First Encounter with the Golden Iron Triangle

Gui Mei's figure instantly melded into the shadows. The next second, the shadow beneath the Amethyst Dragon's massive body, which weighed tens of thousands of pounds and was charging at them, suddenly wrapped around it.

The Amethyst Dragon stumbled and crashed heavily to the ground, a dull reverberation echoing through the earth.

Just as the Amethyst Dragon, writhing in pain, prepared to retaliate, Gui Mei stepped on its head and coldly said, "Move even once, and you die!"

Gui Mei's voice was not loud, but the killing intent within it, along with the strength that had effortlessly rendered the Amethyst Dragon immobile with a single step, made the beast's open mouth fall shut weakly. It obediently lay on the ground and played dead.

A Qirui Tongtian Chrysanthemum bloomed behind Yue Guan, sealing off the newcomers' retreat.

"Hey, that's our prey! You're actually trying to steal it from us!"

Seeing the prey she and her companions had pursued for half a day being snatched away just like that, Liu Erlong's fiery temper immediately flared.

She failed to notice that Xiaogang beside her was trembling all over. His eyes were filled with hatred, yet he only dared lower his head, not daring to reveal even the slightest bit of the rage in his heart.

"My lords, my little sister is ignorant. Please allow me to apologize to you on her behalf."

As the leader of the Golden Iron Triangle, Flender, though only in his twenties, still had a keen eye.

The Amethyst Dragon they had chased for so long, one they could only inflict minor wounds upon, was now lying meekly on the ground without daring to resist. These people were simply not opponents that commoners like them could afford to provoke.

"Since you've captured this Amethyst Dragon, we'll take our leave."

Qian Mochen stepped forward, his tone natural, as though Flender and the other two were old friends he had not seen in ages.

"Since you're already here, why not rest for a while and recover your Soul Power?"

"Gangzi, it's been so long since we last met. What, are you too excited?"

Flender and Liu Erlong both looked toward Yu Xiaogang in the middle.

Yu Xiaogang's fingers dug viciously into his flesh. Upon hearing that voice, the humiliation he had suffered in Spirit City several months ago uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

Endure it!

I have to endure it!

Yu Xiaogang, you're the future Grandmaster. You absolutely can't fall here.

Yu Xiaogang roared furiously in his heart. Warm liquid ran across his palm, yet he seemed completely unaware of the pain. He raised his head, forced out an ugly smile, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Long... long time no see."

When his gaze shifted beside Qian Mochen, he indeed saw Bibi Dong, who was inseparable from Qian Mochen. One of Bibi Dong's hands was wrapped around Qian Mochen's arm, as though she wished she could squeeze herself entirely into his embrace.

With just one glance, Yu Xiaogang's pupils suddenly contracted, and his resolve nearly shattered once more.

[Due to the host's actions, Yu Xiaogang's emotions have reached the brink of collapse. You have received 20,000 Emotion Points.]

The notification in his mind put Qian Mochen in a very pleasant mood.

As expected of Gangzi. No matter how thoroughly he was drained, as long as Qian Mochen loosened his grip, he could provide fresh Emotion Points again.

Qian Mochen swept his gaze over Gangzi's two companions.

The young man on the right wore glasses and had a tall, lean build. He was likely Flender in his youth.

The voluptuous woman on the left, together with her earlier fiery temper, was probably Gangzi's cousin, Liu Erlong.

As Qian Mochen watched, he suddenly felt someone fiercely pinch the soft flesh at his waist. Without changing expression, he withdrew his gaze and explained, "I didn't see that it was you, Gangzi."

"Since this is your prey, old man, please severely wound that Amethyst Dragon."

Qian Mochen covertly glanced at the Amethyst Dragon's legs. Gui Mei brought his foot down, and the Amethyst Dragon's body abruptly convulsed violently. The life in its eyes soon dwindled to a mere trace.

"I have urgent business to attend to this time, Gangzi. We'll have a drink when we meet again!"

Yu Xiaogang bit his lip hard and nodded unwillingly.

As they watched Qian Mochen's group depart, Flender noticed Liu Erlong looking at Yu Xiaogang with concern. Afraid she would ask something inappropriate, he hurriedly spoke up.

"Erlong, that Amethyst Dragon has only one breath left. Hurry and obtain its Soul Ring!"

"Okay." Liu Erlong looked at Yu Xiaogang, whose expression had suddenly turned gloomy. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly nodded.

None of the three noticed that the Amethyst Dragon's abdomen was quietly swelling.

Liu Erlong stepped forward and killed the Amethyst Dragon with one slash. The tip of her blade pierced its heart, directly disrupting the balance of energy within its body.

The Amethyst Dragon's body suddenly exploded, and the blast instantly destroyed the trees within several dozen meters.

Liu Erlong and Flender immediately unleashed their martial souls to resist the shockwave, but the next second, they heard a scream.

Turning around, they saw Yu Xiaogang blown away by the blast, struggling desperately to stabilize himself in midair.

"Xiaogang!"

Liu Erlong had only taken one step when Flender stretched an arm out before her.

"Erlong, the Amethyst Dragon's Soul Ring has already appeared. Go absorb it. I'll go find Xiaogang!"

"But..." Liu Erlong watched Xiaogang's figure with worry. He was only Rank 29; in Sunset Forest, every step was fraught with danger for him.

If not for her, why would Xiaogang have ever set foot in this place?

Flender placed a hand on Liu Erlong's shoulder and emphasized, "Erlong, this Amethyst Dragon is the soul beast Xiaogang worked so hard to find for you, the one best suited to you. Are you really going to let all of Xiaogang's efforts along the way go to waste?"

Liu Erlong watched Xiaogang disappear into the depths of the forest, then looked back at the Soul Ring that had already condensed. Gritting her teeth, she returned to the ring and sat down.

"Big brother, Xiaogang is in your hands!"

"Don't worry!"

Liu Erlong began focusing her mind on absorbing her fifth Soul Ring.

Flender's gaze rested on Liu Erlong, and he was reluctant to look away for a long time.

Judging by Erlong's behavior just now, in this journey of three, he had ultimately been left behind.

Although Erlong and Xiaogang had not yet confessed their feelings, Flender had already seen their choice. From now on, he would only be their good big brother.

With a long sigh, Flender lingered for more than ten seconds. Only after seeing that Liu Erlong's absorption of the Soul Ring was proceeding smoothly did he summon his martial soul, fly into the sky, and speed toward where Xiaogang had landed.

Before long, Flender spotted broken branches from the air. He dove straight down, and as his gaze pierced through the covering branches and leaves, he saw the scene beneath the tree and abruptly stopped in midair.

Below was actually a soul beast dung pit, and at that moment, Flender's friend Yu Xiaogang was struggling inside it. Every movement smeared him with plenty of old dung.

"Xia... Xiaogang, I'll get you out right away."

Flender did his best to block out the assault on his senses of smell and sight, silently preparing himself. Only after several seconds did he finally gather the courage to reach for Yu Xiaogang's wet, filthy hands.

The slimy sensation made Flender nauseous. He shut his eyes and pulled with all his might, finally yanking Yu Xiaogang from the dung pit. At the fastest speed possible, he brought the silent Yu Xiaogang to the nearest stream.

As Qian Mochen walked along the road, that delightful notification sounded beside his ear.