The moment the first layer of the warning formation shattered, Huo Yuhao's Spirit Detection had already pressed deep underground.
This was no simple ambush. Thirty-seven waves of evil soul power closed in from all sides, the outer layer like a net, the inner layer like hooks, while every Blood Fiend Formation rune converged toward the hilltop. From the very beginning, the true target had been Wang Qiu'er alone.
"Qiu'er, don't leave the formation!" The instant Huo Yuhao's voice fell, a faint beastly cry rang out from deep within the barren forest. It was not the roar of a fierce beast, but more like the mournful wail of a young beast on the verge of death.
As Spirit Detection swept over, Huo Yuhao's face instantly turned grim—on the other side of the abandoned post road, three evil soul masters had hung several young Soul Beasts from withered trees. A Soft Bone Rabbit's hind leg had been pierced by a black chain, an Azure Jade Deer's antlers had been forcibly snapped off, and two White-Feathered Spirit Sparrows had been nailed beside the formation's core with Blood Baleful Intent, their fluttering wings growing weaker and weaker... Their Soul Power was being drained bit by bit by the Blood Baleful Intent, leaving them in unbearable agony.
Qiu'er's chest tightened, and the coldness in her golden eyes deepened. The Golden Dragon Spear appeared in her hand at once. Dong'er cried anxiously, "It's bait!"
Of course Wang Qiu'er knew that, but she understood even more clearly the cries of those innocent Soul Beasts. She could endure being hurt herself, but she could not stand by and watch these pitiful young Soul Beasts be tortured until their souls scattered. Her grip on the spear tightened, and she had already rushed beyond the safest range of Spiritual Sharing.
"Qiu'er!"
The ground caved in with a boom, and nine black chains burst from underground like scorpion tails, winding toward Wang Qiu'er's neck and wrists. The Golden Dragon Spear swept horizontally, its golden radiance severing three chains, but the remaining six curved around the spear's edge and sealed off her retreat from behind.
An aged, chilling laugh drifted from the forest. "The Emperor Auspicious Beast has taken human form. As expected, her weakness is still Star Dou's Soul Beasts."
Zhang Peng.
Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes blazed to their limit. In an instant, Spirit Detection turned every variable into clear lines. He rapidly issued commands, and the Shrek Squad threw the outer evil soul masters' formation into disarray with seamless coordination: dark-red Evil Fire collided with the evil soul masters' Blood Baleful Intent, illuminating the entire barren forest with flames; the Light Goddess Butterfly spread its wings, blue-gold blades of light raining down and purifying a breach through the blood runes in the northwest; Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron landed before the withered trees, shielding the Soul Beasts from the second wave of Blood Baleful Intent extraction.
Using Xu Sanshi's Black Tortoise Transposition, Huo Yuhao appeared directly behind Qiu'er and pressed one hand against her shoulder. Wang Qiu'er turned back. "What are you doing here?"
Ultimate Ice surged violently from beneath his feet, forcibly freezing all six chains.
"What a fine spiritual-type brat. Since you delivered yourself to me, I'll strip you both." A Scorpion Tiger Soul Nail concealed within the Soul Beasts' resentment slipped around Wang Qiu'er and shot straight for the opening at her back. Wang Qiu'er was shoved aside and had no time to bring her spear back.
Huo Yuhao stepped in front of her.
Xu Sanshi slammed the Black Tortoise Shield into the rear path. "Junior brother!"
"Yuhao!" Dong'er's heart-wrenching cry had already become hoarse.
The Scorpion Tiger Soul Nail stopped one inch before his brow, forcibly blocked by the Eye of Destiny. But Zhang Peng's Blood Baleful Intent far exceeded Huo Yuhao's current limit. His Spirit Sea felt as if black claws had torn it open, and excruciating pain instantly swallowed his consciousness. Blood spilled from Huo Yuhao's lips as he staggered half a step, nearly dropping to his knees. Wang Qiu'er caught him at once.
Xuan Zi's massive hand descended from the sky at that moment. "Zhang Peng, get out here!"
Boom! A Titled Douluo-level clash exploded above the old post road, as if the entire barren forest had been overturned. The outer evil soul masters' formation fell into chaos. Bei Bei shattered the formation with lightning, Xu Sanshi held the rear, and Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron suppressed the final layer of backlash from the earth veins.
Huo Yuhao staggered half a step and nearly fell to his knees. Wang Dong'er rushed toward him immediately, but after only two steps, the remnant formation at the bottom of the well suddenly flared with a second layer of bloody light. It was not an attack formation, but a communication mark. Before Zhang Peng was forced back by Xuan Zi, he had actually nailed Wang Qiu'er's fortune aura into the earth veins.
If that bloody light escaped, more evil soul masters would come. Wang Dong'er gritted her teeth and turned around. It was not that she did not want to rush to Huo Yuhao's side at once, but she needed to watch over everyone's safety even more. Ma Xiaotao burned through the retreat route of the final two evil soul masters with one palm. "Dong'er, hold the formation!" Phoenix Flame crashed down, sealing the bloody light at the bottom of the well together with Dong'er's light aura. Xuan Zi pressed a palm onto the earth veins, and the three forces forcibly suppressed the outer Blood Baleful Intent.
The black mist before the abandoned post station grew thicker.
