The five of them stealthily made their way a few hundred meters through the dense forest. Ahead, the vegetation began to thin, and the ground temperature rose noticeably.
The soil beneath their feet was hot. They could feel the heat seeping up from underground as their boots pressed into it.
The air smelled different, too. The stench of sulfur mixed with burning leaves grew stronger and stronger.
Yue Guan crouched behind a large tree and peered ahead.
Everyone followed his gaze.
About three hundred meters away, in a clearing, a gigantic fox-shaped Soul Beast lay sprawled on a rock that had been baked red-hot.
It was several times larger than an ordinary fox, measuring over five meters from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. Its fur was a deep, nearly black red, like congealed blood in the shadows. Nine tails fanned out behind it, each tip wreathed in a tuft of dark red flame.
Its eyes were golden, with slit pupils, and were half-closed as if it were dozing.
A thirty-six-thousand-year-old Burning Heaven Demon Fox.
"That's the one," Yue Guan said in a low voice.
Hu Liena stared at the Burning Heaven Demon Fox, her breath catching for a moment.
Qin Chuan could feel how tense she was. A thirty-six-thousand-year Soul Ring posed quite a challenge for a Soul Master at level sixty.
"Liena, are you ready?" Yue Guan asked, glancing back at Hu Liena.
Hu Liena took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready."
"Good. This Burning Heaven Demon Fox is extremely fast, at least thirty percent faster than other Soul Beasts of the same age. You won't be able to catch it. I'll cut off its escape route first and drive it back. Qin Chuan, protect everyone."
Qin Chuan nodded. "Don't worry, Elder Yue Guan."
Yue Guan's figure flickered and vanished among the shadows of the trees.
The Burning Heaven Demon Fox lay on the red-hot rock, its nine tails swaying lazily. Its ears suddenly pricked up and turned in one direction.
It sensed something.
Its golden slit pupils snapped open, contracting sharply.
The next second, the Burning Heaven Demon Fox sprang off the rock. All four legs pushed off at once, sending it hurtling north into the depths of the forest like an arrow loosed from its bow.
It was outrageously fast.
From several hundred meters away, Qin Chuan watched the dark red blur flash through the trees and furrowed his brow. The Burning Heaven Demon Fox really was terrifyingly fast—even he had nearly lost sight of it.
"That speed..." Yan gaped. "There's no way we can catch it."
A trace of anxiety appeared on Hu Liena's face. "It's getting away!"
"Don't worry." Qin Chuan gently pressed a hand to her shoulder. "Elder Yue Guan has already gone after it."
As soon as he finished speaking, a tremendous crash rang out in the distance.
"Boom!"
Trees crashed down, and bushes were crushed underfoot, the sounds blending together. Then a piercing fox howl came from the north, filled with fury and fear.
No matter how fast the Burning Heaven Demon Fox was, it couldn't outrun a Titled Douluo at level ninety-five.
Yue Guan appeared in front of the Burning Heaven Demon Fox. Golden Chrysanthemum Petals formed a wall of light, blocking its way.
The Burning Heaven Demon Fox's nine tails shot upright at once, the flames at their tips swelling to three times their size. It opened its mouth with a shrill screech and spat a mass of dark red flame straight at Yue Guan's face.
Yue Guan dodged to the side. The flames brushed past his shoulder and scorched two trees behind him.
"Why run? It's not like you can get away," Yue Guan said lightly.
He flipped his right hand, and golden petals shot out like a torrential downpour. The first wave sliced into the Burning Heaven Demon Fox's left foreleg, stripping away a patch of fur with a burnt smell. The second wave sealed off its escape route to the right. The third skimmed along the ground, forcing the Burning Heaven Demon Fox to leap into the air to avoid it.
Once it jumped, it lost its speed.
That was exactly what Yue Guan had been waiting for.
Third Spirit Skill: Chrysanthemum Shadow Clone.
Three golden chrysanthemums of identical size appeared in three directions around the Burning Heaven Demon Fox. Their petals spun, cutting off every escape route.
The Burning Heaven Demon Fox twisted in midair, trying to force its way through the blockade on the left. Its nine tails coiled together into a whirlwind of fire and slammed into the chrysanthemum clone.
The whirlwind of fire was indeed powerful. The clone's petals curled from the heat, and more than half of it shattered.
But just as the Burning Heaven Demon Fox prepared to dash through the opening, Yue Guan's true body had already arrived.
He brought his palm down.
