Encounter Battle

Over the next few days, the patrol proceeded methodically.

More than a dozen inhabited planets were scattered along the edge of the Withered Skeleton Galaxy. Most of the Qiu Shi Race had already withdrawn, leaving the planets empty save for abandoned camps and supplies they had been unable to take with them. Golden Horn followed the team as they inspected the planets one by one. Occasionally, they encountered a few Qiu Shi Race members who stubbornly refused to leave; Xiong Kui had deliberately arranged them as whetstones for the newcomers.

"Radar detected three targets on the inhabited planet to our front left." Greedy Wolf stared at the screen. "One Stellar level, fifth order, with two Planetary levels."

Xiong Kui nodded and turned his gaze to Scorpio. "Scorpio, you handle it. Silver Horn, hold the line. Step in if he can't manage."

Scorpio took a deep breath, then flashed out through the hatch.

Golden Horn followed behind him, keeping an appropriate distance. He did not intervene, merely watched from afar.

Though Scorpio was a newcomer, his Stellar level ninth order cultivation was no joke. He first ambushed and eliminated the two Planetary levels before confronting the Stellar level, fifth order Qiu Shi Race member head-on. The Qiu Shi Race member roared furiously as dark-red energy erupted around it, but it was no match for Scorpio. After three moves, Scorpio pierced its energy core with a claw, and it dissolved into specks of light.

"Not bad." Xiong Kui patted Scorpio on the shoulder. "Clean and efficient. Remember, even against weaker enemies, never let your guard down. A lion hunting a rabbit still uses its full strength."

Scorpio nodded hard, excitement flashing in his eyes.

Over the next few days, Xiong Kui assigned similar "cleanup missions" to every newcomer. Shadow Stinger and Frost Blade took turns fighting as well. Golden Horn also fought twice. Once, he faced a Stellar level sixth order holdout and killed it with his dagger in three breaths. The other time, he faced two cooperating Stellar level eighth orders and defeated them in fewer than ten moves.

Each time, Xiong Kui offered a few comments, pointing out everyone's strengths and weaknesses.

"Shadow Stinger, your offensive power is sufficient, but you're too weak in a direct clash. You'll suffer badly against enemies with strong defenses."

"Frost Blade, your ice-element attacks work against Stellar levels, but they'll have a hard time breaking the defenses of Universe levels."

"Silver Horn, your spatial talent is powerful, but you rely too heavily on teleportation. If you encounter an expert who can seal space, you'll be at a severe disadvantage."

Golden Horn silently memorized it all. Though this captain spoke bluntly, he was genuinely putting effort into training the newcomers. Under his influence, the team atmosphere also grew more harmonious. Greedy Wolf was no longer lazily indifferent, and Blood Fang was willing to share his combat experience.

Once they had completed more than half the patrol route, everyone's taut nerves gradually relaxed.

"We'll be able to head back in another two days." Greedy Wolf leaned against his seat and stretched. "This trip has been pretty smooth—"

Before he could finish, Xiong Kui's expression changed drastically. He sprang from his seat. Before he could make a sound, a mental transmission exploded in everyone's minds.

"Enemy attack! Everyone, defend yourselves!"

Moments earlier, aboard a Qiu Shi Race spaceship, the radar had detected an unfamiliar ship signal nearby. The scan showed one Universe level and twenty Stellar levels.

Seven Universe level Qiu Shi Race experts stood around a somewhat smaller Qiu Shi Race member with dark-golden scales. Faint golden patterns flowed across its armor, setting it apart from the ordinary dark-red Qiu Shi Race members around it.

At that moment, the smaller Qiu Shi Race member was studying the radar.

"Your Highness, this is not a place to linger. We should not create unnecessary trouble," an aged Qiu Shi Race member said in a low voice. "The Demon Race's main force could arrive at any moment. We should retreat."

The Qiu Shi Race member addressed as "Your Highness" narrowed his eyes, swept his gaze over the radar, and slowly curled his lips into a smile.