On the other side, Wang Qiu'er supported Huo Yuhao. His body was frighteningly cold. Although the Scorpion Tiger Soul Nail had been stopped by the Eye of Destiny, Blood Baleful Intent had already seeped into his Spirit Sea. Black-red cracks burned from his brow deep into his Spirit Eyes like a living venomous snake. He tried to stand firm, but only coughed up a mouthful of blood.
The fingers gripping Wang Qiu'er's Golden Dragon Spear slowly turned white. He had been injured like this to save her. She could not wait for everyone to free up their hands to treat Yuhao. If this dragged on, his Spirit Sea would shatter first. Supporting Huo Yuhao with one hand and dragging the Golden Dragon Spear with the other, she half-carried and half-dragged him into the abandoned post station's remaining inner room.
The old wooden door hung half-collapsed. Moldy cushions lay in the corner, and the air was filled with the bitter stench left by scorched Blood Baleful Intent. She released the abundant healing aura of the Emperor Auspicious Beast, using golden light to separate them from the evil soul aura outside.
"Look at me." Wang Qiu'er knelt in front of him, both hands pressing onto his shoulders.
Huo Yuhao barely opened his eyes. "Qiu'er... don't worry about me..."
"When you shielded me, did you ask whether I wanted you to?" Wang Qiu'er's voice was low and hoarse, yet stubborn beyond refusal. She held his shoulders and forced her powerful spiritual power through her palms into his torn Spirit Sea. That overbearing yet pure Soul Power slowly squeezed Zhang Peng's Blood Baleful Intent out of his Spirit Eyes.
Huo Yuhao let out a muffled groan. Cold sweat rolled down his temples, and his body involuntarily leaned forward. Watching his pain, Wang Qiu'er felt as though something had viciously clenched her heart. She suddenly realized that whenever she came close to him, his spiritual defenses noticeably loosened; when her aura entwined with his, the taut Ultimate Ice aura within him also eased.
The floor of the abandoned post station suddenly lit up. Beneath the old wooden boards, a ring of ancient, incomplete Star Dou Altar runes woven from gold and white was suddenly awakened by Qiu'er, forcibly drawing the two of them closer. Wang Qiu'er pitched forward without warning, and Huo Yuhao instinctively reached out to catch her. Their lips lightly brushed.
In that instant, it was as though lightning had struck the heart of the formation. The golden glow in Qiu'er's eyes gradually deepened.
She did not pull away. Instead, she raised a hand, grabbed his collar, and kissed him first.
This time, it was not an accident.
Her kiss was clumsy, but resolute. She did not understand gentle technique, only instinctively pressed forward as though she wanted to wrap all of her aura around him. Her aura surged wildly through their entwined breaths, golden light gradually enveloping and repairing the cracks in his Spirit Sea.
At first, Huo Yuhao still restrained himself, his hand pressing against her shoulder several times as though he wanted to push her away. But the pain of Blood Baleful Intent tearing through him, the soothing salvation of her golden aura, and the clean, wild warmth of her body drew him closer despite himself.
He was a man, after all.
At last, his breathing turned ragged. He did not push her away again.
The old door swayed softly in the wind. The sounds of the remnant formation, explosions, and rustling leaves were all shut outside by the golden aura. The abandoned post station's inner room was so narrow that there was almost nowhere to retreat. Qiu'er leaned against him and sank into the worn cushion, then immediately hooked an arm around his shoulder, blurring the last distance between them. Huo Yuhao gently drew Qiu'er up from his embrace and held her tighter against him. Qiu'er tilted her head back slightly and deepened the kiss, her tongue probing in clumsy but stubbornly, as if demanding more response.
Huo Yuhao's Adam's apple bobbed, and he let out a low, hoarse groan. His fingers tightened despite himself.
The old formation completely entwined their auras. Golden fortune and Ultimate Ice fiercely merged deep within the Spirit Sea, like ice and fire devouring and claiming each other. Qiu'er kissed him more and more deeply, both arms wrapping around the back of his neck as if afraid he would escape.
Huo Yuhao's breathing grew heavier. His palm paused at the curve of her hip before tightening. Wang Qiu'er's body trembled faintly, but she did not retreat. Instead, she pressed herself against him more actively and straddled Huo Yuhao, allowing the Emperor Auspicious Beast's aura to pour in even deeper. Zhang Peng's lingering Blood Baleful Intent was gradually forced out, replaced by the scorching tangle of their auras and their chaotic heartbeats.
Only when the final wisp of Blood Baleful Intent had been completely forced from his Spirit Sea did the haze in Huo Yuhao's eyes recede slightly. He suddenly pressed Wang Qiu'er by the shoulders and forcibly pushed her away half an inch. Qiu'er's breathing was ragged, her lips reddened by the kiss, her chest heaving intensely. She stared at him, her eyes filled with defiance and an unfulfilled hunger.
She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and continue, but Huo Yuhao spoke in a voice so hoarse it barely sounded like his own. "Qiu'er, we can't do this."
"It isn't because I don't feel anything."
Huo Yuhao sighed and did not answer.
Qiu'er suddenly reached out and gently pressed her hand against his chest, where his heartbeat was still violent and chaotic. She said softly:
"I know."
Her voice was quiet, yet it carried a dangerous satisfaction:
"So I won't treat it as an accident."
Huo Yuhao closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling unevenly as his Adam's apple moved, swallowing a dry breath.
He knew it too. It had not been a simple accident.
Outside the inner room, the sounds of battle ceased, and dawn was about to break.
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