Star Luo Imperial Family, Unlucky Prince

Before long.

Jin Feng and Niu Gao arrived at the place where the commotion had come from earlier.

What they saw was—

The ground was a complete mess.

Blood stained the earth red. Craters, shattered stones, and broken branches left by battle littered the area, mixed with quite a few corpses of human soul masters and soul beasts.

A thick stench of blood hung in the air.

At that moment.

At the center of this stretch of land.

More than a dozen badly injured human soul masters were surrounded by over twenty soul beasts with cultivation levels of roughly two to four thousand years, struggling to defend themselves.

"White Tiger Spirit and Nether Civet Spirit."

Hidden nearby, Niu Gao subconsciously muttered upon seeing the Martial Souls of the young man and woman at the center of the group, "They're members of the Star Luo Imperial Family?"

"Strange..."

"At that age, they already have three Soul Rings, and a royal family member with a female companion possessing the Nether Civet Spirit came to train in the Star Dou Forest with only four-ringed Soul Ancestors as guards?"

Just as Niu Gao was filled with confusion.

Jin Feng's voice suddenly sounded beside him. "Grandfather, they can't hold on much longer."

Hearing that.

Niu Gao immediately came back to his senses.

After placing a Soul Power shield around Jin Feng to conceal his aura, he said, "Xiao Feng, don't reveal your Martial Soul for now. Stay here and don't move. I'll be right back."

With that said.

A rhinoceros roar rang out.

Niu Gao instantly completed the possession of his Plate Armor Giant Rhino Martial Soul. As two yellow, two purple, and three black Soul Rings appeared, he took several great leaps and quickly reached the edge of the battlefield.

"Third Soul Skill: Earth-Shaking Rhino Tremor!"

As Niu Gao lit up his Soul Ring and unleashed his third Soul Skill, he stomped heavily upon the ground.

In an instant.

An invisible shockwave abruptly spread outward. The earth shook violently, causing the soul beasts charging at the Star Luo Imperial Family's group to either be knocked to the ground or halt in place. Their entire offensive rhythm fell into chaos.

On the Star Luo Imperial Family's side.

Seeing that someone had come to help, they were immediately overjoyed.

Taking advantage of the soul beasts' disorder, they gathered all their strength and broke through toward Niu Gao's position. They quickly carved out a bloody path and joined up with him.

With Niu Gao, a level seventy-five Soul Sage, holding the field, the situation swiftly reversed. After half of the Thousand-Year Soul Beasts had been killed, the remaining soul beasts saw that things had turned against them and fled one after another.

As for that.

Neither Niu Gao nor the Star Luo Imperial Family's group chose to pursue them deeply.

After the danger had been resolved.

A blond young man immediately stepped forward from the Star Luo Imperial Family's group and cupped his hands toward Niu Gao. "I am Dai Weisi, First Prince of the Star Luo Empire. Thank you, Senior, for saving us."

"Senior's Martial Soul appears to be the Plate Armor Giant Rhino. Might you be from the Defense Clan, one of the Four Single-Attribute Clans?"

Hearing this.

Niu Gao raised a brow.

He had never expected that the people he had casually saved would include the First Prince of the Star Luo Empire.

The competition for the Star Luo Empire's throne was brutal, and the losing side met an exceptionally miserable end. At present, the only person capable of competing with First Prince Dai Weisi was Third Prince Dai Mubai.

However, Dai Weisi was a full eight years older than Dai Mubai. That enormous age gap left Dai Mubai with almost no hope.

Thus, Dai Weisi was publicly recognized throughout the Star Luo Empire as the crown prince and the future Emperor of Star Luo.

After a brief moment of surprise.

Niu Gao seemed to think of something. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he nodded. "That's right. This old man is Niu Gao, the current clan leader of the Defense Clan!"

Upon learning that Niu Gao was the Defense Clan's leader.

A flash of delight passed through Dai Weisi's eyes before he immediately replied, "Weisi had long heard of the Defense Clan's great reputation across the continent. I had always wished to visit Longxing City and pay my respects to Senior, but various affairs delayed me. I never expected us to meet in this manner. It truly is fate."

"Senior was already someone I admired, and now you have saved me from peril. This debt of gratitude is truly difficult for me to repay."

"This trip to hunt soul beasts was rather hurried, so I did not bring anything valuable with me. Once I return to the imperial capital, I will certainly prepare generous gifts and visit Longxing City to thank Senior for saving my life today."

In response.

Niu Gao waved a hand, looking unconcerned. "Soul masters should help one another when outside. It was merely a casual act, so there's no need for the First Prince to be so polite."

"If you wish to visit the Defense Clan in Longxing City in the future, this old man will naturally welcome you. There is no need for gifts..."

At this point.

Niu Gao abruptly changed the subject and asked with some confusion, "Still, why did the First Prince come to such a dangerous place as the Star Dou Forest with only a few four-ringed guards? And how did you provoke so many Thousand-Year Soul Beasts?"

Hearing this.

Dai Weisi immediately explained, "We came to the Star Dou Forest to hunt third and fourth Soul Rings for several clan members, while also tempering some of our younger fighters."

"We originally had a level sixty-three Soul Emperor and two Soul Kings accompanying us. Under normal circumstances, such a lineup would face no danger in the Thousand-Year Soul Beast region."

"However, yesterday, while we were hunting a four-thousand-year Diamond Tiger, two frenzied Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, Berserk Demon Bears, suddenly charged out of the dense forest and attacked us."

"For the safety of the clan's younger members, the Soul Emperor leading the group and one Soul King took half the guards to lure away the two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, while the other Soul King led us toward a safe area."

"Who would have thought that the appearance of those two Ten-Thousand-Year Explosive Bears would cause the Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in this area to riot!"

"As a result, we were besieged by dozens of Thousand-Year Soul Beasts during our retreat. The Soul King escorting us was outnumbered during the breakout and eventually died of exhaustion. We were trapped here, struggling to resist, until we encountered Senior."

After hearing Dai Weisi's explanation.

The corner of Niu Gao's mouth twitched. These people were truly unlucky to be chased by Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in a Thousand-Year Soul Beast region.

Immediately afterward.

Before he could say anything, a group of soul masters with tense expressions, disordered auras, and ragged clothes suddenly rushed out of the forest nearby.

Upon seeing the devastation here.

The soul master at the front, who radiated the aura of a Soul Emperor, suddenly changed expression. He rushed before Dai Weisi, dropped to one knee, and said, "This subordinate arrived too late to rescue Your Highness. I beg Your Highness to forgive me!"

Looking at the Soul Emperor covered in wounds before him.

Dai Weisi did not punish him. After helping him to his feet, he said softly, "Aren't I fine? You have already done enough. There is no need to blame yourselves..."

Meanwhile.

Seeing that Dai Weisi had reunited with his Soul Emperor guard.

Niu Gao thought of Jin Feng still waiting nearby and decided not to linger any longer. "Since the danger has been resolved, this old man has matters to attend to and will not stay."

Hearing that Niu Gao had other matters to handle.

Dai Weisi did not try too hard to keep him. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Take care, Senior. Once this junior returns and settles everything, I will certainly visit the Defense Clan to thank you for saving my life today."

To that.

Niu Gao did not refuse.

He merely waved his hand, then stepped into the forest and vanished from the sight of the Star Luo Empire's group.

As they watched Niu Gao disappear completely.

Zhu Zhuyun's graceful figure suddenly stepped out from the Star Luo Empire's group.

She looked at Dai Weisi with some surprise. "You were so courteous earlier. It seems you place great importance on the Defense Clan!"

"Are you planning to recruit them?"