Better Xiao Yan's Lackey Than Tang San's Brother

The creature within the black mist slowly revealed its true form: a Wolf-type Soul Beast far larger than a Nether Wolf, baring its sharp fangs.

"It's actually a Nether Demon Wolf!" Master's voice trembled uncontrollably.

The Nether Demon Wolf was pitch-black all over, surrounded by a haze of black mist that obscured its form. It was roughly four meters long and massive in size. Its dark green eyes were utterly terrifying, while its tail hung behind it, wreathed in black mist.

The Nether Demon Wolf was a mutated Nether Wolf. It possessed speed, strength, and commanding ability beyond that of ordinary Nether Wolves, making it a born king of wolves. It also possessed an innate ability: Demon Wolf Howl!

"Xiao Gang, although this beast hasn't cultivated for over a thousand years, its strength is no weaker than that of a thousand-year Soul Beast. Take the two children and leave quickly. I'll hold them off!" Principal Mano said in a low voice. The four Soul Rings around him blazed as he raised his martial soul, the Rock Shield, and charged toward the Nether Wolf pack.

At those words, a glint flashed through Master's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he grabbed Tang San and Cheng Xiao's hands and ran back the way they had come.

"Xiao San, let me teach you a principle: many rings and bones, unleash skills in one wave; few rings and bones, turn and run. This principle remains useful even when you reach the realm of a Titled Douluo," Master said as he ran, not forgetting to impart knowledge to Tang San.

"Yes, Teacher. I understand," Tang San replied seriously.

Cheng Xiao, being dragged along by Master, was speechless. What kind of nonsense was this? Wasn't running when you couldn't win common sense even children understood? Did escaping really need to be taught? That was just too stupid, wasn't it?

Master ran quickly, and his martial soul Luo San Pao, following behind them, was not slow either. It trailed closely after the three of them, its big eyes filled with terror. To it, nothing mattered more than staying alive.

Meanwhile, Mano, who was facing the wolves alone, had already fallen into a disadvantage. Though he was a four-ring Soul Ancestor, his Soul Ring configuration was far from ideal. Moreover, he was not an Assault Type Soul Master, but a Defense Type Soul Master. Under the relentless attacks of the Nether Wolf pack, the Soul Power within him was rapidly drained away. In the end, the Nether Demon Wolf, which either did not attack at all or ended the battle the moment it did, easily sent him flying.

Mano crashed heavily beneath a large tree. His blood and qi churned violently, and he spat out a mouthful of bright red blood as he helplessly watched the Nether Demon Wolf slowly approach him.

However, just as Mano thought he was about to be killed, the Nether Demon Wolf that had severely injured him and stood before him did not even glance at him. After letting out a resounding howl, it ran alone in the direction Master and the others had fled.

As for the remaining one or two Nether Wolves, when they saw their leader run off, they immediately moved away from Mano as well. Their cultivation was only barely a hundred years; facing a Soul Ancestor would be no different from seeking death.

"I actually survived?" Mano seemed unable to believe that he had lived, and he was completely stunned. He had already prepared himself to die, yet the Nether Demon Wolf had spared him and gone after Master and the others instead.

Although he had not held it off for long, with Master's running speed, they should have gotten quite far by now, right?

Within the Soul Hunting Forest, one adult and two children raced swiftly through the shadows of the trees. Quite a few Soul Beasts stirred at the sight of humans, but before they could act, the aura of a Wolf-type Soul Beast wreathed in black mist frightened them into freezing in place, not daring to move again.

"Teacher, the Nether Demon Wolf has caught up!" Tang San, following behind Master, glanced at the dark figure behind them and shouted.

"Luo San Pao, go stop it!" Master immediately gave an order to his martial soul.

Two Soul Rings rose beneath Master's feet. Luo San Pao, which had been following behind the three of them, immediately stopped. Then, its body began to swell, as though it were about to unleash its ultimate move.

However, the Nether Demon Wolf that had followed them all the way did not bother with the little thing at all. With a sweep of its sharp claw, the swelling Luo San Pao flew into the nearby grass like a deflated balloon, its fate unknown.

Since a martial soul and its host were one, when Luo San Pao was injured, the fleeing Master immediately felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. His legs went weak at once, but with a Nether Demon Wolf still behind them, he could only grit his teeth and keep running. Otherwise, none of them would survive today.

"Teacher, are you all right?" Tang San hurriedly asked after noticing something was wrong with Master.

"I'm fine, Xiao San. We need to run faster." Master's expression twisted as the pain in his abdomen spread continuously through his limbs. "As long as we get out of the Soul Hunting Forest, we'll be safe."

Just as Master finished speaking, Tang San's gaze suddenly turned sharp. The corner of his eye drifted toward Cheng Xiao, who was running beside them, as he thought, Cheng Xiao, don't blame me for being ruthless. Since we're all going to die anyway, it's better to sacrifice you. Once Teacher and I are safe, I'll definitely avenge you. Then, if you know in the underworld, you can rest in peace.

Having made his decision, Tang San quietly raised his left hand and fired a sleeve arrow directly at Cheng Xiao's thigh.

Pfft!

The cold gleam sliced through the air and shot straight toward Cheng Xiao's thigh. Yet, bolstered by Shadow Power, Cheng Xiao sensed the danger in that instant. He immediately released Master's hand, stopped short, and forcefully halted his running body, dodging the arrowhead that gleamed with cold light.

How is that possible? Tang San was utterly shocked. He had not expected Cheng Xiao to evade his Silent Sleeve Arrow. But it did not matter. His goal had already been achieved. As long as Cheng Xiao held off the Nether Demon Wolf for a while, he and Master would have enough time to escape the Soul Hunting Forest. Then they could call for help.

"Xiao San, we don't need to worry about him. Stopping at a time like this is no different from seeking death," Master said quietly to Tang San, not caring why Cheng Xiao had stopped.

A cold glint flashed through Cheng Xiao's eyes as he watched Tang San and Master flee at top speed. No wonder people said it was better to be Xiao Yan's lackey than Tang San's brother. Fortunately, his body had been nourished by Shadow Power, greatly improving his physical abilities and reactions. Otherwise, that arrow would probably have already lodged in his thigh.

"Hu..." Cheng Xiao took a deep breath. As he turned around, the Nether Demon Wolf stopped as well. Looking at the enormous Soul Beast shrouded in black mist, Cheng Xiao's gaze turned cold as he released his martial soul. Instantly, it seemed as though the entire world had been covered in a layer of black.

As the martial soul Shadow Monarch was released, dark purple light lit up deep within Cheng Xiao's eyes. Immediately afterward, an incomparable aura of death surged forth.

Sensing that utterly terrifying aura of death, the Nether Demon Wolf nearly wet itself in fear. The moment the group had entered the forest, it had sensed an aura that could allow it to evolve once more. Though that aura had been weak, it had also made its soul tremble with fear.

Yet, having evolved from a mutated Nether Wolf, it understood the principle that a gamble could turn a bicycle into a motorcycle. Though afraid, if it succeeded, it would surely become an even more powerful existence!

But now, its heart contained nothing but regret. From the Soul Master before it, it sensed an aura of death unlike anything it had ever felt in its life. This human before it seemed like a king who controlled death—the King of Death!

At the instant Cheng Xiao released his martial soul, a great deal of information appeared in his mind.