Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, scattering dappled patches across the ground. Chen Xuanqing, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Meng Yiran had already covered a considerable distance.
Just as they were about to leave the heart of the forest, a powerful surge of Soul Power suddenly swept toward them like a gale.
The force contained within that surge was so immense that even the surrounding air was instantly compressed, giving off a low hum.
Chen Xuanqing frowned slightly. Sensing the powerful energy within that surge, he could not help feeling a flicker of wariness.
Then Chen Xuanqing turned to look at Xiao Wu beside him, only to see her eyes sparkling with excitement, as though she had spotted something entertaining.
"Come on, Brother Xuanqing! Let's go join the fun!" Xiao Wu said eagerly, already lunging forward.
Seeing this, Meng Yiran followed without hesitation. Neither girl seemed the least bit afraid.
Chen Xuanqing and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance, a hint of helplessness flashing through their eyes. Stopping these two insatiably curious girls was almost impossible.
Thus, the two could only shake their heads helplessly and follow close behind.
Guided by the powerful fluctuations of Soul Power, the four soon reached their source.
A short distance ahead, in an open clearing, two powerful currents of Soul Power were clashing fiercely.
It was a contest between a Soul Master and a Soul Beast. Their Soul Power intertwined in the air like raging winds and towering waves, producing deafening roars.
Under the impact of that immense energy, the surrounding trees swayed ceaselessly, threatening to topple at any moment.
Xiao Wu and Meng Yiran watched with rapt interest, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Someone else is hunting a Soul Beast!" Xiao Wu said, pointing at the distant battle.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze instantly sharpened. Staring at the figure that had suddenly appeared, she murmured involuntarily, "An Angel Martial Soul? Brother Xuanqing, she seems to be from Spirit Hall's legendary Angel Clan."
Beside her, Meng Yiran was captivated by the woman who had suddenly appeared. She murmured to herself, "That lady is so beautiful!"
Chen Xuanqing thought Meng Yiran's eyes were so full of dazzled admiration that she looked like a lovestruck girl.
Then Meng Yiran turned back to Chen Xuanqing and asked curiously, "Brother Xuanqing, what kind of Soul Beast is that? I've never seen one before. It looks unfamiliar."
On the battlefield, Qian Renxue stood like a golden goddess. Behind her, her holy Angel Martial Soul shone brilliantly as she battled a snow-white, three-tailed fox with deep-red pupils.
Every leap the fox made seemed filled with cunning and agility, yet against Qian Renxue's sacred and formidable power, it always seemed to be at a disadvantage.
A flicker of surprise crossed Chen Xuanqing's eyes. He had not expected to encounter Qian Renxue here.
Given Qian Renxue's strength, she was probably searching for a suitable Soul Beast to obtain her Seventh Soul Ring and grow stronger.
At that moment, Xiao Wu glanced at the battlefield and explained, "Brother Xuanqing, little sister Meng Yiran, that Soul Beast is called a Sacred Spirit Three-Tailed Fox. It looks pure and flawless, but it's actually an incredibly cunning creature. It often steals other Soul Beasts' eggs or young to eat."
"This Sacred Spirit Three-Tailed Fox has fifty thousand years of cultivation. I wonder whether she's a match for it."
Thanks to Xiao Wu's explanation, Meng Yiran and Zhu Zhuqing gained some understanding of the Soul Beast.
Meanwhile, the battle grew increasingly heated, and the air filled with the smell of smoke and gunpowder.
Qian Renxue's Angel Martial Soul suddenly radiated golden light, like the blazing sun overhead, and her aura surged in an instant.
"Fifth Soul Skill: Angel's Sword!"
Qian Renxue gave a low shout. In an instant, the flames covering her Angel Martial Soul began to dance violently, as though fresh life had been breathed into them.
The flames swiftly gathered, condensing into a dazzling longsword. Its blade shone with sacred light, as though it could sever all darkness.
At the same time, unwilling to be outdone, the Sacred Spirit Three-Tailed Fox let out a piercing roar, releasing powerful fluctuations of Soul Power.
Its three tails danced through the air like three supple whips, lashing toward Qian Renxue with sharp whistles of wind.
Qian Renxue's gaze turned slightly cold. With a flicker of movement, she easily evaded the Sacred Spirit Three-Tailed Fox's attack.
Immediately afterward, she attacked again. "Sixth Soul Skill: Angel's Roar!"
A deafening roar rang out, like a sound from heaven, shaking the entire battlefield.
Under this assault on its soul, the Sacred Spirit Three-Tailed Fox's movements instantly slowed-or rather, it could no longer move at all.
Its eyes widened in terror. It wanted to evade the fatal strike, but it was already too late.
The Angel's Sword in Qian Renxue's hand swept out in an instant, bearing the force of a thousand thunderbolts as it drove straight toward the Sacred Spirit Three-Tailed Fox's vital point.
The sword's light cut through the air with a piercing whistle.
The Sacred Spirit Three-Tailed Fox struggled desperately, trying to evade the strike, but Qian Renxue's speed and strength far exceeded anything it had imagined.
With a wretched scream, the Sacred Spirit Three-Tailed Fox was pierced through by the Angel's Sword, and blood gushed from its body.
The entire battlefield fell briefly silent. Only the Sacred Spirit Three-Tailed Fox's pained groans and the sound of dripping blood could be heard.
Qian Renxue panted heavily, her eyes shining with exhaustion but satisfaction.
"Come out! You three little mice!" Qian Renxue's voice was like a winter wind, bitter and bone-chilling.
Her sharp gaze swept over the surroundings like a hawk's before finally settling on their hiding place.
Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Meng Yiran felt their hearts tighten, as though caught in the crushing grip of icy iron pincers.
They had not expected their presence to be discovered so easily, and an inexplicable trace of fear welled up within them.
Few could likely rival such a young Soul Emperor.
At that moment, all three turned their gazes toward Chen Xuanqing, who stood beside them.
A flicker of hope rose in their hearts as they waited for Chen Xuanqing to tell them what to do next.
Chen Xuanqing smiled faintly, having long since seen through their thoughts. "Since we've already been discovered, let's go out and take a look! Perhaps we can even travel together to Heaven Dou City."
Hearing this, the three girls felt somewhat reassured, and their tension eased a little.
Thus, the four slowly emerged from the shadows, coming into Qian Renxue's view. Her gaze swept over them before finally settling on Chen Xuanqing.
"No wonder I only sensed three people. So you were here too." A hint of surprise colored Qian Renxue's voice, as though she had not expected to encounter Chen Xuanqing here.
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