly, blood-lit palm was about to come crashing down.
But!
Just as the Demon Bear was about to slap Wang Chao to death, Ma Han, the mercenary team's deputy captain, made his move!
He whipped out the Ice Crystal Thorn in his hand and lit up his fifth Soul Ring. A chill gleam suddenly spread across the Ice Crystal Thorn. In an instant, it shot through the air and, striking before its target could react, wrapped tightly around the Demon Bear's paw!
"What?!"
Feeling an unexpected force tug at his arm, the Demon Bear's attack faltered for an instant.
And that instant was all it took!
The first, second, and third Soul Rings beneath Wang Chao's feet lit up at once, erupting with dazzling streams of light!
His body swelled in the radiance.
Wang Chao slammed headfirst into the Demon Bear's chest and grinned.
"This time, I'm not gonna miss!"
"W-what are you doing?!"
"What am I doing?"
"Hmph..."
With a cold snort, Wang Chao's Sixth Soul Ring abruptly lit up!
"Sixth Soul Skill, Ice Wolf Destruction Kill!!!"
With both claws dug into the Demon Bear's body, Wang Chao unleashed his attack at point-blank range, right before the Demon Bear's horrified eyes.
He unleashed his full power!
He rammed the complete soul shadow of a savage, ferocious Ice Wolf into the Demon Bear from point-blank range!
"AAAAH—!!"
Boom!
Before the explosion rang out, the Demon Bear's scream came first!
Ice and blood burst through the air!
Even a high-defense Soul Saint like the Demon Bear couldn't withstand an attack unleashed from point-blank range.
The blast sent him flying backward, leaving streaks of ice and blood in the air. And before he could even hit the ground, while he was still airborne, the Ice Bow Soul King—who had been keeping a low profile—found his moment!
He chose the instant after the Demon Bear had taken the full force of the attack, when his body still hadn't had a chance to react—
And drew his ice bow!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three ice arrows sliced through the air. In the Demon Bear's despairing gaze, they struck their marks without fail: his neck, chest, and abdomen!
He let out a muffled "Ugh!" in midair, then hit the ground with a heavy thud, kicking up dust and rocks.
He was down, motionless.
The seven dazzling, sinister Soul Rings beneath him slowly went dark as he fell...
Watching the whole thing, Xue Mingqing's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He looked at Ice Rhino, who was guarding him. "Uncle Ice Rhino, are you guys always this fierce? You can even mob a Seven-Ring Soul Sage to death?"
At that, Ice Rhino silently nodded. He wasn't good with words, so his reply came out dry and stiff.
"Thanks to the harsh conditions in the Far North, Soul Masters from here are generally stronger than Soul Masters from other places."
"If a Soul Saint gets pinned down by a bunch of mercenaries like us, who live by the sword, with no preparation and no idea what we can do, he'll probably meet his end too."
Xue Mingqing blinked.
"Then how come you couldn't beat the Four-Eyed Demon Fox?"
Ice Rhino fell silent for a moment at Xue Mingqing's question.
After a while, he answered awkwardly.
"The Four-Eyed Demon Fox is a speed type. Our team has nothing but offense and control. Even I only count as half a defender, so..."
After hearing Ice Rhino's explanation, Xue Mingqing's mouth twitched even harder.
So this team was just a bunch of reckless brawlers.
To give an example, this team was like five Dian Weis. They might not fear anyone in a head-on brawl, but the moment they ran into a skilled Jing, they'd behave themselves.
Dian Wei could indeed kill Jing in one blow, but first, he had to be able to catch her.
So the life-or-death danger he'd faced earlier had only happened because all five members of his team were specialists with glaring weaknesses. Xue Mingqing couldn't help feeling a headache coming on.
The more he thought about the drawbacks of specialists, the more grateful he was that he'd developed the Self-Created Soul Skill, Snow Transforms Into All Things.
No matter how others specialized, he himself could adapt to anything. With all those variations at his disposal, whatever he changed into could counter them!
Xue Mingqing's lips curled as he was about to remind Wang Chao and the others of something, when a thump sounded behind him!
He froze and turned around.
The girl he'd saved was now kneeling behind him, tears shining in her beautiful eyes.
His eyes widened, and Xue Mingqing asked in confusion,
"Miss, what are you doing...?"
Zhang Lexuan closed her eyes. Two streams of clear tears slid from their corners, traced her lovely cheeks, and fell to the ground with a soft pat, shattering.
"This humble girl is Zhang Lexuan. Thank you, Young Master Xue, for your righteous intervention and for avenging me!"
Xue Mingqing froze. Once he recovered, he quietly looked Zhang Lexuan up and down.
Black hair that fell to her waist; beautiful black eyes flecked with silvery moonlight; a gentle yet resolute face; a young girl's figure. She looked no older than fifteen.
This really was Zhang Lexuan's appearance from the comics!
Recognizing the Zhang Lexuan before him, he couldn't stop his pupils from trembling!
Zhang Lexuan? Huh?
Had he actually arrived at the moment Zhang Lexuan's family was wiped out in the original story?
Come on, wasn't the one who saved Zhang Lexuan in the original story Mu En, the wheelchair-bound Douluo?
Had his transmigration and rebirth really changed the worldline this much? No, that couldn't be right. He hadn't even left Wind Snow Village before. How could he have changed the worldline?
Could it be that he'd just happened to arrive at the right time?
Right, right. That had to be it!
Zhang Lexuan, kneeling on the ground, had no idea that in just a few short breaths, Xue Mingqing had gone from the Garden of a Hundred Grasses to the Three Flavors Study.
She pressed her lips together as if she'd made a decision, then spoke.
"Thank you, Young Master Xue, for saving my life and avenging me. I am alone in this world and have no way to repay such a great kindness. I would like to follow you and serve at your side, to repay your kindness..."
At that, Xue Mingqing blankly came back to himself.
He looked at Ice Rhino beside him, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.
"I must've misheard. Uncle Ice Rhino, translate that for me. What did she just say?"
Ice Rhino repeated without expression,
"She said she wants to follow you, Young Master. Is there a problem?"
"A huge problem!"
Before you continue