A Mere Six-Ring Soul Emperor—You've Got Some Nerve!

That Golden-Armored Shadow Leopard was something she and Lin Ye had chased for half a day before finally driving it into a dead end.

They had chased it from nightfall until now, shed who knew how much sweat, and finally beaten the beast to within an inch of its life.

Then the two of them had dropped from the sky, thrown out a spirit skill, and opened their mouths to claim it was theirs?

What kind of logic was that?

"Lin Ye..."

Zhu Zhuqing moved half a step closer and lowered her voice.

"Big Cat, I know what you mean. Don't rush."

Lin Ye then looked back at Zhao Lie, his tone still calm.

"Senior, you should have seen it too. Most of this Golden-Armored Shadow Leopard's injuries were caused by us."

"The rule of first come, first served should be recognized in both the Soul Master world and the soul beast hunting world, shouldn't it?"

Zhao Lie finally gave him a proper look.

It was not much of a look, though—more like he was looking at an ant by the roadside.

"First come, first served?"

Zhao Lie repeated those words, then immediately sneered.

"Kid, you're talking to me about first come, first served?"

"Fine. Then let me teach you some reasoning too."

"This forest is where the Fire Leopard Sect comes every year to hunt leopard-type soul beasts. Whoever sees us has to obediently yield."

"You two three-ring brats who crawled out of nowhere actually dared to touch the Fire Leopard Sect's prey on the Fire Leopard Sect's territory?"

Every word he spoke carried an oppressive air of superiority.

"Kid, I advise you to think carefully before you speak."

Lin Ye's brow twitched.

Your territory? Your prey?

Since when had Sunset Forest become the private property of the Fire Leopard Sect?

How was that any different from extortionists on the street?

"Senior, I'm afraid that doesn't make sense."

Lin Ye's tone remained restrained, but it had already turned cold.

"Sunset Forest is a public hunting ground. Whoever strikes down a soul beast first owns it. That is something universally recognized in the Soul Master world..."

"Shut up."

"You're fucking annoying!"

Zhao Lie could not be bothered to listen any longer.

He merely lifted his eyelids and casually pushed his right hand forward.

"Third Spirit Skill, Fire Leopard Cross Slash!"

Two intersecting crimson flames formed out of thin air, drawing a huge cross through the night as they swept toward Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing amid scorching waves of heat!

A Thousand-Year Spirit Skill from a level sixty-one Soul Emperor!

"Damn it!"

Lin Ye's pupils contracted sharply.

He had already been guarding against this, but he had not expected the old bastard to turn on them even faster than he had predicted!

He attacked the moment he said so, without even the slightest transition!

"Big Cat, get behind me!"

Lin Ye yanked Zhu Zhuqing behind him and thrust both arms forward.

"Second Soul Skill, Evil God Guard!"

The instant the purple barrier formed before him, the two flaming slashes crashed into it.

Boom!!

The barrier shook violently as cracks frantically spread from its center in every direction.

Lin Ye's feet plowed two deep furrows into the ground, and he was forced back three or four meters.

The scorching heat leaking around the edges of the barrier stung his face.

The barrier was still standing, but it was already covered in cracks.

"Such powerful attack strength..."

Lin Ye gritted his teeth.

A Soul Emperor above level sixty was on an entirely different level from the opponents they had faced before.

Zhao Lie shook his sleeve, his face showing some surprise.

"A three-ring brat actually blocked my attack?"

"Hmph, you really are lucky."

Zhao Lie then slowly walked over.

With every step he took, another layer of Soul Rings lit up around him.

Then, six Soul Rings slowly emerged.

Their colors were yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black.

It was a standard six-ring configuration. Two ten-thousand-year black rings slowly revolved beneath his feet, and the pressure they released forced the surrounding shrubs to bend backward.

The oppressive force made Zhu Zhuqing's knees go weak, and she nearly fell to them.

Zhao Lie looked down at Lin Ye as though he were no different from a grasshopper blocking the road.

"Kid, I don't care who you two are."

"But when the Fire Leopard Sect sets its eyes on a soul beast, we have never yielded it to anyone."

He paused, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Do you understand?"

Lin Ye clenched his fists until they creaked.

"Heh, what a Fire Leopard Sect."

He spoke with a cold laugh.

"We chased down this Golden-Armored Shadow Leopard first and injured it first. Not only did you rush out halfway through to steal our prey, you even attacked your juniors directly?"

"What do you call that? That's outright robbery!"

"Could it be that the Fire Leopard Sect's rules are to bully juniors and steal other people's prey?"

The moment Zhao Lie heard that, a cold glint flashed through his eyes.

He did not waste words with Lin Ye. He directly clenched his fist and stepped forward.

The next second, Zhao Lie vanished from where he stood.

By the time he reappeared, his fist had already reached Lin Ye's face.

His speed was absurdly fast.

"Second Soul Skill, Evil God Guard!"

Lin Ye only had time to erect the barrier again.

Boom!!

That punch held nothing back.

The purple barrier lasted less than half a second...

Crack!

With a sharp sound, the barrier shattered completely.

The shockwave from the exploding barrier sent Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing flying at the same time. They spun once in midair before barely stabilizing themselves, each staggering back seven or eight steps.

Lin Ye's hand went numb from the impact, and a dull pain traveled up his arm.

Zhu Zhuqing was slightly better off, but her face had already turned pale.

This was the power of a Soul Emperor.

It was utterly incomparable to the Soul Elders and Soul Kings they had encountered before.

Zhao Lie glanced at his fist and casually shook it.

"Kid, I originally had no intention of killing you two."

"After all, you're just two little brats. There's no need to dirty this old man's hands."

As he spoke, he took another two steps forward, his six Soul Rings dazzling in the night.

"But you really don't know what's good for you."

"I tried to speak nicely to you, yet you refused to listen and insisted on talking to this old man about reason."

Yan Qing suddenly burst into laughter from the side and teased him.

"Elder Zhao, why waste words on trash like them? Just make them kowtow three times and get the hell out of here!"

Zhao Lie considered it, then finally nodded.

"Fine. Not a bad idea."

He then looked at Lin Ye and said coldly.

"Kid, kneel before me right now and kowtow three times. Then I'll let you leave."

"Well? Isn't that a great deal?"

Zhao Lie extended his right hand, pointing his index finger down at the ground.

Yan Qing laughed so hard behind him that he nearly doubled over.

"HAHAHA! You two idiots who don't know the immensity of heaven and earth! You still dare to talk tough in front of Elder Zhao!"

"Kneel! Hurry up and kneel! Once you're done kowtowing, get the fuck out of here!"

Zhu Zhuqing's hands trembled without stop.

Not from fear, but rage!

Ever since childhood, she had been oppressed by Zhu Zhuyun and hunted by assassins, yet she had never lowered her head to anyone.

Kneel?

Why should she?

"Lin Ye..." She bit her lip, her cat claws already extending.

Lin Ye stood in front of her, his mind racing.

The difference in strength was far too great!

A level sixty-one Soul Emperor—even if he activated Dark Demon Evil God Transformation and tripled his offense and defense—would still be nowhere near enough.

This was not a gap that skill could make up for.

Wait, where was Dugu Bo?

That Old Poison had said he would keep him safe for one year.

His Spiritual Power detection range was now five hundred meters. If Dugu Bo was nearby...

At the exact instant that thought crossed his mind.

A majestic voice suddenly thundered down from above.

"A mere Six-Ring Soul Emperor! You've got some nerve!"