He used no Spirit Skill for this strike. Instead, the Soul Power of a level-ninety-five Titled Douluo gathered in his palm, and he slammed it straight into the Burning Heaven Demon Fox's back.
"Bang!"
The Burning Heaven Demon Fox was smacked out of the air and into the ground. Its four legs braced against the earth, its claws gouging four deep furrows in the mud. Its spine took the full force of the impact. Its hind legs buckled, and it dropped to its knees.
It opened its mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Before it could react, Yue Guan's First Spirit Ability was already upon it.
Golden Light Chrysanthemum Blade.
Dozens of golden petals flew out at once, slicing precisely into the tendons of the Burning Heaven Demon Fox's four legs. The attack was so precise that each petal severed a tendon without damaging the bone.
The Burning Heaven Demon Fox's legs immediately gave out. It slumped to the ground, unable to run any farther.
Its nine tails still writhed, their flames flickering in and out. Its golden slit pupils were filled with unwillingness and fear.
Yue Guan stood before it, looking down from above. "What a pity. You really are fast. But no matter how fast you are, you're still slower than me."
The Burning Heaven Demon Fox let out a low whine.
Yue Guan turned and called toward Qin Chuan and the others. "Come over. It's taken care of."
Qin Chuan hurried over with the other three.
Hu Liena ran at the front, but slowed when she saw the Burning Heaven Demon Fox lying on the ground, barely clinging to life.
It was enormous. Its body stretched over five meters, and even though it had lost the ability to move, the pressure of a thirty-six-thousand-year Soul Beast still made her heart tighten.
"Liena, go ahead. Give it the final blow." Yue Guan stepped back, making room for Hu Liena.
Hu Liena walked up to the Burning Heaven Demon Fox.
Its golden slit pupils watched her, and a faint hiss still escaped its mouth. The flames on its nine tails had dimmed, leaving only a few scattered sparks.
Hu Liena raised her right hand and summoned her Demon Fox Martial Soul. A rich purple mental force gathered in her palm, then surged forward.
Fourth Spirit Ability: Demon Fox Roar.
The mental shock wave slammed into the Burning Heaven Demon Fox's head. Its body convulsed violently, and the light faded from its golden slit pupils.
It was dead.
A purple-black Soul Ring rose from the Burning Heaven Demon Fox's corpse. Its color was deep, somewhere between purple and black, and it radiated powerful energy.
A thirty-six-thousand-year Soul Ring.
"Beautiful." Qin Chuan came over and glanced at the Soul Ring. "It's high quality. It should be over ninety percent compatible with your Demon Fox Martial Soul."
Hu Liena's eyes sparkled.
Yan leaned in from behind, looking displeased. "Hey, this Soul Hunting trip was way too quick. There wasn't any fun in the fighting at all."
Xie Yue nodded, too. "He's right. Elder Yue Guan handled everything. It's like we didn't even come."
Yue Guan smiled. "Can't be helped. This Burning Heaven Demon Fox is too fast. None of you four could catch it. If it got away, finding another one would be difficult. So I made an exception and stepped in."
Yan spread his hands. "Fine, fine. The elder is always right."
Yue Guan's expression turned serious. "Liena, absorb the Soul Ring at once. This is the Deep Forest Zone, and the longer we stay, the more dangerous it gets. Everyone, keep watch."
"Yes, Elder."
Hu Liena walked up to the Soul Ring. Before sitting down cross-legged, she clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and softly murmured, "Thank you, nature, for your gift."
Yan heard her and twitched the corners of his mouth.
Xie Yue shot Yan a glance. "She probably learned that from Qin Chuan."
"I know. It's for good luck." Yan stopped smiling.
Hu Liena sat down, rested her hands on her knees, and began absorbing the Soul Ring. Purple-black light enveloped her, and the Soul Ring slowly descended, settling around her as it began to spin.
Qin Chuan stood three meters behind Hu Liena, facing outward as he spread out his Samsara Eye's field of perception once more.
Xie Yue and Yan guarded the two sides.
Yue Guan stood at the perimeter with his hands clasped behind his back. He looked relaxed, but his Soul Power was already raised, ready to deal with any sudden danger.
Time passed minute by minute.
Hu Liena's face gradually flushed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. The energy in a thirty-six-thousand-year Soul Ring was immense, and the absorption process wouldn't be easy for a level-sixty Soul Master.
Five minutes passed without incident.
At the ten-minute mark, Qin Chuan's body suddenly tensed as a wave of killing intent came from afar.