A Chance Encounter on a Narrow Path, Hidden Killing Intent

Ye Qi's absorption of the soul ring went quite smoothly. In just over half an hour, the purple thousand-year soul ring had steadily merged into his body, and his Soul Power Level had successfully broken through to level thirty-one. He had just opened his eyes and had yet to experience the mysteries of his third soul skill when a sudden change occurred!

"Boom—!!"

An incomparably powerful energy shockwave swept out from the depths of the forest like a tsunami, accompanied by deafening beast roars and rapid sounds of air being torn apart. The ground trembled faintly, and even the jade stones within the valley seemed to emit uneasy hums.

Immediately afterward, more than a dozen bedraggled figures burst from the dense forest on the other side of the valley like stray dogs. Their robes were torn, most of them were wounded, their auras were disordered, and lingering terror still showed on their faces. Yet the Soul Power fluctuations emanating from them made everyone on Li Xuansheng's side change expression instantly!

Especially the leaders, whose soul ring configurations were unmistakably those of Titled Douluo!

At the forefront stood a sinister-looking old man in black robes. His aura was like an abyss. Though it was somewhat unstable, the nine soul rings around him—two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red—and the faint yet suffocating pressure he exuded all proclaimed the terrifying cultivation of a level ninety-nine Limit Douluo!

Behind him followed two elderly men. One possessed a razor-sharp aura and had reached level ninety-seven in Soul Power, while the other carried a solemn, imposing presence and was a level ninety-five Super Douluo. In addition, there were two level ninety-one Titled Douluo within the group.

The rest were all experts at the Soul Douluo and Soul Sage levels. Such a lineup was extravagantly powerful. Had they not all been injured and panic-stricken at the moment, anyone who saw them would have retreated three steps.

"They're from the Qiu Family!" Elder Li Tianji's pupils contracted sharply. His voice was low and grave as he instantly identified them. At a glance, he recognized the level ninety-seven Super Douluo as Qiu Qianlie, another core elder of the Qiu Family, known by the title "Soul Ripper"! As for the level ninety-nine Limit Douluo at the front, he was none other than the Qiu Family's infamous ancestor, who had remained in seclusion for many years—Qiu Qiansha!

"Second Brother, we really should have checked the almanac before leaving this time. We only came for that two-hundred-thousand-year Radiant Tiger King, and we were on the verge of succeeding. Who would have thought we'd provoke the Tiger Emperor, thirteenth on the Ferocious Beast Ranking and seventy-seven hundred thousand years old? It even got Seventh and Little Fourteenth, both Titled Douluo, killed."

Qiu Qianlie was speaking with Qiu Qiansha.

"We never expected this either. Who could have imagined that this two-hundred-thousand-year Radiant Tiger King was the Tiger Emperor's offspring? And that the Tiger Emperor had left a spiritual imprint on the Radiant Tiger King? We miscalculated this time."

Qiu Qiansha shook his head, his face filled with unwillingness.

"I'm sorry, Second Uncle and Sixth Uncle. Seventh Uncle and Fourteenth Uncle died because I needed to obtain my ninth soul ring." A middle-aged man stepped forward from behind them, his face full of guilt.

"Enough. I failed to protect them this time. Once we return, I will personally plead guilty to the family head and Eldest Brother. You need not burden yourself with it. As for your soul ring, we can only return first and think of another solution."

As they spoke, they arrived at Li Xuansheng's location.

Just as Li Xuansheng and the others discovered the Qiu Family's group, the fleeing Qiu Qiansha, Qiu Qianlie, and the others abruptly halted. Their cold gazes instantly locked onto Li Xuansheng's group in the valley.

The two sides encountered one another by chance within this narrow valley!

The atmosphere froze in an instant, as though even the air had stopped flowing.

Qiu Qiansha's snake-like gaze first swept over Dongyue Qingxuan. A trace of wariness flashed through his eyes, but there was even more malice. Level ninety-eight, the Dongyue Family's Third Elder—he recognized him. Then his gaze fell upon Li Tianji. Level ninety-two, nothing to fear. Finally, his eyes, brimming with endless killing intent, fixed viciously upon Li Xuansheng's face! It was this brat who had caused the Qiu Family to lose Qiu Wanhe, a level ninety-four Titled Douluo!

Qiu Qianlie and the other Qiu Family experts also recognized Li Xuansheng and Li Tianji. Old grudges and new hatred surged into their hearts at once, and waves of murderous gazes pressed down upon them as though they had substance.

Dongyue Qingxuan silently stepped forward, shielding the younger generation behind him. The aura of a level ninety-eight Super Douluo gradually rose from him, faintly contending against Qiu Qiansha's still-massive pressure despite his injuries. Li Tianji immediately released his martial soul as well, Sky Phoenix Halberd in hand, his expression guarded to the extreme.

Qiu Qiansha calculated rapidly. Although they had just suffered a crushing defeat, lost a level ninety-six and a level ninety-two Titled Douluo, and everyone was injured with greatly depleted Soul Power—and he himself had suffered internal injuries from the Tiger Emperor's strike—a starving camel was still bigger than a horse!

On the enemy's side, only Dongyue Qingxuan, at level ninety-eight, warranted caution. As for Li Tianji, who was merely level ninety-two, any one of their Super Douluo could easily restrain or even kill him. The remaining brats of the Li Family and Dongyue Family, including that damned Li Xuansheng, were nothing more than lambs awaiting slaughter before such an absolute gap in strength!

As long as he held Dongyue Qingxuan back for a while and allowed Qiu Qianlie and the others to swiftly eliminate everyone else, they could then join forces to besiege Dongyue Qingxuan... Deep within the Azure Jade Forest, so long as they handled things cleanly, who would know it was the Qiu Family's doing?

Once that thought arose, it grew wildly in Qiu Qiansha's heart like weeds. If they could wipe out the Li Family's young master, an important elder of the Dongyue Family, and a group of talented juniors here, they would not only avenge their great hatred but also severely damage the alliance between the two families, clearing a massive obstacle for the Qiu Family's future annexation of Heavenly Phoenix City! The risk was great, but the reward was even greater!

After exchanging glances with the others, they immediately understood the First Elder's intentions and nodded one after another.

Threads of icy, bone-piercing killing intent began to spread from the Qiu Family members, like an invisible spiderweb slowly shrouding Li Xuansheng's group. The temperature within the valley seemed to plummet abruptly.

This is bad. The Qiu Family has already developed the intention to kill us. They're preparing to leave us here.

Li Xuansheng tightened his grip on the Divine Phoenix Halberd. The Azure Luan Wings on his back were ready to activate at any moment as well. He felt an unprecedented threat of death. He knew that they had made up their minds. A vicious battle with a vast disparity in strength seemed unavoidable.

But it isn't hopeless yet. I still have Summoning Points and a level ninety-seven to ninety-eight summoning card. That Limit Douluo has already suffered severe injuries, so his combat strength must have declined. With these two trump cards, our safety should be assured. Perhaps we can even turn the tables and kill them. If we can leave them here, the Qiu Family will surely suffer a devastating blow.

However, while Li Xuansheng was unafraid, Li Tianji's heart had already sunk. This time, they were in real danger.

"I'll create an opportunity for you later. Xuansheng, take your younger brothers and sisters and break out. I'll find a way to hold them back. Whoever can escape, run. Don't look back."

Li Tianji's voice was low and filled with gravity.

(End of Chapter Twelve)