The Ice Blade Mantises moved with incredible agility, darting through the forest like ghosts. The four brothers shared an unspoken understanding as they hemmed in the Purple Shadow Lion from all four directions.
The Purple Shadow Lion was somewhat frantic. Ice Blade Mantises were top-tier insect Soul Beasts, with no obvious weaknesses in attack, defense, or speed. They were cruel and bloodthirsty by nature, and prey that fell into their hands had no fate other than being dismembered.
Driven by both terror and the instinct to survive, the Purple Shadow Lion sped up—only to charge straight into the left flank of the soul-hunting team, where Ling Qiuxi stood.
"Roar—"
The Purple Shadow Lion opened its jaws and let out an intimidating roar, trying to drive Ling Qiuxi back. Yet, faced with this twenty-thousand-year Soul Beast, Ling Qiuxi advanced instead of retreating. She met the Purple Shadow Lion head-on and threw a straight punch with her right fist.
The instant that fair, delicate fist shot out, it turned into a dazzling golden hue like glazed crystal. Then, a bright dragon roar far more majestic than the lion's roar rang through the Star Dou Great Forest.
Over its long twenty thousand years of life, the Purple Shadow Lion had grown accustomed to Soul Masters fleeing in panic at the sight of it. It had never imagined Ling Qiuxi would dare to punch it head-on. That dragon roar pierced deep into its soul, and the fear rooted in its bloodline and spirit froze it for an instant.
"Boom—"
Ling Qiuxi's punch landed mercilessly on its skull. The Purple Shadow Lion let out a miserable howl as the terrifying force of the Golden Dragon sent it flying. It smashed through countless ancient trees before finally collapsing to the ground, barely alive and coughing up