"One Universe level Demon Race member and a pack of Stellar level small fry are enough to make me take a detour?"

"Your Highness!" the aged Qiu Shi Race member said urgently. "Our mission is to escort you to safety, not to—"

"Shut up." The young man's voice suddenly turned cold. "I cultivated in the Withered Skeleton Galaxy for decades, and now I'm being forced to relocate. If I'm afraid of even a few Stellar levels before leaving, what face will I have if word gets out?"

He raised a claw and pointed ahead, his tone casual. "Kill them. Leave no one alive."

"Your Highness!" The expressions of the seven Qiu Shi Race members changed drastically, yet none dared disobey.

The aged Qiu Shi Race member gritted his teeth and waved a hand. "Protect His Highness! End this quickly!"

Upon hearing Captain Xiong Kui's command, Golden Horn had no time to think. He instinctively activated all the origin energy in his body, forming layer upon layer of golden light around himself.

The next instant, a dark-red energy beam pierced through the spaceship.

Boom!

The spaceship exploded down the middle, sending debris flying everywhere. The blast wave, mixed with scorching energy shockwaves, hurled everyone away. Golden Horn spun several times through the air before stabilizing himself, several bloody cuts already slashed across his scales by the debris.

"Ah—!"

A shrill scream suddenly rang out.

Golden Horn jerked his head up and saw the body of the bull demon Man Shi explode in midair. A dark-red Qiu Shi Race member flashed past him, blood dripping from its claws.

One move!

Instant kill!

Golden Horn's pupils contracted sharply.

Eight figures slowly emerged from the ashes of the explosion, fanning out to surround them.

Every one of them radiated a suffocating pressure.

Seven Universe levels! And one... Stellar level?

Six figures lunged forward at once, while the aged Qiu Shi Race member remained beside the royal youth, protecting him without making a move.

"Three Universe level second orders and three Universe level first orders." Xiong Kui's voice was low.

Before he finished speaking, three Qiu Shi Race members had already pounced close.

Xiong Kui gritted his teeth and met them head-on. His broadsword, wrapped in golden blade light, clashed fiercely with the lead Qiu Shi Race member. Sparks flew as he staggered back several steps, his palm going numb.

"Frost Blade! Shadow Stinger! Scorpio! Silver Horn! One each! I know you can do it. At a time like this, don't hold anything back!" Xiong Kui shouted sharply. "The rest of you, surround the last one together! Don't let it break through our formation!"

Without a word, Frost Blade turned into a streak of white light and charged straight at a Universe level first order Qiu Shi Race member. His claws were wrapped in icy-blue energy, and every strike brought bone-piercing cold as he battled the Qiu Shi Race member.

Shadow Stinger silently vanished into the void. The next instant, he appeared behind another Qiu Shi Race member, both daggers stabbing toward its neck. The Qiu Shi Race member reacted swiftly and twisted aside. The dagger tips scraped across its shoulder armor, scattering sparks. After missing his strike, Shadow Stinger immediately slipped back into the void and attacked again from another angle.

Scorpio's tail straightened like a spear and lashed fiercely at the third Qiu Shi Race member's head. The Qiu Shi Race member raised an arm to block and was driven back three steps. Scorpio himself was sent flying, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, but he immediately steadied himself and charged again.

Golden Horn teleported before the fourth Qiu Shi Race member, driving his dagger at its throat. The Qiu Shi Race member knocked the dagger aside with one claw and swept backhandedly at him. Golden Horn twisted away, though a shallow bloody mark was left across his scales.

Meanwhile, the remaining fifteen Stellar level soldiers, led by Greedy Wolf, surrounded the last Universe level first order Qiu Shi Race member. But a Universe level was still a Universe level. The Qiu Shi Race member sent three soldiers flying with one claw strike, then kicked another in the chest, breaking his ribs.

"Hold the line!" Greedy Wolf roared. Together with Blood Fang and Iron Hammer, he desperately kept the Qiu Shi Race member entangled, but their defense was on the verge of collapse at any moment.